Chapter 8

New World

The muggle's study teacher was not what either boy had expected. Riddle thought her an utter loon and Harrison was questioning the standards of Headmaster's Dippet's hiring requirements. Then again compared to Dumbledore's track record the current headmaster was faring far better. It was amazing how the head matron didn't even question the woman who came to pick them up.

"Well this is concerning…" Harrison trailed off as he eyed the woman who clearly had some beyond idea of how muggles actually dressed. "I'm pretty sure the last person I saw wear those was from a traveling circus."

Tom silently agreed but gave no reply as they listened to the woman continue on with her unnecessary speech. He could already feel some of the earlier excitement upon waking this morning dim. The only noteworthy thing the woman had done was make a repelling barrier around their trio group once they left the front steps of the orphanage. Tom had made a small note of this which earned him a small shoulder bump and knowing look from Harrison. He promptly stepped on the raven's foot when they came to the next intersection. Riddle noticed how the woman took a moment to look around before peeking her head into the opening of an alleyway then motioning them to follow her in. It had been two days since the alley incident but Tom couldn't help tensing up when the woman stepped into one with the notion they would follow without question. Should have asked for verification of credentials.

"Scared, Riddle?"

The breath against Tom's ear and nudging collision of Harrison's chest against his back startled the brunette a bit. He hadn't realized he had stopped walking. The logical thought of not stepping into an empty alleyway with a complete stranger had been going off in his head. Stronger so after the last outing. Stranger danger was a warning line of words installed into all children; at least that was the general implication given by the orphanage. The irony of that statement wasn't lost on him either given how it was essentially a place for strangers to take in younger strangers. "Only ever in your imagination, Black."

Harrison chuckled following behind Tom's now more briskly taken steps. He knew the teacher was only taking them to a more secluded area to be transported to Diagonally but he wasn't going to share that with Riddle. He enjoyed seeing the young Voldemort falter. As to which means they were going to travel was something the raven was looking forward to finding out as well. The look on Tom's face is gonna be one for the memory books! Harrison ignored the side look his sudden grin gained him from the topic of his thoughts. He instead focused on the woman again as she took out what looked like a raggedy hat. Or maybe it was a nearly crumpled boot. Portkey it is.

"Grab hold the boot tightly now, dears." The professor instructed while holding the article of clothing out for easy reach. "Do not let go until directed."

One look at Tom had Harrison nearly missing the boot entirely. The expression would be burned into his mind for his endless entertainment. Even dementors won't be able to steal this from my memory! It was clear the thought alone of even touching such an unsanitary thing was repulsive to the young future dark lord. Hearing the woman whisper shout his roommate's name, Harrison grabbed Riddle's wrist and forced the other to touch the portkey. In the next second there was the telling feeling of his gut being hooked and promptly yanked in a certain direction. Soon the trio were flashing by indistinguishable locations of mere color hints and rushing wind. Just as with the abrupt departure the landing was equally as sudden.

Usually Harrison would land on his feet, having decades of experience with portkey transportations, but not this time. Riddle's body landed right on him causing them both to crash to the ground in a mini heap of tangled limbs. It took a moment for the two to straighten themselves out as Tom needed a few seconds to regain his bearings and resettle his stomach after experiencing such a new way of travel. Fast travel at that. Harrison grunted at the extra pressure applied to his chest when the brunette pushed off of him to stand up. A warning look to not say a word about the undignified landing shot at the raven briefly in passing. Such a haughty princess. The teacher spelled the dust off of them both and righted their tousled appearance before guiding them out from a back room area Harrison vaguely remembered being in a pub he knew very well.

The Leaky Cauldron like Godric's Hollow looked exactly the same as its future self. Which wasn't surprising when one caught onto the fact the magical world preferred to stay away from the aesthetic of modern times. The only notable difference was the change of barkeeper standing behind the bar wiping down mugs. Like Harrison's first trip to the infamous pub-like inn with Hagrid as Harry Potter they did not linger long and went to the stone wall that separated the muggle world from the magical.

Tom could barely keep the mixture of excitement and wonder from showing on his face despite his usual perfect control. This was it. This was the magical world of wizards and fantasy that he had only read of from fictional books and verbal make believe tales the matrons told the younger kids before nap time. It really exists. Tom took in everything to be seen the moment the professor's wand tapped upon the stone bricks to open the secret pathway. His brown eyes growing wide despite himself as the magical shopping district ensnared all his senses. He nearly forgot about the teacher and Harrison until the raven tugged his sleeve to get his attention. He saw the other boy briefly hold up their hands pacifyingly to his narrowed gaze then point to the teacher who was already midway through explaining where they were while a few steps ahead already.

"The first stop would be to Gringotts Bank, however since Hogwarts shall be covering the expenses of your school supplies we need not go there." The woman did point out the bank's marble white structure that was still clearly visible despite all the people and rows of shop's between them and the grand bank. "I will explain the currency here once we make the first purchase off the item list."

"The list mentioned something called a wand, ma'am?" Tom's voice was neutral overall with a layer of genuine curiosity. He knew what it was. The moment he saw that purple dressed old man perform magic with the weird looking stick he knew. It seemed that little detail of fantasy stories remained true even in this real magical world. A wand. A tool to produce the imaginable and unthinkable. And Tom Riddle wanted his own as soon as possible.

Harrison merely mimicked how his past self had been like during the first trip here. At least outwardly. On the inside he was mulling over ways on how to get to the goblin run bank. He hadn't thought of the possibility of them not going as it had slipped his mind neither of them would have a vault to their name since they had no known blood ties yet. Which meant no family vault filled with money to access and it wasn't like Harrison could just finish the proceedings of his own vault while acting as a child. How fucking annoying… He focused back into the conversation when he couldn't decide which conjured option would be better; sneak away or come back later. Seeing the miffed glint in Riddle's eye he glanced at the woman who was now telling them to keep close as they were going to head to Flourish and Blots.

"What she say bout the wands?"

"It'll be our last stop."

"Eh?" Harrison tilted his head a bit "Why?"

Tom almost let out an annoyed noise. He wasn't pleased with the teacher's decision on the matter. "She does not want us to be tempted to try any magic before school starts."

"What a dull woman."

Both boys followed the professor to each shop listening as she went on explaining and answering any questions either of them had. Harrison asked the questions he knew Tom wouldn't know to ask or was too prideful to. Overall the time spent with the professor was indeed dull despite being fully submerged in a new world. The most entertaining thing they've done was see the displays up close when they entered stores to purchase their school supplies. Harrison could almost feel Tom's mood sour without having to read beyond the boy's impassive face. Sucks when you can only look and not touch. He couldn't intrude on Dumbledore's entrance but he could make this more exciting; cause fuck if he was going to let this woman ruin their time away from that grungy orphanage. All he had to do was wait for the right time to start his plan. …Or I can just make it.

Patience has never been his strong point.

"This is gonna take forever."

Tom looked away from the prattling woman's back to Harrison who looked rather annoyed. The raven's gaze was disinterested and their body language gave off an air of mild irritation. If this had been earlier he wouldn't have been able to really understand why the other boy was annoyed as this was some place they've never been before; however this woman somehow managed to make everything seem so bland. He looked rather bored a few shops ago. Part of Tom was surprised the raven hadn't caused a stir sooner. "I'm sure you have some great ideas but do refrain from acting on them."

"Heh," Harrison leaned in closer to Riddle with a growing grin that Tom had come to dub as the raven's 'up-to-good' smile. "You wish."

"Don't you dare," Tom noticed those gray eyes widening; which was weird as Harrison barely ever reacted to his scolding. About time he realized. "do anything that will get us ex-"

Harrison's eyes shot to the teacher. Her own eyes were wide in a mixture of emotion but the most encasing one was fear. He stepped directly behind Riddle and clamped a hand over brunette's eyes; startling the boy's hissed words into being cut off. With his other hand, in the same motion as his sidestep, he fired off a quick stunner at the witch. He ignored the pale fingers trying to pry his hand off. "In a second, you're too young to see this." The raven cast a memory charm at the professor making sure the memory of Tom Riddle speaking the snake language was completely wiped clear. He did a quick swish motion with an extended index to follow up the charm with a compulsion spell to let them have some free reign time. Phew! I don't want to deal with that just yet. "Ouch, fuck!"

"Let go."

"You didn't have to kick back, that hurts you know."

"Release me, now."

"So demanding." Harrison stepped around Tom to stand next to him once again. "Better, princess?"

"What did you do?"

"Something naughty."

Riddle wasn't sure if he should honestly believe that or not however the thought wasn't given much time to linger as Harrison dragged the brunette right off the path the teacher had been leading them on and into a random store; ignoring the warning of their professor to not get ahead of her too much. Tom muffled a cough at the sudden puff of fumes coming up from a mini cauldron he had almost collided into upon being nearly shoved inside. His dark eyes narrowed and shot to the other boy after quickly turning around to tell them off only to jerk back when something was shoved into his face. It looked like a cluster of small animal eyeballs inside a murky jar. He backed away promptly. "Get that out of my face."

"Wanna bet this would freak Billy-boy out?" Harrison chuckled to himself as he turned the jar over before setting it back on whatever nearby shelf he had gotten the thing from. He turned back to Riddle and inched in closer like a panther ready to pounce. "Say Riddle, how many favors would it take me to get you to go drinking?"

"We're not old enough."

"Answer the question."

"I don't care to-!" Tom choked mid word as Harrison shoved the rim of some vial into his open mouth. Promptly dumping a mouthful of who knew what down his throat. He shoved the other boy away to spit it out only to have Harrison pressing a hand over his mouth. He fought the raven but somehow managed to swallow the stuff during the mini struggle. "I'm going to kill you." Riddle snarled the moment he was freed. The words coming out a bit choked much to his annoyance. He couldn't remember Harrison being this much of a menace to him before.

"Look in the mirror before you do." Harrison plucked up a small decorative mirror he had spotted when coming in. Promptly holding it up as a mini shield. Riddle's magic made the other boy's simmering anger feel like a boiling steam along the skin. He had noticed a few people had cast a glance toward them. Too bad for them the raven enjoyed riling up the brunette more than he did keeping the public calm. His lip pulled up in a smirk that easily increased the intensity of Tom's glare. "I'm digging the changes, princess."

Riddle's harsh glare slid from the raven onto the mirror when he caught sight of something colorful. He looked at the mirror in muffled curiosity only to blink in surprise. Then stared. What…? He had dark purple hair. Tom's magic flared again at the mocking reflection of his roommate. He spun on his heel to either kill Harrison or grill the boy on where he had acquired such a thing followed by a slow death. The latter won out; Riddle's thirst for knowledge really was his only weakness. At least currently. "How did you get this?"

"Stole it."

It made sense as neither of them had any personal money. What they did have was spent on the supplies they had acquired thus far for school and shrunk down to fit inside their pockets. Tom's gaze flicked off Harrison to their surroundings. He could see some eyes glancing in their direction and the professor was already heading toward them. Seemed she had been in mid conversation with another witch. Brown eyes resettled upon mirthful gray. Why is it always you? Riddle took in a breath to calm down; it wouldn't do for his own unique traits to break too. Why did life see fit to stick me with this chaotic dunce? "Change it back."

"Uh…" The look of utter murder nearly cut the raven's soul. Well it would have if Harrison's soul wasn't still nestled inside the unknown depths and guts of Death. Either way he handed over the counter potion after feeling out for it with his magic. He didn't really care to put on a show of checking each one as a new member of the magical world would have done. "Here.

"Your stupidity has not completely overtaken you then."

"Thanks for the genius compliment."

Tom bluntly ignored the raven upon catching on to what kind of shop they had stepped into. There was a potion set on display for free use that caught his attention after giving the store a good once over of the eye. He would never admit it but he did indeed actually enjoy fiddling with the potion kit. He did pause after some time wondering why no one else had come to use the thing but dismissed it as he didn't care one way or the other. He was barely aware of Harrison's form nearby otherwise he would've had his answer as Harrison himself was the one keeping other kids at bay. The raven stared down anyone headed toward Riddle; child or adult alike. The latter gave him some disapproving looks but his aura and warning stare kept even the adults from nearing. It was disconcerting to see such a look on a child after all.

The trio went to a few stores in between the tasks of shopping for the rest of items on the school list. Riddle had shown more intrigue toward the more darker shops but the professor forbade them from nearing any of those. The older woman went into explaining the whys of not being allowed in there and that they shouldn't ever delve into such types of magic. Harrison knew it was all bullshit. Riddle was of similar thought, dotted with a growing urge to know more now that it was made known there was more than just one type of magic. Knowledge was power; an ideal standby to young Voldemort and furthered to dangerous depth by an older Voldemort. The raven mulled the idea of sneaking in a Dark Arts book to help jumpstart but figured even Tom Riddle needed to start off with baby steps.

"That's fucking funny."

"Watch your language, Mr. Black." The muggles study teacher gave him a disapproving look. "Such talk is not allowed at Hogwarts."

"You can choke on my di-" Harrison swiped his hand discreetly to remove the short interaction from the witch's mind. "Sorry, ma'am." The raven exhaled a sigh once the witch's attention was off of him. I remember this being way more fun when I was younger. I'd rather be doing business with Death than this. He tilted his head in sudden thought. Wait, why not now?

As if reading its master's mind Death appeared. The Entity remained invisible when it formed beside the de-aged Harrison in its shadow cloaked form of when they first met. Harrison gave no outward show to seeing Death and it was clear even Tom took no notice as the boy continued on despite being so close by. Since he and the professor seemed lulled for the time being, it was time to finish off the account business at the bank. Harrison cast a silencing bubble around himself so as to not be overheard. Caution never failed him. "Do I have access to the vault?"

"There will be no trivial issues with my aid."

"Can you make a double of me?" Harrison motioned to the future student and teacher faintly. Seeing the incline from the hooded head he was barely able to contain his surprise when a hand came out of his shoulder followed by another that worked together to pull itself from his own body. He stared blankly, unable to quite register what he was seeing, at least for a processing moment. "Wicked." The clone version headed toward Riddle once fully out without further prompting after being given instructions to tag along. The real Harrison headed toward the store's exit only to have Death grab him by the shoulder and push him into a shadowed corner. He blinked in surprise when his foot came out the other side in a small alcove just feet away from the grand goblin run bank instead of just hitting the shop's wall. "Well shit. You gotta teach me how to do that."

Death gave no reply instead the entity silently made their way toward a wizard who paused in their steps to allow a trio of middle aged witches to pass. Harrison watched on in fascination as Death seemed to merge with the unaware man. The wizard's body gave a weird shudder before they began to head toward Harrison. Death's magic changed the borrowed form's appearance so it was now dressed in a tasteful all black suit with a matching cane that reminded Harrison of Lucius Malfoy's. The man's facial features were similar to Harrison's own now than Malfoy's or the wizard's original own though.

"Got a name to go with that face?" Harrison asked as Death's magic assisted in changing his own underage form into that of his older self.

"Mort."

"How fitting."

"Indeed."

Death and a wizard walk into a bank. Harrison chuckled.

A/N: Did not edit. (Edit. Lie, I just did.)

I'm high.

Anyone else get urges to write/read borderline gore porn?

Just me? (Sike —- I see you)

J.K