Harry Potter and the Great Old Ones

"I was wondering if you could tell me something about Tom Riddle? He was an orphan when he was born, right?" After three rounds of drinking, Dumbledore remained strong, his cheeks already flushed with a smile on his face.

Mrs. Cole.

"Oh... yes, you must want to know about his past. This is very, very normal..." Mrs. Kohler said vaguely, and then poured some more wine and started drinking.

, "I, I remember it very clearly... because I just came here to work at that time... um... it was New Year's Eve, it was very cold, it was snowing, you

You know, it was a bad night, and there was a girl, not much older than I was at that time, struggling to get up on our steps... She wasn't the first one we'd had to deal with.

... We quickly opened the door and let her in, and about an hour later she gave birth to the baby, and an hour later, she died."

Mrs. Cole said with emotion, and then took another swig of gin.

"Did she say anything before she died?" Dumbledore said, "For example, who was the father of the child?"

"Oh, I said it, she said it. She said to me, 'I hope he looks like daddy.' Indeed, she was right to think so. She is not very good-looking... To be disrespectful, she

She looks a bit ugly...and a bit deformed...her eyes...ahem..." Seemingly aware of her gaffe, Mrs. Cole said softly

She coughed lightly, took a sip of wine, and then continued, "Then she said she wanted to name him Tom, for his father, Marvolo, for her father... very

Interesting, isn't it? We wondered if she was from the circus...then she said the child's last name was Riddle and then died.

"That's how we named him. It seemed important to the poor girl, but no Tom or Marvolo or Riddle came to pick him up, so he lived in an orphanage from then on."

Mrs. Er said.

Mrs. Cole almost unconsciously added another glass of wine. The two pink blushes on her cheekbones became deeper and deeper, and then she said, "He is an interesting boy."

"Yes, I think he is." Dumbledore said meaningfully.

"No, you don't understand what I mean... I mean... he was also a very interesting little baby, he almost never cried, and then, when he got older, he

It’s become… weird.”

"What a strange method?" Dumbledore asked gently.

Mrs. Cole glanced at him, but there was no ambiguity in this inquisitive glance.

"He will definitely go to your school to study, you just said?" Mrs. Cole did not continue to answer Dumbledore's question, but asked a question.

"Absolutely." Dumbledore assured Mrs. Cole.

"Will what I say affect him?" Mrs. Cole asked again, "I mean...will what I say affect him from going to study with you? For example, if I say

You won’t want him if he says bad things about him?”

"No." Dumbledore affirmed.

"You will take him away anyway?" Mrs. Cole was obviously still worried.

"Yes, no matter what." Dumbledore said seriously.

She squinted at him as if she was deciding whether to trust him or not. Finally, she decided to trust him because her words suddenly blurted out——

"He scared the other kids."

"You mean he bullies others?" Dumbledore asked.

"I think he must be," said Mrs. Cole, frowning slightly, "but it would be difficult to catch him in the act. There are little accidents happening all the time—dirty and annoying things."

Dumbledore did not rush her.

Mrs. Cole took another swig of gin, and her rosy cheeks became even redder.

"Stubbs' rabbit - well, Tom said he didn't do it and I can't see how he did it, but even so, the rabbit wouldn't just run up to the citron and hang himself, would he?"

Mrs. Er said.

"I don't think so, indeed." Dumbledore said quietly.

"But I would be very surprised if I knew how he did it. All I know is that he and Billy had had a row before that day, and—" Mrs. Cole took another swig of wine.

Some spilled down to her chin, "Towards the end of the summer - we take them out, you know, once a year, to the country or the seaside - well, Amy Benson and Dennis walk behind and never

After it was quiet, they got separated from us, so they followed Tom... Riddle went into a cave... He said they were just exploring, but something must have happened there, I'm sure. Also.

There are, um, there are many things, interesting things..."

She looked at Dumbledore again, and although her cheeks were bright red, she stared at him calmly.

"I don't think many people feel sorry for his past."

"You know, I'm sure we won't keep him at school forever," said Dumbledore. "He'll be back here, at least, every summer."

"Oh, of course, it's better than being hit in the nose with a rusty iron rod." Mrs. Cole burped slightly. Although two-thirds of the gin had been drunk, Cole

The lady still looked calm and composed, "I guess you want to see him now?"

"Yes, very much," Dumbledore said, standing up as well.

Mrs. Cole then led Dumbledore out of her office and up a stone staircase.

Tiera followed with the other little wizards.

"Here we are," said Mrs. Cole, as they turned the second landing and stopped at the first door of the long corridor.

She knocked twice and went in

"Tom? Good morning, there's a man coming to see you. This is Mr. Dumbledore - sorry, Dumbledore. He's here to tell you - forget it, I'll let him do it," said Mrs. Cole.

Harry and the two Dumbledores entered the room, and Mrs. Cole closed the door in front of them. It was a room with nothing except a large wardrobe and an iron bed frame.

A boy sat on a gray blanket with his legs stretched out in front of them and a book.

There was no trace of haggardness on Tom Liddell's face.

Merlop fulfilled his dying wish:

He was a smaller version of his handsome father, tall for an eleven-year-old, with dark hair and a bit of pale color.

He was a little nervous when he saw the weird Dumbledore appear. They were silent for a while.

"I am Professor Dumbledore." Dumbledore introduced himself.

"Professor?" Riddle repeated, looking very wary, "Is it similar to 'doctor'? What are you doing here? Did she ask you to see me?"

He pointed to the door where Mrs. Cole had stood.

"Oh, no, it's not," said Dumbledore, and then laughed.

"I don't believe you." Riddle said, "She always likes to find people to visit me, doesn't she? Tell me the truth!"

The last words were spoken very loudly, like a threat.

This is a commanding tone, and it seems that he often speaks like this.

He stared at Dumbledore with wide eyes, but Dumbledore only smiled friendly. After a few seconds, Riddle stopped staring at him, but was still wary.

"Who are you?" asked Tom Riddle.

"I have already introduced you. I am Professor Dumbledore. I work at a school called Hogwarts. I am here to invite you to our school - your new school, if you are willing."

Dumbledore asked.

Riddle's reaction was astonishing.

He jumped up from the bed and ran away from Dumbledore, furious.

"Don't try to lie to me! You are from a mental hospital, aren't you? 'Professor'! Okay, but what if I don't go? That old cat should go to a mental hospital. I never bully children."

Amy Benson and Dennis Bishop, you can ask them and they'll tell you!" Tom Riddle looked terrified.

"Haha, Voldemort was quite cute when he was a child." I don't know who laughed softly.

"Shh..." Tiera warned gently.

The person who made the noise obviously realized his gaffe, covered his mouth, and continued to read quietly.

"I'm not from a mental hospital," Dumbledore explained patiently, "I'm a teacher. If you can sit down quietly, I will tell you what kind of place Hogwarts is... Of course

Yes, if you really don’t want to go, we won’t force you—”

"I want to see what they can do to me." Riddle said with a smile.

"Hogwarts," Dumbledore continued, as if he hadn't heard what Riddle had just said, "is to accept students with special abilities -"

"I'm not crazy!" Tom Riddle immediately denied.

"I know you are not crazy. Hogwarts is not a madhouse, it is a magic school." Dumbledore said.

Riddle suddenly became quiet and froze. There was no expression on his face, but his eyes were shining, and he looked Dumbledore up and down, as if to test whether he was lying.

"Magic?" he repeated softly.

"Yes," said Dumbledore, "Yes, magic."

"What I did turned out to be magic?" Tom Riddle asked.

"So little Tom, tell me, what will you do?" Dumbledore asked expectantly.

"He can do anything." Riddle said excitedly.

Excitement rose from his neck to his thin cheeks, and he was so excited, "Those iron filings started to move without me touching them. Those animals listened to me without training. If someone messes with me, I can make them suffer."

, like letting them get hurt or something.”

His back was trembling, and he jumped forward and returned to the bed.

He looked at his hands and lowered his head as if praying.

"I know I'm different," he whispered to his own shaking fingers, "I know I'm special. Always, I knew there was something different."

"Oh, I think you are right," Dumbledore said, his smile gone, and he looked at Riddle intently, "You are a wizard."

Grains

Riddle raised his head. His face was filled with longing:

He looked happy, but for some reason that didn't make him look better. On the contrary, his delicate appearance looked a little rough.

"Are you a wizard too?" Tom Riddle asked.

"Yes, I am." Dumbledore said.

"Prove it to me!" Tom Riddle said immediately, using his usual commanding tone, "Tell the truth."

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, "If I did, would you go to Hogwarts?"

"Of course!" said Tom Riddle.

"Then you will call me 'Professor' or 'Sir'." Dumbledore smiled like an naughty boy.

Riddle's expression stiffened for a moment before he spoke, and he said in a polite voice, "I'm sorry, sir, I mean, please, professor, can you show me...?"

Dumbledore smiled with satisfaction, then took out his wand from his coat pocket, pointed at the shabby wardrobe in the corner, and inadvertently tapped it with the wand, and the wardrobe suddenly exploded into a ball of flames.

Riddle jumped up and yelled emotionally, all his belongings were in there.

But just as Riddle was shouting around Dumbledore, the flames suddenly disappeared, leaving the wardrobe intact.

Riddle stared at the wardrobe and Dumbledore, then pointed at the wand with a wistful expression, "Where can I get one like that?"

"In due course," said Dumbledore, "I think there is something about this that is trying to escape from your wardrobe."

To be precise, a faint clicking sound came from there. For the first time, Riddle looked a little scared.

"Go and open the door." Dumbledore said calmly.

Riddle hesitated, then walked over and opened the closet door.

On the top floor, atop a pile of shabby clothes, a small cardboard box vibrated and rattled like a few crazed rats hiding inside.

"Open it," Dumbledore said.

Riddle took down the shaking box.

He looked very tired.

"Is there anything in the box that you should have?" Dumbledore asked.

Riddle gave Dumbledore a long, clear, calculating look, "I think so, sir."

he finally said in an emotionless tone.

Riddle took off the lid and dumped the contents onto his bed without even looking at it—

It was a jumble of little everyday things:

A yo-yo, a silver thimble, a tarnished harmonica.

They stopped shaking after being poured out of the box and lay quietly on the thin blanket.

"You must return them in person and apologize." Dumbledore put the wand back on his shirt and said calmly, "I will know if you did it...and I must give you a warning: Hogg

Watts has no place for theft."

Tom Riddle didn't look very embarrassed. He still stared at Dumbledore calmly with a calculating look.

Finally he said in an emotionless voice, "Yes, sir."

"At Hogwarts..." Dumbledore continued unhurriedly, "we not only taught you how to use magic, but also how to control them... You have inadvertently, I'm sure

, used your powers in a way that was not taught and not allowed by the school... You are not the first, and you will not be the last, to have your magic run amok...

But you should know that Hogwarts can expel students, and the Ministry of Magic, yes, there is such a department, will punish those who break the law more seriously... All new wizards must accept this, enter

To control our world, we must abide by our laws."

"Yes, sir." Riddle said again.

Riddle couldn't possibly tell what he was thinking.

With his face still expressionless, Riddle placed the small stolen items back into the carton.

After doing this, he said to Dumbledore, "I don't have any money."

"It's easy." Dumbledore said, taking out a leather purse from his pocket. "This is a fund set up by Hogwarts for students who need subsidies to buy books and robes. You have to buy textbooks and

Some second-hand items, but..."

"Where can I buy textbooks?" Riddle interrupted. He took the heavy money bag from Dumbledore's hand without thanking him, and was now examining a fat gold Galleons.

"In Diagon Alley..." Dumbledore said. "I brought a list of the books and equipment you wanted to buy...I can help you find everything."

"You want to go with me?" Riddle raised his head and said.

"Of course, if you..." Dumbledore said.

"I don't need you!" Riddle said immediately, "I'm used to doing things by myself. I've been walking around London alone. How are you going to get to Diagon Alley, sir?"

he added, staring into Dumbledore's eyes.

Dumbledore did not insist anymore, but handed him the envelope, which contained a list of things he needed to buy. Then, he carefully told him how to get from the orphanage to the Broken Ax Bar, and then he said, "You will

You'll see, it doesn't matter even though you're surrounded by Muggles - non-magical people, that is. Ask the bartender for Tom's name - just remember, when he asks for your name - "

Riddle moved impatiently, trying to get rid of a nasty fly.

"Don't you like the name 'Tom'?" Dumbledore asked.

"There are many people named Tom." Riddle muttered impatiently.

Then, as if he couldn't help but ask the question, as if he suddenly disliked himself, he asked: "Is my father a wizard too? His name was Tom Riddle, too, they told me."

"I'm afraid I don't know that," said Dumbledore, his voice very soft.

"My mother can't be a wizard, otherwise she wouldn't be dead," Riddle said, as if he was saying to himself, "It must be him, so - after I learned all the magic - what should I do?"

When is the time to go to Hogwarts?"

"Everything is spelled out on the second piece of parchment in your envelope," said Dumbledore. "You will depart from King's Cross Station in early September, and there is a ticket in it."

Riddle nodded. Dumbledore stood up and held out his hand again. Riddle took his hand and said, "I can talk to snakes. I found them on our way to the outing - they found me and they spoke to me.

Talking. Is this normal for a wizard?"

"Parseltongue!"

I don't know who it was, so I shouted excitedly again.

"Shh..." Tiera said.

"It's not common," Dumbledore said after hesitating for a moment, "but it's not unheard of."

His tone was a little casual, but his eyes were curiously looking at Riddle's face.

The man and boy stood staring at each other for a while.

Then their hands dropped and Dumbledore walked to the door.

"Goodbye, Tom. I'll see you at Hogwarts."

After a few seconds, everything around him turned into a blur of black smoke.

The next moment, everyone appeared in the black magic classroom.

"Okay, students." Tiera stood on the podium and clapped her hands, attracting everyone's attention. "We've finished this class."

"But...but it's only been less than half an hour!" Hermione asked.

Each black magic class usually lasts about two hours.

"The quality of the course does not lie in the length of time, but in what we can learn from it." Tiera said softly, "And I think, compared to letting you stay in the class for no reason, I

I think it would be better for you to go to the library, read the Muggle psychology books on the fourth to seventh floors of the fifth bookshelf, and start preparing your Christmas thesis."

"Okay, get out of class is over, get out of class is over." Tiera waved her hand gently, and the door of the black magic classroom opened without any wind, and a cold wind blew in.

"Okay, let's go, let's go." Tiera said with a gentle smile, "It just started snowing outside while we were still in the pensieve. If you don't want to start working on the paper yet, you can go and have fun first.

Snow, let’s have a snowball fight, let’s go, students, the class is over.”

The little wizards looked at each other, and then walked out of the dark magic classroom one after another.

Wait until everyone walks out of the classroom and only Tiera is left in the classroom.

Tiera waved her hand and closed the door of the black magic classroom, then slowly walked to the pensieve, stretched out her right hand fingers and stirred in the pensieve, and fished out a bright silver thread from it.

Tiera picked up the thread, raised her head and opened her mouth.

"Gulu——"

Tiera swallowed that memory into her belly.