The Secret of Tom Riddle's Diary

Chapter Eight - The Holidays with Tom Riddle

Waiting for Victoria was her “Uncle,” Rufus Avery.  She was able to meet and greet with Madam and Monsieur Greengrass, Rosier, and Pucey.  She met Madam Nott.  Michael McCarthey was staying the first portion of the Holidays with his friend, Ethan – his parents had written that he had been invited and expected to represent the McCartheys at the Malfoy Boxer Day Gala. 

“Uncle Rufus” as Victoria was very quiet as Victoria introduced him to her friends. 

“What do you do all day?” They asked her when they finally met her guardian.

“I have Madame Avery –“ she said, “she is a squib, but well-trained as a lady of bearing.  I have a family friend who is appointed as my compantion.”

She was not supposed to tell anyone his name. 

“Come along, Victoria,” Rufus said. 

“Yes, Uncle,” she said, quite impressed with Tom’s Imperius.  From what she had been told about the Imperius that level of control of timing was difficult over others.

She hugged each of her three other friends one last time, and then let him lead her to the Floo.  As she arrived, it was Madam Avery that greeted her.

“Welcome back, Miss Victoria,” she said.

“Thank you, Madam Avery –“  Victoria replied.

The reply led to a smile. 

“I am certainly glad that your time away at school didn’t take away the manners I drilled into you.”

“It helps that my three friends are pureblood witches who are very proper all the time,” Victoria replied with a smile.

At this point, Madam Avery’s smile disappeared.

“Tom is requesting your presence in his office.  You can take your luggage up quickly, but then you need to see him right away.”

Victoria smiled nervously.  Quickly, she looked to Uncle Rufus who levitated her luggage and she walked it all upstairs to her room and left it next to the dresser and desk.  Then Victoria walked briskly to Tom’s office – the door was shut.  She was about to knock when she heard –

“Come in, Victoria, dear –“

She opened the door and walked in.

“Please close the door behind you –“ he said.

She did so.  As she turned she looked on Tom for the first time in months, standing behind the desk, walking between the window, a bookcase, and a chair to the right of the desk.  Tom motioned to Victoria to sit in one of the chairs.

“Sit, Victoria,” he said.  “I want us to discuss your year together up to this point.”

She calmly sat down, folding the hems of her dress smoothly and holding her hands, clenched a little hard as Tom smoothly walked behind the desk and sat at the chair.  He pulled out a few things, looked at them quietly, and then he looked at her with hard dark eyes.

“First, your grades –“ he began.  “I have no complaints with the perfect O’s you have gotten up to this point.  Your professors say that you do all the required homework and answer questions and show understanding.  Professor Haywood states that your Potion work has improved as the year began.”

He started to chuckle in regard to his next comment.  “Your behavior is perfect in Transfiguration with Rosier, but nearly every other Professor complains that you think you are better than everybody else.  Why do you think that is?”