Chapter 363 - Tintwell (2/2)
Leaning back Dolohov adds, ”And the Dark Lord was quite pleased with my actions of removing the squib of Tobias Snape. He was a travesty upon the founder's lineage.”
”As I said before I am not here to ask about Tobias Snape,” Alphard stiffly said. ”What I want to know is if Tom Marvolo Riddle was ever seen in their company.”
”Once or twice,” Dolohov confessed with a shrug. ”All of them were in Sluggy's club with the Dark Lord. Beyond that they were in two different years and houses, there wasn't much interaction between them.”
”Nothing else that was odd?” Alphard further prodded.
”Why so curious about these three men, Black? You must surely be desperate if you've come seeking my aid,” Dolohov coldly said with a wolfish smile.
”I am not paying you to ask me questions, Dolohov,” Alphard icily retorted. ”If you cannot answer them, you will not be paid.”
Dolohov sneers as Rodolphus remains rather calm still sipping at his whiskey malt. ”All I know is that the Dark Lord disliked the Gryffindor,” Dolohov barked as he crossed his arms over his chest.
”Why?” Alphard asked as he leaned forward.
”Back in our fifth year, Gamp called him the product of an incestuous relationship,” Dolohov snickered in recalling the memory.
”I don't know how Gamp came to know that the Dark Lord's mother was a Gaunt. But he somehow knew that Gaunts were rather infamous for intermarrying a bit too closely for comfort. They were mad the whole lot of them in the end. Either way, the two of them got into a bit of a duel with the Dark Lord naturally winning in the end.”
”That still leaves all three of them,” Alphard regretfully mused to himself in frustration. He had hoped to rule out Gamp, but now he simply couldn't discard him. The reason being just how in Merlin's name had Gamp known that Riddle was a Gaunt in the first place? It was something that even a pureblood would have had access to such secure information much less a Gamp even with all his wealth.
Reaching for the pouch at his side, Alphard tosses the pouch onto the table containing rare potion ingredients. ”As promised your payment.”
Dolohov specifically checks inside and confirms it is the agreed-upon payment. Handing over the pouch for inspection to Lestrange, Dolohov says, ”Why the curiosity if I may ask, Black?”
Alphard pauses as he rises to his feet. ”There are infinitely far worse things in the world than the Dark Lord,” Alphard replied, before putting the payment for his drink on the table. ”And please don't kill the bartender, this is a useful pub for quiet transactions.”
Dolohov sneers, but throws down a wad of muggle money onto the table, before following Black out. Lestrange follows at his side as they watch Black apparate away. Dolohov says, ”Lestrange, what did Black mean by that?”
”I don't know,” Rodolphus confessed with a trace of unease. ”But whatever it is, it can't be good.” Dolohov grunts before the two of them apparated away.
The sleepy town of Tintwell returned back to its norm as old Johnny finally emerges from the back. Seeing that the last of his customers were gone he wanders over to gather the change. Shaking his head, he mutters, ”Maybe it's about time, I retire. There's bound to be a nice available flat down in Baths.”