Megan Potter - A Saga of the Heart - Book 6 - Dark Temptation-

Chapter 29 - Wool's Orphanage

She fell into darkness again, swirling downwards until she found herself in a bustling, old-fashioned London street.

"Oh, there I am," Dumbledore said brightly.

Megan looked and sure enough wearing a plum velvet suit, with an auburn hair and beard, was a younger Albus Dumbledore. They followed him through iron gates into abare courtyard and towards a grim-looking, square building surrounded by high railings. The younger Dumbledore marched up the stone steps and knocked once. Soon, a scruffy young woman opened the day.

"Good day, madam, I have an appointment with your matron, Mrs Cole?"

"Oh..." she said, taking in his unusual attire. "Er, come in... She'll be down in a mo'...Mrs Cole!" she called up the stairs in a strong accent Megan didn't quite recognise, then turned back to Dumbledore. "This way, she'll be right there."

Dumbledore stepped into the tiled hallway. The place, though shabby, was spotless. Megan and the older Dumbledore followed. Soon, a harassed-looking woman came scuffling towards them.

"Oh, and take the iodine to Martha, would you, the chicken pox is getting worse..."

"Yes, ma'am." said a girl in the corridor.

Then, the woman caught sight of Dumbledore and gaped.

"Good afternoon. I am Albus Dumbledore. I believe we have an appointment?"

After blinking a few times, Mrs Cole said:

"Oh, yes... I... let's go tomy office."

She led the way into a small room that appeared to be part sitting room, part office. They sat down on either side of a cluttered desk.

"As I wrote you, I am here to discuss Tom Riddle and his arrangements for the future."

"Are you a family member?"Mrs Cole enquired.

"No, I am a teacher."Dumbledore replied. "I wish to offer Tom a place at my school."

"What school would that be?"

"Is it called Hogwarts."

"Never heard of it," Mrs Cole said. "And you say you're interested in Tom?"

"We believe he has qualities we seek, yes," Dumbledore agreed.

"You mean he's won a scholarship? How can he have? He never applied for one."

"Well, his name has been down in our school since birth."

"Who registered him, his parents?"

It was clear to Megan that Mrs Cole was inconveniently sharp. Dumbledore seemed to think so too, because Megan saw him slip his wand out of his sleeve and hand Mrs Cole a blank piece of paper.

"I think this will make things clearer," he said.

Mrs Cole's eyes slid out of focus for a few seconds and back as she gazed at the paper.

"Well, this seems in order..."she said, handing back the blank page.

"I wondered whether you could tell me about Tom Riddle's history?" he asked. "I understand he was born in this very orphanage?"

"Yes," Mrs Cole said. "New Year's Eve, it was. And bitterly cold, too. I'd just started here at the time, when this girl, not much older than myself then, came staggering up the stone steps. Oh, she wasn't the first, mind you. So we took her in and she had her baby. Poor woman died within the next hour."

"Did she say anything before she died?" Dumbledore enquired. "About the boy's father, for example?"

"... I remember her saying she hoped he'd look like his father," Mrs Cole said.

Well, that he had, Megan thought. For a split second when meeting his father, she'd thought she was facing Riddle in his sixteen year old form all over again.The memory sent shivers down her spine.

"She then told me he was to be named Tom for his father and Marvolo for her father. Odd name, isn't it? And she added that the surname was to be Riddle, and she died shortly after. So we named him as she'd asked, it seemed so important to the poor thing. But no Tom or Marvolo, or any Riddle came looking for him. So he stayed in the orphanage and has done ever since."

She paused.

"He's a funny boy, you know."

"I thought as much."

"He hardly ever cried as a baby, either, in fact. And when he grew up, he became... odd."

"Did he now? Odd in what way,might I ask?"

Mrs Cole fidgeted a moment,hesitating.

"He's definitely got a place in your school, you say?"

"Certainly." he agreed.

"And nothing I say will change that? You'll take him anyway?"

"Indeed," he answered gravely.

Megan thought she knew what was coming. Someone as twisted as a grown up – or sort of, –couldn't have had a normal childhood.

"Well... he scares the other children."

"You mean he bullies them?"

"It must be," she agreed with a frown. "But we never seem to catch him at it... there have been some very nasty incidents..."

Megan could tell Dumbledore was interested, but he didn't press her on.

"Billy Stubbs's rabbit... well, I mean Tom claims he did nothing, and I must admit I don't see how he could, but the poor thing didn't hang itself from the rafters, did it!"

"I should think not, indeed,"Dumbledore agreed quietly.

"But I can't imagine how he did it. All I know is he and Billy were arguing the day before. And then... every summer, we take them to the countryside or seaside...well, Amy Benson and Dennis Bishop were never the same, after. We only know they visited a cave with Tom Riddle. He swore they'd just gone exploring, but I'm sure something happened down there. And to be quite honest, I don't think he'll be very missed, around here."

"You do understand he won't be in school permanently? He'll have to return at the very least over the summer."

"Well, that's better than a whack on the nose." she said rising. "I suppose you'll want to meet him?"

"Yes, very much, please."Dumbledore said, rising as well.

She led the way out of her office and up the stairs, giving instructions as she passed. Megan glanced at the orphans as she passed. They all wore grey blouses. They looked reasonably well cared for, but she could see why no one would want to grow up here. She almost considered herself lucky with the Dursleys. But only almost.

"Here we are." Mrs Cole saidas they reached the first door, on which she knocked.

Both Dumbledores and Megan stepped in and Mrs Cole closed the door behind them.