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Chapter 7: Telling Tom a Secret

The years passed by and the plan as well. Desmond and Desdemona turned out to be the hardest and most loved workers at the orphanage. All the children loved them and as it went on and Ms. Carter retired she left them in charge of the place.

With the twins at the helm the shabby and grungy orphanage eventually turned into a colorful and clean place for children to be adopted in. With them most children stayed only a few years before they found families of their own…all but one.

This one child was different from the others and the children and workers stayed away from him. He stayed away from them as well unless 'accidents' happened. And then it seemed Desmond and Desdemona were the only one that could sort it out. As such the little boy became rather close to them; Desdemona in particular.

And so the orphanage ran like clock work and nothing to peculiar every happened till one day while leafing trough some bills Desdemona came across an odd letter. "Hey Des…come here and look at this," she said putting the other letters away and donning her square glasses. "What is it sis?" he asked putting down his book and looking over her shoulder. "Recognize this?" she smirked pointing at the wax seal on the envelope.

"Well hot damn it's been eleven years already!" he laughed as she opened the envelope. "So that's why I've had to wash so many mouths out with soap," she grinned taking out the letter. He merely chuckled as she read it to herself.

"Seems a Mr. Dumbledore is coming to talk to us about one of our charges," Desi laughed. "Oh really? Which one is that?"

"Seems young Tom is up to go to a Hogwarts Academy." "I think I've heard of it," he laughed.

"I hope it's a good school." "I believe it's the best," he chuckled, "you don't think he'll recognize us though right?"

"I don't think enough to be worried," she shook her head; "Mom hasn't even started Hogwarts yet. But… oh he's coming tomorrow afternoon." "We'll be ready."


About two o'clock that afternoon a tall man with auburn hair and beard and twinkling blue eyes knocked on the yellow door of a pleasant looking orphanage in a dreary looking street. He thought it kind of odd a place so cheery looking would be in the middle of all this gloom.

The man was tall and dressed in a plum suit and orange ascot.

The door opened to a young girl of about twelve dressed in a white shirt and blue jumper. "Hello," the child greeted looking at the man's attire oddly. "Hello dear. Is it possible for me to speak with a Mr. or Ms. James?" he asked pleasantly. "Yes sir just a second," she said letting him in. She ran off and left him alone in the hall.

The man saw the place was very colorful and cheery. It looked like a nice place for children.

A few minutes later and he saw two young people in their early thirties walking toward them.

The woman had her black hair up in a tight bun, square framed glasses on her nose, and was wearing a three quarter sleeve green dress and black apron. The man had his auburn hair short and cropped and his scruffy beard was rather well groomed. He was dressed in a brown suit.

To the older man the couple looked rather smart and something about them seemed oddly familiar as they smiled benignly at him. "Hello you must be Mr. Dumbledore?" the man greeted shaking his hand.

"Albus Dumbledore," Albus replied returning the shake, "I see you received my letter?" "Oh yes sir we did," the woman replied, "please follow us to the office if you would." Albus nodded and followed the two to the neat little office at the end of the hall. Watching in silent amusement and interest as while the two walked they gave out instructions and loving words to the workers and children.

They entered and Desdemona sat behind the desk as Albus and Desmond sat in front of it. "Can we offer you a bit of gin or scotch?" Desdemona asked opening a file on her desk. "A small scotch would suffice," Albus nodded.

Desmond got up and poured three glasses before sitting back down. "So Mr. Dumbledore what is it exactly that our Tom has done that he would get to attend this school of yours?" he asked. "Well he's been down to go to our school since he was born Mr. James," Albus replied sipping his drink.

"Is this school one that will keep him indefinitely or will he be back on Holidays if he chooses?" Desi asked looking at the man with soft emerald eyes. "At the very least he will return in the summer Ms. James. We can not keep the children during the summer," Albus answered, "Is there a reason why he should stay?"

"Well….the other children are scared of him because of some 'accidents' that have happened. They will be glad to see him gone for how ever long it is I'm afraid," Desi sighed sadly.

"And you seem to not be my dear," Albus said softly. "The truth sir is that if my sister was married and had the means she would adopt Tom herself. But in today's society it is rather frowned upon for her to not be married before having children," Desmond replied. "Ah I see. I wonder if either of you could tell me about his history then," the man nodded and finished his drink.

"That we can," Desdemona nodded, "I remember it so clearly because we'd started here not to long ago. A bitter cold New Year's Eve night we had a young girl stumble up our door steps. I was the nurse then and in an hour she'd given birth to a little boy. Another hour later and she had died. Poor thing didn't seem to have the will to live any longer."

"Did she say anything before she died?" Dumbledore asked. "Told us to name him Tom after his father, Marvolo after hers, and Riddle is his surname," Desmond replied standing. "She also said she hoped he'd look like his father," Desdemona added. "It's a good thing he does too because his mother was definitely no Desdemona," Desmond added kissing his sister's head.

"You brother are to trusting and kind for your own good," Desi laughed. "I can't help you look so like mother did," he shrugged. "And you are too much like father for your own good," she said shaking her head. "I see you two are very close," Albus chuckled fondly. "We are indeed. But I suspect you'd like to see Tom now," she smiled standing up.

"I would indeed," Albus nodded also standing. Dumbledore followed the couple up a few flights of stairs to a small black door. Desdemona knocked and quietly opened the door. Inside the small slightly dark room sat a young boy with black hair and eyes. His head was buried in a book and he was dressed in blue pants and a white shirt and grey jacket like all the other boys in the orphanage.

"Tomas dear there is a Mr. Dumbledore here to speak with you," Desi said standing at the end of the bed. "We'll leave you two alone to talk," Desmond added pulling his sister out and closing the door.

Albus pulled up a chair by the bed as the boy put down his book. The two eyed each other in silence for several minutes before Albus spoke. "Hello Tom. I'm actually Professor Dumbledore and I want to offer you a position at the school I work at."

"I'm not going to any asylum. Desdemona said she wouldn't send me no matter what you doctors say," he snapped. His voice was cold and harsh. So odd for a young eleven year old.

"No, no Tom I'm not from an asylum. I'm a teacher at a special school. A school of magic," Albus replied. "Magic?" Tom asked an eerie sparkle in his dark eyes. "Indeed Tom. The school is a school for magical children to learn to control their powers," Albus said. "Is that what I can do? Magic?" the boy asked sitting up straighter.

"What can you do Mr. Riddle?" Albus asked intrigued. "I can make things happen to people who irritate me. I can make things come to me when I want them," the boy said with a strange enthusiasm. "Then I would say you do have magic," Albus nodded.

"Was my father magic? It must have been him. Mother wouldn't have died if she was magic," he said, "Are you magic sir?" "I am. I am a wizard just like you," Albus said watching the boy intently. "Prove it," he said in a commanding voice.

"Mr. Riddle you will address me as sir or Professor Dumbledore," Albus said in a strong tone. "Forgive me sir. Please professor show me," the boy said in a polite tone.

Albus eyed him a bit before drawing his wand and pointing it at the wardrobe. The wardrobe burst into flames and the boy jumped off his bed looking mad.

Dumbledore flicked his wand and the fire ceased but the wardrobe shook. "Is there something in there you do not want me to know about?" Albus asked the boy. Tom nodded and reluctantly pulled out a box from the wardrobe. He dumped the contents on the bed and the little toys and things stopped buzzing. Albus stowed his wand again and looked at the boy. "You will return these items to their rightful owners yes?"

"Yes sir. Will I get to use one of those sticks as well?" the boy replied. "It's called a wand and yes you will receive one when you purchase your school items," Albus said pulling out a school letter. "But I don't have any money sir," the child said.

"That is taken care of by the school. This should be enough for your robes and supplies but you may have to get some things used," Albus said pulling out a money bag, "Now I'll be by in a few days to take you to where you can get your supplies if you like." The boy was busy looking at the gold coins but upon the man's words his head snapped up.

"I prefer if Desdemona goes with me," he replied dropping the coins back in the bag. "Unfortunately I do not believe that would be possible. Muggles, non magical people, can not see Diagon Alley," Albus replied. "I can show her. She always believes me," the boy replied.

"Very well," Albus nodded. He gave the boy some instructions on what to do and when he should catch the train before leaving the room.


On his way back down he almost ran into Miss James as she was reprimanding two young children that had been fighting.

"….all right now run off and remember that I'll know if you aren't listening and sharing," she called to the two. "Yes Ms. James," the little ones chorused and ran off down the opposite end of the corridor.

She sighed and shook her head fondly as she unpinned her hair and it tumbled down in waves of dark curls. As she shook her head out a bit relieving a headache; Albus notice that she was quite beautiful but a deep sadness seemed to be haunting her emerald orbs.

"Oh hello Mr. Dumbledore," Desi replied shaking him from his thoughts, "I trust your talk with Thomas was pleasant." "Indeed," Albus nodded, "Forgive me but I thought you said his name was Tom. Why do you call him Thomas?" "He doesn't really like his name that much. He believes there are too many Toms in the orphanage. So I took to calling him Thomas a few years ago because we don't have any right now," she explained as they walked to the front door. "I see. Well it has been a pleasure meeting Mr. Riddle and yourself Ms. James," Albus bowed at the door kissing her hand.

"The pleasure is truly all mine Mr. Dumbledore," Desi smiled, "Maybe our paths will cross again." "It would be another pleasure," Albus bowed before leaving the building.


A few days later as Desdemona and Desmond were making their night rounds to check on the children they were stopped at Tom Riddle's room when they saw the light still on. "Thomas?" Desi softly called knocking. She opened the door to find him sitting in bed reading his Hogwarts letter by the soft candle glow.

"Everything all right Thomas?" Desmond asked as his sister sat at the end of the little bed. "It's fine sir. I was just reading what Professor Dumbledore gave me," the child replied. "Can we see it?" Desi asked as she reached for the letter.

Tom was very hesitant but eventually let her reluctantly have it. She put on her square glasses and Desmond his half moon glasses as they silently read the letter. When they finished they gave back the letter and Desdemona asked, "So you're leaving September first. Well that's only two days from now. Are you going with the Professor to get your things?"

"I wanted to go with you," the boy replied, "you do believe that there is magic don't you?" "Of course we do," Desdemona replied stroking his cold cheek softly, "and I will be happy to take you. We can go tomorrow morning and get a room in an inn by the station and stay till Monday. But right now you need to sleep."

He nodded and watched as she pointed a finger at the window and it shut and the candle blew out.

"So you're a witch?" Tom asked not very shocked at all. "A witch and wizard at your service Thomas," Desmond smirked. "But don't tell the others. We rather you stay as special as you are," Desdemona smiled kissing his head.

The two exited the room never seeing the hungry and possessive glare in the boy's eyes.