Author's note: So here it is, the second chapter! Hope you all enjoy! I already have the first six chapters written. It just all depends on what time I have to type them out, you know with school and all, and exams coming up soon.

Fanficaholic: Thank you for being my first reviewer! I hope that you still enjoy reading and that I don't disappoint you or anyone else!

2. Bad First Impressions

September 1st arrived at last. The weather was little better than it had been on her prior visit, but at least upon entering the castle she had not come across another unanticipated downpour. Instead of meeting the school's poltergeist, she met its headmaster. He smiled cheerfully at her, but Tomarra could see past his heartening façade enough to know that he still was not too sure of her. It looked like she would have to do some extra good work to prove herself fully trustworthy.

She didn't—couldn't—blame him though. After all, it was her father's reputation that preceded her. She had been the secret no one had known about, and now the secret was between herself and Dumbledore. Only until she was introduced at the feast anyway.

Now Tomarra was following the elderly man to the Great Hall. She had taken the train and jumped ahead of the others, so the first students would not be much longer. The magnificent room was like nothing she had ever seen before—or at least it would have been had the ceiling not depicted the stormy sky outside. The banners above each of the tables were fascinating, each bearing a different animal and color scheme. When they reached the staff table, Dumbledore showed Tomarra to her proper seat. An empty seat was between the two of them. A few of the other professors gave her encouraging smiles, which Tomarra forced herself to return; these smiles would become scowls once their owners discovered her identity. If the most benevolent man in the world barely trusted her for what she was, she wasn't in any hurry to find how the others would be.

The doors opened and the older students filed into the room. A familiar voice beside her said, "Well, if it isn't Miss Not Important." It belonged to the man she had met on her interview date; he was scowling at the students that were sitting down and did not look at her.

"So you teach here too?" she asked him.

He nodded and responded, "Potions. And let me guess," he started in a sardonic tone, turning his head slightly, "Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

"That obvious, is it?" she asked as she nervously surveyed the room. He stared at her for a moment. She wished he wouldn't. It only made Tomarra more nervous.

The doors opened yet again, and a witch leading a long line of first years walked in. Bringing up the rear was a large man who looked like he could be part giant. He left the line and sat down at one end of the staff table; meanwhile, the black-haired witch down below placed an old, ratty wizard's hat on a stool. A large rip opened wide and it began to sing:

It happened many years ago

When Hogwarts first began

The founders had pupils to sort

And came up with a plan

They took me off of Godric's head

And crammed some brains in me

So that I could choose the Houses

Where the students were to be

For Gryffindor there always were the daring and the brave

This is where you ought to be if it's adventure that you crave.

And Slytherin, his lot was sly

With only pure backgrounds

If power is what you really want

It is here you might be found

Ravenclaw, she wanted those

Who were clever and real bright

If wisdom be what you desire

This place would be just right!

And of course was Hufflepuff

Whose group was fair and loyal

This is where you may belong

If unjustness makes you boil

This separation worked out shortly

At the very start

But being disunited

Caused these four friends to break apart

Like I've said before

I'm not sure this is right

But this is what I was created for:

To sort you all tonight!

Tomarra clapped with the rest of the Hall. The witch took out a long scroll of parchment and cleared her throat. The applauding stopped. After a quick glance at the cluster of first years in front of her she called out, "Aunten, Obbrey." A rather tall young girl with long dark brown hair and matching eyes emerged from the crowd of tightly packed students. Tomarra watched curiously as Obbrey Aunten nervously sat down and placed the hat on her head. It instantly cried out "Hufflepuff!" and the girl was received with welcoming applause from a nearby table. This went on until at last the final student (Liana Zilks, a new Ravenclaw) had been sorted out.

Dumbledore stood up, beaming at the students and staff alike. "First," he said in his cheery voice, "I would like to welcome our new students to Hogwarts as well as the rest of you back! There is much more to say, but first, we feast!" There were a few thankful cheers given after this last statement as the headmaster sat down. Tomarra stared open-mouthed down at the table where the once empty platters were now heaped with food. She had never seen so magnificent a feast in her life. The witch who had been in charge of the sorting ceremony sat down in the empty seat between the new professor and Headmaster. She laughed at the amazed look on the younger woman's face as Tomarra filled her plate with the most delicious looking foods she could find. "So you are the new Defense professor?" the woman asked, and Tomarra nodded "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and Transfiguration teacher."

"Oh," Tomarra said, brow raised, as she shook the professor's hand. "I'm," she paused for a moment to look past Minerva at Albus. He gave her a reassuring smile and nod, and Tomarra could feel the curious gaze of the Potions Master upon her. "Tomarra Riddle," she finished. A look of surprise crossed Minerva's face and the Defense professor quickly took back her hand. She turned her head back down to her plate and through the corner of her eye saw Severus Snape give her an interested look, his eyebrows raised.

"Albus," Minerva inquired quietly, and Tomarra strained her ears to hear what the woman was saying. She heard the headmaster set down his fork and say, "Yes, Minerva, I know."

"Of course you know," she responded. Yet you still hired her…and without consulting the rest of us first?"

"Nonsense, Minerva. There is no reason she should not be allowed to teach here."

"But, Albus—her father!"

Tomarra had heard enough. She dropped her silverware onto her hardly touched plate of food, letting them clatter loudly against the plate before falling to the floor—a move that attracted the attention of the entire table and quite a few of the students. "Excuse me, Professor," Tomarra snapped angrily, "but I would hardly think that he was relevant as to whether I had possessed the ability to teach here or not!"

Minerva McGonagall looked utterly shocked, but Tomarra could have sworn that Dumbledore had given her a small wink and smile before returning to his own plate.

"You might want to control that nasty little temper of yours if you don't want everyone to judge you by your father."

She glared at the man beside her, but he didn't give her a single glance in return. Tomarra didn't speak for the rest of the feast. She didn't look up from her plate until the dishes had cleared themselves and Dumbledore stood once more to speak. "Now that we are full, it is time for me to speak. First of all, the Forbidden Forrest is exactly what it's name implies—forbidden—and that due to a few unfortinate events last year, anyone who goes near it may not come back alive." There was some murmuring after this announcement and some of the students exchanged smirks) "Also please remember that magic in the hallways is prohibited. Our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has informed me that many of the items from the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, as wonderful and they are, have been added to the list of banned items. The full list can be found on his office door, and I would advise some of you to look at it. Also, I would like to welcome to our midst, our new Defense Agains the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Riddle."

There was a light round of applause from the students, and as she looked around the room, she saw that her earlier predictions were not far off; the rest of the staff either stared wide-eyed at her or glared. It seemed that a few of the students had heard of her dear old dad too, primarily at the Slytherin and Gryffindor tables. Those at Slytherin merely smirked at her, but the four Gryffindors who seemed to realize what she was—one in particular who seemed as though she would faint—stared at her as though she was the foulest thing to walk the planet. Next thing she knew, the horde of students and professors were leaving, and she hurried out of the hall to her own private chambers.

So, how am I doing so far? Please review, and flames don't bother me one bit!