Chapter 3
Diagion Alley
Tom had never been so excited about anything in his entire life. Hogwarts was the thing he had always dreamed of, and now that he knew he would be attending, he could think of nothing else. With his acceptance letter, there was also a school list of things he would need. Tom went to the head officials of the orphanage and explained that he had been accepted to a school and that the orphanage didn't have to pay a dime. After hearing the orphanage wouldn't have to pay, they didn't care if Tom left to buy his things. There were directions to get to a place called Diagion Alley. The letter said he could get all the necessary items there. So Tom went, two day after getting the letter, off to find Diagion Alley. He followed the directions and soon found himself on street staring at an old store. Tom had not seen it the first time, or the second. Finally he found it. Puzzled, he opened the door and went inside. It was nothing more then a dirty grimy bar. Tom was confused and turned to leave, but then the bar tender looked up and saw him.
"Hey you there, boy, are ya lookin' for Diagion Alley? 'Cause if ya are you haven't made a mistake. Well sonny, are ya?" Tom nodded. The man walked around and came out from behind the bar and started to the back. "Follow me then." Tom followed and the man led him to the back of the bar. He walked out of the door and down three steps. There was a large brick wall in front of them. "Now all ya have to do is tap here, here, here, and here." He said pointing at specific bricks. "Are ya a muggle then?" Tom gave the man a furious glare.
"No."
"All right sonny no needs to get upset. Well there ya go then." The man hurried back inside. Tom stared at the bricks. He pressed each one the man had said in that exact order. The bricks began to split apart and created an opening into a completely different world. With wide eyes Tom stepped in, or out rather. There were people everywhere and everyone was wearing robes and bustling about. Children, wizard children, were rushing around shouting and laughing. As Tom walked down the street he saw shops for books and brooms and cauldrons and so many different things he felt an overwhelming sense of awe. Tom walked on until he came to a corner where a large building stood called, Gringotts. It was the wizarding bank; Tom knew that from his mother's journals. Hopefully she left him some money, at least enough to by his school things. Tom walked into Gringotts. There were ugly little creature running around, his mother had said Gringotts was run by goblins, these were definitely them. Tom walked to the back of the bank were an old goblin was writing in a large book.
"Excuse me. Is this where I would go to make a withdraw." The goblin looked down at him coldly.
"It depends. Who are you?"
"My name's Riddle, Tom Riddle."
"Well Tom Riddle, do you have your key."
"Well, no, but I was…"
"No key, no money." The goblin sneered.
"Yes but…"
"What did I say boy? Now get out of here!" Tom backed up, but then stepped forward again.
"I need to get into my account. It's important. I know I have one and I…"
"Look boy. Rules are rules and the rules say no money no key."
"Don't you mean no key no money?"
"What? No. I mean yes, well… Oh get out of here you pest."
"What's going on here?" Said another goblin coming up from behind Tom. The first thing Tom noticed was that this goblin was a girl. All the other goblins in the bank were boys, all except for this one.
"Nothing Ma'am, nothing at all." The goblin said quickly. The girl-goblin turned to Tom.
"I don't have my key to my account, but I need to get…"
"I see." She said sharply interrupting him. "What is your name?"
"Tom Riddle."
"Riddle? Would you happen to be the son of Elizabeth Drew."
"Yes. That's my mother's name. She…"
"Very well, follow me Mr. Riddle." She waddled away and Tom followed. She went over to a very large desk in the corner; it was bigger and nicer then all of the others. The girl-goblin pulled open one of fifty drawers and took out a black box. She had a chain on her neck which she took off and on it was a key. She unlocked the box and inside of it was another key. She picked it up and handed it to Tom. "This Mr. Riddle is your key. Your mother had it made when she had first found out about her pregnancy. She left it here; she seemed to think her child might come here without her one day." The girl goblin walked around the desk and clapped twice. Almost instantly a goblin appeared. "Take Mr. Riddle down to his account. It's under the name Drew. Elizabeth Drew."
"Yes Ma'am, of course. Come with me Mr. Riddle."
Tom left Gringotts with a pouch full of wizard money. There was far more in it then he had expected in the account. He was now very excited and began to go about his shopping. In a few short hours he had nearly everything on his list, the only thing left was a wand. Tom walked quickly to a shop called Olivander's and went inside. There was no one there.
"Hello? Is someone here?" A man stepped out from behind a large stack of wands. He stared at Tom for a moment.
"Afternoon Mr. Drew, pardon me, it would be Mr. Riddle wouldn't it?" The man starred intently at Tom.
"That's right. I came to buy a wand. I heard that…"
"Yes, this is the best place to go for certain. Now let's see." He began looking at boxes, then he pulled one out and handed it to Tom. "Give that a wave won't you." Tom waved the wand, but nothing happened. "No problem, try this one." Mr. Olivander said instantly handing Tom another wand. This time when Tom waved the wand, several boxes that laid scattered on a shelf rose in the air and spun. They neatly arranged themselves on the shelf. Mr. Olivander looked at Tom with wide eyes. "Yes well, that appears to be the one doesn't it?" Tom nodded and handed Mr. Olivander some money.
"Thanks." He said and started for the door. As he turned the doorknob Mr. Olivander called out to him.
"Mr. Riddle?" Tom turned back. "You obviously have a very special gift. Do be careful how you use it. Think about all your decisions carefully won't you. Good day then." Then he turned and went to the back of his shop. Tom turned and left.
As Tom walked back into the bar he walked up to the bar and sat down waiting for the bartender to come to him. He looked at him, then causiosally went over to Tom.
"Can I help yeh then?"
"Actually I wanted to apologize for snapping at you earlier." Tom said. The man looked a Tom curiously.
"Oh, well sonny, no harms done I suppose."
"Still, you were just being nice and I was rude."
"Think nothin' of it."
"Thanks then. Listen I was wondering if you knew anything about an Elizabeth Drew?"
"Well sures I do. Don't everyone?"
"So it would appear. That's what I want to know, why everyone knows who she is."
"Oh well now the easiest way to find all about that is to read about it."
"And where would I do this?"
"Well do yeh know The Library over on Forest Ave.?" Tom nodded. "Well go to it. Then walk up the stair to the fourth level and you can read about nearly everything."
"But there are only three levels." Tom pointed out confused.
"Well sure, three for muggles. It's just like getten in ta Digian Alley." He then went on to tell Tom the exact bricks to push. Tom thanked him and left. As Tom was leaving he overheard the bartender telling someone what a nice young man his was and how kind it was for him to apologize. Tom had to smile and shake his head at the man's stupidity. Tom had said he wanted to apologize, never did he utter the words 'I'm sorry'.