Tom Marvolo Riddle

Albus Dumbledore

Albus Dumbledore

It was when Tom was eleven years of age did the first few changes to his life happen.

Albus Dumbledore was a teacher at Hogwarts. A school for witchcraft and wizardry. He was a tall, lean wizard, his hair greying as well as the full beard he had. He adored Hogwarts and teaching there. He adored all manner of children, so when Armando Dippet had given him the task of meeting the last Gaunt heir, he felt excitement. He would be meeting another brilliant young mind.

To his surprise, Tom Riddle, was a half-blood. Born to Merope Gaunt and Tom Riddle senior. Tom Riddle's father wanted nothing to do with the boy and Merope had died giving birth so Tom had been living in an orphanage most of his life. It was a sad story if Albus ever saw one. Merope had been raped and abused by her father and brothers then proceeded to fall in love with a muggle man and unfortunately for her she wasn't the most beautiful woman so even he did not care for her. No one did. He doubted young Tom even remembered her.

If someone had been kind to her, perhaps things would have turned out different. But the Gaunts refused to acknowledge their wrong doings, the whole line was too far gone, the few members that were alive old and senile. That was no place for a growing young wizard.

Albus shook his head, his blue eyes scanning the little information they had on young Tom. There wasn't much, just his name and date of birth. There was an estimated time of when he was born and the name of the orphanage he lived in but no list of friends or acquaintances. He did attend school and was an excellent student, but other than that Tom Riddle was a mystery. 

Albus put the folder away and stood from his desk and left his home, apparating to London, England.

That day was a very dreary one. It was not raining just yet, however heavy clouds littered the sky and thousands of muggles walked or ran by in droves. The orphanage itself was not much to look at, though fairly large, it was almost run down in appearance. There were no kids outside that afternoon and when he approached the door, he could just barely hear yelling from an older woman. "Trevor! Put that down- no!" there was a crash and Albus winced at the sound of glass shattering. He heard a thump and the quick pitter patter of steps before things went silent.

He braced himself for the worst and finally raised a hand to knock on the old door that seemed to be falling off its hinges.

There was a brief pause and Albus stepped back as the door opened to reveal a tired old woman in robes of black and white. Albus remembered that she was a nun. Women that gave up their normal lives to serve the muggle God. The woman's brows were scrunched as she looked up at him. "May I help you?" she asked politely and he smiled. "Yes. You see I am looking for Tom Riddle. He has an opportunity to attend an elite school." he said and the woman seemed surprised. Though he could also see something else in her eyes.

Was it worry? Fear perhaps? Albus never did find out.

"Oh! Tom is brilliant for his age. I am surprised though that it took so long. May I ask how this came to be?" she remarked as she opened the door, Albus stepping over the threshold. His eyes roamed the small hallway and he could see several pairs of eyes focused on him. When they saw him look back, they scattered and he chuckled. "His family were very wealthy. They've gone to our school for years and now it is Tom's turn. You don't have to pay for a thing, it all comes from his family's funds. He's their only.." Albus trailed off, not willing to say "sane".