O b s e s s i o n

Chapter 1

My mother and I finally arrived at the Kings Cross Station in London. It took us at least two hours to get here as our only option in transportation was by a vehicle muggles call a 'bus' She shoved my belongings into the trolley and we began to walk around the station. Muggles would stare at us and our odd attire, but we didn't mind the attention as mother would always wink at me when we saw a fairly handsome gentleman, I'd cackle every time. We arrived at platform 9 and mother held onto my wrist, we exchanged looks.

"We go in together," she said staring at the wall. I look up to her and nod. We tightly grabbed onto the trolley and ran through the wall.

When I was born, I was born with a gift, well my mother calls it a gift, but I think of it as a curse I happen to live with. I was a descendent of the goddess of love: Aphrodite. Hence, having the power to attract any man I want. I didn't know anyone else in my family to have this gift, my mother told me that my grandmother had it and used it to enchant the many men she was with. But ever since my mother told me about it, I never had the courage to really use the power. My mother named me Michelle Lyra Wright, or should I say my grandmother named me. My mother was sixteen when I was born and she couldn't decide for a name, so my grandmother named me. She was an Auror in her 20s and later on became a Potions professor at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. I didn't know much about her other than that, she was killed 2 weeks after I was born by heartless muggles— she was only 44 years old. My father— Robert Wright, was never in the picture, my mother told me that he left the wizarding world for an important mission since he was also an Auror. But I knew the real reason deep down after some deep diving in mom's old diary. He left the wizarding world for a muggle he fell in love with and left without a trace. I can't forgive him, nor can I stand what he did to my mother, leaving his wife and his only daughter alone.

I was eleven when I first received my Hogwarts letter, but my mother couldn't afford it and my aunties wouldn't help pay for it, so I had to miss that year and join the next year round. I joined Hogwarts when I was 12 years old. I'm in my 5th year now and I've been doing well, I'm an average student and I seem to be Dumbledore's favourite in transfiguration, well that's what Myrtle teases me about. Myrtle Warren was sorted into Ravenclaw in the year I was sorted. She's a really moody girl with fairly pale skin and pigtails, she has circular spectacles and is constantly bullied by boys around school. She cries and whines a lot, but I'm happy to call her my friend, only friend to be exact. Myrtle was a muggle born and though I was a pureblood, I always stayed by her side whenever she needed a shoulder to cry on. I was sorted into Slytherin just like my mother and my ancestors, it wasn't a big shock for my family but my aunts and uncles were happy, I guess I was as well. I think.

"Well Elle, you should get on the train now, come home for Christmas okay?" My mother said as we walked towards the train. crowds of families filled platform nine and three quarters, waving and kissing goodbye to their children as they aboard the Hogwarts express. I turned to my mother and we locked eyes, her puffy eyes and smile marks were visible and it mentally hurts to see her like this, she was only thirty two but looked like she lived over forty years of her life. We were a part of the blacks family, but my mother left the black household when she gave birth to me. We now lived in a small apartment in London and mother works at the leaky cauldron, a pub downtown. She cupped my face and kissed my forehead, her hands were cold and boney, but was quite comforting. I smile back as a response.

"See you later," I said.

"Take care Michelle, remember to owl me when you settle in" she responded.

I grabbed my stuff from the trolley and hugged my mother for a moment or too, I pulled back and waved my last goodbye before I took a step onto the Hogwarts express. The smell of sweets and parchment was the first thing I met as I walked down the train corridor in search of a vacant compartment. I didn't like sitting with other people because if I let slip any mention of blood purity, they'd go crazy. Everyone at school praised the pure-bloods like they were royalty, but I didn't get the reason why? Muggle-borns and half-bloods can perform magic as good as pure-bloods, what difference does that make? Rows and rows later, I met my eyes on a vacant compartment, I slid the door open and placed my belongings above me, I laid down on the seat with my legs up. I crossed my arms and leaned my head on the wall, I closed my eyes and thought of nothing in hopes I can sleep through the whole train ride. I fell into a snooze but was interrupted with gentle knocking on the glass door, it was probably Myrtle as no one other than her would sit with me.

"Come in" I managed to say without opening my eyes.

Someone slid the door open and slid it closed afterwards. They put up their belongings above and sat at the opposite seat, I heard pages being flipped but no words can be heard. I guess it wasn't Myrtle, if It were her she'd be gossiping about latest dramas. It was quite uncomfortable as the whole compartment was quiet and the sound of flipping pages was irritating. I forced my eyes open and sat up from my slumber "Can I help you?" I let slip out my mouth. I yawned and rubbed my eyes, I focused my eyes and brought my attention to the individual in front of me. It was the 6th year Slytherin perfect, Tom Riddle.

"Riddle?" I quietly mumble in disbelief. Out of all the compartments on the express, Riddle chose to sit with me. Why was I so surprised? Myrtle told me in potions last year that Riddle was a half-blood in a gang full of pure-bloods, I didn't know the names of the blokes in his gang, but I did know Lestrange, he was in most of my classes except for muggle studies. All the girls in my year would always talk about Riddle and how he persuades girls in the most freakish ways. His face was hidden behind a book titled 'Dark hexes and the uses by Jeremy Portmen. It was awkwardly quiet until I 'unintentionally' coughed. He gently placed his book next to him and leaned back on his seat, he gazed at me with a sinister smirk as if I owned him something. His teeth showing and smile marks visible.

"Yes.?" He said, resting one hand on the top of his seat.

I didn't know how to respond, I mean anyone can sit with me. But a 6th year with a 5rd year? Especially if it's a prefect? Was quite a rare sight. I wish Myrtle was here— I didn't like the tension in this compartment. Riddle slightly shook his head at me and sat up from his seat. "Oh, I'm sorry for not asking earlier, my apologies" He slid the compartment door and closed it on his way out. He turned on his heel and faced the glass door and knocked on it, mouthing the words, "Can I come in?" I forced a slight smile and gestured my hand for him to come in. He smiled and slid the door open again, taking his seat opposite of me.

"Soo.... are you gonna tell me how you know my name?" He asks out of the blue.

I didn't realise he heard me say his name earlier, I thought I said it in my mind but I guess it slipped out of my lips. I didn't wanna sound like a stalker. Every time I passed him and his gangs, I always had this feeling in my stomach that I couldn't describe, it feels as if someone was repeatedly punching my stomach and making my heart beat faster. but why would he ask that? He and the other Slytherin prefects would lead the Slytherin house to the tower every year. What was he expecting? But I gotta say, he doesn't know me personally. We had a few interactions, but never like this. I should have been more polite.

"I mean, you are a prefect after all and most of the girls in my year talk about you everyday" I say in hopes he'd buy my excuse.

"Right. Let me properly introduce myself, my name is Tom Riddle but you can call me Tom if you like. May I ask what your name is"

My heart began to bump questionably faster, the same pace my heart beats when I walk by him in the halls. This normally never happens to me with other people, why was I so nervous to answer him? He's just asking me kindly and it's not like my life depended on my answer. He sits there quietly waiting for my response and my mouth slightly open, not knowing what to say.

"Oh I'm sorry, I should have introduced myself earlier, I'm Michelle Wright" I said without thinking. He nodded after my response and brought his hand towards me, I grabbed it and we shook hands, his hand was warm and soft.

"Well hello to you Michelle Wright" he said in a welcoming tone.

"Same to you Tom Riddle" I respond with a similar tone.