Chapter Text
The class was loud and still void of any teachers. Apparently, our last Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher had finally retired and a new one would taking his place. My friends whispered about the mysterious new man who would be teaching at Hogwarts while the guys just talked to each other about the Halloween Party over at the Three Broomsticks on saturday.
"I don't know, mate. I guess I could try to sneak in some firewhiskey from the Hog's Head but it'd come off as suspicious if any of the teachers saw it. And we all know they'll be watching over us." One of the guys sitting on top of his table tried to make a deal with his friends and he seemed to be planning on spicing things up.
"It's okay, it'd be too dangerous for you." they ended up muttering in disappointment, looking at each other.
While that happened, my friends pushed their chairs near the table. Vanessa, Jason, Matthew and Stephanie gossiped about the rumours running around the school.
"I swear! I'm not lying!" Vanessa's british accent was specially noticeable due to her insufferable whining. "I'm telling you, I heard from professor Minerva herself that the new teacher was an old Hogwarts student!"
"Are you quite sure? Because I heard professor Snape was taking over after so many years of requesting for the position. It only seems appropriate." Stephanie spoke as she wrote a letter to send her parents through the owl.
"I couldn't care less, as long as the professor teaches splendidly." Jason proudly chimed in.
"But you're a boring wanker." Matthew rolled his eyes and playfully slapped Jason's arm.
"Oh, piss right off...!" the boy groaned and massaged the place where he had been struck. Matthew laughed at the sight meanwhile I picked at my nails in absolute boredom. My legs were crossed, awaiting the moment they could just stand up and leave. Glancing over at the group of students who were still going over what they should do to make the party enjoyable, I finally let a smirk plaster on my face.
Standing up, my all friends look over at me and Stephanie frowned in confusion, "Ariana? Where are you going?"
Without replying, I finally walk up to them, "Hey, boys. I could do you the favour." My hands fall on top of a table, slightly leaning towards them. "Ariana! Oh, well… hi." Tyler, the popular Gryffindor who's been trying to get with me for awhile, spoke. "You mean... you would get the firewhiskey?"
"Yes." I reply, "I will go to Hog's Head... but in one condition."
The group of boys nod excitedly, waiting to hear the conditions. "We can all hang out at Gryffindor's Common Room for a late after party."
"You're a bloody genius!" Matthew said from behind, his arm hovering around my shoulders, "Everyone clap for Ariana, she just saved our lives!"
Everyone laughed and cheered for me and my eyes glimmer with mischief. Where's the fun in a family friendly party? We're in seventh year, for Salazar’s sake. We deserve to have our fun, no matter if it’s shared with other houses.
After he tried to ask me out for the Halloween party once again, I reject Tyler, telling him one day he might just be able to succeed. Everyone went back to their initial places. As I sat down, I swing my legs up on the table, letting my head fall back with a lazy groan.
All of a sudden, the class grows quiet. I didn't hear any noises so I simply thought they had gotten tired of playing around. After a few more seconds, Stephanie's eyes shoot to me in despair and I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. "What's wrong?" I ask her.
"You. Your posture is horrendous."
A chill was sent down my spine as my head slowly pushed forward. Inch by inch, the most attractive man I've ever seen in my life appeared in front of me. My eyes are struck open and I blink a few times, not really comprehending what was going on.
He was glaring down at me, wearing all black clothing. His hair was dark, like a raven's - curls loose yet well groomed, just like a teacher's should be. His skin was almost as pale as snow. The facial features were sharp. His defined jaw and narrow, whiskey coloured eyes stared at me.
Impassively, he glanced down at my disrespecting legs. My black heels almost felt like they were defying his presence. To hide my thigh highs in a completely uncharacteristic shy manner, I pulled my legs away from the table and let my feet rest on the floor.
"That is much better." he said after a few seconds of maintaining eye contact with me. He walked to the front of the class and the silence fell hard on me as soon as I realised I had embarrassed myself in front of everyone - and in front of...
"My name is Tom Marvolo Riddle, for you, Mister Riddle."
Professor Tom Riddle... the boy who belonged to the Gaunt family tree. He was the infamous heir of Slytherin.
"As you may have already noticed, I'm the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I used to be a student here in this very school." his lips cracked into a smile, letting everyone finally feel at ease.
"Ask Slughorn himself. I was his favourite, although he would never actually admit to it." He wittily continued, making the girls giggle softly. "I used to be house Slytherin, like your classmate over there." he motioned his hand over to me, probably still annoyed by the fact I was sat in such a... barbaric position.
"Being Head Boy and prefect wasn't as easy as I made it look, but I'm pretty sure some teachers of yours may have mentioned me before."
"Oh, yes!" an annoying girl whom I always had to put up with whenever we had Defence Against the Dark Arts interjected, "Now that I recall, Mr. Slughorn did say he was thrilled to have one of his favourite former students teaching here, at Hogwarts." her voice seemed to be a little bit higher than normal.
"I knew I couldn't be a stranger to you all." his voice was velvety. The smooth edge to his deep, melodic tone was enough to make all the girls swoon over him, and I couldn't help but admit I was immediately seduced by his looks, too.
A chuckle erupts from his lips and he finally walks around his desk to sit down. "To your information. my office is located in your old professor's." Professor Riddle started gathering some of the papers on the side of the table, "So from three PM to five PM, feel free to visit. Or if anything unexpected happens and you come to need a superior's help, feel free to knock at any time. But only for absolute emergencies. Understand?"
Everyone nodded and he grinned with satisfaction. "This first class will be solely dedicated to me and you." He grabs the files, finally walking back to the front of his desk. He didn't wear any robe. Instead, he just wore black formal trousers and a black button up. The only accessory giving away his Hogwarts house was the white striped, dark green tie around his smooth, yet thick neck.
He halfheartedly sat on the wooden surface and his free hand held onto the edge of the table. "I will call for your names and you will respond accordingly."
Everyone says "Yes, professor Riddle." and he looks amused with the quick obedience. The handsome man starts calling for each of our names and I place my chin on my palm. My eyes stare at his defined legs, the fabric of his trousers fitting his thighs perfectly. The crotch was also noticeable. Not too much, just enough. Enough to drive me crazy with desire and filthy, shocking fantasies. It felt wrong, really wrong. He is my new teacher, after all. Plus, I'm just seventeen and he's probably over twenty. Somehow, that just made the situation all the more alluring to me.
"Ariana Resende." he looked over his paper, searching for the student he called out for. I put my hand in the air and brush one of my locks behind my ear. "Present, Professor Riddle."
"Good, at least you are able to do a good job when asked." the voice was apprehensive but held no resentment over me whatsoever, which warmed my heart, "Just make sure to be focused next time, yes?"
"Yes, I am so sorry for sitting in such a distractive manner." I choose my words very carefully and he seems to pick up on it. Although he didn't dare - or to be more precise, he didn't want to acknowledge or let it affect his efficiency. He was extremely attractive. The professor was probably used to students ogling him. His pale, slender fingers gripping on the sheets. The beautiful dark ring looked so perfect on him.
Pushing away any dirty thoughts trying to pry in my mind, he finally spoke up again. "Okay, now that everyone is here and present, you all may ask me anything."
Professor Riddle hadn't even finished his sentence when several fingers floated in the air. Only one of them was male. Obviously, it was none other than Jason. He picked a random girl and let the question direct itself towards him. "If it's not too personal, how old are you, sir?"
"I am twenty two years old. I was accepted into Hogwarts rather quickly. Before I chose to work here, my hobbies took most of my free time." his charming soft glances put everyone at ease.
"Are you single?" another girl quickly asked.
Regardless of how absurd the question had been, Riddle didn't blink or widen his eyes or laugh. "I am, yes." As I said before, probably used to it.
The girls whispered to each other and he chose Jason to speak. "Will you be taking your N.E.W.T students somewhere for practical classes?"
"As a matter of fact, I am." he nodded, "Who, in here, is doing Defence Against the Dark Arts N.E.W.Ts?"
Me and Jason raised our hands, along with five more students. A friend of a girl who had raised her finger pushed her arm down, reminding her she never said she would be taking such a thing. The girl pouted and crossed her arms above her chest.
"Are the classes really for N.E.W.T students only?" another one asked, her voice obviously veiled with disappointment.
"Yes, unfortunately, only N.E.W.T students can come to the field trips I will be soon organising." the man walked up to the sad student and towered over her with a smile, "However, as I said, any questions for me and I'm available from three PM to five PM."
the class finished rather quickly (or maybe it felt quick because of the visually appealing teacher in front of us), making the students who hadn't asked their inquiries groan in frustration.
"Tell the others I'm staying to properly apologise to the professor." I whispered to Vanessa. She nodded and waved me bye. My friends left and so did the rest of class.
Tom was standing by the desk, his back turned to me. He probably thought everyone had already left because he seemed entertained with the stack of papers and quill now on top of it.
His back as equally lean. The muscles were obviously toned, but he wasn't jacked. He wasn't a brute. He was just like a fallen angel, a dark cherub.
"May I help you? Do you have any urgent questions?" he pulled me out of my straying mind and I quickly clear my throat. "I'm sorry for staying behind and delaying you."
"Don't worry, you are not. I just find it mildly odd such a young student staying after class on a friday afternoon." he shrugged, finally turning back to me.
"I wanted to personally apologise." I walk up to him, heels softly clicking on the floor. I didn't mean to trespass any boundaries you might have." if I didn't know any better, I'd try to hide away the fact my cheeks were extremely red.
He lingered my eyes on me for a second, "You're Ariana, correct? You're one of the top Slytherin students. Professor Mcgonagall offered you to be a seeker in the school's Quidditch team, yet you refused."
My eyes widen and I feel my face reddening even more. How did such a good looking and busy man know so much about a single student? I let a humourous laugh leave my mouth and I look away. "Do you know about every student as much as you know about me?"
"As a teacher, I am obliged to know and understand my students. Not to be your friend, of course, but something akin to it." he adjusted his silver belt, making my eyes automatically stare down at his crotch. I then forced them to focus on his ethereal face. Honestly, anywhere I looked at was dangerous.
"Plus, I am always particularly intrigued by the ones who are outstanding. And that is you." he smiled and placed his gentle hand on my upper arm. My heart gnaws at my ribcage, almost as if it were begging to be pulled out by the man in front of it and get eaten. Hugged. Kissed. Whatever the professor wanted.
"I won't disappoint you, sir..." I answer, voice a little breathy without my permission.
"I know you won't, miss Resende. have fun tomorrow night. There's a Halloween party for fifth years and up, correct? At the Three Broomsticks. Don't get yourself into too much trouble." he then leaned in to whisper in my ear, "Unless someone's there to fix it." he chuckled, finding his own statement funny. With a flick of his wand, the dark suitcase floats over to him and his beautiful fingers wrapped around the handle. "Goodbye."
With a polite nod, he leaves the classroom. After his footsteps faded into the hall way, I quickly leave the the classroom, too, inhaling and exhaling as an attempt to calm myself down. Staying alone with him was risky. Way too risky. Not because I'm worried for Professor Tom, but because I can't trust myself with my feelings around others when they're so close to storming out.
I had to take a breather before going to the Grand Hall for dinner.