The "Saints" had departed Hogwarts, but their devotion to Gellert Grindelwald remained unshaken. Vowing to return him to their ranks, they left Grindelwald in a state of helpless resignation, short of Tom Riddle unleashing another devastating "Thunderclap Explosion" to dissuade them. Though, with Tom's increasing power, even that might prove ineffective.
Grindelwald shrugged off the thought. "Best to buy Albus some sweets," he muttered, and with that, he departed.
...
The new school year dawned, and the Hogwarts Express once more disgorged students onto the platform. In the Great Hall, Albus Dumbledore prepared to introduce yet another new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
"As I'm sure you've noticed," Dumbledore announced, gesturing towards Grindelwald, "though perhaps not recognized, this is Gellert Grindelwald, an old friend of mine, and a wizard of… considerable talent. His knowledge of Defense Against the Dark Arts is quite profound. He will be your new professor."
Severus Snape shot Dumbledore a look of profound bewilderment. The old man's not even bothering with subtlety anymore. Most of the other professors mirrored his sentiment, save for the perpetually inebriated Trelawney.
Minerva McGonagall, however, was incandescent with fury, silently berating Dumbledore for his maddening senility. Two of the most dangerous men in wizarding history teaching at Hogwarts? Has the old coot finally lost his marbles? Still, given her past experience with Tom, this situation was...somewhat less shocking, though her mental tirade against Dumbledore continued unabated.
"Gellert," Dumbledore prompted, resuming his seat and looking expectantly at his 'old friend', "perhaps you'd like to say a few words?"
Grindelwald, however, ignored Dumbledore's prompting. Instead, he exchanged a knowing glance with Tom Riddle before rising to his feet.
"..."
He scanned the sea of students arrayed before him.
"..."
Professors and students alike watched with bated breath. This feels awfully familiar… Dumbledore, in particular, had a sinking suspicion that he was being played by his two favorite people.
"I don't think it should be like this." Grindelwald's pronouncement sparked a buzz of excitement.
"Alright, alright, settle down!" Dumbledore interjected, rising quickly and shooting Grindelwald a warning glare. "Professor Grindelwald has made his point. Let the feast… begin! And the same old words! Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" Grabbing Grindelwald's arm, he hastily pulled him back into his seat.
"What are you up to?" Dumbledore hissed, leaning in close.
"Not my fault," Grindelwald replied with a disarming smile. "Little Tom put me up to it."
"Old Dumbledore, don't listen to him!" Tom Riddle called out, overhearing the exchange. Setting down his teacup, he added, "The old man's incorrigible. I merely suggested he make an impression. Clearly, he's relapsed. We should lock him away immediately!"
Adopting a dramatic pose, Tom continued, "I'll build a New Nurmengard this time! Guaranteed to withstand even a nuclear blast! And then, I'll find you a new companion. You two can flaunt your romance while we send Dumbledore pictures!"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop as Tom delivered his final blow. "The torment won't end there! I'll lock him up with you and your new companion in back-to-back rooms for a few days!"
"..."
What an utterly venomous little fiend! Grindelwald thought darkly. He certainly lived up to his reputation as the Dark Lord.
The other professors, having eavesdropped on this illuminating conversation, were left speechless. McGonagall sighed again. The Hogwarts staff-room was becoming increasingly difficult. The other professors were equally bewildered. Usually, Professor Tom Riddle is so elegant and taciturn, barely saying a word to anyone. But suddenly, when he's dealing with these two old men, he starts coming up with one wicked idea after another! And yet, they seem to have a good relationship, not some deep-seated grudge. It was all terribly confusing.
Snape continued to "drown his sorrows in alcohol," wondering when his own turn to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor would finally come. As for the topic of the three men's… discussion… best to leave it alone.
Meanwhile, the students, between mouthfuls of food, were engaged in a different kind of bustle.
"Hey, newbie," one student whispered, "why not join the Death Eater interest group run by your senior? Two and a half years of professional training for outstanding Death Eaters!"
"Death Eaters are recruiting! Just one Galleon! One Galleon and you can join the world's most powerful wizarding organization!"
"See that blue guy over there? That's our Death Eater leader. Handsome, isn't he? Join the Death Eaters, and you'll have a chance to get up close and personal… What's that? You can do it in class? Heh, you'll see. The professors barely pay attention to us."
"What? You need to ask your dad? Your dad couldn't even get in! What are you waiting for? Sign this contract! From today onward, dedicate everything to the great Professor Tom Riddle!"
"...I don't need to sell my body?! Just my life!"
The annual Hogwarts freshman enrollment had become synonymous with the annual Death Eater recruitment drive.
Under the influence of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, more and more Death Eaters had mastered the fine art of 'persuasion'. Some had even perfected the good cop/bad cop routine and Malfoy's signature move – the 'serial slap.' Fresh-faced first years barely knew what hit them before they found themselves pledging allegiance to the Death Eaters.
The professors, by now, were mostly used to it. To be fair, the Death Eaters these days weren't so bad. And as these young wizards matured, the Death Eaters might undergo a complete and drastic transformation! Then… on second thought, perhaps they wouldn't change all that much.
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