The Man Behind the Mask

Chapter 3 -Clues at Hogwarts

Back at Voldemort´s old school, the disappearances of the three students stunned many. No one expected three of their most intelligent students escaping school in the middle of the night, especially Tom Riddle. He had been one of the school´s prized prefects, always making sure that rules were in order. Dippet was especially nervous about the fact that Tom had disappeared.

"I tell you, Albus, I don´t know what that boy is up to! After I sent his sister away, Riddle has been acting up! We can´t have them back together!"

"I don´t see why not, Armando," the Transfiguration teacher replied. "Allura seemed like a very skilled student. I also don´t see why you had to put that charm on her, either."

Dippet suddenly grew nervous. "It is getting late, Albus. I´m going to retire for the night now."

Dumbledore frowned, noticing Dippet´s avoiding eyes. "Why did you put the charm on her, Armando? Why are you avoiding my question?"

Dippet backed away. "Leave me! Do not speak of what I did! Leave me!" Before the professor could stop him, Headmaster Dippet left the room as quickly as possible. Dumbledore didn´t bother going after him and wandered into the hallway towards his own room. He met the Potions teacher on the way there.

"Hello, Albus," said Dumbledore´s colleague cheerfully.

He eyed her curiously. "You´re in a good mood, Rebecca. Are exams coming up already?"

She smiled big. "Oh, much better, Albus. You see, that Riddle girl left a few days ago and I couldn´t be happier. She was scaring me out of my wits, that one. You should have seen Allura with her brother, sir. I had never seen such dreadful behavior!"

She shook her head, Dumbledore pondering something. "What did they do, Miss Lelchet?"

The other professor sighed. "Terrible works of the Devil, it was, Albus, to see two siblings kissing like lovers. Can you even imagine it? I had help from their classmates to keep them apart from then on. And now that she is gone, we will still have our top student Tom Riddle back to his normal self." Rebecca Lelchet smiled cheerfully again.

Dumbledore felt slightly irritated by this. "Now, Rebecca, I know that you are a very faithful Christian woman, but I do not think it was necessary to go in your beliefs to expel a student because of something you would consider sinful. Because of this separation, Riddle has left the school now, possibly in search of his sister."

Lelchet let out a horrified gasp, her face filled with shock. "Our Tom Riddle? Disobeying the very rules which he carried out so wonderfully?" Tears started down her face. "But I had such high hopes for the boy! He would have been such better off to distribute the intellect he received from our Almighty God Above!"

Suddenly she stopped her wailing, thinking of something and grinning. "You know, Albus, Tom Riddle may never find Allura. I had her sent far away from here, and even so; no one knows the exact location to Durmstrang Institute. Headmaster Dippet erased any memory Allura had of her brother, also. We may get our Tom Riddle back here soon enough!" Again her cheerful smile broadened her face.

Dumbledore didn´t like where this was heading. "Why are you so determined to keep Allura Riddle away from our school, Rebecca? She never did anything to you."

Lechet´s face turned angry. "That girl took my prize student away from me, that´s what. I have more reasons, but I would rather not tell you, Professor Dumbledore. Sometimes I wonder why our Holy Father put you on this earth; all you have ever brought to my beautiful school is a bad reputation. Hmph!" With that she dashed across the hallway, saying nothing else to the puzzled Transfiguration teacher.