Here you go. Another chapter. Might take some time for the next chapter to be published, but my beta has much to do and I don't want to stress her. Hope you will like this chapter as well and please review.

Chapter 12: Samuel Smith

The clock almost stroke six the day after when Cyngus came by with all the papers. Tom skimmed them through and nodded encouraging at Cyngus, who bowed easily.

"So took care of the information after all?"

"Did I have a choice?"

"Not really." He used the superior tone again. The same tone as he usually did when he was surprised.

"I heard that Mr. Burke was back. How did that go?"

"Not that it's any of your concern, but pretty good. It's nice not have to do everything, not that it's hard, but anyway." Tom smiled a rare smile and turned his gaze to the window that was situated in the kitchen. Cygnus took it as a motion to leave, bowed easily and disappeared through the front door.

Tom stood for a long time staring out through the window, before finally sitting down at the kitchen table, skimming through todays Daily Prophet. As usual, there was nothing interesting, or at least he thought so until he came to page eight. There was a small picture of Jack.

At ten pm yesterday was Jack Smith reported dead. According to witnesses, the last one he saw was an old friend, whose name is still a mystery. The ministry is doing everything in their power to find the body of Jack, since both parents are muggles and not used to magic.

It was only a short notice, but it cheered Tom up. Maybe it was time to pay Samuel a visit. Sure, Jack had been missing for weeks now, but there was, of course, no one who knew that. A simple memory charm and everything had been taken care of. Sure, they could be broken, but it wasn't very likely for someone to do it, since it was really hard. Not until he had gotten what he needed at lease and then he would still be far away.

He conjured a kettle and filled it with water. With another flick of his wand he made the water boil and went to get a teacup. Then he sat there, sipping his tea and kept reading the newspaper.

When he was done with it he picked up a dark arts book and started to read that one instead.

When Tom looked at the clock next time he realized to his great surprise that he had been reading for about four hours. The tea was standing, barely touched on the table and he carefully poured it out before going to bed.

The day after he decided that he would visit that Samuel and maybe even try to get the diadem. The only thing he couldn't figure out was why a muggle would have it in his possession. However, that was the next thing to do.

He was at Borgin and Burkes around nine, two hours late, but as usual he didn't care very much.

"Mr. Burke!" he called and a very old man met Tom. Or very old, he was around 50. Tom had ever cared to ask for his age.

"There you are. You're late", Mr. Burke scolded and picked something up on the desk.

"I know, and I apologize for that. I found out something that I wanted to check up before coming here."

"Really? What Riddle?"

"Well, it's like this. There's a man named Samuel Smith. He was in the Prophet yesterday. My sources tell me that he's also the owner of Ravenclaws lost diadem." Tom smirked when he realized that Mr. Burke had silenced and was listening carefully to every word he said.

"Do you have any idea of how much that is worth?"

Tom nodded and sat down on an old chair. Mr. Burke sat down on another one and Tom continued;

"I planned to visit him and see for myself if the rumors are true."

"You do so. I'll see you tomorrow, hopefully with the diadem."

"I'll do my very best to get it. I promise." Tom added a silent not in his head. He had no plans at all to give Burke the diadem. That would only be a waste of resources

He quickly apparated to Smith's house and nodded carefully on the door. It was opened pretty hard by a woman in her twenties.

"Good day. I'm looking for Mr. Smith", he said politely and the girl showed him into the lounge.

"A moment, sir."

Only a couple of minutes later a man came down the staircase. Tom presumed that it was Samuel.

"What are you doing here? Are you one of those reporters that are doing everything they can to get into my house? I am very upset over my son's death and I'd rather not talk about it right now."

Tom was impressed of his way to speak, but it wasn't a good time to tell him that.

"First of all am I no reporter. My name's Tom Riddle and I'm from the wizarding world. Second, I'm here about your son." At those words, Samuel lit up and showed Tom into something that looked like a living room. It had never occurred to him how good it was to know all muggle objects names. Then at least he didn't have to worry about that.

"Can you perhaps tell me why my son was murdered?" Tom just smiled and wanted to say;

'Because he broke into my apartment', but of course he didn't say that. Instead he said;

"I'm not sure, but I have a theory that you might be interested to hear."

"I'd love to."

"It's like this. There are rumors in the wizarding word that you are the owner of a diadem. I have to ask you if that's correct."

"That's correct. Wait here for a moment and I will get it." Tom nodded and when Samuel turned his back to him, he smirked. This was going exactly according to his plans.

Barely two minutes later, he was back with the diadem.

"I presume that this is what you meant?"

Tom nodded, astounded, and reached his hand to touch it. Never in his life had he thought that he'd ever see the lost diadem. It was really worth all the efforts that he'd made. For once, he was happy that he killed Jack.

"You seem speechless", said Jacks father after a couple of minutes.

"It' such a beautiful diadem", Tom answered and managed to take his eyes off it.

"I agree. What did you want to tell me?"

"Right. It's like this. As I said before there a rumors about that you actually have this diadem, which I have now confirmed as true. There a people that would do everything in their power to get in their possession and if Jack died you'd be without heirs and have to get rid of the diadem. Unless they decided you get rid of you before that, which it rather likely for someone to do now when the rumors seems to be true." Tom enjoyed scaring him and could see the fear in his eyes.

"S-so you mean that someone would break into the house and kill me just to get their hands on this worthless thing?"

"Pretty much." Tom felt the anger boiling inside him. Apparently, this man didn't understand that the diadem was worth a fortune. Sure, he could tell him, but that would only complicate the process in getting his hands on it. It was better if he thought that it was worthless.

"Take it."

"What?" Tom was seriously surprised now. He'd never thought that it'd be this easy.

"Take it. I don't want it. Take it and leave me alone." Tom quickly took the diadem and disappeared through the front door.

Once outside he apparated to Abraxas Manor. It was silent, and just as usual Tom walked inside without knocking.

"Abraxas!"

"In the kitchen!"

Tom almost ran in to the kitchen with a smile on his lips.

"Are we alone here?"

"I think so. Is there something wrong, my lord?"

"No. Quite the opposite actually. I'm going to show you something that I want you to keep quiet about. You understand?"

"Of course, my lord." Abraxas seemed calmer than usually and Tom for once looked surprised.

He picked out the diadem from the pocket and put it on the table.

Abraxas gasped. "Is this what I think it is?"

Tom nodded slowly and looked at the death eater, satisfied.

"May I…?

Tom nodded again and Abraxas carefully picked up the diadem and touched it.

"I want you to hide this on a safe place that only you know about." Now it was Abraxas turn to nod.

"You're not even going to tell me where you've hidden it. I will ask you to get it when I need it, but you're not telling me where it is. Not even if I'm asking for it. Understood?"

"Of course, my lord."

Tom disapparated to the shop and put on a disappointed look while he came walked inside.

"Did you get it?" Tom barely got in before he got the question.

"It was apathetic copy. Not even worth a galleon." Burke seemed to get very disappointed, but quickly recovered from the news.

"It doesn't matter. I've heard of something else. There's a woman called Hepzibah Smith. Not related to Samuel Smith. Anyway, she has two very valuable objects that once belonged to the founders of Hogwarts." At those words, Tom sharpened his ears.

"What is it?"

"Hufflepuffs cup and Slytherins locket. I want you to try to get your hands on them if possible. How you do it, I don't care about. You can go home now if you want to.

"Thank you." Tom apparated back to the apartment, where he wanted to scream loud out of happiness, but of course he didn't. Instead, he threw himself on the bed, thinking of the locket. It belonged to him, not that Hepzibah smith. He would get, if it so was the last he did.

TBC...