Prologue: They Say Vanity Got the Best of Her

October of my sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, 1944

It was Thursday. There was a test in Charms that most of the other students were probably still studying for. Technically I still had about ten minutes before lunch ended to get in some last minute cramming about the components of an invisibility charm. The thought provoked a small, satirical smile to perk up my mouth. As though I needed to study…I found myself instead in the girls' lavatory looking in a mirror. I ran my fingers through my hair repeatedly, trying to coax this last bit of perfection into place as the Gryffindor girl next to me rambled about some boy named Cornelius. She hadn't shut up for the last ten minutes about this guy, as though I cared. Didn't she realize I needed to concentrate while applying my make-up? Lowly little loser.

Who was this girl anyway? Glancing at her reflection, I sized her up. Her hair needed a good wash, maybe some brushing. Wouldn't do her much good, but at least she'd look presentable.

"He's a whole two years younger than me Lydia! But gosh he's so handsome!"-

'He's fourteen for Merlin sakes, he probably looks more feminine than you…not that it would be hard to accomplish.'

"I just know he likes me. Do you think he likes me? I mean really likes me? He went out for the quidditch team you know." She sighed, a far off smile appearing across her pale lips. Finally I turned to her.

"Do I know you?" I snapped. My tone didn't seem to even support the idea of friendliness. She was shocked rigid, staring at me dumbly.

"Amelia Tresky? I sit behind you in potions? We were partners in Astronomy last week." She said this with every conviction that these clues were not only unmistakable, but that it meant we were now far more than acquaintances.

"Oh!" Amiable recognition lit up my features. "I remember you! You hit your head on your telescope and spun it around. Took you half the class period to realize the stars weren't clear because you were looking out of the wrong side."

From the look she gave me Amelia clearly remembered. She giggled casually, desperately wanting to laugh it off. Cute of her to think I'd show that much compassion. It wasn't my fault she lacked grace.

"Yes, that was rather funny of me, wasn't it?"she said, her voice soft in pressured agreement.

'Grow some nerves honey, honestly.' I scoffed inwardly.

I pretended to look as if thinking for a moment or two. And technically I was…'Sorry sweetheart, I don't play the politeness game.' Laying a hand on her shoulder I looked at her as if a tragedy had just occurred.

"Actually, it was rather thick of you." And with that I traipsed off for Professor Flitwick's classroom leaving her to sulk. After all, what's the point of being in Slytherin if you can't have a bit of fun now and then?

"Where were you?" Gregory discretely hissed in my ear as I walked into Charms, taking my usual seat just as Professor Flitwick began explaining the conditions of our test.

"I was taking care of a few things, that's all. Why? Did I miss anything?" I pulled my chair in and focused my eyes on our teacher, as though apt and ready to learn.

"Just roll call, and almost the test."he growled.

"Well I'm here now. Stop worrying yourself." 'Honestly Greg, can't you learn to do anything besides imitate my nag-happy mother?'

Greg was my boyfriend. I'm sure you can simply feel the love oozing out from the two of us. Gregory tended to get so dreadfully overprotective of me that I took every opportunity to step out of the lines he drew for me. Not that I didn't enjoy his attention on some level, or playing into his dramatics. Scaring him out of his wits that I was constantly taking things too far was just an added bonus.

I sighed and looked down at the parchment in front of me. Another day at Hogwarts. Another test. Dipping my quill into the open ink bottle at the edge of my desk, I began.

My attention was set and undivided…until that prat, Riddle, got up to turn in his parchment sheet after just 20 minutes. Of course he was finished first. Were all brilliant freaks so annoying? Every teacher at Hogwarts loved Riddle. He was a prefect, he was undeniably smart, he was an unbelievable suck-up, and his story was as angst worthy as they came and yet he didn't show it. Actually, how he'd ever gotten himself into Slytherin house in the first place I would've loved to know. He certainly didn't belong there by my record.

Yes, I was quite territorial about my house. Only those who deserved to enter should be allowed and that was simply the end of it. Our founder would be a right mess if he saw the zoo this place had become. All those damn mud bloods running about, re-populating like bunnies. Even Tom Riddle, who as I said earlier represented our house as a prefect, only had half the blood of a wizard running around in his veins. It was enough to make me sick.

I sighed, returning my eyes to the test paper at hand. Ah well, it wasn't like an orphan with dirty blood was going to do anything important in the wizarding world anyways. I had a test I needed to finish and he wasn't worth my time.