blockquote
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"strong style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; font-style: oblique; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The world's been hard on us, hard on him./span/strong/p
/blockquote
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"strong style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"5. Battleship Grey/strong/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"27th December 1930 began with the faintest rays of sunlight as winter was at its strongest. When Harry got up, small flakes of snow were falling from the dark sky looking like angels to the whimsical mind. Drinking a cup of coffee, he readied his suitcase and shrugged on clothes that screamed span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"aristocrat. /span If the muggles were as bad as he'd seen in the pensieve, then they would be tripping over their toes to serve the new rich gentleman. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"From what he had heard from his aunt's gossiping neighbours, the children in an orphanage were extremely adept at putting up a good show to get adopted. While he was sure that most of them were just tired and lonely, it would do no good to adopt another child. He had to focus on Riddle and besides, he had no idea what to do with a child let alone two./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Yesterday was spent buying a car, and then making modifications to it just like Mr. Weasley had. One more memory to remind him of home. Now he took that same car and drove himself to the Wool's Orphanage. As he passed the quiet suburb where his house was located and entered central London, a kind of chill passed over him. It was amazing how time could change a place. Of course, Grindelwald's war was obviously a cause. The Wool's Orphanage was located in a suburban, poorer part of London where the walls were covered with grease and streets caked with mud. As Harry pulled up on the street, he could see the great iron doors announcing the name of the orphanage and some children playing outside. Tom Riddle was not one of them, nor did Harry expect him to be./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Stepping out of the car, he walked towards the orphanage with an air of confidence. He saw one of the ladies watching over the children stop, and stare at him as if conforming that he really was coming that way. It was understandable, even without the war, the higher classes would have hardly ventured here to adopt children. Once she knew he was indeed heading there, she ran quickly towards the door and latched herself at an older woman with wrinkles. He assumed this was the matron, Mrs. Cole. He saw Mrs. Cole turn and look. She ogled for a moment, taking in his clothes and possible station before snapping herself out of it and shouting orders at the ladies present in the yard. Gathering up the children, they ran inside, no doubt trying to make them presentable. The matron herself hurried to unlock the door for him. Harry felt guilty then. He had come here with the intention of meeting only one but in the process, he would be crushing so many other hopes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Ah welcome! welcome! Mr?" she asked, raking her eyes up and down his expensive clothes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Potter, madam. Are you the one in charge here?" he asked, smiling charmingly at her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Beaming she said, "Why, yes! Myself Mrs. Cole sir, Martha Cole. I must say, you do seem to have an eye for details Mr. Potter."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Of course not madam, you just have that look about you"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"They had reached the door and she was leading him inside of it. Immediately, he could see children peeking out from every corner. They were wearing rags that hung off their frames and looked as if they weren't getting enough to eat. Harry turned his attention back to Mrs. Cole./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""-not many visitors now because of the war. Dreadful business, the attacks of course. Flashes in the night and loud noises. Heavens know what's happening! I hope the government takes care of it." She turned suddenly, her demeanor changing and becoming a little warded./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ah, yes. The muggles considered Grindelwald's war a 'series of attacks'. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You're not one of those government workers are you?" she asked, eyeing up and down/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""No madam. I am here because I am interested in meeting and, hopefully adopting a child." he assured her and her mannerisms changed immediately, becoming jolly and good./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Rushing him into an office, she immediately sent for tea which he politely declined. It was still ten in the morning and he wanted a light stomach lest he heave when he saw Riddle. It was a possibility, a horrible one but still a possibility./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""So, Mr. Potter. What brings you here?" she asked, leaning forward slightly./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Nothing in particular madam. I just returned from my travels you see, I'm a merchant. I raised a fortune in the east and now I just want to settle down and lead a quiet life. I hope to spend it with a ward whom I hope I help with education and the home I offer." he said, putting on a tired charade and adding a little lilt in his voice to make it believable./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Mrs. Cole nodded and said, "Hmm Although you seem awfully young to have seen such a world Mr. Potter and even younger to be a guardian."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Ah but I started travelling when I was only eleven madam" It was true in a way. He'd started learning magic when he was eleven and had fought for his life ever since. "I have grown weary and wish to settle in London now." /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She seemed convinced and asked if he had a preference in gender. He replied that he wouldn't know how to handle a girl with a blinding smile that had her laughing and relaxing. Excellent, her relaxing and being comfortable around was just what he wanted. Introducing him to one of the helpers- Miss. Miller, she asked her to give him a tour of the Orphanage./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The lady lead him through a corridor and up the stairs where according to her, the boys' beds were located separately as to avoid any untoward interaction between the two sexes. Merlin, he'd forgotten how lax his world was about friendships. This felt uncomfortably and unnecessarily uptight. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Coming up the stairs, he saw a pair of boys who glanced at him, then at Miller and immediately ran inside the room to no doubt inform others of the new visitor. Miller smiled and said, "They get so very excited you see, not many visitors here anyway and not many who look like you." When she realized what she'd said, her face turned an uncomfortable shade of red and she hurriedly opened the door. The door creaked open and the clamor inside immediately quieted. Harry looked around to see faces of all kinds staring back at him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""This is Mr. Potter. He's here for a visit so I want all of you to behave now." she said to the children and left, shooting him an encouraging and shy smile./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Apparently, the children knew that a 'visitor' meant that someone would get adopted or at least sponsored. Harry was suddenly faced with a lot of children clamoring for his attention./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Mr. Potter, hi!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Look at what I drew Mr. Potter!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""How do you do Mr. Potter!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Feeling a bit askew with all the attention, he tried to answer the questions as kindly as possible. While doing so, his eyes rowed over the place searching for a face that was nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, more children were coming out of their rooms and trying to greet him. He needed to find Riddle before this grew even more. Desperately trying to recollect where Riddle's door was from Dumbledore's memories, he looked around wildly and spied the fourth door in the corridor that would lead him to the boy. Standing up straight, he took long purposeful steps towards the door. He knocked three times and pushed open the old door./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"His eyes met a deep blue./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Yes, this was no doubt Tom Riddle. Harry would recognize that face anywhere even if it was babyish and tiny now. Riddle sat in a shabby room with a tiny picture book open on his lap. His eyes were far more intelligent and knowing than any other four-year-old's. Harry felt Riddle's magic reach out, unconsciously testing the stranger. There was a distinct lack of children clamoring behind him now. They all were quiet as if knowing that Riddle wasn't to be disturbed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Hello. I'm Harry Potter. You are?" he said, hoping that the young boy would reply./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Tom Riddle." the blue-eyed-boy said in a high-toned voice that was special to kids./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Shutting the door, Harry stepped inside. Riddle's magic saturated the room warning him that he wasn't welcome here. His magic wasn't completely dark yet, not was it light either. It seemed to be stuck between a strange version of grey that was unnerving but not unfamiliar to Harry. Afterall, he'd spent years having a piece of Voldemort's tied to his soul. In a most twisted way, this felt like coming home. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I would appreciate if you would control your magic Tom." he decided to start straight in. Tom Riddle relied on facts and lies. He would give them both./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Momentarily shocked Tom pulled back his magic, only to double it back up but now with an edge of fear and desperation./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Magic? Wh-What are you talking about? There's no magic here. I'm not a span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"freak/span. You're a doctor aren't you?" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Harry frowned hearing the word freak. No doubt the boy was bullied by the other kids for being different. But the acute look of panic descending on the boy's face was not due to the case of bullying. Could it be that the adults here had harmed Tom? Was this the reason the Dark Lord had loathed muggles later on?/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm no doctor Tom. I'm like you. I'm span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"different./span I can do things nobody else can." This way of approach had worked with Riddle in his later years, he only hoped it would work now./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Harry watched as the fearful look abated but didn't completely vanish. It turned wary and a little curious. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""R-Really? You're not lying? You wouldn't hurt me? Or take me away to the church?" Riddle asked, looking up at him through his eyelashes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The church?/span What was he talking about? Why would anyone take him to the-Ah./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"They hurt him. Religious sentiments ran high in those days. The people here had no doubt sensed that Riddle was different, unlike other children. And if they witnessed a bout of accidental magic then-/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"No. Harry stopped himself. He wouldn't think of it now. He'd started imagining the worst of scenarios. Focusing back on Tom, he saw a look of shock on his small face. It was only then that he realized that his magic had saturated out and the windows and furniture were vibrating with the intensity. Harry immediately put his magic under a tight leash. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"are/span different." he breathed with a reverence people reserved for saints and gods. "You're like me! You can do it too!" These two sentences were said with such enthusiasm that Harry was finally, span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"finally/span able to see a glimpse of the child Riddle was supposed to be. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Yes, I am. And I can teach you. Would you like to learn?" he asked but he had a feeling that he knew what the answer was./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Riddle leapt forwards and caught his hands in the front of Harry's trousers. "Yes! Please! T-Take me away please! I don't want to stay here. They're rude and they hate me. And please Mr. Potter" Riddle's blue eyes shone with a kind of desperation that Harry was familiar with. It was the same desperate wishing that had kept him up at night, dreams of a place he was loved. Here, right now, he would grant this young, powerful and undeniably unique child's wish. He would do that no matter what. Smiling, he lifted Riddle up in his arms where the boy's legs immediately circled him in a vice-like grip. He assured him that he would take care of him now, and found himself pleased when he saw the faint delighted expression on span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: line-through;"Riddle/span Tom's face. Showing the magicked documents to the Mrs. Cole and the muggles in charge and then casting a charm that would direct their thoughts elsewhere when they thought of 'Mr. Potter' and 'Tom Riddle', he held his young charges' hand and apparated to Epoch's Crest, all the while enjoying the look of astonishment on Tom's face at his magic and wand. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"strong style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; font-style: oblique; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The world's been hard on us, hard on him./span/strong/p
/blockquote
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"strong style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"5. Battleship Grey/strong/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"27th December 1930 began with the faintest rays of sunlight as winter was at its strongest. When Harry got up, small flakes of snow were falling from the dark sky looking like angels to the whimsical mind. Drinking a cup of coffee, he readied his suitcase and shrugged on clothes that screamed span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"aristocrat. /span If the muggles were as bad as he'd seen in the pensieve, then they would be tripping over their toes to serve the new rich gentleman. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"From what he had heard from his aunt's gossiping neighbours, the children in an orphanage were extremely adept at putting up a good show to get adopted. While he was sure that most of them were just tired and lonely, it would do no good to adopt another child. He had to focus on Riddle and besides, he had no idea what to do with a child let alone two./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Yesterday was spent buying a car, and then making modifications to it just like Mr. Weasley had. One more memory to remind him of home. Now he took that same car and drove himself to the Wool's Orphanage. As he passed the quiet suburb where his house was located and entered central London, a kind of chill passed over him. It was amazing how time could change a place. Of course, Grindelwald's war was obviously a cause. The Wool's Orphanage was located in a suburban, poorer part of London where the walls were covered with grease and streets caked with mud. As Harry pulled up on the street, he could see the great iron doors announcing the name of the orphanage and some children playing outside. Tom Riddle was not one of them, nor did Harry expect him to be./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Stepping out of the car, he walked towards the orphanage with an air of confidence. He saw one of the ladies watching over the children stop, and stare at him as if conforming that he really was coming that way. It was understandable, even without the war, the higher classes would have hardly ventured here to adopt children. Once she knew he was indeed heading there, she ran quickly towards the door and latched herself at an older woman with wrinkles. He assumed this was the matron, Mrs. Cole. He saw Mrs. Cole turn and look. She ogled for a moment, taking in his clothes and possible station before snapping herself out of it and shouting orders at the ladies present in the yard. Gathering up the children, they ran inside, no doubt trying to make them presentable. The matron herself hurried to unlock the door for him. Harry felt guilty then. He had come here with the intention of meeting only one but in the process, he would be crushing so many other hopes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Ah welcome! welcome! Mr?" she asked, raking her eyes up and down his expensive clothes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Potter, madam. Are you the one in charge here?" he asked, smiling charmingly at her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Beaming she said, "Why, yes! Myself Mrs. Cole sir, Martha Cole. I must say, you do seem to have an eye for details Mr. Potter."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Of course not madam, you just have that look about you"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"They had reached the door and she was leading him inside of it. Immediately, he could see children peeking out from every corner. They were wearing rags that hung off their frames and looked as if they weren't getting enough to eat. Harry turned his attention back to Mrs. Cole./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""-not many visitors now because of the war. Dreadful business, the attacks of course. Flashes in the night and loud noises. Heavens know what's happening! I hope the government takes care of it." She turned suddenly, her demeanor changing and becoming a little warded./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ah, yes. The muggles considered Grindelwald's war a 'series of attacks'. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You're not one of those government workers are you?" she asked, eyeing up and down/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""No madam. I am here because I am interested in meeting and, hopefully adopting a child." he assured her and her mannerisms changed immediately, becoming jolly and good./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Rushing him into an office, she immediately sent for tea which he politely declined. It was still ten in the morning and he wanted a light stomach lest he heave when he saw Riddle. It was a possibility, a horrible one but still a possibility./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""So, Mr. Potter. What brings you here?" she asked, leaning forward slightly./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Nothing in particular madam. I just returned from my travels you see, I'm a merchant. I raised a fortune in the east and now I just want to settle down and lead a quiet life. I hope to spend it with a ward whom I hope I help with education and the home I offer." he said, putting on a tired charade and adding a little lilt in his voice to make it believable./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Mrs. Cole nodded and said, "Hmm Although you seem awfully young to have seen such a world Mr. Potter and even younger to be a guardian."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Ah but I started travelling when I was only eleven madam" It was true in a way. He'd started learning magic when he was eleven and had fought for his life ever since. "I have grown weary and wish to settle in London now." /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She seemed convinced and asked if he had a preference in gender. He replied that he wouldn't know how to handle a girl with a blinding smile that had her laughing and relaxing. Excellent, her relaxing and being comfortable around was just what he wanted. Introducing him to one of the helpers- Miss. Miller, she asked her to give him a tour of the Orphanage./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The lady lead him through a corridor and up the stairs where according to her, the boys' beds were located separately as to avoid any untoward interaction between the two sexes. Merlin, he'd forgotten how lax his world was about friendships. This felt uncomfortably and unnecessarily uptight. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Coming up the stairs, he saw a pair of boys who glanced at him, then at Miller and immediately ran inside the room to no doubt inform others of the new visitor. Miller smiled and said, "They get so very excited you see, not many visitors here anyway and not many who look like you." When she realized what she'd said, her face turned an uncomfortable shade of red and she hurriedly opened the door. The door creaked open and the clamor inside immediately quieted. Harry looked around to see faces of all kinds staring back at him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""This is Mr. Potter. He's here for a visit so I want all of you to behave now." she said to the children and left, shooting him an encouraging and shy smile./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Apparently, the children knew that a 'visitor' meant that someone would get adopted or at least sponsored. Harry was suddenly faced with a lot of children clamoring for his attention./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Mr. Potter, hi!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Look at what I drew Mr. Potter!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""How do you do Mr. Potter!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Feeling a bit askew with all the attention, he tried to answer the questions as kindly as possible. While doing so, his eyes rowed over the place searching for a face that was nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, more children were coming out of their rooms and trying to greet him. He needed to find Riddle before this grew even more. Desperately trying to recollect where Riddle's door was from Dumbledore's memories, he looked around wildly and spied the fourth door in the corridor that would lead him to the boy. Standing up straight, he took long purposeful steps towards the door. He knocked three times and pushed open the old door./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"His eyes met a deep blue./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Yes, this was no doubt Tom Riddle. Harry would recognize that face anywhere even if it was babyish and tiny now. Riddle sat in a shabby room with a tiny picture book open on his lap. His eyes were far more intelligent and knowing than any other four-year-old's. Harry felt Riddle's magic reach out, unconsciously testing the stranger. There was a distinct lack of children clamoring behind him now. They all were quiet as if knowing that Riddle wasn't to be disturbed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Hello. I'm Harry Potter. You are?" he said, hoping that the young boy would reply./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Tom Riddle." the blue-eyed-boy said in a high-toned voice that was special to kids./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Shutting the door, Harry stepped inside. Riddle's magic saturated the room warning him that he wasn't welcome here. His magic wasn't completely dark yet, not was it light either. It seemed to be stuck between a strange version of grey that was unnerving but not unfamiliar to Harry. Afterall, he'd spent years having a piece of Voldemort's tied to his soul. In a most twisted way, this felt like coming home. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I would appreciate if you would control your magic Tom." he decided to start straight in. Tom Riddle relied on facts and lies. He would give them both./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Momentarily shocked Tom pulled back his magic, only to double it back up but now with an edge of fear and desperation./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Magic? Wh-What are you talking about? There's no magic here. I'm not a span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"freak/span. You're a doctor aren't you?" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Harry frowned hearing the word freak. No doubt the boy was bullied by the other kids for being different. But the acute look of panic descending on the boy's face was not due to the case of bullying. Could it be that the adults here had harmed Tom? Was this the reason the Dark Lord had loathed muggles later on?/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm no doctor Tom. I'm like you. I'm span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"different./span I can do things nobody else can." This way of approach had worked with Riddle in his later years, he only hoped it would work now./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Harry watched as the fearful look abated but didn't completely vanish. It turned wary and a little curious. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""R-Really? You're not lying? You wouldn't hurt me? Or take me away to the church?" Riddle asked, looking up at him through his eyelashes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"The church?/span What was he talking about? Why would anyone take him to the-Ah./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"They hurt him. Religious sentiments ran high in those days. The people here had no doubt sensed that Riddle was different, unlike other children. And if they witnessed a bout of accidental magic then-/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"No. Harry stopped himself. He wouldn't think of it now. He'd started imagining the worst of scenarios. Focusing back on Tom, he saw a look of shock on his small face. It was only then that he realized that his magic had saturated out and the windows and furniture were vibrating with the intensity. Harry immediately put his magic under a tight leash. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"are/span different." he breathed with a reverence people reserved for saints and gods. "You're like me! You can do it too!" These two sentences were said with such enthusiasm that Harry was finally, span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"finally/span able to see a glimpse of the child Riddle was supposed to be. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Yes, I am. And I can teach you. Would you like to learn?" he asked but he had a feeling that he knew what the answer was./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Riddle leapt forwards and caught his hands in the front of Harry's trousers. "Yes! Please! T-Take me away please! I don't want to stay here. They're rude and they hate me. And please Mr. Potter" Riddle's blue eyes shone with a kind of desperation that Harry was familiar with. It was the same desperate wishing that had kept him up at night, dreams of a place he was loved. Here, right now, he would grant this young, powerful and undeniably unique child's wish. He would do that no matter what. Smiling, he lifted Riddle up in his arms where the boy's legs immediately circled him in a vice-like grip. He assured him that he would take care of him now, and found himself pleased when he saw the faint delighted expression on span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: line-through;"Riddle/span Tom's face. Showing the magicked documents to the Mrs. Cole and the muggles in charge and then casting a charm that would direct their thoughts elsewhere when they thought of 'Mr. Potter' and 'Tom Riddle', he held his young charges' hand and apparated to Epoch's Crest, all the while enjoying the look of astonishment on Tom's face at his magic and wand. /p