Marauder's Daughter (Eventual Tom Riddle X OC)

Chapter 56: New Professor

"Welcome, my small but talented class." Dumbledore greets the Alchemy class once we entered our lesson right after his announcement at breakfast. "We will be working diligently on our studies this year, but I want to also invite you to question me more before you three leave off to bigger and better things when you graduate."

"Professor?" I ask, lightly raising my hand. He nods his head politely to allow me to speak, and I take the floor. "I found a way I want to implement alchemy, a time release and elemental release combination on a small object, but with a big effect. I want to know if I could have assistance in learning something like that?" I ask, thinking about making custom arrows for my Cupid's bow.

"What a curious but delightful idea." Dumbledore beams, "I can help you with this during the year." He continues his lecture, and we make plans for how we can each work on our own ideas. Roger had an idea of infusing different potions to work with different scents, and Adrian had ideas for making more offensive types of defense protections. 

When class ended, Dumbledore asked me to stay behind.

"Yes, Sir?" I ask curiously as I pull my bag onto my shoulder.

"I wanted to check in with you regarding Professor Umbridge, since you were one of the last to see her in the castle. Can you tell me what happened that night with her?" He asks politely, for once not trying to read my mind. I react as would be expected of an innocent person, and I roll my eyes and angrily huff.

"She tried to make me write with a strange quill that cut into my hand and used my own blood to write the lines. I did one line and then stormed out and left. No detention is worth a permanent scar. She didn't seem to care that I left, she was just writing something down anyway." I inform him casually. "I told Minnie about it right after, too. I'm glad she's gone, she shouldn't be allowed to do that to children."

"Did she perhaps mention where she was going before you left?" He asks me after nodding in agreement.

"No, she didn't say anything. Then again, I left quickly." I shrug casually. "Why?"

"She has seemingly left for Siberia." He tells me truthfully, and I raise my eyebrows at him.

"Yikes, I feel sorry for Siberia." I joke to him, and he surprisingly chuckles back. "Who's the new teacher going to be?"

"We are still finalizing the details now. Though you will find out tomorrow, I'm sure." He gives me a knowing look then, and I dislike the look. I eye him curiously before he dismisses me to go to lunch. 

My afternoon was just a double Transfiguration, and my evening was spent training with Harry. I let him go back to the common room himself, staying behind to check in with Tom.

"There is something different about you today." Tom observes quickly after taking a long look at me after entering my realm. "It's... in your eyes. They are colder."

"I never said I was a warm cuddly person." I sneer darkly at my friend, immediately becoming defensive. "I didn't know my eyes lied that much to make you think that."

"Your eyes are very expressive." He softly says, ignoring my mean attitude. "Can you tell me what changed since we last spoke?"

"Why?" I ask abrasively.

"I must admit, I do not like seeing you without the warmth and light." He says sincerely, and I cast my eyes downward in thought. "Your eyes are usually so full of joy, this cold look makes your grey eyes look like a harsh winter storm instead of a comforting rainy day. I'm accustomed to seeing mirth in your eyes lately. I haven't seen this cold edge since when we first began to speak. Please tell me, did I do something?" He asks worriedly, but calculatingly.