Riddles Past and What's Behind It (Demo)

Visit from Afar

"Good morning," he said, taking a seat at the end of the table. "Mind if I join you?"

The students looked up, some of them nodding their heads in greeting. One of the boys, a tall, thin boy with slicked-back black hair, rolled his eyes.

"Of course, Riddle," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "We were just waiting for you to grace us with your presence."

Tom Riddle ignored the boy's rudeness and turned to the rest of the group. "What's the topic of discussion this morning?" he asked, a small smile on his lips.

One of the girls, a pretty brunette with sharp features, leaned forward. "We were just talking about the upcoming Quidditch match," she said, her eyes sparkling. "Do you play, Riddle?"

Tom Riddle shook his head. "No, I'm not much of a sportsman," he said, his eyes flicking over to the trophy cabinet on the far wall. "But I do appreciate the skill and talent required to play."

The group nodded in agreement, and the conversation turned to Quidditch tactics and strategies. Tom Riddle listened intently, his mind racing with thoughts of how he could use this information to his advantage.

As they chatted and laughed, Tom Riddle began to feel a sense of belonging, something he had never experienced before. For the first time in his life, he felt like he was a part of something bigger than himself, a part of a community that valued his skills and talents.

As the meal came to an end, Tom Riddle stood up, his mind buzzing with ideas and plans. He knew that he had just gained some valuable allies in the Slytherin house, and he planned to use that to his advantage.

"Thank you for the lovely breakfast," he said, his voice smooth and polite. "I look forward to seeing you all at the next gathering."

TEACHER'S GATHERING IN THE GREAT HALL...

The Great Hall was abuzz with excitement as Headmaster Dippet took the podium. All eyes were on him as he cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Good morning, students," he said, his voice clear and strong. "I have some exciting news to share with you all."

The students leaned in, eager to hear what he had to say.

"We have just received word that a group of students from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic will be visiting us in two weeks' time," he said, a smile spreading across his face. "This is a rare opportunity for us to learn from one another and to strengthen the bonds between our schools."

The students erupted into cheers and applause, their excitement palpable.

Headmaster Dippet held up his hand, silencing the room. "Now, I know some of you may be wondering why we didn't announce this earlier," he said, his voice serious. "The truth is, this visit was kept a secret for security reasons."

The room fell silent, all eyes on Headmaster Dippet.

"As you all know, we are in the middle of a war," he continued. "And with that comes increased danger and risk. We didn't want to take any chances with the safety of our guests or our own students."

The students nodded in understanding, some of them exchanging worried glances.

"But rest assured," Headmaster Dippet said, his tone reassuring. "We have taken every precaution to ensure the safety of our guests and our students. I have every confidence that this will be a successful and productive visit."

With that, he stepped down from the podium, the students clapping and cheering once again.

Tom Riddle watched from the back of the room, his mind racing with thoughts and plans. He knew that this visit could be a valuable opportunity for him to make new connections and gather new information. He was determined to make the most of it.

The morning of the arrival of the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic was a flurry of activity at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Students and teachers alike buzzed with excitement as they prepared to welcome their guests.

Tom Riddle watched from the sidelines, his eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of the Beauxbatons students. He had spent the past two weeks researching their school and the students who attended it, hoping to gain an edge in any potential interactions.

Finally, the unmistakable sound of horses and carriages echoed through the Hogwarts grounds. The students crowded around the entrance, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the visitors.

Headmaster Dippet stepped forward, his robes billowing in the wind. "Students, please make way for our esteemed guests," he said, his voice carrying across the courtyard.

The students parted, making a path for the Beauxbatons students to enter. Tom Riddle watched with interest as they filed in, their faces serene and their movements graceful.

Headmaster Dippet stepped forward, his arms open in welcome. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," he said, his voice ringing out over the crowd. "We are honored to have you here, and we look forward to learning from you and sharing our knowledge with you."

The Beauxbatons students bowed their heads in acknowledgment, their faces impassive.

Headmaster Dippet turned to the Hogwarts students. "I encourage you all to extend a warm welcome to our guests and to make the most of this opportunity to learn from one another," he said, his voice stern. "We are all ambassadors of our respective schools, and it is up to us to make this visit a success."

With that, he stepped back, and the students began to mingle. Tom Riddle watched as the Beauxbatons students conversed with his fellow Slytherins, his mind whirring with possibilities.

Tom Riddle scanned the crowd of Beauxbatons students, looking for someone he could approach. His eyes landed on a tall, regal-looking girl with long, blonde hair, and he made his way towards her.

"Bonjour," he said, extending his hand in greeting. "My name is Tom Riddle, a student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

The girl looked him up and down, her expression impassive. "I am Genevieve, a student of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic," she said, her voice cool.

Tom Riddle couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at her disinterest. He was used to being the center of attention, and he wasn't used to being ignored.

"May I show you around the Hogwarts grounds?" he asked, his tone polite.

Genevieve hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Very well," she said.

Tom Riddle led her towards the Hogwarts lake, his mind racing with thoughts and plans. He was determined to make a good impression on this girl and to learn as much as he could from her.

"So, Genevieve, what do you think of Hogwarts so far?" he asked, trying to break the awkward silence.

"It is...adequate," she said, her tone neutral.

Tom Riddle frowned. He had expected a bit more enthusiasm from her. "Is there anything you find particularly interesting about our school?" he pressed.

Genevieve paused for a moment, then looked at him. "I have heard that there is a powerful dark wizard who attends Hogwarts," she said, her eyes piercing.

Tom Riddle felt a thrill of excitement at the mention of a dark wizard. "Who have you heard of?" he asked, his voice low.

Genevieve smiled slyly. "I'm afraid I cannot say," she said, her tone teasing.

Tom Riddle was about to press her further when he was interrupted by the sound of someone calling his name.

"Tom!" a voice cried out. He turned to see one of his fellow Slytherins, Abraxas Malfoy, waving at him.

"I have to go," he said to Genevieve, trying to hide his disappointment. "Perhaps we can continue this conversation later."

Genevieve merely nodded, her expression inscrutable, and Tom Riddle hurried over to join Abraxas.

As they walked away, Abraxas looked at him curiously. "Who was that?" he asked.

"A Beauxbatons student," Tom Riddle said, his mind already whirring with plans. "I think we might be able to learn something from her."