A gentle dawn painted Hogwarts Castle in hues of pink and purple. Tom strolled through the deserted, sun-dappled corridors and emerged into the crisp morning air. The stone pavement glistened with the previous night's rain, and the wet railings emanated an earthy scent.
Pausing at the edge, Tom watched the sun ascend and inhaled deeply. He caught Anne mid-flight as the little dragon clumsily flapped her wings toward him. Stroking her tiny horns, he turned and headed back into the castle.
...
On the second floor, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom was abuzz with students. Tom surveyed the room from the podium, his eyes briefly settling on the empty seat beside him.
Where in Merlin's name is Lockhart?
Tom's brow furrowed. He resolved to settle the matter with the fraudulent professor after class. For now, however, the lesson must begin.
"Given Professor Lockhart's… absence," Tom announced, his voice resonating through the hall, "I shall be taking over this lesson."
The young wizards, save for Cassandra, erupted in barely suppressed excitement. Being personally instructed by Tom Riddle was usually Cassandra's exclusive privilege, with only Harry Potter and a select few occasionally receiving such an honor.
Tom noticed Cassandra's downcast expression, and he knew that this situation would likely require a few more private tutoring sessions to remedy.
"Ahem… what page are you on?" Tom asked, realizing that he had been so preoccupied with the students that he hadn't bothered to discover where Lockhart had left off.
The students fell silent.
What page were they on? They were on Lockhart's favorite color, which was anything that reflected his own face!
They were at their wit's end. Last year, Quirinus Quirrell had either read directly from the textbook or simply left them to their own devices but this year's Lockhart? The less said, the better.
It was as if the Defense Against the Dark Arts class had been entirely abandoned.
Tom quickly grasped the situation.
He glanced at the textbook in his hand, then closed it with a snap. "In that case, why don't you tell me: what dark magical creature do you wish to learn to combat? If you can name it, I can teach you."
Tom Riddle is the best!
The young wizards had never experienced a class like this before.
As they reveled in the prospect of finally learning something useful, several eager hands shot into the air.
Tom considered the raised hands of Harry Potter and others, then decided to call on Cassandra. After all, his apprentice's eyes held a hint of… danger.
With a curt nod from Tom, Cassandra spoke, her voice serious, almost challenging. "Professor, how do we defeat Tom Riddle?"
"..."
Wow! She's got guts!
The other students watched Cassandra with a mixture of admiration and awe. No wonder she's his direct disciple, so brazen!
"..."
Just what is this rebellious student planning?
Tom's lips twitched imperceptibly, but he quickly regained his composure. He adopted the same serious expression and began instructing his eager students on how to defeat him. "Ahem… actually, it's not that difficult."
Wait, is he actually going to teach us?!
The young wizards were stunned, images of Tom Riddle's past battles flashing through their minds. Is this even possible for us?
Despite the question marks forming in their minds, they listened intently.
"First, you must possess raw magical power at least equal to Dumbledore's. With your innate talent, you should achieve that in approximately 1200 years."
"..."
"Second, you need a level of Dark Arts defense surpassing Dumbledore's, and Dark Arts skills comparable to Gellert Grindelwald's."
"..."
"Third, you must acquire a powerful wand. The requirements are not high; something akin to the legendary Elder Wand will suffice."
"..."
"Finally, and most importantly… the right time, the right place, and the right people – all three are indispensable!"
"..."
"Of course, this assumes the best-case scenario. After all, it is highly likely that your innate talent will encounter a bottleneck."
Just then, an innocent-looking young wizard raised his hand. "Will all of that be enough to defeat you, Professor?"
"No."
The little wizard's face fell.
Tom shook his head, his expression grave. "But it will barely prolong your struggle."
What a joke! Aside from using cheat codes or facing the end of the world, he couldn't imagine any of these students defeating him.
"..."
Was he just teasing us?
The young wizards exchanged bewildered glances.
Tom offered a cryptic smile. Yes, I was just teasing you.
Cassandra rested her chin on her hand, tapping the table impatiently with the other.
Despite expecting this outcome, she was still disheartened.
"Alright, does anyone else have any questions?" Tom asked, his gaze sweeping over the eager faces.
"Professor, I want to know how to deal with vampires!"
"Ah, vampires. Dealing with them only requires…"
...
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the castle…
On the eighth floor, in the Headmaster's Office, Albus Dumbledore observed Gilderoy Lockhart pacing back and forth before him.
"Professor Dumbledore, as you know, the times are… unusual. Every young wizard is potentially at risk from the Chamber of Secrets."
Lockhart feigned concern, attempting to convince any unaware observer that he was genuinely worried. "We cannot guarantee we will be there for every student in danger, so we must ensure they possess sufficient self-defense capabilities!"
Lockhart's acting skills, honed over years of deception, were remarkably convincing; even Dumbledore started to believe him.
Sensing an opportunity, Lockhart pressed on without hesitation. "Perhaps we could start a dueling club, allowing students to gain practical combat experience. This would not only help them master spells more effectively, but also enable them to better protect themselves in dangerous situations."
"And I, Gilderoy Lockhart, will be its head."
Seeing Lockhart's confident demeanor, Dumbledore, despite knowing the man was a fraud, had to admit that his suggestion had merit.
"Lockhart, you may be right. I will consider starting a dueling club." Dumbledore paused, then looked up at Lockhart. "However, managing a dueling club alone may be challenging. Perhaps you would like a professor as your assistant?"
"Professor Dumbledore, you will never regret this decision!"
Lockhart was initially overjoyed, but then began to consider the implications.
Tom Riddle? Absolutely not!
This dueling club is for showing off how impressive and amazing I am. If Tom Riddle were to overshadow him, it would be stealing his thunder.
I need to think of someone else.
...
In the castle's depths, in Snape's office, Severus Snape sat at his desk, gazing at a photograph of Lily [Potter], his expression uncharacteristically soft.
He glanced at the chair in the corner of the room – the chair Harry Potter had occupied.
Lost in cherished memories, he suddenly felt a chill crawl down his spine.
---