Author's note: Thanks to ARandomPerson for the pleasant review! I'm glad that it was funny. I had a difficult time figuring out how to end the chapter . . . and so the grudge begins! In this chapter, Tom Riddle makes a special appearance, even though it totally contradicts The Half-Blood Prince, but anyway, I hope this one is just as entertaining! And by the way, does anyone know the names of Sirius's parents? I'd really appreciate the info, okay, on with the story!
Disclaimer: I solemnly swear that these characters belong to J. K. Rowling and I am only using them to manage some mischief.
Chapter 3: The Incredibly Odd Temporary Teacher
The incident at Potions seemed to have sealed the enmity between Severus Snape and Sirius Black forever. Snape had taken to hexing Sirius quietly whenever they passed each other, be it between lessons or during meals. Sirius was tempted to hex him back, if it weren't for James and Peter who held him back.
"Don't – risk – it, Sirius," James said between gritted teeth as he struggled to hold Sirius back from charging at Snape, who was smirking so satisfactorily that James felt like hitting him too. Peter nodded quickly. But it was until one day when Sirius suddenly found himself hanging by his ankle in the air that spurred Sirius to take action.
"Don't stop me, James," Sirius hissed as he saw Snape turn around the corner. He tiptoed after Snape and pointed his wand at his back.
"Tarantallegra!"
Snape's legs quickly twisted together and he started to dance and hop around jerkily. The sight was so hilarious that everyone stopped to watch and laugh. Sirius laughed as well, but James didn't find it too amusing. "Come on, Sirius, we'll be late for Defence – "
"I won't miss this for the world," Sirius said, a little too loudly and Snape's head automatically jerked at his direction.
"YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!"
"How much, Snivellus? Ten Galleons? Twenty? Thirty? Name the figure, man."
"YOU IDI –"
"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" Sirius's eyes widened as Professor McGonagall burst through the crowd and, seeing Snape in that condition, dropped her books. "Who did this to you?"
"SIR – SIRIUS –"
Sirius shoved past James and ran for it.
"SIRIUS BLACK!" Professor McGonagall yelled at the top of her lungs, her face turned as red as a tomato. "Come out! Didn't I already warn you?" Suddenly she stormed towards James and shook his shoulders.
"Where is Sirius Black, Potter?"
James, too startled for words, shook his head and nodded at the same time. He didn't want to give Sirius away, but the look on Professor McGonagall's face was scarier . . .
Finally, he said, trying to be as flat as possible, "I don't know, Professor."
She looked at him again, a little questioningly, as if testing him, challenging him to spill the truth.
James kept silent, determined not to betray his friend.
"Very well, Potter," she said a little too softly. "Twenty points from Gryffindor for such rebellious behaviour. And I am taking this matter to the Headmaster." Her eyes glinted dangerously and James lowered his head.
She muttered the counter-curse for Snape and picked up her scattered books with a wave of her wand. "Any more cases such as this and that student will be immediately taken to the Headmaster," she said savagely, looking at each student so fiercely that they backed away.
She stormed off and the crowd drifted off. Snape picked up his books and occasionally gave James a bitter look.
James didn't bother to help him this time.
"What? Take the matter to Dumbledore?" Sirius exclaimed, aghast, when James recounted to him all that had happened after he had run off. They were waiting outside the Defence against the Dark Arts classroom.
James nodded.
"What?" Sirius shouted again. "Snivellus hexes me ALL the time! And I didn't even tip Slughorn off!"
"Try tipping Dumbledore," Peter suggested.
Sirius shook his head. "All he does is stay in his office. Some kind of Headmaster he is."
"Then you'll just have to see him," James said. "Find a way to meet him personally."
Sirius sighed and readjusted his bag. "But he's the Headmaster. I'd rather take my chances with McGonagall."
"Yeah you should, if you want to be expelled."
Sirius opened his mouth to reply, but he never got a chance. The classroom door opened and a frightened-looking stream of second-year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws filed out. James noticed that they all looked as if they had had their strength sapped out of their wits.
"What's wrong with them?" Sirius muttered, looking at each in disbelief.
Their line was moving forwards and Sirius, James and Peter entered the classroom, a little cautiously.
A skinny and tall man dressed in velvet black robes that seemed to weigh his shoulders down stood at the front desk. He looked at each of the students with a greedy glint in his eyes, and James shivered, as if the room had suddenly become cold. He, Sirius and Peter took the last table. He wanted to get away as far as possible from this weirdo.
"Good morning, class," he rasped. It sent chills down his spine. "My name, is Professor Thomas Riddle, and sadly, I am only here for one day. This is my probation period . . . but if you co-operate with me, I am sure that you will all be repaid with glory and fame unlimited . . ."
James snickered. Instantly, Professor Riddle's beady black eyes turned towards him, and squinted.
"You are James Potter, are you not?" his thin lips formed a snarl-like smile. James gulped and turned white, but he nodded. Professor Riddle drifted towards him and peered closely at him. James could smell his foul breath and see the earwax in his ears.
"James Potter . . ." he said to himself, and nodded with approval. He offered a shriveled hand towards him. "Come with me, James, I present you the honour of being the volunteer for today's lesson . . ."
He grinned weakly, more frightened by the prospect of what he would do to him than the black of his teeth. "I'm sorry, sir, but I have a stomach ache, and I can't – "
"Oh, but of course you can!" Professor Riddle's smile grew, if it was possible, even more manic. His eyes flashed and danced with a sinister pleasure. "Don't be afraid, James, you are, after all, a Gryffindor, are you not?"
Soft laughter bubbled across the room. James set his jaw and said firmly, "I'm not afraid, Professor. I'm not."
"Very well! Then come with me . . ."
James followed the Professor to the front of the class and waited by his desk while Professor Riddle rummaged through a drawer and finally, with a sigh of triumph, came out with a ring with a snake engraved on it.
"This is no ordinary ring . . ." Professor Riddle rasped again, his voice sounded a little snake-like now. "It is . . . a Horcrux," he finished triumphantly.
James gasped involuntarily, and so did many of the class. Some girls screamed a little and covered their faces. Sirius's eyes widened and Peter whimpered. But Lily Evans looked blissfully calm.
Professor Riddle grinned again. "Ah, yes, I see that many of you realise what this us . . . a powerful Dark object, no? Yes . . . full of evil . . . it was very fortunate of me to have been able to discover this particular one . . . yes . . . this is one with evil intentions! Who knows how a Horcrux was produced? Come now don't be shy!"
A few hands rose slowly.
Professor Riddle pointed at a plump, sandy-haired boy. "You, boy! What's your name?"
"Kingsley Shacklebolt, sir."
"Ah! Fine name! Are you pure-blood?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well! What is your answer?"
"A Horcrux is the insertion of a part of one's soul into an object, so as to, er, preserve it, and you need to, er, kill someone to do it, right?"
"Right! Right! Well done, Shacklebolt! Ten points to Gryffindor." He turned towards James and grinned. "Now for my demonstration! James, if you please, choose any object in this classroom! Parchment, or quill or book, it doesn't matter!" His eyes gleamed.
James looked around, unsure of what to choose. Finally, he pointed at a small, black diary that lay on his desk. "That one, sir."
Professor Riddle whirled around. "That diary! Ah, yes, that's a good one, no? I haven't used it for ages . . . right!" He produced a jar of tarantulas that had been silently lurking underneath his desk. He drew one out and placed it on his desk, much to the displeasure of some girls, who gasped and one said, "Eww."
"A Horcrux, as Mr. Shacklebolt was kind enough to enlighten us, is the insertion of one's soul into it by ripping it apart! And to that, you have to kill . . ."
He pointed his wand at the spider.
"Avada kedavra!"
There was a flash of green light, and the spider twitched, then it died. James was horrified. He had killed, in front of students! Professor Riddle didn't seem to have noticed all their discomfort. He continued by saying, "Horcrucio diary!" The tip of his wand glowed bright green and he touched the diary with it, tapping three times. The green from the wand dissipated into the diary and looked as if it was absorbed into it.
"Now, that diary contains part of my soul!" he exclaimed and grinned again. He turned to face the class, a big part of which looked either ready to faint or sprint out of the class. He held a diary up to the class to see. "This diary is now a Horcrux . . . now you have all known how it is done! But this is very advanced magic, yes, beyond NEWT levels, but all the same, worthy of knowledge! Does anyone have any questions?"
Lily Evans raised her hand, her face as pale as a ghost.
"Yes? What is your name, lovely girl?"
"Lily Evans, sir."
"Lily . . . very nice name . . . yes, what is your question?"
"How do you destroy a Horcrux?"
The grin disappeared from his face. The Gryffindors held their breath. Lily Evans looked at him intently, waiting for an answer.
He answered coldly, "There is no spell for a Horcrux. You have to destroy it mortally."
"Can you show us, Professor?" Lily Evans asked again.
"NO!" he shouted so loudly that she shrank back into her chair and James backed away. He swooped upon her and came nose to nose with her. "You want to know, now do you? You do not belong here, Muggle-born! The great Salazar Slytheirn writhes at the sound of your voice!" He brandished the ring at her and grinned again. Her eyes were wide with fear and James could see that tears were threatening to spill.
A loud ring of the bell startled James and awoke the class from this nightmare. Professor Riddle tore his face away from Lily Evans and drifted back towards his desk. "That's all for today students good day see you bye bye!" He stuffed his diary into his bag and stormed out of the classroom, leaving a foul stench behind.
James returned to his table to retrieve his bag when he saw Lily Evans collecting her books in silent tears. "Hey, Lily, are you all right?"
"Yes! No!" she didn't look at him. "Please don't . . . just get away from me!" she shoved past him and ran out of the class.
Sirius handed him his bag and they walked together towards the Great Hall for lunch. "Some teacher that was, huh?"