Disclaimer: The usual, I don't own any of the characters or anything to do with Harry Potter. All credit goes to J.K Rowling. Anyone you don't recognise is owned by me.

Authors Note: Here's Chapter Four. Sorry it's been so long since I updated. I haven't been very motivated to do much lately, barely making it out of bed to go to work. Thanks to grahamcracker-xx, poe d'enfant and Superdani for pointing out the mistake I made with Isolde's age. I will fix that up at a later date. Basically Tom was born December 31st 1926 and Isolde was born June 20th 1927. Hope that clears it up for you.

I would also like to thank Maui Kuuipo, random-lemon, Miss Musa and NTG for your reviews as well.

CHAPTER FOUR- A Trip to Diagon Alley

A couple of weeks passed before Tom and Isolde were able to leave the orphanage and journey to Diagon Alley. According to the directions Professor Dumbledore had given them there was quite a distance they would need to travel to get to the Leaky Cauldron.

It was early on a sunny day at the beginning of August when Tom and Isolde left the orphanage armed with their letters and the bag of gold coins, making the trek across London to Diagon Alley.

"I think that's it." Isolde whispered to Tom as they arrived at the spot Dumbledore had directed them to. There was a tiny dirty looking pub with a sign that had what looked like a cauldron or something.

"Do you think anyone else can see it?" Tom whispered back, taking note of how people kept walking past it, not even sparing the building a glance.

"Maybe only witches and wizards can see it." Isolde told him. Tom nodded in agreement. He was starting to feel excited, tugging on Isolde's hand he pulled her towards the Leaky Cauldron.

The inside of the Leaky Cauldron revealed to the young children that it was actually a dark and shabby pub. There was a low chatter coming from the various strangely dressed people, men and woman. Some were smoking pipes, most had drinks in front of them.

Isolde squeezed Tom's hand tightly and moved closer to him, as they stood in the doorway, unsure what to do. The fireplace to their left suddenly flared bright green and a man stepped out of it, brushing soot of his clothes.

"You kids alright there?" Tom and Isolde had been too busy staring at the man in the fireplace to notice another man had approached them. He was young, with curly brown hair and green eyes. He had an old rag tossed over his shoulder and an apron tied around his waist.

Isolde cowered beside Tom, who straightened his shoulders and stared up at the man. "Yes, we need to get to Diagon Alley."

The man surveyed them. "Alright then. Follow me." He said. He walked off through the tables. Tom went to follow him, but Isolde didn't move. He turned to look at her.

"What's wrong?" he asked her softly.

She looked at him. "He's a stranger." She whispered.

"So?"

Isolde sighed, looking a little irritated. "Mrs Cole said we shouldn't trust strangers."

Tom scoffed. "Mrs Cole is a paranoid old bat." He said and Isolde glared at him.

"We should be careful."

Tom sighed softly. "Isolde, the man is wearing an apron. He probably works here." He told her softly.

"I actually own the place."

They both jumped, not realising that the man had noticed they weren't following him and had returned.

"I admire you love. It is a good idea to careful with strangers." He said with a friendly smile, which was missing a couple of teeth. Isolde slowly returned the smile. "Come on, I'll show you the entrance to Diagon Alley so you know for later."

Isolde nodded and the man turned heading back in the direction he had gone before, with Tom and Isolde following him this time.

The man led them through the bar and into a small, walled courtyard containing a dustbin and a few weeds. Walking over to one of the wall, he reached into his pocket and pulled out what must have been his wand. He tapped three of the bricks on the wall and stood back.

Tom and Isolde watched as the bricks he had touched quivered and one of the bricks disappeared, leaving a small hole which slowly grew until it was nothing more than a large archway a cobbled street.

"There you go. This is Diagon Alley." The man said with a smile, as he put his wand away.

"Thank you." Isolde said softly with a small shy smile. The man returned it.

"You kids going to be alright?"

Tom smiled tightly, just wanting to get into Diagon Alley. "Yes."

"Alright then Enjoy your day." With a last look at the children, he retreated back into the Leaky Cauldron, leaving them at the entrance to Diagon Alley.

With a glance at each other, Tom and Isolde slowly walked through the entrance, looking around them in awe. "Look Tom." Isolde said, pointing to the shop just inside the entrance of Diagon Alley. It had a stack of cauldrons outside it. "We need to get one of them."

Tom nodded, before pulling Isolde over to stand beside the wall just outside the shop. Digging into his pocket he pulled out his Hogwarts letter. After looking it over, he turned to Isolde. "I think we should get our wands first and then robes." He told her. He really wanted to get a wand and start practising with it.

"Ok Tom." Isolde said smiling at her friend. He returned the smile as his heart swelled with happiness to have her looking at him that way. He took her hand and they headed off down Diagon Alley, taking in everything around them; an apothecary, a place called Eeylops Owl Emporium which appeared to sell owls, Flourish and Blott's which was a bookstore by the looks of it.

"That must be where we get our robes." Isolde whispered to Tom as they passed a shop called Madame Malkin's Robes for all Occasions.

The passed by a large white building called Gringotts Bank and other various shops before they spotted a shop called Ollivanders: Fine Makers of Wands since 382 BC.

Tom was ecstatic. "A wand shop. Come on." He said excitedly dragging his small friend behind him as he eagerly entered the shop.

Ollivanders was a small dark and dusty shop that was filled with silence only broken by a tinkling bell as the pair entered the shop.

"Hello." Isolde called out softly, not seeing anyone at the small desk at the back of the store.

"Good Morning." A soft voice replied, as an old man stepped out from behind one of the rows of stacked narrow boxes. He was tall with wispy white hair and wide pale eyes that were shinning like moons.

"Hello, we'd like to buy a wand." Tom said arrogantly, his head held high.

"We'll you've come to the right place young man." The man said with an eerie smile. "I am Mr Ollivander and this is my shop."

Before Tom or Isolde said anything, Mr Ollivander disappeared back down the row he had emerged from, reappearing with a long thin box. He opened it, took out the wand it contained. "Give this wand a wave young man." He said, handing it to Tom.

With a glance at Isolde, Tom took the wand over to him and waved it, causing the box Mr Ollivander was holding to catch fire. The old man dropped the box. "No, not that one." He said, snatching the wand off Tom, before disappearing again.

Isolde picked the box up and placed it on the desk in front of them, as Mr Ollivander returned carrying another box. "Let's try this one."

This time the window at the front of the shop cracked down the middle. Shaking his head, he bustled over to another shelf pulling another box off. "How about this one? Yew, thirteen and a half inches. It contains a phoenix feather."

"A phoenix." Isolde gasped. "They're real?"

Mr Ollivander smiled at her. "Yes, they do." He answered, as Tom took the wand from him and waved it, causing a green light to come soaring out it. Mr Ollivander clapped. "Excellent. I was afraid we would have some trouble with you."

Taking the wand from Tom, he placed it back in the box and wrapped it up in brown paper, before turning to Isolde. "Now, let's see if we can find the perfect one for you Miss Branwen."

Isolde looked at him in surprise. "How do you know me?" she asked.

Mr Ollivander smiled. "You, my dear are the spitting image of your mother." He said, before disappearing down the rows.

Isolde looked at Tom in awe, but neither had a chance to say anything before Mr Ollivander returned with a wand for Isolde.

It took much longer for Isolde to find the right wand, but eventually she found the perfect one. Thirteen inches, oak with unicorn hair. Mr Ollivander told her it would be perfect for charms.

He wrapped up Isolde's wand as well, before they paid for them and he bid them farewell with a smile on his face, one that held a secret.

They walked up Diagon Alley towards Madame Malkin's so they could buy their school robes, chatting excitedly.

They entered the shop and were immediately set up by a small smiling witch who introduced herself as Miss Malkin, daughter of the proprietor of the shop.

"Hogwarts?" she asked cheerfully.

They both nodded. "Well who wants to be fitted for their robes first?" she asked and Isolde pushed Tom forward, wanting to have a look at the different robes before trying on her school ones. Miss Malkin dragged Tom out into what looked like a back room.

Isolde wandered around the shop a bit, before taking a seat on one of the ones provided. The bell above the door rang, indicating someone had entered the store. Isolde looked up as Miss Malkin bustled out of the back room over to the young girl who had entered.

"Hogwarts?" she asked in the same cheerful manner and the girl nodded. "Well there are a couple of others before you, so you'll have to wait your turn.

"That's fine." The girl said, sitting in the empty chair beside Isolde, while Miss Malkin went back to Tom.

"Hogwarts?" Isolde turned to look at the girl beside her. She looked to be about Isolde's age with dark brown hair pulled into a low bun and brown eyes. Isolde nodded. "Me too. It's my first year. You look to be a first year as well." The girl said.

"I am." Isolde was not used to having someone speak to her without making fun of her, other than Tom of course. This is was a new experience.

"I'm Minerva McGonagall." The girl said, holding out her hand.

Isolde hesitated for a second before taking the offered hand. "Isolde Branwen."

Minerva smiled. "It's nice to meet you Isolde." She said and Isolde couldn't help but return the smile. "So, any idea what house you'll be in?"

"House?" Isolde asked in confusion.

Minerva nodded. "Yes, there are four houses at Hogwarts." She looked at Isolde. "Are you a muggleborn?"

Biting her lip, Isolde shrugged. "What is a muggleborn?"

"A muggleborn is a witch or wizard with non-magical parents."

"Oh." Isolde said. "We'll my mother was a witch or so I'm told."

"Then that would probably make you a half-blood." Minerva told her.

"Ok." Isolde said. "What were you saying about houses?"

Minerva straightened up. "Oh yes. Well at Hogwarts you are sorted into a house, named after the Four Founders. There is; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin." She explained. "I'm hoping to be in Gryffindor, but Ravenclaw would be alright, all the intelligent people get sorted into Ravenclaw. I wouldn't want to be sorted into Slytherin though.

"Why not?"

Minerva lowered her voice. "Most of the people sorted into Slytherin go bad."

Isolde shivered slight, for reasons unknown to her.

"Slytherin only takes Purebloods though, so you don't need to worry about being sorted into that one." Minerva told her.

Isolde smiled. "What else do you know about Hogwarts?"

Once Miss Malkin had adjusted his robes to his size, Tom slipped out of them and went to leave the dressing room, only to be greeted by the sound of Isolde laughing. He frowned. The only person who could make Isolde laugh like that was him. Who was making her laugh like that? Bursting out of the bac room, he found Isolde conversing with another girl who looked to be about their age.

"Isolde." He said softly, a little miffed that she hadn't noticed his entrance. Even at the sound of her name, Isolde didn't notice him standing there and this made him angry. Who was this person that thought that could steal Isolde away from?

"Isolde." He repeated a little louder and Isolde looked at him, her facing lighting up as it did whenever she saw him after a brief period of separation.

"Tom." She said, jumping up and running over to him. "Come meet Minerva. She's going to Hogwarts as well."

She dragged him over to meet her new friend and Tom surveyed the girl, not happy that she would be attending the same school as them. It didn't occur to him that he should be happy that this girl was actually being nice to Isolde instead of teasing her. However he simply saw her as a threat to his friendship with Isolde.

"Minerva, this is Tom Riddle, my best friend." Isolde introduced, smiling between the two. "And Tom, this is Minerva McGonagall."

"Lovely to meet you." Minerva said, surveying the sullen boy in front of her. He was so different in comparison to Isolde, who was happy and smiling. This young boy was already developing frown lines. However, she already knew how important this boy was to her new friend and was determined to be nice. She held out her hand toward Tom and after a look from Isolde, he reluctantly shook it.

The three stood there awkwardly for a couple of minutes before Miss Malkin came out to retrieve Isolde. Once Isolde was gone, Minerva tried engaging Tom in a conversation, but after receiving a few grunts from him, gave up and quietly sat down beside him.

Isolde insisted on waiting for Minerva, so the three could do their shopping together. Tom didn't like the idea, but he didn't want Isolde angry with him, so he trailed along behind the girls.

After their shopping, Minerva took them back into the Leaky Cauldron where they met her parents. That meeting turned sour when Tom sullenly informed the older witch and wizard upon asking about their parents that they didn't have any.

Isolde bid the other three goodbye before the duo made their way back to the orphanage.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

It was almost lights out when Isolde came into Tom's room, dressed for bed. She stood beside his bed staring at him, as he lay their reading a book.

Tom looked up to find Isolde standing over him, her arms crossed. She did not look very happy. There were very few times when Isolde would look at him like this. The last time had been earlier in the summer when he had stolen the harmonica Edward Stebbins had been left by his late father, after the boy had pushed Isolde.

"I'm not happy with you Tom." She said in a disappointed voice. "How are we to make any new friends if you are so rude?"

Tom just shrugged and returned to the book. It was one had gotten from the bookshop in Diagon Alley. Flourish and Blott's. It was called Hogwarts; a History and it was very fascinating, detailing the history of their new school.

Isolde stomped her foot, not happy that he was ignoring her. "Tom." She said, yanking the book out of his hand.

"You're going to forget about me." Tom said suddenly, sitting up and Isolde looked at him. "We're going to start Hogwarts and you will make new friends and forget all about me. You won't need me." He was finally voicing some of the fears he had developed today, watching Isolde and Minerva.

Isolde's face softened and she crawled onto the bed beside Tom, curling up and resting her head on his lap. "Oh Tom. You're my best friend. I won't forget about you." She said, sitting up again and kissing his cheek. Tom went bright red. "I'll always need you." She whispered in his ear.

"Lights out!" Mrs Cole called from the hallway. Isolde climbed off Tom's bed quickly. Mrs Cole decided that they were too old to share a bed anymore, so Isolde started the night off in her bed, before sneaking back into Tom's after everyone was asleep.

"I'll be back." She whispered, before slipping out of his room, leaving Tom alone, his hand coming to rest of his cheek.

A/N: There's the new chapter. I hope you all like it. I've added a link to my profile page with a picture of the person who I imagined as young Isolde. She's an actress named Grace Fulton and any Ghost Whisperer fans would recognise her as Young Melinda.

Also any suggestions on who Tom should meet on the Hogwarts Express? I have an idea but I want to see who you think should be Tom's first 'friend'.

You will also noticed I borrowed a few things from Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone (the Sorcerers Stone for you Yanks.) They were taken from Chapter Five – Diagon Alley

As always, please review. I love them.