To Answer A Riddle [Tom Riddle Era / Harry Potter]

Entry #2

The Great Hall's sky was bright, of a calm blue of most mornings. The candles had disappeared: the large windows provided enough light for everyone to see their meals. In fact, it was quite sunny in the Hall. The tables were about half-full. Most students were eating their breakfast or practicing some minor spells.

Elliott was calmly eating a bowl of cereal while looking at his schedule that would be his for the rest of the year. Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, History of magic, Defense against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Astronomy... There were so many classes he had to take. Divination and Care of Magical Creatures also appeared on his timetable, even though he had chosen Muggle studies instead of Divination. He guessed that he didn't get his choices because of his transfer a few weeks before school started.

He wished he hadn't received Divination. He disliked everything about it. Interpreting dreams or trying to find some meaning in the stars was ridiculous. The real future was rarely so simple to see, and cost way more than a simple look in the night sky.

Elliott sighed and took another bite of cereal. Thinking about the divination classes made him think about what he had seen last night. But what exactly had he seen? Tom's future was certainly a dark one, that was for sure. But was all hope lost for him? Elliott didn't know. He didn't know enough about the other boy to be certain. The only thing he knew was that the future wasn't set in stone. It was extremely hard, but some rare times you could influence the direct future with some particular actions.

Would it work on Tom? Perhaps yes, perhaps not. There was no way to know. And if he wished to see more of his new friend's future, he'd have to come in contact with him more times than once. Elliott simply feared what he would see... But at the same time, he was fascinated by it.

Tom seemed so in control, with so much confidence, it was hard thinking he'd ever become someone ordinary. But extraordinary wasn't always good, or always bad. Sometimes, it took the form of strange powers; sometimes it was the whole person itself which was special. You could never completely know what the other could be hiding from you.

"The Quidditch try-outs are taking place tomorrow!" yelled an older slytherin boy a couple of meters away.

Almost immediately, he was surrounded by slytherin students. From first year to seventh, girls or boys, many were the one wanting information on how to make this year's quidditch team. Elliott wasn't interested in such a sport, but still listened and watched the members of his house talk excitedly about it. He hoped they'd win the house cup, but he had no idea if the team would be good or not. Perhaps they were.

"Not interested in Quidditch?" said someone in front of him.

Elliott turned his head towards the voice to see Tom smiling slightly at him, a burnt toast in his hand. He seemed to have the talent of appearing out of nowhere.

"No. Are you gonna try to make the team?" Elliott asked.

Tom nodded with his mouth full of bread and pulled out a sheet of paper he laid out on the table. Elliott recognized the other's timetable. They seemed to have every class in common, except for divination. He had taken the study of ancient runes instead. Most Slytherins of the same year had their classes together, except for their options.

"I was a chaser last year. We almost won, but Ravenclaw's seeker caught the snitch at the last second."

Tom grimaced and Elliott smiled. Somehow, he hadn't pictured him as the sport type, but he guessed he was wrong.

"So, have we any classes together?" asked the black-haired wizard.

"Yeah, everything except divination," answered Elliott. Tom finished his toast and threw him a confused glare.