Amelia Potter and the Chamber of Secrets PART 1

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'No,' said Riddle at once, 'I'd much rather stay at Hogwarts than go back to that – to that –'

'You live in a Muggle orphanage during the holidays, I believe?' said Dippet curiously.

'Yes, sir,' said Riddle, reddening slightly.

'You are Muggle-born?'

'Half-blood, sir,' said Riddle. 'Muggle father, witch mother.'

'And are both your parents –?'

'My mother died just after I was born, sir. They told me at the orphanage she lived just long enough to name me: Tom after my father, Marvolo after my grandfather.'

Dippet clucked his tongue sympathetically.

'The thing is, Tom,' he sighed, 'special arrangements might have been made for you, but in the current circumstances ...'

'You mean all these attacks, sir?' said Riddle, and Harry's heart leapt, and he moved closer, scared of missing anything.

'Precisely,' said the Headmaster. 'My dear boy, you must see how foolish it would be of me to allow you to remain at the castle when term ends. Particularly in the light of the recent tragedy ... the death of that poor little girl and boy... You will be safer by far at your orphanage. As a matter of fact, the Ministry of Magic is even now talking about closing the school. We are no nearer locating the – er – source of all this unpleasantness ...'

Riddle's eyes had widened.

'Sir – if the person was caught ... If it all stopped ...'

'What do you mean?' said Dippet, with a squeak in his voice, sitting up in his chair. 'Riddle, do you mean you know something about these attacks?'

'No, sir,' said Riddle quickly.

But Harry was sure it was the same sort of 'no' that he himself had given Dumbledore.

Dippet sank back, looking faintly disappointed.

'You may go, Tom ...'

Riddle slid off his chair and stumped out of the room. Harry followed him.

Down the moving spiral staircase they went, emerging next to the gargoyle in the darkening corridor. Riddle stopped, and so did Harry, watching him. Harry could tell that Riddle was doing some serious thinking. He was biting his lip, his forehead furrowed.

Then, as though he had suddenly reached a decision, he hur-