[HP] Dearest Enemy

"Harry, there's a letter from Hogwarts!"

Harry, who was busy among the bookshelves, poked his head out and saw Tom holding a pale yellow envelope in his hand, waving his slender arms to himself in surprise from behind the counter.Harry arranged the books on the shelves, clapped his hands and walked slowly between the shelves.

Tom had opened the envelope, and Harry glanced at the wax seal with the Hogwarts crest on it, and leaned over to Tom to read the letter together.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Principal: Armando Dippet.

Dear Mr. Riddle: We are pleased to inform you that you have been admitted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.Enclosed is a list of required books and equipment.

Semester is scheduled to start on September 31.We will be waiting for your owl to bring your reply before July [-]st.

Vice-Chancellor

Sincerely, Albus Dumbledore

Harry smiled.This letter was almost exactly the same as the one he got from Hagrid back then, except that Dumbledore was only the vice-principal at this time, and the handwriting on the letter was not his handwriting in circles.Tom couldn't wait to turn to the second page. On it was a list of needed items, which was similar to what Harry got at that time.

"Tom has received the invitation letter from Hogwarts?" Hooper walked over cheerfully leaning on a cane. Tom nodded vigorously, feeling that every pore of his body was exuding joy.

"My birthday is in July, and I happened to be 11 years old when I entered school." Harry looked at Tom gently. "Tom's birthday is in December, so he's half a year older."

Hooper looked at the two young people kindly: "You and your friend who takes care of the dragon are both Gryffindors. I don't know which college Tom will enter."

Harry smiled unnaturally, but said nothing.Harry could see the Slytherin temperament in Tom, and as the last heir of Slytherin, how could Tom go to another house?

"How are the colleges divided?" Tom raised his head and asked Harry.

"You'll know when you get to Sorting, it's not difficult." Harry replied gently.

Tom raised an eyebrow: "Can't reveal in advance, is this also a practice?"

Harry and Hooper both laughed.Seeing that both of them were just smiling and not talking, Tom frowned slightly annoyed.

"When are we going to go shopping?" Tom decided to change the subject since he couldn't get an answer.

"When do you want to go?" Harry asked back.

Tom wanted to say go now, but felt that his performance seemed too urgent, so he replied, "Is it okay to go on the weekend?"

Harry could see what Tom was thinking at a glance, and bent his lips: "Why not now?"

"There's still work to be done in the shop." Tom replied unhurriedly, observing Harry's expression.

"There's nothing to do today." Hooper had seen Tom's careful thinking, and said with a smile, "Harry, take Tom shopping."

Harry turned his head to look at the old man in some surprise, but saw the old man with the white beard smiling very kindly, so he nodded.

"Thank you, Mr. Hooper. Come on, Tom, we'll go to Gringotts to get the money first."

The weather was fine, and although it was still early, there were already a lot of people in Diagon Alley.Tom watched Harry excitedly and nervously as they descended the marble steps of Gringotts.

"It's available in the textbook store. Let's go buy school robes for you first." Harry said, pointing to the signboard of Mrs. Malkin's robe shop, "Hogwarts' school robes are all made to order there."

Tom nodded and followed Harry into the robe shop.The chunky Mrs. Malkin came up to meet her. At this time, she seemed to be only in her twenties, very young.

"We need some Hogwarts uniforms," ​​said Harry, nudging Tom forward.Tom bowed politely to Madam Malkin.

"Hogwarts school robes? We have a lot here." Mrs. Malkin looked at Tom with a smile, her eyes sparkling, "Come here, dear."

"I'll wait for you here." Harry told him when he saw Tom looking at him, and Tom followed the clerk inside.Harry flipped through the magazines on the small round table in the front shop, and Tom came out after a while.Harry paid for the robes, shrunk the robes into his pocket, and went into a drugstore opposite the robe shop to buy the ingredients and cauldrons on his shopping list.

After leaving the stationery shop, Harry finally took Tom into Ollivander's wand shop.There was no one in the store, and it was as quiet as a well-managed library. Harry put the cauldron containing the contents on the bench and asked loudly, "Excuse me?"

"Good day." There was a clanging sound, and Mr. Ollivander suddenly appeared before them, startling Tom.Ollivander was not that old at this time, and the shop was dimly lit, but Harry could still make out his hair as a very light straw color.Ollivander looked at Harry, and then at Tom with his pale silver eyes.

"Hello." Tom looked a little uncomfortable, and greeted cautiously.

"Good morning, Mr. Ollivander," said Harry. "My boy wants a wand. Could you choose for him?"

"Of course." Ollivander looked at Harry with his silver eyes. "Sir, may I have the honor of knowing your name?"

"My name is Harry Potter," said Harry briskly, patting Tom on the shoulder lightly. "This is Tom Riddle."

Ollivander still looked at Harry for a few seconds before turning his gaze to Tom.

"Going to Hogwarts?" Ollivander said, taking out a tape measure with silver markings from his pocket. "Which arm do you use your wand?"

"I'm right-handed," Tom answered awkwardly.

"Put your arm up, please." He began to measure Tom, introducing Ollivander's wand as he measured, "...each Ollivander's wand is unique, because there is no Two identical unicorns, dragons or phoenixes. Of course, if you use a wand that should belong to another wizard, it won't work so well."

Tom was slightly surprised to find that the tape measure was automatic.Ollivander shuttled between the shelves, pulling out a few boxes from time to time and unloading them.At this moment the tape measure slid to the ground and rolled into a ball.

"Mr. Riddle, try this one first. Cherry wood and dragon's nerve, eight inches long, very springy."

Tom took the wand from Ollivander, frowning slightly and waved it, the place pointed by the wand suddenly caught fire.

"Oh, obviously not this one." Ollivander pulled out another one. "Beech and unicorn hair, nine inches."

This time it was a cloud of choking black smoke.

"Ebony and phoenix feather, seven and a half inches."

"Maple and dragon nerve, fourteen inches."

"Ah, a fussy customer, eh?" said Ollivander cheerfully, "but never mind. Try this, mahogany, twelve inches."

……

After Ollivander disappeared behind the wand rack again, Tom twisted his arms and turned to look at Harry, who was sitting on the bench.Harry gave Tom an encouraging smile when Ollivander returned.

"I think it must be this one." He handed Tom a long wand gravely. "Yew, thirteen and a half inches, with phoenix feathers. It's a very powerful wand."

Harry watched as Tom took the wand and waved it lightly. A green light flashed across the air, and countless silver and green light spots flickered and danced, scattering and falling in the air like fireworks.Tom's eyes widened in astonishment, and Ollivander immediately gasped in admiration.

Sure enough, it was this wand. Harry's face sank slowly, and he subconsciously stroked the holly wand in his pocket.

At this moment, the pile of boxes that Ollivander had just picked up suddenly caught fire.The three of them were startled. Tom clenched the wand in his hand in bewilderment, turned his head sullenly and asked Harry for help, and Harry immediately stood up grabbing the wand.Ollivander hastily picked the burning box out of a pile of boxes and set it aside.The box exploded suddenly, and the wand contained in it flew out in a whirl. Harry gasped when he saw the wand clearly.

It was clearly the same as the holly wand he was holding tightly in his hand!

The three of them watched helplessly as the magic wand exploded into countless fragments in the air, a phoenix feather flew out of the wand, and burned to ashes before it hit the ground.Ollivander gave a squeak of grief, and instead of admiring Tom and the wand he held in his hand, he mourned his precious work.

Harry's eyebrows furrowed together.The instant the wand exploded, Harry felt the wand in his hand go scorching hot, causing him to almost drop it, but it cooled down immediately after the phoenix feather turned to ash.Harry looked at the nervous Tom and Ollivander, who was still mourning the shattered pieces of his wand, took a deep breath, quietly put away his wand, and put his hand on the shoulder of the frightened Tom.

"Mr. Ollivander." Harry tried to keep his voice steady, "The wand just now was—"

"Holly wood, phoenix tail feather, that's one of the best wands here." Ollivander sighed, clutching his heart.

"I swear I didn't do anything." Tom looked nervously at Harry, still clutching his yew wand.Harry nodded at him. "It wasn't your fault, Mr. Ollivander?"

"It's the first time something like this has happened." The wandmaker took a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped the corner of his eyes. "It's never happened before, never—"

"Mr. Ollivander." Harry had to raise his voice. "I'm sorry for the accident, but if it wasn't caused by my children, I think—"

"Oh, of course it's not him." Only then did Ollivander come to his senses, and looked at Tom who was still nervous, "But Merlin here... what a pity, what a pity."

"Sorry, why is it a pity?" Tom couldn't stand the old guy's rambling.

"The core of that wand and the wand in your hand come from the same phoenix." Ollivander's voice was still a little choked up.

"You mean, this wand is brother to the one just now?!" Tom's eyes widened in surprise.

"Mr. Ollivander, how much should I pay?" Harry interrupted.

"Thirteen Galleons," Ollivander said.Harry paid the money and left the wand shop with a puzzled Tom.

"We've got to buy you a pet," Harry said, "and get back to the shop early."

Tom's eyes lit up: "Want to buy me a pet?"

Harry nodded, "What do you like?"

"Snake." Tom raised his head after thinking for a while, "Can I have a snake?"

Harry felt the corners of his mouth twitch, but quickly adjusted his expression: "Your book list says you can bring an owl or a cat or a toad. But I think you don't like toads. "

Tom had a look of disappointment on his face, but he didn't press Harry to buy a snake.This is one of Tom's strengths, Harry thought with satisfaction, Tom would not be obsessed with a problem all the time, but it never occurred to Tom that seeing that he would not buy him a snake, he began to consider whether to catch one in the wild to raise.

When it was almost noon, the two bought everything and returned to the store.Hooper smiled and handed a stack of books to Tom, and Tom looked at the spine. It was the textbooks on his list.

"The money for the books will be deducted from my salary for this month." Harry whispered to Hooper, but Hooper shook his head, "Just take whatever books Tom needs from the store, even if they are my presents for Tom .”

Harry was about to open his mouth to refuse, but Tom had already pushed the book back: "How can this be--"

"There's nothing wrong with it, Tom." Hooper patted Tom on the shoulder kindly, put the book back in Tom's hand, and looked at him kindly, like a grandfather looking at his beloved grandson, "Are you in Hogwarts?" I can provide you with all the textbooks and reference books you need during school for free. Study hard at Hogwarts, Tom."

"Mr. Hooper." Harry said helplessly, "You dote on Tom too much."

"That's why you're being too harsh, Harry." Hooper gave Harry a reproachful look.Tom, who was silent, suddenly raised his head and bowed solemnly to Hooper.

"I will not disappoint you, Mr. Hooper."

Time seems to have grown wings, and August passes in the blink of an eye.Tom had pestered Harry and Hooper to almost learn all the spells in the first grade, but Harry himself couldn't learn the potions well, so Tom tried the steps in the book by himself, and there were no mistakes.

Harry and Tom came to King's Cross very early.Harry helped Tom push his suitcase into the platform, and Tom calmly followed Harry through the wall between the ninth platform and the tenth platform. The crimson steam locomotive was already waiting quietly by the platform Set off.

The platform was full of people, and Harry and Tom searched side by side for an empty seat on the smoky platform.All kinds of noisy voices filled his ears, but Tom was not affected in the slightest, and looked at everything in front of him calmly and blankly.Intense melancholy occupied his heart, and it has been like this since last night, especially after seeing that Harry had already packed the simple luggage, the joy of going to Hogwarts school was completely overwhelmed by the fact that Harry was about to leave clean and dry.

"Tom, are you all right?"

Tom snapped back to his senses, looked up at the pair of green eyes hidden behind the glasses, and nodded: "I'm fine. Let's carry the luggage up."

Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise.Tom was obviously distracted just now, with a melancholy look on his face that didn't match his age.But after he called him, Tom's face immediately calmed down as if nothing had happened.What an unlikable kid, Harry couldn't help thinking, helping Tom move his suitcase into an empty compartment.

There was still some time to get out of the car, and Tom put away Hedwig's cage, wondering if he should say goodbye to Harry and sit down.He didn't want to say goodbye to Harry just like that, and looked up at the disheveled man.Harry didn't seem to want to leave immediately, so Tom followed Harry back to the platform.

"I have something for you." Harry took out a wallet and two keys, one large and one small, from his pocket. "From today onwards, you will learn to take care of yourself. I think the keys to the apartment should also be given to you." Keep one." Harry put the larger key into Tom's hand, "I built a vault for you in Gringotts, and put some money in it for emergencies. Starting today, You also have your own treasury." Harry looked at Tom's pale face, and gently stroked the top of his head, "This is your pocket money for this semester. Although there are not many places where money can be used in school, it is also Not necessarily useless."

Tom squeezed the three items in his palms, remembering that Harry had to take Hedwig with him before leaving, bit his lip, and raised his head: "Harry, you really didn't want me?"

Harry frowned, squatted down in front of Tom, looked up at him, and said solemnly, "I can swear to Merlin."

Tom blushed a bit and muttered, "I'm sorry, I just..."

"I'll be back before Christmas," said Harry softly. "We can write."

Tom nodded, and then did something that took Harry by surprise: he stretched out his long arms and wrapped them around Harry's neck.

Harry was stunned the moment Tom hugged him.Tom seldom expressed his feelings so directly.But the surprise was only for a moment. Harry didn't push away Tom, whose shoulders were trembling, and patted the boy on the back lightly.

"Take care of yourself," Harry whispered softly.

"You too." Tom's voice was a little choked, "Don't forget to come back for Christmas, I'm waiting for you."

He won't be that cruel and ruthless Dark Lord, Harry thought with relief. Tom knows what love is, and he won't go his own way.

The driving whistle blew.Tom let go of Harry, his cheeks flushed, as if embarrassed by his behaviour.Harry laughed softly, and patted the boy on the cheek: "Don't worry me, Professor Dumbledore will take care of you."

Tom nodded, his obsidian eyes were extremely bright: "I will not let you down, Harry."

Harry stood up, watched Tom get on the train, and waved Tom goodbye with his hand up.

The train moved on and disappeared into the distance in just a few minutes.Harry let out a breath, laughed at himself for being infected by Tom's emotions, and left the platform.

Vol.[-] Campus Life with Overcast and Showers