Previously: Riddle's devious plot is foiled unintentionally by Hastings, who has anger issues. Colin trails Riddle. Riddle pays two goons to rough up Colin. Hermione confuses said goons, rescues Colin. They meet Beeper, a time traveling Nargle stowaway. Hermione reveals the key she found in Gringotts vault.
Chapter 4: The Twinkle's Trinkets and Tom Riddle
Half a world away, in a location largely unimportant
The cry of seagulls filled the morning air, voices to the ocean's symphony of crashing waves. An old man in white robes sat in his regular sandy seat, allowing nature's music to wash over him. His peace undisrupted even with the arrival of a pair of pounding feet and loud calls for attention. When the calls ceased, he turned his head toward the now quiet but still frantic individual. Nodding his head, he bade him speak.
The words were said unevenly, as the young messenger had still to collect his breath, "Sir, we've received a call from the Gringotts Goblins, one of our keys has been used!"
The old man's grey eyes sparkled, "Indeed? I realize though it happens seldom, I see no calamity. What did our endless vault decide to supply them with?"
"An item of great consequence, the Key, the wretched Key, the Key that should never have seen the light of day." the youth lamented.
Slightly amused by the boy's dramatics, he replied, "Cease your wailing, we do not apprentice thieves, or those dark of heart. Safe hands hold the Key."
The youth kicked the sand in frustration, "You don't understand, you should be fearful, the magical tracings of the person standing in the vault did not match any of our current or past students. It is not a student, but a thief that currently holds destruction in their hands."
The old man stood, sand falling from his robes, and furrowed his brows in thought. Several minutes passed before he spoke again. "Blood was spilt, was it not?" Receiving a nod, the old man replied, "Our blood tells stories, intent. This person you speak of are they good or bad?"
Grudgingly the youth replied that the magical history in the blood revealed them good. On hearing this the aged man settled back into his seat in the sand, before answering in return, "Then tell me why I should fear a good person, no matter what they hold?"
.oOo.
Fear was a powerful motivator. Yet, care must be taken to preserve the delicate balance of rewards and consequences in any course of action. This was why the twenty-nine year old Tom Riddle was exceedingly careful on his return home. He had caught his trailing shadow, and felt the paid pummeling should have instilled fear, or at least caution, into the man, but it was not a certainty, and should therefore not be treated as such.
Entering his abode, he reworked his wards, promising any witch or wizard that entered without permission, great pain. Settling onto his sofa, he pondered the days events. He disliked being set back in his plans, as it would require more work for him.
He had hoped to be currently analyzing Dumbledore's thoughts and knowledge for items of benefit. It mattered little if the result of his potion left another without memories of their own, or that if Dumbledore were to wake up it would be in practically an infantile state.
Something had to be done of Hastings, the interloper in his scheme. In his eyes the options were simple, men must either be flattered or eliminated. He knew in his experience that a man will readily avenge. So precautions had to be taken so that any offense he may cause Hastings would not incur a vengeance, thus creating greater problems for him.
The spy had left him unsettled, which of his plots were revealed? A cursory glance of the man's features revealed an unfamiliar face. Ordinarily, he would have confronted the individual, but time was of the essence.
A tapping at his window sill roused him from his ruminations. An owl perched on the window's ledge demanding admittance. Standing, he approached the large feathered creature and ran a cursory spell on it. He allowed the bird entry after finding nothing suspicious. The owl irritated to have been kept waiting, sent several books sitting on a nearby table crashing into the ground, before dropping off the letter it had been carrying and fluttering out the way it came.
Quickly perusing the contents of the letter, Riddle then set it ablaze, before picking up the books that had fallen. He paused at one of the books, however, one that was well-worn, and nearly falling apart. Staring at it he deliberated its destruction, as it would not do to be found with such a text.
He had saved it from disposal at the orphanage when he was eight. The old muggle woman in charge had originally thought it a fairy tale book, as it's title The Prince had suggested to her romance and adventure, until opening the first page, and deciding it inappropriate for young eyes. She disposed of the book immediately.
Yet, in Tom's young eyes anything that dissatisfied the old lady, most likely held tremendous value. So he set about retrieving the book, by Niccolo Machiavelli, and read it from cover to cover, finding true wisdom in the author's words.
In his years at Hogwarts, he was greatly disappointed to realize the man he greatly admired was nothing but a lowly muggle, after months of trying to find proof to the contrary. He rid himself of any conflict when he decided it was best to know your enemy, and so the book stayed with him, the pages memorized. However, he could not reconcile keeping it now, its discovery only serving to hurt his cause.
Lighting the logs in his fireplace with his wand, he paused momentarily, tracing the title words with his index finger, before abruptly tossing the book in. Flames curled around the words bound in the book. Riddle gazed into the fire, his eyes dark. He made out a sentence, before it was consumed. A sentence that would come to haunt him in the weeks to come.
"A wise prince must observe and never remain idle in times of peace but vigorously take advantage of them so he can be ready for times of adversity, so that when fortune changes, she will find him prepared to resist her." (1)
.oOo.
"Marshmallows, chocolate frogs, or popcorn scary?"
"Huh?" Hermione looked at Colin cluelessly, as they raided the last open outdoor vendor for a few provisions to tide them through the next day.
Earlier they had trudged down several alleys in the magical community searching for an open establishment that served any type of cuisine. Yet, due to the lateness of the hour, most businesses had been closed for the night. Except for Fickle Fryer Finks Fare, a grubby looking building, whose griminess thankfully did not extend any further than the front door. Hermione was able to pay for their meals with the last few sickles she had in her pocket, and though she knew it ridiculous, was grateful the waiter didn't check the date the coins were minted.
"The story, is it marshmallows, chocolate frogs, or popcorn scary? After all any story that contains the word terrifying in its title, needs an appropriate snack food." Colin replied in response to Hermione's confusion.
"I'll leave that up to you to decide." Gathering a few more items, Hermione added, "Are you sure you can afford all this? Back at the restaurant you said you didn't have any money on you."
Defensively Colin replied, "Can't a bloke misplace a moneybag or three?" Truthfully he found out just how useful nargles can be. For Beeper, in observing Hermione exchanging money for food, disappeared before promptly reappearing with several moneybags, which it presented discreetly to Colin; most likely fearing a scolding from Hermione, who was currently spoiling the naughty nargle.
"If you say so." After paying for their purchases, they hobbled back to their makeshift dwelling, and settled in.
"You don't think Riddle will come back to St. Mungo's tonight?" Colin inquired, while transfiguring an extra shirt Hermione had in her bag into a blanket.
"Doubtful, but the safety wards I put around Professor Dumbledore, would alert us if anything happens. Hopefully he'll wake up soon. Otherwise we'll need Beeper to somehow alert us, or we'll have to take turns standing watch." Hermione sighed, "With any luck, I'll get it figured out in the morning."
"Wouldn't the wards be enough?"
"Not with aurors standing by. I believe they refresh their own spells and wards at least every twenty-four hours, which would disrupt my spell-work and make it unreliable." Hermione let out a yawn.
"Not so fast Mum, I'm still waiting to hear my story." said Colin as he chewed on some gummy bears.
"All right, no interruptions understood." As Colin nodded his head in comprehension, Hermione pulled out her wand to aid in illustrating her story, and quickly palmed the key itself in her other hand to assure herself of its presence.
Ready she began the tale, "On a large estate, hundreds of years ago there resided two wizarding children named Toby and Tonya Twinkle."
"The family sure liked the letter T. Didn't everyone have a T name? Their father wasn't he called Tiberius, or Timothy or Thor?" Colin interjected.
"Thomas, actually." Hermione supplied.
"Huh…well Mr. T pities the fool." Colin struck a muscular pose. Hermione gave him a strange look. "Mr. T –gold chains-" Colin attempted explaining, to Hermione's growing confusion. "Hey, don't you ever watch the telly- Rocky III?" Colin frowned, rustling through the bags for more treats.
"Yes to the telly and no to Rocky. Anyway, their father, Thomas, was a spell master, with a knack for creating some of the most rare and unique magical items. He showered his children with everything they wished to have, magical sacks that had never-ending supplies of their favorite treat to tiny boxes filled with tiny instruments that played their favorite music on command to the most precious items, rare stones, gems, powders, herbs."
"They must have been as spoiled as Malfoy." Colin commented, fluffing his pillow.
Hermione shook her head. "They were beyond spoiled, they make Malfoy look angelic by comparison."
"That bad?" Colin looked at her disbelievingly.
"That bad." Hermione raised her wand to produce an illustration of the children. "The children were very popular though, as everyone clamored to see Toby and Tonya's toys. One day though on arriving to the playground with a new trinket, they saw the other children huddled around a boy with a small broom. Unimpressed the Twinkle children began to mock him, teasing him about giving a sweeping demonstration. The boy then hopped onto his broom, which lifted him up into the air, and proceeded to fly circles around the Twinkle children."
"Ow, burn.." Colin cursed.
Hermione looked at Colin startled, her concentration broken from the running images, "Ah, yes, I suppose it was quite a slap in the face for the children."
"Huh, No- well-yes that too. But I really burnt myself." Colin brought his finger to his mouth, attempting to soothe the slightly red finger. "The popcorn bags HOT."
Hermione covered the left side of her face with her hand in subtle amusement. "Are you alright?"
"Mmm-hmm." Murmured Colin, who was now happily munching on the popcorn at hand, pain forgotten. He swallowed. "Don't let me stop you."
Smiling, she resumed her illustrations. "Alright. Well angry at being upstaged, they called for their father to build something more impressive to show off to the other children. He obliged by creating a glorious truth stone shaped in the head of a snake. He told the children if they were to look into its eyes, it would give them true answers to any question asked regarding the past or present, but cautioned them to not look into it's eyes for very long as one may not like all that is seen."
Colin interrupted. "That is totally Indiana Jones. So do they go totally insane?" He spun around and did a little jig. "Wait are there aliens? Does the key open an alien spaceship? … That would be awesome, we could create a timewarp, ala Star Trek. Yes!!"
Hermione looked at him bewildered. "I think you should ease up on the sugar, but to answer your questions. No, sorry."
He pouted. "This story just went down-hill for me."
"Hopefully, this next part makes up." Hermione stated. Waving her wand they were soon watching a playground setting. "They returned to the playground intent on showing it off. But the other children were still enamored by the toy broom, which the little boy was sharing with them, and refused to see what Toby and Tonya brought. Furious Toby grabbed one of the younger children, and forced them to gaze into the eyes of the stone snake, the child's nose began to bleed as she gazed into the snake eyes but still Toby didn't let go. Not even when she began to cry green tears, did Toby release his grip."
Colin gaped. "That is one messed up kid. So far my theory is holding. Insanity. Next aliens." He grabbed a jellybean before frowning at its metal taste.
"That's only the beginning." Hermione explained. "Only when he saw one of the parents approaching did he free the child. They ran back home to their father. They weren't the slightest bit contrite. They blamed their father, and ordered him to make something even greater. He obliged by creating a cauldron of immortality, so that whatever be dipped into it's waters would gain eternal life, yet he cautioned the children to never enter the waters themselves, as it was not meant for people, but for the lower creatures and plants."
"Oh wait… it's mummies isn't it. Immortal. Real Egyptian mummies." Colin excitedly concluded. He pointed his wand at a wide-eyed Beeper, who had been listening to the story in fascination, and wrapped him in a mountain of bandages. The Nargle began chattering angrily as he slashed through the bandages. Finally free, he bared his small pointy teeth at Colin, before scuttling over to Hermione's lap.
Picking the Nargle up, she cuddled him, before turning a stern gaze at Colin. "Colin!! No and no mummies. Apologize."
"Just a bit of sport." At Hermione's look of warning, he sighed. "Fine… sorry, Beep. There. Now can we move on."
Satisfied, Hermione continued, "Well, happy at the thought of creating non-wilting roses, the Twinkle's skipped toward the playground once more. The little girl from before was not there, traumatized the stone snake. Toby and Tonya tried tempting the children by placing flowers and other plants into the cauldron in a demonstration. When the plants were retrieved they held a wondrous immortal glow about them, but the other children were not impressed, and one claimed it too boring a toy."
"Bad choice of words kids." Colin grimaced at the thought of the expected retaliation.
Hermione nodded in agreement. "Yes, quite. Incensed Tonya pushed the speaker into the water's of the cauldron. Yet, as the father warned the cauldron was not made for people, and so when the young boy emerged from the waters he too contained an immortal glow, but was as silent as the plants the children placed in the waters, being robbed of his ability to speak. They left quickly, so as not to be scolded, the Twinkle children ignored the results of their actions and instead plotted on how to convince their father to create something even better."
"Greedy little buggers." Colin frowned as he wrapped a blanket around himself.
"That's not the half of it." Hermione commented, before returning to the story. "Their father refused, he was falling behind on the orders of other customers and didn't have time, but the children begged and pleaded until at last he relented, but cautioned it may take a few days to prepare this miraculous toy. A week passed before finally, the day came when their father announced he was finished creating a special piece just for them."
"What was it this time? A robotic transforming car, hell-bent on destroying earth." He paused, chewing on a Chocolate Frog. "That's what the key is for isn't it?" His face lit up excitedly. "I hope it's to a Killer Ferrari."
She nearly had no words. She looked at Colin in stupor for a moment. "No. Not at all. No spaceship, no car. I told you earlier… it opens a treasure chest."
Colin looked depressed. "Really, well that's kinda boring innit?"
"Yes- no- let me finish." Hermione stumbled back to the story. "Where was I? Hmm, yes. Their father held out his left hand to reveal a star-shaped lock of some sort. Disappointed –"
"Completely." Colin looked downcast.
"Disappointed," Hermione looked at him pointedly, "at the size of the object, they queried their father on it's function. He revealed it was the lock to their new treasure chest. He then held out his right hand which contained a key, and explained to the children how to use it."
"With the lock each point of the star accessed a different treasure chest, one filled with rare magical stones and potions ingredients, the second with treasure maps, a third with magical books. The fourth was a chest of requirement: anything the children imagined would appear from inside its walls, and a final chest lay empty, for the children to fill with all the knick-knacks and toys they have gathered through the years."
"That sounds sort of neat." Colin interjected.
Hermione gave a knowing smile. "He cautioned that only one chest could be open at a time and in order to gain access to the treasure chests, the dial with the arrow had to point to the desired trunk, before inserting the key, which would then allow the trunk to appear and be opened. Once the trunk was locked with the key it would disappear back to where it came from leaving only the lock. He stressed the importance of not losing the key, as the lock could not be opened without it.
"Ignoring their father, Toby and Tonya, filled the empty trunk, before running to the playground confident that this was something the other children would admire."
"I'm guessing that's a no?" Colin questioned.
"You guessed right." Hermione absently patted Beeper's head as she continued. "Furious the Twinkle children unlocked the trunk of requirement madly wishing for something that would make the other children sit and notice them. Then opening the chest a black smoke curled out, engulfing the other children in the playground.
"When the dense black cloud finally lifted, there sat Toby and Tonya's playmates, neatly lined up in front of them, inanimate forms of their previous selves. Tiny toy dolls. Frightened Toby and Tonya did not know what to do, they tried wishing for the trunk to undo its dark magic, but nothing happened. They tried to find something in the other chests to aid them, but it was useless, nothing could be done. The parents would be arriving soon, to gather their children home. Toby and Tonya collected their now small and inert playmates, and hid them in the fifth chest that they had earlier filled with their knick-knacks. They then ran home as fast as their legs could carry them."
Hermione looked at Colin, expectantly for an interruption. Yet, none came. She continued.
"Arriving home they cried to their father, to undo the wrong they had unknowingly done. Disappointed with his children their father nonetheless agreed, and asked them to bring him the doll-like children. Eagerly the Toby and Tonya brought out the lock, but woe befell as they realized they had lost the key, to open it and retrieve the children trapped inside. Angry the father sent them away, and made them vow never to return until they righted their wrong and found the key."
"Leaving their home that was the last time the children were seen. And as legend goes the Twinkle children are still said to be seen searching for the key even today."
Wide-eyed Colin's jaw dropped at the conclusion of the story, "Okay that was completely different from the version I heard, and actually really bizarre. But unless you're thinking about locking Riddle in the trunk I don't see how it would help us, and besides we only have the key not the lock."
"There were five trunks, one of which had precious stones, and it's rumored that the Sebal Stone was among them, also the immortal water in the cauldron, is the Trow water we need for the time machine." Hermione said pointedly.
Colin rose his brow skeptically, "I don't know, won't breaking into the Department of Mysteries be easier? As I said before we don't have the lock."
Hermione grinned, "You're right, we don't, but Dumbledore does."
.oOo.
"Do you think he'll ever wake up?" Colin asked, as they sat eating ice cream in front of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. They had just come from St. Mungo's, and were disappointed to learn that there was little improvement in Dumbledore's condition.
"Maybe I can brew something, or do some spell, I hate feeling like this. It's all my fault." Hermione jabbed viciously at the runaway cherry in her ice cream bowl.
Colin stayed silent. He felt even more responsible than Hermione. Yet, deep down he knew it was an accident neither of them could have predicted.
Grabbing a discarded Daily Prophet from a neighboring table, he tried to find something that may serve to cheer Hermione up.
He flipped through several pages when his eyes alighted on a rather humorous story.
"Hey Hermione, listen to this." Colin cleared his throat to gather her undivided attention.
Raising her head from her ice cream bowl, she gave a morose sigh, "Hmm?"
"Cha-cha chicken chooses dancing over love- Malfoy heir heartbroken." Colin read in his most journalistic voice.
"What?!" Hermione gave a start, her spoon clattered against the rim of her bowl.
"I know!" Colin stated excitedly. "Normally, I'd say rubbish. But it's in the Daily Prophet. Plus – pictures." Colin eagerly leaned over the table and pointed to the wizarding photo that showed a young blond haired boy crying as a purple chicken danced around him.
"Is that Lucius Malfoy?" Hermione questioned.
"Yup." Colin pulled the paper from her grasp and continued reading. "According to Cecily Spy. 'The beloved chicken that warmed our heartstrings with her cha-cha outside the Ministry of Magic, has moved on to line dancing. She was caught practicing her new dance with two-year-old Lucius Malfoy outside of Trinity Toys. Proving once again the magnetic effect the Malfoy heir has on chicks all shapes and sizes.'"
Colin and Hermione broke off in a fit of laughter at this statement.
After catching his breathe Colin, read further. "Yet this dynamic partnership, tragically ended when the young Malfoy heir proved too forward; pulling several feathers from the frolicking chicken, who quickly turned ferocious. The elder, Abraxas Malfoy, who labeled the chicken a public nuisance and a danger to young children, quickly broke the melee apart. He has since called for the chicken's arrest."
"I bet he did." Hermione wiped a tear from her eye. "Lucius didn't even get a bruise. And honestly heartbroken? Is this woman related to Skeeter?" She laughed.
Hermione gave Colin a large smile. "Thanks, I needed that."
"No, problem. Though I have to say the chicken is certainly familiar" Colin turned to next page of the paper and paused. An even larger grin broke out across his face. "I think this will brighten your day even more." He looked at an expectant Hermione, "Which would you rather be? A Divination Assistant or a Flying Instructor?"
Hermione raised her brow at the question. "That's not very brightening…You're making me choose between two of the worst jobs in the world. I say neither, why?"
Colin's eyes took on a scheming gleam. "Well, we could always pretend to be students, but it seems Hogwart's is still lacking some staff, after what happened to Dumbledore." His gleam dulled slightly after his mention of Dumbledore.
He brandished the advertisement in front of Hermione's eyes that called for all capable applicants to apply. Hermione skimmed the text. Indeed as Colin had stated there were two positions open, a Divination assistant - who was to take over teaching briefly when Madame Warble went on maternity leave, and a flying instructor to take over for Professor Getaway, who had retired last year.
A similar glint soon appeared on Hermione's face, "How perfectly brilliant." They could now find out for sure if Riddle was teaching at Hogwarts. Though as she thought about it, she was not sure why he would lie about such a statement. Also they could search for the Twinkle's lock, as she was positive Dumbledore would have hidden it in Hogwarts. The only thing left to do was to guarantee being selected for the spots.
"Come on, Colin, we have some applications to fill out."
.oOo.
"Well, we achieved half our goal." Colin said morosely. They had spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon, corresponding with Wallace Rugen, in regards to the positions. He had initially denied them, saying they were too young for the positions. This served to only infuriate Hermione, who felt she was more than qualified to be a Divination assistant, all future professors considered.
Exasperated she decided to go to Hogwarts and stage a show for the Deputy Headmaster. She put on her best Trelawney impression, and entered his office muttering about sensing doom and death from the pages of the Daily Prophet.
Nonplused Rugen had been about to show her the door, when she cleverly let slip some facts she had read in Hogwarts a History, about Rugen himself. Surprised, he hired her on the spot and asked her to give him a reading when term started in a week.
She left the office very pleased with herself. Yet, the same could not be said of Colin, who was currently moping.
Hermione looked at Colin consideringly, "Buck up, I have an idea, but we'll need access to one of the supplying places you work for in the future." Cheering up considerably, Colin began chattering about the do's and don'ts, when requesting an item.
.oOo.
"You will find out when the time is ripe. For now there is no need for me to tell you, for we barely have time to put things into action, let alone discuss them." Riddle said to the man sitting opposite him.
"Do you doubt my loyalty? Even if there was not the profit you mentioned, and which I'm hoping for, I find myself quite eager to partake in this scheme." The blonde haired man stated.
"Indeed, even if there would be the possibility of death?" Riddle asked.
"I suppose if I knew I were bound for death, I would have no fear in completing my task." Grinning, the man stood to take his leave, when the jiggling of bells alerted the men to someone entering the front of the store.
The blonde considered it his cue to exit and brushed past the couple making their way into the store. Riddle held back, however, observing the odd couple from the shadows. It was a young man and woman, both with delicate facial features and curly brown hair, though the female's hair was far more riotous. He observed the man a little more closely, sensing some familiarity.
"Are you sure this is the right place Colin?" said the youthful woman, her eyes were open wide in curiosity such that Tom could make out their brown color.
"Positive." The man glancing around the store as if searching for something.
"It just look more expensive then I thought it would, I don't think I could ever afford anything here." Her lips falling open upon examining a price tag on a vase.
"They bargain a lot." The man paused looked a little confused, before he continued walking, coming closer to a hatch, that would reveal a more illegal crowd and menu if accessed.
"I doubt even bargaining if you could afford any of the items displayed in the store." Riddle interrupted. The couple turned and jumped at seeing him.
There Tom Riddle arrogantly stood, his eyes seemingly assessing and judging them, which he probably was. Hermione squeezed Colin's hand, fearful of how much Riddle had heard, as well as worried how much they may have said.
Offended Colin replied harshly, "Who asked you?"
At this moment a middle aged man exited from the back room, "Ah, Mr. Riddle, such a wonderful, reliable, customer, showing you young people around while I take care of my back room, if you don't mind taking care of them a moment more, Mr. Riddle while I go sign for some packages." Seeing Riddle's eyes darken, he added on, "Your requested price will be matched."
"Very well." Riddle said in a bored tone waving his hands for Hermione and Colin to follow. Not wanting their true intentions for being there revealed the two shuffled behind Riddle, who made it a point of being snide to them while commenting on the prices of various items, such as several vases whose designs were interwoven in an array of colors, with various representations. He casually hinted that the items were most likely worth more than their own persons.
Seething with annoyance at being treated so, Hermione reacted in a way that even surprised her and would later make her claim temporary insanity. As Riddle turned to face them, Hermione cleared her throat and spat in his face. Wiping the spit from his face Riddle was taken aback, seeing this she then replied, "Forgive me, with all the valuables about I couldn't find a more suitable place to spit."
Colin started viciously coughing in an attempt to reign in his amusement.
Riddle's eyes took on a sinister gleam, before replying, "No forgive me, I suppose I was being ostentatious."
"Indeed, I believe we've had enough for the day, and will take our leave right now." Hermione spoke trying to weasel out of the store dragging Colin behind her.
"Please, I feel quite poorly, at least give me your name, that I may send you a proper apology."
Hermione knew he didn't mean to give an apology, but thought for a moment, examining the pros and cons of giving him her name, even one she had just made up, for benefits of teaching at Hogwarts. Sending him a bright smile that seemed to startle Riddle, she said, "Mirage Greenhorn, it's been a pleasure, Mr. Riddle, but we must be going, and please no apologies."
.oOo.
(1) Machiavelli, Niccolo The Prince. A new translation
