Ab aeterno

The bulk of the old castle appeared out of the mist suddenly, and he gasped like all the other children on the boats gently sliding across the lake. Hogwarts glowed with hundreds of windows, and that somehow reminded him of the ship he once read about. The cursed Flying Hollander, lurking in the seas and oceans somewhere, enveloped in the fogs and mists. Hogwarts wasn’t cursed, he knew that much from the books he got before the beginning of the school year, Hogwarts was the greatest school of wizardry and magic, ancient and beautiful. “My dad told me there's a giant squid that lives in the lake,” said one of the boys in his boat, and all the children looked at the dark surface of the water as if half-expecting the squid to emerge right away and greet them. Your dad’s full of shit, he thought to himself but said “Is that so?” out loud as if it was actually possible that a creature that inhabited the depths of the oceans, according to the books, at least, could possibly be satisfied with the lake. Monsters were greedy, he thought, monsters would not be content with mere lakes. Children started talking in a half-whisper about everything their parents told them about Hogwarts, but Tom Riddle did not. His eyes never left the old castle anymore, and even before he set his foot in it he already felt at home. “Flattery will get you anywhere, my boy,” Slughorn was smiling and when others cackled he added in a tone that implied they were all sharing a secret. “Don’t forget to take old friends with you on the way, Tom.” Tom smiled the vague and eluding smile girls found irresistible and replied: “I forget nothing, professor,” and then added with a shrug, causing the other members of the Slug Club to roar with laughter, “Like elephants.” Slughorn let the laughter die and offered another topic of conversation, something to make his young chosen ones speak up their minds, and Tom fell quiet, cradling his cup of coffee, strong and hot, that left the bitter aftertaste in his mouth, with long and sensual fingers. He knew he was being watched, enjoyed that fact lazily and let his thoughts trail off to the book he was currently reading which was not something unusual for him. Tom had a habit of devouring books at a fast pace and reading several at once. But this one was the book no one seemed to care too much about, as the very last person to request it was Dumbledore, at least, according to the log on the back.  The book that was full of myths and stories of old not to be trusted. “... lost in his thoughts, isn’t he.” Tom startled when he felt Slughorn’s eyes on him. “I beg your pardon?” “That’s exactly what I have just said! It seems we lost our Tom to his thoughts!” the older man smiled pleasantly and then winked. “I bet I know what Tom was thinking about!” I bet you don’t, he thought but let it slip. He liked Slughorn to the extent he could and used him as well.  “It is but a very common pattern of thoughts at this time of the year…” Slughorn said meaningfully and added. “With the day of St. Valentine approaching, and…” “I bet Tom was thinking about a place to hide from that crazy Myrtle!”  “Well, well, is this a way to speak of a lady…” there was a gleam of laughter in Slughorns’ eyes. “I shall pretend I never heard these words!” “That one would have been an easy bet to lose, mind you,” Tom finally replied, thinking about the way Mrs Cole used to utter through her teeth “Betting is as much a sin as gambling”. The memory did not bring him joy. “I don’t actually know who you are talking about.” “The four-eyed with pimples that asked you to get the book from the upper shelf today”, offered Nott quietly. “Oh, is she a Ravenclaw?” “I believe so.” “A Ravenclaw who does not know an Accio spell then… aren’t they supposed to be extremely bright compared to the other houses?” Tom said thoughtfully, and this time even Slughorn laughed. Tom loved Hogwarts.  He loved being in its walls, ancient and full of magic. He knew the castle well enough but still realized that it was impossible to know it to its fullest. Hogwarts reminded him of a carefully decorated jewelry-box. When you open it, you find another box inside. And another. And another, each one decorated as intricately as the previous one. Never-ending joy. He tried to make his joy of Hogwarts as never-ending as possible, staying at school for all the holidays.  When Nott asked him to join him for the winter holidays at their family mansion, Tom declined. To be fair, Nott asked him every year, and Tom was wondering when Theodor would eventually get tired of hearing the same old answer.  “Alright. Will it be alright for me to stay at Hogwarts as well, though?” “I see no reason why you can’t” It pleased Tom immensely that Nott asked for his permission but he never showed that.  The Slytherin common room was empty but for them two at this hour. Nott was still writing an essay for Herbology, he didn’t have time to finish it earlier because of all the quidditch practice. Tom was reading next to the fireplace and enjoying the quiet.  “What about summer?” Tom raised his eyes to Nott, slightly surprised. “What about it?” “Do you already have plans for this summer? I know you prefer staying at school during all the holidays, but in summer… maybe you would like to stay at my place.” he waited for a reply which didn’t come and added. “My parents are dying to meet you. They won’t be in our way, though. And we have a library I’m sure you’d find interesting. And the stables… the hippogriff stables, of course. I would love you to come… please.” The last word was nothing short of a plea. Tom loved Hogwarts, enjoyed it. But this… this he enjoyed as well.  “If nothing out of common happens,” Tom finally said, and at this moment Nott actually held his breath. That was almost endearing. “I will accept your invitation, Theo.” The triumph in Theodor’s eyes was delicious.