For the next several hours, Professor Dumbledore escorted me throughout Diagon Alley, making sure I obtained everything required for my first year at Hogwarts.
We visited shop after shop, collecting supplies one by one.
Madam Malkin measured me for my robes, the apothecary provided my potion ingredients, and I received my pewter cauldron, brass scales, crystal potion vials, telescope, and everything else listed in my acceptance letter.
Since I was an orphan, Hogwarts covered every essential expense, something I was genuinely grateful for.
It would have been rather inconvenient if I had needed to somehow access a hidden Slytherin vault before even beginning school.
The shop that interested me the most, however, was Flourish and Blotts.
The moment I stepped inside, I felt like a starving man who had wandered into an endless banquet.
Shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, packed with thousands upon thousands of magical books.
There were books on Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Magical Theory, Ancient Runes, Herbology, Magical Creatures, Arithmancy, Alchemy, Wizarding History, and dozens of subjects I had never even heard of.
If someone asked me whether I preferred mountains of gold or this bookstore, I might actually have to think about my answer.
“You certainly seem excited,” Dumbledore observed with an amused smile.
“I’ve never seen so many books before.” That wasn’t even an exaggeration.
While Dumbledore handled the purchases for my first-year textbooks, I quietly wandered through the shelves, pulling books down one after another and casually flipping through their pages.
To anyone else, it probably looked like the curiosity of an excited child.
In reality, I was taking full advantage of one of the greatest gifts my system had provided me.
Photographic memory.
Every page I looked at became permanently engraved inside my mind.
I didn’t need to understand everything immediately.
That could come later.
Right now, I simply needed to remember it.
Book after book passed through my hands.
A Beginner’s Guide to Magical Theory.
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi.
Magical Britain: A Historical Overview.
Introduction to Ancient Runes.
Basic Principles of Potion Brewing.
Modern Defensive Spellwork.
Each time I closed another book, every word remained perfectly stored inside my memory.
Later, inside my Personal Dimension, I could slowly organize everything and copy down the important information if necessary.
It wasn’t quite the same as owning the books, but it certainly saved me an incredible amount of money.
This photographic memory really is unfair.
Eventually Dumbledore returned carrying a neat stack of my required textbooks.
“I believe these should keep you busy.” I smiled innocently.
“I hope so.” If only he knew I had just memorized half his bookstore.
After leaving Flourish and Blotts, we finished purchasing the remaining supplies.
I did spend a little of my own allowance on upgrading my robes.
There was no point dressing extravagantly, but I specifically requested robes made from better materials with slightly finer craftsmanship.
They weren’t luxurious enough to draw attention, yet they projected quiet quality.
First impressions mattered, especially among old pure-blood families.
If I intended to gain influence within Slytherin House, appearing poor would only create unnecessary obstacles.
As we continued walking through Diagon Alley, I noticed several owls sitting proudly inside Eeylops Owl Emporium, while farther down the street another shop displayed cats, toads, and various magical pets.
I couldn’t help slowing down.
“I suppose I won’t be getting one…” Dumbledore noticed where I was looking.
“Would you like a pet?” “I would.” “What kind?” I answered honestly.
“A snake.” For a brief moment, Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.
Then he simply smiled.
“An unusual choice.” “I’ve always liked snakes.” That wasn’t even a lie.
Unfortunately, Hogwarts only paid for essential school supplies.
Pets weren’t considered essential.
I quietly accepted that reality.
I’ll get one later.
My thoughts immediately drifted toward another snake.
Nagini.
She wasn’t always a snake.
Originally, she had been a Maledictus—a witch cursed to permanently transform into an animal.
Eventually, she lost her human form forever.
The question was…
Has that already happened?
I couldn’t remember.
If she was still human, recruiting her now would be ideal.
If she had already become a snake…
Then I’d simply have to find her later.
Either way, Nagini was someone worth recruiting.
Unlike the original Voldemort, I had no intention of treating loyal followers as disposable tools.
I’ll investigate it after starting Hogwarts.
Eventually only one destination remained.
Ollivanders.
The famous wand shop.
Naturally…
Professor Dumbledore followed me inside.
Of course he did.
You’re far too curious for your own good.
The old bell above the door rang softly as we entered.
The shop itself was surprisingly narrow, with towering shelves packed from floor to ceiling with thousands upon thousands of wand boxes.
Dust floated lazily through the air while the scent of polished wood and old parchment filled the room.
Almost immediately, an elderly man stepped out from between the shelves.
He had bright silver eyes that seemed to notice everything.
“Welcome to Ollivanders.” “I am Garrick Ollivander.” His gaze landed on me, completely ignoring Dumbledore’s presence.
“And who might you be?” “I’m Tom Riddle.” He nodded once.
“Very good.” “Now then…” “Which is your wand arm?” “I’m ambidextrous.” “If that’s what you’re asking.” Tom Riddle had naturally learned to use both hands equally well, something that transferred perfectly through our soul fusion.
Ollivander’s eyes brightened.
“Interesting.” “Very interesting.” He immediately produced a long measuring tape that sprang to life on its own, wrapping itself around both my arms, measuring the distance between my shoulders, fingertips, elbows, wrists, height, and countless other dimensions while he scribbled notes onto a clipboard.
Satisfied, he disappeared among the shelves before returning with the first wand.
“Try this.” I took it.
Nothing.
“Next.” The second wand exploded into a shower of harmless golden sparks the instant I touched it.
Ollivander quickly snatched it away.
“No.” The third emitted a loud cracking noise before every candle inside the shop suddenly extinguished.
“Definitely not.” The fourth caused every box on one shelf to begin vibrating violently.
The fifth felt slightly warm.
But only slightly.
“It isn’t quite right,” Ollivander muttered before taking it back.
The process continued.
Ten wands.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Forty.
Some reacted dramatically.
Others remained completely lifeless.
Several felt almost compatible before the connection abruptly vanished.
Meanwhile…
Ollivander’s excitement grew with every failed attempt.
His smile became wider and wider until he looked positively delighted.
Finally he laughed.
“You know, Mr.
Riddle…” “You may very well be my favorite customer.” I blinked.
“…Really?” “Oh yes.” “Never in my family’s history has someone gone through so many wands without finding a suitable match.” “You certainly know how to entertain an old wandmaker.” He slowly turned toward the shelves, his expression becoming thoughtful.
“Hmm…” “I wonder…” For nearly a minute he stood perfectly still before suddenly walking toward the very back of the shop.
He searched through several shelves before carefully retrieving a narrow black box covered in dust.
Returning, he gently opened it.
“Let’s try this one.” He placed the wand into my hand.
The instant my fingers wrapped around it…
Everything changed.
Warmth spread through my entire body.
No…
Warmth wasn’t the correct word.
It felt as though a missing part of myself had finally returned.
The wand wasn’t merely resting in my hand.
It felt like an extension of my own arm.
Almost…
Like another limb.
Golden sparks spiraled gently around the room while every wand box on the surrounding shelves vibrated faintly in response.
Without thinking, I gave the wand a tiny flick.
A brilliant ribbon of silver light shot from the tip before dissolving harmlessly into the air.
Ollivander’s eyes shone.
“Excellent.” “I thought as much.” “That wand measures thirteen and one-half inches.” “Made from yew.” “With a phoenix feather core.” Before he could continue, Dumbledore spoke.
His expression had become noticeably more thoughtful.
“Is that…” “One of the wands crafted using Fawkes’ feathers?” Ollivander nodded enthusiastically.
“Indeed.” “Quite fascinating, don’t you think?” “Fawkes gave only two feathers.” “The first became this wand.” “The second…” His eyes shifted toward me.
“…also chose a very remarkable wizard.” I already knew exactly what he meant.
The other wand belonged to the original Tom Riddle.
Apparently…
Even after my soul fusion…
History had not changed enough for the wand to reject me.
Or perhaps…
It had accepted me for an entirely different reason.
Either possibility was intriguing.
After paying for my wand, I carefully holstered it beneath my robes.
The moment I did, I felt strangely complete.
A wizard without a wand was incomplete.
Now…
For the first time in either of my lives…
I finally felt like a true wizard.
As Professor Dumbledore and I stepped back into the bustling streets of Diagon Alley, I couldn’t help resting my hand lightly against the wand hidden beneath my robes.
Now…
The real journey can finally begin.