Tom Riddle Chronicles: The New DADA Teacher

I was packing my suitcase. The truth of the matter was there wasn't a whole lot for me to pack. My sad, tragic life has taught me that the most important things are the ones you keep in your heart. Other then a few essentials, the material things didn't really matter.

I packed a few books on the Defense Against the Dark Arts. Not that I needed them, anyway. With the possible exception of Remus, I knew more about Dark Arts then any other teacher in the recent history of Hogwarts. But the students could not know that, so I had to at least pretend I needed the books.

I packed a few robes and other wizard clothing. I reminded myself to change into the wizard clothing when I got to Hogwarts. I always preferred Muggle clothes: it had much more variety and it was far more practical then the wizard attire. But I knew no student was going to take a professor dressed in Muggle clothing seriously, so I had to make a few sacrifices.

I glanced over all the pictures on my desk and picked up the one in the middle. It showed a young couple: a dark-haired young man in black pants with a shirt to match and a young woman dressed in the traditional robes of the Shinto priestess. Her dark hair was bound in a bun. The young man was smiling: for the first time in his life, he felt the sweet taste of true happiness. The young woman had an expression of pure jubilation. And even though the picture was taken using a Muggle method, it conveyed just as many emotions as any magical picture.

I felt a tear streaming down my cheek:

"Miyuki," I whispered softly, "my precious Miyuki... I miss you so much... "

I carefully wrapped the picture and put it in my backpack's front pocket.

I picked up another picture. The couple was older now. They were dressed in casual European clothing. Miyuki's long beautiful hair was loose this time. She had one arm around her husband, while the other arm was holding a little baby girl.

"I wish you could see her now, Miyuki. Our daughter has grown into a beautiful young woman. You would have been proud."

I took that picture, too. I picked up the latest picture of my daughter and put it right next to the others. Finally, I picked up a picture in a golden frame. Unlike most pictures on my desk, this was created using the magical method. I don't like using the magical method simply because it required wizard money, which I don't have a whole lot of. But Miyuki persuaded me that this was worth it. I gathered just enough money to make two photo portraits: one of Miyuki and one of myself. We agreed to keep each other's pictures. That way, no matter how far apart we were, we would always have a piece of each other.

Four days later, Miyuki was taken away from me.

I couldn't take it anymore. I broke down and cried. I cried for poor, innocent Miyuki, who did not deserve to be slaughtered by a ruthless, wicked monster. The monster that took special pleasure in robbing him of everything I held dear.

My own past was filled with innocent blood, and I knew it. But why did this monster have to drag Miyuki into it? Her only crime was trying to help me find the light and come to terms with my darkness. She deserved to have a good, happy life. She did not deserve this... She did not deserve this.

The picture of Miyuki looked back at him, no longer smiling. The expression was all too familiar. It was Miyuki's patented if-you-dare-to-be-depressed-around-me-I'll-tickle-you-to-death look.

"What do you know," I asked the picture, "you are just a piece of Miyuki's soul implanted into magical photo paper. You are not real Miyuki and you never will be."

Yet, despite myself, I smiled.

"Still, you are right. I cannot wallow in sadness. Ayumi needs me. The Order of Phoenix needs me. And my future students: I guess they need me, too."

With the new determination, I put the picture back in his pocket.

"Dad, are you ready yet?" asked Ayumi

I looked around the room. There was nothing more for me to pack

"Yeah, I'm coming."

I picked up my backpack, a suitcase and Nimbus 2000 (a present from Dumbledore) and headed into the living room.

Ayumi was already there, surrounded by a bunch of suitcases. It never seized to amaze me that she looks as much like her mother as she does like me. She was only eighteen, yet she seemed just as mature as me when I was her age. While the emerald in her eyes was mine, the warmth in her eyes was definitely Miyuki's. Her medium-length black hair was dyed a rebellious shade of red popular among Japanese teenagers. Her fashion sense was definitely mine: Ayumi always had a special fondness for nice, yet practical clothes colored with darker shades of natural colors.

Ayumi is my pride and joy. She is beautiful, curious, clever, kind and always full of life. Sure, at times, she can be a handful, but so was I when I was younger. No matter what, she will still be more precious to me then anything else in this Universe. And no matter what she decides to do with her life, I will always be there for her.

"I can't believe it," I smiled, "my little girl is going to college. Where did the years go..."

"Oh, come on, dad, I am not a little girl anymore."

"You'll always be a little girl to me. It's a father-daughter rule. Now, come on, let's get going. The cab is waiting."

It took us some time to get all the luggage down to the first floor, lock the door and put a few charms around it to protect it from magical robbers. It took us even longer to load Ayumi's luggage into the cab.

"Well..." I said when we were finally ready to go

"Well..." echoed Ayumi

"I guess this means goodbye."

"Oh come on, dad, it will only be for a few months. And I'll call you everyday."

"Just remember, cell phones don't work in Hogwarts, so you'll have to use telepathy."

"But isn't Hogwarts suppose to be protected from ALL forms of outside magic?" smiled Ayumi

"Nope. While it's protected from all forms of European, Arab and American magic, most magic from Africa and Asia can get through the magical defenses like it's nothing. Just don't tell Dumbledore I said that."

"Well, in this case, I'll call you as soon as I get settled it."

"Don't forget, there is an eight-hour time difference between Hogwarts and Japan, so plan your calls accordingly. I don't want to have to wake up two a clock in the morning unless it's an emergency."

"Sure, dad," she said playfully.

"Well, I don't think I have to tell you about all the things you shouldn't do. You are too smart for this kind of stuff. Just be careful. And if there is anything you need, call me: I'll be there."

Suddenly, Ayumi rushed up to me, wrapping me in a bone-crushing hug. I hugged her back.

"Oh, daddy, I am going to miss you so much!"

"I know, honey, I'll miss you, too."

We held each other for what seemed like forever. Finally, we let go of each other.

"Bye, Dad," Ayumi said as she climbed into the cab, "good luck! And tell Sirius I said hi."

"Goodbye, Ayumi-chan!" I winked. She blushed, but only a little

As the cab rode off, she continued waving until the cab was out of sight.

"Great," I mumbled to myself, "now what am supposed to do?"

To think that all this time, I was worried that Ayumi wouldn't make it without me. For the first time ever, we were going to be apart for more then a month, and already I had no idea what I was going to do without her.

I shrugged:

"Well... I guess this is it. Hogwarts, here I come."

I took one last look at Odaiba, a small town in Tokyo Megalopolis that has been my home for the past decade. With the new determination, I picked up my luggage and Apparated to the Hogsmeade Station.

Suddenly, I was falling down a tunnel that didn't seem to have a beginning or an end. My body refused to move an inch. There was nothing I can do to stop the fall. No matter how many times I have done it, this revelation still sends chills down my spine.

Then, just as suddenly, it stopped.

The world around me slowly came to the focus as I found myself standing in the middle of an empty platform. My luggage appeared by my side. I scanned the area. Naturally, the sun was already setting. A tall figure in the worn, shabby robes was standing nearby, chuckling:

"Gotta love transcontinental Apparition, huh?"

"Remus!" I shouted accusingly, causing him to chuckle even more. I tried to walk over and give him a piece of my mind, but I was still dizzy from the trip. It took me great effort not to fall over.

"Hello, Tom," he smiled, "it has been a long time."

As he walked toward me, I noticed that he looked older, more worn-out then I remembered him. Yet, despite his decaying façade, he was still full of energy.

"Indeed, old friend," I smiled back.

We shook hands.

"How have you been, Tom," asked Remus with sincere concern in his voice.

Normally, I would just shrug it off and say I am fine. But I knew this wouldn't work with Remus. We both had a dark side we desperately wanted to get rid of. And we both lost people we loved to the Dark Lord, so he understood what I was going through.

I sighed:

"It's better now. I still miss Miyuki, of course, but it doesn't hurt as much. I won't lie to you: it's hard. But I manage."

"I know what you mean," Remus commented sympathetically

"What about you?" I asked as we headed for the carriage that was waiting nearby.

"Well, my fiancé ran off with some American wizard, I haven't had a decent job for almost a year, my landlord is increasing the rent and I am running out of money to pay it. Other then that, everything is great."

"You should come to Japan." I suggested as I climbed into the carriage, "The wizards over there don't care about the werewolf crap. And I can think of several places which are in desperate need of a Defense Against Dark Arts specialist."

"I'll think about it," he allowed

"So," I inquired as I put my luggage on the opposite seat, "how is the Order?"

"Busy. Everybody has been running around, trying to make sure things don't fall apart before we'll even have a chance to make a move. Things have changed since the Order was disbanded. Too many people died. Many of our former allies don't want anything to do with us. Things none of us could have possibly predicted happened. But most importantly, we lost respect of the magical community. Last time around, we had years to prepare. We don't have that luxury any more. It's going t be a lot harder this time. "

"I know, Remus," I nodded sadly, "but we have to try anyway. Because doing something, however futile it may seem, is better then doing nothing at all."

"I guess you are right," he nodded solemnly

I decided it was a good time to change the topic:

"Listen, I am a little knew at this whole teaching thing, so I would appreciate any helpful advice. Is there anything I should know before I start? "

"Sure," he said, handing me a thick roll of parchment, "here are my notes. Don't rely on them too much and you'll be fine."

"Thanks"

"So, Tom, what have you been up to lately?"

"Well, my team finished compiling the GWR database for Japanese Ministry of Magic. The Magitech Corp Board of Directors was very pleased. Plus, with Ayumi starting college, things have been very hectic. I swear, Muggle colleges require more paperwork then the International Federation of Warlocks Budget Committee processes in a year! And as if that wasn't bad enough, I found out that the license on Miyuki's shrine has expired, so I had to go to the Ministry and wait for days to get that taken care of..."

As the carriage raced to Hogwarts, I continued chatting with Remus, forgetting all about the Dark Lord, the Order and the hard task ahead of me. Despite all that happened lately, it was good to be back.