Claire De Lune | Professor Riddle AU

Chapter 4

Rendez-vous, rendez-vous, rendez-vous au prochain règlement.

It was almost disheartening how people could be so easily fooled. A few sweet smiles and praises here and there and they turned into putty in his hands. It came naturally to him, enticing the people around him constantly. He could effortlessly shape them into whatever he wanted if he so desired. Dumbledore though, was not so convinced with this act, as he kept breathing down his neck unsubtly. Talking to him with a look of suspicion, acting his cordiality perfectly alongside Riddle's fake interest.

He had to even place a spell on his furniture and walls of his private room, so he was sure nothing had been put to spy on him. He felt the old fool's presence everywhere he went, making it a bit more complicated to freely do what he had planned. But patience was Riddle's biggest virtue and he will have to use it extensively while he was a teacher here. Not only for Dumbledore's irritating paranoia but for the utter stupidity of some of the students.

He had to hold back a few biting remarks throughout the week, baffled at their idiotic attitudes and their lack of knowledge about very basic subjects. The only saving grace to his mental stability was the few Slytherin pure bloods that roamed the school. Some more intriguing than others, he kept a keen eye on the ones who had potential of benefiting him in the long run. Although not approaching them just yet. He had to prove himself first, to the staff, the students that he wasn't just charming but a good and trustful teacher. Make himself so likeable that when dead mudbloods were found on the school ground not even Dumbledore could suspect him.

That task, ever so heavy, was crucial to his dark plans. He had to remind himself that when he was met with a familiar face, the impudent French girl from the train. From her seat in the back of the class he noticed that she wore Slytherin's colours, which bothered him more than he would like to admit.

Someone had charmed his chair to make it move it every time he tried to sit on it. That earned a few laughs from the class, her grin though gave away her involvement in the trick. Although just a foolish joke, Some sense of uncharacteristic worry took his brain apart as he almost stumbled. He hadn't felt any trace of magic on the chair. Usually such a trivial spell he could detect miles away but now he was left perplexed. Although this wasn't the time or place to show it, with the young audience in front of him. With a flick of his wand he disarmed the spell, not sensing any extra charm to hide its magic. He creased his eyebrows softly at the realisation.

He turned swiftly to the class, the laughing having subdued but their taunting smiles still in place.

"I will take this trick as a warm welcome, then." He simply said, eyes on the french girl who he learned was named Alice Du Jardin. Daughter of the late Pierre Du Jardin, a renowned scholar with many influential studies under his belt. Riddle had even read a few during his studies, which brought quite a refreshing view in the magical world. He theorised about the possible science behind magic, its ancient history and dark unknown spells. Through his compelling writing style he had conveyed so much wit and knowledge, Riddle was impressed. And he wasn't easily impressed. For this particular reason he had felt very disappointed to find out Du Jardin's only child owned the most problematic file he had ever read. The list of her bad deeds in Beauxbatons and Hogwarts alike were a few dozen pages long. Each stunt more ridiculous than the other. Although Beauxbatons's list on her was shorter, as she got expelled after a singular year there for unknown reasons. Interesting.

He deduced that this rebellious side she had inherited from her sadly more famous parent. The french singer and pin-up girl, Juliette Du Jardin. A controversial figure who earned herself quite a few drama covers worthy of the Daily Prophet. He didn't care or like the provocative figure and neither did he appreciate her daughter. But the fact of the matter is that she had caught him off guard which unnerved him, and if he would have allowed himself to be a pitifully emotionally filled man, he would have felt anger.