Chapter 1
Engaged in a conversation fraught with palpable tension, the elderly matron who presided over the orphanage conversed with the enigmatic stranger beside her, his presence exuding an air of calm assurance amidst the evident distress. With a gentle smile playing on his lips and a nod of understanding, he acknowledged the woman's words, his gaze offering silent reassurance in the face of her worry. She let out a sigh and turned her head, stopping when she saw Tom. "Oh, Tom. I was just about to call you." Her voice had a strained sweetness to it as she spoke. Tom stared at her as she pointed to the man. "This man has decided to adopt you, meet Mr. Hadrian Pervel."
"It's Peverell, ma'am," Mr. Peverell corrected gently, his smile soft yet genuine as he met Tom's gaze. It was a smile that didn't seem forced, neither too grandiose nor too sinister, leaving Tom intrigued yet cautious. Approaching Tom with measured steps, Mr. Peverell knelt before him, his presence both commanding and comforting as he extended a hand in greeting. "Hello again, Tom, it's been a while," he greeted softly, his words carrying a familiarity that tugged at the recesses of Tom's memory. Though Tom maintained a stoic facade, inwardly, his emotions churned with a tumultuous mix of curiosity and apprehension.
Mr. Peverell let out a small light chuckle. "Go ahead and pack anything you want to bring, especially anything important to you. Take as much time as you need, though." Tom again only nodded, his mask of composure slowly cracking with the weight of this new revelation. As Mr. Peverell stood and walked back to the matron, Tom ascended the stairs to his room, anticipation and joy radiating from every step. In the solitude of his room, Tom wasted no time in packing his meager possessions, his movements purposeful and swift. It didn't take him long to gather his things, including some stolen trinkets he held dear. He wondered why Mr. Peverell wanted him; the unease on the matron's face suggested she might have shared his troubled history. Yet, despite the uncertainty, Tom couldn't deny the glimmer of hope that blossomed within him.
Returning downstairs, Tom saw Mr. Peverell handing papers and a pen back to the matron before turning to face him. "You ready?" Tom nodded, and they stepped outside into the still-barely-morning air, the sun casting its gentle rays upon them. Tom shivered as they approached a sleek black car, a rare sight in their neighborhood. Mr. Peverell opened the trunk as Tom placed his belongings inside. Retrieving a pillow and blanket, Mr. Peverell handed them to Tom. "It's going to be a long drive, so you might as well get comfy. Go ahead and get in the backseat; I'll be back in a moment," Mr. Peverell instructed before closing the trunk. Tom obeyed, sinking into the warmth of the car's interior. Examining the items he was given, Tom couldn't help but smile. The pillow was extra soft, and the blanket was thick and warm. As he snuggled into the blanket, he watched Mr. Peverell walk out of the orphanage with his birth certificate in hand. He entered the driver's seat, placing the paper in his bag.
'Goodbye orphanage,' Tom thought, a sense of liberation washing over him as the car pulled away, leaving behind the familiar confines of his past and venturing forth into a future filled with endless possibilities and untold adventures.