One moment Harry felt a tug in his body, supposedly propelling him away from the hut on the rock, and the next he was being deposited to stand on stone pavings. The path felt similar to the crosswalks in the older portions of London, but something in Harry caused him to keep his eyes sealed shut. Surely, when he opened them, the mysterious boy, Tom, would have disappeared from his side and Harry would find himself still surrounded by the ratty walls of the hut.

"Well? You can open your eyes- the Leaky Cauldron may have much to be desired, but it isn't too terrible."

With the assurance that Harry hadn't been abandoned, the younger boy blinked his eyes open behind water-soaked glasses. The rain that crashed down at sea must have also reached the town they were in as a steady sheet of rain continued to pour down on them. The street Harry found them on was crammed with various stores from book shops and music stores, with restaurants and cinemas dotted in between, but nothing to lean towards a magical nature. The pair had to press themselves back into the store front of the pub as crowds of people milled by. The Leaky Cauldron itself reminded Harry of the places Vernon would warn Dudley of to never venture in, and Tom's opulent exterior certainly did non fit in. Before Harry can think on it further, Tom placed a hand on his back and ushered him into the entrance. The street lamps and lights from the store fronts that had illuminated the path outside did not reach into the Pub, casing the entire front room in almost pitch black. A few candles lined tables and some floated in the air, but, for the most part, the Cauldron was unilluminated. A lone bartender cleaned drink glasses that floated to shelves behind him when he was done drying them.

"Ah, you must be Mr. Riddle. Dumbledore owled me about you, along with a letter for you as well. He said you would be needing a room?" Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw the older boy move closer to the bartender to speak with him so Harry shuffled around the room to examine a few more of the items in detail. A pot with a deep purple liquid roiled on a fire while a spoon turned on its own in the mixture. A huge cat with a scrunched up face slept by the fire and a broom slowly moved around the room as it pushed random bits of trash into a dustpan.

"Good lord, it can't be…it is an honor to meet you, Harry Potter."

The bartender had rushed around the counter and approached the young boy, with tears welling in his eyes. Harry could do nothing but confusingly accept the handshake he found his hand pulled into as he frantically sought out Tom. The older boy briskly moved to stand in between the barman and him.

"I apologise ,Tom, but Harry has had a busy day and needs to go to bed. We will be purchasing his supplies tomorrow and we need an early start. The room?"

Thankfully Tom the barman agreed with the younger Tom and quickly began ushering them up the stairs. They didn't have to walk far as the barkeeper stopped at the first door they came across and pulled a key from one of his pockets.

"Here you are. Please let me know if there is anything else you need."

Riddle's pale hands guided him into the room by the shoulders as Harry was stunned when the door had swung open. Overall, the room was normal; a chair sat in a nook where a window showed over the train depot and a small coffee table against one of the walls. The young boy who had only known old mattresses on cots and floors had eyes for the two massive beds that took up most of the room. Harry paused before turning to Tom. He just had to be sure.

"Where will I be sleeping?"

Riddle had closed the door behind them and shed his cloak off on the bed nearest them, "I find myself more comfortable in the bed closest to the door. The other one will be yours."

Harry couldn't help himself once he received the all clear and launched himself onto his bed. It had to be one of the softest surfaces he'd ever felt! The sheets did not have pills of fabric or tears and the pillow's fluff made it look brand new. Tom waved his wand and Harry feels his skin tingle, the dirt now gone from his hands.

"I doubt the Dursley's had any clothing worth taking for you. Tomorrow we will acquire you new clothing while we shop." There was a yellowed piece of parchment held between Tom's pale fingers and his dark eyes quickly scanned the contents of the letter even as he spoke-a ball of shame settled in Harry's stomach that had grown each time the topic of 'supplies' had come up. He bit his lip for a moment as he worried over how he can delicately bring up the subject; the Dursley's always hated it when he spoke up, especially if what he said brought problems (Dudley hated it when Harry would remind him to grab their school uniform jacket on important days in class, even when the teacher's always punished them for it). And while Tom has done some things Harry has questioned, such as Riddle's magic use against the Dursley's, the older boy might be, well, his first friend- and he doesn't want anything to risk that.

Eventually, Tom noticed Harry's silence and placed the letter on the bedside table. The older boy seemed to mull over his words for a moment.

"For a long time I was not aware of current world events; I'm muggleborn and can say that my understanding of the wizard world is supremely lacking. I can tell you that I know the Potter name."

Harry perked up and eagerly waited for him to continue.

"I do not know why you are famous, why your parents had you placed in that wretched home, nor why you have been kept secluded from the wizarding world. There's a book on your reading list, A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot. We should be able to gather some knowledge from that."

Potter slumped again in defeat, his questions once again going unanswered. There's still one problem.

"...Tom, I don't have any money. I don't know how I'm supposed to buy my things for school."

Would his letter be rescinded now that they knew he couldn't afford it?

Tom gave him one of those smirks he seemed prone to, "Unless something has drastically changed recently, the Potter's are one of the oldest Wizarding families. You will have something awaiting you in Gringott's. I believe for now, though, you need to rest."

The younger boy supposed he was right, as a wave of exhaustion crashed over him and the urge to fall back onto the comfy bed pulled at him. Harry settled under the covers as Tom waved his hand, which extinguished the lights. He waved his hand once more and the curtain pulled shut over the window, closing off the light of the moon. With the room masked in darkness it made asking Harry's last question the easiest.

"Tom, would you be my friend?"

Although the thought of entering into Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardy excited him- to finally be around those like him-going it alone was frightening. And really Tom had seemed so nice to him so far. Away from the Dursley's, it was so easy to imagine a friendship for the first time. Would Tom help him study? Would they hang out with each other outside of classes? Tom seemed like the type to sit in silence and read, Harry could do the same.

Harry was so caught up in his thoughts that it finally occurred to him that the other boy hadn't responded. The younger boy was about to open his mouth and give forth a stream of apologies when heard the smooth voice speak back;

"Of course, Harry."

The younger boy pulled his blanket up to cover his face lest the other boy see the wide smile he had on his face. He muttered a 'goodnight' to Riddle, received one in return, and drifted off for the first time knowing he would wake up and have a friend.

Just as when they had arrived on the streets in front of the Leaky Cauldron, Harry takes a moment to open his eyes the next morning. He is sure that the magic will be dispelled and Aunt Petunia will come banging on the cupboard door for him to come make breakfast any moment. The horn on a train whistled nearby, which is the first sign Harry didn't dream the previous night's events. The next is a light tapping noise on glass and the squeal of a window being pulled open. There's instantly a hurried series of hoots and Harry yanked his eyes open. Tom Riddle stood by the window, face washed in irritation, with an owl on the nearby coffee table with just as annoyed look on its face.

"I need to read this new letter Professor Dumbledore sent me and write a response. Can you give this damn owl a treat in the meantime?"

The taller boy motioned towards a bag resting on the windowsill as he sat at the coffee table and pulled out a quill and inkwell. Harry shook his head at the odd sight and peered into the bag to see small pieces of food in it. He grabbed a handful and slowly held his hand out towards the owl's beak. In no time, the tawny colored owl began picking ravenously at the treats and the small boy couldn't help but let out a laugh. By the time Tom had handed the letter off, the owl had eaten two handfuls of treats. It took its time settling on the windowsill before furling out its wings and taking off.

Riddle showed him the wash closet and Harry quickly ran through the morning routines before meeting him downstairs for a small breakfast. The smaller boy was practically buzzing by the time they finished and Tom was barely able to place a black pointed hat on his head to cover his scar, before the sentence "when are we going to Diagon Alley" was the only thing coming out of the boy's mouth.

The pair walked into an alley behind the pub where Tom pulled out his wand and tapped a certain set of bricks on the wall before it started parting in the middle.

Every color Harry is familiar with seems to exist all in this one space. There was a group of witches in shimmering emerald cloaks goggling at a solid gold cauldron (a sign says "Cauldrons-All Sizes-Copper,Brass, Pewter-Self Stirring-Collapsable), while their children waited off to the side, exchanging pieces of candy that seemed to change the color of their hair. An older woman passed by and complained that the cost of black beetle eyes were too high at the potion shop while a small creature with pointed ears trailed behind her. A few shops further down held a display in front of it that randomly shot out fireworks that createed creatures made of light. Every single thing in the Alley emitted magic, something Harry wasn't even aware was possible until now.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley. Now, would you like to make our way to the bank? It will be the tall white building at the end of the row of shops."

Harry could only nod as he continued to take in details he'd missed, but Tom helpfully placed a hand on his back to guide him through the crowd. There was a glass window with a group of children huddled around it. When Potter squinted, it looked like they were gawking at a broom on display. One of them utters 'it's the Nimbus 2000, the best broom on the market for Quidditch'. Another question for the list.

"We are about to encounter goblins, Harry, so listen to me. Always treat the institution holding your money with respect. They may not look like it, but goblins are able to use very powerful magic and won't hesitate to use it on those who cause issues for them. You have nothing to worry about, but let me sort this."

Harry just nodded again as they entered the massive doors into the snowy white building. The interior was nicer than any building Hary's had seen and there was an empty aisle down the middle of the room with a row of goblins in desks on each side. As the pair walked, the goblins stopped their work and peered curiously at them, even when they reached the largest desk. When Harry glanced around Tom, his eyes bulged at the sight of a giant sized man standing in front of the desk.

The giant was talking in low tones to the goblin, but at the sound of their footsteps turned around.

"Oh, er, 'llo Riddle; Dumbledore said you'd be around these parts this morning." The giant's eyes grew as big as Harry's were when he first saw him as the man looked down at Harry, "so that must mean yur lil' Harry Potter! The name's Hagrid. I remember when yeh's a little thing and we were delivering you to Privet Drive! Say, Harry, why aren't you with your muggle relatives?" The giant's eyes warily looked over at Tom who had stood rigid by Harry's side. Harry frowned.

"You remember me from when I was little? Did you know my parents?"

Hagrid's face grew red and he grumbled some words Harry couldn't make out, "that's a conversation we should have elsewhere. Say, when yer done getting yer school supplies, I'll get ye a treat at the Cauldron."

The goblins continued to gawk at them and Harry agreed. He just wanted back out into Diagon Alley. Hagrid left with another goblin and it is then Harry's turn. Tom pulled a key out of his cloak pocket that he says Dumbledore owled earlier and soon they're being whisked into the caverns of Gringotts. As the cart pulled them further into the caves, Harry tried to take in as much as he could as they raced down the tracks. Had he seen a dragon? Tom was not having as great a time as he seemed to be having, as the older boy's face had gone from pale to a green tint. When the cart came to an abrupt stop in front of a vault, Tom quickly jumped off and began taking deep breaths.

"You don't like roller coaster rides then?" Harry had been on a few, when his aunt and uncle had demanded he go with Dudley to try and calm him down- a tantrum to get on the ride and a tantrum to get off. The older boy merely looked at him as if he had grown a second head. Harry handed the lantern to the goblin when he asked for it and Tom finally recovered enough to also hand over the key. The mechanism on the inside of the door screeched and a bellow of green smoke emitted from inside the vault. When it cleared, more money than Harry thought imaginable came into view. There were several piles of gold coins, with rows of silver and bronze with it. This was…Hary didn't even know where to begin.

The Dusleys had always been upfront with the privilege they thought they were affording Harry. Free schooling, free food, and board while all he had to do was cook their food, clean their house, and take care of their yard. Expenses were always used against Harry when he did something the Dursleys did not favor. And to think, these mounds of coins had been here the entire time. It isn't until Tom placed a hand on his shoulder that the boy realized he's just been standing there and looking off into space for who knows how long now.

"Tom…I don't even know where to begin."

The older boy glanced appreciatively through the vault, "You definitely won't have to worry about money anytime soon. Do you see that brown leather pouch towards the back? If I am correct, it should be enchanted to be bottomless. For now grab these amounts. We'd rather have extra than make a trip back."

Harry breathed in a huge gulp of fresh air when they returned to Diagon Alley. He had a bag full of an amount he will nowhere reach by the end of today and he feels lighter than he's felt in ages. The hat also seems to be working as the only person to recognize Harry has been Hagrid. Tom insists they get his robes out of the way, so a store named Made Malkin's Robes for All Occasions was first off the list. As it is so close to the date for attendance, many of the students had already had their robes fitted and Harry is relieved to have the ordeal over quickly.

The young wizard had so many things he wanted to see while they're at Diagon Alley, but knew they did not have the time. When he had begged Tom to let them explore the Quidditch store, Tom broke the news to him that first years are not placed on the school's teams. So they visited Florish and Blotts next. It wasn't until Harry was placing One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi on the growing stack of books Tom held in his hands that it finally occurred to the young boy Riddle hadn't purchased anything.

"Did you already get your supplies then?"

For some reason, Tom seemed to have to mull over whether or not he was ready for the school year.

"Yes, I have everything I should need," he finally said, "Anything I don't have can be acquired from the wizarding village nearby to Hogwarts."

As posh and strict as Tom seemed to come off as, the boy had not complained once about ferrying Harry around from shop to shop. Well, he had complained, but not about Harry and instead about the wizards around them, sometimes muttering something into Harry's ear that would make him burst into laughter. People were starting to give them odd looks, but he was finding he didn't care.

The young wizard decided to go with a hunch he had earlier.

"Do you like to read?"

Another book was added to the stack and Tom had to lean around the pile to examine Harry.

"Books contain a wide berth of knowledge. You can learn many spells and charms just by picking up one up. So, yes, I like to read."

The young boy didn't see the point in having all these galleons if he wasn't able to do something for his friend.

In a rush, Harry jumbled out, "What if I bought you a book for all that you've helped me? Maybe you could teach me something from it."

Riddle gave him that look again, as if he was trying to decipher Harry's motives behind the offer of kindness. Harry supposes he can relate to that.

Finally, Tom smirked, "I suppose that will do. Look at you, working me to create a study group for you."

Harry tried to oppose and only got gibberish out when someone cleared their throat next to them. They turned to see a young girl around Harry's age, nervously glancing between them. Her hair bushed out from her head to her shoulders and she poked at her bottom lip with buck teeth.

"I..well-I heard you two talking about learning…and study groups. I was hoping to find others focused on our education, but most of the children I've met only want to talk about Quidditch!" The girl seemed lost and jutted her hand out, "Hermione Granger. A pleasure."

Not that Harry didn't want to be friends, or in study groups, but years in a cupboard caught up to him and he can only feel his mouth flop open without saying anything. Thankfully, Tom seems to always know what to do.

"The pleasure is ours, Miss Granger. My name is Tom Riddle and this is Harry Potter. I am a few years ahead of Harry and I worried-"

Hermione gasped and her hands flew up to cover her mouth, "Are you really Harry Potter?" she squeaked as she stared at Harry from behind her hands. Tom stiffened next to him, "I know all about you, of course- I got a few extra books for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."

Wow, he was in that many books?

"Apologies. The both of us are muggleborn and have not been as exposed to the wizarding world at such length. Harry, for security reasons, obviously." Harry didn't understand that, but Hermiond nodded soberly.

"I would be interested in reading those books myself, if you wouldn't mind Miss Granger." Tom gave her a winning smile and the girl's head bobbed eagerly at the prospect of sharing her books. She glanced at a watch on her arm and frowns.

"Well, I need to hurry and grab a few more things before the Hogwarts Express departs. I'll search you two out on the train?" Hermione asked hopefully and Harry smiled at her. Not even to Hogwarts, and he had two friends.

The pair depart from her after they pay to visit their next stop; Ollivander's. Hagrid actually met them outside before they entered and he happily brandished raspberry and pecan ice cream cones to the two. The ice cream was spelled to not melt so Harry left his with Tom (who might be the only person in the world to look angry holding ice cream) before stepping in.

Potter was the only one in the shop when he entered and for a moment he worried the shopkeeper may also be out. He cleared his throat.

An older man appeared from behind a stack of boxes, with his pale eyes alight in wonder.

"Good afternoon. I thought I'd be seeing you soon, Harry Potter."

The man moved forward as he gazed into Harry's eyes, "You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in her herself, to buy her first wand…nice wand for charm work."

As the older man continued to stare at him, Harry faintly wondered if he was working to read his mind, as impossible as that was.

"Your father.. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration."

"The wand chooses the wizard, of course."

The man's eyes continued upward and seemed to be trying to look through the hat Harry wore to see his scar. And then flicked to somewhere behind Harry.

"Very interesting, indeed."

The man seemed to muse for a moment before moving back to find a wand as he asked which hand Harry preferred. Mr. Ollivander continued on about the makings of the wands as he perused the numerous boxes contained in the little shop. A wand was placed in Harry's hand, but was just as quickly snatched out.

"Not that one."

Ollivander moved to the other side of the aisle.

"Twelve-inch cedar, dragonstring. Try it."

As soon as Harry flicked the wand, the light above Ollivander's desk flicked off. This continued for the next few wands and Harry began to worry that he just wouldn't have a wand. At the last wand he handed Harry, the man paused after it is also a failure.

"I believe I know just the one."

Ollivander disappeared into the back for a few minutes before he came back with a box covered in years of dust and cobwebs. He gave the boy a small smile as Harry slowly took it from him. How could this one be the one? As soon as the cool wood touched the palm of his hand, something warm emitted up his arm and throughout his body. The warmth seemed to swell out of his body and several of the wand boxes around them slightly shifted.

"This is it, right?" Potter turned to the shop owner to find a smile matching his own there.

"I believe so. And for it to be that certain wand? This wand holds one of two feathers from a phoenix, very rare. That makes them brother wands. It is said that when two casters hold brother wands, the magic they can obtain together is unthinkable." The smile on Ollivander's face slipped into a frown, "Know that the brother to this wand has done wonderful and magnificent things when it was with its owner. Now that it is no longer with the rightful wizard, it has only done terrible things. Be warned, Mr. Potter."

Harry quickly paid the seven galleons for his wand and rejoined Hagrid and Tom outside. The young boy tried to not cast a last glance back at the store as he turned the wizard's words over in his head.