Author's Notes: *(Please READ)
1. I do not own the Harry Potter universe or the characters. They all belong to the super talented Ms Rowling, and I am so very grateful to her for introducing me to this wonderful magical world. This is just a work of fanfiction, not intended for any profit.
*2. This story is set in an alternate universe. There will be quite a lot of things that will differ from the original storyline, even though the story is set in Harry's 5th year. You will eventually find out as the story progresses further.
"Welcome students, to your fifth year. As you all know by now that unlike some of my colleagues, I start with my teaching syllabus from the very first class of the term. Now this year is very important…"
Ugh, blah blah blah! I tune out the rest of the professor's speech. It really is quite easy, given his deep soothing voice that I suspect is meant to make everyone feel relax and drop their defenses. The professor has already managed to spoil my mood by his second sentence. I maybe a Gryffindor but I am not a complete idiot as the Slytherins like to think. I know exactly who the professor meant by 'unlike some of my colleagues'. What does he have against my godfather, anyway? Sirius is super cool, undeniably the coolest professor at Hogwarts and still the second most popular professor here.
I look around at my fellow classmates. They are all listening intently to the professor. Or pretending to be listening to him, at least in Ron's case. My dear best friend can be pretty thick at times, but even he is not foolish enough to voluntarily come under this teacher's bad graces. And speaking of best friends, Hermione Granger; well, she doesn't need to fear a teacher in order to pay attention to his words. Besides, she worships the DADA professor even if she will vehemently deny it whenever I point it out to her. In fact, I can say that almost every girl has a not-so-secret crush on professor Riddle!
Yes, you heard that right. Professor Tom Riddle! The only professor in the whole of Hogwarts who hates me and I am merely guilty of returning back the favor. From the very first day I set foot into Hogwarts, the man has hated me for reasons unknown to me. However, nobody believes it is so, other than me. Not even my bloody best friends! They think that he treats me just like the rest of the students and is harsh with me only when I act out. Right, like I need to! Well, just so you know, I am Harry Potter and every body in this wizarding world knows my name since I was a baby. I am the youngest seeker to play in any Hogwarts House team and I have yet to miss a snitch. Why the hell would I need to act out?
But, I have arrived at the conclusion before long that it's really not a good idea to try and convince these stubborn Gryffindors of anything without any concrete proof. I would know because I am one! And the professor, the sly thing that he is, never seems to slip. But that doesn't mean I can't see through his facade. Nobody can be this perfect; I mean, he is a human after all! Isn't he?
I turn my attention towards the professor now. He appears to be in his twenties, but the way he speaks makes me think that he is far more older than he looks. He maintains this patient mask around himself, but I've noticed how his dark brown eyes flash red whenever I succeed in testing his temper. His features are perfect; who am I kidding, he has the looks anyone would die for. That's probably one of the reasons the students are enthralled with him, girls and boys alike. Right now, he seems absorbed in delivering his lecture and his focus is set upon the students at the Slytherin side but I am still getting this feeling as if he can sense that I am not paying attention to his words. And I feel weirdly satisfied about that!
"Mr. Potter!" Ah, right on cue.
See, I knew he could sense my inattention somehow. Is he a werewolf like Uncle Remus? I mean, do I smell of guilt and he simply picks it up? Just like he knew I was the one who had pranked the DADA classroom on my very first class in the first year? In fact that was the very day this quiet war had started between us. I am a Marauder's son, what else do you expect from me! Whatever, I am simply going to ignore him and that's just going to anger him further. He's not looking my way so I have no difficulty settling my eyes to the blank blackboard.
"I hope for your sake you are not trying to spell the blackboard again, Mr. Potter!" He says in that usual irritatingly cheerful voice of his.
His pathetic joke earns a round of laughter from the class. I mean, he could've simply ordered them to laugh and they would. Well, the Slytherins don't really need a joke to laugh at me. Even Ron and Hermione are laughing. Traitors! It's hard to ignore him now that the entire class's attention is on me. I flinch inwardly as I turn to face the smirking man who is still waiting for my response.
"And earn a detention with you, sir? No, I'm good!" I reply, not forgetting to add the sufficient amount of sarcasm in my voice. Professor Riddle doesn't do detentions; he assigns his detentions to Mr. Filtch instead. He is the bloody Deputy Headmaster, detentions are way below his standards. Besides, I would prefer the old caretaker over him any day! The poor squib is already fed up of handling my detentions and my pranks!
"So, would you mind telling the class again how to deal with a Dementor?" The smile is gone now and the professor is looking at me like he's challenging me to answer his question. He knows I haven't listened to a single word in his entire lecture.
Dementor? Ha, good thing I live with two Aurors then! I mean I did face a real Dementor when I was thirteen, when my trip with Uncle Sirius during the holidays had gone awry. Things are always interesting with my favorite godfather, one of the many reasons I love him so much.
"By performing a Patronus Charm, professor!" I answer airily.
"And what is the incantation of the Charm?" He asks in the same breath.
"Expecto Patronum. It conjures a patronus, a creation from your happiest memories, which acts as your guardian shielding you from the dementor. The Patronus is a kind of positive force, a projection of the very things that the Dementor feeds upon—hope, happiness, the desire to survive—but it cannot feel despair, as real humans can, so the Dementors can't hurt it. Each patronus is unique to the wizard who conjures it, but there can be some exceptions." I reply without breaking a sweat, earning gasps of surprises from my classmates. What guys, I do know some things!
There are no visible changes in the professor's expressions, but I know that he is surprised. Aloud he says, "Thank you for sharing that with the class. I couldn't have explained that better myself."
So he hadn't gotten to teaching that part yet. Well, that explained the gasps. But that still didn't prove that I wasn't paying attention. I mean, I just correctly answered the question he asked me and he even praised me for it. I know that I should be humble in receiving praise specially when it is coming from him, but I just can't help myself from asking cheekily, "What, no points, professor?"
His eyes narrow, just a bit. Ooh, did I just lose my House another set of points?
"That depends, Mr. Potter. On whether you can conjure a Patronus here in the classroom." Professor Riddle says. This time, the challenge is evident clearly in his eyes. Well, I'm never one to back away from a challenge anyway! So, I get up from my seat and saunter towards the podium. Judging by the looks of my classmates, they are quite confident about my inability to produce a patronus. What do they say, don't judge a book by its cover!
I close my eyes in concentration, trying to come up with a happy memory. If I can conjure a patronus in front of a real dementor, I can do it in here as well. A memory from my childhood finds its way into my mind. It was the morning of my seventh birthday and I was opening my presents along with the people who undoubtedly love me the most in the world. My father, Uncle Sirius and Uncle Moony were sitting with me on the floor, handing me presents after presents. While Uncle Sev, my other Godfather, is watching from afar, leaning at the door. After my mother's death, these four people have been my only family and the people who have protected me from every danger I can't help attracting to my person.
My heart is warmed at the feeling of being loved and protected in my memory and I whip out my wand and mutter, "Expecto Patronum!"
Not wanting to let go of the memory just yet, I keep my eyes closed and stay with my family a bit longer. However, the loud mutterings and shouts around me force me to open my eyes and look around at the source.
I open my eyes to find myself surrounded by light. Wait, patronuses! As in plural. Am I dreaming? I blink and look again. It's definitely four patronuses surrounding me from all sides. A magnificent stag, a mighty looking grim, a full grown wolf and a huge serpent. They are all facing away from me, guarding me as if looking out for any danger that even dares to venture towards me. It is all so surreal, almost like I'm in a dream.
My heart warms again as I comprehend what my patronuses represent. They all represent each one of my protectors, my guardians who would go to any lengths to shield me from harm. I am lucky to have four such people in my life. Ha, take that Professor!
Even the professor has decided to abandon his mask and he is looking at the conjured animals in surprise. I can spot the flash of red in his eyes as I am certain he is trying to make sense of my Patronuses. Soon he is forced to address the rising commotion that the students are trying to create. Wow, even Draco Malfoy is gaping! Oh, I am finally enjoying this class for once.
"Silence, students! I have to admit I have never seen a wizard conjure multiple Patronuses before, Mr. Potter. I won't go back on my word, so take forty points for Gryffindor!" The professor grudgingly speaks to the class.
Wow, I've never earned that many points from professor Riddle before. Today is definitely my lucky day for sure! I can't help grinning in delight.
"Now, what are you all waiting for? You know the incantation. You have just seen the demonstration. Now, get to work!" The professor instructs the rest of the class. The patronuses dissolve after my concentration slips and I return back to my place with a proud head.
I watch happily as my classmates struggle to cast the Charm. Some of them have succeeded in producing white mists, but none of them are even close to a corporeal form. I can see the professor instructing some disheartened students in his usual patient manner. But then, I have to give in to Ron and Hermione's pleading looks and try to help them come up with their own patronus.
"Think about a happy memory, guys. Not just any happy memory; it has to be powerful enough and must affect you deeply. Now, let it fill you up and channel that positive energy into the charm." I instruct both of them in a low voice.
After some more persuasions and memory suggestions from me, an otter and a weasel sweep through the classroom, catching the jealous looks of other unsuccessful students. Ron and Hermione are simply glowing with happiness.
"You could make a good teacher, Potter!"
The quiet comment from behind me takes me by surprise. It just has to be professor Riddle who can sneak up on me like this.
"Too bad I want to be an Auror, like my father!" I shoot back, without thinking much.
"Now that's a dangerous and reckless job, something that will suit you very well." He teases. I have to roll my eyes at that.
He continues. "Don't think I've forgotten about your inattentiveness in my class, Potter!"
"I'll be by Mr. Filtch's office by…?" I ask, looking into his smug brown eyes defiantly. I haven't troubled the caretaker since the term started anyway. It wasn't really a punishment for me. Well, the real punishment would be to be in the professor's company aside from the classes. I shudder internally at the thought, but keep my expression neutral.
There's a flash of red in his eyes. I didn't say that aloud, did I? I'm quite sure I didn't. Wait, there's no way the professor can read my mind, can he? That would definitely explain many things. My eyes narrow in suspicion.
He smirks knowingly in reply and I stare at him in shock. Can it really be possible? Is professor Riddle a Legillimens?
"My office, Mr. Potter. And leave the time upto me." he says, before sweeping away to a struggling Neville, leaving me stunned for a bit.
I have to be the first student to have ever earned a personal detention with him. I mean, the rest of the students would be dying for the 'opportunity' but I know very well that I am in trouble. This man has been barely tolerating me in his classes, that too in front of everyone else, for these last four years. What is he going to do once there's no one around for him to pretend? And why did he have to be a Legillimen of all people! I'll need to talk to Uncle Severus for his expertise in mind arts, but even I know that there is no way I can learn Occlumency before my detention.
There, my good day is officially over!
Okay, so should I continue this story? What do you think; please leave a review!