Row upon row of writing desks showed Hogwarts for exactly what it was; a school. An institution of learning that hadn't changed in a millennium or two.
Just like any other class, Tom and Victoria fought violently for the top spot in transfiguration. It infuriated Tom but Victoria always seemed to beat him by a mark or two in their tests. Her spells flourished just a spark prettier than his and Tom was certain that Professor Dumbledore had a vendetta against him. They way the teacher would watch him throughout the hour and in the halls, like he was waiting for Tom to do something unthinkable. It didn’t feel fair, he had not seen Tom misbehave since he had visited Wool's Orphanage and found his collection of stolen items.
The professor paced a little as he dragged a piece of white chalk elegantly across the black board at the front of the room. Light brown hair, streaked with grey, was combed neatly out of his face. A medium length beard of the same colour clung to his jaw. He was drawing a little diagram of a bird as his class of second year students watched patiently, his dark blue robes wrinkling as he reached his arm across the blackboard.
"Now everyone, today is the day you've all been waiting for." Professor Albus Dumbledore turned to face his students, wand in hand. "Your theory essays have been marked, you've all done wonderfully, I'm proud to say. Today we're going to be doing something more practical."
A buzz of hushed conversation filled the room, quiet excitement as the twelve-year-olds pulled out their wands and placed them neatly onto their desks.
"Yes, yes, all very exciting." Dumbledore smiled, walking over to the phoenix perched elegantly beside his desk. "But proper technique is what's important if we don't want winged goblets. Now, you are to tap your animal three times. Firmly but not a wack, these are still living creatures that do have feelings. And speak the incantation clearly as so."
Dumbledore tapped the phoenix thrice with his wand. "Vera Verto." As he spoke the majestic creature transformed in a fluid motion into a beautiful, golden goblet.
"There, quite simple," Dumbledore said, turning back to his class seeing the usual array of faces. Some disinterested and avoiding his eyes at all cost, some eager and sitting forward in their seats. "Who wants to go first?"
Hands shot up, making Dumbledore chuckle. The steely faces of the competitive pair glanced at each other across the room. He didn't like how Victoria and Tom always made the rest of the room disheartened, fighting each other for the top spot like no one else mattered but them. Tom knew why, as a teacher, it was more empathetic to give all the students a chance but if they could perform to the same standard then they shouldn't be holding him back because of something as silly as empathy.
"Miss Prince, would like to take the brave first step?" Dumbledore asked the Slytherin girl sitting beside Victoria.
Eileen was one of Victoria's friends so he didn't have to worry about accidentally pointing Victoria's anger towards her. Though Tom found her petty viciousness entertaining, it could also be draining when her purpose was so narcissistic.
"Of course, sir." Eileen Prince sat up straight in her seat, her wand gripped in her fingers.
She cleared her throat and performed the spell with great degree of concentration. Her tabby cat morphed into a rather fuzzy looking cup with a fluffy tail that made Victoria giggle in a light, sweet way that drew Tom's eye back to her.
"We can't all be perfect on the first try." Eileen huffed, frowning down at her fuzzy goblet.
"No, I'm not laughing," Victoria laughed, readjusting her tie in an attempt to distract herself from the cup she half expected to start meowing. "It's— a cup, a valiant effort."
YOU ARE READING
The Fearsome Name of Riddle
Fanfiction"I had to sit in this house and watch him destroy her. Do you really want to hear all of that?" ##### In the aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts, an old photograph is found, revealing the life of a young witch that had been lost with the memories of...
