A/N: There is one more chapter until they get to Hogwarts.

Chapter 6

The months passed by, and they were better than Tom had ever expected. He had now gained quite a grasp on his magic, and he used it frequently. It was very useful in scaring off anyone who would have trouble with him. The other kids were scared of him, he noticed. They usually left him alone, and those who would not got what was coming to them. It was quite fun to torment his previous tormentors, actually.

He did not tell Elora about this. She always seemed uncomfortable when he brought it up, so he thought it was better to just not mention it altogether. The two of them had grown close over the several years they had known each other. She made Tom feel happy, which was not something he was used to feeling, especially from another person. He also had a strong desire to protect her that he did not quite understand. He just knew that they had to stick together because it was better that way.

Soon, they were both 11-years-old. Elora was very excited to receive her letter from Hogwarts. Tom was still skeptical that anyone in the magical world would know about his existence, but one July afternoon, it happened.

Tom had been sitting on his bed reading a book when he heard a knock on the door. Then Mrs. Cole, the matron, entered with a strange-looking man. The man had a long hair and beard, which were both auburn. The oddest part was his plum velvet suit. Tom's eyes narrowed as he took him in.

"Tom?" said Mrs. Cole. "You've got a visitor. This is Mr. Dumberton-sorry, Dunderbore. He's come to tell you-well, I'll let him do it."

"How do you do, Tom?" the man said, walking forward and holding out his hand.

Tom hesitated before setting his book down and shaking his hand. He was unsure about this whole situation. He never received visitors. He thought no one in the outside world except Elora cared that he was alive. Maybe the only one at all.

The man drew up a chair and sat down. "I am Professor Dumbledore."

"'Professor'?" Tom repeated. He looked wary. "Is that like 'doctor'? What are you here for? Did she get you in to have a look at me?" He pointed at the door through which Mrs. Cole had just left.

"No, no," Dumbledore said, smiling.

"I don't believe you," Tom said. "She wants me looked at, doesn't she? Tell the truth!" He spoke the words with great force. Everyone was always trying to lie to him. No one would give him any respect. He was highly suspicious of this professor character. Then again, why did his name sound so familiar? He was probably just imagining it. He glared at Dumbledore, wanting him to go away. Why couldn't everyone just leave him alone? He stopped glaring and asked, "Who are you?"

"I have told you. My name is Professor Dumbledore and I work at a school called Hogwarts. I have come to offer you a place at my school-your new school, if you would like to come."

Tom's eyes widened at this, and all traces of hostility and wariness vanished from his face. Hogwarts! So, Elora had been right after all. "Yes," he said immediately. "Hogwarts is the magic school, isn't it? I'm a wizard, right?"

Dumbledore seemed surprised that he already had this knowledge. "Yes, you are a wizard, like me. Hogwarts is a place to study magic."

Tom nodded. "I know. My friend Elora told me. She's a witch I meet at the park the first Saturday of every month. She's told me all about Hogwarts and the wizarding world." His eyes were now lit with excitement. It was finally coming true!

Dumbledore smiled again. "Really? Would this be Elora Leatherby?"

"Yes," Tom said. "Do you know her?"

"I have never met her," Dumbledore said, "but she is on the list to start Hogwarts this year. It is good that you have met her. It is always great to start off school with a friend."

"Are you really a wizard?" Tom asked, hardly able to believe it.

"Yes, I am."

"Prove it," Tom said in a commanding tone. He had to be absolutely sure this was the real deal. He did not want to get his hopes up for nothing.

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. "If you are accepting your place at Hogwarts, then you will address me as 'professor' or 'sir.'"

Tom realized he was probably coming off as too harsh. This man was offering something he wanted; it was probably best to be polite lest he ruin his chances. "I'm sorry, sir. I meant-please, professor, could you show me-?"

After a second, Dumbledore drew his wand from an inside pocket of his suit jacket, pointed it at the shabby wardrobe in the corner, and gave the wand a casual flick. The wardrobe burst into flames.

Tom jumped to his feet in surprise. Then he howled in shock and raged, for the wardrobe was where all of his possessions were stored. As he rounded on Dumbledore, the flames vanished, leaving the wardrobe completely undamaged.

Tom stared from the wardrobe to Dumbledore. Then he pointed at the wand. "When can I get one of them?"

"All in good time," Dumbledore said. "I think there is something trying to get out of your wardrobe."

Sure enough, there was a faint rattling coming from inside the wardrobe. Tom felt scared, for he knew what was inside.

"Open the door," Dumbledore said.

Tom hesitated and then crossed the room and threw open the wardrobe door. On the topmost shelf, above a rail of threadbare clothes, a small cardboard box was shaking and rattling as though there were several frantic mice trapped inside it.

"Take it out," said Dumbledore.

Tom took down the quaking box. He looked unnerved.

"Is there anything in that box that you ought not to have?" Dumbledore asked.

Tom threw Dumbledore a long, clear, calculating look. "Yes, I suppose so, sir," he said finally, in an expressionless voice. How did he know?

"Open it," Dumbledore said.

Tom took off the lid and tipped the contents onto his bed without looking at them. He knew was there: a yo-yo, a silver thimble, and a tarnished mouth organ.

"You will return them to their owners with your apologies," Dumbledore said calmly, putting his wand back into his jacket. "I shall know whether it has been done. And be warned: thieving is not tolerated at Hogwarts."

Tom stared at Dumbledore. Fine; he would do what he had to do in order to study magic. This was what was needed to achieve his destiny. "Yes, sir."

"At Hogwarts," Dumbledore went on, "we teach you not only to use magic, but to control it. You have - inadvertently, I am sure-been using your powers in a way that is neither taught nor tolerated at our school. You are not the first, nor will you be the last, to allow your magic to run away with you. But you should know that Hogwarts can expel students, and the Ministry of Magic-yes, there is a Ministry-will punish lawbreakers still more severely. All new wizards must accept that, in entering our world, they abide by our laws."

"Yes, sir," Tom said again. Yes, he would have to abide by the rules and laws. That was the only way he could get what he wanted. He put the objects back inside the box and then turned to Dumbledore. "I haven't got any money."

"That is easily remedied," Dumbledore said, drawing a leather money-pouch from his pocket. "There is a fund at Hogwarts for those who require assistance to buy books and robes. You might have to buy some of your spellbooks and so on secondhand, but -"

"You buy spellbooks at Diagon Alley, right?" Tom interrupted. He took the money bag and pulled out a fat coin.

"Why, yes," Dumbledore said. "I have your list of books and school equipment with me. I can help you find everything -"

"You're coming with me?" Tom said, looking up. He still did not know what to think about this man, and he did not want to be with him any longer than necessary.

"Certainly, if you -"

"I don't need you," Tom said. "I want to go with Elora. She said her Granny would take me when she goes. I have to meet her there. How do you get to Diagon Alley-sir?"

"Of course you may go with her," Dumbledore said. He handed Tom an envelope. After telling him exactly how to get to a place called the Leaky Cauldron from the orphanage, he said, "You will be able to see it, although Muggles around you-non-magical people, that is-will not. Ask for Tom the barman-easy enough to remember, as he shares your name -"

Tom gave an irritable twitch at the sound of his name.

"You dislike the name 'Tom'?"

"There are a lot of Toms," Tom muttered. Then, he could not suppress the question on his mind any longer, so he said, "Was my father a wizard? He was called Tom Riddle too, they've told me."

"I'm afraid I don't know," said Dumbledore, his voice gentle.

"My mother can't have been magic, or she wouldn't have died," Tom said, more to himself than Dumbledore. "It must've been him. So-when I've got all my stuff- when do I come to Hogwarts?" He could not remember what Elora had said.

"All the details are on the second piece of parchment in your envelope," Dumbledore said. "You will leave from King's Cross Station on the first of September. There is a train ticket in there too."

Tom nodded. Dumbledore got to his feet and held out his hand again. Taking it, Tom said, "I can speak to snakes. Elora says it's not normal for a wizard."

"It is unusual," Dumbledore said in agreement, and, after a moment's hesitation, "but not unheard of."

The two of them stood staring at each other for a moment, taking each other in. Then the handshake was broken and Dumbledore was at the door. "Goodbye, Tom," he said. "I shall see you at Hogwarts."

Tom was relieved when he was gone. He had gotten what he had wanted. He felt a sense of pride building up inside of him. He was going to Hogwarts!

Tom had been to London on his own many times in the past, so it was no problem when he set out to find the Leaky Cauldron. He took out his list of needed supplies and looked it over once more before departing:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL o f WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set of glass or crystal phials
1 telescope set
1 brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

Tom was glad there were quite a few items on the list, for this meant he got to spend more time with Elora. He was sure she would make great fun of the new adventure that had been laid out before them. The most exciting of which, of course, was getting their wands. She had told him that wands were made differently to match the personality of its wizard. It was quite interesting.

It took some effort to find the Leaky Cauldron, but Tom finally managed. It was a tiny, grubby-looking pub. He wondered why a place so famous did not look any better. The inside was not much of an improvement. It was very dark and shabby, and there were odd people sitting around.

"May I help you?" the barman said when he noticed Tom.

"I'm supposed to meet a friend here, sir," Tom said. "Elora Leatherby."

The man smiled. "I know the Leatherbys. They come by every year. I've never met Elora, though. She must be their youngest daughter."

Tom nodded. "She is."

Just then, the door to the pub opened, and Elora stepped inside with her Granny. She brightened when she saw Tom. "Hi!" she said loudly.

Tom glanced at the barman. "That's her." Then he made his way forward to greet Elora. He gave her a slight smile. "Hi."

"Glad to see you made it safely," her Granny said.

"It was easy," Tom said with a shrug.

Elora was looking around the place in awe. "This is so cool! How do we get to Diagon Alley?"

Granny smiled. "This way, dear." She led the two children through the bar and out into a small, walled courtyard, where there was nothing but a trash can and a few weeds. Then Granny began to count the bricks above the trash can. "Stand back."

Tom and Elora immediately stepped back. They watched as Granny tapped a brick three times. The brick quivered, and then a small whole appeared. The hole grew wider and wider until it made a large archway that led out onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight.

"This is it," Granny said with a smile.

Tom and Elora exchanged a look of wonder before stepping through the archway after the old woman. The place looked amazing. Many shops lined both sides of the street, all with signs that exposed the magical contents that lay inside. Tom could not wait to get started.

"Where are we going first?" Elora asked excitedly. She was bounding up and down on the balls of her feet.

Granny chuckled lightly. "How about I look for your books while you two get fitted for roads? Then we can all head out together to buy your wands."

Tom thought that sounded like a great plan. Elora must have agreed, for she was nodding vigorously. Soon, they were off.

Finally, it was the moment Tom had been waiting for. Granny led him and Elora into Ollivanders, which was the shop where they would get their wands. Tom was just as excited on the inside as Elora, who was grinning uncontrollably, looking on the outside.

A young man greeted them inside the shop. "Hello," he said with a friendly smile.

"Good afternoon," Granny said pleasantly. "You must be Garrick Olivander. Your father sold me my wand. I'm Chrysanthemum Dixon."

"Right," Ollivander said, his eyes bright. He looked from Elora to Tom. "And who are these fine children?"

"This is my granddaughter, Elora," Granny said putting her hand on Elora's shoulder, "and her friend, Tom. They are starting their first year at Hogwarts and they are in need of a couple of wands."

Ollivander smiled. "Of course. I'll help you find the perfect wands. Who wants to be first?"

"Go ahead, Elora," Granny said, nodding at the young girl.

Elora bit her lip and stepped forward, suddenly seeming very shy. Tom watched as Ollivander pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket.

"Which is your wand arm?" Ollivander asked.

"My right, I suppose," Elora said.

"Hold out your arm," Ollivander said. As she did so, he began to measure her all over.

Tom was surprised when the tape measure began to move on its own. Did all magical objects do that? He found himself watching the object with fascination.

"Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance," Ollivander said, looking from Elora to Tom. "We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons."

"Is there a difference?" Elora asked. "Do they match our personalities?"

Ollivander smiled. "Yes, indeed. I have not quite figured out how it works, though. I learn more with each wand I sell. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand."

He was now searching around shelves, pulling down boxes. "That's enough," he said to the tape measure, and it fell to the floor. He opened a box and pulled out a wand. Tom found himself unable to look away. "Try this out," Ollivander said as he handed the wand to an eager-looking Elora. "It's sycamore and unicorn hair. Eight inches. Quite whippy. Give it a wave."

Elora waved the wand back and forth, but nothing happened.

A second later, Ollivander has snatched the wand back. "Let's try something else." He traded the wand in for a new one. This one was jet-black, and Tom found it very appealing. "This one is ebony and dragon heartstring. 10 and 3/4 inches. Nice and firm."

Elora took the new wand and waved it. This time, a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end of the wand. Tom let out an involuntary gasp.

Ollivander clapped his hands together in glee. "Perfect! This wand will suit you just fine."

A huge grin spread across Elora's face. When she shared it with Tom, he gave her a small smile in return. "Ebony," Elora repeated. "What does that mean?"

"She's always seeking out knew information," Granny explained.

Ollivander chuckled lightly. "Not a bad trait." He smiled at Elora. "Ebony is happiest in the hand of those with the courage to be themselves. It's owners tend to be individualistic and unique. Their beliefs may not be conventional, but they'll stick with them no matter what. Ebony seems to be good for all sorts of combative magic."

Elora was staring at her wand with wide eyes. "Wow," she whispered.

Tom agreed that the wand was quite impressive. He was happy that his friend had found such a good match. Now, however, he was itching to get one of his own. "Is it my turn?" he asked, looking at Ollivander hopefully.

"Of course!" Ollivander said as he picked up the measuring tape once again. "Hold up your wand arm, please."

Tom held up his right arm, eager to get this over with and onto the good stuff. Soon enough, the tape measure completed its work and dropped to floor.

"Let's start with this one," Ollivander said as he pulled out a wand. "Ash and dragon heartstring. 11 and 1/2 inches. Springy."

Tom felt his skin grow hot with excitement as he took the wand in his hand and swished it back and forth. He frowned when nothing happened, feeling disappointed.

"Something else, then," Ollivander said as he snatched the wand away. He took out another one. "This one is hawthorn and unicorn hair. 10 inches. Reasonably pliant."

Unicorn? Tom was not so sure about that one, but he tried it anyway. Just as he suspected, nothing happened.

"Not to worry." Ollivander quickly found a new wand. "Vine wood and dragon heartstring. 10 and 3/4 inches. Nice and flexible."

Tom was hopeful about this one, but it did not work either. He gritted his teeth in frustration. Was it supposed to take this long? Elora had gotten hers in two tries. "You're doing something wrong!" he said.

Ollivander frowned. "Some customers take longer to find their perfect match. Be patient. Let me see…" After rummaging around a bit, he pulled out yet another wand. "Try this one. Yew and phoenix feather. 13 and 1/2 inches. Brittle."

Tom stared at the wand warily before taking it He took a deep breath and then waved the wand. He was startled when sparks shot out of it. He stared at the object in amazement. He had done it. This was his wand.

"Very good," Ollivander said. "I knew we would find it."

"Good wand, Tom," Granny said with a smile, and he nodded at her numbly, suddenly feeling overwhelmed.

"What does yew mean?" Elora asked before Tom had the chance.

"Ah, yew is quite unique," said Ollivander. "It is associated with both death and rebirth. The yew tree represents reincarnation because as the outer tree dies, a new tree grows inside. Those who match well with this wand wood seem to be unusual and sometimes fierce protectors of others." His face suddenly grew serious as he eyes landed on Tom. "You must be careful. This wand is capable of great destruction – but the opposite could be as easily true. Use it carefully."

Tom nodded, not really understanding what he was saying. It was just a wand. And it sounded like a powerful one too. It was just what he wanted. "I will," he said. "Thank you, sir."

"Yes, thanks," Elora said, grinning once again. She turned to Tom, and they shared a knowing look. Everything they desired was being set into motion.