The magnificent scoundrel

1945. In the spacious corridors of the magical castle, not a sound could be heard - a deep silence that made one feel on edge. However, for the Slytherin walking towards the dungeons at that moment, thoughts other than fear of those very corridors occupied his mind... He's running out of time... It would have been a relief if he could have gotten away with just a few curses, but... Apparently, Lady Luck decided to turn away from him today - around the next corner, as if emerging from the shadows, a human silhouette appears... It's definitely the end for him. *** Strength and Intelligence - the key to greatness. From early childhood, Tom Marvolo Riddle's life teaches exactly that. In the orphanage of Wool, numerous children, as well as the caretakers, were not known for their integrity and honesty. Each of them did what they could to get by. Some formed groups, while others sought patronage from the smarter and stronger adults. If you wanted to be a loner, you couldn't afford to be intellectually inferior. And Marvolo was not inferior. He spun like a squirrel in a wheel, devising new intricate plans, eliminating competitors, and setting up those who were stronger but lacked his cunning mind. All he wanted was to grab a piece of happiness for himself. After all, happiness is when others do EVERYTHING you wish with just a flick of your hand. And he aspired to it, taking cues from the adults, their behavior, their understanding of happiness and a good life. Because they know the true essence. Right? *** Riddle hated his first name, which his mother called him, Tom - it sounds awful and too simple. But he endured, knowing that the Great One's mother couldn't be ordinary. There must be meaning behind his name... What a disappointment it was to learn that he was just a bastard - a wretched offspring of a once noble family, descended from the Slytherins - powerful wizards who had fallen from their pedestal and turned into a pathetic imitation of ordinary, Muggle-obsessed aristocracy. But even if that's the case, others don't need to know. After all, many in the upper echelons only pretend to know the secrets of Magic while they themselves have decayed and fallen to the bottom of the world with their rigid perspectives. Ha, purity of blood... Just nonsense. Because Marvolo was always clever - that couldn't be taken away from him. *** - And who do I see in my way? Are you in a hurry, Selvin?... Wait, let me guess, are you rushing to meet me? ~ Oh, I'm afraid to disappoint you, but I've been waiting for you five minutes ago, and now... - I wouldn't dare to disappoint you like that! But I do have a legitimate reason for being late! Dumbledore! He... *** Everything brilliant is simple. Yes, Dumbledore knows a thing or two about manipulation. It was necessary to catch the moment and set him up like that. To alter the memories of a loyal follower and make him tell Voldemort false information. - Obliviate! Confundus! We met you on time, you told me the agreed-upon information about the Ministry and went to sleep. Well, there is no "witness" now. And since Dumbledore shared information about the new books in the restricted section in such a peculiar way, we won't disappoint him either. ****** The cunning double-dealer is making plans for his future. Marvolo has always been prudent and intelligent as long as he can remember. And what a coincidence, every summer he went to the Wool Orphanage, and later, with bombs flying overhead during the height of the war, he was without a wand. And of course, who wouldn't be afraid of death after that? And now, quite accidentally, he finds a book about immortality. Imagined immortality - he sees it at first glance. But it's not necessary for one curious long nose to know about it. *** /- Alive, Tom," said Sliznort, turning around and discovering that Riddle was still here. "You don't want to be caught out of the dormitory at the wrong time, after all, you're still a prefect... - Sir, I wanted to ask you something. - Well, ask away, ask away... - Sir, I would like to know what you know about... about Horcruxes?/ ****** How well everything is prepared, he only needs to use the fruits grown by the caring hands of other "players." ****** 1997. At the decisive moment, the Elder Wand refuses to kill Harry Potter: the spells of both opponents rebound on Voldemort. Being already vulnerable after losing all his Horcruxes, he dies and crumbles to dust, scattered by the wind. The Second Wizarding War is over. ****** Somewhere else, a man who looked so much like the recently deceased monster stopped reading his book, on the verge of madness. Well, the first part of the show is over. It's time for a new act. The destruction of the world will provide plenty of energy for the power of his soul... ...and... ...Muggles learned about the wizarding world. Would you like to enjoy the show?