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The full moon hung in the sky like a huge white crystal ball as clouds drifted across it like whips of mystical smoke above Hogsmeade...

Laughter rang out in 'The Three Broomsticks' as wizards and various other Magical folk gathered around the warm fire to exchange a few friendly words and to make merry.

"Albus! That spinning lamp producing various kinds of precious stones was ingenious! My wife simply loves it when it sprouts out emeralds!"

"An uncomplicated invention, good Loxly... But after all, your son Oliver, created a brilliant nose exploding balm in exchange, remember?"

"You did prefer my notorious boy over all the other studious ones..." laughed the thin, silver haired wizard who took a long sip from his Butterbeer.

Meanwhile with his eyes twinkling Dumbledore turned to watch some goblins counting gold coins at a near by table.

Following the direction of his gaze the silver haired wizard, whose name was Loxly RedFern commented his opinion regarding the sight: "Those creatures would count their gold even in the depths of hell, money is all they care! Disgustingly wealthy as Egyptian pharaohs but extremely stingy like leprechauns!"

"My! You do speak severely," remarked Professor Dumbledore recalling the time when RedFern had been in debt to the Gringotts. "We all do have our own pleasures, Loxly—"

However he was intruded halfway in the conversation when the double doors of the pub crashed open!

Every head turned towards the entrance and all grabbed their wands. But much to their surprise, a soothing, tinkling rhythm floated in...

"It's simply a musician!" exclaimed a dwarf snorting but suddenly his face froze and he turned into ice!

All began to shriek in terror when they felt themselves freeze and unable to move...

"Kadon-n-n-nas!" cried Dumbledore pointing his wand at the dark figure, which obscured the entrance. But unfortunately the chill caught up with him and he turned into a frost statue akin to the rest.

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"ARGH! I've been hit!" I yelled but looking around I saw that the whole place was nothing but an ice cubicle.



"Hell! Dumbledore got you, should've suspected him to be here," replied Seth and removed the raven mask from his face. "Quick! Search Dippet's pockets! He carries the key to the Beaumont chamber with him all the time!"

I hastily went to the spot where the Headmaster was seated, being aware of the burning gash on my arm.

"Nothing in the pockets!" I called out after finding sticky pieces of toffee. "What if he left it in his bedroom or something?"

"No! No! It has to be with him! Check everywhere!"



Impatiently, I dug my pockets in his cloak and his robe once again and found nothing. Nevertheless, my sharp eyes caught something dangling from his neck.

"GOT IT!" I yelled victoriously as I clasped a golden chain in my hand, with a brass key hanging from it.

"Then let's go! It's only a matter of a few minutes when the ice begins to melt..."

"I can fight them," I said indignantly.

"Not Dumbledore, perhaps you can take him on when you're older...Besides these men here are grown wizards and you're simply a tiny trot! Never be too overconfident! "

I stared at the Professor's face for a few moments. He looked very intimidating with his posture straight and tall... A look of pure anger etched across his face and his mouth was half closed. I never felt any dislike towards Dumbledore, but I found myself thinking of the times when he seemed to watch me intently... in a way which gave me the creeps.

"Tom lets go!"

Sensing the urgency in Seth's voice, I hurried after him. The night was indeed cold;'but not as cold as 'The Three Broomsticks' now,'I thought ironically as Seth disappeared through a trap door into an antiestablishment which was cleverly hidden amidst the ivy and the creepers of a small vineyard.

Seeking shelter in the underground warmth, I took my cloak off to inspect my injury, it was already turning a reddish purple in color.

"Let me see the key," announced Seth and snatched the chain as soon as I placed it on his palm.

"Yes...Just as I thought! Dippet has placed a powerful theft free charm on it!"

"A theft free charm?" I questioned and laughed when I saw the severity of the glare which Seth had on, while inspecting the intricate designs on the key.

"The man isn't as dim-witted as I thought," remarked my uncle, tapping the key with his wand quite a few times. "Merlin's beard! A Locus Ninety Four enchantment...Wonder what is hiding in the Beaumont Chamber..."

"Dumbledore nearly got us! You could have gotten me expelled!" I raged furiously as my wound hurt even after I tried to cure it. Obviously I still wasn't good in the healing spells yet.

"Rembargo..." stated Seth in a bored tone, pointing his wand over his shoulder and suddenly I felt the pain ease away.

"Did you learn the Illingworth spell yet?" inquired Seth but shook his head remembering that I was still in my First year. "I'll try the Semba counter deduction..."



"Seth... The scar hasn't still gone..." I retorted, empathizing on the fat dark scar on top of my arm.

"Later Tom! If I don't break through the shield of this key, we'd be discovered! It has an anti locating spell on it as well..."

Then with a look of pure concentration and determination, he pointed his wand on the Key and cried a loud incoherent word which was too quick for me to understand.



A cloud of silver smoke rose with an exploding noise.

"YES! Got it!" yelled Seth but his mouth fell open in utter disbelief.

"What is it?" I questioned, raising my eye-brows. I simply couldn't make a head or tail out of this situation.

"I only broke through the anti locating spell! But the Locus hasn't budged!"

Seth's mangled face turned into a distorted nightmare and I backed away in fright. "The Semba counter deduction spell is the most powerful ritual I can perform and even that doesn't work!"

My uncle's clawed hand ran breezily over his scaled head and he kept moving back and forth in frustration.

Finally I heard an exasperated sigh.

"Guess, you'll have to break through the Locus, yourself one day..." mentioned Seth after handing me the Key, which still sparkled with a mysterious aura...

"What do I do with it? What do I need it for?"

"I can't remember... But grandfather talked about the Beaumont key once at a family gathering. I –er was too busy doing er— something else to pay full attention but grandpa said something about the key bearing a vital importance in opening a portal..."

"A portal..." I echoed, while my face broke into a sly delighted smile...



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The sun was descending in the west and appeared like a fiery red orb at a distance...

Professor Dumbledore shrugged his shoulders and adjusted his spectacles to focus on the book he was reading. Nevertheless, his mind found it hard to concentrate on the words he read, as it kept on going back to the incident which occurred at 'The Three Broomsticks' previously.

Incredibly, as if he was in a dream, he heard a lovely mesmerizing tune... It had a wondrous quivering quality in it and seemed to draw his soul from the very depths of his body...

Closing the book, the Professor gazed out of the Gryffindor tower window and caught the sight of a raven haired boy, sitting under a tree near the lake.

Even without having a closer look, he knew that it was Tom Riddle who was present in the midst of isolation.

Putting on his robe, Professor Dumbledore hurried to cross the threshold to join his most secretive student uninvited.

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Isn't it the most blatant thing to find out that world's worst dark wizard actually loved music? I suppose many would choke at the idea of Lord Voldemort ever befriending with song but if books were my best companions, then melody was my healer. Music in a way had the qualities of comforting my sepulchral, worn out soul... So whenever I found myself at mercy of my violent emotions, I often sought refuge in music...But music was also an important factor for me to control my serpent subjects.

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"I never knew that you were fond of playing music..." interrupted a voice, and much to my surprise and annoyance, I saw Professor Dumbledore hovering above me.

"You never knew me at all to know about me, Professor..." I remarked and then regretted revealing the bitterness in my tone. Seth's constant advice to me was to avoid emotion at all costs.

"Then tell me about yourself," answered the teacher as he bent and sat down next to me.

I gazed away.

"Why are you so lonely, Tom?"

"Loneliness has become a part of me. I have no family, Sir."

"Do you know about your parents?"

"No."

Sensing my discomfort and reluctance in discussing personal details, Dumbledore hastily changed the subject.

"You play music fantastically... Where did you learn it?"

I hesitated a bit but then replied:

"I learnt it from the gypsies, Sir..."

"Gypsies?" asked the Professor genuinely surprised.

"Yes... They used to come and camp near my orphanage... I learnt to dance, to sing and most important of all...I learnt to play and compose music."

"What captivates you when it concerns playing melodies, child? I know many who listen to music, but there's only a handful I personally know myself, who can actually play music," commented my teacher and I glanced at him astounded.

Usually in the muggle world, music had always played an imperative part as far as I've known.

"Music is the only plausible language which I can understand, Sir... In fact my belief is that, music is a universal language... which never discriminates anyone..."

I paused and saw that Dumbledore was listening to me intently.

"Music to me, can even communicate with the blind... Even indeed, the deaf and the dumb can feel its ambiance if only they enhance the texture of their skin. Music can translate despair, happiness, pain and love much better than words..."

"Holy Merlin! Tom you are a brilliant Philosopher! But how can you guarantee for the deaf and the dumb being interested in music?"

"If you take a snake or any other serpent for an example,they don't have ears but you'd see that they'd do anything on the command of music... That is the fact of course that they feel the vibrations of music through their body..."

For a moment I was rooted to the spot.'How could you be such an idiot?' screamed my mind as I saw a calculating look of understanding flash across Professor Dumbledore's face.

"How do you know such things?" asked the Professor, giving me a hawk eyed stare.

"As usual...Learnt it from the gypsies," I retorted and got to my feet. "Listen, I got to go now Professor...Getting dark... besides supper would begin soon in the Great Hall. I must change."

"Yes I understand..." murmured Professor Dumbledore but I felt an uneasy fear sink in my stomach.

My instincts told me that I shouldn't have made a slip...Now Dumbledore was bound to be even more suspicious.

Hurriedly, I walked across the grounds and entered the Castle...A deep sense of anger kept on rising at my undeniable stupid behavior.

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A/N: Continued as soon as possible.