Work Text:
When the redheaded man had cast the spell to prove magic was real, Tom Riddle knew he couldn’t be trusted. Tom refused to share anything further with the man who proved that he wouldn’t respect personal space or belongings. He’d find the information regarding speaking with serpents himself. After all, knowledge was a power the man had seemed to enjoy wielding against others. Sure, he’d gotten even with his bullies. They wouldn’t have needed to be taught lessons if they’d left him to his reading.
Tom convinced the man to inform him of everything necessary to go to this “Diagon Alley” including the financial and boarding information. He spent thriftily so he could buy a few extra books including a journal or two for the year. He read all the school-required texts as well as the supplemental texts he’d bought before the morning he’d board the train. He waited until he was on the train to Hogwarts before pulling out a journal and quill to work on making his writing legible and making notes about things he wanted to research or keep handy references to.
He was suspicious about what the Sorting would be and wary about the fact that alumni hid behind the “tradition” of keeping it a surprise for first years. He made more notes in his journal when the Hat Sorting them was revealed. Upon being called for his own Sorting, he focused his mind on gaining knowledge resulting in a rather quick “RAVENCLAW!”