"The Serpent's Teeth"
(A Tom Riddle love story)

2nd September 1944

I euphorically swing my legs over the edge of the bed only to quickly pull them back.

Merlin, it's cold!
Has anyone here ever heard of heating?

I quietly curse to myself before walking into the bathroom and brushing my teeth with cold water.

Well I'm not taking a bath in the morning here!

I could probably wait for hours until the water gets hot in the boiler.

Wait a second... I'm a witch for pete's sake!
Why don't I simply use a warming spell?

Shaking my head as I've just realized my own stupidity, I use a spell to warm my shower water.

I force my hair into a bun, finishing the look up with a black bow, and emphasize my eyes discreetly with mascara like every morning.

On the way out, I cast a glance at my sleeping roommates, yes I know.
It's far too early, but what can I do?

I've always gotten up early, and this has never been a disadvantage, quite the contrary.
Before exams I'm able to learn in peace in the library when no other students are around and have all the books to myself. And my goal is it to be at the top in every subject.

The way I judge Slughorn, he makes the same lessons every year and I have all my documents from the 90s with me, in other words, I'm preparing for the classes, in an not so fair way.
In my defense it has to be said that Snape has beat it into my head that I have to be good in school.

I carefully put my leather school bag on the floor next to a table in the deserted library.
Not even a librarian is present and not a single candle is burning in the sconces on the wall.

I stroll leisurely through the dark rows.
I love the mood of the secluded library.
I'm surrounded by books, full of knowledge and experiences.
Old shelves that have been standing for many years in the wizarding school.
The unique smell of old books.
The tables on which so many witches and wizards sat trying to get some of the material that they were supposed to have learned in class, just before an exam, or wondering why they just couldn't get a certain spell right.

I notice a Book with a Golden back-cover.
The Book title doesn't really give any information about the content.

If the librarian where present, I would borrow it.
Too bad that I don't have time to browse through it right now.

A little whiny I look at my notes from Slughorn's first hour, the date in the corner would attract quite a lot of attention here as would the dates on all the other sheets.
I have to be very careful that these documents aren't seen by anybody, otherwise I'll get in a really big mess and my cover might fly off. Then my mission would be ruined because of my carelessness.

I could never forgive myself and Neville would certainly be disappointed.
Neville, oh what I would give to have you with me now.
For support and to just have the feeling of being at home.

Oh Neville...

I didn't dare to take any photos with me, as they are all in color and there are no colored pictures in my current time.
It would have been too risky...

A tear droops onto the parchment and the ink smudges.
Startled I touch my cheek.
Strangely I didn't even notice that I started to cry...

Oh how I miss them all!
If this mission wasn't so important I would go back immediately!

Breathing deeply I try to calm myself as I hear a noise at the door.
Doxycrap!

I don't want anyone to see me crying.
I frantically, wipe the tears from my cheeks and make the tears disappear from the parchment as I poke it with my wand made of oak and Veela hair.
I hurriedly roll up the parchment, stuff it into the side pocket of my bag and get up.

What other human being, except me, is voluntarily up this early and comes to the library?

I quietly make my way to the entrance as I don't wish to be seen by whomever just came into the library.

Yes, thanks to the Carrows, I developed a slight paranoia when I hear sudden noises.
Too often they have unexpectedly shot from a corner to catch someone doing something forbidden.
After they had once found me threatening Malfoy with a curse my punishment was more painful than ever before....
After that I started twitching at every sudden sound or movement.
It got to the point where I even started to check my body reactions.
After that, I never flinched, I didn't even blink.
However, I still react allergic to unexpected noises...

I suddenly stop, when a tall, black-haired boy turns into the same corridor that I was walking through.

Oh my good!
He looks hot!
Slim, tall, dark brown eyes, high cheekbones, pale with light pink lips.

On his cloak lies the Head Boy badge and suddenly I realize who I have in front of me.

Tom Riddle!

The reason why I'm sitting here and crying because of homesickness in the library.

Now that I see him in person there is no wonder that many people have let themselves be convinced to join forces with him ...

But he's evil!

I remind myself and quickly shake my head slightly to think clearly again
I can't find him attractive!
I'm here to lead to his destruction.
He is despicable.
At least his heart is...

"Who are you?" says a soft, gentle voice that makes my mind drift back into the here and now.

His voice sounds dominant, cold and yet beautiful and captivating...
Swallowing hard I try to push down the lump in my throat.

"I-" I croak before my voice gets raspy again.
"I'm Hazel," I smile tentatively.
Great start!
I'm shyly standing before this extremely attractive, yet extremely evil wizard.

"And who are you?", I ask him hesitantly.
"Tom Riddle. Who are you?"
"I just told you who I am. I'm Hazel,"
I give him a puzzled frown.
Is he even listening to what I'm saying?

"That's not what I meant" he snarls at me without losing the Silky smoothness in his voice.
"I've never seen you here and I know every student. So, who are you?" He repeats his question.
"I am, Riddle, as already mentioned, Hazel Hayes, 18 years old and I'm from America. Any other questions?" I smile at him sweetly.

I have to stand up for myself...I can't let him think that I'm some frightened deer!

"Yes. What are you doing here at this hour, Hayes?"
"I wanted to read but then I met you. And what are you doing here... Riddle?"
I ask with my arms folded defiantly across my chest.

"That's none of your business so leave me in peace now," he commands with an expressionless face, and walks past me into the library.

Oh - my - God!
So this is Tom Riddle.
The boy who I have to befriend in order to make him tell me his secret.

Oh great!
This is more complicated than I thought!
I'm absolutely certain that this is going to be the biggest challenge of my life.
What have I gotten myself into?
And so much for a first impression!

"Hazel! Where have you been?", Tracey roars at me, as she leads me to the other end of the Gryffindor table.

Smiling, I walk over to my new acquaintances.

"I was in the library and I have prepared myself for today's classes."
"This early?", She stares at me incredulously.
"Now listen, it's 9:30am now, what do you mean with early?"
"I always get up at eight and you were gone, along with your school bag and your bed was made perfectly. So, when did you got up? " Tracey asks still looking at me slightly concerned.
"At six," I sigh and take a bun from a plate next to her.

It seems that toast doesn't exist yet.

"Is that normal?" Bailee suddenly asks into our conversation.
"Yes," I reply curtly.
"You will get used to it eventually." I say cheerfully winking and smiling amused at Sasha.
"Sasha, you have egg hanging in the corner of your mouth. Are you aware of that?" I giggle and watch while the pretty boy frantically reaches out for a napkin and after several attempts manages to properly clean his face.

Smiling I bite off my honey bun and turn my gaze to the teacher's desk.

That's a strange sight.

In the middle sits the headmaster Dippet and not Snape.

Dippet sits beside the young Dumbledore and...Slughorn!
Amazing how different he looks like, but what did I expect?
That wizards don't age?

Still confused I shake my head and realize with regret that I don't know the names of the other teachers.
Well that would have been too nice...

Another look at the staff table shows me that Dumbledore is moving towards our group with a stack of timetables in his hands.

With a friendly smile he gives each off us a time table:

Monday:
Transfiguration 9:00am- 10:35
Potions 10:40am- 12:15pm
Lunch break 12:20pm-12:50
DADA 12:50pm- 2:50pm
HE 2:30pm-3:15pm

_____________________

Tuesday:
Charms 9:00 - 10:35
Ancient Runes10:40- 12:15
Lunch break 12:20pm-12:50pm
HE 12:50pm- 2:25pm
Transfiguration 2:30- 3:15pm

_____________________

Wednesday:
Potions 9:00 - 10:35
Transfiguration 10:40- 12:15
Lunch break 12:20pm-12:50pm
Charms12:50pm- 2:25pm
Arithmancy 2:30pm-3:15pm

______________________

Thursday:
Ancient Runes 9:00 - 10:35
DADA 10:40- 12:15
Lunch break 12:20pm-12:50
Potions 12:50pm- 2:25pm
Astronomy 2:30pm-3:15pm

______________________

Friday:
Arithmancy 9:00-10:35
DADA 10:40- 12:15
Lunch break 12:20pm-12:50
Potions 12:50- 2:25pm
Ancient Runes 2:30-3:15pm

______________________

DADA = Defense Against The Dark Arts
HE = Home Economics
Note: If you wish to have more Astronomy classes that can be arranged by talking to the teacher.

________________________

"Do any of you have a similar timetable to mine, and have Transfiguration with me?"
"We all have Transfiguration with you," Bailee mumbles after taking a look at his friends timetables.

"Then we all have Potions and after lunch we have Defense Against the Dark Arts, then we part ways. The girls have Home Economics with you, Sasha Herbology and James and I have finished for the day ", he compares our Timetables further.

"That sounds pretty good," smiles Jacklyn who is shy even now with her close circle of friends.
"I think so too!" Beams Tracey.

"Then we can introduce you to the castle in peace, so that you don't get lost alone."

"Let's go," James groans and then reaches for Caseys' hand, on which he presses a quick kiss and looks at her intensely.

I look at Jaclyn who's eyeing the two of them with a hint of jealousy and then scurries over to Sasha, blushing furiously

I hide my smile as I turn around.
Very interesting.
I wonder if they know how easy it is to see that they like one another?

"I really don't want to be late for my first lesson at a new school. So who's going to show me the way?" I turn to face my new classmates.
"I'll take you", says Bailee smiling, and both of us start walking in the direction of our next class.
"Here we are," his permanent smile spreads a little more as he points to the classroom door.

"Thank you, Lee. May I call you that? Unless you prefer me to call you Bae ", I smile back.
His smile is contagious!

"Surely, you can call me Lee after all, we are friends," he replies giving me a slightly weird look because of the way that I pronounced Bae.

Friends?
He already sees me as a friend?
With him things go really fast.
He's a little too naive....

The Transfiguration class with Professor Dumbledore went by in a flash.

I'm sitting at the very back row with Lee.
Professor Dumbledore teaches completely different from Professor McGonogall, not worse and not better.
With both teachers you understand right away what they want from you and besides I did all of the exercises not too long ago so I found it rather easy to turn the cup into a turtle.

However, Professor Dumbledore places more value on unspoken spells, then Professor McGonagall, but since I had Professor Snape in Defense Against the Dark Arts in year six, I am trained in them quite well.

I tried to keep an eye on Riddle during class without being noticed.
Unfortunately, this has proven to be more difficult than I expected.

He's sitting in the front row between two boys that are apparently his friends.
At least they came in together and left as a group.

Not once did we see him smile, he is completely focused on his work and carries everything out flawlessly.
Up until now he seems like an ordinary student, who is characterized by hard work and skill, and not as the future Lord Voldemort.

So far I'm not surprised that he could wrap Slughorn around his finger and receive help with the Horcruxes.

He seems harmless, inquisitive... but evil?

Even to me he makes a good impression, which isn't just due to his good looks, because I know exactly what will become of the young Riddle.

Unfortunately, I haven't really been able to observe him much in the classroom...there are just too many people sitting between us, but it helped me to get a first impression of him.

At the moment I am waiting with my new friends in the dungeons for Professor Slughorn. Tom is not ten steps away from me and is silently listening to the two boys from earlier.

"Tell me," I interrupt Tracey talking.
"Who are the two guys with our Head Boy?"
"Them?" Tracey snorts contemptuously.
"Those are Abraxas Malfoy and Antonin Dolohov. His 'friends'? I think he just collects a horde of evil morons to hang around and adore him. "
"Does he have any other...followers?", I inquire casually.

Casey gives me a strange look before answering.
"Only Slytherins. Mulciber, Rosier, Lestrange, Nott, Avery, Rookwood and some of the Black family, but they aren't in our year. "
"Hmm," I mumble and turn away again, before Riddle may notice my inquiring glances.
"You might get to know his other "charming" "friends" with the subjects that you have chosen. But why does that interest you at all? "James asks while puting his arm around the shoulders of his friend, waiting for my answer.

Just as I open my mouth to tell them a fairly plausible explanation, the chubby Slughorn sneakes down the hall and starts shooing us like a flock of chicken in front of him into the classroom.

The Potions class consists of ten students. There are clearly less participants for the N.E.W.T.s, than in Transfiguration.
Thus each student has so much space that everyone can claim a work table completely for themselves, and still only the first row is being occupied.

Tom has placed his cauldron three places further between Malfoy, who has the typical white-blond hair and Dolohov.

"The last school year is upon us and we have a new face in our class. Hazel Hayes. I am very pleased that you have decided to be a part of my course. I've heard only good things about you. I'm curious how you will do in my class. But I guess I'll see for myself at the end of this lesson. Everyone open their Books on page 52 please, the Gregory - Potion. Maybe we'll try it at the end of the day on some students? "

He giggles happily and slumps into his chair.

I painfully suppress a small grin.
He started last year's class with exactly this potion...
That was also what l was repeating this morning until Riddle interrupted me.

Back in my time I had made it into the Slug Club, and now I'll get in without even really having to try!

"May all of you put a small sample of the potion into a vile! And I am very excited to see how much of what you have learned last year actually stuck," he curiously walks around the students cauldrons and leans happily smiling over my Potion.

"Ah, Miss Hayes! Superb! I had already been told that you are truly gifted. You wouldn't mind staying behind after class so that we could have a little chat, would you? "
"Of course not Professor, I wouldn't mind at all" I smile back at him faking shyness while I give him my Potion sample.

When he got to Tom's table he got equally exited and started showering him with compliments.

I shacked my head at the old Potions Teacher in amusement.
He really hasn't changed one bit.

Instead of leaving the class room with the others, I patiently wait for Professor Slughorn to start talking.
Bored, I step from one foot to the other.

"I'll make this short, Miss. Hayes. After all, I'm sure you would much rather be at lunch with your fellow class mates right now...." He smiles kindly at me.
"I would like to see you again at a private dinner meeting. You know, I only invite the best students to attend these meetings in my quarters, only the students, of which I am sure that they will go far attend said meetings. And I'm already sure that you are an outstanding witch. What do you think? Will you accept my invitation? "
"I am honored, Professor and am really looking forward to the meeting."
"Well, I shall let you know when the next meeting as will take place as soon as I've decided that. Now you can go have your lunch. Good-bye, miss. "
"Good-bye, sir," I say my goodbyes and leave as quickly as possible without running out of the classroom.

As far as I know, Tom Riddle and some of his friends are also in the Slug-Club.
Theodore Notts father, for instance.
Hopefully I won't be surrounded only by future Death Eaters.

"Hey guys. Slughorn has invited me to his meeting. Is anyone of you going to be there as well, or am I going to be exposed to total strangers?" I address my new friends whilst dropping beside them on the bench in the Great Hall.
"I'll be there," Sasha replies to my question and pushes a piece of potato into his mouth.
"Good. I thought I'd have to be there all by myself....well you know I don't really know anybody besides you guys..." I say slightly relieved tucking into my food.
"Don't worry, I'm with you and there really is worse," Sasha replies trying to calm me down and gives me a charming smile.

If I hadn't noticed Jacklyns' tortured face, I would have smiled back, but you don't make enemies from the start, especially not in your own house, besides that what would I want with a guy in the wrong time?

Genevive Motesfont, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is a strict woman who doesn't overlook a single mistake and pays merciless attention to every single student.

This course has more students than that of Professor Slughorn, but less than Transfiguration.

"This is your last year at Hogwarts. Use it well and don't waste your time with useless things ", her searching gaze slides throughout the class room before she leaves us with a nod.

Useless things?
What does she mean by that?

After Defense Against The Dark Arts, I thoughtfully follow my new friends to the Home Economics class.

Nothing in the world is useless.
Every little thing has its place in the world, so what did she mean by useless?

All Slytherin and Gryffindor seventh year students are divided into small groups outside the classroom by Sarah Philips, our Home Economics teacher.

Silently I join my friends and watch the girls.
Whether Slytherin or Gryffindor, all the girls giggle around and talk wildly.
They remind me a lot of my classmates.
A painful wave of nostalgia overwhelmes me.
I blink violently to cast the emerging tears away.

Oh Neville!
What I would give to be with you right now...
Feeling the sadness creeping in, I quickly lower my gaze and try to compose myself.

You are on a mission Hayes!
The success of your mission could be the key to defeating the Dark Lord.
Pull yourself together!,
I remind myself and sneak behind the others into the classroom.
I quietly sit down next to Tracey at a table and look doubtfully at the other students around us.
Well this might be interesting.....

"Good day students from Gryffindor and Slytherin. This year we have a new face in our midst. Hazel Hayes from America. Miss Hayes, the director has mentioned that you have never had home economics, is that correct?"

"Yes," I reply with a fixed gaze.
Snape didn't even warn me, the mangy mutt!

"Then you will have a lot to catch up. Without the slightest basis it looks bad for you to pass your NEWTs in this subject... I mean what man wants a woman who can't run the household? ", The teacher's voice sounds like the malevolent whisper of a vampire who is trying to lull his victim.

"The one who has sense enough to see that this here," I make an expansive gesture. "is not everything that counts in the world," I growl annoyed.

Professor Philips smiles sweetly.
"Well, if you see it like that, Miss Hayes."

"Today we are going to bake a Black Forest cake. Pair up in groups and bake the cake as it says in the book.... As you know I don't give away grades." says Professor Philips whilst walking to her desk.

"I'm sorry, Tracey. I've never done anything like this before. "
"Don't worry, I'm terrible at it," she giggles and goes up to a free stove with the book in hand.

Tonight I'm going to send an owl to Diagon Alley to get me some of the missing books.
Thank Merlin, I've taken a lot of money in to this decade. Without I'd be pretty screwed.

"Well, that wasn't too bad for the beginning," I tease Tracey and shake my head, to get some of the flour out of my hair.

She tried to separate the egg whites from the yolk and add the flour simultaneously.... obviously she has failed miserably.
The flour bag got torn open in place of the eggs and its content was distributed across the table and us.

It would have taken me hours until I had the flour out of my hair and lungs, if I wasn't a witch.
I've already cleaned my School robes, but in my opinion, the mess was well worth Philips's shocked face.

This teacher reminds me more of Umbridge every second that passes... I can't stand her already.
That fake smile and the obsession that she has with her subject...
Does she seriously think that the man who will fall in love me won't take me because I prefer to bake without magic?

Weird old lady.

"If I'm honest, I've made bigger messes before," Tracey mumbles, grinning, wiping flour from her cheeks.
"I believe you right away," I giggle.
"We are definitely a good team."

"A chaotic team, as I judge you!" Sasha suddenly calls behind us and puts an arm around his sister's shoulders.
"What did you do this time, sis?" He grins and messes up her dusty white hair.
"Did you two have flour fight?" He asks looking us up and down smiling slightly.
"Something like that," I laugh.

"I thought so. It would have been a wonder if Tracey hadn't destroyed anything in Home Economics this time, " he smiles and pulls his sisters' cheek.
"Be quiet," she complains and punches him lightly in the side.

"I'm leaving, you guys. I have to send an owl," I announce cheerfully waving to them whilst walking to the library.
At night I lay in bed with a full stomach rolling around back and forth.

The first day went relatively well.
I've made some new friends and feel that i have blended in relatively well until now.

My first contact with Riddle went indeed completely different than I thought, but it went good non the less.

The only irritating thing about him is himself.
I imagined that he would be different.
Mischievous in appearance and obviously racist, like Malfoy.
Not so cool, controlled and restrained.
He has already mastered the art of manipulating perfectly.

I just don't know how to proceed yet, but I'll probably find out in the coming weeks.

With my thoughts on Tom Riddle I fall into a fitful dream that includes him torturing my new friends to death and suddenly change shape.

At the end he looks like Lord Voldemort.
Not like the silent, attractive, young man I've met today.

It was the Lord Voldemort from my memory... but he no longer tortures Tracey and the rest, but Neville with a horrible laugh, chasing a shiver down my spine.