Of Deepest Desires // Tom Riddle

one

The thunderous sounds of train tracks filled Arabella's ears as she sat in one of the many compartments of the Hogwarts Express. She watched as the greenery of the Scottish countryside flashed through her eyes, with its roaring hills and occasional stone structures. Arabella had always adored the long train ride toward her school, but she suddenly found herself becoming aware that this was the final time she would be a board the Hogwarts Express with a new year ahead. She was entering her final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the thought of that sparked anxiety. While her whole life she had always desired a change to her monotonous everyday, Arabella still wasn't ready to say goodbye to her friends and the familiarity of the castle. She would miss her favorite professors, quidditch matches, and the weekend trips to Hogsmede. Hogwarts was all that she knew and she was terrified to see what awaited for her after the inevitable leave. It's okay, She thought. I still have a whole year, I will make the most of it. Her mind drifted back to the view as her worries of change had suppressed.

"Ara," said a voice that startled her out of her contemplations. "I said, are you taking potions again this year?" Asked her closest friend, Freya Abbott. Since Arabella had always found making friends inside her own house troublesome, she turned to the refuge of Ravenclaws, given their similar intelligence and quick-witted nature. While they typically were more reserved, she found it refreshing from the outspoken nature of her own house.

"Um, yes. Professor Slughorn accepted me into Advanced Potions this term," she responded.

"Well look who's making her way into the Slug Club," Freya laughed. "I've made my peace with not being invited. Besides, Trelawney asked me to do an independent study with her for divination and guess who happens to also be taking it..." Arabella rolled her eyes and gestured for her to continue. "Idris Auclair," Freya smirked. Arabella wondered how their differences with their stereotypical house characteristics must have made them friends. An insecure Slytherin and a love sick Ravenclaw.

"Well I hope your efforts are successful, but I feel like your going to regret your decision when your struggling to keep your eyes open in that dull class," Arabella said. She was never found of divination as she found it to be useless and tedious. That is because at a young age she was told she didn't possess the Sight and the Slytherin inside her despised not being the best at something.

"Oh come on, it's not all bad. It'll be worth it when he opens his bloody eyes and sees what can make the class a bit more interesting." Throughout the years, Freya had always had a great deal of male attention. Switching from boyfriend to boyfriend, she never struggled attracting a lover. Arabella couldn't help but feel a tiny bit jealous of this attribute of her friend. While she would never admit this to anyone, Arabella often imagined what a romance could look like for her. She had never had a boyfriend, nor had been head over heels for a fellow classmate. She perceived them as too immature and thought that in time, she would find someone who could keep up with her sharpness.

"I almost feel bad. The poor bloke doesn't know whats coming for him," Arabella laughed along with Freya.

The train had finally arrived, sending students off for yet another year at Hogwarts. After everyone had gathered for the sorting ceremony and finished up their dinner, students dispersed back into their common rooms, getting their belongings situated for the new year. Arabella, however, was made Head Girl for the year. Years of working her way to the top finally payed off. She instead, was set forth to her first meeting, where she would meet with the new prefects to give them the overview and their schedules. However, she realized that she was never made aware of who the Head Boy was. She hoped it was Idris, due to the fact he was a Ravenclaw prefect last year and one of the only ones she got along with.