𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. | Harry Potter.

|| 01 ||

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It was finally the first of September, and for Y/n, it was the day she's leaving the stifling walls of the orphanage after being stuck inside in her whole life. Her heart a tangled mess of excitement and a bittersweet ache. She wouldn't be back for the whole year, or maybe never.

Thanks to Mrs. Malfoy, her trunk was packed to the brim with everything y/n's things and needs.

Sister Margaret, the only nun who'd ever shown her any real warmth, had choked back tears as Y/n waved a goodbye.

The other orphans, barely older and younger than her, the ones who weren't too busy being miserable, waved too, their faces a mixture of envy, curiosity and sadness.

Now, y/n was tucked away in the Leaky Cauldron. Her third-year supplies, carefully chosen by Narcissa, were already packed, ready for the journey ahead.

Y/n had tried to ask about her father, but Narcissa would change the topic, but she did tell the young Riddle that her father is still alive, and.. well. Y/n was relieved, but she didn't ask more of what he looked like, but she might save it and ask later.

Narcissa had to rush off to take care of her own son, Draco, for another start of school year, so she'd hired a random witch in the Leaky Cauldron named Glinda, a witch with a face like a crumpled parchment and a smile that revealed a startlingly black gum line.

"I'll leave you for now, Y/n. Take care of yourself, and remember, this woman will be with you until it's time for the train. Don't go wandering off, alright?" Her voice was gentle, but her gaze held a steeliness that spoke of unspoken warnings.

"Okay, thanks." Y/n replied and nodded in understanding. Narcissa nodded, a final farewell flickering in her eyes, before disappearing into the bustling crowd.

Y/n watched her go, then, her gaze drifted towards the woman Narcissa had hired to accompany her for now. A middle-aged witch with a certain...intensity. Her smile was wide, almost unnervingly so, revealing a set of teeth and her dark gums.

"Hullo, kiddo." the witch, Glinda, said, her voice a low, raspy rumble. "I'll show yeh around before the train leaves. Might as well get to know the place, eh?"

Y/n's gaze lingering on her dark gum. "That'll be great." she mumbled, turning away and beginning to walk next to the witch.

❦

Precisely at eleven, the witching hour for the train's departure, the young Riddle boarded the Hogwarts Express. Her mind still buzzed with the encounter with the half-giant, Hagrid, the hulking gamekeeper, who had given her an unsettling looks as if she committed any crimes while he was guiding the first-year students.

Hagrid and Tom Riddle had crossed paths at Hogwarts in the 1940s. Hagrid could see Tom in y/n. The similarities in their auras and mannerisms were unmistakable to the half-giant. History repeats itself.

"Firs' years, firs' years! Hop on, righ' this way!" Hagrid's voice boomed, guiding the young witches and wizards toward the train.

Y/n observed him from train's window, she couldn't shake the feeling of judgment hanging over her.

"Pay him no mind, dear."

She glanced away from Hagrid and scanned the compartment.

Each compartment overflowed with students, their laughter and chatter creating a pulsating hum. Feeling utterly lost in the sea of unfamiliar faces, y/n retreated to the farthest compartment, silently sliding the door shut and sitting alone beneath the flickering lights.