Memory: Minerva McGonagall and Tom Riddle

"Merlin's beard, no." I said with a smile. "Not unless you are foolish enough to force me to." I was really hoping that I would not have to duel…no…duel would imply a struggle. There would be no struggle. They would be overcome…very easily. To my side I see Minvera plunge her hands into her robe. "He will not be single-handed!" She declared loudly. I turned to face her and gave her a look that I hope she understood, please do not dare go against my words right now, "Oh yes he will, Minerva! Hogwarts needs you!" I may have to leave temporarily, but I would not allow Dolores Umbridge's love of power to go unchecked.

"Enough of this rubbish!" said Fudge, pulling out his own wand. "Dawlish! Shacklebolt! Take him!"

Yesterday had indeed been, as the saying goes, one of 'those' days. I looked around the small cottage. This was my get away during some parts of the summer break. A small cabin near the ocean filled with books. Sitting in an overstuffed chair I allowed myself a sigh. It was calm and quite. How I yearned for a nice, quiet life. But I mustn't get used to it. There was an evil dark lord to bring topple after all.

I allowed myself a few more minutes to think of yesterday's events. My mind kept wondering back to Minerva. There were so many words I could use to describe Minerva McGonagall. Loyal, smart, caring, tenacious, an excellent dancer…and a good friend would properly describe her. I've known her since she came to Hogwarts. I can still vividly remember sitting upon the wooden stool as I placed the sorting hat over her head, which almost instantaneously declared her a Gryffindor. I watched as she matured into a young adult and an astounding student. The transfiguration work she did on her NEWTS was dwarfed by only two other students. Tom Riddle and myself" (though, truth be told, not in that order).

She had been out of Hogwarts just over a decade when I became Headmaster. This of course left the position of Transfiguration Professor open. I knew immediately whom I wanted to fill the position. However that position was not the only one I had to fill that January. The Defense Against the Dark Arts position came open as well. Not long after the ad in the daily Prophet was placed I received an owl. Getting up and making my way to a cabinet I opened it up and dug through until I found the faded parchment.

Headmaster Dumbledore,

I have heard even in Albania that you have become Headmaster of Hogwarts. My congratulations on your succession to such a venerable position. No doubt you were the best wizard for the job. I have also heard from friends that a position has opened up for the Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. If possible I would like to call upon you to discuss my possible employment of the position.

Yours Sincerely,

Tom M. Riddle

My mind travels back to that night, what seems an eternity ago...

Sitting back down in my chair and closed my eyes and buried my face into my hands. Oh, Tom. When I first gazed upon his distorted features I felt violently ill. His warped features were a physical testament to the darkness within him. It was eating him alive and would inevitably destroy him. The question was not if he would take anyone else down with him, but how many other people he would take with him. Aberforth had sent me an owl this morning telling me of Riddle's arrival with his gang of Death Eaters as they were now called. I must style, at least when it comes to style, a much more fearsome name than the Knights of Walpurgis.

I turned my chair around to face out one of the windows. It was so dark outside. A darkness that grips everything in comes into contact with. A darkness, my gut told me, that would soon grip this world even on the brightest of days. I knew who would be leading it to, the man who had just been in my office. A sick swooning sensation gripped my stomach. How I prayed that I would be wrong and he would see the error of his ways. How I wish I could, as I told him, simply make him give what he has done back by little magic tricks.

In the distance I see a single lantern in the distance. How fitting I muse to myself. That some lone candle can erase the dark. I realize that is the only weapon that will fight the coming blackness. It will be the most powerful light there is, love. A lone candle of love, though surrounded by darkness, will always keep it at bay, thought never fully defeated.

Back in my cottage, the darkness outside was descending. With a poke of my wand I light the candles. Now it was time for me to continue my fight against the darkness of Tom Riddle.