The characters featured do not belong to me. This work is not for profit and meant as artistic expression inspired by the original work.
The Last Day of Summer
by Beth
It was Faith's first time on the Hogwarts Express, and for all that she'd heard about it, she was a little afraid. The train rumbled and shook, and it was so - Muggle.
After an hour, she could no longer stand it, or the chatter of the other first-years in her compartment. They talked so much! She was sure they'd all end up as Hufflepuff or Gryffindor, dumb loyalty and dumber bravery still.
She made her way through the train cars to the rear. She had seen a small porch at the end of the train, back on the station when Mummy still held her hand, and she thought the fresh air would help. She took care to nod politely when someone noticed her pass, if they were children of people her parents knew. Harold Potter tried to wave her over, but Faith wasn't in a mood to talk to Gryffindors, even just second year ones.
She had her wand out as she approached the door at the end of the last carriage, since she'd learned Alohomora years ago, but to her surprise the door swung open as she pulled on the doorknob. The sheer unthoughfulness of it made her huff in disapproval, and it took her a moment to notice she hadn't been the only one to have the idea about a breath of fresh air.
"You shouldn't be here," the boy said. He was tall, dark-haired, at least a sixth-year if not a seventh-year. He was holding his school robes in one hand.
"Well, that door shouldn't be open," Faith said resolutely. The rail around the platform looked far too flimsy. "If a first-year came through, you'd be wiping blood off the tracks all the way to Hogsmeade."
"And I suppose you're not a first-year?"
"Well, I am. But I spent the whole summer practicing spells, and Mother taught me one that would make me bounce right back on the train."
"So you spent your last summer before Hogwarts learning?" The boy reached down to ruffle her hair.
"It was fun." Faith looked up at him. He was wearing a Slytherin tie, and she approved. "What did you do?"
"I visited the family. I settled some matters that had to be resolved." There was a large ring on his finger, and now he raised it up to his face, so that the eye of the ring looked like a third eye in the middle of his forehead. "It's my last year at Hogwarts, and I want to turn a new page."
Faith looked at the railing, then at her robes, still devoid of House colours. "Is Hogwarts nice? My parents always say it is, but - not all the first-years look happy."
"Hogwarts is the best place ever. Whenever I get on the Hogwarts Express, it's like going home."
"Really?"
The boy put his hand on Faith's shoulder and pointed to the trees rushing past. "You leave everything behind - all the troubles, all the things that make you different. All that matters in Hogwarts is what House you're in, and that's all the family you need. Sometimes I think I'd like to stay in Hogwarts forever."
"I want to be in Slytherin. My Mummy was there, and so's my fiancé. Orion Black. We're to marry when I leave Hogwarts." Faith wasn't too sure how she felt about that, but Orion wasn't too stupid for a boy, and he let her order him around when they'd played as children, so she thought he was okay.
"Then maybe you'll help me keep Orion out of trouble. Last year he got caught sneaking Dungbombs into Gryffindor Tower."
"I'll tell him not to get caught," Faith promised. "Are you a Slytherin prefect?"
The boy smiled and slipped on his school robes. A pin glittered in the afternoon sunlight, and Faith's mouth dropped open. "You're Head Boy!"
"Tom Marvolo Riddle, at your service." He winked. "But to my friends, I am Lord Voldemort."