Harry Potter, all characters and concepts belong to J K Rowling. No copyright infringement is intended, or profit made, from this work of fiction.
Harry stood surveying the crowd, his hand resting on the handle of his wand under his dark grey cloak. With his unruly black hair and glasses, he looked distinctly average, apart from the faint scar on his forehead in the shape of a lightning bolt. He, along with a dozen other Aurors in dark grey robes, were standing around the edge of the Great Hall. Glancing to his left, Harry could see the tall, imposing presence of Kingsley Shacklebolt standing near the front of the Hall. The Hall itself was filled with witches and wizards, their best, and frequently brightly coloured, robes illuminated by the candles that floated near the ceiling. The murmur of the crowds increased and Harry looked round to see Professor Dumbledore arrive. While Dumbledore was an elderly man with a long white beard and half-moon spectacles, the younger man that followed after him was tall and handsome with a cold, proud smile. As he approached the lectern, the crowd fell silent and Harry glanced around, getting a tighter grip on his wand.
If there's going to be any trouble, then it's going to be now...
'Good evening,' said Dumbledore. 'Tonight, I am delighted to announce our new Professor for Defence Against the Dark Arts. It gives me great pleasure to welcome my close friend, Tom Riddle. Tom...'
Dumbledore stepped aside as Riddle moved behind the lectern, his black cloak flowing around him, revealing the wand at his belt with a handle carved from ivory.
'Thank you, Professor, for that warm welcome. This is not a responsibility that I accept lightly. However, I will do all in my power to keep us safe and strong, to keep our traditions and heritage alive. Thank you.'
He bowed to Dumbledore, who smiled and took his hand, shaking it firmly.
'Welcome to Hogwarts, Professor Riddle...'
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Any reviews, comments or constructive criticisms are very welcome.