Tom Riddle and Ashwatthama's Gem

In the back of the antique shop, Burke sat alone taking inventory. It had been a slow morning, as the shop's customers typically avoided bright and sunny weather. He didn’t mind; it gave him the time he needed to recover from yesterday’s worst customer, who promised he’d be cursed for life. It would have bothered him if it hadn’t been the hundredth time he’d heard it since the shop had opened. He sighed, thinking of how he was growing tired of the work the shop required. But with only him and Borgin working, there was little they could do to lessen their load.

At that moment, he heard the door open. Burke peered around the corner to find a young man in the entrance, eyes wandering around the store. Occasionally his gaze would catch on an item that Burke knew as particularly powerful: a bird bath filled with water that was actually a water weapon called the Varunastra; an average-looking suit of armour that once belonged to Karna and was impervious to even the strongest magic. Burke suddenly felt very unsettled--only the most well-studied wizarding scholars would be able to recognize these relics as more powerful than the rest. But this young man was only a boy. Surely it was only coincidence that those items caught his attention.

Burke suddenly realized he had been watching the boy for too long. He walked to the counter, cleared his throat, and pushed away any feelings of discomfort.

“Is there something I can help you with?” Burke asked, meeting the boy’s eyes.

The boy walked over to the counter and stuck out his hand with a smile. “Hello, Mr. Burke. My name is Tom Riddle. I would like to work here.”

Slightly taken aback, Burke shook Tom's hand. He was not used to such friendly interactions, although he already felt Tom belonged in the shop. Tom was composed and intimidating enough to properly handle aggressive customers, and Burke certainly did need the extra help. Plus, there was just something about him that Burke felt drawn to.

Still, he kept a resistant mindset. He had worked in Knockturn Alley long enough to know the ease with which deception came to certain wizards. “What makes you think we’re hiring?” Burke huffed.

Tom smiled again, but a glint in the glass counter drew his attention. A clear gem sat encased in yet another layer of glass protection. Burke watched Tom walk over to it.

“Is this what I think it is?” Tom asked excitedly. “Ashwatthama’s gem?”

Burke was shocked. How could this boy know something that took him years to confirm? His unsettled feelings came rushing back. Who did this boy think he was, walking into his shop and demanding a job? Acting like he knew more than Burke? He wouldn’t stand for it.

Before he could express his anger, though, Tom looked up from the gem at Burke and took a step back. His composure returned and he politely apologized. “Sorry, sir. My passion for magical objects gets the better of me sometimes. My knowledge is limited and I would be honored to learn from you.”

Burke blinked. His anger had vanished, replaced with self-satisfaction. “Of course… I assume you just graduated? Hogwarts?”

“Yes, just recently. I feel I could learn more from you than some of my Hogwarts courses taught me,” Tom said, eyes glinting with what Burke saw as admiration. “A hands-on experience with one of the most knowledgeable relic scholars would be a privilege.”

“Well, it is only normal to be so curious about such a powerful object,” Burke said, gesturing to the gem. “You were right about its origins. It once belonged to Drona's son Ashwatthama, the commander-in-chief in the Kurukshetra war. He was an avatar of Rudra and one of the Chiranjivi. It eventually made its way to Grindelwald, then to the wizard who handed it to me.”

“The Grindelwald?” Tom asked with a steady voice, leaning forward.

“Yes, indeed,” Burke said proudly. He took great pride in housing only the most ancient and important of relics in his shop. “The darkest wizard to date, who could only be defeated by none other than Albus Dumbledore.” Burke thought he saw Tom twitch ever so slightly at Dumbledore’s name but figured it was a trick of the light.

“Why would Grindelwald want this gem?" Tom asked. "He was powerful enough without it."

“Well, sure, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t supplement his impressive wizardry with various magical weapons. I’m sure you know the powers this gem possesses?”

“Not as well as you,” Tom responded, arms folded behind his back.

Burke glowed. “The gem gives its owner the ability to no longer be affected by hunger, thirst, or fatigue. With the protection of the gem and his terrifying abilities as one of the Rudras, Ashwatthama slaughtered numerous warriors and children. Eventually, though, Vyasa punished Ashwatthama and forced him to give up his gem."

“How did Grindelwald come across it?” Tom asked eagerly.

“We can’t be completely sure about that, but it seems that a person who has a stronger connection with the gem is more likely to discover it. The gem had been lost for centuries before Grindelwald discovered it.”

“Does that mean…?” Tom trailed off, unsure of his assumption.

“That Grindelwald is related to Ashwatthama somehow? It just might be. Being one of the Chiranjivi, Ashwatthama was immortal, so one can't help but wonder... Especially considering how powerful and brutal both of them were... That Ashwatthama might actually be Grindelwald.” Burke shivered, thinking of all the men, women, and children who had suffered at Grindelwald’s hand.

Tom looked lost in thought. He stared at the gem and was silent, but then seemed to feel Burke’s eyes on him.

“Well, it is good that the relic is now in your hands, safe and sound,” Tom said.

“Yes, until I find the right home for it, I plan to keep it well protected,” Burke nodded. “Now, about that job request…”