"Tom was a captivating student, one of the best students Hogwarts has ever had," said Professor Slughorn.
"Did you mentor him?" Octavius asked.
The Professor stared for a few moments.
"Yes, in some subjects! But Tom was very self-taught, he learnt a lot on his own from books," Slughorn explained.
"Any spells he had doubts about?" Octavius asked, using his persuasiveness.
Even though his ability didn't work completely with more powerful wizards or teachers.
His persuasion still had a slight influence on small decisions.
"There were some, why do you ask Octavius?" Professor Slughorn thought about the soul-splitting spell that Tom had come to him for help with.
"I had a few conversations with Helena, the ghost of Ravenclaw, and she told me that young Tom was an excellent wizard, I was curious," he replied.
"Helena? Yes! Tom once had a chat with her before he left the castle in his final year," he remembered Tom's comment on the subject.
"And what happened to Tom Riddle after he graduated?", Octavius asked.
"Tom?" Slughorn thought, "He tried to apply for the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, but was turned down twice, once by Headmaster Dumbledore and the other time by Headmaster Dippet."
"Despite many invitations from the Ministry, he preferred to work in a shop in Knockturn Alley, which came as a shock to everyone," said Professor Slughorn sadly.
"It's not a shop with the best intentions," Octavius said.
"Yes, many know that they do delicate business," Slughorn stated.
"And now where is Tom?" Octavius asked about the location.
"Him? The last news was when he had contact with a relative of Helga's, Hepzibá Smith. After her death, Tom disappeared without a trace," the Professor explained what he had recently learnt about Riddle.
Octavius was already almost certain that Tom Riddle must be the man called Voldemort.
His involvement with Helena to acquire the Diadem and now him being close to someone connected to the House of Hufflepuff were signs of him carrying out some plan.
Most likely involving artefacts that belonged to the Founders of Hogwarts and the dark magic of souls that was present in the Diadem.
"Thank you very much for the information Professor, but I'll have to leave due to the time," Octavius said as he took his leave.
He knew that the Professor wouldn't reveal the spells Tom had questioned him about, so the information he'd got today was enough.
"Oh! All right, I hope we'll have another chat," the Professor understood.
"Yes, of course, Professor. I await your invitation," Octavius left the office.
Returning to the dungeon where the Slytherin dormitories were located, Octavius came across another person he hadn't imagined meeting today.
"Hello young Octavius," Headmaster Dumbledore greeted him.
"Hello, Headmaster! A fine evening it is today," he said.
"Yes, a beautiful starry night," gazed the headmaster. "Were you with Professor Slughorn?" he asked.
Dumbledore was an old and powerful wizard, and because of his unhappy relationship with Tom.
He was often very cautious with his students.
Octavius Black was one of those students with whom he was cautious, because the young man was a wizard with great potential.
But unlike Tom, Octavius had a powerful family behind him, the Blacks.
Which made him even more potentially dangerous than Tom Riddle.
"Yes, Headmaster, I went to the teacher with some questions from potions class," Octavius replied.
"Oh yes! If you have any other questions, you can come to me for help," the gleam in the Headmaster's eyes increased.
"Of course, Headmaster, I'll go and see you right away," Octavius replied and continued on his way through the corridors, leaving a pensive Dumbledore in his contemplations.
*****
In a place unknown to the Ministry of Magic.
There was a meeting of the wizards known as Death Eaters.
The followers of the new Dark Lord, Voldemort.
"My lord, I bring news," a blond man said.
"Tell me, Malfoy," Voldemort said from his chair, allowing his follower to speak.
"Because of House Black's lack of support for our cause, many other families are wary of joining," Abraxas Malfoy bowed.
"What about young Regulus? Can we use him?" Voldemort asked.
"I don't think that's possible my Lord, Regulus Black is the youngest of the family." Abraxas commented. "Lord Black would only be persuaded if it was his son Octavius who was supporting our cause," he added.
"Octavius? He's a Slytherin student. Right Lucius?" Voldemort asked the younger Malfoy.
"Yes my Lord, but this Octavius has no interest in my Great Lord's cause and dares to mock our noble principles," Lucius said angrily.
He wanted Octavius to suffer the wrath of Lord Voldemort.
Since Octavius had humiliated him in front of all the Slytherin students.
And he also felt angry at having been rejected by the three Black sisters.
A deep hatred was forming in his heart.
"Anyone who stands against our cause will be eliminated," Voldemort pronounced. "I want the Blacks kneeling at my feet," he ordered his Death Eaters.
"And so it shall be done, my lord," Abraxas assured him, even though he wasn't sure he could fulfil the order.
Meanwhile, Lord Rosier, who was also present at the meeting, had many plans on his mind.
He had an old alliance with the Blacks.
But his eldest son was a devout follower of Voldemort.
He would at least warn the Blacks to protect themselves.
But he couldn't expose himself openly.
But from what he knew from the information Cygnus gave him, many other families were going to remain neutral in this war that was brewing.
Voldemort was having problems because of these families and decided to rally those excluded from the world of Magic to his noble cause.
He now had Vampires, Werewolves, Giants and other creatures considered to be of the Dark in his army.
They increased the strength of the army, but also the discontent of some pure-blood families.
For they were fighting side by side with these foul beasts.
Maybe Voldemort didn't have as much control over his followers at the moment.
But Lord Rosier knew from the information his son had.
That Voldemort was creating a kind of spell that would put a mark on his devotees in order to control them.
Lord Roseir knew that this mark would be a sign of slavery and servitude to the new Dark Lord.
And that was not something he wanted.
For him, even though Dumbledore was a great wizard, he didn't have the determination to complete the task.
Grindelwald, even after his crimes, had only been imprisoned.
But if the Blacks could gather enough power, they would have the chance to fight Voldemort.
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