Inside the cold, stone‑walled building where everything felt grey and hard, there were two children who stood apart — exactly alike in every way that mattered. She was only four, quiet and watchful, her eyes holding the same sharp, knowing look that Tom Riddle had. She moved like him, spoke only when necessary like him, and learned to read expressions before words — just like him. To everyone else, she said nothing and trusted nothing… except him. Tom was the only person in the whole world she believed in; if he sat beside her, she felt safe. If he told her to stay close, she never strayed an inch.