Chapter Thirteen
The weather was still cold however the snow had stopped. So students could be seen walking outside again on their breaks. Homework was given out to first-years for the first time as they were now settled in and had to prepare for their first exams in June. That was months away however. Lucy and Myrtle walked towards charms class together. Charms was one of Lucy's best subjects and she would always get extra points in it for Hufflepuff. The Charms Master in 1939 was a wizard called 'Randolph Burke'. He was a proud Slytherin which made his lessons very easy for the likes of Tom Riddle. That didn't make him unfair however as proven by him awarding Lucy points and declaring her "one of his best first-year students". She walked in with Myrtle and they sat themselves down besides Tom Riddle and Eileen Prince. Tom looking at them like they just insulted him. Lucy only just noticed where she had sat however she couldn't move as all the other students soon took up the remaining seats.
"Settle down, settle down...The lesson today is about the unlocking spell. Known as alohomora. A spell which you can get into trouble for if used incorrectly so keep that in mind, children" Randolph began.
Tom giving a small smile to himself for he liked the sound of this spell. Randolph began going around the room with a wooden box as it had smaller locked boxes inside. He placed one down for each student. Lucy picking it up and looking at it from each angle. She was saying the word in her head so she could pronounce it correctly when it came to do it for real. The class watched as Randolph locked the big box. He attempted to open it but could not...
"Now you see it's locked. Nothing can be done" Randolph continued; the key in his hand.
He placed the said key in his pocket. Getting out his wand and further informing the class...
"To open it and use the spell correctly. You hold up the wand slightly towards the lock and lift it slowly as you say 'Alohomora'. Now look...look"
All eyes on him, he said "'Alohomora". The box was heard unlocking as he opened it up. He turned back towards the class and began walking one by one to each student, asking them to perform it individually.
"Alohomora" Abraxas Malfoy said; being the first student that Randolph went to.
His small box unlocked as he opened it to find a note saying 'Well done'. This would carry on as he went one by one to each desk. Most students could do it on their first try as it was quite an easy spell to learn. Randolph was very pleased as every student did it with ease. He came across Eileen Prince and she too did it with ease as did Tom Riddle.
"Alohomora" Lucy spoke when he came across her; it worked once again.
Avery coughed loudly just as Myrtle was about to say it. Making her give him a glare of contempt. She looked back towards the box and said "Alohomora". The box unlocking with ease. Making her breath a sigh of relief, she had been so unlucky lately that this was just wonderful. The few remaining students left all did it too. Not a difficult spell at all.
"Wonderful children...wonderful" Randolph spoke as he returned to the front of the class.
He went on to explain about the counter-spell. Explaining however that they wouldn't learn that for many years yet. He gave each house five points for everyone doing it so flawlessly. He began writing on the blackboard about the dangers of using this spell and the history of the spell. Eileen and Tom both copying the notes down in their books.
...
"No! That's dreadful!" Argus was heard saying as Lucy informed him about the new spell she learned.
"Why?" Lucy asked him.
The two of them were walking down the hallway towards the 'Great Hall' for dinner. Argus began going into detail about how any student can unlock the caretaker's office with this spell. She noticed Horace Slughorn on the Slytherin table, he was talking to Tom Riddle, Eileen Prince, Lestrange and Avery. The four of them seemed quite smug over something. Abraxas Malfoy and Nott however were looking at him with disbelief.
"Sir!" Abraxas was heard calling as Horace left the table; making him turn back towards the lad.
"Yes Abraxas?"
"You must have made a mistake. You said you chose them for their talent and show of great promise. Do I not have talent or great promise?"
"You have great connections...Nothing wrong with that" Horace replied with a glint in his eye.
He was avoiding saying that he didn't think he had great promise. He was recruiting new students for his 'Slug Club'. Malfoy and Nott found that they were not invited and it hurt their pride. He walked on further with an exasperated Abraxas trailing behind him as he left the great hall. Argus giving a smug grin as he did notice that Malfoy was snubbed. Lucy sitting herself down at the table as she began to tuck into dinner. She briefly looked towards the Slytherin table and saw a livid Nott with his arms crossed. She didn't quite hear but he hissed something at Tom Riddle before storming out of the great hall.
"Looks like the Riddle gang isn't quite as close anymore" Argus spoke quietly to Lucy.
"I try not to notice"
"As long as they don't bother me, I don't bother them. That's my motto from now on"
...
A couple of days had gone on with no incident however that was to change today. A man with short blonde hair entered with a snake cane. His hair covered with a black pointed hat, his black robes covering his shoes. This was the father of Abraxas Malfoy, he was called 'Irving Lucius Malfoy'. His son had written to him several times since he got back. The snub from Slughorn and his mistreatment by Tom Riddle was top of the list. The days before the death eaters were the days where the Malfoys, Blacks, Lestranges and Princes were the so-called dark wizards and those who didn't wish for a bad time would obey these families. The Gaunt family which Tom Riddle belonged to were living off-the-grid and weren't apart of that. Nobody had any idea he was part of them, not even the boy himself did at this moment. Irving's presence in the corridors was a shock to the students and teachers alike. He walked towards the headmaster Armando Dippet's office and it opened for he was expected. He walked into the office and sat on the chair with his cane grasped in his hand.
"Iriving Malfoy. You wished to see me?" Dippet asked from behind his desk.
"Yes Sir. It come to my attention that Horace Slughorn is failing in his duty. As a father, you can understand that my son's education is of importance to me. I have already made sacrifices to accommodate some of the changes here. The fall in education however can not be compromised" Irving began.
"Can you give me an example of this fall in education? As headmaster, I am most concerned you think so"
"Alright. Muggle studies being added to the curriculum has been a major concern of mine. I'm aware it's not mandatory but the fact it's there at all is concerning to me. As for my concern for Horace Slughorn, he seems to be choosing students he likes over those gifted for his club" Irving continued.
Dippet was listening with strong interest at this. He had many complaints about muggle studies before.
"Well as I explained to many people. It's to create a basic understanding to prevent muggle baiting. Less work for the ministry" Dippet answered calmly before carrying on..."As for Slughorn, his club is separate from the school's curriculum and I have no say on whom joins his club"
"I'll drop by his office on the way out in that case. There is an important matter I wish to speak about however involving Tom Marvolo Riddle. He's been making a fool out of the other children, Dippet" Irving began to explain.
Dippet for the first time looked deepy invested as he ordered him to continue.
"My son was conversing with him over the break. I don't mind my son speaking with his friends as you know. The letters were persistent however and so I had to do some digging on this Tom Riddle. He's some sort of half-blood or perhaps a muggle-born. I don't know. It's difficult to trace down who his mother was. Regardless, he has convinced the children to call him...leader. You see, he doesn't see them as friends, he sees them as followers" Irving described.
"And you're worried he's degrading the pure-blood children?" Dippet asked.
"I'm not worried about it, Sir. It's well past the point of me being worried. He's making the likes of my son behave as if they are merely his pawns...I don't know what sway he has over them but it's something that you need to look into"
"I'll take your advice to heart, Irving. You do remember however that you are talking about an eleven year boy" Dippet replied.
Though this made Irving Malfoy quite angry. Dippet was not taking him seriously. The issue was that the pure-blood parents warnings fell on deaf ears as most presumed they were only targeting Tom Riddle due to his half-blood status. The teachers at Hogwarts (excluding Albus Dumbledore) simply did not buy the fact an eleven year old boy was anything sinister. He was being singled out due to him not being pure-blood was the general consensus among the more tolerant section of the wizarding community.
"His so-called friends are also just eleven years old" Malfoy hissed.
"As I said, I take your advice to heart. Now please, I have business to attend to" Dippet finished.
With one last look of disdain. Irving got back up from his chair with his snake cane in his hand. He walked back out of the headmaster's office and went towards Horace Slughorn's office down in the dungeons. Eileen Prince straightening her back when he walked past her. He paused to look at her, she was one of Tom Riddle's most loyal friends (at least to everyone around her, in reality; she was only following him to avoid getting ostracized).
"How's your father, Eileen?" Irving asked in a polite tone.
"He's good, Sir"
"Good. I've been meaning to visit him at some point. How is everything in school? Are the lessons useful?"
"Very much so, Sir"
"Right. Well take care, Eileen. They can be some very deceptive bo-" Irving paused halfway and instead said "People about"
Eileen giving him a confused look as she watched him walk into the potions classroom. Horace turning around when he heard his door swing open, he gave a warm smile to Irving as he pulled out a chair. He had a feeling he knew what this was about. Obviously Abraxas Malfoy had been writing to him and had complained about not being invited to the 'Slug Club'.
"Irving...Pleasure to see you. How are you?" Slughorn asked in his usual happy tone of voice.
"There is no pleasure in this, I assure you Horace. How dare you further humiliate my son because of your golden boy, Tom Riddle! That loathsome liar of a boy!" Irving shouted.
Slughorn looked simply outraged.
"I beg your pardon, Irving? If your son is displeased about not being in my little club-"
"Oh this goes far beyond your little club, Horace. That loathsome-"
"How dare you come in here and degrade a child you haven't met! I'm sorry Irving that your son feels disrespected. Truly I am as he hasn't got a bad mind however I will not be bullied into giving him a place. Nor will I listen to such bile about one of my best pupils" Slughorn argued back.
Outside in the hallway, Eileen was frozen to the spot as she heard this sudden argument. She could hear exactly what was being said and she was actually glad to hear someone finally talking about how Tom Riddle wasn't alright. How he had something wrong with him. For he scared her beyond belief.
"I'm taking my son out of Hogwarts. Home-schooling him for a bit until you and Hogwarts get your act together...Now show me to the common room so I can collect my son" Irving snarled.
With no arguments from him. Slughorn walked out of the classroom and told Eileen to collect Abraxas. The girl nodding as she said the Slytherin common room password and crawled in. Shouting for Abraxas come out as his father is here to collect him. The boy was heard marching over towards her as he came out of the common room, slightly confused. Irving told him that he was leaving with him and he would explain more at Malfoy Manor.
...
TBC