Tom had arrived in the Diagon-Alley in the morning.
Now I know what Alice must have felt like after falling into a rabbit hole. Everything is just so…wondrous.
He wanted to see the whole Alley but after he bought his wand, so he made his way to Ollivander's as fast as he could get through the crowds.
Over the door was written in peeling golden letters:
'Ollivander's: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC.'
Excited he stepped in, but the inside of the shop looked rather different than in his imagination.
Dusty and dark. I guess Dumbledore has a different view about prestigious shops.
He slowly circled around, regarding the inside with little value. Tom was jumping when his glance met a pair of white-blue eyes.
A man stepped forward, his eyes wandering over Toms face, who, after the little shock, had neutralized the look on his face.
"So, new student for Hogwarts, aren't you boy? Non-magical family right?"
Tom felt slightly uncomfortable being observed by these never-blinking bright eyes.
How does he can know? How does he dare calling me a muggleborn!
"What makes you think I am a muggleborn? he asked, his face revealing nothing about the anger swirling inside.
"Maybe not muggleborn, but obviously new to the magical world."
The man stepped forward, offering his hand to the boy.
Tom hesitated, but shook it.
"Mr. Ollivander, maker of finest wands. Answering your question boy, it's quite obvious to me that you didn't grew up in our world, for only strangers who doesn't know me would regard my shop with such a little-value glance! You shouldn't equate an antique-looking shop with low quality, for my family made wands longer than you even can imagine and this shop may look rather rundown to you, but its drenched with the experience of generations. Everybody who studied the art of making wands should be able to make one, but would you prefer wand from a novice, residing in manor, or a master owning a modest little shop?"
"I guess would prefer a wand of a master residing in a manor…"
Ollivander gave him a slightly amused smile.
"Oh, so you prefer a wand for higher costs? If this I what you like I could raise the price for you. Maybe this way I will reside in a manor somewhen."
Tom looked at him with anger but the wand-maker didn't seem to bother.
"Mr. Ollivander? Maybe you should consider that old is not always better, for how you want to perfect your Art if you only keep sticking to what you already know?"
"Ah, but I'm not stuck, on the contrary. My experience and gathered knowledge are fundamental for exploring my art, for they lead me with new ideas."
Mr. Ollivander turned his back on Tom and walked over to some of the shelves in the back of the shop.
"So now, I believe you wanted to retrieve a wand, didn't you? Let us see if we find one for you Mr. …?"
"Tom Riddle, Sir."
"What an….creative name" he said lost in thoughts.
"What do you mean Sir?"
Ollivander turned around again.
"Well the name Tom means 'twin', 'paired', maybe you could translate it with 'double' or 'twice' too. Well, I guess I don't have to translate your surname, do I?
He observed Tom again.
"Tell me, are you a doubly riddle?"
Tom slightly cocked his head, a smile on his face.
"Of course I am."
Mr. Ollivander gave him another short glance and turned around again, heading to one of the shelves.
"Mmh, let's see. "
He carefully took a black thin box from the shelf and opened it, looking from the inside to the boy. Finally he took the wand and offered it Tom.
He took it, gave it a look but looked as disappointed as the wand-maker, though for different reason.
"It looks quite…usual. Ordinary."
Ollivander gave him a look.
"Mr. Riddle, a wand, although streaky with magic, is just a tool for a wizard and it's surface is independent of the quality. Don't buy a sword made of gold. It won't hold long."
He took the wand out of Toms hands.
"Anyway, this wand isn't the right one for you. Let's try another."
Again he disappeared behind the shelves, then coming back with another case.
Again the wrong wand.
"Mmh a difficult costumer, aren't you? But there is a wand for everyone."
Ollivander turned to the shelves again, hesitated, then turned back to Tom again.
"Mr. Riddle, I assume you don't know how wands are made, do you?"
Without waiting for an answer he continued.
"Skill and knowledge aside, you need two materials for making one. The right wood, and the right magical core. Since centuries, the mankind has connected different things with characteristics of the human soul. Among many of them, like star-sign and jewels, are the trees. Every tree is said a unique characteristic. For example, the wands made of hazel are known to be sensitive, their working quite strong connected with the emotional state of the owner. Pear only chooses the warm-hearted and generous, while wands possessed by a hot-tempered person are made of red oak.
The wood itself doesn't make a working wand. The most important material is the magical core. This is what makes the wands work and what makes them capable of channeling the magic of the user. Without this core, the wand would break on the slightest amount of energy you cast through. The core, as the wood, have to harmonize with each other, as well as with the wizard using the wand."
Ollivander focused Tom with his eyes.
"So Tom Riddle, what do you think what kind of person you are?"
Tom looked at him, thinking about it. Carefully he weighed his words.
"I'm talented, determined and unbending."
"And if forced to a choice, would you think yourself on the light or the dark side?"
Tom face looked innocent.
"Don't we all have a light and a dark side? Thought it is what defines the humans."
"True. But most people aren't perfectly balanced in the middle. Everyone has an affection to one of both sides so choose. Light or dark?"
Tom looked at him.
"I don't know" he whispered.
Ollivander kept looking at him for a while, then asked:
"What would you like to be? What are you dreaming of? What do you want to achieve after being teached magic?"
Tom looked at him again, thinking. But this time he knew. What he most wanted.
"I want to defeat death. And I alone want to be in control of my life, of me."
Ollivander gave him a sad look.
"Do you so? Want to be immortal. Not the first one and not the last wishing to live forever."
Ollivander bowed down. They were face to face now, none of them blinking.
"A powerful wish you hold, but not a wise one I would say."
Ollivander backed off, disappearing one last time beyond the shelves, returning with a certain face. He held a slim dark box, longer than the others, and more dusty.
He opened it, taking out a long pale wand, offering it to him.
Tom, careful as always, took it. A single spark illuminated the tip of the wand, then faded.
Ollivander thoughtfully regarded the wand for a long while.
"Yew, 13,5 inches, phoenix-feather-core. Phoenix. Strong, magical, mythic. Symbol of hope and light. Interesting."
"Tom almost overheard what the older man had said.
"Excuse me, what is so interesting about my wand?" He didn't seem to notice his pronunciation.
"Yew is famous for choosing powerful wizards, and it's said to be quite common among the dark ones. Although that isn't my opinion as a wand-maker. But it tells me that you aren't mediocre or timid."
"And what is so interesting about it now, Sir?"
"That as I said, yew usually doesn't chose a fearful wizard, although I can tell you fear death more than every other person."
Hatred was glowing in Toms eyes.
"But I am only here to sell wands, not to decide who deserves them and who not.
Anyway. It is the right wand for you Mr. Riddle."
Tom gave Ollivander a strange look, then turned to the door.
"Mr. Riddle, I would be homeless if I would give my wands for free."
Tom, surprised and kind of angry, took out some coins and handed them over.
With a last glance on Ollivander he turned around and left the shop.
So, this was a quite short chapter. It actually isnt relevant for Tom becoming Lord Voldemort, but i wanted to write it cause its important for tom becoming a wizard so...
I know my story is rly slow, but it will change. There are 2 more chapters before i can start with the mainstory. Until then its a little bit boring. Sorry guys. With chapter 5 everything will get exciting.
Anyway thanks for reading to those who read it.
As always PLS LEAVE A REVIEW!