Paper & Cranes

Hogwarts, 1944

Scarlett Rosewood’s senses were alert as her feet carried her through the halls of Hogwarts. Crainer flew freely beside her, its gentle paper wings flapping, leaving a trail of blue sparkles behind. She followed the headmaster’s— Armando Dippet — directions from the letter she had received a week earlier towards his office. The gargoyle statue described in the letter appeared in view and she grinned in triumph. 

“Strawberry,” her voice was sharp and confident as the gargoyle spun upward to admit her. Her footsteps echoed as she made her way upwards into the headmaster’s office, Crainer zipping into her coat pocket as she entered the room. With a slight tilt of her head, she took in the tidy room.

“Ah, Miss Rosewood has arrived, just in time!” the headmaster said from his position behind the desk. Scarlett's eyes shifted to the familiar professor whom she had met briefly years ago at the orphanage. Said professor was staring curiously at her, yet with recognition. 

Dippet turned to the curious professor. “Albus, would you prepare her some things while I go over some housekeeping things?” 

“Of course,” Albus responded, sweeping out of the room to do just that. 

“That was Professor Dumbledore, he will be your Transfiguration teacher,” Dippet said, noticing her curious gaze. At her nod, Dippet continued. “Now, in your letter, you said you were born on the 31st of October, 1926. Devil’s night.” a pause. “That would make you a seventh year then.” he mused. 

Unbeknownst to Dippet, Scarlett was born in 1928. She lied about her age to be in Tom’s year. 

Tom.

She hadn’t seen him in years, the last time she saw him was on his birthday seven years ago. She wondered if he remembered her and if he did, would he hate her for leaving? She wouldn’t blame him, but she couldn’t have stayed, not when she had her mysteries to solve about her parents and her missing memories from before five years old. 

She had spent years at Diagon Alley, pickpocketing galleons with her sleight of hand and spent all her hours sneaking into Flourish & Blotts to quench her thirst for knowledge before she made the final decision to come to Hogwarts for, what was supposed to be her fifth-year, was now her seventh year. 

“... houses. Now, let’s get you sorted! Miss Rosewood, will you please sit here on this chair.” Dippet said, drawing her back to the present. He had probably been talking about the history of the four Hogwarts houses and the Sorting Hat, which she already knows of. 

Sitting on the chair, Dippet places the hat on her head, closing her eyes as the hat covers her eyes. “Scarlett Rosewood, you say? Not sure about that, but very interesting indeed. You are brave like your mother, fitting of a Gryffindor. Wits of a Ravenclaw, but… you are more like your father, cunning and calculating.”

Scarlett tensed at the mention of her parents. Had her parents attended Hogwarts when they were young? What were the odds that the answers she had been looking for were at Hogwarts? 

“It’ll have to be… SLYTHERIN!” The hat announced, prompting Scarlett to grin. From what she had read about the Slytherin house, she was pretty sure Tom had been sorted to Slytherin as well, making them housemates. 

Taking the Sorting Hat off her head, Dippet beamed and offered his congratulations. “Brilliant, Miss Rosewood! Now, it’s just in time for lunch in the Great Hall.” he was about to say more, but Dumbledore returned just then. “Albus will escort you to the Great Hall. Hopefully, you’ll make a friend or two and they’ll show you to the Slytherin dormitory, where you’ll be residing for the remainder of the year. If not, Albus would gladly help you out. Now, off you go!” 

“Thank you, professor,” Scarlett said, looking grateful and thanking the headmaster as she stood from her chair. 

“Of course! I was happy to,” Dippet chanted with a clap, looking cheerful as Scarlett followed the Transfiguration teacher as he led her down the stairs to the Great Hall. 

“It’s good to see you again, Miss Rosewood, somehow managing to catch up to Tom’s age,” Dumbledore said not breaking his gaze from ahead, though his eyes twinkled with mischief. 

Scarlett did take into account that the professor would know if she lied about her age, but she did it anyway, taking a gamble on the fact that the mischievous professor wouldn’t report her to Dippet as it wasn’t causing harm to anyone. 

“I would appreciate it if you don’t notify Dippet of that fact, professor. I miss Tom very much and would like to make up for the lost time. Being in the same year as him would ensure that we spend as much time together as possible.” Scarlett said in a wistful tone. This was the truth, but it also might benefit her. Age does have a say in gaining you some privileges after all. 

“Of course,” The professor said in understanding as they arrived at the Great Hall. Students were making their way to the Great Hall as lunchtime neared, wearing robes bearing the insignias of their respective houses. As Scarlett hadn’t had the chance to change, she stuck out like a sore thumb. She felt self-conscious as the students shot curious looks at her and she fidgeted with the hem of her shirt.

Entering the majestic hall, Dumbledore spoke again. “Students sit with their houses. As you are a Slytherin, that is where you will sit,” he said with a nod at the table where the Slytherins sat. With that, the professor walked off, leaving Scarlett to her own devices. 

She watched as the remaining students filled the hall, many staring at her curiously. A familiar mop of platinum blonde hair flashed across her vision before it was gone and her eyes flickered to the owner of the platinum hair. She nearly gasped at what she saw. A familiar-looking pale boy with gray eyes looked so similar to her, they could have passed off as siblings. She saw her shock reflected in the boy’s eyes. 

Grinning, she made her way over to the blonde at the Slytherin table. “Are we secretly long-lost siblings?” Despite her playful tone, she was somewhat serious. 

The blonde looked like a deer caught in headlights before grinning as well. “I wouldn’t rule out the possibility as we look too much alike to pass it off as a coincidence.” He said lightheartedly. “Abraxas Malfoy,” holding out a hand. 

She relaxed her expression into one of friendliness. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Brax.” 

At the nickname, Abraxas beamed at her. “As for you, Scar.” 

Scarlett smiled, her eyes flickering to the entrance as a commotion caught her attention. She tensed as a familiar boy she knew all too well made his entrance, the girls swooning and the boys glaring. Jet-black, neatly parted hair, pale skin and deep dark eyes. There in all his glory, stood Tom Marvolo Riddle, his feelings masked behind a cold facade like the one he had on when they had first met years ago. 

Her new friend and maybe brother noticed what caught her attention and filled her in. “That’s Tom Riddle, Head Boy and the model student.” Though Abraxas’s expression went blank, his voice held a bit of nervousness, prompting her to narrow her eyes at his sudden nerves.  

Scarlett saw the moment Tom noticed her, his entire frame freezing as he stared at her in shock. A hush fell over the Great Hall as everyone noticed the uncharacteristic behaviour of the usual cold but charming Head Boy. The students all turned to stare at her curiously as they followed the direction of Tom’s gaze. 

It was silent for a beat before Scarlett broke it with a grin. “You're just going to stand there all day, Thomas?” She was nervous about his reaction but hid it under a carefree attitude. 

At that, Tom finally unfroze. He stalked towards her, looking furious. Abraxas from beside her, looked alarmed. She shifted on her feet, looking nervous as Tom reached her, meeting his gaze but not being able to look him in the eyes for more than a few seconds at a time. He glared at her for a few moments before his face softened as he noticed her nervousness and drew her into a hug. She sank into his arms as he pulled her close by the waist. Her eyes widened at the action, he was never one to initiate physical contact. 

Tom held her tightly, not letting go. “We’re going to have a long conversation about you disappearing off the face of the earth with just a letter.” He muttered, sounding dead serious. 

“Scar, you didn’t say you and Tom know each other!” Abraxas said, surprised and he sounded oddly relieved. She wondered what the relationship between Abraxas and Tom was, and why Abraxas seemed to be wary of him. Perhaps he’s seen Tom’s violent tendencies? 

Tom let go of her at last as he remembered they had an audience. The hall burst into hush whispers discussing what they had just witnessed. Although Tom had let go of her from the hug, he took a seat and tugged at her arm, prompting her to sit beside him. He pulled her closer to his side. All this happened while Abraxas watched the pair with a keen eye.

The rise of the Headmaster from the front of the hall caused the students to quiet once more. “Well, that was a heartwarming reunion! I hope you all are doing well. But before we begin, I would like to point out the new student at Hogwarts, although you all know that now. Miss Rosewood, please stand.” 

Standing up to her feet, hundreds of students looked upon the girl. A few looked skeptical, yet the majority of the student body regarded her with a friendly expression. Abraxas looked ecstatic, while Tom settled on watching her fondly and glaring at anyone who looked at her the wrong way. 

Dippet continued. “Miss Rosewood has decided to attend her seventh year despite not having attended previous years.” Tom raised an eyebrow and shot her a surprised look at the fact that she lied about her age, his lips curling into a smirk. 

“Do give her a warm welcome and treat her with kindness,” Dippet said, nodding at the girl and prompting her to take her seat once more. “Now, please eat!” Dippet said to the students, concluding his speech. 

“So, a seventh year,” Tom stated, looking amused. 

Abraxas perked up at that. “Don’t tell me you’re a sixth year and lied about your age to be in Tom’s year?” he said in a teasing tone, looking to Scarlett for confirmation. 

Scarlett glared at Tom for exposing her like that but mumbled a response to Abraxas. “A fifth year.” 

He didn’t respond, only regarding her with interest. She hoped he wouldn't report her Dippet, she did like him and considered asking him to help with the investigation of her past. 

“He won’t tell, right Malfoy?” Tom directed the last part to the blonde in a low threatening voice, causing the blonde to turn his gaze on Tom warily.

“Of course not, I won’t report you, Scar,” Abraxas reassured her with a grin. Scarlett’s gaze flickered back and forth between the two, trying to figure out what their relationship was. Tom noticed her gaze and smiled innocently, prompting her to narrow her eyes at him. 

Later when they left the Great Hall, Tom would grab her wrist and lead her to a broom closet. “If you’re going to hold my hand, at least do it properly.” She teased, her expression shifting to one of shock when he complied and held her hand. The grin Tom shot at her had her heart stuttering. When they reached the closet, he let go and her hand felt cold without his holding onto hers.

His expression shifted to one of blankness, eyes distanced and detached. “Explain.” He demanded in a serious tone. Scarlett knew he was hurt, but he hid it behind a cold facade she was familiar with. He could fool anyone else, but he could never fool her. 

“I know you’re hurt but I had a very good reason for leaving. I didn’t mean to hide from you-“ she started but Tom interrupted her.

“Didn’t mean to hide from me she says,” he muttered before continuing. “I had people looking for you. I tried searching for you. It was like one day you decided to not exist anymore. I couldn’t find a trace of you anywhere. For six years. Six years ago, I looked for you. You left with only a one-sentence note.” His rant started angry, but by the end, he sounded desperate. His eyes displayed hurt as he looked at her and she wished she could turn back time to make sure her past self had left more than a one-line note. 

Scarlett regretted having hurt Tom, but she didn’t regret leaving. “A few months after you left, I had a flashback. A memory from my past. I left because I wanted- no, needed- to figure my past out. I don’t know anything that happened before I was six and that memory was one of the very few leads I had.” She explained, slipping her hand into his to provide comfort. “I’ve been staying at the Leaky Cauldron all these years.” 

Tom has been quietly listening in understanding. But he frowned when she mentioned the Leaky Cauldron. “The Leaky Cauldron. All this time you’ve been staying there.”

It wasn’t a question, but she answered anyway. Or at least tried to. “Ye-“

“The Leaky Cauldron was one of the first places I had my people looking into. I even went to check myself. You weren’t there.” His tone held no accusation, but confusion. This was the second time Tom mentioned he had people looking for her and Scarlett briefly wondered if he had opened up and made new friends in her absence. She filed the information away for later. 

Scarlett focused on the last part and now she looked at him in confusion. “That’s where I stayed.” 

Tom’s frown deepened and he looked deep in thought. “Perhaps the clerk who was overseeing the place on those days made a mistake,” he didn’t seem convinced by the thought but he continued anyway. “I was worried about you, you know.” He said quietly, his eyes filled with emotions she couldn’t quite understand. 

“I’m sorry for hurting you,” She whispered. 

Tom squeezed her hand. “Don’t apologize for wanting to find out your past. I understand. I was not hurt, only worried. Next time, don’t leave with just a one-sentence note.” he chided. “Never mind, there will not be a next time. Don’t you dare try to leave me again,” he said, glaring at her. 

“I won’t. We have a lot of time to make up for,” She said, smiling brightly at him. It was almost comical to see his attitude shift from hot to cold and back again.

Tom stared at her smiley expression for a moment, seemingly distracted before he spoke again. “I can help you. I will do everything I can to help you. If you allow me to, that is.” he said seriously.

“Thank you,” She said, touched by his offer. “Your help would be greatly appreciated,” she said, looking grateful.

“Anything for you,” he said, and Scarlett knew he meant it. His expression turned solemn as he said “Now, as Head Boy, it is my duty to show you your dormitory and tell you everything about Hogwarts while we’re at it,”