The Slytherin Boy (Slow Updates)

Chapter 4

"The next place I took them was to the platform..."

Tom's POV:

"Where to next professor?" Nora asked, her excitement dripping off her voice.

"To the train that will take you to Hogwarts of course." Dumbledor responded with a soft smile. He never smiled at me like that. Don't get me wrong, he smiled at me, but it always looked forced. It was obvious that Nora was his favorite out of the pair of us. Something about that didn't sit well with me. It was my job to protect her and I don't trust this old man with any ounce of my being; for me to trust someone they have to be fair and respect me as well, which he doesn't.

"Tom," it was Nora, her voice could quiet any other voices in my head, "are you alright, you spaced out on me a little? Plus you have your thinking face on." I loved the way she knew me so well after only a few years. Yet it scared me, why have I allowed her to get so close to me? Once we start school, she'll make new friends and leave me just like everyone else. "Tom! You were with me then I lost you again. Stop using your brain and talk nonsense with me, I'm bored!" She whined. It was then that I realized the professor had walked a few feet in front of us, leading us through the street, towards the train station I presume.

"I have a thinking face?!" I chuckled as I finally responded to my friend.

"Yes, yes you do. It looks a bit funky if you ask me." She had the straightest face that I thought she was serious, until a smile broke out on her face and her small white teeth were revealed as she started laughing. "I'm just kidding, it doesn't look ridiculous, it is cute!" She continued to giggle her school girl giggle that only she can make sound pleasing. I joined in.

"Okay, then what does my thinking face look like then?"

"Your eyes are kind of glossed over as you stare past my head, though to others this might look like you are intently listening, but I know other wise." She smiles and her joy is reflected in her own blue orbs. "You furrow your eyebrows a bit and then your forehead gets wrinkly!" She laughs at that, she looks adorable. "Tom, what are you thinking about?" Her voice gets as serious as our 11 year old minds are capable of as she stares at me expectantly.

"School, how our lives are going to be so different, I guess." I turn serious too.

"Does it scare you?" I don't answer her question. She continues, but this time she is looking down at her shoes instead of at me. Nonetheless, I listen, "it's okay to be scared Tom. I'm scared too." She knows I'm scared, but doesn't reprimand me for it. I was shocked to hear that Nora, the headstrong crazy girl I know, was scared.

"I was just thinking ab-"

"I know you were thinking...your face remember?" she cut me off.

"I remember. But I was worried that when we get to school we will meet new friends and forget about each other." I said sadly.

"Boys are dumb, especially you Tom Riddle." She states as she crosses her arms.

"What?! How am I dumb!?" How dare she call me dumb! I thought we were friends.

"Your dumb if you think I would forget about you Tom. Even if I wanted to, which I don't, I couldn't because your my best friend. Your stuck with me remember. Whether you li-"

"Like it or not. I know!" I laughed as I finished for her, she's said that to me too many times to count. "But I wouldn't have it any other way." I pulled her into a side hug as we walked.

For the rest of the way to the train station we stayed like that, walking side by side with my arm around her shoulder and her arm snaked around my waist.

***

We finally reached the train station and Dumbledor gave us our tickets. Platform 9 3/4. That's not a platform number, surely this must be wrong. Dumbledor sensed our confusion because when we stopped in between platforms 9 and 10 he turned to us. "Okay, so to get to platform 9 3/4 you must run through this wall," he pointed a small wall made of sheer brick, he must be kidding.

"Okay! Watch me professor!" Nora squealed while jumping up and down. She looked idiotic but I couldn't help but laugh at her silly antics. Then with out warning she ran, pushing her cart of stuff in front of her, full speed into the wall and disappeared. I began to worry, where did she go!?

"Don't fret boy, she's on the other side!" Dumbledor laughed. "Hurry now, we don't want to keep her waiting all by herself do we Tom."

***(on the train)

Nora and I sat in an empty compartment by ourselves. Professor Dumbledor had some Hogwarts business to take care of, but told us he would see us later that night.

After the short span of 20 minutes, I noticed Nora's eyes getting heavy and saw the fight she was putting up just to keep them open. So without saying a word, I got up from my seat across from her and got comfortable next to her. Our legs were touching and I put my arm around her. She leaned into my body and dropped her head on my shoulder, her brown hair cascading down my back and chest. I ran my fingers through the silky strands and played with her hair as I let the soft rock of the train help sooth her to sleep.

******(present time)

"We all are looking for someone who's demons play well with our own demons, that's what Tom was doing. Searching. He found that in Nora. Her demons were similar to his: both abandoned, both made fun of, both different in a place where magic only existed in fairytales. The had each other, and their demons played all day, but most significantly, they NEEDED each other." Dumbledor addressed the students, one in particular. Harry knew he was telling this story strictly for his own benefit, and maybe slightly to protect the others. Yet he wondered how a story of Tom Riddle, who was long dead if you asked Harry, could be a useful weapon against he-who-must-not-be-named. So he continued to listen to the headmaster.