positively chilling!  *shivers* 

Fantastically unsettling, Tea!!

LOL The Bloody Baron does not inspire one with images of warmth and soothing words, does he? :)

I am pleased you left off the comfort--made a for better tale (and perhaps a bit of justice for old Horace and his candied pineapple).

Thanks so much for sharing.

Tom would have found the information somewhere, so I guess Slughorn telling him just made it easy for him.

 Horace will always take the easy way, and it was easier to tell Tom what he wanted to know, than tell him to keep away from such dark and dangerous spells. 

I definitely could see Horace looking for reassurance, but you're right, he doesn't deserve it. There's just so much that could possibly have been avoided had he simply reported his concerns at once.

Slughorn's decision to stick his head in the sand and ignore his own instincts with regard to Riddle's alarming line of questioning is no wiser than and is just as rephrensible as Fudge's later decision to ignore the obvious evidence of Voldemort's return.

I especially like your use of the Bloody Baron here as the voice of warning. Sadly, Sluggy chose to ignore the Baron's wisdom.

Well done!

I'm not sure Horace deserves any comfort for his part in the whole affair.  But I love your take on it.  Also - I like that the Baron is shown as seeing Tom for who he could be - not being taken by his Slytherin-ness.