Disclaimer: Please make sure you have read the winning round one entry BEFORE reading this chapter.

Professor Albus Dumbledore prowls the fourth floor corridor looking for Tom Riddle. Dumbledore keeps a routine eye on Mr. Riddle. Although his fellow professors believe Tom to be a model student, Dumbledore knows better. He spots Tom walking out of the library. Dumbledore walks swiftly in that direction. His lavender robes billow behind him.

Tom notices Dumbledore out of the corner of his eye. What is he doing here? Tom wonders. Why can’t the old goat just leave me alone? He can’t prove anything. Dumbledore is just blowing hot air. That’s all. Tom ducks behind the suit of armour. Dumbledore rushes past him into the library. Tom uses a sticking charm to hide the book on the back of the suit of Armour. He sneaks back into the hall and walks in the opposite direction from the library. “Can I have a word with you Tom?” Dumbledore asks as he rushes out of the library. He catches up with Tom and grabs him by the shoulder. “Professor Dumbledore, I didn’t see you.” Tom makes excuses while he tries to break Dumbledore’s hold on him. “May I have a moment of your time?" Dumbledore swings Tom around. “If this is about my Transfiguration homework, I swear I did the homework myself. Melissa Breton doesn’t know what she’s talking about.” Tom says while he tries to stay calm and keep his mask in place. Dumbledore looks over his half-moon glasses. “No, your homework is excellent as always. I need to speak to you in private. Please come with me to my office.”

Professor Dumbledore lights the torches and fire. He motions for Tom to take a seat. Tom sits in one of the chairs in front of Dumbledore’s desk. Dumbledore sits down and pops a lemon drop in his mouth. “Lemon drop?” Dumbledore picks up the candy dish and offers Tom one. He picks out two and pops them in his mouth. Tom really doesn’t like these occasional conversations with Professor Dumbledore. He already knows the man doesn’t trust him, so what else is there to say. Tom doesn’t like that Dumbledore knows about his checkered past in the orphanage. He’s never been able to charm this professor the way he has the others. I wonder what he suspects me of this time. When is he ever going to give up? Professor Dippet never believes him. “Young Tom Riddle couldn’t do anything like that. The boy needs kindness and understanding Albus.” Ton sniggers remembering the last time Dumbledore had brought him to Professor Dippet’s office. When will Dumbledore accept that I’m the fair-haired boy around here? I can do no wrong.

Albus looks over his half-mooned glasses and watches Tom closely. “I imagine you’re wondering why I ask you to come here? Dumbledore asks. “Madame Hestus has informed me a number of books from the restricted section are missing. These books contain magic a student of your age should not be trying to perform. I have already brought this matter to the attention of Professor Dippet. What do you have to say for yourself Tom?” “I don’t know what you are talking about professor. I haven’t taken any books from the restricted section. Madame Hestus must be mistaken.” Tom remains calm, cool, and collected. Dumbledore isn’t buying his act. “Tom, I told you the day I met you at the orphanage that we would teach you how to control your magic here at Hogwarts. I also told you there would be severe consequences if you misused your magic or broke the rules.” Dumbledore studies Tom’s movements. He’s a blank slate as usual. “I remember Professor Dumbledore. I have worked very hard in all my classes. I want to learn everything I can about magic.” Tom tries very hard to avoid Dumbledore’s eyes. Professor Dumbledore takes a piece of muggle newspaper out of his top drawer. He hands it to Tom. “What do you know about this?” Dumbledore watches Tom closely for his reaction to the article.

Quote:

Prominent Little Hangleton Family Murdered

Three prominent members of the Little Hangleton Community were murdered in their home last night. Their maid found Tom Riddle, his wife, and son in the family drawing room this morning. The local authorities are with holding comment until an autopsy is performed. At the moment the deaths have been classified as of unknown origin. Foul play has not been ruled out. The Riddle’s maid said the bodies were in perfect condition. “If they had not been lying on the floor, I would have sworn they were asleep. Story continued on page 6.

Tom places the paper back on Dumbledore’s desk. He remains silent wondering how Dumbledore found out about a muggle murder in Little Hangleton. Dumbledore notices Tom’s ring. “Where did you get the ring?” Dumbledore asks his mind totally occupied with the stone in the ring. Tom notices Dumbledore’s interest and places his hands in his lap. “I didn’t steal it if that’s what you’re implying. I found it outside of the Three Broomsticks.” “May I see it?” Dumbledore asks. He extends his hand in anticipation. Tom hesitates. How can he recognize this ring? The Gaunts were uneducated. I doubt even Marvolo ever went to Hogwarts. Even the stone isn’t very valuable, so why is Dumbledore so interested in it? Tom has no choice. If he doesn’t let Dumbledore see it, he’ll get suspicious. If he does let him look at it, he’s liable to recognize it as possible Salazar Slytherin’s ring. Then he’ll really be suspicious. It’s a no win situation. Tom hands the ring over to Dumbledore.

Albus studies the ring closely. I’ve been searching for the Resurrection Stone for years, and Tom Riddle just lucks up and finds it on the streets of Hogsmeade. That cannot possibly be. There’s no way it can’t be the resurrection stone. It has the symbol of the Deathly Hallows engraved on it. Part of me wants to demand Tom to tell me the truth. The other part knows if I do, he’ll probably get rid of the ring. I can’t let that happen.
Dumbledore is sure of one thing. Tom does not know what he has. Albus hands the ring back to Tom. “That’ s an interesting ring you have Tom.” He puts the ring back on his ring finger. “Thank you sir, may I ask why you showed me that article? Is it normal for wizards to keep up with the going ons in a small English village?” Tom tries to look curious and sincere at the same time. He also slips the ring in his robe pocket. The less said about it the better. Dumbledore holds his hands together near his nose, and stares at Tom over his half-moon glasses. “I find it important to keep up with what goes on in the muggle as well as wizarding world. You never know when something that happens in one world may affect the other. I believe Tom Riddle, Jr. was your father.” Dumbledore waits for some kind of reaction from Tom. He remains stone faced and silent. Tom cringes at the use of Tom Riddle and father in the same sentence. Tom was sure of one thing. Tom Riddle had never been a father to him. “What makes you think that?” Tom asks in a cold unfeeling voice. “Your mother requested the people at the orphanage name you Tom Riddle after your father. It was her last request,” Dumbledore says. “I have been unable to find the name Riddle in any of the books on Wizarding families I’ve looked at. Filthy mudblood! How could my mother name me after him? I loathe that name. That’s why I created a new one for me. One that will strike terror in the hearts of wizards some day. “Riddle is a common name in the muggle world, but Marvolo is an unusual name even in our world.” Dumbledore looks closely for Tom’s reaction. He’s sure Tom would put everything together by now. “The Riddles were murdered Tom by someone from our world. Your uncle, Morphin Gaunt confessed to killing him. Morphin has a long history of attacking muggle. Tom Riddle was one of his favorite victims. Morphin’s sister, Merope, was in love with Tom. I’ve found a marriage licence for them.” Dumbledore goes through a stack of papers on the side of his desk. He pulls out an official looking document. “They were married for at least a year when you were born. Your father apparently deserted her when she first became pregnant. I thought you would be interested. Madame Hestus has told me you’ve been looking for information on your parents for some time now. Professor Dumbledore waits for Tom’s reaction. Tom stares off in space. “I was just curious. Wouldn’t you want to know about your parents? It’s human nature.” Dumbledore thinks Tom protests too much. “I mean no one has ever inquired after me. I wanted to find out who he was, so some day I could confront him and find out why he didn’t want me for his son. Since when has that been a crime?” Tom doesn’t like this line of questioning. It’s none of Dumbledore’s business.
Is there anything else? I do have to do my patrols.” “That’s everything. Remember to watch the Restricted Section. I don’t want anymore students borrowing books without permission.” Dumbledore notices the ring missing from Tom’s finger. Tom walks out in silence and slams the door behind him. Dumbledore goes over to one of his bookcases. He takes out a thick tomb and immediately turns to a specific page. The name, Perverell, appears prominently at the top of the page.

Tom walks down the fifth floor hall heading for the stairs. He runs into Lestrange. “Voldemort, what happened? Did Professor Dumbledore get the book?” Lestrange asks between pants. “Don’t call me that!” Tom hisses. “Someone might hear you. How did you know where to find me?” Tom takes Letrange over to a deserted corner. “When you didn’t come back to the common room, Avery and I got worried. I went to the library, and Myrtle couldn’t wait to tell me Dumbledore had caught you red handed. Tell me Dumbledore doesn’t have the book.” “No I was able to hide it. It’s stuck to the back plate of the suit of Armour near the library. If Myrtle saw me with Dumbledore, she probably saw me hide the book. I can’t get it now. Dumbledore is already suspicious of me.” “No problem, I’ll go and get it,” Lestrange offers. “You wait for me in the common room.” Lestrange returns to the common room empty handed. “Where’s the book,” Tom demands it. “It was gone. I found this where you said the book would be.” Lestrange hands Tom a note. He reads it.

Quote:

I have what you are looking for. Come to my office. We have a lot to discuss.

Professor Slughorn

“What are you going to do?” Lestrange asks. Tom sets the letter on fire. She drops it on the ground and watches it burn. “I’m going to go and see Slughorn.” “Are you sure that’s a good idea, Lestrange asks. It’s one thing to terrorize the mudbloods, but Slughorn is a professor. Lestrange wants no part of terrorizing him. “I haven’t got much choice. He has the book. I have to get it back.” Tom leaves. He makes his way to Slughorn’s office and knocks on the door. “Come in Tom. I’ve been waiting for you,” Slughorn says. Tom goes in and closes the door.