Playing the part was so easy, Tom Riddle mused as he smiled politely at the retreating customer. It was a pity that the waiting game, which he felt he had been playing for so long, seemed to not have an immediate end in sight.
It made him so bored.
He immediately shut down the niggling temptation to forget all about the façade he had so cleverly crafted and go and rightfully claim his ultimate birth right. Tom had been employed at Borgin and Burkes for a mere few months, surely he could put up with this position of 'shop boy' for a little longer? Besides, for Tom Marvolo Riddle, everything had a reason and no plan or occurrence was accidental… essentially, it was all a means to an end.
Everything had been going exactly to plan, Tom mused, as he completed the sales ledger in an articulate fashion most would be envious of. He had recently graduated top of his class, and, as Head Boy just over a year previously, had successfully travelled to Albania and retrieved the Diadem.
Everything was going according to plan.
Tom was bitterly reminded that the only failure so far was that of not being offered the DADA job now that Merrythought was so close to retirement. Tom had so badly wanted to remain at his beloved castle… but it wasn't to be at this stage.
A flash of unrestrained anger flashed through him at the rejection. He was pretty sure that his most detested ex-teacher Dumbledore had something to do with that decision.
The old fool was always in Dippet's ear about one thing or another. Just as he was about to continue on his hateful diatribe about the annoying Transfiguration Professor, one of his bosses, Caractacus Burke lumbered out of the back office with an envelope in his hand, effectively interrupting Tom's thoughts.
"Tom, I need to you watch the store whilst I head over to the Owl Post Office," Burke said gruffly as Tom watched him hulking through the shop at a faster pace than what was normal for his rather large body.
Tom put on his best polite façade; he liked to call this one the 'Shop Boy' and smiled genially at the owner.
"Certainly, Mr Burke. Do you require anything done whilst you are out?"
He watched as Mr Burke came to a halt. "Ah, yes.
Expectin' a customer this afternoon. A favour for one of your old Professors," he replied cryptically.
Tom raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "Oh? Which one?"
"Dumbledore," Burke answered quickly. "I owe 'im a favour.
" Burke blanched a little at admitting this.
Speak of the devil! Tom thought in annoyance. Why was that man still playing a part in his life? Would Tom ever get rid of the annoying old coot?
"Oh. So is Dumbledore coming in?" Tom asked with fake interest.
"No. Not Dumbledore 'imself.
Someone 'e knows who needs to purchase one of our finer wares…"
Tom raised his eyebrows in surprise. Surely Dumbledore would never send one of his little lap dogs into a dark place such as Knockturn Ally? Burke snorted at Tom's surprised expression, causing Tom to quickly school his features back into the usual blank mask.
"Regardless of the great Albus Dumbledore… can you make sure if the customer comes in, they don't run off again?" Burke added and began ambling towards the door.
"Yes Mr Burke," Tom replied with a faraway tone. He was still reeling from the idea of Dumbledore sending someone to Borgin and Burkes.
How odd, he mused as he watched Burke leave the store and dawdle across the street towards the entrance to Diagon Alley. No doubt, Tom thought, as he watched the man go, Burke would be gone for ages now.
Since it was now mid-afternoon, Tom realised that Burke would most definitely stop for tea and talk to everyone he knew on the street – and Burke knew a lot of people.
Tom huffed. One of the downsides to being in this job was doing all of the hard work and watching his bosses not lift a finger – except for their slippery wheeling and dealing, of course.
Tom was now contentedly reading a book on the dark origins of Egyptian magic when he heard the entrance door open, with someone rather loudly entering the store. Lazily looking up from his book, he saw her before she noticed him.
Or rather, saw her hair before anything else.
The girl, or, if he was more accurate, young woman, strode into the store with a determined expression on her face. She looked to be about his age – give or take a year – and was rather short and small with that crazy brown curly hair he had first noticed.
Because of it, she was somewhat striking, despite the fact that she wasn't a regal beauty, like a Black or Malfoy. Tom noted - for some strange reason - that she did not appear as though she was interested in tittering in front of a mirror.
Not that she was unkempt, no; far from it. She didn't appear high maintenance, though.
Perhaps it was her posture, which was straight and confident… she certainly appeared to be a woman on a mission.
Yes, she is definitely who the old fool sent, Tom thought as he observed her turn away from his direction and walk curiously towards some display cases. He took the opportunity of her back being turned to get up from his position and quietly walk up behind her.
He was hoping to be able to sneak up behind her and give her a shock… Merlin knows why! He thought, before quickly justifying that his behaviour must have been something to do with the tedium of his life lately.
Unfortunately for Tom, just as he was about a foot away from the object of his sudden interest, she turned at an exceptionally fast rate with her wand drawn at him. Her eyes were expertly trained on him in heightened awareness.
Tom noted, with some humour, that a lesser wizard would perhaps be frightened by the look on her face, however he wasn't a lesser wizard. If anything, Tom realised that his afternoon just got a whole lot more interesting.