DISCLAIMER: I only own my OCs. Any characters and places you do recognise belong to the wonderful J. K. Rowling.

There was nothing Tom Riddle did not despise at Wool's Orphanage. He disliked the grey building right from its dingy and tiny rooms down to its cold and dull entrance hall. He couldn't stand the matron's, Mrs Cole, shrill voice and the constant smell of gin wafting out of her office. But what Tom Riddle hated most were the other children who lived in the orphanage, especially the ones who liked to make fun of him because he was different.

Yes, Tom was as different as one could be. While for the other children the term 'different' seemed to have a negative connotation, Tom took pride in this difference and already knew at an early age that he was special. He never really told anyone, of course. He had always been suspicious of Mrs Cole and the other children and it would not do well to confide in them. But when Billy Stubbs had hidden drawing pins in Tom's shoes and hours later had found his bed on fire, Tom knew that he from now on could put an end to being harassed.

There was only one child Tom didn't hate as much as the others. Well, he didn't particularly like her either, but she had never made fun of Tom when his blankets had gone missing again or when someone threw food at him during lunch time. And Tom would soon find out that Grace Parker was as different as he was.

When Tom was only three years old, Grace was left on the front steps of Wool's Orphanage, clad in a thick woollen coat and a letter clutched in her tiny hands. Tom was one of the many children who had nosily been peeking down the stairs when a shocked Mrs Cole ushered the small girl inside and into her office. At first, Tom had just given an annoyed sigh and returned to his room, thinking that there now was another bothersome girl added to the group of orphans. He had only caught a glimpse of her porcelain skin and straight brown hair, but the rest of her didn't interest him anyway.

Tom and Grace's first encounter had happened only two days later during breakfast. Tom's day had already begun awfully when Mrs Cole checked on him to make sure he had dressed properly which, of course, he had. Annoyed, she had sent him down the stairs and had continued to help Billy tie his shoes. When Tom had taken his tray and sat down at one of the tables in the dining room, as far away from the other children as possible, a small voice had shaken him out of his stupor.

"Would you mind if I sit down here?" Grace Parker had asked, pointing at the place right next to Tom while clutching her tray. Of course, Tom had refused her request and she was left standing in the middle of the dining hall with her big, sad blue eyes.

But what had annoyed Tom the most back then was the fact that Grace had seemed to follow him around from then on. It wasn't obvious to the other orphans, but from the day Grace Parker had set foot in Wool's Orphanage she preferred to sit at his favourite table, took the same reading lessons he did and was always signing up for the same hour of outdoor time as Tom when they were older. It bothered Tom so much that he had not only slipped into Grace's room one time during supper and had caused all of her books and toys to vanish, but he had also let her soup explode when she had dared to let Dennis Bishop sit down next to her and Tom.

Nothing kept the tiny girl away from him, though. Grace wasn't as troublesome as some of the girls in her dorm, but Tom wanted to be left alone nevertheless. It did not really help that Grace seemed to make friends everywhere she walked even though she did not talk very much and preferred to just smile and nod, instead of engaging in detailed conversations. She also didn't shy away from Tom when Billy Stubbs told everyone that Tom had somehow hung his rabbit from the rafters. On the contrary, Grace seemed to be drawn to Tom even more.

On the day Tom turned seven, his opinion of her started to change and he began to realise that maybe Grace wasn't as despicable as everyone else. They had known each other for four years now, but had never engaged in a conversation that didn't end with Tom abruptly leaving the room or sneering at the girl and her apparent stupidity. It was already dark outside when there was a soft knock on Tom's door. He huffed, angry that someone dared to disturb him while he was reading, and wasn't at all surprised when Grace let herself in only moments later. She closed the door behind her and leaned her back against it, her big blue eyes studying Tom who wasn't looking up from his book.

"I brought you some cake," Grace said and held up a small plate with a tiny piece of cake on it. Tom still didn't raise his head but watched the girl's every move out of the corner of his eyes. "I thought you would like some since it's your birthday today."

Tom sighed and slammed the book shut. He knew Grace wouldn't leave his room until he had accepted that damned piece of cake.

"And where, do tell, did you get that cake?" Tom asked as he drew himself up. He was tall for his age and liked to tower over those he considered inferior to him. Grace Parker was no exception. "I know Mrs Cole did neither make it for my birthday nor because it is New Year's Eve."

"Oh!" Grace exclaimed and her pale cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. "I made it myself with the help of one of the older girls. You see, it is my birthday today as well."

Tom stiffened at the mention and stared at the girl, still not taking the plate from her. He had never known that he and that annoying Parker girl shared the same date of birth. Not that he really cared though, Tom thought with a sneer as he took the plate and placed it on his bedside table with no intention of eating it as soon as Grace would leave the room. "You can leave now," he commanded and turned away, not really caring that he would come across as rude and ungrateful. But Grace didn't move.

"There is something else I wanted to tell you," she whispered and stared at Tom's back through her long lashes. Tom was irritated, she could tell, but she pushed the fear back into the deepest part of her mind as she bravely stepped forward. "I am like you, Tom. I am different."

Tom whipped around, his dark eyes filled with rage. For one second, he felt like hitting Grace. How dare she didn't respect his privacy and then claim that she was in any way similar to him! He didn't raise his fist though, and tried to calm himself down. What good would it do to get into a fight with Grace? They were only seven and he was in no mood to get yelled at by Mrs Cole again.

"Different how?" Tom finally asked, not wanting to give anything away.

"I can show you," Grace said and when Tom turned around, her hand was already hovering over a candle sitting on Tom's desk, her face contorted in concentration. At first nothing happened, but after a short while the candle's wick lit up and a small flame tickled Grace's palm. She had ignited the candle.

"I can't quite control it yet," Grace told Tom as if nothing extraordinary had happened and turned her blue eyes on him. "But I know you can. I saw you talking under your breath when my soup had exploded back in June. I saw you control Billy's rabbit right before-". In one swift move, Tom had put his hand over her mouth and stared down at her with fury in his eyes.

"Never mention this to anyone," he hissed and let go of the brown-haired girl. "No one can ever know, do you understand? They won't understand; they will call us 'freaks' behind our backs. Do you want that?" He glared at Grace who was shaking her head. Tom could see that the excitement from before had vanished from her eyes and he was pleased to known that he had put a damper on Grace's mood.

"This must be our secret."

Grace was adopted by an elderly couple in July 1935. Tom wouldn't have minded years before, but since Grace did now share his secret, he wasn't as calm as he knew he should have been.

Mr and Mrs Durand were in their late fifties and were coming straight at Tom and Grace who were sitting in the orphanage's garden, and they were led by an overly excited Mrs Cole.

"Maybe they have come to adopt Sarah," Grace mused and turned to look at a small blond girl who was sitting only a few metres away from them. She was already used to being ignored by the couples who had so far been to the orphanage as most of them preferred to adopt one of the much younger children. Grace told herself that she didn't really mind, though.

But Tom knew they hadn't come for Sarah. While he lowered the book he caught the couple smiling at Grace, and Mrs Cole was still chattering when they had finally reached the two children. Tom made a show of turning his attention to his book again but Grace was peering up at the three adults right in front of them.

"Grace," Mrs Cole began slowly, sparing Tom only a small frown. "This nice couple has come to adopt you."

Tom rolled his eyes at Mrs Cole for talking to Grace like she was still some five-year-old, yet he didn't say anything as he could hear said girl gasp beside him.

"Me?" Grace exclaimed, unable to keep the surprise out of her voice. "But why?"

The couple laughed softly and the woman helped Grace stand up. They introduced themselves as Mr and Mrs Durand who were living in Glasgow and had gotten married thirty years ago. They had taken an interest in Grace after seeing her in the entrance hall an hour ago, and since she reminded Mrs Durand of her sister when she had been much younger, they had decided to ask her if she wanted to live with them.

Grace was, by now, openly excited and had already asked Mr Durand if she were allowed to keep a cat in her new home. Tom's ears only pricked up when he heard Grace ask: "Can Tom come, too?"

"I'm afraid he cannot, my dear," Mrs Durand answered softly, looking at Tom with pity in her eyes which made his blood boil. Minutes later, the Durands were led back inside by Mrs Cole to fill in the rest of Grace's papers. The latter had been instructed to pack her things as she and the Durands would be leaving in less than an hour.

"Isn't this wonderful?" Grace exclaimed as Tom followed her up the stairs and into her room. "I cannot believe they chose me! I had already lost hope I would every get out of this dingy orphanage. Isn't this great, Tom?"

But Tom was only staring at her with an indescribable look written on his face. He couldn't believe Grace could be so delighted by being adopted by such plain people. What about the gift she had been given? Had she already forgotten about their little secret? Tom wouldn't call Grace his friend and he most definitely wouldn't miss her when she was finally gone, but it had been almost nice to have someone to talk to from time to time during the last two years. And now she was about to leave, leave him, just like that.

"I'm sure you can come and visit any time," Grace continued, already packing her things. She didn't have much, yet she didn't want to leave anything behind. But as she reached for her coat in the wardrobe, Tom's hand closed painfully around her wrist, and he yanked her around so that they were face to face.

"I don't want to ever see you again, liar," Tom spat and shoved Grace away from him. She tumbled and almost hit her head against the wardrobe.

"Tom, what-," Grace stuttered, though Tom had already left the room. She didn't see him when she made her way downstairs and she still didn't see him when she was saying her goodbyes to Mrs Cole and the other orphans. Some of the younger children were crying when they saw Grace leave, already missing the young girl and her warm smile. Grace couldn't believe that Tom wouldn't even say his last goodbye and felt anger and sadness welling up inside. She wasn't even sure why Tom would be so angry at her when she hadn't done anything wrong and her eyes watered when the Durands led her outside, Mr Durand carrying Grace's small trunk.

Grace didn't know and never noticed a shadow watching her and the Durands getting into one of the cars parked outside the orphanage. Tom clenched his fists as he watched the car drive off down the street and, after a few seconds, out of sight. He didn't regret not saying Grace goodbye, it would have been a pure waste of his precious time anyway. Now it was just him and him alone again. Would Tom ever see her again? Probably not; not that he cared very much about that.

When Tom finally turned away from the window, his dark eyes gleaming red in the setting summer sun, all of the street lamps' bulbs outside suddenly shattered with a deafening sound, and no one but Tom and Grace, if she had been there, would ever know how and why such a thing could have happened.

Will Tom and Grace see each other again? Well, as this is only the prologue, they most definitely will ;) Please read and review, and let me know what you think!