I do not own Tom Riddle, Hogwarts, or any other things found in the Harry Potter books. It all belongs to J K Rowling.
Chapter 8
Professor Dumbledore
Samirah sat next to Tom at the lunch table laughing hysterically.
"That was hilarious!" She laughed wiping away tears from her eyes. "I mean did you see his face? It'll take that one a while to get over a thrashing like that."
"Did you really put someone in a mental hospital?" Luke Delmaur asked sitting across from Samirah. Joseph Piddly sat across from Tom.
"Two people actually." Tom responded honestly.
"Why?" Piddly asked his eyes widening with fear and his voice in a high pitch whine.
"Because they whined to much. I hate people who whine. I hate them with an over whelming passion. I notice you have quite a whine on you; Piddly, was it?" Tom smiled a truly evil smile. Piddly backed up and nearly fell out of his chair. Luke laughed.
"Relax kid. He's only joking. But really, why did you do it?" Tom hesitated.
"It was very complicated circumstances." He answered carefully.
"Well what were the circumstances?" Samirah asked. Tom frowned.
"What is with all these questions?" He demanded. Luke shrugged.
"We're just curious I guess." He responded.
"Well I don't like curiosity. And I definitely don't like people who get into other people's business." Tom snapped.
"Well you're a charming one aren't you?" Samirah laughed. Tom shook his head. He didn't want to be charming. He wanted to be left alone. Samirah seemed to gather as much, because she began asking Luke several questions. He responded and Tom staid quiet through out the remainder of the meal. Luke didn't seem too bad. Nosey, but not too bad. Piddly was a moron; a complete and total moron.
After lunch, Luke, Samirah, and Piddly walked with Tom to their next class, herbology. Herbology was taught by a wizard by the name of Ember Root. Professor Root was a tall and scrawny teacher whose fingernails were disgustingly dirty. His robes too were covered in mud. He wore thick glasses and had thinning greasy hair. He spoke rapidly and was very enthused about the class. The class took place outside in one of the green houses. The lesson began with Professor Root introducing himself and then he went immediately into a project about growing different plants. Tom personally didn't think herbology was a very interesting class, but then again he supposed that one did need it to complete potions. So in away, herbology and potions sort of went to together. Nevertheless, it was not on Tom's best classes list.
The next class was history of magic, which was taught by Professor Everette Binns. Binns was also tall, but had a very dull and droning voice. He was a very old man, but seemed strict. He too started lesson after an introduction, but it was boring and seemed to go on for ages. The old man went on and on about the first wizards on Earth and their first encounters with muggles. As much as Tom tried to pay attention, he found himself more interested in Samirah's and Luke's conversation about burning the History of Magic book using different charm spells that they were looking up.
Tom's last class before dinner was transfiguration. This class was taught by the young wizard Tom had noticed the night before; the one with the long auburn hair and the twinkling blue eyes. His name was Professor Albus Dumbledore and he was head of Ravenclaw house. He began the class by making everyone stand up and say their name. The Slytherins were having class with the Ravenclaws yet again. After this, Professor Dumbledore gave a speech that he said was about transfiguration, but Tom wasn't so sure. He didn't understand a word of it. The wizard had been in the front of the classroom facing the class. He began by clearing his throat.
"Now class I know you all must be trembling with anticipation now that you are at Hogwarts. And most importantly now in transfiguration lessons." Here he smiled. "The art of transfiguration is simple, yet complex. You will never master the art of transfiguration no matter how hard you try. It is unmasterable. The most genius of geniuses have tried and failed. You see, the art is so complexed, that people fail to see the simplicity of it. Without understanding the complexities of the simplistics involving the art, you can never master it. And since no man or woman has yet to do this, including myself, it is safe to say that no one will ever master the art of transfiguration." Half of the class's mouths were hanging open and everyone was staring at Professor Dumbledore as if he were completely mad. Hayden Biggs cleared his throat and raised his hand.
"Ah, Mr. Biggs, have you got a question." Dumbledore asked him.
"Uh, yes." Biggs stood up. "I'm afraid I don't quite understand professor. Are you saying that we won't be able to master transfiguration because it's too complex to comprehend, or are you saying that we won't be able to master it because everyone makes it more complex then it is, hence making it simple?" He asked. Tom glared at him, as did all the Slytherins. The Ravenclaws smiled, pleased that one of their house members had come up with something to counter with this professor. Or so they thought.
"I'm saying neither Mr. Biggs."
"N n neither Professor?" Biggs stuttered.
"Neither." He responded, still smiling. Samirah stood.
"I think Professor Dumbledore is saying that because transfiguration is so complexed, we'll never be able to see the simplicity in it." She said looking at Biggs. Her tone had been one of sweetness, but obviously coated in sarcasm. Nevertheless Professor Dumbledore nodded.
"Precisely Miss Kellen." He said. "Very well, now that we have that taken care of let us move on." He turned began walking to his desk but was stopped by Biggs' cry.
"But Professor that's exactly what I said!" He protested.
"No. It's exactly what I said. I believe it was a quote, well, perhaps a paraphrase. And the fact the Miss Kellen could recall nearly my exact words, proves that she was listening attentively." The Professor turned again.
"You don't even know what that rubbish means." Biggs hissed to Samirah as he sat down.
"No. But at least I repeated rubbish someone else said, instead of making up my own rubbish that I didn't understand." She hissed back.
"I understood every word of what I said." He countered.
"Sure you did. And Dumbledore's speech was crystal clear." Biggs glared at Samirah and was about to respond when Dumbledore spoke again.
"Let's open the books to page 5 and go over several basic guidelines for transfiguration." Everyone opened their books with Biggs and Samirah still staring daggers at each other. Tom thought that Biggs deserved the tongue lashing for trying to be better then everyone else. Biggs didn't understand that ridiculous speech anymore then he or the rest of the class did. But then, maybe they weren't supposed to, Tom reasoned.
"Mr. Riddle." The professor called out. Tom looked up sharply. "Won't you be joining us?"
"Sorry." Tom muttered and opened his book. Dumbledore nodded and began to read from the book. As he did, Tom watched him. There was something about this man, something Tom couldn't quite put his finger on. Perhaps it was his presence, or the various manor in which he spoke or did things. Whatever it was, this something made Tom nervous. And nothing made Tom nervous. Not a person, not a thing, not an animal. Yet this man did. And that in itself, made Tom even more nervous.
"He's a complete loon." Samirah declared in the hall as the quartet containing herself, Luke, Tom and Piddly proceeded to the Great Hall for dinner. "I don't understand why Professor Dellian doesn't just fire him. He's crazy."
"Don't you mean Professor Dippet?" Piddly asked looking at her.
"Ha! Professor Dippet? You must be joking." She stopped walking and turned around, now facing the three boys. "That old fool is completely out of it. Professor Dellian's the real ruler of the school, that's for sure. She's the brains behind everything, she tells him what to do, and he does it. It's just that simple."
"She seems pretty intelligent to me." Luke commented.
"She is. So what?" Samirah asked.
"Well, if Dumbledore were really crazy, then I'm sure she'd see it, and have him fired."
"So you're saying he isn't crazy." Samirah asked with a smirk. Luke shrugged.
"Dellian seems to think he's pretty sane." He answered. Piddly gasped.
"What if she doesn't have a choice?" Samirah, Luke, and Tom looked over at Piddly.
"What are you talking about?" Tom asked with his eyebrows raised.
"Well," He began. " What if Professor Dumbledore is forcing Professor Dellian to keep him here."
"How and why would he be doing that?" Luke asked, his eyebrows raised as well.
"Professor Dumbledore could be a Dark Wizard!" Here, Tom almost laughed, but contained himself. "He could be forcing Professor Dellian to keep him on, saying that if she fires him, he'll kill her and her entire family! He wants to stay at Hogwarts to keep track of all the students, because, since he's a Dark Wizard, he wants to know what they're doing and all about their families and things like that! Being in the position that he's in, he can find out anything he wants! Then he'll find out where everyone lives, and what their parents do and soon, he'll take control of the Ministry by slowly killing off each wizarding family one-by-one! Once he has control of the Ministry, he'll take England, then Ireland, then Scotland, and then, the world!!" The three of them stared at Piddly absolutely bewildered. Then Luke and Samirah burst out laughing. Tom had to bite his tongue very hard to keep from doing the same.
"What?" Piddly said looking surprised at their reaction. "You don't think that's it?"
"Piddly, there is absolutely no possible way they could be even the least bit true. It's impossible." Tom answered shaking his head.
"Well now Mr. Riddle, nothing is impossible." Came a voice from behind the group. They spun around and found Albus Dumbledore standing less then three feet from them. Piddly's jaw dropped and now dangled far below its normal resting point, as he struggled to breath, his eyes widened. "Just improbable." Dumbledore added. He stepped forward. "I'm delighted to tell you Mr. Piddly, that I am in fact, not a Dark Wizard. Though Miss Kellen I'm afraid I may be a bit mad." He shrugged. "But then again who isn't? Well I best be heading off to dinner, as best you. See you in class tomorrow." Professor Dumbledore walked past them and turned the corner. Even Tom couldn't keep from laughing at this one. Piddly however was not laughing; he was in fact, trembling.
"I'm going to be expelled." He whispered dramatically.
"That's the least of your concerns. Think about you and your family. You'll all be killed soon!" Samirah shrilled between her laughs, causing herself and the other two boys to laugh harder.
"Well I'm glad you think it's funny 'cause I don't!" Piddly declared angrily. He stomped off, tripping and nearly falling and he turned the corner.
"What's so funny?" Someone asked coming up from behind the now trio. They turned again, but this time saw Ana Roth. Just behind her were the other Slytherin first year girls, Christina Adren, Lyndsay Johnson, and Lucille Landover.
"Nothing." Samirah said quickly clearing her throat and wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Well if nothing makes you laugh like that, imagine what a joke would do." Lucille joked. She, Lyndsay, and Christina laughed. Ana smiled.
"After dinner the four of us are going to study in the library. Do you guys want to join us?" She asked
"It's only been one day, and we weren't given any homework in any class." Luke pointed out. "What could you possibly have to study?"
"It never hurts to work a head you know." Christina said crossly.
"So will you come?" Ana asked again.
"You know, I think I'll pass." Samirah said folding her arms.
"I think I'll start my Christmas shopping. Never hurts to start early." Luke said. Christina glared at him.
"What about you Tom?" Ana asked turning to him.
"I don't think so." He answered. Ana looked down at the ground, then back up at Tom and she smiled.
"Well if any of you change your minds we'll be there for a few hours. See you around." She said cheerfully. She walked past with the other three girls following after. As soon as she had disappeared Samirah shook her head.
"See! See! Did you see how mindless they are? Especially that Lucille. Ug, she's the worst! You probably didn't notice, but she made a joke! I'm serious! And she thought it was funny!"
"I don't like Christina. Did you see the way she was glaring at me? She needs an attitude adjustment, or maybe a personality adjustment. Speaking of personality, what's with that one girl? Ana isn't it? She's really weird." Luke commented.
"Tell me about it. The girl is a total nut case. She's always cheerful and junk, just like that. All the time! The girl is totally cra…"
"Don't you think you've called enough people crazy for one day." Tom smirked. Samirah automatically looked back, before remembering Ana had just disappeared in front of her. Luke laughed.
"Ha ha. Very funny Riddle." She said.
"Come on, let's go to dinner, I'm starved." Luke said turning. Samirah and Tom followed him into the Great Hall. As they entered, Dumbledore looked over at them, and smiled. Tom looked back, and officially decided he did not like that man at all.