Third-year train ride

Tom sat in the compartment with an empty look but a heavy mind. His head was gently pressed against the window, eyes not focusing on the bustling wizards and witches in the station but rather somewhere far off. He had focused solely on his future dreams and goals this summer and he had decided on three things.

The first one was finding out who he was and where he was from. Who were his parents? Why had they left him at the orphanage? Just what had they left for their son? The second being to start building himself up. He was going to overcome the one thing he fears most, death. No one had truly conquered it but he would be damned if he wasn't going to be the first. Finally, his last goal was- he was brought out of thought by the compartment door sliding open revealing his last goal, Maria. She hadn't gotten taller but her skin was tanned and her body toned. Her hair had gotten longer and was put in a side braid, but the biggest difference was the pair of glasses resting on her face.

" I know, I know it's the glasses, apparently trying to make potions at home with old ingredients can cause a weird smoke and leave a person partially blind, yeah didn't see that one coming. So I am stuck with these enchanted glasses that will heal my eyes over the year." Maria rambled as she plopped down in front of Tom, her trademark smile lifting her lips. He gave her a small smirk and they fell into conversation comfortably, talking about what they have done and where they went, though Tom had gone to only a handful of places with the orphanage.

The compartment slid open once more revealing Jay and Mae, Maria moved next to Tom leaving space for the two to slide in. They all chatted and talked but Tom chose to stay quiet and only answered when asked to. He instead gazed at Maria with hidden fondness and awe. She couldn't be more opposite of him yet she was still perfect. He shifted his eyes to a cool gaze at the other two in the compartment. Though her big heart caused many...inconveniences. Inconveniences that would have to be dealt with and put into their places.

The rest of the world would view the compartment as a group of 13-year-olds reuniting after summer, but what they didn't were the dark thoughts running in the head of a particular teenager in the group.

They reached the grand castle and all piled into a carriage much to Tom's annoyance. The carriages staggered forward and they were off, all excited in their own way to start the new year. As they entered the castle and settled into their respective tables Tom was greeted by his 'friends'. Malfoy went on and on about his luxurious summer vacation in the Maldives, and Zabini whined about his girlfriend's threat to break up with him if he didn't get her some jewelry set she wanted.

Tom tuned out of the conversation as he usually did and instead discreetly let his eyes roam the student body and staff. His eyes landed on their charms professor, Dumbledore. The man was watching Tom with a smile and a knowing glint. Oh, he loathed that glint, he couldn't wait to someday watch it fade away to a cold, lifeless haze.

He quickly shook his head the moment the thought had entered his head. Lately, he had been having thoughts like these more and more often. Thoughts about hurting other people and making them suffer and the weird thing was, deep inside he reveled in them.

By the time he had refocused his attention to reality, the feast had already begun and Malfoy was giving him the ever-familiar pining look he always gave him. His cheeks and ears promptly turned pink when he noticed Tom had caught him staring.

The rest of the feast was full of tales of summer, dark thoughts, and longing looks. Finally, the prefects were told to take their respective houses to the dormitories and to turn in for the night. It was when they were all laying in their four-poster beds did the real talk really happen.

" Hey, Tom?" Abarax's unsure voice called out. Tom replied with a hm, turning his head to look at Abarax. Abarax was staring at him, his eyes holding an anxious and apprehensive look. Like he wanted to tell Tom something but he was too afraid to.

Finally, he let out a sigh and donned a resigned look.

" Never mind." He turned his back to Tom and ended the conversation. Tom wanted to ask him what he was going to tell him but decided against it. If it was important Abarax would've told him.

Instead, he fell asleep to the thought of going to the library the next day and researching more about immortality, powerful spells, and concoctions. As he was drifting off he thought he heard a sniffle come from Abarax's bed but brushed it off as nothing.