Riddles Past and What's Behind It (Demo)

Rumours

Dumbledore walked into the Headmaster's office and found Armando Dippet, the current Headmaster of Hogwarts, sitting behind his desk. Dumbledore had been thinking about Tom Riddle a lot lately, and he knew that he needed to talk to Dippet about the young student.

"Good afternoon, Headmaster," Dumbledore said, taking a seat in front of the desk. "I hope you're doing well."

"Quite well, thank you, Albus," Dippet replied. "What can I do for you today?"

Dumbledore hesitated for a moment, then decided to come right out and say it.

"I wanted to talk to you about Tom Riddle," Dumbledore said. "I think that we need to keep a closer eye on him."

Dippet looked at Dumbledore quizzically. "Whatever do you mean, Albus? Tom is an excellent student, and he has shown no signs of misbehavior."

"I know," Dumbledore said. "But there's something about him that makes me uneasy. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think that we need to be more vigilant."

Dippet looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded.

"I understand your concern, Albus," he said. "But we can't just go around accusing our students of wrongdoing without any evidence. What do you suggest we do?"

Dumbledore leaned forward in his chair.

"I think that we should keep an eye on Tom, without letting him know that we're doing so," he said. "We need to watch his behavior, his interactions with other students, and his progress in his studies. And if we do see anything suspicious, we can investigate further."

Dippet considered this for a moment, then nodded.

"I see your point, Albus," he said. "I will ask the teachers to keep an eye on Tom, and we will be on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary. But I hope that you're wrong about him. Tom is a bright young man with a lot of potential."

Dumbledore sighed, then stood up from his chair.

"I hope that I'm wrong, too, Armando," he said. "But I have a feeling that we need to be careful with Tom. He's not like the other students."

Tom Riddle walked into Dumbledore's office, feeling curious and slightly nervous. He had overheard a conversation between Dumbledore and Dippet earlier that day, and he couldn't help but wonder if it had been about him.

"Good afternoon, Professor Dumbledore," Tom said, trying to sound casual. "I was wondering if I could speak with you for a moment."

"Of course, Tom," Dumbledore said, looking up from his desk. "What's on your mind?"

Tom hesitated for a moment, then decided to come right out and ask.

"I overheard a conversation between you and Headmaster Dippet earlier," he said. "I was wondering if it had anything to do with me."

Dumbledore looked at Tom carefully, then sighed.

"Yes, Tom," he said. "We were discussing your behavior and your progress in your studies."

Tom felt a twinge of anxiety in his stomach. He had always been a perfectionist, and he hated the thought of anyone criticizing him.

"I see," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "What did you and Headmaster Dippet think of my progress?"

Dumbledore hesitated for a moment, then spoke carefully.

"Well, Tom, you are a gifted student, there's no doubt about that," he said. "But we have noticed some...concerning behavior."

"What kind of behavior?" Tom asked, feeling a sense of unease creeping over him.

Dumbledore looked at Tom seriously.

"We have noticed that you seem to be...obsessed with power," he said. "And that you are willing to do whatever it takes to get it."

Tom felt a surge of anger rising within him. How dare Dumbledore accuse him of being obsessed with power?

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I just want to be the best."

Dumbledore sighed, then leaned forward in his chair.

"Tom, I know that you're ambitious," he said. "But there's a difference between ambition and obsession. I just want to make sure that you're on the right path, and that you're not doing anything that could put yourself or others in danger."

Tom felt his anger subsiding, replaced by a sense of fear. He had never thought about the consequences of his actions before. He had always believed that he was destined for greatness, and that nothing could stand in his way.

But now, he realized that he might be on a dangerous path. He needed to be more careful, more cautious.

"I understand, Professor Dumbledore," he said, feeling a sense of humility for the first time in his life. "Thank you for speaking with me."

Dumbledore nodded, then watched as Tom walked out of his office. He couldn't help but feel a sense of concern for the young student. He hoped that Tom would listen to his advice, and that he would choose a path that would lead him to greatness without putting himself or others in danger. 

Tom Riddle was walking through the Hogwarts halls, his mind consumed by thoughts of power and control. As he passed by a group of students, one of them called out to him.

"Hey, Tom!" the student said. "What's on your mind?"

Tom turned to face the student, a sneer forming on his lips.

"Nothing that concerns you," he said sharply.

The student looked taken aback, but then spoke up again.

"I heard you talking about Professor Dumbledore the other day," he said. "You really don't like him, do you?"

Tom's eyes narrowed, and he felt a surge of anger rising within him.

"No, I don't," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "He's a meddlesome old fool who thinks he can control everyone and everything."

The student looked at Tom, a mixture of fear and fascination in his eyes.

"Why do you hate him so much?" he asked.

Tom took a deep breath, then spoke.

"Because he represents everything that I am not," he said. "He's a symbol of goodness and light, while I am the darkness. He's a champion of justice and fairness, while I am willing to do whatever it takes to achieve my goals. He's the one thing that stands between me and complete control of this school, and I will do whatever it takes to bring him down."

The student looked at Tom, his eyes wide with fear.

"But...what if you get caught?" he asked. "What if you get expelled?"

Tom laughed, a cruel and bitter sound.

"I won't get caught," he said. "I'm too smart for that. And even if I do, it won't matter. I have a plan, and nothing will stop me from achieving my goals."

The student looked at Tom, then took a step back, clearly unnerved by his intensity.

"I...I should go," he said, then hurried away down the hall.

Tom watched him go, feeling a sense of satisfaction. He knew that he was on the right path, and that nothing could stop him from achieving his goals. Not Dumbledore, not the other students, not even the teachers themselves. He was destined for greatness, and he would stop at nothing to achieve it.