Chapter Six
A.N: OK, you bunch of welshers, from now on I want reviews to be proportionate to the number of hits for the story. I'll know if people aren't reviewing. If you read the story, review. My writing partner is willing to blackmail you with the threat of less updates. So read and REVIEW! I'm a slightly angry person.
December 1, 1986- London- Diagon Alley
As the group of six walked through the streets of Diagon Alley towards Gringotts, Harry and Hermione held on to Tom's arms looking at the different shops all around them. Both of them tried to drag Tom to each window to see what lay inside, but Tom just held on to them and followed the road to where the great geometrically unstable building.
Before leaving the Manor and flooing to the Leaky Cauldron, Tom had disguised himself and his charges. He now sported cinnamon colored hair and dark honey eyes, he had also aged himself by a few years so that instead of looking nearer to seventeen he now looked closer to his late twenties. Hermione had been changed the least only her eyes and hair had been lightened. Harry had taken the longest to disguise since they had been forced to find a way to hide his scar. His hair had been semi-tamed and changed to look similar to Toms. His eyes had also been changed to a more common brown shade.
Both Hermione and Harry had gotten new names for their venture into the wizarding world. Harry was now Connor Riddle and Hermione was Morgan Riddle. Once they were at the bank Tom would set up an account for his 'family.' His old vault had long been cleaned out.
Entering the building Harry and Hermione drew closer to him at the sight of the goblins. They soon stood before a teller and Tom looked at the goblin blankly. He had never liked dealing with the creatures, but they didn't ask questions and weren't keen on telling others of their business. There was more than just gold and treasure beneath Gringotts.
The group rode on the cart down to one of the Malfoy's many vault's. Harry had enjoyed the ride unlike most of the other occupants of the cart, only Draco seemed to like it as much as he.
After getting all that they needed from the vault, they rode back through the tunnels, Harry looking down the dark passages they passed trying to get a glimpse of where they might lead.
The trio was excited about getting their own wands. Though Harry was a bit wary of the shop as they entered. The dusty interior contained row upon row of shelves, each lined with long boxes.
Tom entered behind the children, Narcissa and Lucius having gone to do some less respectable shopping in Knockturn Alley. He felt for his own wand in his sleeve wondering what Olivander's reaction to it would be, if he asked for it.
A grey haired man slid over on the ladder that circled the room. He stopped to look at the group, he seemed to recognize Draco, due to his looks most likely, but he narrowed his eyes at the others.
"Mr. Riddle, you seem to be in better health than the last time we crossed paths." Olivander said staring directly at Tom. "Yew, 13 ¼ inch long, Phoenix tail feather core. I remember that wand well, as do many who met you years ago. Why are you here."
Tom narrowed his gaze at Olivander. "Don't try me. As for why I am here…" He motioned at the trio, "it should be obvious."
"They are too young-"
"I know that you sell wands occasionally to children their age. This would be much less, painful, for you, if you would just get them their wands now. You won't see us again, unless this gets to Dumbledore." Tom said, his voice was low, nearly a hiss.
"Yes, well, I see. Very well, Mr. Riddle, as was the will of my fore fathers, I shall remain neutral in the coming war." Olivander seemed to sigh and he looked at the trio. "Who shall go first?"
"Draco go ahead." Tom said, Harry and Hermione had gotten sidetracked by a bauble sitting on a shelf. They turned though to watch Draco get his wand.
Draco went through at least four wands before he found the right one. "Ash, 11 ½ inches, Dragon heartstring core." Olivander muttered as he finished with Draco.
Tom pushed Hermione forward next. She shrugged when asked which was her wand hand. Being ambidextrous had it's perks she had learned. After that though her wand was found with relative ease. "Willow, 13 inches, Unicorn hair core."
Olivander turned to Harry at last and looked at him oddly for a moment. Then the mans eyes brightened considerably.
"Mr. Potter… I wondered when I would be seeing you, although it is much sooner than I had expected."
Harry glared at him. "It's Riddle not Potter."
"Very well then." Olivander looked at Harry for a moment longer thinking hard. He glanced at Tom and then went into the back of the store. He grabbed a box that had a large amount of dust covering it.
He set the box on the counter and then opened it gingerly. He took the wand out carefully and handed it to Harry. Once he held the wand tightly in his hand he could feel an odd warmth flow up his arm, he shivered at the feeling.
"I was right…" Olivander said slowly. He looked over to Tom who's eyebrow was arched. "Holly, 11 inches, Phoenix tail feather core. The phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand gave one other feather, just one other. It is curious that you are destined to have this wand when it's brother gave you your scar."
Tom paid for the wands and led the children to the door. As he was about to leave Olivander spoke.
"Do not worry about me revealing your secrets to Dumbledore." Olivander said. "I was here during the last war and I want to be here after this one. Just know that it won't be me who tells Dumbledore about your trip here. He has spies everywhere and sometimes, they aren't all human."
Tom nodded his thanks and exited the shop. Olivander sighed as the door closed, he looked out the window to see a tabby cat dash off from it's perch on the window sill.
"Albus, don't anger him more. The war is already beginning." He then picked up the boxes and returned them to their places on the shelves.
After a brief stop at Quality Quidditch Supplies, where Harry was introduced to the wonderful world of brooms. They met Lucius and Narcissa at Flourish & Blotts..
Upon entering the store Hermione grabbed the boys arms and led them through the shelves. Harry and Draco had no more than started to argue when they found their arms filled with books, both struggling not to drop them as their stacks became larger and larger. The adults found this extremely entertaining and made no move to stop it.
Lucius checked the books the boys were carrying and pulled a few out.
"Hermione, the Library at the Manor already has these." Hermione dropped her gaze to the floor blushing lightly.
"I know, but they are on the top shelf. I can't reach them." She glanced at a few of the books on the upper shelves of the store, cursing her height at the moment.
"Then use a ladder." Hermione shook her head vigorously.
"No, I don't like ladders."
"Call a house elf then." Lucius said.
"What's a house elf?" Hermione asked. She had a curious look on their face. Hermione had been there for barely two days, so she was bound to not know about the creatures.
"They make the food and clean the Manor for us. They are the ones who make your bed in the morning." Narcissa explained.
"I make my own bed." Hermione said.
"Don't do that. It makes them feel useless. I shall tell you more about them once we get back to the Manor." Narcissa looked through the stack and pulled one of the smaller books from it. "You don't need anything from this book. Not yet at least."
Hermione pouted but remained quiet.
Tom took the book and flipped through it then handed it back to Hermione. "If she wants to know who's to stop her from finding out. There are worse books she could learn from Narcissa. We will encourage her intelligence not hinder it, even if she is gaining some information too fast."
Narcissa shot a dark look at Hermione, angry that she had been just reprimanded by her master because of the girl. Hermione saw the look and her face fell, she took the books one by one from Tom and put them back on the shelves. Tom, Lucius, and Narcissa watched this curiously as she did this. Tom stopped her as she moved to replace the last one. He kneeled in front of her and lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes. "What are you doing Hermione?" he asked as gently as he was capable of.
Hermione's lip trembled slightly and she replied softly so that only Tom could hear her. "I don't want anyone to be mad at me… I always make people mad."
Tom glared at Narcissa, he drew the young brunette into a light embrace. "No, you don't make people mad." He wiped away a tear from her cheek.
"Really?" Hermione lifted her eyes to meet Tom's, her gaze holding disbelief.
"Really." Tom was startled as she hugged him tightly. "Get whatever books you want. No matter what the others say."
Hermione smiled and dashed through the shelves once more.
R&R.
