Read for suggestions on how to have your name appear in print at the beginning of a chapter.
A/N: after reading the part where Tom tries to decide the best way to annoy Harry, let me know which way I should use in an upcoming chapter. Or, if you're like me and you think that none of those suggestions are particularly good, tell me some better ones and I'll try to use them. I always give credit when I use someone's suggestions so if you want to see your pseudonym in fancy typed letters at the top of a page in my story, let me know. And include a suggestion – or, I suppose, if you're really desperate to see your name in print, I could just type your name into the top of the page. But you have to tell me how fantastic I am first. There are thirteen Mary Sue's with the same first name as me. This makes me wildly depressed, as Mary Sue's always have really stupid made-up sounding names.
After breakfast, Tom decided to go to his first class. Obviously, it was potions. As he was walking to class, he reflected on the monstrous injustice of him having to go to class. In fact, he was so busy reflecting on this that he walked straight into a first year. "Watch where you're going," he muttered out of habit, failing to notice the eleven-year-old bursting into tears and running away as quickly as he possible could. He also didn't notice the way the crowd parted for him when he continued walking. However, he did notice when Draco Malfoy threw Neville's toad at his head.
"Ooh, what are you going to do, Voldemort? Haven't got your Death Eaters to protect you now, have you?"
"I don't need my Death Eaters," Tom replied, watching Neville scurry away, his toad clenched protectively in his arms. "You, on the other hand, are pathetic with or without those…gelatinous masses," he gestured to Crabbe and Goyle. "Well, it's been nice, but I have class." He walked passed Draco and continued down the hall. After a moment, he found himself along side of Harry Potter. "Hello Harry," he said.
Harry ignored him and continued walking, followed by Hermione and a rather terrified looking Ron. Tom chuckled to himself, thinking that going to school with Harry Potter was his best idea yet. He had created infinite possibilities for getting on the Gryffindor's nerves. Feeling very excited about this, he began to plot. 'Hmm,' he thought, 'I could somehow convince Dumbledore that Harry and I need to share a room…but then I'd have to share a room with him. Dear Lord, that would be dreadful, but I suppose if I thought it was really worth it I could make a go of it.' He continued to ponder, 'I could convince his friends to be my friends instead…that would be devilish. Or…I could turn all of his schoolbooks into parrots. No, too stupid.' Tom was beginning to think that this would be a little bit harder than he expected. 'Damn, I'm the greatest, not to mention most evil, wizard in the whole, entire world! I should be able to think of some way to annoy Harry Potter. I did kill his parents, for Christ's sake. You'd think this would be a little bit easier.' By this time he was extremely put out. He was also standing in front of the door to the Potions classroom. He pushed it open and stalked over to his desk.
Everyone in the class was waiting breathlessly to see if Snape would dare comment on Voldemort's tardiness. Most of them felt that he wouldn't but some thought he would. The emotions were running rather high on the topic, particularly because some rather large bets had been placed on the question before class.
You may wonder how people knew that Tom was going to be late for class before it even started. I am, however, not going to tell you. Partly because you're a rather boring person if you care, and partly because I haven't the slightest idea.
Ignoring his pupil's wide eyes and strange choking sounds (from holding their breath so long), Snape said, "Mr. Riddle, would you care to tell the class what was so important that it kept you from us for such a long time."
"Oh come on, Snape," said Tom, "that has got to be the oldest way to ask a student why they're late in the history of schools, no, the history of learning. Christ, I remember one of my professors in the nineteen-forties used to ask me that question. Actually, all of them did. Not only is that question old, it's overused as well."
Snape looked very irritated. "Detention!" he shrieked.
Tom rolled his eyes and sat down, not failing to notice the conflicted look on Harry's face.
Harry, of course, was conflicted because he hated Snape and loved to see someone get the better of him in any verbal sparring that might arise. However, he also hated Tom Riddle, oh, the difficulties of one's enemies fighting with one's other enemies!
Soon, class was underway and Tom was insanely bored. The last straw came when Snape announced that they were going to make a potion that would restore old plants. "Do I have to?" asked Tom.
"Are you in this class," Snape asked.
"Obviously."
"Well then, as long as that's settled, yes, you do."
"Are you joking?" Tom asked. "Because incase you weren't paying attention at all those Death Eater meetings, you know, before you betrayed me, I am the most powerful wizard in the world! Why should I waste my time making ridiculous plant restoratives? As if anyone cares whether plants die or not."
"I believe it was your decision to come back to Hogwarts…."
"Yes, but only for the amusement of it. I had no intention of debasing myself like this."
"Debasing yourself!" Snape was livid. "That's it! Get out of this class!"
Tom chuckled delightfully and left. He soon found himself wandering down a particularly long hallway. "Good Lord, I forgot how long these hallways are." He continued walking, regretting it with every step, until he reached his room.
A/N: heh heh, this chapter is even shorter than the last one. I had been saving it for a few days because I was planning on writing more but I just couldn't think of anymore plot and so I decided to post it anyway.