A/N-Someone, I fear I don't remember then name, asked if I was planning to continue with the story. I thought about and perhaps it would be interesting. If however it turns out remarkably dull, do tell me and I'll end it.

Disclaimer- I actually do own Daniel and part of Harry's new friends. However, if you recognize the character from the books, it, obviously, is not mine.

Tom stood in front of the Gryffindor, Slytherin class. They all stared back at him, waiting for him to speak. Although he was not evil, he had a slightly cruel streak and enjoyed watching them squirm. It made the school year a bit better as they knew he was to be respected. One boy in particular caught his eye. Harry Potter sat in the second row third seat over next to Ron Weasley. Alexander Black and Taylor Lupin were on their right and Eric Pettigrew sat next to Draco Malfoy on their left. He'd have to watch young Eric if he was mixing with that bunch. He continued to study them remember when their parents had been the ones before him. The Riddles kept in touch with the Marauders but they were not particularly close with the kids. It would be interesting to teach them and get to know them. Let's just hope they were not like them.

"Welcome to Defense against the Dark Arts. I am Professor Riddle, also head of Slytherin house as some of you may know. I will tell you know that I do not tolerate slackers. This is a hard class that is essential to your studies. It will be mentally and, later on, physically trying. Pay attention now and you will go far with it. Slack off and you will come to dread this. However, I understand that not everyone is a gifted as others and will struggle nonetheless. I am hear if you have any questions what so ever. I want you to pass this class and will do everything with in my power to get you there. Any questions so far?" he asked. One timid hand raised into the air. He nodded for the girl to speak.

"My grandfather told me that you could talk to snakes," she said quietly. "Is that true?" Tom gave her an amused look that made her shrink.

"Who's your grandfather?" he asked.

"Evan Rosier," she mumbled. So he was breeding, the old 'friend' of his. The girl was in Slytherin as well, also someone to keep an eye on.

"He would know that. We were friends in school," he told her. This seemed to shock her. "Not what he told you then? Well, it kind of fell apart seventh year, difference in morals and ambitions. But I will spare you the history lesson, that's Binns' job. However, that is true."

"Isn't that dark magic though?" Weasley called out. Tom stiffened visibly.

"It's all a matter of how it's used. The ability in itself is not dark but it can be used for dark things," he explained knowing this all to well. "It's a family ability but if you are under the assumption that parseltounge is evil, then you are saying my entire family is evil. Actually no, my grandfather and uncle kind of were," he thought aloud. "However, this is not what I planned on spending the lesson on. This year we will be learning about minor curses and hexes and how to repel them. You will be able to identify and perform them, though I will warn you that use of them outside of this class will be punishable. Now open your text book to page ten and go to twelve." He walked around the class pretending to keep them on task but really listening in on conversations.

"Kind of a weird guy don't you think?" Alexander asked Taylor. The other boy nodded as he continued to read. He appeared to be a studious fellow like his father and great-aunt, good.

"Failure to Slytherin he is. Married a Gryffindor, son was a Ravenclaw, and a mudblood at that. Don't know how he's the head of the house. Father said many times that Snape should have taken over. Don't get me wrong, he's brilliant but a smear to the Slytherin reputation," Malfoy told Pettigrew. Tom would have laughed if it had not been for the mention of his father. He, the heir of Slytherin was a smear to the house. Oh, that was too good.

"Mr. Malfoy, I'm interested to hear more of your opinions tonight during your detention. Swearing is not allowed," he told the blond boy. Draco fumed and went back to his reading while the Gryffindors snickered. The bell rang and the noise of scraping chairs filled the room. "I want a ten inch summary of this on my desk Wednesday," he called out. This was going to be an interesting year. Once the room was empty his favorite person walked in.

"How was class?" Hermione asked, giving him a quick kiss.

"I handed out a detention, reveled, sort of, our family secret, and was accused of being a shameful Slytherin. It was good," he answered honestly. True, it was one of the more eventful first days he'd had in a while, and it was only the first class. "Don't you have a class to be at?"

"That's actually what I wanted to tell you about. I've switched posts. I'm the new Herbology teacher. Professor Sprout received an offer to do field research and I volunteered to cover for her," she explained excitedly.

"Then who's teaching Ancient Runes?" he asked.

"Your favorite, Bill Weasley," she told him. Tom immediately brightened up. Bill was his favorite student, very proficient in defense and extremely intelligent, almost rivaled his grades, tied with Hermione. It would be great to work with him. "I have to go, class starts soon. See you tonight," she told him and ran off.

Hermione just made it to class as the bell rang. The Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors gave her curious looks as she fell through the door. Literally, she tripped on a vine that snaked across her path. She pushed her self off the floor and brushed a bit of dirt of her robes as she approached the head of the table.

"Hello class, sorry about that. I was talking to another professor and just lost track of the time. All right, so I am Professor Riddle, not to be confused with my husband or son. Oh, some of you just had him didn't you?" she noted at the fearful looks. "Don't worry, that was just an act. Tom's really a big softy, not that I told you that or anything," she added slyly earning a few nervous laughs. The Hufflepuffs shot each other anxious glances, as they had not had that class yet. "Alright so on with the lesson. For the next week, we will be studying Romanian Mushroom. Can anyone tell me what these are used for?" she asked indicating the pink and yellow fungus before them. Justin Finch-Fletchley raised his hand.

"They are used to cure dragon pox right?" he answered timidly. She told him he was and awarded ten points to Hufflepuff. She had forgotten that Justin could be shy when you first met him. She went on to explain the basics in caring for the plant and its unusual behavior during the winter solstice. The class remained attentive through the entire thing and all too soon, they were dismissed for lunch.

Hermione took her place at the staff table and started a conversation with McGonagall. Tom was not there as he was preparing a surprise for the sixth years.

"So what do you think of the batch so far? Do we have another case of mischief on our hands?" she asked Hermione.

"It's too early to say but I seriously hope not because I don't think we can handle them and the Weasley twins," she told her coworker and friend. The two women shared a laugh as Daniel approached. He hissed something that she could not understand. "Switch back Honey," she told her son.

"Oh sorry Mum. Been talking to Nagini, She decided to have a bit of fun with the third years," he explained as a slight blush rose to his pale cheeks. Daniel was a handsome boy of 28 with his father's build and eyes. He had Hermione's brown hair which was always wavy and fell into his right eye. He still had the glimmer of youth and innocence that made everyone latch onto him. He was intelligent, not a huge surprise, and gentle. All of his students, minus half of Slytherin ironically, loved him.

"Was there something you needed?" she asked.

"Yeah, if you see Dad between now and dinner could you ask him to meet me there at seven?" he requested, referring to the Chamber of Secrets that he partially owned.

"Of course, but is there something I should know about going on?" she pressed motherly.

"Not yet, but believe me you will know as soon as I get approval," he told her and walked out.

"I worry about him sometimes. Too much like his father at times," she told McGonagall.

"He's wise though, and not foolhardy like Tom though. He has your wisdom," she assured her. Hermione just shook her head worried.

Xxxxxxxx

Tom walked through the dark underground passage into the elaborate chamber. There stood his son stroking the nose of the ferocious basilisk, Marvolo. It was Daniel's idea to name him that. They were hissing back and forth to each other, Daniel in a worried tone and Marvolo in a comforting one. They were close, kind of like him and Nagini. He found it ironic that his carefree son would befriend the most dangerous creature around.

"Evening everyone," he hissed to them.

"It's been awhile Tom. I thought you forgot about me," Marvolo responded.

"That's more than a bit impossible," Tom reminisced. "So what did you want Danny?" Daniel stared at his feet as if they were the most interesting thing in the world.

"I wish I could take Marvolo up for a lesson sometime. It could be interesting; they are misunderstood creatures. Marvolo here's harmless," he said, unaware of the past.

"You know you can't and you're avoiding the subject. What's really up?" Tom asked softly, knowing that this was a touchy subject.

"You remember Christine Hewson?" he asked.

"The Dragon Researcher?" Tom clarified not sure what this had to do with it. Danny nodded, refusing to meet Tom's eye. Don't get me wrong, they were close, best friends, but he was scared at the moment. "What does she have to do with this?"

"Kind of everything. We've been dating secretly for two years now and…I…uh…" he trailed off. It all made sense to Tom now.

"Are you trying to say what I think you are?" he asked in shock.

"The boy wants to make her his mate," Marvolo clarified.

"Oh thanks bud, knew I could count on you not to tell," Daniel snapped at the serpent. "He's right though. I want to ask her to marry me, and I'd like your approval."

"Usually you're suppose to ask the girl's father, not yours," Tom teased him, mind whirling.

"I did. He told me that if I hurt her that I would wish I had never been born. He scares me honestly," he admitted.

"I have no problem with it. She was a nice girl, Slytherin too, and if you love her then go ahead," he consented. A huge grin split Danny's face and he gave his dad a thankful hug.

"I have to go tell Mom, promised," he told him and left. Tom watched the retreating figure and ran his long fingers through his graying hair.

"They grow up so fast Marvolo. Seems only yesterday he was a toddler running about the house pretending to vanquish dark wizards with a stick then screaming that night because a werewolf was in his closet," he reminisced. "Oh he was so excited to get his Hogwarts letter. Naturally, he was to be in Slytherin. We all knew it so it was a bit of a shock when he was placed in Ravenclaw. Imagine the heir of Slytherin in Ravenclaw. At least it was not Gryffindor. Something other than the staff table would have probably caught on fire then," he laughed. "He was the brightest student in his class. Learned everything quickly and could out duel a seventh year in his third. That's when I brought him down here. Why did you try and eat him by the way?"

"I thought he followed you down unaware of who he was," Marvolo hissed. "You have not told him what we did in your fifth year?"

"No, of course not, I'm ashamed of it. He does not need to know his dad is a murderer," he answered.

"You were simply carrying out Slytherin's work and purifying the school," he tried to comfort his master.

"That's a bit hypercritical of me, being a half blood myself. If there is one thing Tom Riddle is not, it's a hypocrite. And what happened with the girl he could never trust me. He'll live better not knowing that," Tom decided. If snakes had shoulders, Marvolo would have shrugged. "Thanks for the help," Tom mumbled. "I've got to go, Malfoy and I are going to have an animated discussion."

"Can I help in anyway?" the snake asked excitedly.

"No, we can't kill him," he told him. The snake nodded and slithered off with a goodbye.