"Robert, did you do what I asked you to do?"
"Shackleton, when have I ever done what you asked me to do?"
Robert struggled desperately to hold in the guffaw that wanted to escape at the look on the other man's face.
"Robert, I gave you a direct order. Find out what happened to that kitten or I will need to bring your insubordination to the Headmaster's attention."
When the other man stalked off without waiting for a witty retort, Binns scowled at his retreating back. When the other man began his descent of the main staircase, Binns regained some of his earlier good humor. Removing a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans from a pocket inside his robes, he emptied the bag's entire contents onto the other man's head as he passed underneath.
"Bloody hell!"
The sight of the many flavored beans cascading onto the Deputy Headmaster's head, the way they pinged off of him in any number of directions, the way he lost his footing and stumbled down two of the steps before being tossed back up them by the wards preventing anyone from falling down the staircases in the castle was too much for the History of Magic Professor. His guffaw could be contained no longer.
He realized perhaps he should not have lingered so long to bask in Shackleton's reaction when the Deputy Headmaster looked up at him.
"Robert?!"
"Hooligans! It was hooligans. I saw them. There were hooligans."
"Robert!"
Hooligans! Hooligans!" Binns repeated as he beat a hasty escape down a different staircase back to his dungeon rooms.
Almost there he turned his head to see if Shackleton was in pursuit and ran right into Head Boy Tom Riddle.
"Do watch where you are going, Riddle!"
Still looking over his shoulder, Binns pondered his options. He may have finally been too overt in his disrespect of the Deputy Headmaster. He looked appraisingly at young Riddle before concluding Shackleton would never believe Mr. Riddle was a hooligan and responsible for the incident on the staircase. Instead, he moved to his second plan.
"Mr. Riddle, find the cat Mr. McGonagall left here. Speak to Deputy Headmaster Shackleton for the necessary address and owl it back to the McGonagall's. Be certain to mention I instructed you to do so."
Binns thought nothing at the time of the way Mr. Riddle seemed to clutch the kitten in his arms closer after Binns's request. After all, by the size of it, that kitten clearly was not the same one. Although now that he thought about it, Mr. Riddle's familiar seemed no larger than the first time he noticed it in class a few weeks ago. Perhaps he should recommend Mr. Riddle take his familiar to be examined by Professor...Professor…well the one without all his fingers, whatever his name was. He was just about to do so when Mr. Riddle intruded upon his thoughts.
"Not a problem, sir. I know exactly where the cat is and will have her owled out this afternoon."
Binns beamed at the young man before continuing on to seek sanctuary in his private rooms.
"Marvelous! Two points to Slytherin."
############################################
As soon as he entered the room, the young man set the gray and black kitten down on her pillow and moved to his writing desk. What he wrote was beyond the scope of vision of the one doing the observing. His words, however, were perfectly audible as he placed a gentle kiss on the already sleeping kitten before departing the room without her.
"Don't worry, Kitten. You are mine now and I won't ever let anyone take you away from me."
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###########################################
He cringed at the recollections the tea cups brought to mind. It had been a long time since the young man had tried this spell. It wasn't that he had given up, but the gray and black kitten had demanded the vast majority of his time and attention since her arrival. It would seem that now that she had finally gotten her way and was no longer relegated to spending most of the day alone, she was willing to allow the young man some personal time.
The lack of practice had done little more to improve his results than the period of constant practice had. No matter how many times the spell was attempted, the young man could only properly transfigure at best one animal each try.
The cawing of the lion made the kitten's ears twitch. She picked up her head; the sleep entirely gone from her gray eyes as soon as she caught sight of the lion. That there was no tail to pounce on did not prevent the kitten from pouncing.
The young man's control over the creatures was as imperfect as their transfigurations. The snake eyed the distracted kitten. As well formed as the snake was, it was still malformed enough that the young man's snake speak was useless against it. The young man grabbed the kitten by the loose flesh of her neck just as the snake struck.
"Finite Incantatem!"
Having darted off the table as a snake, one of the teacups shattered on the floor.
"Reparo!"
One hand kept the kitten on his lap by caressing her jaw line while the other still held his wand.
"You stay here with me, Kitten. I won't have anything happening to you."
So long as the hand was still working on her, the kitten was content to remain. The kitten watched intently as the young man repeated the spell.
She appeared to realize it was the imperfections of the creatures that prevented her from being able to join the lion. On the young man's second attempt she did something. From up above the fireplace the room's third presence had a perfect view of the ongoings, but still couldn't determine what she had done. Whatever it was caused quite a reaction from the young man. He halted mid-incantation. The abruptness of his standing caused the little kitten to tumble to the carpet. The young man's voice, his whole body language was uncertain.
"What was that?"
His hand trailed through his hair.
"You did that. But what was it?"
The kitten was not at all pleased at being so unceremoniously unseated. She merely hissed in response to the questions.
The young man frowned. His voice was slightly annoyed as he gently scooped her back up.
"Don't hiss at me."
His frown set in as she scraped her claws against him to more clearly demonstrate her displeasure with him, but he made no action against her. He merely accepted it as his penance. This time when he started the spell, he jerked slightly but remained seated and continued through the words.
The abruptness of his standing made no difference to the kitten this time, as she had already left his lap to be closer to the lion. The young man watched her for a moment before he carefully inspected each of the other animals. Once the young man seemed confidant each was perfect, a smile lit his face. Returning his attentions to the small gray and black kitten, his smile lessened somewhat
The kitten was still fascinated by the lion. Her attempts to mimic the lion's roars would have seemed darling to most, but apparently not to the young man. It was perchance his efforts in concentration, seeking to cease the antics that so captivated the little kitten, that marred his smile. The kitten waited expectantly for another roar, which was never to come.
"Kitten, look at the snake. Never mind the silly lion. The snake is a far more interesting creature. They almost are like the houses they mean to represent. Lions try to be noble, but they really are quite simple, foolish even. Their every thought, their every action, predictable. But snakes, snakes are intriguing. You never really know what to expect with a snake. They truly are cunning."
The kitten didn't appear to hold the young man's opinion in high regard. She remained fixated upon the lion. Only when the young man's snake speak persuaded the snake to slither around to her, did the kitten take notice of it. Her back arched and her hissing mixed well with the snake's. With a sigh, the young man ended the transfiguration and gathered the angry kitten in his arms.
"Come on, Kitten. Bed time for you anyway."
********************************************
##########################################
Albus Dumbledore patted the young Ravenclaw's hand comfortingly as he retrieved the button from her desk. Ever since her familiar had disappeared a few weeks ago, the young girl had been inconsolable. Cats were curious creatures and hers was known to often wander off for days at a time, but never had she been gone this long.
The Hufflepuff next to her, Miss Bones took over trying to comfort her as Dumbledore moved past to collect the last few buttons. He had to stop himself from shaking his head as he collected Tom Riddle's button. By the way Tom's satchel shifted on his lap, it seemed obvious the boy had not paid attention to the assurances he gave weeks ago that while the transfigurations conducted in his classes were too brief to have any lasting effect on the subjects, no one was required to use his or her familiar for the experiments.
As he moved up the last row, he felt a loss of his characteristic calm, watching Tom lean over in his seat to whisper something to the Ravenclaw girl across the way. Bad humor was for him infrequent and yet, more often than not when he did get irate, the cause was Tom Riddle. Though unable to hear the actual content of Tom's speech, Dumbledore could safely make certain assumptions based upon the girl's renewed sobbing.
"Mr. Riddle, is there something you would like to share with the rest of us?"
Tom Riddle faced him with a scowl. After giving Tom a warning look, Dumbledore continued his approach back to his owl desk. He was more than a little surprised when Tom actually answered him.
"Yes, actually there is something I would like to show you."
Facing the smug young man, Albus tried to mask his own uncertainty. What was Riddle up to?
"Alright, Mr. Riddle. There are a few minutes left to class. You, I am sure, have all of our attentions."
When Tom conjured four teacups at his desk, Dumbledore tensed and drew his own wand before allowing the boy to proceed. He was more than a little apprehensive about the close proximity of the other students to what he was sure would be a very unruly and very likely dangerous transfiguration.
Dumbledore knew his students and he knew their abilities. Tom Riddle was a gifted young wizard with a remarkable amount of potential. He had made more than a fair amount of progress in his studies this year, especially in the past month or two. He was not, however, of sufficient ability to successfully complete and maintain this transfiguration. Of that Albus Dumbledore was as confidant as he was that his name was Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore and that his brother Aberforth's recent fourth marriage would end no better than the previous three had.
Thus it was a few short words later, staring at flawless replicas of the four house mascots that with raised eyebrows, he briefly entertained the possibility that his name was really Albus Percival Brian Wulfric Dumbledore or even Albus Brian Percival Wulfric Dumbledore, but surely not Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.
Tom maintained the transformation with seemingly effortlessness for several minutes before ending it. By the time the clapping, cheering, and whistling of Tom's classmates died down to a respectable level, Albus still found the sight before him to be inconceivable. He knew his students' abilities. Only a few months ago Tom Riddle had been unable to approach anything even near the power and concentration required to successfully complete such a complex spell. He was ready to admit the boy had made extraordinary progress this year, most particularly within the past few weeks, but this kind of progress didn't take months or even years, it took decades. Such a progression in his powers in that short of a time period was, well he couldn't help but go back to that same word, inconceivable.
He simply refused to concede it had occurred.
The book satchel in Tom's lap kept moving. Apparently the loud cheering had made Tom's familiar discontent to remain in it.
"Tom, I believe your cat wants to come out and see what all the commotion is for."
He said it mostly to have something to say as his mind was whirling in so many directions trying to process what he had just seen. Something about the way Tom reacted to his words made all his thoughts stop whirling. The way Tom's arrogant smirk left, leaving in its place a far less comfortable expression, the way he shifted in his seat and held the satchel all the more tightly, all these things told Dumbledore to pursue this chain of conversation and action.
"Tom, why don't you open your satchel and let your cat out?"
"I need to get to Charms."
Tom rose quickly without first pushing back his chair. He fell back into his seat as his knees knocked into the bottom of his desk.
Dumbledore used his own wand to undo the binding keeping the satchel closed. As soon as the light was out of his wand a small gray and black kitten poked its head out. She hissed briefly and swatted at her tormentor before she nimbly leaped onto the desk to inspect the once again teacups.
Albus marveled, watching her angrily swat at the teacups, one after another, until each lay shattered on the floor.
"I've seen this kitten before, Mr. Riddle. Tell me, how did she come into your possession?"
When Tom made no reply, Dumbledore was not entirely surprised.
"Class dismissed."
Riddle scooped up the kitten and made to dart to the door, but Dumbledore shook his head.
"Not you, Mr. Riddle. You come with me."
Leading the way down to the dungeons, Dumbledore could not help but repeatedly look over his shoulder, not quite believing what his eyes were seeing.
At the door to the Potion Master's classroom Riddle asked a question.
"What are you doing?"
Looking over his shoulder, seeing the desperate way Riddle held onto the little kitten, Dumbledore wondered just how knowledgeable Tom Riddle had become in the past few months.
"I should be delighted to answer your question, Mr. Riddle, if you would care to answer mine."
Seeing that Mr. Riddle had resolved not to be of any use in the matter, Dumbledore pushed open the door.
Professor Pomfrey was using a long pointer to indicate something on the blackboard and called out without looking at who had just entered the classroom.
"Ten points for every minute you were late to my class and a detention for interrupting everyone else's learning with your arrival."
Dumbledore couldn't help his eyes from twinkling, despite the circumstances.
"Tell me, Professor Pomfrey, how many detentions can I expect for not only interrupting your class, but asking you to dismiss your students entirely?"
Pomfrey blushed as he ventured a glance to the doorway.
"Professor Dumbledore, my apologies. Was there something I can be of assistance with?"
"Indeed, I hope so. Would you be so kind as to send Miss Fawcett to get Professor Shackleton, Mr. Crouch to get the Headmaster, and Mr. Nott to get Mr. Riddle's Head of House? Oh, and to dismiss the rest of your class early?"
Pomfrey frowned, but his class seemed delighted. Professor Dumbledore was popular in his own classes and it appeared he was now even more popular in Professor Pomfrey's class.
"What ever it is, can't it wait? My class has only just begun."
"No, I believe it has waited far too long already."
With a sigh and a dismissive wave of his hand, Pomfrey's class erupted into cheers that rivaled those Tom Riddle had received only a few minutes earlier. As the last of the students exited the room, Dumbledore made another request of the other professor, "Do you have any mandrake potion?"
Seeing the look that appeared briefly on the younger professor's face before he began to deny having any, it was Dumbledore's turn to wave a hand dismissively.
"No, I - "
"-Dippet only banned live mandrakes. He never said anything against cuttings or potions made from mandrakes."
Trying not to appear too obvious, Pomfrey shrugged.
"I may have a bit in my private stock. Let me go have a look."
Tom Riddle again asked his question.
"What are you doing?"
Dumbledore peered at Tom over the tops of his half-moon glasses.
"Tell me, Mr. Riddle, have you noticed anything unusual about this kitten?"
Tom's voice was cool as he replied.
"I don't know what you mean, sir."
"How long have you been in possession of this kitten, Mr. Riddle?"
When Tom again refused to answer, Dumbledore went on without a response.
"This kitten appears to be no more than four, maybe five weeks old. And yet, I would not be at all surprised if you were to tell me you have had the kitten for longer than that. You see Tom, I have seen this kitten before and if I am not mistaken, she is far older than four or five weeks, four or five months, or even four or five years."
Tom outwardly appeared a great deal less calm as he repeated his earlier response.
"I'm sure, I don't know what you mean, sir."
Watching the way the young man refused to meet his eyes, he very much doubted that was true.
"Mr. Riddle, if I discover you were aware of this and kept quiet, if I find even the slightest evidence -"
"Here we go, one vial of mandrake potion. Only three or four drops are necessary. So what did Riddle manage to do to himself that you can't undo? Not that I'm surprised, that boy is completely useless in my class. He has gone through more cauldrons in a month than I have gone thr-"
Dumbledore silenced the younger professor with only a look. Despite his own misgivings about Tom Riddle, he would not tolerate a fellow professor berating the abilities of any of the students. Rather than appear grateful for the intervention, Riddle appeared more incensed.
"It isn't for Tom, it is for the kitten."
"That does surprise me. In my class he's always careful not to let his familiar get in the way of his detonating cauldrons. What did he do to the kitten?"
Ignoring his younger colleague, Dumbledore held out a hand for the kitten. When Tom didn't turn the kitten over, he frowned.
"Tom, don't make this harder than it has to be."
"She belongs to me. I won't let you have her."
"Tom, if what I believe is true, she most definitely does not belong to you. If I am in error, the potion will have no harmful effects on her. Mandrake potion is used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state."
"Oh for Merlin's sake, just give him the bloody kitten and get on with it!" Demanded a newly arrived Professor Binns standing awkwardly in the doorway next to the Deputy Headmaster.
An irritated Professor Shackleton made inquires while moving into the classroom. "What was so important that Binns and I needed to dismiss our classes?"
"Oh please, what are you talking about? It's not like you teach anything of value."
Shackleton appeared to have had enough from the History of Magic instructor.
"For the love of Merlin, would you be quiet for once, Binns!"
Reluctantly, Tom set the kitten on the table. The kitten looked confusedly back at her former holder.
Dumbledore poured milk from his wand tip into a dish. After adding a few drops of the potion, he attempted to entice the kitten to drink it. When the kitten ignored his entreaties and began licking her paws, grooming herself instead, Tom smirked again.
"She doesn't like you. She doesn't trust you. She won't take anything you offer."
Conceding the truth of Tom's words, Dumbledore apologized in advance.
"I do sincerely apologize for such ungentlemanly treatment."
Putting one hand under her chin, he used his fingers to pry open her mouth. Even before the other hand approached with the vial, the kitten became distressed.
"Stop it, you are frightening her!"
Her teeth clamped down on the intruding fingers. Her claws protracted to gash the skin of the hand with the vial.
"Don't you hurt her!"
Watching the flesh on his hands be divided by the sharp claws, Dumbledore thought perhaps a request that she not hurt him would be more appropriate. Still, he choose to ignored Riddle's outburst. He persisted in trying to get the vial into her mouth, but as he went to tip some of the contents into her mouth, a particularly vicious assault caused him to drop the vial. Even with the vial shattered on the table and no longer a concern, the kitten boldly stepped over the shards to persevere in fully demonstrating her displeasure with the retreating Transfiguration Professor.
Dumbledore could not help but notice the pleased grin on Tom Riddle's face as the gray and black kitten added more scratches to his already heavily bleeding hands until he was out of her range.
Binns couldn't keep the mirth from his voice when he spoke.
"Alright Dumbledore, you were right. That was worth canceling my classes to see. I thank you for sending for me. Now if that is all, I will be heading back upstairs."
Riddle too sought an out.
"I'm very late for Charms class. Professor Shackleton, may my kitten and I be excused?"
Dumbledore shook his head in response.
"I don't think she actually drank any of it. Pomfrey, do you have any more of the mandrake potion?"
"Mandrake potion? What exactly are you trying for here?"
Taking a second vial from Pomfrey, Dumbledore replied, "Patience, Shacklebolt."
Determined, Dumbledore again moved into range of the hissing, spitting kitten. He disregarded Binns's suggestion and the Deputy Headmaster's responding glare.
"Now, now Dumbledore. Why don't you let Shackleton have a go at her?"
He paid no mind to the wounds on his hands and arms; having a phoenix for a familiar had its advantages. This time, despite the kitten's considerable efforts, he was confident he had managed to get some of the contents of the vial into her mouth. He massaged her throat to induce her to swallow.
"Whatever are you doing to that kitten?"
Armando Dippet wandered into the classroom just in time to see the hissing, spitting little kitten transform into a hissing, spitting little girl.
"Shackleton, when have I ever done what you asked me to do?"
Robert struggled desperately to hold in the guffaw that wanted to escape at the look on the other man's face.
"Robert, I gave you a direct order. Find out what happened to that kitten or I will need to bring your insubordination to the Headmaster's attention."
When the other man stalked off without waiting for a witty retort, Binns scowled at his retreating back. When the other man began his descent of the main staircase, Binns regained some of his earlier good humor. Removing a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans from a pocket inside his robes, he emptied the bag's entire contents onto the other man's head as he passed underneath.
"Bloody hell!"
The sight of the many flavored beans cascading onto the Deputy Headmaster's head, the way they pinged off of him in any number of directions, the way he lost his footing and stumbled down two of the steps before being tossed back up them by the wards preventing anyone from falling down the staircases in the castle was too much for the History of Magic Professor. His guffaw could be contained no longer.
He realized perhaps he should not have lingered so long to bask in Shackleton's reaction when the Deputy Headmaster looked up at him.
"Robert?!"
"Hooligans! It was hooligans. I saw them. There were hooligans."
"Robert!"
Hooligans! Hooligans!" Binns repeated as he beat a hasty escape down a different staircase back to his dungeon rooms.
Almost there he turned his head to see if Shackleton was in pursuit and ran right into Head Boy Tom Riddle.
"Do watch where you are going, Riddle!"
Still looking over his shoulder, Binns pondered his options. He may have finally been too overt in his disrespect of the Deputy Headmaster. He looked appraisingly at young Riddle before concluding Shackleton would never believe Mr. Riddle was a hooligan and responsible for the incident on the staircase. Instead, he moved to his second plan.
"Mr. Riddle, find the cat Mr. McGonagall left here. Speak to Deputy Headmaster Shackleton for the necessary address and owl it back to the McGonagall's. Be certain to mention I instructed you to do so."
Binns thought nothing at the time of the way Mr. Riddle seemed to clutch the kitten in his arms closer after Binns's request. After all, by the size of it, that kitten clearly was not the same one. Although now that he thought about it, Mr. Riddle's familiar seemed no larger than the first time he noticed it in class a few weeks ago. Perhaps he should recommend Mr. Riddle take his familiar to be examined by Professor...Professor…well the one without all his fingers, whatever his name was. He was just about to do so when Mr. Riddle intruded upon his thoughts.
"Not a problem, sir. I know exactly where the cat is and will have her owled out this afternoon."
Binns beamed at the young man before continuing on to seek sanctuary in his private rooms.
"Marvelous! Two points to Slytherin."
############################################
As soon as he entered the room, the young man set the gray and black kitten down on her pillow and moved to his writing desk. What he wrote was beyond the scope of vision of the one doing the observing. His words, however, were perfectly audible as he placed a gentle kiss on the already sleeping kitten before departing the room without her.
"Don't worry, Kitten. You are mine now and I won't ever let anyone take you away from me."
*********************************************
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He cringed at the recollections the tea cups brought to mind. It had been a long time since the young man had tried this spell. It wasn't that he had given up, but the gray and black kitten had demanded the vast majority of his time and attention since her arrival. It would seem that now that she had finally gotten her way and was no longer relegated to spending most of the day alone, she was willing to allow the young man some personal time.
The lack of practice had done little more to improve his results than the period of constant practice had. No matter how many times the spell was attempted, the young man could only properly transfigure at best one animal each try.
The cawing of the lion made the kitten's ears twitch. She picked up her head; the sleep entirely gone from her gray eyes as soon as she caught sight of the lion. That there was no tail to pounce on did not prevent the kitten from pouncing.
The young man's control over the creatures was as imperfect as their transfigurations. The snake eyed the distracted kitten. As well formed as the snake was, it was still malformed enough that the young man's snake speak was useless against it. The young man grabbed the kitten by the loose flesh of her neck just as the snake struck.
"Finite Incantatem!"
Having darted off the table as a snake, one of the teacups shattered on the floor.
"Reparo!"
One hand kept the kitten on his lap by caressing her jaw line while the other still held his wand.
"You stay here with me, Kitten. I won't have anything happening to you."
So long as the hand was still working on her, the kitten was content to remain. The kitten watched intently as the young man repeated the spell.
She appeared to realize it was the imperfections of the creatures that prevented her from being able to join the lion. On the young man's second attempt she did something. From up above the fireplace the room's third presence had a perfect view of the ongoings, but still couldn't determine what she had done. Whatever it was caused quite a reaction from the young man. He halted mid-incantation. The abruptness of his standing caused the little kitten to tumble to the carpet. The young man's voice, his whole body language was uncertain.
"What was that?"
His hand trailed through his hair.
"You did that. But what was it?"
The kitten was not at all pleased at being so unceremoniously unseated. She merely hissed in response to the questions.
The young man frowned. His voice was slightly annoyed as he gently scooped her back up.
"Don't hiss at me."
His frown set in as she scraped her claws against him to more clearly demonstrate her displeasure with him, but he made no action against her. He merely accepted it as his penance. This time when he started the spell, he jerked slightly but remained seated and continued through the words.
The abruptness of his standing made no difference to the kitten this time, as she had already left his lap to be closer to the lion. The young man watched her for a moment before he carefully inspected each of the other animals. Once the young man seemed confidant each was perfect, a smile lit his face. Returning his attentions to the small gray and black kitten, his smile lessened somewhat
The kitten was still fascinated by the lion. Her attempts to mimic the lion's roars would have seemed darling to most, but apparently not to the young man. It was perchance his efforts in concentration, seeking to cease the antics that so captivated the little kitten, that marred his smile. The kitten waited expectantly for another roar, which was never to come.
"Kitten, look at the snake. Never mind the silly lion. The snake is a far more interesting creature. They almost are like the houses they mean to represent. Lions try to be noble, but they really are quite simple, foolish even. Their every thought, their every action, predictable. But snakes, snakes are intriguing. You never really know what to expect with a snake. They truly are cunning."
The kitten didn't appear to hold the young man's opinion in high regard. She remained fixated upon the lion. Only when the young man's snake speak persuaded the snake to slither around to her, did the kitten take notice of it. Her back arched and her hissing mixed well with the snake's. With a sigh, the young man ended the transfiguration and gathered the angry kitten in his arms.
"Come on, Kitten. Bed time for you anyway."
********************************************
##########################################
Albus Dumbledore patted the young Ravenclaw's hand comfortingly as he retrieved the button from her desk. Ever since her familiar had disappeared a few weeks ago, the young girl had been inconsolable. Cats were curious creatures and hers was known to often wander off for days at a time, but never had she been gone this long.
The Hufflepuff next to her, Miss Bones took over trying to comfort her as Dumbledore moved past to collect the last few buttons. He had to stop himself from shaking his head as he collected Tom Riddle's button. By the way Tom's satchel shifted on his lap, it seemed obvious the boy had not paid attention to the assurances he gave weeks ago that while the transfigurations conducted in his classes were too brief to have any lasting effect on the subjects, no one was required to use his or her familiar for the experiments.
As he moved up the last row, he felt a loss of his characteristic calm, watching Tom lean over in his seat to whisper something to the Ravenclaw girl across the way. Bad humor was for him infrequent and yet, more often than not when he did get irate, the cause was Tom Riddle. Though unable to hear the actual content of Tom's speech, Dumbledore could safely make certain assumptions based upon the girl's renewed sobbing.
"Mr. Riddle, is there something you would like to share with the rest of us?"
Tom Riddle faced him with a scowl. After giving Tom a warning look, Dumbledore continued his approach back to his owl desk. He was more than a little surprised when Tom actually answered him.
"Yes, actually there is something I would like to show you."
Facing the smug young man, Albus tried to mask his own uncertainty. What was Riddle up to?
"Alright, Mr. Riddle. There are a few minutes left to class. You, I am sure, have all of our attentions."
When Tom conjured four teacups at his desk, Dumbledore tensed and drew his own wand before allowing the boy to proceed. He was more than a little apprehensive about the close proximity of the other students to what he was sure would be a very unruly and very likely dangerous transfiguration.
Dumbledore knew his students and he knew their abilities. Tom Riddle was a gifted young wizard with a remarkable amount of potential. He had made more than a fair amount of progress in his studies this year, especially in the past month or two. He was not, however, of sufficient ability to successfully complete and maintain this transfiguration. Of that Albus Dumbledore was as confidant as he was that his name was Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore and that his brother Aberforth's recent fourth marriage would end no better than the previous three had.
Thus it was a few short words later, staring at flawless replicas of the four house mascots that with raised eyebrows, he briefly entertained the possibility that his name was really Albus Percival Brian Wulfric Dumbledore or even Albus Brian Percival Wulfric Dumbledore, but surely not Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.
Tom maintained the transformation with seemingly effortlessness for several minutes before ending it. By the time the clapping, cheering, and whistling of Tom's classmates died down to a respectable level, Albus still found the sight before him to be inconceivable. He knew his students' abilities. Only a few months ago Tom Riddle had been unable to approach anything even near the power and concentration required to successfully complete such a complex spell. He was ready to admit the boy had made extraordinary progress this year, most particularly within the past few weeks, but this kind of progress didn't take months or even years, it took decades. Such a progression in his powers in that short of a time period was, well he couldn't help but go back to that same word, inconceivable.
He simply refused to concede it had occurred.
The book satchel in Tom's lap kept moving. Apparently the loud cheering had made Tom's familiar discontent to remain in it.
"Tom, I believe your cat wants to come out and see what all the commotion is for."
He said it mostly to have something to say as his mind was whirling in so many directions trying to process what he had just seen. Something about the way Tom reacted to his words made all his thoughts stop whirling. The way Tom's arrogant smirk left, leaving in its place a far less comfortable expression, the way he shifted in his seat and held the satchel all the more tightly, all these things told Dumbledore to pursue this chain of conversation and action.
"Tom, why don't you open your satchel and let your cat out?"
"I need to get to Charms."
Tom rose quickly without first pushing back his chair. He fell back into his seat as his knees knocked into the bottom of his desk.
Dumbledore used his own wand to undo the binding keeping the satchel closed. As soon as the light was out of his wand a small gray and black kitten poked its head out. She hissed briefly and swatted at her tormentor before she nimbly leaped onto the desk to inspect the once again teacups.
Albus marveled, watching her angrily swat at the teacups, one after another, until each lay shattered on the floor.
"I've seen this kitten before, Mr. Riddle. Tell me, how did she come into your possession?"
When Tom made no reply, Dumbledore was not entirely surprised.
"Class dismissed."
Riddle scooped up the kitten and made to dart to the door, but Dumbledore shook his head.
"Not you, Mr. Riddle. You come with me."
Leading the way down to the dungeons, Dumbledore could not help but repeatedly look over his shoulder, not quite believing what his eyes were seeing.
At the door to the Potion Master's classroom Riddle asked a question.
"What are you doing?"
Looking over his shoulder, seeing the desperate way Riddle held onto the little kitten, Dumbledore wondered just how knowledgeable Tom Riddle had become in the past few months.
"I should be delighted to answer your question, Mr. Riddle, if you would care to answer mine."
Seeing that Mr. Riddle had resolved not to be of any use in the matter, Dumbledore pushed open the door.
Professor Pomfrey was using a long pointer to indicate something on the blackboard and called out without looking at who had just entered the classroom.
"Ten points for every minute you were late to my class and a detention for interrupting everyone else's learning with your arrival."
Dumbledore couldn't help his eyes from twinkling, despite the circumstances.
"Tell me, Professor Pomfrey, how many detentions can I expect for not only interrupting your class, but asking you to dismiss your students entirely?"
Pomfrey blushed as he ventured a glance to the doorway.
"Professor Dumbledore, my apologies. Was there something I can be of assistance with?"
"Indeed, I hope so. Would you be so kind as to send Miss Fawcett to get Professor Shackleton, Mr. Crouch to get the Headmaster, and Mr. Nott to get Mr. Riddle's Head of House? Oh, and to dismiss the rest of your class early?"
Pomfrey frowned, but his class seemed delighted. Professor Dumbledore was popular in his own classes and it appeared he was now even more popular in Professor Pomfrey's class.
"What ever it is, can't it wait? My class has only just begun."
"No, I believe it has waited far too long already."
With a sigh and a dismissive wave of his hand, Pomfrey's class erupted into cheers that rivaled those Tom Riddle had received only a few minutes earlier. As the last of the students exited the room, Dumbledore made another request of the other professor, "Do you have any mandrake potion?"
Seeing the look that appeared briefly on the younger professor's face before he began to deny having any, it was Dumbledore's turn to wave a hand dismissively.
"No, I - "
"-Dippet only banned live mandrakes. He never said anything against cuttings or potions made from mandrakes."
Trying not to appear too obvious, Pomfrey shrugged.
"I may have a bit in my private stock. Let me go have a look."
Tom Riddle again asked his question.
"What are you doing?"
Dumbledore peered at Tom over the tops of his half-moon glasses.
"Tell me, Mr. Riddle, have you noticed anything unusual about this kitten?"
Tom's voice was cool as he replied.
"I don't know what you mean, sir."
"How long have you been in possession of this kitten, Mr. Riddle?"
When Tom again refused to answer, Dumbledore went on without a response.
"This kitten appears to be no more than four, maybe five weeks old. And yet, I would not be at all surprised if you were to tell me you have had the kitten for longer than that. You see Tom, I have seen this kitten before and if I am not mistaken, she is far older than four or five weeks, four or five months, or even four or five years."
Tom outwardly appeared a great deal less calm as he repeated his earlier response.
"I'm sure, I don't know what you mean, sir."
Watching the way the young man refused to meet his eyes, he very much doubted that was true.
"Mr. Riddle, if I discover you were aware of this and kept quiet, if I find even the slightest evidence -"
"Here we go, one vial of mandrake potion. Only three or four drops are necessary. So what did Riddle manage to do to himself that you can't undo? Not that I'm surprised, that boy is completely useless in my class. He has gone through more cauldrons in a month than I have gone thr-"
Dumbledore silenced the younger professor with only a look. Despite his own misgivings about Tom Riddle, he would not tolerate a fellow professor berating the abilities of any of the students. Rather than appear grateful for the intervention, Riddle appeared more incensed.
"It isn't for Tom, it is for the kitten."
"That does surprise me. In my class he's always careful not to let his familiar get in the way of his detonating cauldrons. What did he do to the kitten?"
Ignoring his younger colleague, Dumbledore held out a hand for the kitten. When Tom didn't turn the kitten over, he frowned.
"Tom, don't make this harder than it has to be."
"She belongs to me. I won't let you have her."
"Tom, if what I believe is true, she most definitely does not belong to you. If I am in error, the potion will have no harmful effects on her. Mandrake potion is used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state."
"Oh for Merlin's sake, just give him the bloody kitten and get on with it!" Demanded a newly arrived Professor Binns standing awkwardly in the doorway next to the Deputy Headmaster.
An irritated Professor Shackleton made inquires while moving into the classroom. "What was so important that Binns and I needed to dismiss our classes?"
"Oh please, what are you talking about? It's not like you teach anything of value."
Shackleton appeared to have had enough from the History of Magic instructor.
"For the love of Merlin, would you be quiet for once, Binns!"
Reluctantly, Tom set the kitten on the table. The kitten looked confusedly back at her former holder.
Dumbledore poured milk from his wand tip into a dish. After adding a few drops of the potion, he attempted to entice the kitten to drink it. When the kitten ignored his entreaties and began licking her paws, grooming herself instead, Tom smirked again.
"She doesn't like you. She doesn't trust you. She won't take anything you offer."
Conceding the truth of Tom's words, Dumbledore apologized in advance.
"I do sincerely apologize for such ungentlemanly treatment."
Putting one hand under her chin, he used his fingers to pry open her mouth. Even before the other hand approached with the vial, the kitten became distressed.
"Stop it, you are frightening her!"
Her teeth clamped down on the intruding fingers. Her claws protracted to gash the skin of the hand with the vial.
"Don't you hurt her!"
Watching the flesh on his hands be divided by the sharp claws, Dumbledore thought perhaps a request that she not hurt him would be more appropriate. Still, he choose to ignored Riddle's outburst. He persisted in trying to get the vial into her mouth, but as he went to tip some of the contents into her mouth, a particularly vicious assault caused him to drop the vial. Even with the vial shattered on the table and no longer a concern, the kitten boldly stepped over the shards to persevere in fully demonstrating her displeasure with the retreating Transfiguration Professor.
Dumbledore could not help but notice the pleased grin on Tom Riddle's face as the gray and black kitten added more scratches to his already heavily bleeding hands until he was out of her range.
Binns couldn't keep the mirth from his voice when he spoke.
"Alright Dumbledore, you were right. That was worth canceling my classes to see. I thank you for sending for me. Now if that is all, I will be heading back upstairs."
Riddle too sought an out.
"I'm very late for Charms class. Professor Shackleton, may my kitten and I be excused?"
Dumbledore shook his head in response.
"I don't think she actually drank any of it. Pomfrey, do you have any more of the mandrake potion?"
"Mandrake potion? What exactly are you trying for here?"
Taking a second vial from Pomfrey, Dumbledore replied, "Patience, Shacklebolt."
Determined, Dumbledore again moved into range of the hissing, spitting kitten. He disregarded Binns's suggestion and the Deputy Headmaster's responding glare.
"Now, now Dumbledore. Why don't you let Shackleton have a go at her?"
He paid no mind to the wounds on his hands and arms; having a phoenix for a familiar had its advantages. This time, despite the kitten's considerable efforts, he was confident he had managed to get some of the contents of the vial into her mouth. He massaged her throat to induce her to swallow.
"Whatever are you doing to that kitten?"
Armando Dippet wandered into the classroom just in time to see the hissing, spitting little kitten transform into a hissing, spitting little girl.