The Competition Was Useless Anyway

Dumbledore's memories were complete, but for Harry, there were simply too many mysteries within them.

When they emerged from the memory, Harry voiced a novel opinion.

Dumbledore found this perfectly ordinary.

"You heard it just now. For such a young wizard, his abilities were astonishingly developed and mature—and the most interesting, and most ominous thing was that he had already discovered that he could control these abilities to some extent and had begun using them consciously.

"As you saw, he did not conduct random, haphazard experiments like most young wizards.

"He was already using magic against others, using magic to intimidate, punish, and control them.

"That hanged rabbit, and the story of the two children—a boy and a girl—whom he lured into the cave, illustrated the point quite well...

"If he wanted to, he could hurt them..."

"He was also a Parselmouth."

"Yes, a rare ability, said to be connected to Dark Magic. But we know that there have also been Parselmouths among great and good wizards.

"In fact, his ability to speak with snakes did not make me particularly uneasy. What worried me was the cruelty, secrecy, and domineering nature he so clearly displayed."

The conversation ended there. Harry wanted to say something more, but he had no chance.

"Time is playing tricks on us again," Dumbledore said, pointing at the pitch-black sky beyond the window. "But before we part, I would like you to pay attention to certain things in what we have just witnessed. They are closely connected to matters we will discuss together in the future.

"First, I am sure you noticed Riddle's reaction when I mentioned that someone else shared his name and was also called 'Tom,' didn't you?"

Harry nodded.

"This showed that he despised anything that tied him to other people, anything that