Chapter 3: Travel arrangements

A beam of light shone into the dark dormitory through the crack where the old woollen curtains didn't quite close properly and he woke, feeling the warmth of the morning sunshine and the haze that allows you to remember your dreams and forget everything else. Slowly the boy opened his eyes before wrinkling them closed again as the blinding glare touched them and for a while he lay there listening to the birds sing outside and wondering vaguely what the time was but not minding enough to check while the sunlight contented itself painting a golden stripe across his pale little face. The boy in the bed smiled slightly to himself, enjoying the warmth and security, knowing that as soon as he opened his eyes properly that would be destroyed and lazily he rolled onto his side away from the brightness that threatened to wake him. The corner of the watch dug playfully into his cheek and Tom's eyes snapped open. Inches in front of his nose the disgustingly cheerful coloured hands of the watch rotated in their abstract way and barely able to focus he watched the path of the blue corkscrew hand as it twitched back and forwards restlessly, emitting a loud click with each fresh twitch. Now that he was properly awake he wondered how he could have missed the watch's tick which seemed to make the whole room vibrate. How could anyone sleep with that racket going on? Warily he inspected the room for signs of movement but there was none save for the rise and fall of each child's breathing beneath their coloured blankets. He stuffed the watch under his pillow in an attempt to quieten its relentless ticking but not before reading the time off the red hands. It was five past seven; the sisters were late in waking up the children this morning. Then, belatedly, he remembered the watch was ten minutes fast, which left him five minutes alone with his thoughts. The watch pinged quietly through his pillow and he wondered briefly what Albus Dumbledore had wanted to remember at seven minutes past seven. He suppressed a giggle at the thought of the strange man forgetting to brush his teeth because Tom had his watch. But then, the malicious part of his brain reminded him, if the watch was still here how would Dumbledore manage turn up at nine o'clock sharp without his watch to remind him to do so? Perhaps wizards didn't need watches to remind them about things.

A woman's silhouette appeared in the doorway and he jumped as Sister Mary Jane asked, "awake already Tom?"

He nodded.

"I'm sorry about those curtains, we are getting some more I promise."

"Doesn't matter. Would you like me to help wake everyone else up?"

"No, but thank you. Why don't you head off to the showers early, I hear you're off on a shopping trip with your… uncle, wasn't it?"

Tom smiled in the safety of the darkness. "That's right."

With a screech of curtain rings the room lit up as he gathered his clothes and headed off towards the bathrooms.

* * *

It was a minute to nine and Albus Dumbledore still hadn't made his appearance. Tom's eyes raked the large clock above the doorway desperately, behind him he could hear the slight snickering of the watching children. Everybody else's visitors turned up on time.

Sister Joanne laid her hand on his shoulder. "Tom, perhaps you should-"

"He's coming," he replied furiously. "It's not nine o'clock."

"Tom…" Slowly the long ornate hand moved towards the twelve and his heart dropped. He wasn't coming then.

Someone giggled. Tom wilted and turned away from the door, tears of rage and frustration gleaming in his eyes. Why hadn't Dumbledore arrived? After going to all that trouble to convince him he was a wizard in the first place… He looked back at the clock one last time; the second hand was just passing the ten. He could just be late, he'd be here in ten minutes or so, Tom tried to tell himself. The second hand moved onwards past the eleven. It was too late, he wasn't going to be here.

"Bad luck Riddle," Eric Chambers called from the crowd. "Looks like you're stuck here."

Tom couldn't help but agree, he had no relations on his mother's side and none on his father's side that wanted to know him. He'd be here the rest of his life.

"I'm sorry am I late?"

Tom whirled in time to see Dumbledore's grin and the minute hand move from nine to a minute past. He beamed. "No, you're right on time."

* * *

They walked a little way down the street before either spoke.

Tom wanted to apologise but when he opened his mouth what came out was "where are we going?"

"London."

"Oh. How?"

"Wait and see."

They hadn't walked for more than ten metres down the road before Dumbledore stopped and pointed towards one of the houses, "through there."

The house was abandoned but otherwise completely normal. "Wait here," Dumbledore instructed and disappeared off into a different part of the house. Tom looked around hopefully for some kind of magical transportation and even prodded some of the moth eaten rugs in the hope that one would reveal itself to be a flying carpet but nothing happened and he sat down in one of the old flea bitten armchairs to wait. Just as he was starting to become bored Dumbledore reappeared in the doorway and handed him a small flowerpot. "Floo powder," he explained to a somewhat dubious Tom. "It's a new invention, made from the skin of a frog, unicorn horn and common dust." Tom moved involuntarily away from the powder. "I've been bursting to use it for weeks now but somehow I never got round to it." Ignoring the look of moderate disgust across the boy's face he proceeded to explain exactly how Floo powder worked and despite himself Tom found he was fascinated.

The fire in the grate roared and Tom stepped into it.

"The Leaky Cauldron."

A/N Author's not at the end today… Once again I tried to call this chapter Diagon Alley but that bit should be really long and interesting: Tom gets his wand and talks to snakes etc. so is now the next chapter. Should be good, come back and read it please. I realise nothing happens in this chapter, it is annoying and boring and I apologise. Next one should be better.

Review replies now because I enjoy them :-)

Lady Tsilk- I don't know what's going to turn him evil but it has to happen pretty early on as in his 6th year he's been looking for the CoS for 5 years. Possibly just out of curiosity and then he BECOMES evil. As I said, I don't know. And yes, I'm a sucker for love stories that end badly.

AlianneofTortall: You already know I love you ;-) Thanks for reviewing.

Orange: Have noticed you review Alianne's fic as often as I do, flattered you came to read mine. Please keep doing so.

Delie: Thanks for reviewing, your story's amazing, as I believe I told you in my multiple reviews. Thanks also for understanding the author's note thingy. I like it when people recognise I'm not just stupid, although it's a prominent character trait.