Tom Rawls blinked open his eyes to find himself on dirt, his hair full of leaves. He thrust his hand into his pocket to find a thick letter addressed to him in emerald green cursive. He ripped it open, eyes darting across the page, his brain eagerly taking in the familiar introduction to Hogwarts. His excitement faded when he realized something.

He would have to go to Diagon Alley, and to get to Diagon Alley, he would have to ask for passage. He sighed.

~«^»~

Tom had walked aimlessly for several hours (something only a wizard could do), until he reached Godric's Hollow, the former home of the Potter's.

What was I thinking? Tom thought. Why would anyone want to kill a baby? Or his innocent parents?

He was so deep in thought that he did not notice when he walked right into a man.

"Oof!" The man said. "Sorry!"

Tom looked up to the man's face, and his jaw dropped in surprise. The man was an older, but no less the same, Neville Longbottom.

"It's okay, it was really my fault." He mumbled, when an idea struck him like lightning.

"Excuse me, sir," Tom began politely. "Do you think you can take me to Diagon Alley?"

Longbottom stared at him for so long, Tom began to worry he had recognized him, when Neville said brightly: "Oh, yes, of course. A first year, I assume? You'll love it at Hogwarts. By the way, what's your name?"

"Tom Rawls." Tom said confidently. "Nice to meet you, sir."

Longbottom smiled at him a said, "Nice to meet you too, Mr. Rawls. I'm Professor Longbottom. I teach Herbology at Hogwarts. I'm sure you'll love it there. I-"

Longbottom continued talking earnestly about Hogwarts and how amazing it was, the entire time, pretending to be listening in earnest, but really contemplating his new life. Than a thought hit him. The Sorting Hat would surely know who he was.

"Hogwarts is the best magic school out there. Today I'll take you to get your wand. The school supplies orphans with everything but that."

Tom blinked. "My wand?"

"Your magic wand, Tom. You'll need it to do magic."

Tom didn't have to pretend to look excited at this idea. Finally, a wand! I will finally be able to do magic!

"Great!" Tom yelled eagerly. "Can we go right now?"
"Yes." Neville answered with amusement. "Grab onto my arm." Tom did so and then felt the awkward sensation similar to being squeezed into a small tube: Apparition.

The eleven year old former Dark Lord opened his eyes to find himself in front of Ollivander's Wand Shop. The pair silently walked into the old wand shop.

"Hello." A voice echoed from the shadows, scaring Tom half to death. "Tom... Rawls. I've been expecting you."

Ollivander stepped forward into the light, giving Tom a chance to see his creepy silver eyes. Tom was hit by a terrible thought. What if he knows who I am?

Ollivander seemed to notice the eleven year old's unease and turned his attention to the wands on the shelves.
"Which is your wand arm?"

"I- uh... right." Tom stammered.

"Here, try this one. Cherry, dragon heartstring, 10 inches, matured in Electryte, tied with an enchanted werewolf fang."

Ollivander handed him a rich reddish brown wand that had a rather sharp fang magically tied to it. Tom waved it and the window shattered. Ollivander quickly repaired it.

"No, here, try this one. Alder, phoenix feather core, 10 3/4 inches, tied with an enchanted fox tooth, matured in water."

Tom waved this wand as well and a surge of magical energy appeared, turning Professor Longbottom's robes Slytherin green and silver. He quickly changed them back to Gryffindor red and gold.

"No, that won't do. Not enough control. Just as well, for I just remembered that that particular wand has been reserved for Miss Snape. Try this: yew, hippogriff feather core, 13 inches, tied with a phoenix feather, matured in Frostflame."

Tom suddenly felt a warm tingling in his hand that he recognized as the wand connecting itself to his magical core. Red and green sparks flew out of the tip.

"This is the one." He said with absolute certainty.

"Interesting..." Ollivander murmured.

"What's interesting?" Tom asked curiously, in spite of himself.

"This wand... the wood came from the same branch that Lord Voldemort's did... and the phoenix feather... it came from one of Miss Snape's phoenixes, Fawkes, who was Albus Dumbledore's phoenix... Mr. Riddle, the same phoenix that supplied Lord Voldemort's and Harry Potter's wand cores..."

"Riddle?" Tom asked, his heart pounding so hard, he thought Ollivander and Longbottom must be able to hear it. Had he been found out? "Sir, my last name is Rawls, not Riddle." Ollivander blinked.

"I'm sorry, young man. You just remind me so much of two young men that purchased their wands long ago at this very shop... yes, Tom Riddle, and Harry Potter."

Longbottom was suddenly very interested in their conversation. "Mr. Ollivander, do you mind if I take Mr. Rawls to Hogwarts?"

"Of course not, Professor." Ollivander replied respectfully.

"Thank you for your service."

Longbottom paid for the wand, as well as a wand holster that fit on his arm. They then left the shop.

"Sir," Tom asked nervously, as Longbottom began to walk in a seemingly aimless direction. "Where are we going?"

"To Gringotts," the professor answered with a sigh. "The wizard bank."

~«^»~

"Wow!" Tom couldn't help gasping, though he had seen the bank before.

"I know." Longbottom smiled. "It's so amazing. Wait until you see Hogwarts."

Tom couldn't wait.

~«^»~

Tom and Longbottom got their money from Gringotts. They shopped for school supplies. In a nutshell, everything they were supposed to do.

When they finished, Longbottom asked kindly, "Tom, where will you be staying tonight?"

"Uh," Tom said, feeling stupid for not having thought of this already. He fumbled to answer, but Longbottom seemed to understand.

"Oh. I see. Tom, I would be more than happy to take you in." Longbottom looked hopefully at Tom, and the latter realized, with a jolt, that he meant it.

"I accept your offer."