Drabble 9: My Hero
As much as Ron wanted to deny it, he was a simple kind of man. He liked food, he liked girls, and he liked for things to be easy. The DADA professor wasn't any of these and yet-
"I'm not in the mood for books so put them away." Professor Riddle informed the class. Ron sighed in relief. He'd forgotten to bring his anyway. "We'll have an assessment today."
No!
"No need to panic." The professor smiled. "This won't count against you. Everyone get into groups of four. You'll be dueling one another using as many different spells as possible. The more spells and the better creativity, the more bonus points I might decide to add to one of your test grades."
The students stirred with quiet excitement.
"Do your best. I'll make sure no one is injured."
Riddle was a bit pretty but Ron wouldn't hold it against him.
Drabble 10: Disappointment
Riddle was surprised by his own annoyance when Granger was the second one taken down in her group. Longbottom, reasonable competent but shy, would probably perform better if he weren't aiming a wand at his friends. Weasley surprised him. He'd gone into the four-way duel with enthusiasm. While his spell list was abysmal and his sense of creativity mediocre, the boy was excellent with strategy. If Potter hadn't contained a special talent for spell casting, quick thinking, and a ludicrous amount of luck then Weasley might have been the victor.
Granger…entered the duel with a nervous smile. Her words and movements were precise yet too soft, her creativity interesting yet subdued. Where had her confidence gone? Riddle felt uncomfortably dissatisfied with the lack of Gryffindor fortitude in his student.
This was the sort of behavior he'd expected from his Ravenclaw students; intelligent fools who had no business outside of academia.
Drabble 11: A Favor?
Hermione departed Scrivenshaft's and walked towards The Three Broomsticks. She didn't want to go. Ron had developed a fascination for Madam Rosmerta that made Hermione feel uncomfortable. Honeydukes Sweetshop was busy, as with every Hogsmeade weekend, making Hermione pause in consideration. A lifetime of lecturing often left a bitter aftertaste of guilt in her mouth whenever she had candy.
But a bar of chocolate sounded heavenly.
Hermione steeled herself and entered. A boisterous Hufflepuff boy bumped into her and Hermione retreated into a corner. She glanced to the right and did a double take when she realized she was standing next to Professor Riddle. "Getting some candy?"
"Dumbledore requested some." Professor Riddle scowled, his typically ever-present pleasant smile missing. "I dislike sweets." Hermione's eyes flickered down to his pocket where a chocolate bar stuck slyly out. He pushed his way through to the exit.
Hermione grinned.