"Slytherin's Locket…"
This Horcrux, crafted by the Socket Spirit, was hidden by Kreacher amongst the junk in a corner of the Black family's dingy basement. Tom had simply pocketed it, adding it to his silver snake ring along with Hufflepuff's Cup.
Now, five of the Socket Spirit's seven Horcruxes were in his grasp. All that remained were the piece festering inside Harry and Marvolo Gaunt's ring, with the Resurrection Stone set within.
Tom was in no rush regarding Harry; he could seize that fragment anytime. As for the Resurrection Stone, its retrieval posed no significant difficulty. However, rather than immediately uniting the Horcruxes, he had another mission he wished to undertake first.
Tom desired the recovery of the fake Slytherin's Locket. The imitation held no value, but Tom needed someone to retrieve it.
Merely that one action will suffice.
After a moment's contemplation, Tom surveyed the Black family's basement.
The Blacks were undoubtedly wealthy.
Though the space was filled with what they considered junk, it was "junk" by the Black family's standards. The collection consisted primarily of magical tools and exquisite, valuable items. After all, the Black family would not hoard true refuse, would they?
He reasoned that it made sense Kreacher had hidden the genuine locket here; the exquisite Horcrux nestled amongst equally exquisite "junk," creating an unexpected camouflage.
After a cursory glance, and finding nothing else he wished to pilfer, Tom exited the Black family mansion's basement.
...
Back in the living room, the awkward atmosphere that had taken root upon Tom's departure lingered. Bellatrix Lestrange, clearly displeased, toyed with her wand, while Sirius Black, equally disgruntled, slouched on the sofa, watching her gestures.
Upon Tom's return, Bellatrix rose quickly and approached him, only for Tom to raise a hand, halting her advance. An inscrutable expression flickered in his emerald snake eyes as he leisurely settled into a lone armchair.
"…"
Uninterested in such trivial matters, Tom looked directly at Bellatrix, pressing her about a more important task. "What progress have you made regarding the matter I tasked you with investigating?"
"The goblins who've recently set up shop in those small villages near Hogwarts?" Bellatrix seemed to recall. "While they claim to be merely conducting business, it does seem suspicious, just as you said, Master. It appears they didn't suddenly decide to set up shop there. From what I recall, a high-ranking goblin at Gringotts proclaimed that doing business there would yield a good return in Galleons."
"…"
Are you serious?
Tom raised an eyebrow. Those small, run-down settlements barely contain enough Galleons to warrant a massacre.
"Couldn't they concoct a more believable lie? Or is Lanlock orchestrating this deliberately?" he wondered.
"We couldn't find any trace of Lanlock in their memories; Legilimency proved useless. Their minds have clearly been tampered with."
Of course, there were other possibilities. For example, their Occlumency skills might be so formidable that Bellatrix and the others were only able to glimpse the memories these goblins permitted them to see. Or perhaps someone else employed an unfamiliar magic to shield the goblins' minds.
Bellatrix paused, lost in thought. "Another peculiarity is that they seem… genuinely convinced that their venture will be profitable, so they adamantly refuse to leave."
"Then kill them all."
Tom said calmly, sipping his tea.
Whatever Lanlock's intentions, or his aims for those goblins, was irrelevant. Tom had never cared about it. Those goblins were merely minor monsters for Harry and the others to "level up" against.
As for sending Bellatrix and the others to investigate, it was solely to confirm that there was something amiss.
As if I would let them stay even without cause! You're a goblin, treading onto my turf without permission. I would sooner slaughter you than see you simply up and leave. What purpose do you serve loitering here? Do you truly believe I, the Dark Lord, am some benevolent fool?
Here's a taste of my generosity!
As for why he deployed Bellatrix and the others, it was because Tom was too lazy to involve himself personally. Even though the distance was negligible, subordinates existed precisely so he wouldn't have to handle every task himself.
Hearing Tom's decree, Bellatrix betrayed no surprise. She had already been formulating plans to lead a group and exterminate those verminous goblins.
"This time, bring the new generation of Death Eaters from Hogwarts along with you."
Consider it an opportunity for Harry and the others to experience the work of Death Eaters after graduation. After all, they've already experienced the duties of Aurors; as 'current Death Eaters,' it wouldn't be right for them not to experience the work of Death Eaters.
Tom put down his teacup and glanced at Sirius, who was openly listening. "Besides, they're not in any danger this time, so there's no need for you to intervene."
"But… Professor Tom Riddle!"
Sirius, who had remained silent until now, suddenly found it difficult to accept that Harry and the others would have to confront those dangerous goblins. "Harry and the others are still children!"
"But they're not ordinary children."
Tom regarded Sirius calmly. "Believe me, you were no match for them at their age."
"…"
Hearing Tom's words, Sirius looked at him blankly.
"They are Death Eaters, the ones I have chosen."
Tom's tone turned somewhat serious. "Therefore, I have faith in them, and the truth will surely be… I am correct."
"And if you're worried," Tom's lips curled slightly, "you are welcome to come along."
Hearing this, Sirius's face twisted into a wry smile.
He had a premonition that if he actually went, he might leave as a "hero" bearing the Order of Merlin, only to return branded a Death Eater.
This wasn't something he could control. Just as when he was wrongly accused and imprisoned in Azkaban, whether he was a Death Eater or not didn't depend on his own declaration, but on the perceptions of others.
Besides, with Harry at his side, he wouldn't refuse when Tom needed him, so it really wasn't much different from formally joining the Death Eaters.
Just as Sirius was still lost in thought…
"Who says Death Eaters can't be heroes?"
The Dark Lord himself can be a savior! Why shouldn't the Dark Lord's henchmen be capable of heroism?
"…"
Sirius wasn't surprised that his Occlumency provided no defense against Tom.
He rested his arms on his knees, hands intertwined to support his chin. "Professor Tom Riddle, you don't truly need someone like me, do you?"
"You are correct, I do not value you that highly."
"…"
Actually, you could have lied.
Sirius's expression was complicated. Although he received the "answer he wanted," why did it sound so unpleasant?
Ignoring the frustrated Sirius, Tom continued, "Therefore, I did not coerce you. This was your own choice from the start. I have no particular need for someone such as yourself as a henchman."
"…"
---