"You mean he likes to bully?" Dumbledore asked.

"I think so," said Mrs. Cole, frowning slightly, "but it would be difficult to catch him red-handed. There have been some accidents...... Some evil ** pieces ......"

Dumbledore didn't rush her, but Harry could tell he was interested. Mrs. Cole took another long sip of gin, and the flush on her cheeks deepened.

"Billy Stubbs' Rabbit...... yes, Tom said he didn't do it, and I don't think he could do it, but that said, the rabbit wouldn't hang himself from the beam, would he?"

"yes, I don't think so. Dumbledore whispered.

"But I can't figure out how he got up there to do this. All I know is that he and Billy had a fight the day before. And later—" Mrs. Cole took another sip of gin, this time spilling some to her chin, "going out on a summer outing—you know, once a year. We took them to the countryside or to the beach -- and since then, Amy Benson and Dennis Bishop haven't been quite right, and when we asked, they only said it was with Tom. Riddle had gone into a cave together. Tom swore they were going on an expedition, but something must have happened in there. I'm sure. And then there's many, many things, weird......"

"That's the cave I took Gildelow to, and now we're almost certain that there's a Horcrux hidden there. ”

"Don't you take it out yet?" asked Lupin curiously.

"I'm going to let Harry read all the memories and let him get them, it's his fate. Dumbledore glanced at Blake, "It's time for him to know this." ”

Blake nodded, but did not speak.

Mrs. Cole looked at Dumbledore again, her cheeks flushed, but her gaze was composed.

"I think a lot of people will applaud him when they see him leave. ”

"I'm sure you'll understand that we're not going to keep him in school all the time," Dumbledore said, "at least he'll be back here every summer." ”

"Oh, no problem, that's better than having someone sniff with a rusty flot. Mrs. Cole said with a soft burp. She stood up, and Harry was surprised to find that her legs were still steady, even though the bottle was two-thirds less gin. "I guess you'd love to meet him, right?"

"I really want to. Dumbledore said as he stood up.

Mrs. Cole led him out of the office and up the stone staircase, shouting and reprimanding her helpers and children as she went. Harry saw that the orphans were all dressed in grey tunics. They all seemed to be reasonably well cared for, but there was no doubt that growing up in this place made the atmosphere very gloomy and oppressive.

"Here we are. Mrs. Cole said that they had turned a corner on the third-floor landing and stopped at the door of the first room in a long corridor. She knocked twice on the door and walked in.

"Tom, someone has come to see you. This is Mr. Dumbledon - I'm sorry, it's Mr. Dundepod. He's coming to tell you—well, let him tell you himself. ”

A few men walked into the room with two Dumbledore, and Lady Cole closed the door behind them. It was an empty, unadorned hut with only an old wardrobe and an iron bed. A boy sits on a gray blanket with two long legs stretched out in front of him and holds a book in his hand reading.

Tom Riddle didn't have a glimpse of the Gaunt family on his face. Merope's last words became reality: he was simply a miniature version of his handsome father. For an eleven-year-old, he was tall, with black hair and a pale face. He narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Dumbledore's strange appearance and attire. For a moment no one spoke.

"Hello, Tom. Dumbledore said as he stepped forward and held out his hand.

"She's pretty handsome......" Tonks said, "and now she's like that?"

"Dark Magic...... Obviously, he sacrificed a lot in pursuit of power, but it seems that he doesn't care what he looks like, as long as he is strong. ”

The boy hesitated, then reached out to shake it. Young Dumbledore pulled a hard wooden chair up to Riddle's side, so that the two of them looked like an inpatient and a visitor.

"I'm Professor Dumbledore. ”

"'Professor?'" Riddle repeated, his look alarmed. "Is it like a 'doctor'? What are you doing here? Did she ask you to come and check me out?"

He pointed to the door where Mrs. Cole had just left.

"No, it's not. Dumbledore said with a smile.

"I don't believe you. Riddle said, "She wants someone to come and see me, doesn't she?

The last three words he said were fierce and loud, and the momentum was terrifying. It was an order, and it seems that he had given it many times before. His eyes suddenly widened and he stared at Dumbledore fiercely, but Dumbledore didn't answer, just continued to smile kindly. After a few seconds, Riddle's gaze relaxed, but he seemed more alert.

"Who are you?"

"I've already sued you. I'm Professor Dumbledore, and I work in a school called Hogwarts. I have come to invite you to my school, your new school, if you will. ”

Hearing this, Riddle's reaction was greatly surprised. He sprang up from his bed and stepped away from Dumbledore, looking extremely annoyed.

"You can't fool me! You're from the madhouse, aren't you?" 'Professor', hmph, that's right—sue you, I'm not going, you see? That damn old witch should go to the madhouse. I didn't even say what about Amy Benson Jr. and Dennis Bishop, you can ask them yourself, and they'll tell you!"

"I'm not from an insane asylum," Dumbledore said patiently, "I'm a teacher, and if you can sit down calmly, I'll tell you about Hogwarts." Of course, if you don't want to go to that school, no one will force you-"

"I'd like to see who dares!" said Riddle contemptuously.

"Hogwarts," Dumbledore continued, seemingly unaware of Riddle's last words, "a school for people with special talents—"

"I'm not crazy!"

"I know you're not crazy. Hogwarts is not a school for madmen, but a school for witchcraft and wizardry. ”

Silent. Riddle froze, expressionless, but his gaze quickly scanned Dumbledore's eyes, as if trying to tell from one of them that he was lying.

"Magic?" he repeated softly.

"Not bad. Dumbledore said.

"What are my skills...... Is it magic?"

"What do you have to do?"

"Various. Riddle lowered his voice, a flush of excitement spreading rapidly from his neck to his sunken cheeks. He seemed excited. "I don't have to touch my hands to make things move. I don't need to train to get the animals to do what I tell me. Whoever makes me angry, I can make them unlucky. I can hurt them if I want to. ”

His legs were shaking. He stumbled forward, sat back on the bed, hung his head, and stared at his hands as if in prayer.

"I knew I was different. He said to his trembling hands, "I knew I was special. I already knew what was going on here. ”

"Yes, you're not wrong. Dumbledore said, his smile narrowed and his gaze focused on Riddle, "You're a wizard. ”

"He's no different from a normal kid," Lupin said, and Tonks had to nod his head in acknowledgement, "just a little bit of a bad temper." ”

Riddle looked up. His face changed suddenly: a feverish delight. Somehow, however, this did not make him look better, but made his delicate features suddenly roughen, and his expression was almost like that of a beast.

"You're a wizard too?"

"Yes. ”

"Proof it to me. Riddle said immediately, in a tone as domineering as the "tell the truth" phrase just now.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.

"If, as I understand it, you agree to go to Hogwarts—"

"Of course I agree!"

"Then you're going to call me 'Professor' or 'Sir.'" ”

Riddle's expression froze for a moment, and then he suddenly said in a polite tone that was similar to that of the two of them, "I'm sorry, sir." I mean- Professor, can you show me?"

"No, he's still a little different, he's going to hide himself. Blake corrected the others.

Dumbledore pulled his wand out of the inner pocket of his suit, pointed at the dilapidated wardrobe in the corner, and waved it nonchalantly.

The closet immediately burst into flames, and Riddle jumped to his feet, presumably with all his possessions in that closet. However, Riddle was about to ask Dumbledore about his guilt when the flames suddenly disappeared and the wardrobe was intact.

Riddle looked at the closet, then at Dumbledore, and then, pointing at the wand, his expression greedy.

"Where can I get one?"

"There will be. Dumbledore said, "There's something in your closet that wants to get out." ”

Sure enough, there was a faint clicking sound in the closet. Riddle looked panicked for the first time.

"Open the door. Dumbledore said.

Riddle hesitated, then walked over and slammed open the closet door. There were a few worn-out clothes hanging from the clothes rail, and on the top shelf was a small cardboard box that was shaking and clattering, and it seemed to be holding a few crazy rats inside.