1,
"The man who is capable of defeating the Grindelwald has arrived eleven years ago... He is a descendant of Peverier, but lives in a Muggle orphanage... He will have power that Grindelwald does not know... One of them must die in the hands of the other, because two cannot both live, only one survives." [1]
In 1937, the Hall of Prophecy of the Department of Mystery of the Ministry of Magic.
This is a big and cold room, with rows of shelves in the room, and small glass balls are neatly and tightly arranged in the shelves [2]. Two men stood in front of the seventy-ninth row of shelves. They were Leonard Spencer-Moon, Director of the The Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes , and Albus Dumbledore, the Hogwarts Transfiguration Professor.
"That's it." Leonard Spencer-Moon said, pointing to a small glass ball with a stream of light. "Cassandra Trelawney [3] made this prediction. Minister for Magic， Fawley doesn't care about this-he even I don't care about Grindelwald. But I think you can understand me, Albus. That boy will go to school this year. His name is Tom Riddle and he lives in the Wool's Orphanage." Leonard Spencer-Moon paused, when he spoke again, he increased his tone, "I hope you can guide him."
Dumbledore was silent for a long time. When Leonard Spencer-Moon could not endure the suffocating silence any more:
"I will." Dumbledore said.
2. [4]
1937, London, Wool's Orphanage.
This is a shabby but tidy room. Mrs. Cole sat behind the table and looked at the man sitting on the chair at the table. The man is tall and thin, with a long dark brown beard and hair, and is wearing a fuchsia velvet suit.
"Um...well...Professor Dumbledore." Mrs. Cole said, "Tom is a special child. I'm glad he will have a better future."
"I wonder if you can introduce something about Tom Riddle to me." Dumbledore said gently.
"He is a very good boy," Mrs. Cole said. "Smart, calm, and prestigious, it's not like a kid his age. I think you'll be satisfied..." Mrs. Cole seemed to hesitate for a while.
Dumbledore slid his wand from the cuff of his suit and waved it.
"He has some special abilities," said Mrs. Cole, with a erratic voice. "And he is not as innocent as an average child. I am not saying that he is not a good boy..."
Dumbledore smiled and nodded in agreement. Mrs. Cole seemed to be encouraged, and continued: "You will understand when you see him." Mrs. Cole stood up. "He should be upstairs. I will lead you up."
They went up to the third floor and stopped in front of a room. Dumbledore knocked on the door.
A boy opened the door. He has black hair and red eyes, looks a little thin but handsome.
"Tom," Mrs. Cole said, standing behind Dumbledore, "This is Dumbledore... the professor invited you to their school..." Mrs. Cole suddenly covered her face with her hand, and after a while she continued. " He will explain it to you".
Mrs. Cole left. Tom Riddle looked at Dumbledore with some caution, but politely, "You can come in first, sir."
Dumbledore and Tom Riddle sat on an old iron bed.
"Tom," Dumbledore said, "may I call you that?" Tom Riddle nodded.
"I think you already know that you have some special talents..." Dumbledore said, staring at Tom Riddle, but the boy didn't show any special expressions. "That's magic. So, we hope you go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. At Hogwarts, you will learn how to control your power ...and how to use your power."
There seemed to be something flashing in Riddle's eyes.
"I brought a list of books and items needed for the first grade," Dumbledore said softly. "I can accompany you to Diagon Alley to buy everything."
"Thank you." Riddle responded with his usual polite smile.
"But before that," Dumbledore hesitated, "you may need to know something first."
Riddle looked at him quietly.
"You may know the situation in the Muggle world, but the wizarding world is not peaceful too. The difference is that there is a prophecy in the wizarding world..."
"About me?" Riddle interrupted Dumbledore for the first time.
Dumbledore nodded. "Not everyone cares about it. But the prophecy says you will play an important role...Of course, you will also face some dangers."
…...
Looking at Riddle, Dumbledore suddenly felt a little uneasy.
3.
Tom Riddle always knew that he was a different person. He can make objects move by himself; he can talk to snakes, and snakes will listen to his instructions; he can hurt people he doesn't like [4]. But his difference does not stop there. Tom Riddle knew early on that he lacked the feelings of a normal person. He never felt love, sympathy, or compassion for anyone, and he didn't even care about other people. This would have caused Riddle in trouble, but Tom Riddle is a smart boy. He has learned to imitate the reactions of "normal people" very early, and has been more praised by normal people than "normal people" (after all, he is not dragged down by some extra feelings).
Now Tom Riddle knew that he was a wizard. And he is not an ordinary wizard, Riddle thought, according to a prophecy, he will be the savior of the wizarding world to end Grindelwald (obviously, Riddle ignored the possibility of being killed by Grindelwald). Tom Riddle thinks this role is good, second only to being a Dark Lord himself. Since there are very few things in the world that fit people's minds, he decided to accept the role of savior. Of course, maybe more can be done.
"Ambitious," the Sorting Hat said in Riddle's mind. "Perhaps Slytherin—"
"Gryffindor." Tom Riddle thought "Gryffindor." Gryffindor was the most suitable, although not his favorite.
"Extremely smart," the Sorting Hat ignored him, "you are also suitable for Ravenclaw—"
"Gryffindor" Tom Riddle said firmly. Gryffindor values courage and justice, and its students are most likely to be inspired to resist Grindelwald and pure-blood families, and most likely to submit to the future savior.
The Sorting Hat seemed to be thinking about something, and finally, it said "If you insist, well, you don't lack courage"
"—Gryffindor!" the Sorting Hat shouted. As soon as the voice fell, there was a polite applause on the long Gryffindor table. Tom Riddle took off the sorting hat, suddenly turned to look at Dumbledore in the faculty seat, and then strode towards his future classmates.
4.
Hogwarts, the top of the tower.
"I made a mistake," Dumbledore said quietly. "I was so opposed to Grindelwald's 'Greater Good' that I accepted yours."
"Muggle-born wizards are considered to have stolen magic, named as Mudbloods, and being lynched and killed; vampires, werewolves, goblins... are considered lower races and are forced to accept the Ministry of Magic (controlled by wizards) 's anagement. And you told me that 'destroying pure blood' is cruel. People with narrow vision are always horrified by the blood in front of them, but tolerate silent persecution. Are you the same, Professor?" Riddle said sarcastically.
"I don't think you really sympathize with them, Tom. You just found an excuse to satisfy your desire for power and sadism."
"How much you care about my thoughts. A wizard may pronounced a syllable withmistake, but invented a new spell. Will the value of the new spell be lost because of its origin?"
"You don't even deny it." Dumbledore said with a chill.
"This is because I have enough courage, Professor. You evade your true self by emphasizing the power of love. You can't tolerate the slightest stain on yourself—"
Dumbledore raised his wand, and he stared at Riddle coldly. Riddle didn't talk any more, just smiled sarcastically.
"Acknowledging your mistakes and limitations also requires courage. Limiting yourself is to prevent yourself from committing crimes." Dumbledore finally said, tired in his voice.
Riddle laughed. "You dare not take responsibility, Professor. A real corpse is enough to make you repent."
"Unfortunately, the tragedies created by your followers are not enough to make you repent." Dumbledore paused for a while and finally said.
"Professor... you chose to be my enemy, do you want to continue to follow Grindelwald?" Riddle changed the subject suddenly.
"You can propaganda in this way," Dumbledore said simply. "I believe people will eventually understand what is right."
"Of course you can claim that you don't agree with Grindelwald," Riddle said. "But people will only find that when you oppose me, you are helping Grindelwald objectively. This is the real world."
"I don't think that preventing your followers from killing the innocent is helping Grindelwald." Dumbledore said calmly.
"Really?" Riddle asked, "People who have long been regarded as lowly even take the persecution for granted and dare not fight. However, the blood will baptize them and free them from cowardice, humiliation and useless compassion..."
Dumbledore gave Riddle a deep look, and there seemed to be sadness in that look. Riddle laughed and jumped off the tower. His black cloak was blown up by the wind while flying, and soon disappeared from Dumbledore's vision.
Only the wind of early winter is still whistling, and the sun is bleak.
【1】Adapted from Sybil Trelawney's prediction of Harry
[2] Refer to related descriptions in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
[3] In hp, Cassandra Trelawney is the great grandmother of Sybil Trelawney
[4] Based on the description of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"