Tom Riddle's Award for Special Services to the School

[Amanda]

No: HPFGUIDX 135229

I was obsessing about this myself this morning but you analysis is 
superb.  The 50 years is a vague generality as we don¡¦t have a 
specific date for the Riddle murders yet. 

I assumed Tom was about 16 when he committed his first and horrific 
multiple-murder at the Riddle House.  In between his 6th and final year 
at Hogwarts.  After the creation of the diary, but before he became 
Head Boy and was seen wearing the Gaunt ring.  

I wonder, if Tom is wearing the Gaunt ring in Slughorn¡¦s memory when 
he is beginning to learn about Horcruxes it means that he¡¦s already 
committed his first murders but not yet created his first Horcrux.  That 
begs the question; how soon after committing a heinous crime can one 
use the Horcrux magic to create a Horcrux? Obviously it is not 
something that has to be done immediately upon committing the evil 
crime.  Time can pass between the murder and the depositing of the 
soul segment into a Horcrux.

I support the 3 Riddle murders - three horcrux idea.  The ring, the diary 
and a yet to be determined third.  

Your idea of the Award for services to the school is delicious.  It is 
definitely something Tom would relish and be proud of.  To win heroic 
award whilst deceiving the entire school, is something he would put in 
his ¡¥collection¡¦ of achievements.   

Just some thoughts, Mandy