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Disclaimer: I use a scene from one of the books in this chapter. The Gaunt House scene belongs to J.K Rowling as does most of the orphanage scene in chapter one.
TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE. THE STORY
CHAPTER FOUR
PART THREE- THE VERY SECRET RIDDLE
The next few months of the first term passed through joyfully as Tom soon became the most popular first year in his house not only to the students but to the teachers as well.
Professor Slughorn always looked in on Tom's work during classes as he brewed potions, Slughorn ignoring the other students completely.
Tom and his comrades, who he never referred to as 'friends' for some reason, had become a large group that was growing even larger so. Tom was becoming thoughtful of the fact that this group had no name. And so, Tom spoke with Avery one evening.
"I actually think that we deserve a good name," Tom explained.
"Well, what'd you have in mind Tom?" asked Avery, sitting on the sofa one chilly Saturday afternoon in November.
"Well, I always thought that death was the worst thing in the world. There is nothing worse. So I wondered if we became as strong as Nicholas Flamel or perhaps Grindalwad, then we could overcome the weakness of death. And so, I thought that we could call ourselves…the Death Eaters."
There was a pause before Avery smiled and thought to himself.
"Yeah…yeah that sounds pretty good. I say yes,"
"Well, it's settled then," Tom said. "We are the death eaters."
Soon after, Christmas time came to Hogwarts. The Knight Armor suits in the corridors were decorated with Santa Claus hats while the tallest of Christmas trees were put up in the Great Hall.
Specially trained fairies flew above the tables, showering gold shimmers that evaporated before coming too low.
There was also a beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the Slytherin common room, right next to the fire. It had blue and gold tree garland with hanging balls of many colors hung on the branches. There were bright lights here and there on the tree and on the top there was a silver star that magically turned into an angel every five minuets.
Tom sat at the Slytherin table, about to gorge his delicious Christmas Eve dinner.
Professor Dippet stood and addressed the students.
"Merry Christmas to you all! I am glad to see that you are all here and I have a delightful announcement. We are going to be holding auditions for a theater performance of the classic wizarding children's tale 'The fountain of fair fortune'. Those wishing to audition should come to the Great Hall on January third at five o'clock in the evening. And now, let us enjoy our wonderful feast, cooked by those brilliant house elves. Let's eat!"
Tom raised an eyebrow as the food appeared. He had never been aware that house elves cooked the food and by the look on the other children's faces, even older students, they hadn't known either. Tom knew SOMEONE had to make it as it was impossible to make high quality food appear with magic without summoning it. The same went for money which was illegal to counterfeit by magic.
"So Tom," said Aidan. "How's Christmas?"
"This is actually my first Christmas that wasn't ruined by other children at the orphanage," Tom replied, gloomily looking over his past.
"Well, things at Hogwarts are better right?"
"Definitely," Tom agreed with him.
Up at the staff table, Dumbledore (who had made sure to get a seat next to Marythought who was today dressed in a white shirt with a green vest) asked him the pondering question.
"Are you aware who the last head of the Magical law Enforcement squad was?
"I believe," Marythought started. "I believe that it was a man called Bob Ogden. Yes, that was who it was. Brilliant man, he was."
"Is he still living?"
"Yes, yes, of course. He is retired at the small town that is quite near here, Duff town."
"Thank you Professor," Dumbledore said, rising from his seat with a questioning look from the other teachers.
He walked over to Professor Dippet and asked
"Sir, would it be alright if I were to take a temporary leave of absence after Christmas day?"
"Certainly Albus, take the rest of the month off. There's not going to be anything interesting here," laughed Dippet.
Dumbledore smiled and sat back down in his seat next to Marythought.
"Also Marythought, would you by any chance be able to pass the pudding?"
"Tom, oh Tom get up!" Avery shouted, shaking his friend.
"Wh- what?" stammered Tom, rising in his bed. "Why? We're on break!"
"Yeah, but it's only Christmas day! Get up you old Scrooge! You must've been visited by the three ghosts of Christmas already!" laughed Avery.
"I hope you are referencing the WIZARDING version of that story."
"Of course, of course! Now come on, it's CHRISTMAS!" he shouted, beginning to unwrap his presents.
Date: December 27th. 1941
Albus Dumbledore walked to the small house in Duff Town, fairly separate from the rest of the neighborhood. He knocked on the door and it was answered by a small man who was very plump, with thick glasses that mad his eyes look extremely tiny and a squeaky voice when he said
"Good afternoon. My name's Bob Ogden. Who are you?"
"My name is Professor Dumbledore. I am here to ask you about a family you visited many years ago."
"Dumbledore? Well, come right in Professor."
Dumbledore entered the small space which had a kitchen in the front with a bathroom and a bedroom. There was also a sitting room near the back.
"I know I know. I can afford much better but I don't see much reason too. So, you come from Hogwarts I expect?" he asked, sitting down in an arm chair and gesturing for Dumbledore to do the same.
"Indeed," Dumbledore answered.
Ogden laughed.
"Don't you at least OWN that school yet? You'd be a brilliant head master, no, a brilliant Minister of Magic."
"I am still a teacher I'm afraid," Professor Dumbledore smiled. "Now I would like to ask you about….about the Gaunt Family."
Ogden's smile faded.
"Oh," he said. "Well…I went down there after the son, Morfin was accused of attacking that muggle."
"And what was the muggle's name?" asked Dumbledore.
"It was Tom Riddle," Ogden told.
Dumbledore sighed as the truth came to him.
"And what of Merope? Did she seem to have a likeness for the muggle?"
"Yes. She was absolutely in LOVE with him. But the poor dear wasn't pretty; however she had a strong heart. She deserved better than that BASTARD Marvolo."
"Where is Marvolo now?"
"He….died in Azkaban I think."
"And what of his children?"
"That I only know about Morfin. He was just released from Azkaban, and God knows why, he had such a temper. Anyway, I expect he still lives in the old Gaunt house these days. As for Merope, I heard from somewhere that she was dead."
"Do you know if she ever saw the muggle again?"
Ogden thought.
"I…..THINK that she may have seen him again but I don't know. I also heard that he did marry but his wife vanished after the neighbors reported hearing the two struggle. Expected abuse, you know. Perhaps he DID deserve what Morfin gave him?"
"I don't know about that," Dumbledore said. "Now, do you know if his wife was pregnant?"
"I have no idea. Now, if you'd like, I could show you my memory."
"What do you mean?" asked Dumbledore, curiously.
Ogden smiled.
He put his wand to his temple and retracted it. It had a silver wisp on it that was string like but was neither gas nor liquid.
"Come to my pensive."
"Oh, I have one of those," Dumbledore laughed.
He walked over to a large floating dish that had a blue substance in it.
Ogden put the memory in it and it suddenly turned to black ink. It swirled around until it had created an image of a small shack that looked abandoned.
"In we go," Ogden said, gesturing for Dumbledore to go in.
He did so.
The feeling was miraculous.
He felt like he was falling but he had no fear and he slowly and softly landed on the ground.
Ogden appeared next to him.
"They shall not be able to see us just so you know," Ogden said.
The past Ogden with shorter lighter hair and a frog suit with a bathing suit under it came up to the house.
"My past self is about to lead us to the village of Little Hangleton," Ogden told as they continued to walk.
Soon they had come to the house and saw that on the door, there was a snake nailed to the door.
Suddenly, a man leapt down from a nearby tree.
The raggedy dressed man had thick dark hair, a lopsided mouth, and two lazy eyes glared at Ogden who backed away.
Suddenly, a hissing noise that made Dumbledore's spine shiver came from the man's mouth.
Ogden tried to cover this by stuttering
"Er- good morning. I'm from the Ministry of Magic-,"
The man made the unnerving hissing noise again and Dumbledore realized what it was as this was Slytherin's relative.
"Er- I'm sorry- I don't understand you," said Ogden nervously.
"He is speaking Parstletoung Mr. Ogden," the present Dumbledore said to the present Ogden who nodded and commented
"Yes, I figured that out when I found out who his ancestor was."
The man began to advance on Ogden, knife in one hand, wand in the other.
"Now, look-," Ogden began.
BANG!
Ogden fell to the ground clutching his nose which now had a good deal of yellow puss protruding from the nostrils.
The present Ogden put his hand to his own nose and shuddered.
"Morfin!" yelled a loud voice.
Another man came from the house. He was shorter that Morfin with oddly broad shoulders and arms that hung too low which gave him the look of an aged old monkey.
"Ministry is it?" the older man asked.
"Correct!" shouted the angry Ogden, rising from the ground. "And you, I take it, are Mr. Gaunt?"
"S'right," said Gaunt. "Got you in the face, did he?"
"Yes, he did!"
"Should've made your presence known, shouldn't you? This is privet property. Can't just walk in here and not expect my son to defend himself."
"Defend himself against what, man?" said Ogden.
Mr. Gaunt thought for a moment and then aggressively answered
"Busybodies. Intruders. Muggles and filth."
Ogden pointed his wand at his damaged nose and magically made the flowing puss cease.
Mr. Gaunt turned to his son and forced him to go into the house by ordering him in Parstletoung once again.
Morfin looked as if he would argue but ran angrily into the house.
Once he was gone, Ogden continued
"It's your son I'm here to see, Mr. Gaunt," said Ogden. "That was Morfin wasn't it?"
"Ar, that was Morfin. Are you pure-blood?"
"That's neither here nor there," Ogden replied coolly.
Gaunt squinted at Ogden and said in an offensive way
"Now I come to think about it, I've seen noses like yours down in the village."
"I don't doubt it, if your son's been let loose on them," said Ogden. "Perhaps we could continue this discussion inside?"
"Inside?"
"Yes Mr. Gaunt. I've already told you. I'm here about Morfin. We sent an owl-,"
"I've no use for owls. I don't open letters."
"Then," Ogden began. "You can hardly complain that you get no warning for visitors. I am here following a serious breach of Wizarding law, which occurred here in the early hours of this morning-,"
"All right, all right, all right!" bellowed Gaunt. "Come in the bleeding house, then, and much good it'll do you!"
They entered the small house that seemed even smaller then the home of Ogden. It contained three rooms only with Morfin sitting in a stuffy arm chair with an adder snake in his hands. He sung to it in Parstletoung.
Dumbledore saw that there was a girl in a raggedy grey dress that matched the dusty stone floor. She was busily cleaning the pots by hand, sweat on her brow.
She had a heavy face with hair that had a dull blackish color. Her eyes, like her brother's, were cross eyed and starred in different directions. Mrs. Cole had unfortunately been correct. This girl was no beauty.
"M'daughter Merope," Gaunt introduced grudgingly.
"Good morning," Ogden greeted cheerfully to her.
With a frightened look at her father, she continued to sort the pots.
"Well Mr. Gaunt," Ogden continued, gearing his attention back toward the horrid man in front of him. "to get straight to the point, we have reason to believe that your son, Morfin, performed magic in front of a muggle late last night."
There was a deafening clang as Merope accidently dropped one of the pots and Morfin laughed at her.
"PICK IT UP!" Gaunt roared at his poor daughter.
She bent down and he began to shout again
"That's it, grub on the floor like some filthy muggle, what's your wand for, you useless sack of muck?"
"Mr. Gaunt, please!" Ogden pleaded in a shocked voice, worried for Merope's safety.
She began to sob loudly as she pointed her wand at the pot and tried to levitate the pot. It shot across the room and crashed into the wall opposite her and cracked in two.
Morfin cackled more as Gaunt screamed
"Mend it, you pointless lump, MEND IT!"
As Merope stumbled, Ogden assisted the abused girl by casting the simple incantation himself.
"Reparo," he said and the pot mended it self immediately.
Gaunt looked as if he would advance on Ogden by laughed and jeered
"Lucky the nice man from the Ministry's here, isn't it? Perhaps he'll take you off my hands; perhaps he doesn't mind dirty Squibs…,"
When the silence that followed allowed everyone to calm slightly, besides Merope who was still weeping, Ogden began again.
"Mr. Gaunt, as I've said: the reason for my visit-,"
"I heard you the first time!" snapped Gaunt. "And so what? Morfin gave a muggle a bit of what was coming to him- what about it then?"
"Morfin has broken Wizarding law," said Ogden sternly.
"'Morfin has broken Wizarding law'," Gaunt imitated as Morfin cackled like the fat idiotic child he was. "He taught a filthy muggle a lesson, that's illegal now, is it?"
"Yes," said Ogden. "I'm afraid it is."
He pulled from his inside pocket, a rolled up piece of parchment.
"What's that, then, his sentence?"
"It is a summons to the Ministry for a hearing-,"
"Summons? SUMMONS? Who do you think you are, summoning my son anywhere?"
"I'm Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad!" shouted Ogden angrily, starting to get seriously irked by Gaunt, if now already wishing to kill the man.
Gaunt pointed one of his yellowed fingers at Ogden.
"And you think we're scum, do you?" Gaunt screamed at him. "Scum who'll come running when the Ministry tells 'em to? Do you know who you're talking to, you filthy little Mudblood, do you?"
He waved his finger in front of Ogden, showing a black ring.
"See this? See this? Know what it is? Know where it came from? Centuries it's been in our family, that's how far back we go, and pure-blood all the way! Know how much I've been offered for this, with the Peverell coat of arms engraved on the stone?"
"I've really no idea," Ogden stammered.
Gaunt grabbed Merope by a golden chain on her neck and dragged her over to show the golden locket to Ogden's face, not caring that his daughter was choking and gagging.
"See this? See it?"
"I see it! I see it!"
"SLYTHERIN'S!" yelled Gaunt. Salazar Slytherin's! We're his last living descendents, what do you say to that?"
"Mr. Gaunt, your daughter!"
Mr. Gaunt threw the choking girl back and said
"So! Don't you go talking to us as if we're dirt on your shoes! Generations of purebloods, wizards all- more than YOU can say, I don't doubt!"
And he spat on the floor at Ogden's feet, earning more cackles of giggling laughter from Morfin, his snake hissing.
"Mr. Gaunt, I am afraid that neither your ancestors nor mine have anything to do with the matter in hand. I am here because of Morfin, Morfin and the muggle he accosted late last night. Our information-," he glanced down at the paper-"is that Morfin performed a jinx or hex on the said muggle, causing him to erupt in highly painful hives."
Morfin giggled once again.
Gaunt ordered something else in Parstletoung and Morfin fell silent.
"And so what if he did, then? I expect you've wiped the muggle's filthy face clean for him, and his memory to boot-,"
"That's hardly the point, is it Mr. Gaunt? This was an unprovoked attack on a defenseless-,"
"Ar, I had you marked out as a muggle-lover the moment I saw you," Gaunt sneered. He spat again on the floor, making a puddle of his own saliva.
"This discussion is going nowhere!" Ogden said firmly to Mr. Gaunt. "It is clear from your son's attitude that he feels no remorse for his actions. Morfin will attend a hearing on the fourteenth of September to answer for the charges of using magic in front of a muggle and causing harm and distress to that same mugg-,"
Ogden broke off as the sound of hooves came from outside. Two people were laughing, a woman and a man. They both sounded young.
Gaunt froze along with his son as Merope looked up hopefully.
"My God, what an eyesore!" the girl shouted about the house they were passing.
You should see the inside, Dumbledore thought in his mind.
"Couldn't your father have that hovel cleared away, Tom?"
Dumbledore's eyes grew wider. If this man WAS Tom Riddle, then he would know if Merope and this man had had Tom junior as a child.
"It's not ours," Tom told her. "Everything on the other side of the valley belongs to us, but that cottage belongs to an old tramp called Gaunt, and his children. The son's quite mad, you should hear some of the stories in the village-,"
The girl laughed as Morfin made to get out of his chair but was ordered down by his father in Parstletoung.
"Tom," the girl said. "I might be wrong-but has somebody nailed a snake to that door?"
"Good lord, you're right! That'll be the son, I told you he's not right in the head. Don't look at it, Cecilia, darling."
Their laughter faded as they rode away.
Suddenly, the Gaunt family began to argue in the snake language, all of it seeming to be geared towards Merope."
From what Dumbledore could make out, Morfin had told Mr. Gaunt that Merope was in love with Tom Riddle senior.
Gaunt began to scream at her as he grabbed her neck
"No!" yelled Ogden. "RELASHIO!"
Mr. Gaunt was blasted away from his daughter and fell into a chair and onto the hard stoned floor.
Morfin screamed angrily once more and thrashed the knife at Ogden, who ran out for his life, disappartating as fast as he could.
Then it all went black as Dumbledore and Ogden re-appeared in the small house they'd been in before the memory observing.
After a few moments of silence, Dumbledore asked if he could have the memory. Ogden gave it to him in a thin glass bottle.
"I should have taken the daughter with me," he said. "She was badly beaten when we returned with more men. Marvolo, the arse he was, fought for 'his rights as a pure-blood'. Well, I certainly showed him what a muggle born could do with a wand!"
"Good for you," Dumbledore said to the man he was beginning to respect even higher.
"Morfin was sent to Azkaban with his father. He inherited that damned ring when Marvolo FINALLY died in prison. With Marvolo dead, and her brother imprisoned, Merope decided to flee. Good thing too. Did you get everything you needed?"
"Yes, I think so," Dumbledore decided, as he stood to leave.
"Thank you very much for everything. Professor Marythought was correct in saying you were brilliant."
"Thank you very much," Ogden laughed. "And tell Marythought I said hello. He's a good man."
"Indeed," Dumbledore agreed, turning to the exit.
"Also," Ogden said. "Why did you inquire on these affairs? Has Morfin done anything else wrong?"
"No, not yet. Let's just say I'm trying to solve a very complex riddle," Dumbledore replied.
And with that, he turned to leave.