Tom was still staring off into space and a loss for words. Seymore was looking at the fireplace where Manfred had just dissapeared, and was smiling knowing that he and Tom would soon do the same thing. Then he realized that his friend was lost, that he was by no means as excited that he would be leaving to go train as a wizard. The other orphans were freaking out and screaming, all of them except Seymore, Tom, and Butch. He was eating away as though nothing really mattered. He seemed to be intent on eating, and acted as though nothing had happened. Seymore saw that too and immediately responded.
"Hey, Butch! What is your problem? Why are you still sitting there?" Butch looked up and smiled. He then looked toward Tom and a frown came over his face, but not of hatred, but of pity.
"Well, I expected it from you three, a long time ago. But I never thought that his father was so rude. I always respected him, but no more. I thought that Mr. Riddle would have been glad to see his son. But no, he is a total jerk. He is the reason Tom has never been adopted. He is the reason that Tom never knew what he was. I want to apoligize, Tom, because I was jealous that you still had a father, but I was wrong. He is no father." Tom looked up with tears in his eyes. He was in pain, and this simple boy knew how he felt. He was full of guilt, and full of anger, not to mention confused.Then he decided to speak, for the sake of his sanity.
" You need to know...that he is not my father, because of the fact that he does not want to be. I will get revenge on him, I swear, I will be the cause of his death. And then will start a new life for me.A life when I can live the way I choose, and without him." The two calm boys stared at him, there was fury in his eyes, and a cold look set on his face. He was different, and determined.
"Come on Seymore, We need to go buy our school supplies." Seymore smiled lightly then got up and the two boys ran to their rooms. They shoved all their stuff into their trunks and ran into the fireplace at the same time shouting "Diagon Alley" and bright green flames engulfed them.There was a strange pull behind Tom's naval. and he suddenly got the urge to hurl. But before he got the chance he was slung out of a fireplace.Seymore smiled at him and looked as though he was on the verge of dying with laughter, but he made no sound. Tom glared at him and he lost it. Tom picked himself up off the ground and gave a sharp jab into Seymore's left ribs. He quickly shut up and glared back while rubbing his side.the trunks plopped on the ground and they saw that they had entered the Leaky Cauldron. Many people smiled at them and Manfred quickly ran to see them.
" About time you two got here, I've been waiting nearly ten minutes. Now, Tom, you turn eleven when?"
"Tomorrow."
"That is what I thought. We need to get you to Olivander's quickly. You need a wand."
" A wand? I get a wand?"
" Yeah kid, you and Seymore get wands. Now come on. He walked toward the door and walked outand all Tom could see was a brick wall. But Manfred quickly tapped a series of four bricks and it flew open..Tom was not surprised anymore. He walked through and saw many witches and wizards waving in a friendly manner at Manfred. The girls were all smiling at Tom and waving timidly, he was growing red. Seymore laughed at Tom again, but no response was recieved. He was obviously trying to look cool and impress the girls.Then they stood before an old store that Manfred pushed Tom in and held Seymore back.Tom walked and rang the bell. An older man with light brown hair walked out from the back with several wand boxes and placed them on the desk. He smiiled at the boy and went and grabbed the most beautiful wand he could find. Solid black and shiny, this was a brand new phoenix cored wand.
"Mr. Riddle, I presume? Yes, Mr. Malfoy has told me much about you. Your mother was a powerful witch, and you will be as well. It is absolute. Because of who you are. Take this and wave it. I am positive it is the one for you." Tom looked at the man slightly confused but did as he said. Suddenly, a rushing feeling came over him and he felt his eyes burn. He could feel the power in his hands.It was running through him. The old man smiled and handed Tom his reciept.
"Do I need to pay?"
" No, that has been handled, Go along now, boy, you have many things you must do in life, many things." Tom smiled and ran out. Seymore ran in and came out in half the time. Malfoy smiled and the next place they stopped was the Owl, Cat, And More Emporium.(That doesn't exist in the book, but I was too lazy to look it up.)Screeching and meows filled the room. Tom saw a beautiful black cat wandering around in the store, but immediately ran to him when he saw it.Malfoy was the next to speak.
"Tom, they saved that cat for you, it doesn't like anyone else, obviously. Seymore, your animal should be a mirror. What are you going to name it, Tom?" Tom began to think. He already had a rat named Butch, because of the boy back at the orphanage. What could he name this cat? Terron? No, that was not a good name. Shoot! He always put a lot of thought into these things, He had to have time? Could he name it Tom, no, that would get confusing. So, what was he going to name this cat? Solid black, stingy, looked a little bit like Tom, acted a lot like Tom. It was a female, so what could he name it? He had to think quick, then hit him. Midnight Storm, but he would call her Storm for short.
"Storm." The kitten purred in his arms. He smiled along with Malfoy, who seemed to take great pride in Tom, unknown to Tom. Seymore was frowning because of the mirror joke. Then he saw a pretty brown owl with a solid black stripe down its face and its wings.
"I'll take her!" He shouted, and they walked out with the two new animals and wands. There they ran into Hagrid, a first year as well. He towered over the boys.
"Hiya, Malfoy. What 're you doin' today?" The tall boy boomed out causing Storm to hiss.
"Hagrid, Dippet said you would be able to actually attend school this year, not live there. How fortuanate. Will you be taking the normal classes, or a year higher for experience?"
"The normal ones I'm 'fraid, I'm not the most brilliant one of the bunch, eh?"
" Well, there can be improvement, This is Seymore Snape and Tom Riddle. They are first years as well." Tom smiled and shook the burly hand that was shoved in his face. Seymore just kept looking up and muttering things under his breath.
"Nice to meet ya two. Well, I better be off. Do they have any skrewts or hippogrif chicks?"
"Hagrid, I can't answer that. See you at school." And Hagrid waved and bounded off. Tom looked at Malfoy confused and in question.
"How, is any man, that big?"
" He, is no man, he is a half-giant. Now come along, we have to make the rounds, we need cauldrons, quills, and books. Then we need to make a couple more stops, then to Hogwarts." Tom smiled, knowing that he wanted to go to Hogwarts now. He wanted to learn, about everything. He wanted to be the best, no matter what he had to do to get there.
