modification | t riddle [complete]

Chapter 1: Returning to Hogwarts

"Estela!" Called a girl with deep hazel eyes, strawberry blonde hair and pale freckled skin who was sitting across from her. Cayra Williams. "How was your summer?"

Cayra began telling Estela all about her holiday to Rome with her family, a few other heads on the Ravenclaw table turning to listen as she told them about all of the amazing things she'd seen. Estela felt a small pang of jealousy in her chest as she described her holiday; the closeness of her family was evident.

Estela wasn't usually a very jealous person, but she had always felt a significant void whenever anyone mentioned their parents. Estela was adopted by a wizarding family after her parents died when she was only four years old. She was very fond of her carers, Grace and William, and she was extremely grateful for their generosity and love over the years, but they would never be able to replace her real parents. She didn't remember them that well - only vague glimpses of their faces and distant echoes of their voices - but perhaps it was just her imagination clinging onto a false memory.

Estela had always been a quiet child and wasn't particularly popular amongst the other children in the orphanage. She was somewhat of an outsider in their eyes, and strange things always happened in her presence - objects would mysteriously move, candles would suddenly extinguish - so the other children generally kept away from her. She was, however, more popular amongst the adults. She was often referred to as "pretty" by the people who visited her in the orphanage. She had fair skin and large blueish grey eyes, and long brown hair that flowed down in natural waves. It didn't take her long to be adopted, and it just so happened that a wizarding family took her in. Some may say it was a coincidence - a stroke of luck - but Estela thought there was more to it than that.

Similar to her days at the orphanage, Estela wasn't that popular at Hogwarts, either. She wasn't an outsider, exactly, she simply found it difficult to connect with people. She tended to focus most of her time on her studies. She was a talented witch and was one of the best in her year. She was, however, very competitive, and there was one thing she hated: She was forced to share being top of her classes with another student. His name was Tom Riddle - a brilliant wizard and everyone knew it. He was very smart and exceptionally gifted in the art of magic. You'd be a fool to deny it. So much so, you could almost feel his magical abilities radiating off of him if you stood too close. It was like a strange yet alluring aura of power that constantly surrounded him.

Most people adored Riddle. After all, he was the epitome of a perfect student. No doubt his charm and his uncanny good looks helped. But at the same time, people were also intimidated by him, maybe even scared. You could tell by the way they caught his eye sometimes - a tiny flicker of fear dancing behind a brave face. And Estela had to admit that there was something quite strange about Riddle, and she could understand peoples' fright. But what unnerved her most was the way the Slytherins acted around him. If the other houses seemed afraid of him, that was nothing in comparison to the members of his own house. They looked at him as though he was some kind of Lord. They admired him. Respected him. They hung onto his every word. It was strange. Estela did think he was charming, yes, but she sensed something else about Riddle too; something deeper lurking behind his charming exterior.

The professors at Hogwarts knew there was a silent rivalry between Tom and Estela to get to the top of their classes, however they had hardly ever spoken. Well, apart from the yearly event in which they were forced to congratulate each other at becoming top of their classes. It would be the same every year: they would both say, "congratulations", shake hands, and smile as a photographer took their picture for the Daily Prophet, after which they would return to their usual way of ignoring one another.

This year Estela had been chosen to become a Prefect for Ravenclaw, giving her extra authority and responsibilities by the Head of House and Headmaster. Estela was delighted to become a Prefect for her house, but was disheartened when she heard that Tom Riddle had also become Prefect for his house, Slytherin. It didn't surprise her, though.