#magic academy

You return Tom's smile, the familiar warmth of trust settling in your chest. He's always been there for you—through the cold nights, the punishments, the moments when the world felt too big and too empty. Of course he watches out for you. That's what friends do.

"I know," you say softly. "I matter to you."

Tom's expression softens further, something genuine flickering behind his eyes. He reaches out, his fingers brushing against yours for just a moment before pulling back. "Always," he murmurs.

The first drops of rain begin to fall, cold and sparse against your skin. Tom looks up at the heavy sky, then back at you. "We should go inside. Mrs. Cole is making an announcement about a trip."

"A trip?" you ask, following him as he turns toward the orphanage.

"To the sea caves," he says, his voice casual. "In February. She's telling everyone after lunch."

You feel a spark of excitement. You've never seen the sea before. The idea of caves and waves and salt air feels like something from a storybook. "That sounds wonderful."

Tom glances at you, his smile still in place. "It does," he agrees. But there's something in his tone—a carefulness, a hesitation you can't quite place.

You stay outside a moment longer, tilting your face up to feel the rain. The drops are cold and clean against your skin, washing away the lingering unease from Amy and Denis's words. Tom waits beside you, patient as always.

"It's nice," you say softly, closing your eyes. "The rain."

"It is," Tom agrees, but his voice is distant. When you open your eyes, you see he's not looking at the sky. He's watching you, his expression thoughtful. The rain darkens his hair, making it cling to his forehead in damp strands.

"You should come inside," he says after a moment. "You'll catch cold."

You smile at him. "You sound like Mrs. Cole."

Something flickers in his eyes—annoyance, maybe, or something sharper. But it's gone quickly, replaced by his usual calm. "I just don't want you getting sick," he says, his tone gentle again.

The rain begins to fall harder, pattering against the leaves and stone. You shiver despite yourself, the cold seeping through your dress. Tom notices immediately.

"Come on," he says, taking your hand. His fingers are warm against yours, a contrast to the chill in the air. "Mrs. Cole will be starting soon."

He leads you toward the orphanage, his grip firm but not tight. As you reach the door, you glance back at the garden one last time. The rain has turned the world grey and blurred, like a watercolor painting left out in the weather.

Inside, the warmth hits you first—the familiar smell of cabbage and dust, the sound of children's voices echoing in the hallway. Mrs. Cole stands at the far end, her sharp face lit by the weak afternoon light from a high window. She's holding a piece of paper, and the other children are gathering around her, their faces curious.

Tom's hand tightens slightly around yours. You look up at him, but his eyes are fixed on Mrs. Cole, his expression unreadable.

You squeeze Tom's hand reassuringly, feeling the tension in his fingers. He glances down at you, his expression softening for just a moment before returning to that careful neutrality he wears around others.

Mrs. Cole clears her throat, the sound sharp in the quiet hallway. "Children, listen up," she says, her voice carrying over the murmur of voices. "I have an announcement about a special outing."

Excitement ripples through the gathered children. Outings are rare—a trip to the park once a year, maybe a visit to the museum if someone donates enough. But this feels different.

"We'll be taking a trip to the sea caves in February," Mrs. Cole continues, a rare smile touching her lips. "It's been arranged by one of our benefactors. We'll spend the day exploring, have a picnic lunch, and be back before dark."

The children begin whispering excitedly, their faces bright with anticipation. You feel a thrill of your own—the sea! You've only ever seen it in pictures.

Then Mrs. Cole's expression changes. Her eyes scan the crowd, landing on Tom. Her smile fades. "There is one condition," she says, her voice turning firm. "Tom Riddle will not be coming."

The hallway goes quiet. All eyes turn to Tom.

He doesn't react at first. He just stands there, his hand still in yours, his face perfectly still. But you feel it—the way his fingers go rigid, the way his whole body tenses beside you. His expression doesn't change, but something dark flickers in his eyes, gone so fast you might have imagined it.

Mrs. Cole meets his gaze, her own expression unyielding. "The trip is for children who have shown good behavior and cooperation," she says, though everyone knows that's not the real reason. "Tom will remain here with one of the caretakers."

She turns away, beginning to give details about dates and what to bring. The other children slowly return to their excited chatter, though now it's tinged with awkward glances in Tom's direction.

Tom releases your hand. He doesn't look at you. He just turns and walks away, his footsteps silent on the stone floor. He disappears down the hallway toward the isolation room, his back straight, his shoulders stiff.

You don't hesitate. You slip away from the crowd and follow Tom down the hallway. The isolation room door is closed when you reach it, but you press your hand against the wood, feeling the familiar warmth of your magic. The lock clicks open softly.

Inside, Tom stands by the small window, his back to you. The room is cold and dim, the only light coming from the grey sky outside. He doesn't turn when you enter.

"Tom," you say softly.

He doesn't respond. His shoulders are tense, his hands clenched at his sides. You can feel the anger radiating from him—cold and sharp, like broken glass.

"You should be with the others," he says finally, his voice flat. "Hearing about the wonderful trip you'll take without me."

"It's not fair," you say, moving closer. "You should be able to come too."

Tom turns then, and his face makes your breath catch. There's no anger in his expression—just a cold, empty calm that's somehow worse. His eyes are dark and distant, as if he's already retreated somewhere you can't reach.

"Fair doesn't exist here," he says quietly. "You know that by now."

You reach for his hand, but he pulls away. The rejection stings, but you understand. He's hurt, and Tom doesn't know how to be hurt without building walls.

"I'll talk to Mrs. Cole," you say. "I'll make her change her mind."

Tom looks at you, and for a moment, something like warmth flickers in his eyes. But it's gone quickly, replaced by that careful neutrality. "Don't bother," he says. "She won't listen. She never does."

"But I have to try," you insist. "I want you to see the sea too."

He studies your face, his gaze intense. "Why?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why does it matter so much to you?"

"I'll do extra kitchen duties," you say, your voice firm. "I'll scrub pots and peel potatoes and do whatever she wants. I'll earn your place on the trip."

Tom looks at you, his expression unreadable. The cold anger seems to drain from him slowly, replaced by something more thoughtful. He studies your face as if searching for something—doubt, hesitation, a sign that you don't mean it.

"You'd do that?" he asks quietly. "For me?"

"Of course," you say without hesitation. "You're my friend."

The word feels small in the cold room, but Tom's expression softens just a little. He reaches out, his fingers brushing against yours. This time he doesn't pull away.

"Kitchen duties won't change her mind," he says, but there's no bitterness in his voice now. Just resignation. "She doesn't like me. She never has."

"Then I'll keep doing them until she takes pity on me," you say stubbornly. "Until she sees how much it matters."

A faint smile touches Tom's lips—not his usual practiced smile, but something smaller, more genuine. "You're too stubborn for your own good."

"You're worth being stubborn for," you say, and you mean it.

Tom's fingers tighten around yours. He looks at your joined hands, then back at your face. "If you're going to do this," he says slowly, "do it properly. Don't just offer once. Keep offering. Every day. Until she can't say no anymore."

You nod, determination settling in your chest like a warm stone. "Every day," you promise.

The next morning, you find Mrs. Cole in the kitchen, already overseeing breakfast preparations. The room is warm and steamy, filled with the smell of porridge and weak tea. She looks up when you enter, her sharp eyes narrowing.

"What do you want, child?" she asks, her tone brisk.

"I want to help," you say, trying to keep your voice steady. "With the kitchen duties. Every day. Until the trip."

Mrs. Cole studies you, her expression unreadable. "And why would you do that?"

"So Tom can come to the sea caves," you say honestly. "He deserves to see them too."

For a long moment, Mrs. Cole doesn't speak. She just looks at you, her face tired and worn. Then she sighs, a heavy sound that seems to carry the weight of all her years at Wool's Orphanage.

"Fine," she says finally. "You can start today. But I'm not making any promises."

You don't wait for further instructions. You move to the large sink where breakfast pots are already piled high, their sides crusted with dried porridge. The water is lukewarm when you turn the tap, but you plunge your hands in anyway, reaching for the scrubbing brush.

Mrs. Cole watches you for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she turns back to the stove without another word.

The work is harder than you expected. The porridge has hardened into a stubborn film that clings to the metal. Your fingers ache as you scrub, the rough brush scraping against your skin. Steam rises from the water, fogging the window above the sink. But you keep going, your movements steady and determined.

Days pass this way.

You rise before the other children, slipping into the kitchen while the sky is still dark. You scrub pots, peel potatoes until your fingertips are raw, sweep floors until your arms ache. Mrs. Cole doesn't praise you, but she doesn't stop you either. She just watches, her sharp eyes noting your persistence.

Tom finds you one morning, your hands red and chapped from the hot water. He doesn't speak at first. He just stands in the doorway, watching you scrub.

"You don't have to do this," he says quietly.

"I want to," you say, not looking up from the pot in your hands. "I promised."

He's silent for a long moment. Then he moves to stand beside you, picking up a towel to dry the clean dishes. You don't ask why he's helping. You just feel a warmth spread through your chest, easing the ache in your hands.

Weeks go by. February approaches. The other children talk excitedly about the sea caves, their voices carrying through the hallways. You listen while you scrub, imagining the sound of waves, the smell of salt air.

One morning, Mrs. Cole stops you as you're about to start on the breakfast dishes. Her face looks older in the grey dawn light, the lines around her eyes deeper than usual.

"Enough," she says, her voice tired. "You've done enough."

You look up, your heart pounding. "Does that mean—"

"Tom can come," she says, cutting you off. She sounds resigned rather than pleased. "But he stays with you the entire time. And if there's any trouble—any at all—he'll be sent back immediately. Understood?"

You nod, your throat too tight to speak. The relief that washes over you is so strong it makes your knees feel weak.

Mrs. Cole studies you for another moment, her expression softening just a little. "You're a stubborn child," she says, but there's no anger in her voice. "Stubborn and loyal. That's a dangerous combination."

She turns away, ending the conversation. You stand there in the steamy kitchen, your hands still damp from the sink water, and let the news settle inside you. Tom can come. He'll see the sea.

A month passes. The trip to the sea caves comes and goes—a blur of cold wind, dark caves, and Tom walking silently beside you the whole time. He didn't smile much, but you saw the way his eyes lingered on the waves, the way he touched the wet stone walls as if memorizing their texture.

Now it's late December, a few days before New Year's Eve. The orphanage feels different during the holidays—quieter, emptier, as if everyone is holding their breath.

You're walking through the common room when you hear them: two older boys from the dormitory down the hall, their voices carrying from behind a bookshelf.

"...born on New Year's Eve, can you believe it?" one says, snickering. "Like he couldn't be normal even about when he showed up."

"Probably thought he was some kind of special gift," the other replies, his tone mocking. "Tom Riddle, the midnight baby. Bet his mother couldn't wait to get rid of him."

Their laughter is sharp and cruel. You freeze, your hands curling into fists at your sides. Tom's birthday. You didn't know. He never told you.

You don't confront them. You don't even move. You just stand there, listening to their laughter fade as they walk away, and something settles inside you—a quiet determination.

Tom's birthday is in a few days. New Year's Eve. He never told you, which means he probably doesn't expect anyone to remember. But you will. You'll get him something perfect.

The bookshop across the street has been there forever, its windows dusty, its sign faded. You've passed it a hundred times, but you've never gone inside. Now you find yourself standing outside it, looking through the glass at shelves crammed with old books.

The bell above the door jingles when you push it open. The air inside smells of paper and dust and something else—something old and quiet. An elderly man sits behind the counter, reading a newspaper. He doesn't look up.

You wander through the narrow aisles, your fingers brushing against leather spines and faded cloth covers. You're not sure what you're looking for until you see it—a small, plain diary bound in black leather. It's simple, unadorned, but something about it feels right. Like it's waiting for someone.

You pick it up. The leather is smooth under your fingers, the pages blank and crisp. It feels like possibility.

The man at the counter looks up when you approach. "That'll be sixpence," he says, his voice raspy.

Sixpence. You don't have sixpence. You don't have any money at all.

You look down at the diary in your hands, then back at the man. "I don't have sixpence," you say quietly.

He studies you for a moment, taking in your worn dress, your thin frame. "Then you can't have it," he says, not unkindly. Just stating a fact.

You place the diary back on the counter, your fingers lingering on the leather for just a moment before you turn and leave. The bell jingles again as the door closes behind you.

Outside, the winter air bites at your skin. People hurry past, their faces pinched and tired. Times are hard. Everyone says so. But you stand there on the pavement, looking back at the bookshop window, and you know one thing for certain: you're going to get that diary for Tom.

You get an idea.

You focus, the way you do when you make things warm or move objects without touching them. Your magic feels like a current under your skin, familiar and strange all at once. You look at a woman walking past, her purse hanging loosely from her arm. You concentrate, and a dollar note slips from the opening, floating gently through the air toward you.

Your heart pounds as you catch it. The woman doesn't notice. She keeps walking, her head bent against the wind.

For a moment, you just stand there, the dollar crisp in your hand. Guilt prickles at the edges of your mind, sharp and cold. But then you think of Tom—of his birthday, of the way he never expects anything from anyone—and you push the feeling away.

You go back into the bookshop. The bell jingles again. The old man looks up, his eyebrows raised.

"I have money," you say, placing the dollar on the counter. Your voice sounds small in the quiet shop.

He looks from the money to your face, his expression unreadable. Then he nods slowly, taking the dollar and sliding the diary toward you. "It's yours," he says.

You pick up the diary, the leather smooth and cool against your palm. It feels heavier than it looks, as if it contains more than just blank pages. You slip it into your pocket, where it rests against your thigh, a secret weight.

Outside, the guilt returns, stronger this time. You stole. You used your magic to take something that wasn't yours. The knowledge sits in your stomach like a stone. But when you touch the diary through your pocket, you feel a strange certainty—this was meant for Tom. This is the right gift.

You hurry back to the orphanage, your mind already turning over how to give it to him. New Year's Eve is only a few days away. You'll have to find the right moment, when you can give it to him privately, when he won't feel embarrassed or exposed.

The diary feels warm in your pocket, as if it's already absorbing your intention, your hope. You imagine Tom's face when he opens it—the surprise, the quiet pleasure he never shows anyone else. The thought makes the guilt feel smaller, less important.

You have the gift. Now you just need to give it.

New Year's Eve arrives cold and quiet. The orphanage feels emptier than usual—some children have been taken by relatives for the holiday, others have retreated into themselves. You wait until after dinner, when the corridors are dark and still, before slipping out of your room.

The diary is hidden under your pillow. You retrieve it, feeling the smooth leather against your fingers. Then you make your way to Tom's room.

He's sitting on his bed when you enter, a book open in his lap. He looks up, and for a moment you see the surprise in his eyes before he masks it. "What are you doing here?" he asks, though his voice lacks its usual sharpness.

"I heard it's your birthday," you say softly, closing the door behind you.

Tom's expression tightens. "Who told you that?"

"It doesn't matter." You move closer, holding out the diary. "Happy birthday."

He looks from your face to the black leather book in your hands. For a long moment, he doesn't move. Then he reaches out, his fingers brushing yours as he takes it. He turns it over, studying it as if it's a puzzle he needs to solve.

"It's a diary," you say, feeling suddenly self-conscious. "For writing things down. Secrets. Thoughts. Whatever you want."

Tom opens it, running his thumb over the blank pages. His expression is unreadable, but you see the way his fingers tighten around the cover, the way his eyes soften just a little.

"Thank you," he says quietly. He looks up at you, and for once, he doesn't hide what he's feeling. You see the gratitude there, raw and real. "No one's ever given me a birthday present before."

You sit beside him on the narrow bed, the mattress dipping under your weight. Tom doesn't move away. He keeps looking at the diary, his fingers tracing the edge of the cover.

"What will you write first?" you ask softly.

Tom is quiet for a moment. The only sound is the distant murmur of the orphanage settling for the night—a floorboard creaking, someone coughing down the hall. Then he looks up, his dark eyes meeting yours.

"Secrets," he says simply. "Things no one else should know."

He opens the diary to the first page, but doesn't reach for a pen. Instead, he just holds it, as if the blank pages are enough for now. The room feels different tonight—warmer, closer. The stone walls seem to hold the quiet between you like a promise.

From the corner of the room comes a soft hissing sound. You both turn to see Nagini coiled near the baseboard, her black scales gleaming in the dim light. She lifts her head, her tongue flicking out to taste the air.

"What are you doing here?" you ask Nagini, your voice soft.

The snake lifts her head higher, her dark eyes fixed on you. "The cold," she hisses, the sound like dry leaves rustling. "The wallsss are cold. Your room is warmer."

Tom watches the exchange, his expression curious but not surprised. He's heard you speak to Nagini before, but he's never joined in. You glance at him, wondering if he understands.

"You can talk to her too," you say quietly. "If you want."

Tom looks from you to Nagini, his gaze thoughtful. For a moment, he doesn't speak. Then he makes a soft hissing sound, low and fluid, that doesn't sound like English at all.

Nagini's head tilts. "You speak the tongue," she says, her voice carrying a note of surprise. "The boy speaksss."

Tom's lips curve into a small, private smile. He hisses again, longer this time, and Nagini responds, her body coiling and uncoiling as she moves closer to the bed.

You watch them, feeling something shift in the room. It's not just that Tom can speak to snakes too—it's the way he does it, with a confidence that suggests he's known this secret for a long time. He's been keeping it, just like he keeps everything else.

Nagini slithers onto the bed, her cool scales brushing against your leg. "He is like you," she says to you. "But different. Hisss magic tastes different."

Tom's smile widens, just a little. He reaches out, letting Nagini slide over his hand. "She's right," he says, switching back to English. "Our magic is different. Yours feels... warm. Like sunlight. Mine feels..."

He trails off, as if searching for the right word. But he doesn't finish the thought. He just looks at you, his dark eyes serious in the dim light.

February arrives grey and damp, the promise of the sea caves finally becoming real. The morning of the trip dawns cold, with a sharp wind coming off the water. You stand on the pebbled beach with the other children, your thin dress offering little protection against the chill.

Tom stands beside you, silent as always. While the others run toward the waves, you kneel in the wet sand, searching for shells. You find seven—small, pearlescent things that gleam like secrets in your palm. You press them into Tom's hand without a word.

He looks at them, then at you, his expression unreadable. Then he shrugs out of his jacket and drapes it over your shoulders. The wool is still warm from his body.

"Come on," he says quietly. "Let's see the cave."

You follow Tom toward the cave entrance, the seven shells still warm in your palm. The wind cuts through the thin fabric of your dress, but Tom's jacket holds his warmth close to your skin. It smells like him—clean and sharp, like rain on stone.

The cave mouth is a dark opening in the cliff face, wider than you expected. Inside, the air changes—damp and cool, smelling of salt and wet rock. The sound of the waves fades to a distant murmur, replaced by the drip of water somewhere in the darkness.

Tom stops just inside the entrance, letting his eyes adjust. You stand beside him, your shoulder brushing his. The cave feels like another world, quiet and secret. You can hear your own breathing, the soft rustle of Tom's clothes as he moves.

"Look," he says softly, pointing.

Further in, where the light from the entrance barely reaches, the walls seem to shimmer. You move closer, and as your eyes adjust, you see them—carved into the stone, glowing faintly with a soft blue light. Ancient runes, twisting and curling like vines across the rock.

You reach out without thinking, your fingers brushing against the cool stone. The moment your skin touches the runes, something happens.

A warmth spreads through your hand, up your arm, settling in your chest. Beside you, Tom gasps softly. You glance at him and see his hand pressed against the stone too, his eyes wide. Your magic—that familiar current under your skin—stirs, reaching out. And you feel Tom's magic answering, not warm like yours, but something else—sharp and bright and hungry. They don't clash. They dance, twining together in the air between you, shimmering with that same soft blue light as the runes.

It's beautiful. For a moment, you forget everything else—the orphanage, the cold, the other children. There's just this: the magic, the runes, Tom beside you, your powers meeting in the quiet dark.

Then a voice shatters the silence.

"What are you doing?"

You both turn. Denis and Amy stand at the cave entrance, silhouetted against the grey sky. Denis's expression is curious, but Amy's is suspicious, her eyes narrowed as she takes in the glowing runes, the shimmering air between you and Tom.

Tom's magic snaps back like a pulled thread. The blue light fades. His expression goes cold and still, his eyes fixed on the two intruders.

"What do you want?" you ask, your voice echoing softly in the cave's damp air.

Denis takes a step forward, his eyes still fixed on the runes. "We saw you come in here," he says. "What's that on the walls? It was glowing."

Amy stays closer to the entrance, her arms crossed. "It's weird," she says, her voice sharp. "You're both weird. Always together, whispering. And now this—glowing rocks? What are you doing?"

Tom doesn't move. He stands perfectly still beside you, but you feel the change in him—a tension that wasn't there before, cold and sharp. His eyes are fixed on Denis and Amy, and there's something in his expression that makes your stomach tighten.

"It's nothing," Tom says, his voice calm and even. Too calm. "Just old carvings. The light plays tricks."

But Denis isn't listening. He moves closer, reaching out toward the runes. "It was blue," he insists. "Like magic or something."

The word hangs in the air between you all. Magic. Denis says it like it's a joke, but you see the doubt in his eyes, the flicker of unease. Amy shifts her weight, her gaze moving from the runes to Tom's face, then to yours.

"You're lying," she says to Tom, her voice accusing. "You're always lying. Mrs. Cole says you're wicked. She says we should stay away from you."

Tom's expression doesn't change, but you see the way his hands curl into fists at his sides. The air in the cave feels colder suddenly, as if the warmth has been sucked out of it.

"You should leave," Tom says softly. "Now."

"Guys, what satisfaction do you get from bullying Tom?" you say, stepping in front of him. Your eyebrows furrow. "You're just as wicked as him if making him suffer makes you feel happy."

Denis blinks, taken aback. Amy's expression hardens.

"He's still human," you continue, your voice steady despite the pounding in your chest. "He has feelings, yet you treat him like you're animals."

For a moment, there's only the drip of water in the cave, the distant crash of waves. Denis looks down, shuffling his feet. But Amy's face flushes with anger.

"We're not the ones who scare the other kids," she snaps. "We're not the ones Mrs. Cole calls wicked. He is."

You feel Tom move behind you. Not away—closer. His hand comes to rest on your shoulder, his fingers tightening just enough that you can feel the pressure through the fabric of his jacket. His touch isn't reassuring. It feels possessive, like a claim.

"Madison," he says softly, his voice calm. Too calm. "Don't."

You glance back at him. His expression is still, but his eyes—his eyes are dark and focused on Amy, and there's something in them that makes your breath catch. It's not anger, not exactly. It's colder than that. More deliberate.

Amy takes a step back, her bravado faltering under Tom's gaze. Denis grabs her arm. "Come on," he mutters. "Let's just go."

But Tom speaks before they can leave. "No," he says, his voice still quiet. "You came to see what we were doing. You wanted to know about the magic."

The word hangs in the air again, but this time it doesn't sound like a joke. It sounds like a promise.

You reach back, your fingers closing around Tom's wrist. "Tom," you say, your voice low. "It's not worth it. Let them go."

Tom doesn't look at you. His gaze stays fixed on Denis and Amy, who are backing toward the cave entrance now, their faces pale. Denis's hand is tight around Amy's arm, pulling her with him.

"It's always worth it," Tom says softly. His voice doesn't sound like his own—it's flat, empty of the warmth you sometimes hear when he speaks to you. "They came to see magic. They should see it."

You feel his magic then—not the dancing warmth from before, but something colder, sharper. It prickles against your skin like static. The air in the cave grows heavy, pressing in on all sides. The drip of water slows, as if even the cave itself is holding its breath.

Denis makes a choked sound. Amy's eyes are wide with fear now, all her earlier bravado gone. She opens her mouth to speak, but no sound comes out.

"Tom, please," you whisper, your grip tightening on his wrist. "Don't."

He finally looks at you, and what you see in his eyes makes your stomach drop. There's no anger there, no rage. Just a cold, calculating focus. He's not losing control. He's choosing this.

"They'll tell," he says, his voice still quiet. "They'll tell everyone about the runes, about the magic. They'll put doubts in your mind. They'll try to take you away from me."

The words hang between you, stark and true. You think of Mrs. Cole's warnings, of the way the other children whisper about Tom when they think you can't hear. You think of the diary in his room, the secrets he's already started to keep.

Tom turns back to Denis and Amy. He doesn't raise his hand. He doesn't speak. He just looks at them, and something shifts in the air—a pressure that wasn't there before.

Denis's knees buckle. He drops to the cave floor, his hands coming up to clutch at his head. Amy stumbles backward, her mouth working silently. Her eyes are blank, empty.

You watch, your heart pounding in your throat. You want to look away, but you can't. You're frozen, Tom's wrist still tight in your grasp, his magic humming through the air around you.

"Wh-what's happening to them?" you ask, your voice trembling.

Denis is curled on the cave floor now, his body shaking. Amy stands frozen, her eyes empty and staring at nothing. She doesn't blink. She doesn't seem to breathe.

Tom finally looks away from them, his gaze shifting to you. The cold focus in his eyes softens, just a little. He turns his wrist in your grasp, not pulling away, but instead lacing his fingers through yours.

"They're seeing things," he says quietly. "Things that will make them forget about the runes. About the magic. About us."

His hand is warm in yours, a stark contrast to the chill in the cave. You look from his face back to Denis and Amy. Denis has stopped shaking. He's lying still now, his eyes closed. Amy hasn't moved.

"Are they...?" you start, but can't finish the question.

"They're fine," Tom says, his voice gentle. "They'll wake up in a few minutes. They won't remember anything. They'll just know they shouldn't have followed us. They'll know to stay away."

He squeezes your hand. "It was just to protect you," he adds, his eyes searching your face. "To protect us. They would have told. They would have ruined everything."

You believe him. You want to believe him. But the image of Amy's blank eyes, of Denis shaking on the floor—it stays with you, sharp and cold.

Tom lets go of your hand and moves toward the cave entrance. He doesn't look back at Denis and Amy. "Come on," he says. "Let's go back to the beach. Before anyone wonders where we are."

You follow him, your legs feeling unsteady. As you step out into the grey light, you glance back once. Denis is stirring, sitting up slowly. Amy blinks, her expression confused. She looks around as if she doesn't know where she is.

Then Tom's hand is on your shoulder, turning you away. "Don't look," he says softly. "It's over."

The rest of the field trip passes in a blur. The other children play on the beach, their laughter sharp against the sound of the waves. You sit with Tom on a rock, his jacket still around your shoulders. He doesn't speak, but his presence beside you feels like an anchor.

When Mrs. Cole calls everyone to leave, Denis and Amy are quiet. They don't look at you or Tom. They don't speak to each other. They just follow the group, their movements slow and careful, as if they're remembering how to walk.

On the train back to London, Tom leans his head against the window, his eyes closed. You watch the countryside rush past, the grey fields and bare trees blurring together. The seven shells are still in your pocket, smooth and cool against your fingers.

Three years pass.

Three years pass in the quiet rhythm of Wool's Orphanage—scrubbed floors, shared secrets, whispered conversations in Tom's room. You grow taller. Your magic grows stronger, though you keep it hidden, a warm secret under your skin. Tom keeps his magic sharper, colder, but he shares it with you in the dark, showing you what he can do.

Then, one July morning when you're both eleven, everything changes.

Mrs. Cole knocks on Tom's door, her expression unusually tense. Behind her stands a tall man with auburn hair and half-moon spectacles, wearing robes of deep purple that seem to shimmer in the dim hallway light.

"Tom, Madison," Mrs. Cole says, her voice tight. "This is Professor Dumbledore. He's here to speak with you."

Tom is sitting on his bed, his back straight, his dark eyes fixed immediately on the stranger. His clothes are clean but too small, the sleeves riding up his wrists. He doesn't smile.

"You're the professor," he says flatly.

Dumbledore steps into the small room, his presence making the space feel even smaller. His blue eyes are sharp behind his spectacles, taking in everything—the iron bed, the cracked window, the way Tom sits protectively between you and the door.

"I am," Dumbledore says, his voice gentle but firm. "And I've come to talk to you about a school. A school for people like you."

You move closer to Tom instinctively, your shoulder brushing his. The air in the room feels charged, like before a storm. Tom doesn't look at you, but you feel him shift slightly, his posture becoming more protective.

Dumbledore's gaze softens as he looks at you both. "The school is called Hogwarts," he says. "It's a place where young witches and wizards learn to use their magic properly. To control it. To understand it."

Tom's eyes narrow. "Magic," he repeats, the word hanging in the air between them. "You know about that."

"I do," Dumbledore says. "And I know that both of you have abilities that set you apart. Things you can do that others cannot."

He looks from Tom to you, his expression thoughtful. "Madison, isn't it? Mrs. Cole tells me you've been here since you were seven. That you arrived with no memory of your life before."

You nod, your throat tight. The green flash—the only thing you remember—feels suddenly close, as if it's just behind your eyes.

"And Tom," Dumbledore continues, turning back to him. "You've always known you were different. You can make things happen. Move objects without touching them. Influence animals. Even influence people."

Tom's jaw tightens. He doesn't deny it. "I can make bad things happen to people who annoy us," he says, his voice cool and measured. "I can make them hurt if I want to."

The words hang in the small room, stark and unapologetic. Dumbledore doesn't flinch. He simply watches Tom, his expression unreadable. You feel Tom's hand brush against yours, his fingers curling around your wrist. His grip is tight, possessive.

"Hogwarts..." you say slowly, the word feeling strange on your tongue. "You're telling me there are other people like us? Like... a whole other community?"

Dumbledore's expression softens. "Yes," he says. "A whole world, in fact. Hidden from those without magic, but very real. Witches and wizards live among Muggles—non-magical people—but we have our own schools, our own government, our own shops and streets and traditions."

You feel something shift inside you, a warmth that has nothing to do with your magic. A whole world. Other people like you. The thought makes your chest ache with a hope you didn't know you were holding.

Tom's grip on your wrist tightens. "And they'll teach us how to control it?" he asks, his voice still cool. "How to use it properly?"

"To use it wisely," Dumbledore corrects gently. "Magic is a gift, but it comes with responsibility. At Hogwarts, you'll learn spells, potions, charms—how to channel your abilities safely. But you'll also learn that magic must never be used to harm, to control, or to steal."

Tom's expression doesn't change, but you feel the tension in his hand. His eyes flick to Dumbledore's wand, which rests in the professor's pocket, just visible beneath his robes. There's a hunger in that look—sharp and focused.

Dumbledore follows his gaze. "You'll have a wand of your own," he says. "Every witch and wizard does. It chooses you, in a way. Becomes an extension of your magic."

Tom's attention snaps back to Dumbledore's face. "And we'll go together?" he asks, his voice sharper now. "Madison and I. We won't be separated."

It's not a question. It's a demand.

You stay quiet, processing everything. A whole hidden world. Other people like you. A school where you'll learn to use your magic properly, where you won't have to hide it anymore. The thought makes your head spin.

Tom's hand is still tight around your wrist, his fingers warm against your skin. You can feel the tension in him—the way he's leaning forward slightly, his dark eyes fixed on Dumbledore. He's not just listening. He's calculating, weighing every word.

Dumbledore watches you both, his expression thoughtful. "You'll go together," he says to Tom, answering the unspoken demand. "Hogwarts accepts all magical children, regardless of their background. You'll both start in September."

He pauses, his gaze drifting around the small room. It lingers on the cracked window, the iron bedframe, the bare floorboards. Then his eyes settle on something under Tom's bed—a small wooden box, tucked just out of sight.

Tom stiffens beside you. His grip on your wrist tightens almost painfully.

With a flick of his hand, Dumbledore makes the box slide out from under the bed. It moves smoothly across the floor, coming to rest at his feet. Tom makes a sharp, choked sound in his throat.

"Those are mine," he says, his voice tight with anger. He tries to stand, but Dumbledore holds up a hand.

"I'm sure they are," Dumbledore says calmly. He opens the box. Inside are small treasures—a yo-yo, a thimble, a silver button. Things you recognize from other children. Things that have gone missing over the years.

And at the bottom, tucked carefully beneath everything else—your handkerchief. The one you lost months ago. And a single strand of your hair, dark against the pale wood.

You stare at it, your mind struggling to make sense of what you're seeing. Why would Tom have your handkerchief? Why would he keep a strand of your hair?

"Oh, there's the stone I gave you on Christmas when we were kids," you whisper to Tom, ignoring the odd stuff but instead letting your gaze linger on the softly glowing stone nestled among the stolen trinkets. "I can't believe you kept it."

Tom's grip on your wrist loosens, just a little. He doesn't look at you, but you see his shoulders relax slightly. The stone—the one you made for him, the one that holds a piece of your magic and radiates constant warmth—glows softly from the box, its light gentle against the darker objects around it.

Dumbledore looks from the stone to you, his expression thoughtful. "A gift?" he asks, his voice gentle.

You nod. "I made it for him. It's always warm."

Dumbledore's eyes soften. He reaches into the box and picks up the stone, holding it in his palm. The light seems to brighten for a moment, as if recognizing his magic. "This is quite remarkable," he says quietly. "Ancient magic, if I'm not mistaken. Very rare."

He looks at you, his gaze sharpening. "You made this?"

Before you can answer, Tom speaks. "She did," he says, his voice tight. "It's mine. Give it back."

Dumbledore studies Tom for a long moment, then carefully places the stone back in the box. He doesn't return the box to Tom, though. He keeps it on the floor between them.

"There is nothing wrong with being curious, Tom," Dumbledore says, his voice still calm. "Or with keeping gifts from friends. But you must learn to respect others' things, and their pain. These other items—they belong to other children. Taking them causes hurt."

Tom's jaw tightens. "They're mine now," he says, but there's less conviction in his voice than before. His eyes keep flicking to the stone, to your handkerchief, as if checking that they're still there.

Dumbledore closes the box. "I'll return these to Mrs. Cole," he says. "She can see that they find their proper owners. Except for the stone, of course. And Madison's handkerchief."

He looks at you, his expression kind. "Would you like your handkerchief back?"

You look at the handkerchief, then at Tom. His expression is closed off, his eyes dark and unreadable. But you remember the way he looked when you gave him the stone—the way his face softened, just for a moment.

"He can keep it," you say quietly to Dumbledore. "It's just a handkerchief."

Dumbledore studies you for a moment, his blue eyes thoughtful behind his spectacles. Then he nods and places the handkerchief back in the box with the stone. He closes the lid and sets the box on Tom's bed.

Tom doesn't reach for it. He just watches Dumbledore, his posture stiff and wary.

"The stone is a remarkable piece of magic," Dumbledore says, turning his attention back to you. "Ancient magic is rare—very few witches or wizards are capable of wielding it. At Hogwarts, you'll have the opportunity to explore that gift properly, with guidance."

He pauses, his gaze moving between you and Tom. "But first, you'll need supplies. Books, robes, a wand. There's a place in London called Diagon Alley, hidden from Muggle eyes. I'll give you both letters with instructions on how to enter. And when September first arrives, you'll take the train from King's Cross Station, platform nine and three-quarters."

Tom's eyes light up at the mention of a wand. "Platform nine and three-quarters?" he repeats, his voice sharp with interest. "How do we find it?"

Dumbledore smiles, a small, knowing expression. "You'll run straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten," he says. "It sounds impossible, but it works. Trust in the magic."

He reaches into his robes and produces two envelopes, each sealed with red wax. He hands one to you, one to Tom. "Everything you need to know is inside. Read them carefully. And remember—this is a new beginning for both of you. A chance to learn, to grow, to belong."

Tom takes his letter, his fingers careful on the parchment. You hold yours in both hands, feeling the weight of it. The wax seal is stamped with a crest—a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake, all surrounding a large letter H. Dumbledore stands, his robes rustling softly. "I'll leave you to read your letters," he says. "If you have any questions, you can write to me. The address is on the envelope."

He looks at you both one last time, his expression serious but kind. "Take care of each other," he says quietly. Then he turns and leaves the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

You're alone with Tom again. The silence feels different now—charged with possibility, with the weight of the letters in your hands. Tom is already opening his, his fingers careful on the wax seal.

For a long moment, you both just sit there, holding your letters. The parchment feels heavy in your hands, real in a way that makes your heart beat faster. You look at Tom, and he's looking at you, his dark eyes wide with something you've never seen in them before—not calculation, not hunger, but pure, unguarded wonder.

Then he moves.

He doesn't say anything. He just sets his letter aside and reaches for you, pulling you into a hug so tight it steals your breath. His arms wrap around you, his face buried in your hair. You can feel him shaking, just slightly.

"Everything changes now," he whispers against your ear, his voice rough with emotion. "We belong now. We have a place. A real place."

You hug him back, your own eyes stinging. For years, it's been just the two of you against the world—two strange children in a grey orphanage, hiding what you are. But now... now there's a whole world waiting. A school. Other people like you. A future.

Tom pulls back just enough to look at you, his hands still gripping your shoulders. "Together," he says, and it's not a question. It's a promise. "We go together. We stay together."

You nod, unable to speak. The stone on the bed glows softly beside Tom's open letter, its warm light filling the small room. Outside, London goes on with its ordinary day. But in here, in this moment, everything has already changed.

You have a place now. You belong.

And you have each other.

Wanna make your own choices and see what happens next? READ/PLAY HERE! (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)

🎮interactive fanfic "Orphans | YANDERE!TOM RIDDLE AU" by @bloodred-writer