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August 1939

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Tom's started writing letters to Adelaide. The letters are not exchanged as often as the ones Harry writes to Annalise and Septimus, but the fact that Tom is writing to anyone at all is strange. It must be because Tom is planning something with her, so Harry tries to not let it bother him too much. Once Tom does decide on a plan, Harry trusts Tom to tell him about it.

Aside from Tom's new correspondence, everything has remained much the same. If anything, things are better. Tom is less impulsive and irascible; helping Adelaide with her sister must be diverting some of his restlessness. Adelaide's also been sending Tom some new books to read. The titles are fancy and the contents are to do with pureblood culture. Tom says the books used to belong to the Greengrass brother.

Harry and Tom also make a second trip to Diagon Alley. Tom sells off all their old textbooks to the secondhand shop, and then he takes them to the Apothecary, where he pours over the prices of the various available ingredients.

"Are you looking for something in particular?" Harry asks him.

"Just checking the selection," Tom says. "Let's look at the completed potions."

They make their way over to the shelves of potion vials. Harry reads the labels, recognizing some of the items from their classes. Tom lingers here and there, his eyes sharp as he notes the prices.

"Cheaper to brew?" Harry asks.

"Yes," Tom admits. "Didn't hurt to check, though."

They end off at Fortescue's, where they order another sundae. Not as big as the last one, but still a fairly large size for the two of them to finish together. The shop is rather packed inside, so Harry and Tom end up sitting outside in the summer heat.

"Treacle tart flavour," Tom says, gesturing at a brown scoop. Then he points at the other scoop, which is cream-coloured with swirls of red in it, and adds, "Vanilla and raspberries."

Harry gives the treacle flavour a try. It tastes unnervingly like the real thing. "I wonder how they make these," Harry says. "This tastes exactly like a treacle tart."

"I suppose magic can do almost anything," Tom says.

They finish their ice cream in short order; Tom lets Harry have a majority of it. While Harry scoops away at the last bit of vanilla, Tom watches the crowds of people mingling about.

"Professor Dumbledore might come by again, before term," Tom says.

Harry tries to think why this might be, but he comes up with nothing. "Why d'you think so?"

"To drop off the money," Tom says. "For our school things."

"Oh, right." Harry had forgotten that he and Tom were reliant on the school's generosity for their supplies. "Maybe he'll send it through the mail," Harry suggests, hopeful that a visit can be avoided for Tom's sake.

"Coins are too heavy for that," Tom says, but he leans forward, looking cheered at the possibility. "But perhaps they can be shrunken down and made lighter."

"That sounds possible," Harry agrees. "Maybe he's too busy to drop by." In the copies of the Daily Prophet that Septimus and Adelaide have been sending, Professor Dumbledore features every so often. Their esteemed professor has been taking advantage of the summer holidays to further his research projects, and he has received a lot of attention in the papers for them.

Tom pushes his chair back, standing. "We'll see. Let's go back to Wool's."

That evening, Tom calls Harry over to their shared desk. Tom has his diary open to a list of points. There are lots of smaller points written underneath each major heading.

"I've made a plan for this year," Tom says. "Things I want to get done."

Harry skims the list. It seems Tom has taken the liberty of setting a goal for Harry as well. Quidditch is one of the main points, followed by the Quidditch Cup in smaller letters under it, followed by the word 'training'. This heading is followed by more points regarding their marks and their class rankings, researching powerful magic, and a final part labelled 'etiquette and culture'.

"What's this part about?" Harry asks, pointing at the last section.

"Adelaide's offered to help with lessons on wizarding culture," Tom says, "in addition to the books she's been sending. I think you should read them."

If Tom thinks it's worth doing, then there must be a reason for it. Harry picks up one of the books resting on the table. The title reads 'The Intricacies of the Noble House'. Flipping it open, Harry takes a quick look through the pages.

"What are we going to do with all this?"

"If we're going to deal with these people," Tom says, "then we need to understand them."

Harry can't argue with that, though he does wonder on what 'deal with' implies. If it's to do with the Slytherins, then Harry's not sure how he feels about it.

"And it will help us help Annalise," Tom adds. "Because we'll be able to better understand the mindset her parents have."

This does make more sense, so Harry nods, resolute. "Yeah, you're right."

If this will help, then Harry will read through it all without complaint. Maybe he'll even be able to pick up on a few of the formal manners he'd noticed Tom integrating over the course of their first year at Hogwarts. Tom's always been good at adapting to new situations easily, so it'll be no surprise if he excels at this, too.

And if Harry ever does meet the Potters, he'll want to show them that he's not just an uneducated child from the lowest ranks of London, and that means putting in some effort.

Tom picks up a few other books and hands them over. "Here," he says. "I've finished with these ones."

Harry takes the extra books and deposits them on top of his trunk, keeping the first book with him as he crawls atop his bed, intent on reading.

The start of the book is very dry. There are a lot of paragraphs dedicated to how great blood purity is, how it makes one's magic stronger. It takes Harry a few tries to even get past the introduction, but he slogs through it anyways. It will all pay off in the end.

In the second week of August, Harry and Tom recieve a letter from Professor Dumbledore. As Harry had hoped, there will be no visit from their Head of House this year. Instead, there is a document for them to bring to Gringotts in order to retrieve their school funds, and a list of this year's required supplies.

Adelaide has also set the date for their Diagon Alley visit. Though Harry knows it's unlikely, he hopes that Annalise will somehow be able to attend. Her letters have grown less cheerful and more sporadic, and despite Adelaide's insistence that they not worry too much, Harry can't help but anxiously count down the days until September the first.

Septimus writes about practicing Quidditch with his older brothers. He invites Harry to come along as well, but Harry declines as politely as he can. He still has more reading to do, reading he knows he won't have as much time for once classes start in September.

By the time their group shopping day arrives, Harry has gotten through most of the books Tom had given him, and all his summer homework is done. Harry is happy with how productive he's been, even if the books he had read were more depressing than reassuring. He and Tom tuck their black robes into their bags before they head out to Diagon Alley, though given the heat, Harry doesn't think the robes will be necessary.

The four of them—Septimus, Adelaide, Tom, and Harry—had agreed to meet in front of Gringotts. Adelaide shows up alone, but Septimus shows up with Nathaniel, who tells them to meet at Fortescue's in a few hours.

Once everyone is gathered together, Tom goes inside to fetch the funds Professor Dumbledore had left for them, leaving Harry to make small talk with their friends.

Adelaide is wearing a set of powder-blue robes, and her hair is tied back with a matching ribbon. She's poised and flawless as always, her hands clasped over her leather book bag while she talks.

"How is your Quidditch practice going?" Adelaide asks Septimus. "Are you feeling confident about tryouts?"

Septimus blinks and shuffles his feet. His shoes are a little scuffed, but they're in relatively good condition. He'd also evidently chosen to forgo wizard's robes in favour of plain tan trousers and a dark grey shirt. "Good, I suppose? Nathaniel's pretty poor at flying, but he's alright at chucking things at me. I've been getting in extra practice whenever my other brothers are around, and sometimes my dad helps charm the practice bludger to fly at me."

"That's very good to hear," Adelaide says, then turns her gaze to Harry. "And you? How are things with Riddle?"

"We're doing well," Harry says. "We've been reading the books you sent us. Thank you for those, by the way."

Adelaide waves it off. "It's no trouble. You should be educated on these things, and there's no one else to teach you. Sebastian won't even notice they've gone missing."

Septimus looks between them both, then says, "What sorts of books?"

"Wizarding culture, Weasley," Adelaide says. "As Muggleborns, they'll need to know these things if they want to interact with higher society. I'm also going to hold some lessons for them, just to get them up to snuff."

"Higher society," Septimus says, snorting. "Sure." He glances over at Harry before he adds on, "But I guess it can't hurt." He pauses again, then says, directly to Adelaide, "Is there room for one more? My parents don't really put emphasis on these sorts of things. Because I'm the youngest, I won't ever be holding the family seat or anything, so no one bothers to tell me stuff."

"If you want to come," says Adelaide, "I don't mind."

Tom emerges from the bank and walks over to them. "Let's go," he says, once he's close enough to be heard properly. "Flourish and Blotts first, then the Quidditch shop."

No one questions this, and so they all make their way to the bookstore. Once inside, Adelaide and Tom approach the sales clerk to buy their assigned sets of textbooks.

"I've already got most of mine for this year," Septimus tells Harry. "There's a few I need new, but I think my parents already OWL-ordered them when they were buying some books they wanted for themselves."

"Makes sense," Harry says.

They stand there for another minute, and then Septimus speaks again. "Are you excited for Quidditch?"

"I'm still a bit worried about tryouts," Harry says. "But I can't wait to be able to fly around the pitch again."

"You're going to be great, though," Septimus says, enthusiastic. "Really, Harry. I know you're likely sick to death of hearing it, but we're all on your side."

Harry feels his face grow hot. "Thanks, Septimus. I'm glad we'll be trying out together."

Septimus smiles. "Yeah, it'll be good fun. I'm kind of glad I let Tom talk me into doing it. Even if I don't get onto the team, it'll be nice for us to do something together."

Adelaide comes back over, two packages of books in hand. "Hold this, please," she says to Septimus, who accepts the pile she drops into his hands. Adelaide brings her book bag around to her front, opening it up. "It all needs to go in."

Septimus dumps the packages inside, where they get swallowed up by the bag's magic. "I need one of those," Septimus says. "Nifty for carrying everything at once."

"It's a special charm," Adelaide says, closing her bag back up. "It's too complex for us to cast, but perhaps one of your brothers could do it for you."

Tom walks up to them, stack of books in hand. "Everyone finished?" Tom asks.

Septimus and Harry both nod. "To the Quidditch shop?" asks Septimus, hands sliding into his pockets.

"Then the Apothecary," Adelaide adds, sounding reluctant. "Since we'll be needing new ingredients this year."

They exit the shop and make their way over to Quality Quidditch Supplies. There is no new broomstick launch this season, but the shop is still fairly busy. Tom leads them to where the kits are; he picks up two Broomstick Servicing Kits and a Quidditch Starter Kit, all of which he hands off to Adelaide. The kits are large and colourful, and the tags on the shelf announce to everyone that the prices are not insubstantial by any means.

"Are you buying all these?" Septimus asks her, confused.

"Gloves next," Tom says, already walking away from the shelf.

"Yes, we are," Adelaide answers. "For you and Evans both."

"Wait," Harry says, jerking away from the shelf to stare at her in horror. "You can't do that, Adelaide! You've already gotten me a broom and everything—"

"Don't worry, Harry," Tom interrupts, popping up out of nowhere. He dumps a pair of gloves on top of the Quidditch kits. "Everything has already been agreed upon."

Septimus frowns, but he doesn't protest. "I can pay for my own gloves," he says to Adelaide. "And I could pay for one of the kits, too. An early birthday present for Harry."

"Septimus," Harry says, elbowing him.

"You're ridiculous, Evans," Adelaide says, huffing. "How else do you expect to succeed? Do you think the Slytherins are going to sit back and do nothing?"

"I don't need these things," Harry says weakly. "I'll do just fine without them."

"The broomstick kits are a must," Tom says. "They'll be needed for the broomsticks regardless. And the starter kit will make it easier for you both to practice outside of scheduled team sessions. We can't continue to borrow the equipment from other students; it's better if you have your own."

"I'm going to pay for these," Adelaide says. "We can meet outside."

"I'll wait with you," Septimus says, taking one of the kits from her. "So I can help you carry them afterwards."

So Harry and Tom wait outside the shop. It's nearly lunch hour now, meaning the alley isn't as busy. Most people have likely gone to restaurants to eat.

"I don't like that Adelaide's paying for everything," Harry says. "I know you said it's fine, and she said it's fine, but it doesn't feel right, Tom."

Tom sighs. "Harry, listen to me. You have to take every advantage when you can. Adelaide isn't doing this out of charity. There are things that she can do for us, like buy supplies, that we wouldn't be able to do on our own. She does want to help, and we'll be helping her with things in return. Does this make you feel better?"

Harry can't really imagine what he'll be able to do for Adelaide and Annalise. Sure, he's been reading the books Adelaide has sent, but Tom is the smart one between the two of them, and so Tom will be the one who is paying back Adelaide with whatever plan he comes up with. But he knows that Tom does believe in him, and Tom had let him help with the study guide, so he has to believe that Tom will let him help with this, too.

"If you're sure I can help," Harry says. "Then I guess it's okay."

"You will," Tom promises. "And part of this will be accomplished by playing Quidditch and making a name for yourself. That's how you gain influence, by making people pay attention to the things you excel at. Then they can see how much better you are than them."

Harry knows better than to express his self-doubt, because he knows Tom won't like it. So he nods in response, and this answer satisfies Tom, who pats him on the arm.

What Tom thinks of as an alliance, Harry thinks of as friendship, and so it sits poorly with him to be indebted to the Greengrass sisters, especially when Annalise is having such a bad time with her aunt.

Adelaide and Septimus emerge from the shop. Septimus has a brown paper bag in hand, presumably the Quidditch kit and the gloves he'd paid for.

"There goes my extra pocket money," Septimus says cheerfully. Then, when Harry winces, he adds, rushed, "It's really nothing, Harry."

Harry gives up. All of his friends are too nice to him, buying him things he doesn't really need, and there's no way of convincing them to stop, especially when Tom is just encouraging it. Harry resolves that he'll have to find a way to repay them all as soon as he can, hoping that it will be enough.

At the Apothecary, there are lots of tubs and jars for various items, so it takes a while for them to gather everything they need. Tom seems to be consulting a separate list as well, a list other than the one they'd received with their letter from Professor Dumbledore.

"I'll pay for it," Adelaide says, eyeing the second pile of things Tom has counted and measured out. "But I'm not brewing it, Riddle, and that's my final answer."

Harry scoops some beetle eyes into a pouch, watching for Tom's response. Tom doesn't look pleased, but Adelaide's refusal doesn't appear to surprise him, either. Was this what they had been arguing about at Septimus' house?

"Fine," Tom snaps, and then he turns to Septimus. "You'll help, won't you?"

"Um, sure." Septimus nods a few times in quick succession. "What do you need me to do?"

"I have the ingredients here for a Sleeping Draught," Tom says. "But I need someone to brew it before school starts. You live in a magical household, and your potions marks are decent enough you should be able to handle it."

"Yeah, as long as it's not too complex a potion, then I can do it. But why can't it wait for when we go back to Hogwarts?" Septimus asks.

"Our cauldrons are stored in the classroom," Tom reminds him. "We can't access them without signing them out."

Septimus hesitates, then says, "Right. So you just want this done before then?"

"If it's not too much trouble," Tom says.

Harry portions out a dozen newt tails, and then hands them over to Tom, who drops them into one of the paper bags provided by the shop. Harry wants to ask what the draught is for, but, truth be told, he's a bit embarrassed he doesn't already know, what with Tom acting like he'd been planning this for a while.

"Is there anything else?" Septimus asks. His tone is more casual than Harry would have expected given the illegality of the task he's agreed to undertake.

"We'll have to stop by the joke shop for a dungbomb."

"You? Need a dungbomb?" Septimus blurts out. "What do you need one of those for?"

"For an experiment," Tom says vaguely. "I'm not about to set one off in the common room, if that's what you're worried about."

"I'm not worried about that," Septimus says, shaking his head. "I just wasn't expecting it, is all."

"Are we done yet?" Adelaide interjects, annoyed. "I've finished with my things." Indeed, her hands are full with various bags of ingredients, all neatly labelled.

"Sure," says Septimus. "Let's go."

The four of them head to the counter to pay. Adelaide purchases her two sets of ingredients plus the additional things Tom had picked up. Septimus goes next, leaving Harry and Tom as last in line.

Once he and Tom are done, Harry tucks their purchases into his rucksack, lingering behind while Septimus and Adelaide exit the shop. Before Tom can pull too far away from the counter, Harry touches his elbow, stopping them both in place.

"What have you been planning?" Harry asks.

Tom frowns, but the frown disappears after a second. "If I told you to leave it alone, would you?"

"No, I wouldn't." Harry sighs. "Tom, I don't like it when you don't tell me things." Tom likes his space, he likes to plot and plan, but usually he includes Harry in the process. Being left out feels... bad. Harry doesn't want Tom to keep him in the dark, even if it's only because Tom thinks it's something he doesn't need to know.

"If it's important, then I do tell you," Tom says, defensive.

"This seems pretty important," Harry retorts. "So I think I should know."

Tom glances over at the glass windows that face the alley. Adelaide and Septimus are waiting for them on the other side. "We can talk about this later," he says at last. "Not right now."

Harry nods acceptance, knowing that this is the best answer he's likely to get. "Later, then," he agrees. "I won't forget."

"Fine," Tom says, resigned, and this leads Harry to suspect that whatever this is about, he won't like it very much.

A/N:

ngl i'm kind of dead tired as i post this, oops.

mostly a transitional chapter here, hopefully the character interactions make it interesting enough to bypass the whole 'boring introductory diagon alley trip' schtick.

next chapter will continue diagon alley and move onto some other stuff (probably).

as usual, thanks for reading and thank you for the reviews :)