What if Sirius Black didn't die?

Chapter 16: The First Memory

INTO THE PENSIEVE- Nicholas Hooper

HARRY POV:

"I admit to some confusion for receiving your letter, Mr. Dumbledore. In all the years Tom's been here, he's never once had a family visitor. There have been incidents with the other children-- Nasty things. Tom, you have a visitor." A woman said, escorting Dumbledore to a room.

A small boy, no older than eleven was sitting on the bed, dressed and staring at Dumbledore.

"How'd you do, Tom?" Dumbledore said.

"Don't. You're the doctor, aren't you?" The boy said.

"No, I'm a professor," Dumbledore said.

"I don't believe you. She wants me looked at. They think I'm... different." Tom trailed off.

"Or perhaps they're right," Dumbledore said.

"I'm not mad." Said the boy.

"Hogwarts is not a place for mad people. Hogwarts is a school. A school of magic. You can do things, can't you, Tom? Things other children can't." Dumbledore said, curiously.

"I can make things move without touching them. I can make animals do what I want without training them. I can make bad things happen to people who are mean to me. I can make them hurt. If I want. Who are you?" Tom asked him.

"Well, I'm like you, Tom. I'm different." Dumbledore said.

"Prove it." The boy said, staring at him hard.

Suddenly, the wardrobe next to them caught fire. And the boy gasped.

"I think there's something in your wardrobe trying to get out, Tom." Said Dumbledore, not changing his facial expression.

The boy walked to his wardrobe, took out a box, and stared at Dumbledore.

"Thievery is not tolerated at Hogwarts, Tom. At Hogwarts, we'll be taught not only how to use magic, but how to control it. You understand me?" Dumbledore asked.

The memory sped up and Dumbledore was leaving the boy's room.

"I can speak to snakes too. They find me. Whisper things. Is that normal for someone like me?" Tom asked, making Dumbledore turn around.

Dumbledore didn't say anything, and then the memory faded out, bringing us back into reality.

"Did you know, sir, then?" I asked once we both exited the Pensive.

"Did I know I just met the most dangerous dark wizard of all time? No. If I had, I-" Dumbledore stopped, for the first time not knowing what to say.

"Over time while here at Hogwarts, Tom Riddle grew close to one particular teacher. Can you guess who that teacher might be?" Dumbledore asked me.

"You didn't bring Professor Slughorn back simply to teach potions, did you, sir?" I asked him.

"No, I did not. You see, Professor Slughorn possesses something that I desire very dearly. He will not give it out easily." He told me.

"You said Professor Slughorn would try to collect to me," I said, deep in thought.

"I did," Dumbledore said simply.

"Do you want me to let him?" I asked him, curiously.

"Yes." He replied simply.

"Now Harry, it is getting particularly late, and we'll soon meet again to watch more memories together, but for now, you should get some rest," Dumbledore said, his eyes gleaming.