Chapter Nine: A Happy Harry and Hermione are at Hogwarts
September 1st, 1991: The Great Hall
"You would swear that they get smaller and smaller every year." A silky voice next to Albus said.
"Or perhaps you are just getting older, Severus." Albus' twinkle was back in his eyes and his voice was cheery as ever as the first year students entered the great hall, being escorted by Hogwarts' Deputy Headmaster, Tom Riddle.
"You are one to talk." They both chuckled quietly as the sorting had begun.
"Bulstrode, Millicent." Tom's voice called over the students and a round girl with dark hair stepped forward. It took a few seconds before the hat called out "Slytherin!" Tom smiled as always when students were sorted into his own house.
Albus was anxious in his seat to see Tom reaction to the small girl who he would know as Sarah.
"Goyle, Gregory." He called and the hat sorted him into Hufflepuff.
"Granger, Hermione." Finally, her name was called. Tom looked at her curiously and smiled, remembering his wife. She looked so much like her and seemed to have the same sparkle in her eyes. She looked nervous as she sat down on the seat.
"Gryffindor!" The hat wailed after a few moments. Tom knew that she was going to be placed in the house just by looking at her. It was as though his 'Lioness' had been reincarnated. She went to sit down at Gryffindor table and began to animatedly talk with the rest of the students.
"Malfoy, Alexei." Tom called out to his grandson. A boy with short blonde hair and surprisingly brown eyes came and sat down on the chair. Tom put the hat on his head.
"Gryffindor!" It screamed and Tom looked dumbfounded. The heir of Salazar Slytherin and a family filled with Slytherins was sorted into Gryffindor house. Suddenly he started laughing and his grandson looked at him. The school looked at him, knowing that Alexei was indeed his son. He had pictures lining his office of his family.
"What's funny, Grandpa?" Tom looked at him, tears from laughter still in his eyes.
"Nothing, Alex." He gave his grandson a hug and let him go off and sit with the rest of Gryffindor house. He picked the hat back up off the stool and continued.
"Potter, Harry." The name was called and an ordinary boy with round spectacles walked up and sat down on the stool. Albus looked on in wonder. Harry wasn't a scrawny boy with broken glasses anymore. He indeed had the same messy hair, but he lacked the lightning bolt scar that Albus had seen in his vision. He looked every bit the average boy.
"Gryffindor!" The hat screamed and Harry went to sit next to Hermione, the girl he met on the Hogwarts Express.
"It's James' son!" Severus exclaimed from his seat. "He looks so like his father." Albus smiled brightly. Severus and James had been friends at Hogwarts along with Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.
"He has Lily's eyes."
"Yes, he does." Severus smiled remembering his friends. "How are the Potter's?"
"They have another daughter, Samantha, and a baby on the way."
"That's great." When the sorting was finished, Albus gave his usual speech that was short and to the point, allowing the students to immediately dig into their food.
September 2nd, 1991: Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom
"Can anyone tell me another name for a dark magic spell?" Professor Riddle asked his students and watched amusedly as only one girl, with bushy brown hair and beautiful honey brown eyes raised her hand excitedly. He felt his stomach drop at the sight of her. All he could think of was the love of his life. He swallowed the happiness at seeing her sitting before him.
"Yes, Miss Granger."
"Dark magic spells are also known as curses, Sir." Her voice was sweet and she seemed so bright. It was as though the gods had sent him another Sarah. He instantly began to love the little girl before him like his own children and grandchildren.
"Very good. Ten points to Gryffindor." He said quietly and she beamed with happiness. He began with his opening lecture.
October 15th, 1991: The Monthly Teacher's Meeting
"Argus has nothing to report to us, so I must ask; how are your classes?" Albus said as he sat down in his own chair. The Professors at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sat around casually with each other, sipping tea.
"I'm surprised to note that we have a star pupil." Minerva said happily.
"She's wonderful, isn't she?" Severus added, "Though I wonder if her excessive knowledge and willingness to answer questions is leading other students to slack."
"She's quite bright." Dumbledore stated matter-of-factly.
"She reminds me of Sarah so much." Tom said, barely audible for anyone to hear, but Albus heard it.
"She is rather similar to Sarah, Tom." Minerva said, obviously not hearing Tom's comment, and his head snapped up. "She has the same hunger to learn more that I remember seeing in Sarah's eyes." Tom smiled half-heartedly.
"She also has quite the aptitude for potions. She has already discussed with me that it is one of her many goals to become a potions mistress." Severus chuckled remembering the encounter after his third class with her. "She also said that she wanted to be trained in Healing, work in the Ministry for the Department of Magical Brethren, and become a teacher at Hogwarts and head of Gryffindor." The rest of the room chuckled at her ambitions.
"One would swear she was a Slytherin at heart." Albus said.
"She also wanted to be Headmaster one day." The room shook with laughter, not because they thought it was impossible, but they thought it was rather ambitious for a first year.
"I have no doubt that if she wanted to be, she would." Tom smiled, this time allowing the happiness rise to his eyes for the first time in what felt like years. He couldn't remember feeling such happiness wash over him. The last time he could remember was when he was watching Sarah hold baby Alexei before she passed. Albus noticed the gleam in his eyes and wanted to cry out of happiness.
"Yes. Well, if there aren't any other matters to discuss, I'll let you get back to your daily routine." Albus said after the room went into a comfortable silence. They smiled and begin to leave the room.
"Minerva and I have volunteered to decorate for the Halloween ball." Severus exclaimed happily and left Tom and Albus alone in the room. Both had stayed, in the hopes of speaking to each other.
"Is it wrong to have such feelings for a student, Albus? I hardly know her, yet I love her like one of my own children." Tom said quietly looking to the floor.
"It is not wrong, Tom. She bears such a striking resemblance to Sarah and we all see it." He placed his arm around Tom and they walked out of the room together like they had been friends for all of their life.
AN: I understand the complex way a time turner works. How would Albus have a premonition of Tom being bad, when the present Albus only knows a good Tom? It's all very confusing, but I like this story and I really hope you don't care if it bends the rules quite a bit... It's fanfiction. Smiles and thanks to those who have reviewed.