Tom at Diagon Alley
"That is easily remedied," said Dumbledore, drawing a leather money-pouch from his pocket. "There is a fund at Hogwarts for those who require assistance to buy books and robes. You might have to buy some of your spellbooks and so on second-hand, but -"
"Where do you buy spellbooks?" interrupted Tom, who had taken the heavy money-bag without thanking DUmbledore, and was now examining a fat gold Galleon.
"In Diagon Alley," said Dumbledore. "I have your list of books and school equipment with me. I can help you find everything -"
"You're coming with me?" asked Tom, looking up.
"Certainly, if you -"
"I don't need you," Tom said. "I'm used to doing things for myself, I go round London on my own all the time. How do you get to this Diagon Alley - sir?" he added, catching Dumbledore's eye.
Dumbledore handed Tom the enqvelope containing his list of equipment, and after telling the boy exactly how to get to the Leaky Cauldron from the orphanage, he said, "You will be able to see it, although Muggles around you - non-magical people, that is - will not. Ask for Tom the barman - easy enough to remember, as he shares your name -"
Tom gave an irritable twitch, as if a fly was bothering him.
"You dislike the name 'Tom'?"
"There are lots of Toms," muttered Tom. Then, as though he could not suppress the wuestion, as though it burst from him despite himself, he asked, "Was my father a wizard? He was called Tom Riddle too, they told me."
"I'm afraid I don't know," said Dumbledore gently.
"My mother can't have been magic, or she wouldn't have died," Tom said more to himself than Dumbledore. "It must've been him. So - when I've got all my stuff - when do I come to this Hogwarts?"
"All the details are on the second piece of parchment in your envelope," said Dumbledore. "You vill eave from Kings Cross Station on the first of September. There is a train ticket in there too."
Tom nodded. Dumbledore got to his feet and held out his hand again. Taking it, Tom said, "I can speak to snakes. I found out when we've been to the country on trips - they find me, they whisper to me. Is that normal for a wizard?"
Dumbledore hesitated for a moment, before he said,"It is unusual, but not unheard of."
His tone was casual but his eyes moved curiously over Tom's face. They stood for a moment, staring at each other. Then the handshake was broken and Dumbledore was at the door.
"Goodbye, Tom. I shall see you at Hogwarts."
Tom found his way to the Leaky Cauldron with surprising ease. The run-down hotel was on Charing Cross Road, between a bookshop and a record store. Tom asked the barman for directions, and soon found himself standing in front of a large brick wall in the chilly rear courtyard with the latter. The barman, also called Tom, drew his wand and tapped one of the bottom bricks near the trash can. he worked his way upwards tapping another couple more bricks, then moved to the right. Altogether, he tapped five bricks. As young Tom Riddle watched, the wall went in a small hole first but formed a large archway.
"There you are," said the older Tom. "Diagon Alley."
Tom Riddle was too astounded to speak, standing rooted to the spot. Tom the barman gave the boy a little nudge, making him step forward past the secret entrance. The doorway sealed itself shut as soon as Riddle passed through, looking as if it had never been opened before.
"Where do you buy spellbooks?" interrupted Tom, who had taken the heavy money-bag without thanking DUmbledore, and was now examining a fat gold Galleon.
"In Diagon Alley," said Dumbledore. "I have your list of books and school equipment with me. I can help you find everything -"
"You're coming with me?" asked Tom, looking up.
"Certainly, if you -"
"I don't need you," Tom said. "I'm used to doing things for myself, I go round London on my own all the time. How do you get to this Diagon Alley - sir?" he added, catching Dumbledore's eye.
Dumbledore handed Tom the enqvelope containing his list of equipment, and after telling the boy exactly how to get to the Leaky Cauldron from the orphanage, he said, "You will be able to see it, although Muggles around you - non-magical people, that is - will not. Ask for Tom the barman - easy enough to remember, as he shares your name -"
Tom gave an irritable twitch, as if a fly was bothering him.
"You dislike the name 'Tom'?"
"There are lots of Toms," muttered Tom. Then, as though he could not suppress the wuestion, as though it burst from him despite himself, he asked, "Was my father a wizard? He was called Tom Riddle too, they told me."
"I'm afraid I don't know," said Dumbledore gently.
"My mother can't have been magic, or she wouldn't have died," Tom said more to himself than Dumbledore. "It must've been him. So - when I've got all my stuff - when do I come to this Hogwarts?"
"All the details are on the second piece of parchment in your envelope," said Dumbledore. "You vill eave from Kings Cross Station on the first of September. There is a train ticket in there too."
Tom nodded. Dumbledore got to his feet and held out his hand again. Taking it, Tom said, "I can speak to snakes. I found out when we've been to the country on trips - they find me, they whisper to me. Is that normal for a wizard?"
Dumbledore hesitated for a moment, before he said,"It is unusual, but not unheard of."
His tone was casual but his eyes moved curiously over Tom's face. They stood for a moment, staring at each other. Then the handshake was broken and Dumbledore was at the door.
"Goodbye, Tom. I shall see you at Hogwarts."
***
Tom found his way to the Leaky Cauldron with surprising ease. The run-down hotel was on Charing Cross Road, between a bookshop and a record store. Tom asked the barman for directions, and soon found himself standing in front of a large brick wall in the chilly rear courtyard with the latter. The barman, also called Tom, drew his wand and tapped one of the bottom bricks near the trash can. he worked his way upwards tapping another couple more bricks, then moved to the right. Altogether, he tapped five bricks. As young Tom Riddle watched, the wall went in a small hole first but formed a large archway.
"There you are," said the older Tom. "Diagon Alley."
Tom Riddle was too astounded to speak, standing rooted to the spot. Tom the barman gave the boy a little nudge, making him step forward past the secret entrance. The doorway sealed itself shut as soon as Riddle passed through, looking as if it had never been opened before.
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