Riddles Past and What's Behind It (Demo)

Hogwarts Ahead

Tom Riddle returned to Hogwarts for his final year with a newfound sense of power and confidence. He had spent the summer holidays furthering his knowledge of dark magic and honing his skills, and he was eager to put his newfound abilities to the test.

As he walked through the halls of Hogwarts, he could feel the other students staring at him in awe and fear. His reputation as a prodigy in the Dark Arts had spread, and even the teachers seemed to treat him with a newfound respect.

But there was one person who didn't seem to be impressed by Tom's newfound power - Albus Dumbledore. The Headmaster watched Tom with a wary eye, seeming to sense that there was something dark and dangerous lurking beneath the surface.

Tom could feel Dumbledore's gaze on him as he walked through the Great Hall for the first time that year, and he couldn't resist a small smirk. He knew that Dumbledore was no match for him in the realm of the Dark Arts.

But Tom's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. "Tom! Tom Riddle!"

He turned to see Horace Slughorn hurrying towards him, a broad smile on his face. Tom felt a pang of annoyance - he had little patience for the sycophantic professor.

"Horace," he said coolly. "What can I do for you?"

Slughorn's smile faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered. "Just wanted to welcome you back to Hogwarts, my boy," he said jovially. "I trust you had a productive summer?"

Tom nodded, his mind already turning towards his plans for the year ahead. "Yes, very productive," he said shortly.

Slughorn seemed to take the hint, and after a moment of awkward silence, he excused himself and hurried away. Tom watched him go with a sense of satisfaction. He had little patience for flattery, and he knew that Slughorn was nothing more than a pawn in his larger game.

As the days and weeks went by, Tom focused all his energy on his studies, delving deeper and deeper into the Dark Arts. He spent hours in the library, poring over ancient tomes and experimenting with new spells.

But despite his intense focus, Tom could feel a growing sense of restlessness. He knew that he was destined for greatness, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something missing.

And then, one day, he stumbled upon the answer.

As he was wandering through the Forbidden Forest, he came across a group of acromantulas. The giant spiders surrounded him, their legs clicking ominously. But instead of feeling fear, Tom felt a sense of exhilaration.

He raised his wand, and without hesitation, he cast a powerful spell. The spiders scattered, and Tom felt a rush of adrenaline. He had never felt more alive.

In that moment, Tom realized that the true source of his power was not in the books or the spells - it was within himself. And he knew that he would stop at nothing to achieve his ultimate goal - immortality, and the ability to conquer death itself.

Tom Riddle walked briskly towards Professor Slughorn's office. He had been waiting for weeks to get a chance to speak with the Potions professor, and now was the perfect opportunity. He knocked on the door and waited for the response.

"Come in," Slughorn said from within.

Tom opened the door and stepped inside, closing it behind him. "Good evening, Professor Slughorn," he said with a small smile.

"Ah, Tom, my boy," Slughorn said, beaming at him. "What can I do for you?"

"I was hoping to ask you about something, Professor," Tom said, taking a seat in one of the plush armchairs.

"Of course, anything," Slughorn replied, sitting down opposite him.

"It's about something I heard about in our last meeting, sir," Tom said, leaning forward. "Horcruxes."

Slughorn's expression shifted ever so slightly, and Tom noticed. "What do you want to know, Tom?" he asked, a bit hesitantly.

"I want to know what they are, sir," Tom said, trying to hide his eagerness. "And how they're made."

Slughorn sighed and leaned back in his chair, looking at Tom with a wary expression. "Tom, I don't think it's wise to discuss such dark magic," he said, his voice low.

"But Professor, knowledge is power," Tom said smoothly. "And I want to be the most powerful wizard there is."

Slughorn sighed again, then leaned forward. "Fine," he said. "I'll tell you what I know. But you must promise me that you won't go meddling with things you don't understand."

"I promise, sir," Tom said eagerly.

"Horcruxes are objects that contain a piece of a wizard's soul," Slughorn explained. "By creating one, you ensure that even if your body dies, your soul will live on."

Tom leaned forward even further, his eyes shining. "How do you make one, sir?" he asked.

"I'm not going to tell you that, Tom," Slughorn said firmly. "It's dark magic, and it's not something I want to encourage. Just promise me you won't go down that path."

Tom's smile faded slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. "Of course, Professor," he said smoothly. "Thank you for your time."

"Anytime, Tom," Slughorn said, watching him closely as he got up and left the room.

Tom Riddle sat at the Slytherin table, scanning the crowd of students for his chosen companions. Finally, he spotted the four he had been looking for: Avery, Mulciber, Crabbe, and Goyle.

"Excuse me, gentlemen," Tom said, getting up from his seat and approaching the group.

"Riddle," Avery sneered. "What do you want?"

Tom ignored the insult and leaned in close, speaking in a low voice. "I need your help with something," he said.

The four boys exchanged a glance, then turned back to Tom. "What is it?" Mulciber asked.

"There's something I need to show you," Tom said cryptically. "Something that could help us all."

"What are you talking about?" Crabbe asked, looking confused.

"The Room of Requirement," Tom said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've found it, and I think it could be very useful to us."

The four boys looked at each other again, then back at Tom. "What do you need us to do?" Goyle asked.

"Come with me," Tom said, a smile spreading across his face. "I'll explain everything on the way."

The five Slytherins left the Great Hall and made their way to the seventh-floor corridor. Tom led them to the spot where the Room of Requirement would appear, then paced back and forth in front of the wall, concentrating hard.

Finally, the door materialized, and Tom pushed it open, gesturing for the others to follow him inside. Once they were all seated on the comfortable chairs that had appeared in the room, Tom began to explain his plan.

"There's something I need to do," he said, looking at each of them in turn. "Something that could make us all more powerful than we ever thought possible."

"What is it?" Avery asked eagerly.

"I need to create a Horcrux," Tom said, watching their reactions carefully.

There was a moment of silence as the four boys processed what Tom had just said. Then Mulciber spoke up.

"You want to split your soul?" he said, sounding a little scared.

"It's the only way to ensure my immortality," Tom said calmly. "And with your help, I can do it."

The four boys exchanged a look, then nodded in unison. "We're in," Crabbe said.

"Good," Tom said, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Now, let me tell you exactly what we need to do..."