When the Roses Bloom Again by TheBlack'sResurgence

Chapter 20

A New Dawn

It was with an expression of concern that Albus looked back at the orphanage he had taken his leave from, his head shaking at the thought of the boy he had made the acquaintance of.

Tom Riddle was not a normal eleven-year-old. Being a thief was one thing, and bearing a grudge another, but cruelty for nothing but the sake of cruelty was unfathomable to the transfiguration professor.

Young Tom harboured such tendencies amongst other traits that were more than a little unnerving.

Albus had met spoilt children, shy children, and even the occasional bully, but Tom was none these. He was a cruel child with no empathy, intelligent indeed, but lacked any sense of wrongdoing in what he had done.

In the boy's own mind, his actions were justified, and what an unpleasant place it had been to peer into.

Albus shook his head.

No, Tom had experienced a dreary upbringing, his whole life spent within the walls of an establishment where he had received only the most basic of care. From what Albus had seen, there was no love to be had in the home, no compassion, and a lack of nurturing.

The professor considered Harry's dire warning about the boy that would join them in September.

Of course, his former student would be biased towards the Tom that had grown to murder his parents, but was there a possibility that his path could be altered? Was there anything resembling humanity remaining within the boy he had met today?

Albus couldn't be sure, but he would be remiss in his duties if he did not try at the very least to see to it, to nurture the boy and fill the years of neglect he had lived.

Even attempting such did not feel right, but he chose to ignore his instincts on the matter.

Young Tom was but a boy. Surely, he could be helped and shaped into a productive member of society?

Albus hoped so.

If the control of his magic the boy had spoken of was anything to go by, he would be an exceedingly gifted student. For one of his age, he had an exemplary grasp on his magic and could even use it to protect himself or hurt others if he chose to.

Dumbledore frowned at the thought.

Regardless of his own observations, Tom would need to be watched closely.

There were too many characteristics of the boy that could not be ignored, and though Albus would not dismiss him already as a lost cause, there was something within the professor that could not help but think that Tom Riddle had simply been born a person of cruelty.

Few simply were, but at the tender age of eleven, Tom seemingly lacked any sign that he could be saved from himself…

'When the time is right, I will kill him…'

Or Harry for that matter.

(Break)

Harry had seen little of the outside world for the best part of two months, but the city of Ghent was like nothing he had seen before. It was as though he had stepped several centuries back in time, the buildings here from a period long past, but it was charming, and though the folk living here were cautious, they were friendly enough.