Voldemort- the untold Truth
Chapter 5 – The Mysterious Stranger
Now that Mrs Greple had accepted the decision of Tom attending Hogwarts School, there lay another problem – and a big one at that. How was he to get there? Where would he buy his supplies, and how, for he had no money to even think of buying something.
The 30th of July was a day none unusual; the chores were forced upon him right from dawn, the time was dragging like never before, while the hunger and the questions buzzed around him. And Mrs Greple wasn't any ease on him either, for she was in a strictest mood that morning, never leaving him from her suspicious sight.
"Ye aren't concentration, Riddle boy, there's a speck of dirt right there," she said often. Tom's patience was wearing low, and he almost dared to scream at her. Alas, he'd managed to use his anger to scrub the floor harder.
The day dragged on and only when it reached noon was there a knock on the door of the orphanage.
With a 'humph' from Mrs Greple who was enjoying watching Tom struggling to make the floor spotless with not much success, made her way to the door, always making that wooden floor vibrate beneath her.
When she opened it, instead of saying 'yes', there was a moment of silence; even with his back to the door, Tom could imagine a look of shock on her face. Right he was; Mrs Greple's mouth was hanging open, her eyes bulged as she stared at the mysterious, odd looking stranger.
After a moment more silence, the stranger spoke.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Ma'am, but I have come to comply an important errand," he said accenting the 'r' in a funny way, as if he rather enjoyed the letter's sound.
Mrs Greple finally found her tongue.
"E...errand?"
"It is more of a business one I am 'fraid. You see, I believe a boy in your orphanage received a letter from Hogwarts School of Magic recently, and I am here to accompany him to his journey."
"Riddle boy..." Mrs Greple whispered as if she suddenly remembered there was a boy named 'Tom Riddle'.
"Forgive me for correcting you, Ma'am, but I believe the boy's name is Tom Riddle, is it not?" The man said with a bit of harshness in his voice.
"Y...yes, 'course." Mrs Greple stuttered momentarily.
"Well, may I attend to him?" The man said impatiently now as he looked at Mrs Greple's pale face.
After looking him up and down with suspicion and fear, Mrs Greple let him in to wait in the corridor while she fetched Tom Riddle. After a moment, he appeared.
The strictness left the man immediately as the boy appeared before him, and a smile stretched on his face, showing rather nasty yellow teeth.
"Well hello son, may I introduce myself," the odd looking man took of his hat and bowed. "I am the headmaster's assistant, Armando Botallo."
Riddle took a look at him. The man was odd alright, he thought. He wore multicoloured robes of purple, blue and burgundy red, covered in patterned stars, a black velvety clock enshrouded his back, and gloves of leather covered his hands. He had a most funny moustache like whiskers held together, and different-coloured eyes- one of green and one of yellow, and on his head, barely a patch of hair right in the middle of silver white.
Tom held his wish to giggle.
"Sir, Tom Riddle's my name."
"Yes I know. You've read the letter, no doubt?" Botallo said amused.
"No sir, Missus read it," Tom said slowly afraid to get a blow in the head from Mrs Greple who stood right next to him nervously.
"Tis no matter, lad, you got your belongings?"
"Sorry sir, but this is all that I have," Tom said looking at himself and at the ragged clothes he wore.
"All the better then," Armando Botallo smiled warmly. "Our journey shall be eased. Come then, our time is running fast," he said and gestured to Tom to follow. But Tom stood frozen for a moment.
"But Sir, how will I buy my supplies, for I have no money and..." Tom said outwardly.
Botallo smiled again. "Not to worry, its all been settled now. Come on then,"
"Right, Sir," said Tom and with a quickly glance at Mrs Greple who still looked rather taken aback, he followed.
He did not look back.