He highly doubted that the Dumbledore he saw right in front of him was actually more then some kind of projected image, for one thing. And if it was one that was set for his eyes only, as he suspected, then the only thing people would notice was Tom himself smiling emptily at the air.
Not that he really thought anybody would notice that anything at all was going on here right be the west banquet tables, with those unbelievably powerful Notice-Me-Nots humming all over this corner of the room...
"But enough of the poor child and his parents, Tom. Though he does look rather cranky, now..."
"What child wouldn't be, with all the noise and heat and fuss?"
"Oh, too true. Though I can't really think of what Lucius and Narcissa were thinking of, displaying him like...ahh, well, never mind. I'm not his father grandfather or godfather, after all."
Thank goodness for that. Tom Riddle shuddered, slowly.
"Thank goodness for that. I have no idea what I would have done if they'd ever asked me or something! Not that that was at all likely, I know."
The Headmaster of Hogwarts smiled his, glasses twinkling.
"And what have you been doing, Mr Riddle?"
"Running a proper Apochthary is hard work, Headmaster. Especially when one has such a varied selection of goods and services, such as my shop has."
"--Indeed, indeed. You appear to be... quite famous, in certain circles. Tell me, Tom-- is convincing the Hogwarts Scholarship Fund committee part of the services you offer?"
"Just doing my bit for the betterment of society, Headmaster."
"...Ahh."
Dumbledore, quite prudently to Tom's way of thinking, seemed to have decided to change the subject.
"Tom."
"Yes, Headmaster?"
"--I don't think I've ever seen so many Dark wizards and witches armed to the teeth since Grindelwald had those massive rallies of his."
Tom thought it was more like Grindelwald's Inner Circle gatherings, actually, the ones that where held to impress foriegn dignitaries and such, but thought it prudent to hold his tongue. It wasn't like Tom Riddle the Apoctharist ever was supposed to have been there, either...
"...Only Dark wizards and Dark witches, Albus?"
"--I suppose not, Tom, but--It looks almost like they're all on the defensive, do they not?"
"...Then perhaps they are, Albus."
A cold wind seemed to blow through the corner of the room.
And Tom Riddle smiled. Gently, gently...
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(Posted Tue, 24 May 2005 08:13)
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