Harry did not hesitate.
He took a deep breath and untied the faded black ribbon around the dossier.
Ron and Hermione leaned closer too. Ron was still shaking, but curiosity had overcome his fear.
The dossier unfolded, revealing a black-and-white photograph on the first page.
A ridiculously handsome boy.
He had pale skin, jet-black hair, and black eyes that held a maturity and elegance beyond his years.
He wore Slytherin robes with a Prefect Badge pinned to them and gave the camera a polite yet distant smile.
"That's... Voldemort?"
Hermione could not believe it.
"He was... really handsome."
"Yes, he still looked human back then."
Sirius leaned against the desk and spoke coldly.
"He hadn't turned himself into that noseless monstrosity yet. Er, I only heard about that from Douglas."
Harry's fingers trembled slightly as he turned over the photograph. Beneath it was a transcript.
It contained all the records from Tom Riddle's seven years at Hogwarts.
Harry's gaze fell on the first line.
First-year final exam results: * Transfiguration: O (Outstanding)-note: exceptionally gifted, with unique insights into Transfiguration theory.
* Charms: O (Outstanding)-note: precise spellcasting; control of magic far beyond his peers.
* Potions: O (Outstanding)-note: Professor Slughorn described him as having "perfect Potions instincts."
* Herbology: O (Outstanding) * History of Magic: O (Outstanding) * Astronomy: O (Outstanding) * Defense Against Dark Magic: O (Outstanding)-note: full marks in practical combat.
Harry blinked, thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him.
Straight O's.
Every subject was followed by unstinting praise from the professors.
He kept turning the pages.
Second year... straight O's.
Third year... straight O's.
His electives, Ancient Runes and Arithmancy... straight O's.
Then came his fifth-year O.
W.
L.
exams.
That transcript was positively blinding.
**O.
W.
L.
results - Tom Marvolo Riddle** * Earned a total