A/N: Written for Challenge 91 at Bellatrix Lestrange: The Dark Lord's Most Faithful Forum. The prompt was Herbert Hoover's quote "Older men declare war. But it is youth thst must fight and die" for his speach on 27th June 1944.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, if I did it would have been more accurate on the living conditions in orphanages.
''Older men declare war. But it is youth that must fight and die.'' That's what the Muggle paper had considered as the most important quote from last day's Republican national convention in the USA. In the light of recent events, all these poor men who had died on the 6th of June, it must have sounded very suitable and impressive to the ears of the ignorant journalist and the public. But Tom Riddle knew better. It doesn't take to be old and cranky to declare war, it didn't even take an army and power. What you really need for is vision and brilliance. And he had both.
He just had to take care of one last detail, one easy thing to do and then he was ready. Of course the ''little thing'' would be rather enjoyable, if he dared say so himself, he had been planning to do it for years, even as a child. Now the time had come.
He added the newspaper to the pile of his packed few belongings shooting contemptuous looks at the other 16 year olds from the orphanage who were sobbing their eyes out. The institution had kicked him out now that he was 16, like any miserable creature it had found on the streets and its doorsteps. But it was a good thing for him, he never needed help, he had done so much better on his own. He deserved so much better.
Besides, he continued musing, most of the boys around him would serve the army very soon. Their country and their king.
Tom snorted to himself. Their king. They didn't even know the man and most importantly he didn't know them. That was why the quote was silly. Wars that followed it were doomed, like Hitler was, it was clear to him. But he had all the right reasons to declare war even as a young man, not of age yet. His long thin fingers found the small leather book and stroked it affectionately. Since he had that he had no reason not to fight either. What could possibly hurt him?
A big twisted smile illuminated his face and the other evacuees gave him worried looks. They knew by now that if Tom Riddle was happy, someone was about to get hurt.
Securing the precious book in the old, full of bumps trunk he stood up to his full height and started walking towards the exit door, a controlled euphoria filling him completely. Out of habit he checked the night sky for bombers, but there were none.
He smirked. Did they think that was war? It was time to show the world.
A/N: Please let me know what you think. Tom Riddle of course is about to have a talk with Daddy... And I swear it is exactly 444 words without the AN.
Also it is quite accurate that orphanages at the time were kicking the orphans out when they reached the ages of 14-16 at the time. And yes, at the end of the war very young men fought, especially such poor children.