You're in Hogwarts, about to face the Final Battle against Voldemort, when you fall into the past, in the Hogwarts of more than fifty years ago.
Who are you going to meet?
What mystery (and riddles) are waiting for you?
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How can someone turn evil when having Slughorn as Head House? You always thought that Death Eaters were influenced by their education. But they also had Albus Dumbledore as teacher. It must be all Voldemort's fault. But how was Voldemort influenced? Was he just born evil or he learned from Grindelwald? Most of the stories around Voldemort are legends, nobody ever taught his real origins. And everyone was just happy to erase him from history, not expecting him to bloody resurrect. As you dive in the crowded halls, you keep an eye on Bellatrix's tiny frame, like expecting her to do something wicked, exposing the seed of evil in her. And how you would enjoy if she breaks rules and gets caught by the Prefects and gets detention...
"What's in your mind?". You startle, totally forgotten that Tom is around. The Head Boy. Great, he has the full authority to keep an eye and punish a future Death Eater. "It looks like we have a tough year ahead" It's silly to say, but better than gaping like an idiot at him. He doesn't buy it. "Y/N... You keep glancing at the first year's kids. Any of them annoyed you?". Damn, why is he so unnaturally smart? How did you manage to keep secrets from him until now? "That Bellatrix... She seems infatuated with you" you say. And it's no lie. You've been trying for days to detect any weakness in the first year's girl. And as most of the girls in the school, she can't keep her eyes away from the Slytherin's Head Boy. He smirks, so well aware of his charm "Is that such a news?". You roll your eyes "No, every girl is infatuated. But she looks like she wants to marry you". Bellatrix isn't just having a crush on him. She looks quite obsessed with him. And it makes you uncomfortable because it's clear that she would love to replace you by his side. Tom chuckles in the way you love hearing him "I'm not interested in marriages at all. And if it can comfort you, she's already engaged to Lestrange". "Engaged?" you repeat. You already know she'll be a Lestrange. But it happened all so early in her life? "Does she look unhappy?". No, she's beaming around, knowing that Tom is the same hall and hoping to get his attention. "No. But she's just eleven" you blurt. Tom moves swiftly so he cuts your way and your view of Bellatrix. "And she's from a pureblood family. There are no arranged marriages in your family? Or have you been escaping from that kind of stuff?". "Sort of" you trail off dropping your shoulders "But I agree. Marriages are such a pain in the...bum". He chuckles and resumes walking by your side, whispering to your ear "Glad we agree on that. Although I thought you'd enjoy that kind of pain". You slap him in his chest "Tom!". He laughs a little louder, attracting the attention of the girls nearby. It's quite rare hearing and seeing Tom Riddle laughing. "It's fine. I'm the only one to know that. So, your parents was an unhappy union too?". It hurts to think of them now. They are trapped in a future that you struggle to reach again. "Not really. I just hated them when they argued over petty things". "Did they argue often?". "Not too often. But I never saw them as a great match. It was quite boring. Traditions and stuff. There was not the passion and boldness that..." you don't know what else to say and swallow hard. "That we have?" he completes for you. "Yeah" you smile. He mirrors your smile and waves at you to step into your next class. You share Transfiguration, Charms and Herbology with Slytherins. So no more brewing potions together, but Slughorn still invites you to his parties. You feel Dumbledore's inquisitive gaze follow you as you take a seat not too far from Tom's. When school started, Dumbledore seemed quite surprised to hear the your summer was very enjoyable. As if he expected some tragedy to happen when you lived alone with Tom. Or as if he fears you're insane. As you share the same room with Dumbledore and Tom, you feel the tension between the two of them. Tom avoids looking at the teacher and Dumbledore's usually soft gaze hardens when his eyes rest on the most brilliant student in the school. But Tom's grades are perfect also in Transfigiration. He is taking most of the courses Hogwarts is offering and you wonder how he can still have some free time to share with you. He's too busy with studies and his duties. He's unnaturally resilient and strong to bear it all.
"I'm flattered that you still enjoy staring at me, but seriously I'd love to hear what you're thinking when you're so lost into your mind". You frown and realise that you barely noticed that the lesson ended and you absentmindedly followed Tom to a deserted corner. Thank Merlin that you learned Occlumency. "I'd love to use Legilimens on you too" you say as if it's a sweet love declaration. He sighs and rests his hand against the pillar behind you. "No, you don't. You'd get very bored". "Because you think of flattering sentences for our teachers all the time?". He dips his head as warning "Surely your mind is more interesting. You have a vivid imagination". "Really?" you frown and stiffen when he takes your chin and makes you look straight at him. He stares at you like he's trying to read you. You make sure the walls in your mind are high and unbreachable. "I'll never tire of you" he whispers then kisses you, making you forget your worries about if he just tried to use Legilimens on you. But no, he wouldn't violate the privacy of your mind like that. Right? "I'm glad you can still take care of yourself even when you would need a Time Turner to do all the things you do". He cocks a brow at you "A Time what?". "Forget it" you say quickly. He would be a great challenge for someone like Hermione Granger. Another muggle born. To escape the awkward moment, you wrap your arms around him and rest your head on his chest. "What... what are you doing?" he asks standing still. "There's a heart beating here. I love to hear it". After a long moment, his arms wrap around you and he speaks softly. "Well, if you miss the sound, you can visit me at night. Although I miss another kind of sound from you...". You gasp and let him go, slapping his chest playfully. "Tom! We're at school now. It's so inappropriate. Maybe in the holidays...". "Can you truly wait until the holidays?" he scoffs "And why is it inappropriate for us to be together?". You look at his long fingers entwining with yours. "I can wait forever for you, Tom. You have a shining reputation to protect, Head Boy" you peck on his lips, loving how your behavior is still capable of catching him by surprise.
