—-out. i’m toying with the idea of riddle being helpful while still in school, more to the point (or towards the goal) of inspiring others to admire him; after graduation, he aims to snag the DADA position to influence young students into joining his ranks, which makes me wonder if he had success with this, even in minimal comparison, as a student himself? in no way am i saying he’s mr. patience & mr. compassion – if he tries to help and the student simply doesn’t understand, he’ll eventually lose patience, and he won’t always wish to help every student who asks/he’s encouraged to (”oh mr. riddle, surely you could help so-and-so catch up on the week’s lessons !! she’s been in the hospital wing since saturday, but you’re well ahead of the class, my boy”) 

because even dumbledore explains that, while keeping a very close eye on young riddle, he “showed no sign of outward arrogance or aggression” & at first, albus believed tom could/possibly did regret his attitude on their first meeting & “[tom] was resolved to turn over a fresh leaf” – and to say hogwarts professors are all dim-witted or oblivious is an INSULT; hogwarts has long since been a highly respected institution, etc etc. the professors may have changed (retired, been sacked, moved on) but i doubt only harry’s professors were able to see their students’ shenanigans & resolved to correct inappropriate behavior. but it’s repeatedly mentioned that tom simply slipped beneath their radar – dumbledore, of course, an exception – but let’s do away with the idea that tom was an openly terrifying & menacing student/bully !! 

also it’s implied he’s already learning legilimency at the orphanage (he doesn’t know how, or what it is, exactly) because he frequently demands that dumbledore “tell [tom] the truth” and shows uncharacteristic doubt/confusion when his gaze slides from one eye to the other and he still finds nothing – imagine peeves snagging something of his, and tom is convinced the real perpetrator is a fellow student, whom he then corners & demands explanation. but the thing with tom, is yeah when he’s OLDER he can be dramatic and larger than life (though the battle of hogwarts doesn’t really count, because this is a war and this is a battle to be won, and goddammit potter you’re really pissing me off) but while he’s still gaining power & learning (of his abilities, of his heritage, of his future crusade) he’s DISCREET. so he won’t threaten anyone in public, he won’t threaten anyone with more sway than himself, he won’t threaten large groups of students at once, etc etc. 

and the more students/professors he can charm, the better is his reputation; no one would suspect the head boy, no one would doubt his word against a younger student with a known adoration for dangerous creatures !! but he’s prone to fits of rage, and violence, and maybe he’s killed one or two fellow students’ pets if they’ve crossed him (like the rabbit at the orphanage) instead of outright attacking the person/s. & he calls his followers his FRIENDS, and is capable of laughing at himself/his mistakes, though he never seems to learn from them, so it’s not always just him attacking the mistakes of others, and he’s not powerful enough to completely terrify students while in the presence of fully-grown witches and wizards.