An Eventful Year

"August 19

Dear Diary, I don’t know how I managed to get this book. I found it inside my Transfiguration book, and I got that secondhand so I’m pretty sure that someone just left their diary in it when they sold it back to the store. It is kind of weird how this T. M. Riddle person never wrote in it, though, but I won’t dwell on it. Dwelling on things that I don’t know usually confuses me."

"That sounds like a good idea to live by."

Wow, I’ve never heard of diaries like this! Wonderful things we’re doing with magic these days. I think I remember my dad telling me about the newest line of enchanted diaries, where the memories were preserved by... I don't quite remember how he phrased it... some sort of person in the diary. You know, a person who would write back. I suppose that's what I have! Brilliant!

As soon as I got over the slight shock, though, the ink faded as well. I quickly dabbed my quill in some ink: “Who... are... you?” I wrote. And waited.

"I am T. M. Riddle, the same one whose name is on the front of the diary. This is my diary, although you’re welcome to use it to write in. You can talk to me, while you're at it, too. Call me Tom.

Hi, Tom! My name’s Virginia Weasley. Are you really from 1942? That’s so cool! Its 1992 right now. How does this diary work? Are you a ghost?

When I was 16 and in school in 1942, I kept this diary. I wanted to keep my memories alive, so I charmed it. I’m not sure how you ended up with it, but I’m sure you’ll be rather pleasant to talk to.

What school did you go to?

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

But that’s where I go to school! Or, I will. I’m going to be a first year! We leave on the Hogwarts Express in 5 days. I'm really beginning to get excited about it.

I can understand why you would be! Hogwarts was a great school. Now I’m even more interested in having you write to me. I’d like to see how the school is in... 1992, did you say it was?

Yes, that’s right. To tell you the truth, Tom, I can’t believe my luck in finding your diary! Hogwarts will be so much fun, especially now that I have you to talk to.

I’ll try and be fun for you... Virginia?

Oh, please call me Ginny.

Ginny it is, then. You’re a Weasley, didn't you say?

Yes... we’re a very old wizarding family, says mum."

"Tom? If this diary contains your memories from when you were sixteen... is that all you know of, now? I’m sorry if I say this the wrong way... but do you know if you’re... you know...

Go on.

What if your actual self... not your memories in this diary... what if you’re dead? How would you know?

Well, to be honest, Ginny, I haven’t a clue. I’m sure that when I die, or if I have already died –

How can you stand talking like that, Tom? That would be simply dreadful, having to say that you’re probably dead!

Well, let’s see... I was born in 1926, so that would make me... sixty-six? Well, I suppose I’m not dead yet. Wizards rarely die that young. Well, might've been hit by a bus... might've seen a Grim... all sorts of possibilities for my young and rather untimely death.

Oh, Tom, stop it!

Haha, I’m sorry, Ginny. I won’t talk about my death, or anyone’s death. You’re right... death is a rather nasty subject. But you brought it up...

Tom, I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy writing to you. Well, its 9:30; I’d better get to sleep.

I take it you don’t stay up too late. Good girl.

Are you making fun of me? Well, I can’t help it! My mum gets a bit scary when she’s mad, and she gets pretty mad when I don’t go to sleep on time. She says it’ll stunt my growth, too! And I guess she knows what she’s talking about, seeing as I’m only one-and-a-half meters tall.

Haha... well you’re only eleven. You’ll grow, I’m sure. Do you have any siblings? How tall are they? You’ll probably end up around their height.

I have six brothers. I’m the only girl, AND I’m the youngest. Fun, usually, but they can be really irritating, especially my twin brothers - I guess you'll hear a lot about them from me while I write to you. They're all rather tall. My oldest brother, Bill, is practically two meters tall! Hopefully I don't end up around his height. That would be simply dreadful. I'd tower over Harry Potter, and then he'd never...

Never mind.

Harry Potter?

Yes, of course. Harry Potter.

Ginny, you forget I only know what happened until the year 1942. I'm sure this Harry Potter was born ages after that.

Right, sorry! I suppose I just forgot, seeing as he's so incredibly famous. I keep thinking everyone knows his name. Yes... why would that be? Well, you see -"

"That was my mum, telling me to go to bed... I suppose I’ll talk to you later, Tom?

Of course. I can’t exactly go anywhere. Oh, I’m sorry, was I being rude?

No, I’m just joking. Don’t worry about it."

I woke up the next day and the first thing I thought about was Tom and my new diary. I suppose it's a bit strange of me to get all worked up over just a simple thing like a diary, but this was different, somehow. It wasn't as though it was something brand new for my very own, considering that Tom himself had used it when he was at Hogwarts. I don't know how I would be able to explain it. I suppose that in a way, it does fit in with what I was feeling last night, at the dinner table. How I was a bit left out of it all. Last night was the first time that I had realised that all my brothers, my only truly good friends that I had grown up with for my whole life, they all had other friends, too. And when we were all at Hogwarts, we wouldn't even be together - they would be off with their own years, and their friends, and I would be alone.. without any friends.. oh, I do hope I make friends!

I took out my diary from under my bed.

"August 20

Tom, are you there?

Yes.

Tom, I'm so worried! I was thinking about last night, during dinner, how I was all.. well, I suppose I was alone.. sort of.. left out of the conversation? Yes, that's it. Even my favourite brother, Ron, wasn't talking to me as much as usual. Normally, he and I always talk, because Fred and George are off in their own little world and Percy's lately been consulting mum and dad about university. He never really spends as much time at dinner as he used to. Always goes up to his room and closes the door. A bit funny, really.

... Er, so you're worried about this Percy spending all his time in his room alone?

Well, no. I suppose I just hadn't realised that I'll need to make friends at Hogwarts! I can't depend on my brothers anymore for that. What if I don't make friends? What if I don't get along with my housemates? I'll have no one to walk to classes with! What if I end up being sorted into Slytherin? Then I'll definitely be alone! Ron tells me loads of simply horrid things about them and to be honest, they sound like a right awful group!

You went to Hogwarts, right? What house were you in?

I was in Ravenclaw.

Oh, so you must have been quite smart! We thought Percy would have been sorted there but he managed to get into Gryffindor. My whole family's been there. Why, just last night dad told me to do everything possible to convince the Sorting Hat to place me in Gryffindor!

That's the house you're aiming for?

Yes, it sounds lovely. Ron sent me some wizarding pictures of him, Harry, and Hermione in their commons room. It looks simply wonderful! My own home is nothing compared to that.

To be honest, Ginny, I don't think you should listen to ALL of the things your brothers tell you about Slytherin. It's not that bad of a house. Very ambitious people, very smart. Rather cunning and clever. I actually happen to be friends with quite a few people in Slytherin.. well, I suppose I was when I was in Hogwarts.

Tom, tell me what it was like for you, please. I want to hear everything. I tried asking my brothers, but they laughed and told me I'll soon find out.

Well. Let me think. What do you want to hear about?

Oh, anything. What about your sorting?

Right, that sounds good. Ginny.. instead of me telling you, and you reading the words on these papers, would you like to almost be IN the memory itself? I think.. it is possible for me to project a memory for you to see, but only for a short while.

Oh, Tom! That would be wonderful! And I can see you! Of course, that won't be what you look like now, would it? You're 16.. at least, your memory is..

Tom, that still seems so sad to me, you being just a memory, just in the past. You don't even know what happened to your later self! I don't think I would be able to stand it, not knowing.

Oh, I manage. Don't worry about me.

Are you sure?

Yes, it's fine. I'm sure I'm doing quite well, wherever I am. Now, I've found the right memory. You will be able to see me, and see everything that I remember, but no one will know that you are there. Watch, Ginny.

The pages blew open, quickly flapping against each other as the diary opened to a certain page. I had almost thought that there was an actual wind in my room! This was incredible magic.

I looked in amazement as "September 1, 1938" appeared in the top right hand corner, in Tom's handwriting. A small box appeared just below it, and without knowing why, I pressed the diary to my face, putting the small box in front of my eye.

Suddenly I had the feeling of falling, falling forwards, with no means of stopping. The box widened, widened enough for me to almost.. go through it, as strange and unlikely as it sounds. It was a dizzying feeling, and I couldn't stop falling into darkness. There seemed to be no end to the blackness, and I began to be afraid - but surely Tom wouldn't let me do anything that would be dangerous!

I saw a light break through the darkness, and I could feel my body fall towards it. I tumbled more, finally landing on my back in a large hall full of people sitting at long tables, about 4 of them. There was another table at the front of the room, and I took a guess and gathered that this must be where the teachers sat. A group of younger looking children wearing plain black robes were gathered against the wall, and in the middle of the hall sat an old and crumpled black hat atop of a brown stool.

"Riddle, Tom!"