Harry sighed as he knocked on the door to Dumbledore's office. The door opened and he stepped in.
"Hello, Harry. Did you enjoy Christmas?"
"I did. Just a few incidences here and there," Harry replied.
"Oh?" Dumbledore questioned.
"Well, the new Minister showed up at the Weasley's. He was trying to get me to be only on the ministry's side. I told him I didn't want to and he was really angry and yelled at me saying I was a Dumbledore man...I said he's not wrong sir." Harry explained and looked up at Dumbledore who had happy tears in his eyes. Harry was embarrassed and looked down away from him.
Dumbledore reached up wiped away his tears and smiled. "Anyway, there's no getting out of this tonight. Please sit down."
Harry sat down and Dumbledore started talking again.
"Tom Riddle was always an excellent student. As soon as the sorting hat got near him he was put in Slytherin. Throughout his years at Hogwarts, he was praised by the faculty. Most thought he would go towards the ministry route after Hogwarts. And honestly so did I."
"Were there really no signs at all, Sir?"
"Well, I've only seen him get angry slightly only two times at Hogwarts."
"I suppose you should see the memory of this one it's I believe around the time he was finding out about his parentage."
Dumbledore and Harry got up walking to the pensieve and went into some memories some mixed with ex-Slytherins from that time and his own memories.
They watched the young Tom Riddle, around his first year at Hogwarts, answer questions in class. Even with all the students, it was clear who shined out of them all. His cool answering of the questions, his perfect potions, and his magical skills was impressive. The only thing that was lacking was his socialization skills. It seemed he mostly spent most of his time in the library with books around him absorbing everything in them.
Harry didn't want to admit it but that picture reminded him of someone familiar. The two while watching Tom shine could see the others around Tom was clearly jealous of his talents, the way he was easily gaining points quickly. The way he talked to the professors was interesting, too. He was so smooth and relaxed.
The memories changed to where Tom could be anywhere and the ridiculing from his housemate started. The older students making small comments here and there and it quickly became apparent what was happening.
What Harry assumed was a Malfoy was smirking at the boy, "a mudblood trying to be more than what he is. Crazy. I suppose anyone can be smart if they spend all of their time in the library. Even a mudblood!" Malfoy gleefully was saying aloud to where everyone can hear in the common room.
Tom was certainly angry but decided to ignore it and walked away.
Dumbledore spoke to Harry now, "Harry the next part you see I'm not proud of it, but at the time I was the Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor house. These matters you are going to see should have been resolved with the head of Slytherin house. But Slughorn has always given the benefit of the doubt to everyone."
The scene changed again everyone was in the great hall for the Halloween feast. Everyone was laughing and joking with each other happily. When suddenly a small explosion was heard towards the Slytherin table. Harry watched as the young Tom Riddle was covered head to toe with food and drinks of all kinds.
Most of the Great Hall laughed especially the Slytherins most thinking it was a practical joke on a first-year until Malfoy stood up, "Here-y! Here-y! BEHOLD THE BEST STUDENT OF THE YEAR! THE MUDBLOOD SLYTHERIN! WHO CAN'T EVEN CLEAN THEMSELVES WITH MAGIC! SEE HOW FAR RELYING ON JUST THE LIBRARY CAN GET YOU! YOU HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX RIDDLE NOT JUST BOOKS! STUPID MUDBLOOD!"
Tom was shaking in anger stood up, "SHUT UP! I AM NOT A MUDBLOOD!"
"Really well Tom Riddle is certain no pureblood name! Run along now you stupid unless dirty mudblood!"
Tom angrily marched out of the hall and everyone was dead quiet as Malfoy was grabbed by the arm by Slughorn and marched away out of the hall. The mood of the feast quickly changed to tense after that.
Harry and Dumbledore pulled out of the memories. Harry was shocked, "sir..."
"Mr. Malfoy was just given detentions for a few months that was the most punishment given to him at the time. Professor Dippet was friends with his father and money can buy a lot of silence. After that Tom for a few months was obsessed with his parentage. The librarian even allowing him in the restricted section feeling sorry for the boy. I believe that was when he found out his father was the muggle and his mother was a witch, and tracing back from his middle name Marvalo found out about him being a direct descendent of Slytherin himself. Tom changed after that still the same, but more confident and I don't know what he did, but no one after that bothered him," Dumbledore explained.
"Later I believe around his sixth summer he tracked down his uncle stool his wand. Found out where his father lived killed his father and his grandparents and returned planting false memories in Morfin's head, He was arrested once again and died shortly later in prison. No one knows what happened in that meeting of his father and grandparents, but I can imagine it wasn't pleasant for anyone involved," Dumbledore finished and Harry sat down again processing everything.
"Sir...could that have been the..."
"Tipping point? I believe there were a lot more factors than that one, while that could have contributed to it. We don't know the full story...his time at the orphanage fully, his early Hogwart days, even his later Hogwarts time, his job later, his meeting with his father and his family...There are too many factors to be sure."
"Ahh..." Harry said looking down.
"Now there's one more memory to look at this is important," Dumbledore said and the two walked back once again to the pensieve.
The memory shows Tom at one of Slughorn's parties. The clock rings signaling for everyone to leave. Everyone does except Tom who stands looking at Slughorn's hourglass. Slughorn turned around jumped a bit seeing him.
"Oh, Tom you startled me, didn't see you there! You better get going even with your perfect status it's not good to be caught after hours."
"Sorry Professor it's just interesting magic."
"It certainly is! It was a gift!"
"Ahhh..."
"Tom it's late! Why didn't you leave with the others?"
Well, Sir, I didn't leave because I just have a question? And I don't think any of the other teachers would answer."
"Well, dear boy what is it?"
"You see I was in the library reading and I stumbled across a word and I was hoping you could tell me more about it?"
"What was it?" Slughorn questioned.
"Horcruxes," Tom looked at Slughorn acting confused.
The memories became blurry and distorted as they heard Slughorn yell to never ask about that word again and to leave his office. The two were pulled out of the memory.
"Sir, I don't understand?" Harry questioned.
"You see Harry this memory is from Slughorn himself and it has been tampered with by that same man. I believe he was too ashamed to show what was really said that night and that is where you come in."
"What?" Harry questioned.
"I need you to get the real memory from Slughorn. I believe it is vital to our fight against Voldemort. That is the mission that you must complete."
Harry nodded and raised his head up, "may I tell someone for some help."
Dumbledore quickly frowned, "I'm assuming you're talking about Ms. Granger."
Harry nodded while Dumbledore sighed at him, "I don't believe that would be the best idea."
Harry got up ready to leave but quickly turned around. "Sir, you said not long ago you didn't want to make the same mistakes as the past. Don't take this offensively, sir, but I don't know if it's pride or what but with Hermione I trust her with my life. I don't know how you see her, but from what I know and see she's trying...and while you might not trust her...trust me...and I know that she is trustworthy around all her rough edges and...her just being her. If you don't want to make the same mistakes as in the past...believe in me...cause I believe in her..."
Dumbledore said nothing at first and looked down at his desk, "I will try from now on."
"Professor...I will always be a Dumbledore man and trust you...I just hope you can trust me, too...have a good night Professor," Harry finished and walked out ready to go to bed and talk to Hermione in the morning about the meeting making sure to leave out the last part when meeting her.
Back in the office, Dumbledore looked at his hands one vastly different from the other, "I guess I have to shift the plans once again..."