Out of Time

Lunch

Hermione took the knight bus to the Leaky Cauldron and had a butterbeer while she waited for Tom. She had a few minutes to wait, her nervousness eating at her belly. Lucky for her, Tom was nothing, if not punctual. He walked in at exactly 11:30.

He scanned the room and smiled when he saw her. She stood and met him halfway, she hugged him and smiled when he hugged her back.

"You are a sight for sore eyes, if I never see another blonde it would be too soon."

Hermione couldn't help but laugh, he smiled and took her hand.

"Shall we?"

"I need to go by Gringotts, I need to exchange my Muggle money and deposit some of it." She explained.

"I need to go there as well, I need to check on my vault, would you care to join me? I've got a few rare books in there you might like." He knew that temptation would be too much to feign modesty.

"Really? Sounds fascinating." She said following his lead to the brick wall.

Tom tapped the appropriate bricks and they entered. They moved to the goblin bank and entered. Thankfully it was not overly busy. When the crowd is larger, the goblins are cranky.

They took care of Hermione's business first and then Tom stepped up.

"I need to enter my vault, I do not have my key." He said.

"Name and wand please." The goblin replied.

"Tom Riddle." He hand the goblin his wand.

He checked it and nodded, "Follow me."

Tom took Hermione's hand and they followed the creature into the back where the vaults were located.

The cart ride was thankfully short, and they moved to the door, once it opened the goblin stepped back.

"Come on,"

Tom pulled Hermione into the vault and she froze, there were tons of galleons. But more impressive was the selections of books and odd trinkets.

Hermione looked over the books and lightly touched the spines. The leather cool under her touch. She pulled the book that caught her attention.

"You have a copy of Magick Moste Evile ?"

"Yes, fascinating ideas in that one, would you like to borrow it?" Tom was pleased that one had caught her attention.

"I, well, yes. But I don't want you to think badly of me for it." She told him.

"Hermione, I own the book, I would never think badly of you for your curiosity. That thirst for knowledge that we share."

She smiled and opened her small bag, tucking the book in carefully. Tom watched, wondering if she had charmed the bag herself. He shook his head, 'of course she had' he thought.

Tom had collected what he came for and the pair left the vault and traveled back with the still grumbling goblin. Before they left a different goblin gave Tom a new copy of the vault key.

"Let's grab something to eat and then we can talk."

Hermione looked around, she had never eaten while in Diagon Alley, she eaten at the Leaky Cauldron before, but not here.

"I'm afraid I don't know of anywhere to go."

"Draco told me about a fairly new pub, but it's in Knockturn Alley. I'm not sure if we should try it." Tom tested her yet again.

"I've never been there, I always come with my parents and they are frightened by all of this." She waved her hand about. "Could you imagine, me bringing two muggles into Knockturn Alley?"