Dumbledore asks Harry to get close to the befuddled professor of potions Slughorn, because the professor once taught Tom Riddle (played as 11 - year -
old by
Hero Fiennes - Tiffin and as a 16 - year -
old by Frank Dillane.)
This 1930s segment is where we are introduced to the film's real
hero, M.Gustav (Ralph
Fiennes), as he romances rich
old ladies, mentors young refugee lobby boy Zero (Tony Revolori) and runs the Grand Budapest to a rigidly perfectionist, and already outdated, code of discretion and honor.