( A/N: LAST CHAPTER! AND PLEASE REVIEW! If you don't like my story, too bad. But I haven't gotten any flames so far. So read. And review. Please..? BTW, I'm probably going to go on with the story in another fanfic....Like continue it. )
Chapter Twelve
Harry, Hermione, and Ron began walking to the dungeons at the time of Potions class. For once in their lives, and probably the only time ever, the Gryffindors were overexcited to be going to Potions class. As they entered the dungeons, the usual coldness swept over them as if they had suddenly plunged into freezing water.
Snape was pacing back and forth between his desk and the secret room where the dangerous ingredients were held. His face was grim and his hair was sloppy, much like Harry's, but with more of an evil look.
"Wow, he doesn't look too good.." Hermione stated, her eyes staring straight at Snape, who was now, trembling in his seat.
"Yeah, Hermione, you're right." Ron and Harry both agreed and for once, they did feel quite sorry for him.
As all the Gryffindors entered the room jovial, they sat down in a saddened manner. They were all caring and thoughtful, for that is why they were placed in Gryffindor, so their instincts jumped in to feel pity and sorrow at the same time.
"Hello all, Gryffindors, Slytherins. Today, as you all know, is the last Potions class of this summer program. Although it is only the beginning of August and your 5th year starts on September 1st, you will be free to do anything you would like and get ready and organized for the year during this month." Snape's voice was dreary and along with the usual coldness, it was accompanied by a mournful and grave tone.
"I am supposed to teach you how to make a Rubbergate potion, but seeing of the details of yesterday's occurrences, it seems I am excused from that duty." At this, Snape took a deep breath and Hermione could not have been mistaken when she saw a tear form in his eye.
"I am no longer to be your Potions teacher. Headmaster Dumbledore has said it would only be for a year, yet I do not believe him. His tone was grave, and if it was only for a year, he would have been more jovial about it. For some very odd reason, your headmaster has summoned a very..uncommon man to replace me." Snape explained, his eyes looking to every one of the students, pausing on Malfoy and Potter, who were at adjacent tables.
"Your new Potions professor is here today, and I am supposed to introduce him, unfortunately. He went to school with me, a year ahead, and also in Slytherin." At this, all the Slytherins' faces formed a greedy smile, thinking they would get the advantage of the new professor.
"His name is--" Snape was cut short by a shriek and soft footsteps coming down the steps. To all of the Gryffindor's disappointment, it was indeed Professor Darinsta, making uproar of her footsteps upon the stone steps leading towards the dungeons at which class was in session.
"Severus, oh Severus! Do help me! Professor Riddle is after me, I do say!" She shrieked yet again, and at the sound of the common Riddle name, every single student in the dungeons jumped and many of the girls screamed. Whispers flew across the room and heads turned all whispering the same thing.
"Did she say Riddle?"
"A Riddle shall teach us?"
"That's insane!"
Nearly all the students were now standing, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the first three at the door, watching as Darinsta ran back into another one of the dungeons, screaming for help.
"Ah! Oh dear, there he is!" Darinsta said, and at first nobody saw anything at where she was pointing, until a cackling came from the air, and a tiny poltergeist appeared.
"Muhahaha! I got you indeed, I did! First scare, this is! Bwahaha! I am truly the most malevolent poltergeist to be!" It was Peeves. Every Gryffindor groaned and headed back to their seats. Peeves, the horrible Hogwarts Poltergeist, who wanders the halls and plays prank jokes on them, was still there.
"I thought they kicked him out!" Hermione began conversation with Alex, who, presumably, had not gone to see what was causing the problems.
"Where is Filch when you need him..?" Snape mumbled, and to his surprise, a sniveling voice came from down the hall.
"What in the world is this entire racket? I daresay, Peeves, I thought you were kicked out! How ever did you get back here, you rotting presence!" Argus Filch's voice seemed to carry throughout the whole school, and was much more horrible as it was nearing you.
"That horrible ghost has scared me to death! It posed as the new Potions teacher and chased me down here, the terrible menace! How dare he!" Darinsta screamed, her voice hoarse from yelling all the times before.
"Do calm down, Professor! I fear the wrath of Peeves, but he is here to stay it seems." Snape replied, trying to console the professor who was near going mad.
"Peeves, go back to your hiding area, wherever it may be, or I will fetch the Bloody Baron on you if I die doing it!" Filch screamed, turned on his heel, and walked away from the scene. His pestering cat, Mrs. Norris, stayed and eyed everyone at the event of disturbance with her lamp-like yellow eyes, and soon trotted off, meowing incessantly.
"As I was saying before the Defense against Dark Arts teacher came screaming into my room madly, you do indeed have a new Potions professor." Snape's voice was yet again tedious and he sat down in his chair, only to be stared at by many pupils.
"A very unwise choice indeed by Professor Dumbledore, he is, in fact, Peril Riddle." Snape sighed, and gestured for the new teacher to come out from the storage area.
"Peril, what a great name..I'm sure he'll be real nice to us Gryffindors.." Ron mumbled to Harry and Hermione, who nodded in agreement.
Out of the shadows walked a tall man in dark emerald robes. His eyes were a pale gray and he was grinning at the look on the students' faces. His hair was deep brown and messed up in the utmost worst possible way.
"Well if it isn't good ole' Hogwarts.." He whispered, looking around the dungeons in supreme happiness. His eyes twinkled much like Dumbledore's and his name seemed to be complete opposite of himself.
"If you all are wondering, my brother is the Dark Lord, and I am most unlike him in every aspect." He smiled a gleeful smile and wandered around the room, mumbling about how it's changed over the years. The students sat and stared in confusion and looked at each other inquisitively.
"He seems..happy!" Hermione whispered, and Ron looked at her with raised eyebrows.
"Hermione, you are strange.." Ron muttered so only Harry could hear, and then looked up to Riddle, who was pacing backwards and forwards, his arms open as if accepting a hug.
"You are a strange, strange man, sir." Malfoy said, which made Riddle stop dead in his tracks, walking towards Malfoy with curiosity. Malfoy backed his chair up and stared at him with horror.
"A Malfoy, I daresay! Lucius was quite a student, when it comes to being Head Boy!" He yelled, which made every student, both Gryffindor and Slytherin, bend over with laughter.
"Head Boy! Malfoy, you should take after your father's steps!" Alex said, talking at last, a large smile plastered upon his face.
"Hey! You shut up, right now Black!" Malfoy screamed, drawing the attention of everyone in the room, and Snape nearly fell over.
"Black? Excuse me?" Snape said, his eyes wide open with terror as he stared at Alex, who was blushing uncontrollably.
"Yessir, Black, and you would know that if you looked at the student roster once in awhile." Alex said, which made Harry, Hermione, and Ron all give him an appraising look.
"Well, well, well, aren't you the courageous one." Snape mumbled, his frown nor forming into a wicked grin.
"Leave the boy alone, Severus." A calming voice came from the door, only to be Professor Darinsta, staring at him with eyes of fire.
"Well, whatever you say, Acandra dear." Snape and Riddle, along with most of the boys, were staring at her.
"What is she, a Veela?" Hermione mumbled, but, unfortunately, Darinsta heard her and looked towards Hermione's table.
"No, dear, I am not at all a Veela. Come to the hall, dear, and only you. Now." She demanded, and Hermione shrugged and went out there, holding her want at her side, just in case.
In the hall, Darinsta stared at her oddly. Hermione narrowed her eyes and folded her arms, her wand now in her pocket.
"You're an intelligent, dear, I daresay. Why not in Ravenclaw..?" She questioned Hermione, who stood there, for once not knowing an answer.
"I didn't choose my house, ma'am. It was the Sorting Hat, so it must've had some reason to place me in Gryffindor." Hermione said, smiling because she found an answer at last.
"Well, as I was saying, I am from the Academy of Talented Witches in Athens, Greece. My divination professor provided me with the gift of having an incantation upon me that allows me to enchant men. But I do believe, you knew that?" She questioned, and Hermione stood there, eyes still narrowed but at level, for they were almost the same height.
"Yes, I did. Of course, who knows, you may just lie." Hermione stated, and turned to walk back into the classroom, only to be stopped by Snape in the doorway, carrying luggage.
"I was just leaving, as I said to the class. Dear Granger, intelligent Granger. I might never see you again! G'day madam!" He trotted off, looking just a bit happier than he did an hour ago.
"Why, goodbye Severus." Darinsta stated, and Hermione believed she saw him tremble. She rolled her eyes and walked back into the classroom, which was silent, for Riddle was explaining how to begin a Rubbergate potion.
"Now, you see, you only add a teaspoon of the Boggart Dust, for too much would cause it to burst out!" It seemed Riddle added more enthusiasm to teaching potions than Snape ever would have.
"No, no, Mr. Goyle! Do not try to amuse yourself by throwing Wolf Claws at me." He turned around, and caught the flying claws in a cauldron, and the class gasped.
"How did he know...?" Ron asked, looking at Harry, who shrugged and shook his head.
"Oh dear, out of time." Riddle said, and at a wave of his wand, everybody's cauldron was sparkling clean and ready for him or her to put away.
"Wow, Professor Riddle, you rock!" Lavender giggled towards him, and then returned to packing away her things.
He turned swiftly towards her and smiled a dreadful smile, yet for some odd reason, a smile that made Lavender feel warm inside. She nearly collapsed at the sight of him.
"Honestly, he isn't even as good-looking as Sirius or Alex!" Hermione mumbled, and Harry looked at her with a grin on his face.
"Oh, Hermione like Sirius! I've got to tell him this. Oh, no wait, I'll tell Alex first!" Harry said and ran towards Alex, only to notice his bag split open.
"Hermione..!" He mumbled and began picking up his things. Hermione seemed to be the only person who noticed Riddle staring oddly at Harry, his eyes narrowed with another malicious grin on his face.
"I didn't do anything, Harry! Honestly!" She said, still looking at Riddle until he drew his eyes to her, which made her jump back, grab Ron's shoulder, and nearly scream.
"Hermione, what are you doing?" He mumbled, rolling his eyes, although Harry knew he felt happy inside.
"Er, sorry Ron. Nothing, nothing.." She mumbled and ran towards the Gryffindor Common Room.
"What's into her?" Ron asked, and Harry shrugged. They walked off towards where they kept the owls, and as they got there, Harry whistled and Hedwig came flying down. Ron motioned with his hand, and Pig shot down from the top rafters.
"Are you writing to Sirius? I'm going to write to mum." Ron said, and began scribbling on a note and attached it to Pig's leg.
"Now, Pig, go to mum. Don't get lost, you." He said to Pig, who ruffled his feathers in response, and took off, after Hedwig.
"Well, off we go to get ready for our 5th year. It seems like we already are in it! Just about everyone had showed up either at the beginning or a little later of the program." Harry said, and nudged Ron's elbow. The two boys walked out towards Gryffindor Common Room, meeting up with Alex and Hermione. All four walked off, joking each other in a friendly way, towards what now seemed to Harry, as the best place on Earth to be during the reign of Lord Voldemort.
