Riddle gave Harry an evaluating look, weighing whether to tell him or not. He didn’t have to, and often enough refused to answer Harry’s personal questions, but he did love the sound of his own voice. After a moment he answered. "In your timeline the Tournament never happened, and so I would not have gained a foot in the Ministry. Any job I took after Hogwarts would therefore be menial and unimpressive. I probably took a clerkship in some insignificant department where my talents were unacknowledged and underutilized and after growing tired of being overlooked left to pursue darker paths. Or perhaps I avoided the Ministry entirely," Riddle mused. "Now, however ... well, I have more options."