The Auror Office wasn't exactly crawling with Death Eaters. They tended to occupy the cushy, high-ranking positions where field work was unheard of. Aurors wielded a fair bit of power, but their influence had limits. Still, a few Death Eaters remained dotted throughout the department; positions were filled, and nobody wanted to rock the boat, not yet.
The young Auror beside Tom visibly sagged in relief as Tom entered the Auror office. Consulting his pocket watch, the young man all but sprinted towards the lifts.
...
Inside, Minister Fudge and Auror Chief Scrimgeour stood waiting, flanked by a handful of other Aurors, some familiar, some not. Tom scanned the room, taking in Moody – they hadn't officially met, though Moody had spent a year trapped in a trunk courtesy of one of Tom's followers. Then there was a woman who seemed vaguely recognizable and a fellow he didn't know from Adam.
He fixed his gaze on Fudge.
"Professor Tom Riddle," Fudge bustled forward, "Please, make yourself comfortable."
"Have Potter and the others arrived?" Tom arched an eyebrow, allowing himself to be ushered to Scrimgeour's chair.
Scrimgeour's jaw tightened, but he wisely held his tongue, acutely aware that a wrong step at this juncture could see him not only fired for something as trivial as "exiting the lift left foot first", but torn to shreds by "unknown dark wizards" before he even made it out of the Ministry.
Fudge, oblivious, beamed at Tom. "Allow me to introduce you to some of our finest. First, Alastor Moody, whom I believe you know."
"..."
Moody's weathered face twitched. This was their first official meeting, but Tom had undoubtedly seen him before. He knew the story of his imprisonment. He'd wanted revenge, but with Tom Riddle riding high, he'd been dissuaded from any rash actions. Dumbledore had brokered a deal, offering Moody a chance at "revenge" – a duel with Barty Crouch Jr. He'd lost. Through Dumbledore's intervention, Tom Riddle had spared his life.
And so, Moody found himself in a strange position. He didn't like Tom Riddle, but the man seemed… different. Nevertheless, he remained vigilant. Trusting the Dark Lord was a fool's game. That was why he had agreed to Fudge's request. The other Aurors were complacent. He didn't trust them, and he certainly didn't want to leave them to their doom.
"Kingsley Shacklebolt," Fudge continued, "An exceptionally talented Auror, shone academically at school. His insights will prove invaluable to the students."
A tall Black man gave a curt nod, acknowledging the praise before offering Tom Riddle a neutral greeting.
"Decent magic, impressive nerve." Tom Riddle's assessment cut through the pretense. Kingsley's power was slightly below Moody's, but still comfortably within the elite Auror range.
Fudge visibly relaxed. "Average strength" coming from Tom Riddle was a compliment in disguise. Kingsley was second only to – well, formerly Moody and now Scrimgeour in terms of raw power within the Auror Office.
"And finally, Nymphadora Tonks, remarkably talented, a rare Metamorphmagus. Though only an Apprentice Auror, she's fresh out of Hogwarts, so she'll have plenty to discuss with Harry Potter and the others."
A young woman with short violet hair, wide black eyes, and a pale complexion stepped forward, her voice tight. "Professor Riddle, hello."
Tonks seemed apprehensive, understandably so. She was an Auror, and had graduated the same year Tom Riddle joined the faculty. Her knowledge of the Dark Lord stemmed from sensationalist headlines and whispered horrors from her childhood. Awe, tinged with a 70% dose of fear, colored her perception of Tom Riddle.
Ironically, she was the same age as him. Tom Riddle had taken his post at eighteen, and she had just graduated, also at eighteen. Now, both were twenty-two, though a few months separated them.
"Tonks?" Recognition dawned on Tom Riddle's face. Despite subtle differences, he couldn't mistake the striking hair.
"And Scrimgeour, our Chief Auror, will be personally escorting the students this time."
Scrimgeour, who had maintained a stoic façade, faltered, snapping back to attention under Tom Riddle's piercing gaze. "Yes... yes, as Minister Fudge has arranged, I will be personally attending."
Tom Riddle nodded, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his features.
Fudge couldn't help but grin. "Professor Tom Riddle, rest assured, the Ministry Aurors will ensure the students of Hogwarts come to no harm."
"It hardly matters; I'll be joining you."
"Ah? You're coming too?"
What was the point of even putting on a show if the star of the show was coming along?
Scrimgeour, the Aurors, even Fudge were dumbfounded. They had assumed Tom Riddle was merely overseeing arrangements. This was wholly unexpected.
"Um… Professor Tom Riddle, the plan was to allow the children to observe Auror work firsthand. There will likely be encounters with dark wizards, but with you present, I doubt they would dare… "
You, the Dark Lord, the most powerful dark wizard in the world, were going to be there – would any dark wizard truly dare attempt an attack?
Facing an Auror, a dark wizard might have a chance; at worst, getting hit with an "Expelliarmus" and getting stuck in Azkaban still offered an outside shot at escape. But facing the Dark Lord, resistance was a death sentence. Even escape was futile. The few havens for dark wizards were already under Death Eater control.
Even rats had the sewers. Where would they go? The Earth's core? Outer space?
Surrendering beforehand was a better idea; they might at least snag a cell within Azkaban.
---
Creation is hard.
Every chapter takes thought, time, and a piece of something real. If this story has given you even a moment of enjoyment, the best thing you can do is send a Powerstone, leave a Review, and add this to your Bookmarks. It costs you nothing, but it means everything to a writer trying to keep going.
And if you have a thought — a reaction, a theory, a single line about what you felt — drop it in the comments. I may not be able to reply to everyone, but I read each and every comment. Every single one.
Your support is what keeps this story alive. Thank you for being here.