Leaky Cauldron looked like as exactly it was fifty years later. The same small, cozy and welcoming, the way it seemed when Harry first time stepped inside with Hagrid. Harry was already feeling like home entering there. He looked at Tom who was looking quite grave. Harry got worried. Was Tom still thinking about the morning episode? About that incident another realization was also troubling Harry that he still understood parseltongue. How was that possible? That ability came being accidental horcrux of Voldemort but when dark lord set the killing curse on him in the forbidden forest that part was gone. So he was not supposed to remain a parselmouth anymore. Then how on earth he still knew snake language?
Harry was snapped out from his thought by a familiar tone.
"Helloo my namesake, on the way for Diagon Alley again? And who is this new boy?" A known figure was welcoming them in Leaky Cauldron. It was amusing to see Tom – the Barman with head full of hair. And so reason of Riddle's bad mood was clear. Encountering someone who shared his name made 'oh I am different from all Riddle' sullen. And the owner of Leaky Cauldron was not helping it either by rubbing it on his face.
"This is Harry, new student." Riddle replied briefly and pulled Harry towards backyard before Tom had made any remark.
Harry thought about the first meeting the balding barman in his time, who already knew about him. It was ironic that when Harry had no knowledge about himself he was a celebrity in wizarding world and in this world when he was fully aware of himself nobody had a clue.
The small pub was filled up with wizards and witches , some sat in a huddle discussing or gossiping over some recent happenings, few sat alone drinking firewhiskey , reading the morning edition of The Daily Prophet. Passing through them Harry caught glimpse of a headline that read "Gellert Grindelwald rejected to negotiate' with the blonde dark lord posing with an intimidating attitude in cover picture.
"The new school session is about to start. But Mr. Dumbledore is not back yet. Strange." Harry had to turn to the maker of that remark who was sipping his drink along with few other wizards and witches. This person seemed familiar to him too.
"Mr. Ogden, did he sent any reply to ministry's letters?" asked a witch.
With a jolt Harry's memory got clearer. That person was Bob Ogden, once appointed in Magical Law enforcement Department. In his memory Harry had met Tom's family. He looked older than that time and he was wearing Wizard's robe now not those funny muggle attires, so Harry couldn't recognize him at first. It was quite ironic that if that man hadn't got Morfin and Marvolo arrested Merope wouldn't have a chance to enchant Riddle Sr. and Voldemort never existed. Perhaps he hadn't seen or known about Tom Riddle his school year to make a connection. He didn't pay attention to him now either
"Harry, what are you thinking? Come this way." Harry hurriedly followed Tom without waiting to hear what Odgen said anything more on Dumbledore. He knew Tom had heard Odgen too but there is no time for eavesdropping now. But all these information were making curious to know what was exactly going on in continent involving Dumbledore and Grindelwald?
Tom led Harry to backyard of the pub and knocked the brick wall the same way as Hagrid did or would do in future. And the Diagon Ally appeared before Harry's eyes. A sense of warmth spread all over Harry at the sight of his familiar world.
Tom was noticing Harry all along. The expression of joy on the sight of Diagon Alley was quite natural but what was strange is lack of surprise, did Harry come here before? He had also noticed how Harry was trying to listen to that wizard, it was another thing that Tom also wanted to have those information but why would Harry? But anyway he didn't have time for these, both of them had to shop.
Harry noticed Diagon alley in 40's was not as congested as in 90's. But otherwise the décor was more or less same. He tried his best to conceal his familiarity of this place and followed Riddle.
Their first destination was Gringott's Bank. The white marble building looked as it is. The door was guarded by two goblins and the writing on the door was same too. Harry felt time as if had stopped in Diagon Ally
Generally the students whose expenditure had been handled by Hogwarts didn't have to enter here as their allotted equipment were directly billed to Hogwart's vault by specific vaults and used to be debited from there but very few students still wanted to deal with their own money and in that case they needed headmaster's permission and then they were handed their allotted Galleons, Sickles and Knuts for one year. Tom was one of them. Headmaster Dippet had readily granted permission to him after he topped in his first year. So Gringott's were not new to him. Though he didn't have the access to enter further than the main counter where he had to show the permission letter and the money was handled to him. It was the reason Tom had to wait for a week to come here after Slughorn's visit till Hogwart's owl arrived carrying his letter and book lists for fourth year. Because Goblins were to calculate his expenditure for the following year and handle him the exact amount. Tom noticed Harry again as they entered. He didn't have any reaction of shock on sight of the goblins, again it was strange for the one seeing them for the first time. Tom's belief was strengthening that Harry had prior knowledge to their worlds.
As they entered the main hall Tom provided both his letter and Harry's note to the goblin sitting on main counter. The goblin frowned reading Harry's note and scrutinized Harry.
"An orphaned Potter?" He remarked in half sneer and half surprise. Harry sensed the goblin was not impressed. Typical of goblin's resentment towards wizards.
'Give me your hand" the goblin asked and Harry stretched out his hand. The goblin drew out a stretched across Harry's palm. Harry saw the quill's tip was blood red. Harry looked at his hand but there was no injury, neither felt any pain. The goblin then took out a parchment and scribbled something with the quill and the parchment flickered. The goblin nodded.
"The Potter blood matched. Congratulation you can have the spare vault now." Harry now noticed the parchment contained Potter Family chart where the member's names were written in blood. So this is the way to prove blood relation. If the blood matched the parchment flickered.
Tom was thoroughly noticing the Goblin's test. He lifted his eyebrow as Harry was proved to be a Potter and not an imposter. Meanwhile a Goblin handed him his allotted money. Tom counted hurriedly. There were 5 galleons, 15 sickles and 25 knuts. Harry peeked in as Tom was pouring the coins in his purse. The amount was quite limited, but then things might be cheaper in 40's and since students were spending most of the year in Hogwarts. They didn't needed to pay for foods. Also Harry had seen Weasleys had lesser money in his time than what Hogwarts allotted a student 50 years back. In that case the amount must be quite generous.
As the goblin appeared with key he asked to follow him. And Tom accompanied them too.
"I am with him. It is my responsibility to guide the new students through." Tom said to the goblin that was frowning at him. The goblin looked at Harry and Harry nodded. He can't dare to oppose Tom now, else Tom would make things difficult for him. Besides not that Tom could steal money bypassing all the specific charms at least not till he was adult, and even if he did who cares, Harry is not going to stay forever here.
The goblin drove the mine cart with Tom and Harry in it through semi dark path ways. Since Tom for first time was taking up the journey it was quite amusing to him. Even though his face was expressionless but the way he was minutely noticing the paths Harry could sense it. The cart stopped in front of a vault. Harry noticed it was not Potter's hereditary vault no. 687 but a different vault no. 704. The goblin handed him the key. As Harry opened the vault Tom followed him behind.
The vault didn't contain as much amount as Harry's own vault in 90's yet there were quite a few hundred galleons, a hip of sickles and a large pile of knuts. Harry nervously looked at Tom, there were more amount than Hogwarts entire allotments for students. It was obvious that Tom was feeling envious to him and perhaps more contemptuous to his own father.
"Looks like Potters didn't need this vault for centuries." Tom remarked coldly. "Since you have no idea about how wizard economy works yet I am going to deal with your shopping." Before Harry had a chance to react Tom proceeded to collect some 50 galleons, 100 sickles and a lot of knuts by his wand and handed the purse to Harry. For first time Harry saw Tom using his wand and he was kind of amazed to see Tom's long fingers playing with the want like an artist holding his paintbrush. It was quite a pleasant sight to be honest and proved Tom's authority over his wand.
Leaving the Gringott Tom came first to southern side of Diagon Ally. Harry knew where they were heading. Soon they were standing before Olivander's small and shabby wand shop. Harry gasped. He knew what was going to happen.
"Tom you don't need new wand, so why don't you go and shop your things till I buy the wand?" Harry made an attempt to remove Tom from there but he anticipated it won't work.
"And what if you get lost?" said Tom while entering into the shop. Harry sighed he couldn't stop Tom or he again would be suspicious, so he followed him silently. And soon was met with a younger looking Garrick Olivander.
"Mr. Riddle." Greeted Olivander "thirteen and half inches yew with phoenix core, the owner of most unique wand. How can I help?" As always Ollivander remembered people by the description of their wand
"This is Harry Potter, new student of Hogwarts." Tom introduced Harry and Ollivander's eyes narrowed.
"The mysterious Potter scion, yes heard some news about him" So it seemed Harry was still talked about in this period.
"Let's see what we have got for you Mr. Potter."
Olivander took out a box
"10 inches Rosewood, Unicorn hair core, let's try it." Olivander gave a wand to Harry, which weakly flicked in his hand.
"No that was not right" He snatched it back.
The feeling of Déjà vu occupied Harry. The even that occurred in 1991 was repeating itself 50 years back. Olivander was getting frustrated by trying different kind of wands with Harry. The piles of boxes were gathered on floor. Tom was observing the scene leaning on wall, with hands folded on chest. A little frown on his forehead was telling he was getting impatient.
"Alright try this now." And finally Olivander drew out the much familiar wand .Harry's wand. As Harry touched it his wand felt alive in his hand. Soon the scattered boxes on floors were arranged in a neat pile on flicker of the wand. Harry felt emotional. It seemed like his wand has recognized its owner beyond time.
"Fascinating" Olivander blurted out. "This was indeed unexpected."
"What is unexpected? He got his wand is not it?" Tom asked. Harry tried to not look at him.
"Not only his wand but very specific wand. 11 inches Holly with core of Phoenix feather. The same phoenix that gave only another feather that made core of your wand. That made both of your wands brother to each other. They are destined to be connected."
Tom didn't speak a word till they came out of the shop after handing Olivander the galleons for the wand.
"What was the connection between us Harry?" Tom was not looking at Harry, rather was looking at the distant horizon, his voice seemed distant too, not the usual authoritative interrogative tone.
"Why does it feel like you came for me?"
Was there a little sadness in tom's voice or was it Harry's imagination. Riddle was not capable of feeling sad or he might be acting. Yet the voice sounded belonged to a lonely teen who couldn't believe someone could have a connection with him or could come for him.
Harry didn't answer but a heaviness in his chest turned his mind sour.
