Dark Beginnings

Loren stared, steely eyed, out at the Hogwarts express. Her old, ruffled owl bouncing wildly against her suitcases as she walked. As she strided into the familiar brick wall, her long, black hair flew in her face. With pale, yellow fingers, she pushed it behind her shoulder.

"Goodbye, Lauren!" Cried Mother, to her disgust.
She always imagined how people said her name, and mother always said Lauren. The girlish, stupid version. And since she couldn't change her name, Loren was just fine.

As she wandered closer to the train entrance, she surveyed the witches and wizards carefully, as one might examine particularly poisonous insects.

All idiots, in her opinion.

One especially. She had brown, even-lengthed hair, and deep, penetrating eyes. She would be intimidating, except for the girlish smile and chattering friends. Rolling her eyes, Loren moved on. friends. She couldn't bother with the things.

Shuffling up the steps with trouble, a short boy like herself appeared in the doorway. "Need help?" She automatically inquired, somehow drawn to the pale boy. He somehow shifted his face into the darkest, most resentful and intimidating expression Loren had even seen. Pausing, looking down on her, glowering. "No," He replied. Quiet, but firm.

Enchanting.

Loren lugged her luggage upstairs and followed the boy into an empty box, drawn irresistibly to him.

"soooowhat'syourname?I'mLoren,spelledwithan"o"youknow.I thinkI'mshort, shorterthanmost, thatwashowyoudidthe cutest evillookinwizardhistory,notthat mugglescount-"

She was stopped by a turned head, facing the window, ignoring her. And that soft, dangerous voice she so loved. "Silence."
He was so quiet, so full of authority, so... Her .


"Tom," he finally whispered. Likely a reply to her previous rush of questions, "what is your name?"

Loren soared. Tom . You'll be mine, soon, she thought. Tom .

As they rode together, in utter silence, Loren plotted how to win his heart.