King's Cross Station, Platform Nine and Three-Quarters bustled with the usual chaotic energy of a new school term. Parents tearfully bid farewell to their children, many of whom were first-years, clinging to their mothers' robes. The moment these young wizards were greeted by their waiting friends, their faces would light up, all traces of reluctance vanishing instantly, drawing fond laughter and exasperated sighs from the adult wizards.
Amidst the throng of students and parents, a portly, gray-haired man in long robes stood out. He wasn't rushing to board the Hogwarts Express; instead, he scanned the platform with almost comical eagerness, as if searching for a lost treasure.
"Hey! Tom!" Horace Slughorn bellowed, waving his right hand as Tom's group entered the platform.
"Professor Slughorn?" Cassandra looked surprised. Shouldn't a professor already be at Hogwarts? Is he going to be another irresponsible professor, like Tom?
"You know him?" Luna, peering through her oddly-tinted glasses, asked curiously.
"Horace Slughorn is a very famous Potions professor. They say he's trained many outstanding figures who have gone on to influence the wizarding world!" Hermione chimed in, ever the font of knowledge. "But I heard he'd retired. His being here must mean…"
"He's our new professor," Tom stated.
Luna, still eyeing Horace Slughorn through her strange spectacles, tilted her head. "He has so many gnats buzzing around his head. Is something troubling him?"
Harry and Malfoy exchanged puzzled glances. Gnats? They hadn't noticed anything.
"Professor? What are you doing here?" Tom raised an eyebrow as he approached Slughorn.
"Sigh, I'm running late." Slughorn's eyes darted about nervously. "I'll just take the Express to Hogwarts with you all."
"Hmm?"
"Well, I wanted to get to know your…young associates." Slughorn, realizing his intentions were transparent, abandoned all pretense and shamelessly begged Tom to allow him to accompany them to Hogwarts, ideally in the same carriage.
Tom, of course, didn't mind.
"Hello there, little ones! What are your names?" Slughorn boomed. "I'll be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year, so it's probably a good idea for us to get acquainted. Let me introduce myself; my name is Horace Slughorn, and I am…"
Slughorn remained enthusiastic throughout the journey. He'd gotten his wish; just as he'd suspected, the young wizards surrounding Tom were exceptionally talented. Hermione, in particular, had achieved perfect scores in all her O.W.L.s, just like Cassandra Volle, which greatly intrigued Slughorn. While it's a pity the best student couldn't be added to the collection, the rest certainly deserved to be.
However, he couldn't rush things. He'd have to figure out the best way to approach them after they arrived at Hogwarts. For now, making a good first impression would suffice.
...
Hogwarts.
As was tradition, Dumbledore introduced the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Horace Slughorn, to the assembled students and faculty before the start-of-term feast.
Students and professors alike welcomed Slughorn with polite applause. A highly experienced professor undoubtedly strengthened Hogwarts' faculty, which was why they greeted him so warmly.
However, two professors were conspicuously sullen.
Snape's face was a mask of frustration. They wouldn't even let a retired Potions professor be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor? How could Slughorn's knowledge of Defense Against the Dark Arts compare to mine? Snape fumed.
The other was Gellert Grindelwald, who had been reassigned to a doorman position at Tom's suggestion. Well, a dedicated substitute teacher, to be precise. After all, while Hogwarts' teachers were of high quality, there were fewer of them than expected. Sometimes, when Professor McGonagall was unavailable, Dumbledore himself had to step in and teach Transfiguration. With Grindelwald onboard, the professors wouldn't be so burdened, and the quality of teaching might even improve somewhat... That's what that brat Tom had said.
Grindelwald knew perfectly well that his current position was a cushy job, even more so than Tom's. He had protested, but that wretched Dark Lord brat had used his influence on the Board of Governors to reject his protest.
The reason? Tom was already tired of him being the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
"Damn it!"
"That wretched Tom Riddle, you deserve your terrible reputation!"
After Grindelwald's daily sarcastic remarks and antics had gone on long enough, Tom finally caved. He decided to relinquish his teaching assistant job to Grindelwald. He'd been quite busy these past two years anyway, and having the old man handle all the tedious work would give him some peace and quiet.
Of course, Tom would still receive his regular salary; Grindelwald would only have Tom's work, not Tom's pay.
(Grindelwald's reaction upon hearing this news: ...)
"That wretched little devil."
At the dinner party, Grindelwald stared morosely down at his steak, poking it repeatedly with his fork but taking no bites.
"..."
Snape glanced at him, then lowered his head again, pointedly ignoring the spectacle.
"Hey, Severus, you hate our mutual boss too, right? Yeah, who would like someone so wicked?" Grindelwald's eyes gleamed mischievously as he clapped an arm around Snape's shoulder. "How about joining the Saints? The world has suffered under the Dark Lord for too long! Let's overthrow his evil rule together!"
"..."
Seriously, is this something a boss would say? The Dark Lord has already turned his gaze towards me!!!
Snape remained silent, diligently continuing to eat, completely ignoring Grindelwald's "various benefits of joining the Saints." He knew Grindelwald was just joking with Tom, but if he took it seriously, it would be truly laughable.
...
Two and a half days later, a guard booth appeared at Hogwarts.
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Fifty chapters? NO, a hundred. That's how far ahead p@treon readers are sitting right now. On everything that gap is real and it widens every week. You already know what to do. At [email protected]