Author's Note: Written for…
The Card Will Reveal Your Fate Challenge. Prompts: Hagrid, friendship (genre), "You aren't wealthy until you have something that money can't buy." (quote), Money Can't Buy (title)
Rummikub Challenge. Prompt: Tom Riddle Jr.
Money Can't Buy
Sometimes it was exhausting being clever. Tom knew this better than anyone, though at times he felt like perhaps his Transfiguration professor understood too – then again, maybe not.
It took him hours of studying each day to ace his exams, and even longer preparing to be the charming, witty boy that Slughorn and the lads in his dorm knew him to be. It was almost worth being sent back to the orphanage for the opportunity to be himself, sitting in dark and dusty rooms and reading his books and blocking the world out.
The train ride back to London was an interesting in-between world. He was never forced to be friendly as the boys left him alone early on to say goodbye to other friends, so he could read in peace. Naturally, that never lasted long.
Hagrid was one of those people Tom never quite understood, but continued to speak with. It wasn't like he had a choice in the matter – the younger boy would ambush him in the halls and out on the grounds when Tom was trying to get homework done. Sometimes he could avoid the large child, but being trapped in an empty compartment did not help matters this time.
"Are you all alone?" the first year asked, poking his head through the door. Tom stifled a sigh and waved the boy in. Rubeus had the biggest grin of anyone Tom had ever met. It baffled him how someone could be so happy all the time, or why he would find himself smiling after the Gryffindor left him.
"Did you have a good year, Tom?"
"About as good as any other," he answered a bit harsher than he meant, though Rubeus didn't seemed deterred.
"I thought it was great! I can't wait to show Dad everything I've learned," he enthused.
Tom found himself the slightest bit jealous that this boy had someone waiting for him at the station who would be glad to sit down and discuss what he'd been doing all year. The best Tom was likely to get was a drunken matron and a few bratty kids stealing his belongings. Rubeus seemed to sense his irritation, because he changed the subject.
"Can I write to you during the summer, Tom? I mean … I really like talking to you and everything."
Tom hesitated. "Why would you bother? I'm not exactly … good company."
"But you're my friend. I'm a little strange too, I know. People have been telling me that my whole life, but you don't mind, do you?"
If it was anyone else, he would have let them down without a second thought. "No, Hagrid, I don't mind."
He grinned, and Tom smiled back.
"My dad always says 'you aren't wealthy until you have something money can't buy.' I figure that means friendship. I've never had a real friend until I started school." Hagrid reached into his pocket and pulled out an unwrapped and slightly crushed cauldron cake and handed it over. "Thanks for being my friend, Tom."
"You too, Hagrid."
