#anti movie hermione

[the-phoenix-heart]

okay so I've been spending a lot of time thinking about Harry Potter recently and trolling the wiki for reasons and I have the weirdest observation about the series.

What is JKR's deal with Ravenclaw women?

I mean consider our main Ravenclaw girls: Luna Lovegood and Cho Chang (and Marietta Edgecombe). Luna in the movies is portrayed as whimsically queer, and that's not inaccurate to the books, but in the books she is more often a punchline than anything. She's a parody of the Ravenclaw ideals of creativity and openminded-ness to the point where she believes crazy conspiracy theories.

But she's our most positively portrayed Ravenclaw. Which is more than I can say for Cho and Marietta. Cho is portrayed as a pitiable character, someone so emotional and loyal that she is sympathetic, but the narrative portrays her overemotional nature and loyalty as bad traits. She's so emotional she'll blow up over perceived threats, and dwells on trauma, and it makes her a drag to talk to. And her loyalty is a bad thing because she chooses to be loyal to Marietta. Marietta is ESPECIALLY treated awfully. Marietta is scared for her mother's job that she rats out the DA and for her choice she is forever branded a traitor at 16, and this is completely justifiable. Like, if Hermione can jinx a paper to disfigure a person's face than couldn't she just jinx the paper to make it physically impossible to reveal the DA, except perhaps under the influence of veritaserum? Like the film did? But no, Hermione is instead more preoccupied with punishing than preventing (an insane thing for me to say, I'm sorry Hermione it's not your fault that your author is kinda insane about women).

(And just as a sidebar but Marietta is also given an illustration that makes it clear she was kinda ugly before the pimples which is so rude, but also so like JKR.)

Then you have very minor characters like Padma who are just generally portrayed as kinda bitchy. Padma gets off better than her sister in terms of being treated as bitchy, but it seems like Padma always carries the stigma of being disappointed by Ron at the Yule Ball.

But this goes back even FURTHER, to the oldest Ravenclaw student we are introduced to, Helena Ravenclaw.

In the films, again, Helena's scene with Harry is haunting. She's treated with respect and tragedy (almost all of the dialogue in the film is original). But in the books, yes we actually get her tragic backstory, but she is portrayed as haughty, vain, and prideful.

You can also add in Trelawney there as a Ravenclaw who is treated like a joke (crazy* and alcoholic).

And consider that the two women we know were almost in Ravenclaw, Hermione and McGonagall, end up going to Gryffindor and are portrayed as better off for it.

And like there is more to explore here. The four Ravenclaw men we really get to know are Filius, Ollivander, Xenophilius, and Lockhart. Xenpohilius is a conspiracy theorist (and a death eater sympathizer I just know it) and Lockhart is a buffoon who only really upholds the Ravenclaw wit and is skilled at memory charms.

(There's this crazy part of the Ravenclaw wiki page that actually compares Lockhart to Cho Chang because they both wanted to be popular. WHAT.)

Meanwhile you have Ollivander who is a positive Ravenclaw character, but is also barely in the books and Filius Flitwick. And Filius is a positive character but it is also canon that the Sorting Hat almost put him in Gryffindor, which seems like a pointed attempt to make it clear he's better than most Ravenclaws. Because he's got something of a Gryffindor edge to him.

I don't really know what the whole point of me going on this rant was about, other than just to point out that JKR is weird about Ravenclaws and the women in general. Almost all of them aren't allowed to actually uphold the actual values of their house: Wisdom, Intelligence, Learning. The only traits they ever really uphold is Wit if they are popular and Creativity, which seems to be a nice way of saying they're crazy conspiracy theorists. The only characters that really get anything good out of the house are Minerva and Hermione, and them being hatstalls is only meant to emphasize their intelligence in comparison to their Gryffindor peers. Otherwise Ravenclaw seems to just be JKR's go to bitchy/we need a villain who isn't Slytherin house.

*When I say "crazy" in this post I am referring to how JKR treats the characters. Babbling, loony, conspiratorial, and not in their right minds.

[babypizzaface]

Ron-I would die for her- Weasley

“Take these prisoners down to the cellar, Greyback.”

“Wait,” said Bellatrix sharply.

“All except. . . . except for the Mudblood.” Greyback gave a grunt of pleasure.

“No!” shouted Ron. “You can have me, keep me!”

Bellatrix hit him across the face: the blow echoed around the room.

“If she dies under questioning, I’ll take you next,” she said.

[thetimelordbatgirl]

So wait, if they determined to be accurate to the books in the Harry Potter reboot...does that include the 'its fine to enslave Elf's they fine with it!' bullshit plot??? Because if they cast anyone of color for Hermione....

[wafflinglumos]

Romione height difference and eye contact send tweet

[neverenoughmarauders]

Was I the only one to be deeply disappointed when the GOF movie came out and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic was an all girl school? It was bad enough that the worst champion (performance/point wise) was a woman, now they had to make it so that she wasn’t even the best at a mixed school - no she only ever beat a bunch of girls. Merlin forbid she was going to be better than a man …

[dramioneasks]

By Any Other Name - LibrarishLizzie - E, WIP - Hermione could smell the spice of his cologne, something slightly woodsy and old… like parchment from the restricted section of the Hogwarts library. The scent oddly suited him and his antiquated existence in this formal, strict sector of the Wizarding World. She shook her head slightly as if to remove the smell from her brain and returned to the matter at hand. “Would people truly believe you’re courting me? A muggle born?” Draco’s gaze snapped to Hermione’s face intensely, searching it. “I will make them believe,” he said with such conviction that Hermione found it impossible to argue. “How do you plan to do that?” Hermione asked, annoyed to find her voice sounded quite breathless. “Leave that to me,” Draco said, a smirk taking over his face that Hermione had never seen at Hogwarts; it was charming and dangerous at the same time. A flush crawled up her neck and sat beneath the dense twist of curls at the nape of her neck. [A Regency AU/Bridgerton-inspired fake dating Dramione romance peppered with Romeo + Juliet references.

[feralboo-the-weirdo]

BARBIE SPOILERS. if you have not seen it and you don't want spoilers, just skip over this. Unless you would like some prior warning for it. :)

This is honestly the only summery of the Barbie movie I can give without going into a giant rant:

Spoiler: Yes. They pushed both. I just couldn't get the other meme to work.

dang, I have a feeling this is going to garner quite a bit of hate, but as a disclaimer before I go into what I will try to keep a tiny rant-- I understand there are people who did like it and I want to like it, because it's you know, it's Barbie and the old movies were wonderful, but... the movie made itself irredeemable to me.

Yes, it was satire, but it was honestly hard to tell what was satire and what they proclaimed was truth. I hated it. Every moment I spent in the theater I wanted to leave it.

why was how they broke the brainwashing reminding women how mistreated they are? Like. HOW. DOES. THAT. FIX. ANYTHING? was it satisfying for a bit? admittedly yes, the initial rant the mom gave was satisfying.... and then they dragged out the bit and it was just like "what on earth is this?" why is this what unbrainwashes them?

Also, I know people are going to get onto the "well they were white so that explains everything" No. no it does not.

Also everything they brought up they did not go deep into. like Ken being hurt by the Patriarchy too. they spent about five minutes (if that) on it and then were like "yay! problem solved, it's barbie land again." Also mental health. Was handled VERY poorly. it's not a joke. as someone who deals with mental health struggles on the daily I did not appreciate how they presented it.

The "only baby dolls" thing. This should not have made me hate this movie so much because it's (MAYBE???) satire. But still. They have not been the only doll to exist ever.

This movie hated both genders equally but tried to make it seem like they loved women.

Also. I hated the extremes they went to in the real world. Not every man is Evil. there are some that definitely should not be allowed around women or other people yes, but not all of them are evil. And not all women are good either.

No one, the barbie movie: women are so mistreated, woah is us!

Also the barbie movie: eck! we're so powerful we can't stand it!

But mostly, I just hated it because I was promised a happy movie of Barbie having a midlife crisis and Ken coming along for the ride and instead it was like Tik tok. in movie form.

This movie did not make me feel anymore comfortable with my gender. if anything it made me feel worse. I left the theater feeling like I should have been empowered, but I just felt gross. Overall, this is probably the last post I will ever make for this movie because I want it to fade into the background and be ignored. The worst insult I could give this movie is ignoring it's existence entirely.

Does anyone else miss when movies just had strong CHARACTERS instead of it being a strong gender? like it wasn't "LOOK A FEMALE WHO IS A CHARACTER!!!" and "oh, a guy character, gross." Why does it have to be so extreme? Like I appreciate there are more female protagonists out there but I also miss when they weren't all hot headed, arrogant, jerks, and when they were FEMININE. like. what. is wrong. with. being soft??? also I miss smart male protagonists. and male protagonists in general who were good characters not comic relief. (unrelated, but semi related note: I will never forgive the Harry Potter Movies for what they did to Ron to make Hermione smart. Ron is SMART TOO. My boy deserved better!)Like there was a while there where women and men both had equal roles in stories and they were good because they were good characters and now... it's just politics. and I'm sick of it.

I don't know what Barbie was supposed to be but it was not what I wanted to see when I went to see it. I had low expectations, but somehow, it failed them. failed them hard. Honestly, I don't know how anyone likes it, and I'm still to angry at it to look for reasons why people did. Maybe in a few years after my anger at what this movie was actually about subsides.

In conclusion, I finally remembered why I don't go see movies anymore. I want a story, not a message. Barbie provided a message. a very dark undertone that hid under "discover yourself and your role in the world :)"

P.S. If you liked Barbie and wish to tear me to shreds, please remember I was not the target audience, I did not "get it" as those in the target audience did.

[wardrobeoftime]

can you make a collage of the emma watson prom dress in harry potter goblet of fire?

I have to think about this. I don't want to support a TERF by promoting a franchise she directly profits from and who puts that money to use by funding the discrimination of the trans community. She says she is supporting women with that but in my opinion she is putting all of us, whether cis or trans, female, male or non-binary, even in more danger than we already face from the partiarchal society around us.

However, I am aware that my impact is probably only very, very small and that Emma Watson herself spoke out against the author's believes. And that even for many trans people, Harry Potter used to be or still is a fantasy world they can find refuge in. I really need to think about it.

If I have any trans followers here, please tell me your opinion as this impacts you even more than me and I would like to hear from you.

[evilghoblin]

JK ROWLING PLAGIARISM

I remember this case and thinkin it was stupid. I saw post about this in tumblr years and years ago (2013?).

This aithor has accused rowling of plagiarism ages ago. This book came out 1974. There was a movie about this in 1986. A tv series in 1998-2001.

First Harry potter was published 1997.

Take a look at these and judge for yourself. To me there is awful lot of similarities

[casiavium]

I love the song O Children by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and yes I know it from Deathly Hallows part one but outside of that it's such a good song. It's about bittersweet death and Orpheus and Eurydice and the song just. Songs so good

And I WILL fight any self righteous ex Harry Potter fan that tries to pull some SHIT that it's about the Holocaust (and therefore should not have been used in the movie which I don't care about the artisy agreed to it so. Whatever. He got paid) IT'S FUCKING NOT you DUMB PIECE OF SHIT WITH NO MEDIA LITERACY show me a source that says this that's not some Harry Potter fan's Tumblr post from 2011. Show me it. Show me an interview with the artist. Show me exactly why you think it's about the Holocaust. Oh, trains leading to death? Because Harry Potter is a thinly veiled and pathetic attempt at WWII parallels? (and if we're going by that do you have a deathly hallows tattoo because if you're so 1:1 about this. you do know the deathly hallows is her fucking. symbolic equivalent to you-know-what. Oh that's offensive? YOU DON'T THINK???)

Because HAVE YOU WVER HEARD OF POETIC IMAGERY IN YOUR DAMN LIFE how could you have ever called yourself a Harry Potter fan without the basic ability to understand sometimes things are not LITERAL. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST

[ronherm]

I will never tire of saying that Steve Kloves is a born Ron Weasley hater. It's just a deleted scene and if I don't add it for real it's because I'm sure someone must have said to him; "Hey man, don't you think you've already ridiculed and bashed the Ron Weasley character so much in all the movies, making up scenes, stealing Ron's lines to give to others.

And JKR who supposedly has a strong character let a screenwriter do whatever he wants.

I will never understand JKR, making a character that is one of the main characters but never knew how to love and protect on the big screen or giving interviews. Writers are jealous of the characters they create, but she completely abandoned him during all the filming of HP.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 - deleted scene

[babypizzaface]

Sorry but idgaf about harry potter actors. They have nothing to do with the books. I am proud of not shipping real people. Please stop shipping Emma Watson with others but pretending you ship book characters.

[rewritingcanon]

What would you say are your more controversial opinions about the hp characters?

ohhhh okayyy. i feel like my opinions on a lot of the characters aren’t controversial because i dont feel super strongly towards anyone in any negative light but here are some i could think of at the top of my head:

i’m glad the malfoys faced more extreme backlash after the second wizarding war. a lot of people in the fandom seem to be very sympathetic towards draco and scorpius for getting dogpiled with the brunt of it (which yeah, it sucks, especially for scorpius) but the prejudice makes complete make sense to me. if i was someone who didn’t know scorpius’ character, and had someone from my family get killed in the second war due to death eaters or something— seeing the malfoys still be wealthy and walk around freely without any jailtime, i would be bitter too. they’re hated on but they’re still one of the richest families ever, so they’ll live LOL

another anon has asked about this and i haven’t responded to them yet but when i do i will link it here for my reasons. basically: the best character in the cursed child is harry potter. i think the way they wrote his character and ptsd carried the play. it was def his story, not albus’.

i do think dumbledore has some aspects of him that may be considered morally gray, but mostly i dont think he is. he does everything for the good of the world, and his complete selflessness leads him to sacrifice anything for it— even himself and the people he loves, when necessary. i completely understand why people wouldn’t agree with his methods though.

james potter isn’t a sunshine character he’s a dickhead. fans of him made him a golden retriever character to be more palatable for modern times. i like him the way he is: an asshole and then less of an asshole 👍 this is what true stanning looks like

pansy parkinson is racist and out of all the female side characters, developing HER is so questionable from fandom

harry had questionable descriptions about a lot of male characters to make people think he could be a little 🏳️‍🌈 there was bill, there was sirius, there was cedric. but draco is not a part of that list. harry was not feeling draco whatsoever throughout the series but drarry shippers cling to that one ‘obsessed’ line

furthermore, harry rejecting draco’s offer of friendship wasn’t a sad or a ‘what if’ scene. draco was being a classist piece of shit and harry didnt want to fuck with that, there isnt any way in any timeline he wouldve accepted draco’s friendship.

slytherin sucks just generally lol. people want so bad to pluck anti-heroes out of a series that was written specifically with the mind to make all the characters suck.

hermione and ron’s drama isn’t as toxic as people make it out to be. yes, this includes the time hermione sent birds after him. people act like its the end of the world but she was tackling puberty and the end of society soooo i give her a pass to tweak out.

mostly every harry potter character has horrific names. like literally mostly everyone. even the name harry potter 🙁

movie romione wasn’t that bad LOL

severus snape’s ‘redemption’ or whatever was so ass. he bullies kids for five years and then everything is chill because… true love? on harry’s mum? are you kidding me 💀

weasley family angst goes hard but people (especially percy stans and some ron&ginny stans) acting like they’re the most toxic family to walk the earth make me want to rip my hair out and eat it. molly loves her kids guys shes not evil. jesus.

genuinely trying to think of more but i can’t right now…. maybe i will reblog and add to it. i feel like most of my opinions aren’t that controversial though 😭

[wafflinglumos]

if you consider Hermione in the films a Mary sue consider yourself an opp

[neverenoughmarauders]

Book Hermione working hard was such an important aspect not just of her character but of teaching us that great results often require hard work! You can aspire to become a book Hermione (if you want to), but movie Hermione is something you have to be born as. What kind of message is that to send children?

the difference between Harry and Hermione isn’t really that Harry is more creative than her, it’s that Harry is naturally talented at the things he’s good at but Hermione is good at what she’s good at because she’s a very hard worker. This is not a bad thing, and it doesn’t mean that Harry’s lazy, I just think Hermione puts in so much effort into what she does. I think this is something the movies definitely get very wrong about her, Movie!Hermione is a genius without effort, but Book!Hermione is always working her ass off(she needs a break tbh)

[divaofmads]

TOM RIDDLE | DARK LADY 🖤💚

Part I: Gentleman | Part List

Warning: Toxic relationship, Dark Magic, Greed, Non-canon but does not affect Canon, There are historical inaccuracies, I wanted to write the character as an anti-hero but this is my first attempt. So please excuse me.

Word Count: 3.5k

A/N: Ages are written according to the main movie. Due to the events in Rowling's universe not being fully established, McGonagall's age was determined according to the first books. I wrote McGonagall's youth by imagining Eva Green, and no matter what the main character's name is or what their physical features are, the main character is always you, I recommend you read it knowing this.

A/N 2: Each character's story will be stated as a season. Because I am writing too long to be a one-shot and too short to be a novel.

A/N 3: I apologize for the mistakes I made in English that is not my native language and I am trying to improve my writing skills.

Dividers by picsart

The classroom, surrounded by high windows, was trapped in deep silence. The students listened intently to Professor McGonagall. It was the third year of the Transfiguration class and advanced spells were being taught. They were aware of their responsibility to be good witches or wizards for their fates that were sinking deeper into darkness with each passing day.

The candlelight behind the teacher's desk had made the professor's presence before them seem ghostly, here and there in shadow. The grooves and protrusions in her skin now blatantly thrust their presence into the students' eyes. Ron realized how old she was, as her wrinkles were more pronounced than ever. He wondered what secrets, what memories she might be hiding behind those wrinkles, and for a moment it frightened him.

When McGonagall caught Ron's eye, she couldn't make sense of the meaningful look on the boy's face. She addressed the boy with her usual dominant expression.

"Mr. Weasly, you seem very interested in the lesson. Would you like to show us your interest by performing a successful Avifors spell?"

Ron nodded in rejection, afraid of McGonagall's stern look. His lips seemed locked, and he couldn't speak. His red hair trembled.

McGonagall looked down at the boy. "What happened, Mr. Weasly? Did the dragon catch your tongue? You can do that, check your knowledge from last year."

Harry moved to save his friend from the moment. "Sir, I don't think Ron can comply with your request. Well... his wand doesn't guarantee complete obedience."

McGonagall snorted. "Well, I hope you try to renew your wand soon, Mr. Weasly, otherwise you'll have a very hard time passing this course."

Hermione raised her hand as Ron pressed his lips together and hung his head in embarrassment. A question extracurricular had occurred to her regarding the incident. "Professor, I have a question about wands."

She turned his sharp eyes on Hermione and looked at her through his glasses. "I'm listening, Miss Granger."

"Can you tell us about the existence of wizards or witches who can cast spells without using a wand?"

After Harry met Sirius Black, who had been a prisoner in the treacherous arms of slander for twelve years, Hermione Granger had been deeply involved in research in the archives of the school library. For this, she was grateful to the invisibility cloak. While she was researching the Black family, a name caught her attention. A name that also closely interested Minerva Mcgonagall.

McGonagall took a deep breath and looked around the class. A memory hidden in her wrinkles that Ron found strange suddenly appeared in her expression, and she looked longingly. Except for a few students who were emotionally developed at an early age, like Hermione, no one could understand the compassion in her expression.

“Well,” she began. As she moved between the three rows of tables, she began to explain. “The wand is an important tool for a witch or wizard to channel their power.” Her eyes scanned the students one by one. “It allows a witch or wizard to learn more powerful spells and charms more easily and more quickly.” she placed his hand on the desk where Neville was sitting for support. “The most talented student I have ever seen at wandless magic,” Harry continued, whispering to himself under the impact of the experience. “Dumbledore.” The depth of admiration in his voice brought a faint smile to McGonagall’s face. Although he was nervous at being heard by the professor, especially by such a stern-looking witch, it did not last long.

"You are right, Mr. Potter. The Headmaster's power and intelligence are beyond question. However, as a student, the most talented witch I have ever seen at creating powerful wandless spells and charms was my peer, Ophelia Black."

Harry asked, adding substance to the other students' astonishment. "Ophelia Black? Is she from the Black family? Was she related to Sirius Black?"

McGonagall kept her stern expression. "Yes, she was Sirius' aunt. But she was no different from Sirius. Despite graduating from Slytherin, Ophelia shone not only with her intelligence and talent, but also with her character. She possessed a type of magical ability rarely seen in Hogwarts' history."

Ron said sarcastically, "It's not often we hear that someone from Slytherin is talented."

Ron was doing a good job of getting the attention of the Slytherin students in the class, but McGonagall continued to walk around the room, scowling at them both to shut them up. "I see you've got your tongue in the right place," the heels of her shoes echoed on the stone floor. "Mr. Weasley, I suggest you put your prejudices aside. Most Slytherin students are far more complex than you think. Ophelia was too."

Draco Malfoy interrupted the professor, imitating his father's arrogance from his seat. "My father used to say that Ophelia Black was a freak. A disgrace to her family."

McGonagall's face hardened even more, and a dead silence fell over the classroom. She turned her head towards Malfoy with chilling calm. She was firm against the shameless slander against her friend. "I wouldn't build my life on what your father said if I were you. Suffice it to say, Lucius Malfoy is not someone who can compete with Ophelia."

Draco began to feel a little uncomfortable, but he frowned and sat silently. His lips tightened into a tight line.

Meanwhile, McGonagall turned back to the class. "Ophelia was a powerful wizard who could have been the Dark Lord's favorite. She stood up to Voldemort with her courage, morality, and determination. Courage is not just for Gryffindor. Ophelia proved that."

As Hermione and the other students listened with curiosity, McGonagall continued, "Wandless magic is extremely rare. But Ophelia could perform extremely effective magic without even needing to use her wand." Harry was as interested in the subject as if he were listening to his godfather. It was amazing to hear of someone so similar to Sirius Black. He asked. It had only been a short time since he had met him, and it made him happy to hear about such an admired relative of Sirius Black. "Then why have we never heard of her before?"

McGonagall looked at Harry. "Because in history the heroes do not always shine brightly, Mr. Potter. Ophelia was ostracized by her own family, but that did not make her bow her head. She did the right thing. And for that, she will always be a friend I will be proud of."

Draco remained silent, embarrassed, eager to send his letter of complaint to his father after class.

McGonagall glanced around the class and said, "Now, back to our lesson. Perhaps one day one of you will become as unforgettable as Ophelia. But that depends on staying on the right path."

The question on Harry and the others' minds was: What happened to her? Despite Hermione's research, she couldn't find a source on the subject.

September 1952

Headmaster Armando Dippet's Office - Afternoon

Ophelia was walking quickly through the Gargoyle corridor, illuminated by the moonlight filtering through the windows. It had already become dark due to Slughorne extending the lesson and not allowing early dismissals, leaving its coldness blowing over the Hogwarts castle. The cold surface of the stone walls made the young witch's pale white skin shiver and her quince hairs stand on end.

Out of breath, she ran towards the bronze statue in front of her so she wouldn't be ten minutes late for her meeting with Headmaster Dippet. The skirt of her black robe was flying, the emerald green hair wrapped in it was slowly being released.

She was among the few students who knew the password the gargoyle asked. This must have been an indication of how much Dippet trusted her. She repeated the magic words without changing her proud stance on the spiral staircase steps. When the gargoyle accepted the password and started spinning around its axis, the stairs formed and took Ophelia to the second floor.

She tightened her hair clip as she walked down the steps and into the office. She looked at her reflection in the glass of the nearest window and smoothed the silver strand in front of her hair with the palm of her hand. After convincing herself that she looked formal enough, she knocked twice on the carved maple door. But there was no sound. She thought he might be distracted by his busy schedule with the Ministry of Magic. She knocked again. This time five times. She was sure there was someone inside, she could feel it. She could hear the paintings talking to someone. Curiosity insidiously wrapped itself around her heart and took over. She grabbed the door handle impatiently to see what was in the headmaster's office, opened it abruptly, and put her foot over the threshold.

The office glowed dimly with magical light. The bookcases were filled with centuries-old works, and the conversations of the portraits on the walls had diminished to a whisper - after Ophelia arrived. She had heard the portrait of Fytherley Undercliffe, a former headmaster, pronounce the name Tom Riddle. It was not unfamiliar. She remembered Professor Dumbledore mentioning the name several times before. It was the only thing that piqued her curiosity. She crept inside, looking carefully. She glanced at the headmaster's desk first, but Dippet was not there. She was certain that there was someone else in the room besides the moving pictures. She paused for a moment, then noticed movement. A young man had emerged from the shadow of the chair. Ophelia turned her head to the young man at the bottom of the stairs.

When he asked with a cool smile, "Are you waiting for the principal?" Ophelia's only thought was that the old figure in the painting was the person she was talking about. Another student who knew the Gargoyle's password! A former student who had not been forgotten since graduation. Was this the poison of jealousy pumping from her heart into her veins?

"Yes," Ophelia said in a calm but somewhat defiant voice. "But it looks like we won't be alone."

Tom leaned slowly against the edge of the table. His eyes scanned Ophelia from head to toe, an analytical, almost menacing gaze. He had never met anyone whose irises were as different as the sun and the moon. A wisp of gray in the front of his raven-black hair could be the cause of the storms raging inside her.

"Headmaster is usually not around at this time of day. So waiting here is sometimes a waste of time."

Ophelia looked at the young man with a confident smile. The candles in the office were shining brightly enough on his skin that she could see his face. She could easily see his dangerous eyes. "So why are you here?" she asked.

"You're curious. But curiosity can be dangerous sometimes, you know," he said with a subtle sarcasm.

Ophelia ignored the warning. She answered with determination, never taking her eyes off his. "We can't have knowledge without curiosity, can we? Someone as intelligent as you should understand that."

Tom's face showed a slight look of surprise, then he clearly expressed interest. His voice was softer but still mysterious.

"You're right. Curiosity is a powerful tool if channeled correctly. What are you so curious about, Miss...?"

He cleared his throat. "Black. Ophelia Black. And I think that's all you need to know. And you're Tom Riddle, aren't you? Slytherin's rising star."

Tom's eyes lit up, and he could hardly contain his pride. "Rumors spread fast, it seems. But yes, it's me."

Ophelia said with a slight sarcasm, "The nonsense of chattering paintings. Rumors are not always true." It was obvious that Ophelia did not want anyone but herself to be 'special'. She wanted to despise what was being said about him, and this effort caused a moment of silence. Tom studied Ophelia more carefully this time. He watched her irises, one holding the oceans, the other the earth, and he understood the passion and depth they had in common. He left the table and descended the marble steps slowly, savoring the moment, and approached the young witch.

"You're different. More... pointed than the others."

Ophelia raised her eyebrows slightly. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Is that a compliment or a warning?”

Tom's smile grew wider, but this time it had a darker tone. "Maybe both."

Ophelia swallowed, trying not to show any emotion on her face. Her emotions were intertwined like nesting dolls. Whichever emotion she mentioned, there were rooms inside her that opened up to a completely different emotion.

Suddenly there was a soft knock at the office door. Ophelia started, and Tom casually turned his gaze to the door. There was no sign of Dippet's return, even if it would have put an end to their wandering curiosity about why they were here. Still, the brief moment did not break the electricity between them. Ophelia barely managed to tear her gaze away from Tom. "I think I'll talk to Headmaster Dippet another time. Have a good time, Mr. Riddle," she said, and turned and headed for the door.

Tom watched Ophelia leave the office, moment by moment. Dark curiosity and a touch of admiration gleamed in his eyes. He whispered her name back. “Ophelia…”

The young witch turned her head to the man one last time as she closed the door. She thought she would steal a glance, but she caught Tom looking at her. A momentary pause. But she closed the door without saying anything and left. Maybe she didn't know, but this encounter would be her turning point. She didn't know that she had caught the attention of the dark lord whose name would be feared to be spoken in the future. She didn't know that her rosy life would be contaminated by another life that deserved her last name.

The morning silence that filtered between the stone walls of Hogwarts was broken only by the sound of students' footsteps echoing through the corridors. The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, as always, held a magical uneasiness beneath the Gothic ceilings. The smell of old wooden furniture mingled with the thick books that bore the deep marks of age.

Ophelia Black was sitting elegantly on the edge of the desk. The girl, who carried the arrogant pride of Slytherin, had a calm but slightly mocking expression on her face as she looked around the classroom with her eyes, one brown and the other blue. Her long black hair formed a perfect wave on the shoulders of her robes; she was reviewing her handwritten notes. Minerva McGonagall, who was sitting next to her, seemed to be in another world entirely. She was leaning on her notebook filled with ritual writings and drawings of cats, filled with a quiet but obvious ambition. Minerva's hair was combed with the discipline we were accustomed to from her; her face bore a determination that reflected the passion she felt with her dream of becoming an animagus.

“Becoming an Animagus is no easy task,” Ophelia said, her delicate fingers stroking her quill. The tone in her voice was more like the mocking warning of a rival than that of a friend. “Most wizards fail when they try to attain the form they desire. And a creature as mysterious and insidious as a cat… A creative but absurd idea.”

Minerva raised her head and looked into Ophelia's eyes defiantly. A slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Absurd? It may be absurd in the eyes of those who seek to preserve the boundaries of magic, Ophelia. But not to me."

Ophelia raised her eyebrows slightly. She bowed her head slightly, as if appreciating Minerva's ambition, but she did not waver in her haughty stance. "You will stumble as you try to transcend the limits of magic, and I will be there, Minerva. With a helping hand and a half-mocking smile, of course," she said mischievously.

Just then, a few Slytherin students entered the classroom, and especially the group leader, Abraxas Malfoy, cast a condescending look at the Gryffindor students in the room. Abraxas's arrogant walk caught Ophelia's attention, but she was not pleased. Abraxas sneered as he approached Minerva and Ophelia.

“Ophelia Black and a Gryffindor,” he said, his voice echoing off the stone walls of the classroom. “This was worth getting up early to see. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a sight that would put the Black family to shame.”

Minerva straightened up quickly and turned a sharp gaze on Abraxas. "Who I sit with is none of your business, Abraxas. Perhaps if you studied your magic a little, you would be better off doing something useful."

Abraxas threw back his head with a mocking laugh. “The bravery of Gryffindor,” he said scornfully. “But that bravery will not save you from me.”

Ophelia leaned on the corner of the table and looked at the boy coolly. The arrogant expression on her face was like a withered tree, devoid of any emotion. She slowly took out her wand and placed it on the table. The bright, crystal-studded wand reflected the light and shone menacingly.

“Malfoy,” Ophelia said, her voice authoritative. “If I have to put up with your stupidity and ignorance any longer, I will teach you a lesson you will never forget. Do you think you are worth it?”

The mocking expression on Abraxas' face was gone. Despite Ophelia's threatening demeanor, he approached her, aware of the responsibility that came with being the leader of the group. However, when he saw Ophelia point her staff at him without a moment's hesitation, Abraxas' friends retreated.

Ophelia shouted "Expelliarmus!" and Abraxas dropped his wand, hitting one of the desks. The sound of it falling echoed through the classroom as everyone began to pick their side. Some were ovating 'Black', some were ovating 'Malfoy'.

Just then, the classroom door was thrown open. The person who entered was different from everyone else. A tall, elegant, yet menacing young man… Tom Riddle. His robes were perfectly fitted and neat, just like his. His hair had strands of coal black that shone in the darkness. His eyes stabbed cold daggers at the students who suddenly froze in the classroom.

“Sit down!” he said, his voice calm but authoritative.

Ophelia forgot to breathe for a moment. The fact that Tom Riddle was here, in this class, surprised her more than anyone else. They had met a few days ago in the office of Headmaster Armando Dippet. In fact, Dippet had praised Tom as a bright wizard of the future to Albus Dumbledore one year ago and expressed his pride in him. But at that time, she could not have imagined that Tom would appear before her as a professor in this class.

As she slowly sat down, Ophelia looked up at Tom’s cold, flawless face. She wasn’t sure whether to admire or fear his rise to such a powerful position at such a young age.

“My name is Tom Riddle,” he began, his voice echoing around the room. Every word was clear and weighty, as if they were being carved into the stone walls of Hogwarts. “I am the new professor of your Defense Against the Dark Arts class this year. But if you think we will be teaching this class in an ordinary way, you are mistaken.”

The students in the class listened intently, some staring in curiosity, others hanging on to Tom's every word without blinking. Tom's lips curved slightly upward, a smile that carried not warmth but a threatening warning.

“The Dark Arts,” he said, his voice growing deeper. “The subject that many of you fear, but are afraid to understand. This subject is not to fight the darkness, but to understand and embrace it.”

A murmur rose in the classroom, but a single look from Tom quickly quieted the murmur.

“The allure of the Dark Arts is great,” he continued. “I will teach you how not to fear them, but to master them.”

At this moment, a Hufflepuff student raised his hand shyly. His name was Taurus; he had a round face and light hair, and with an expression mixed with excitement and fear, he began to speak. “Professor Riddle… And what is the most effective defense against dark magic?”

Tom turned slowly toward Taurus, narrowing his eyes. The very movement made the student feel a lump in his throat. “An effective defense,” he said, his voice deep, “can only be mounted by one who understands the nature of darkness. Therefore, Taurus, you must concern yourself not only with spells, but with the minds of dark wizards. Grindelwald, perhaps.”

A Ravenclaw student raised her hand in deep thought. Her name was Claudia; her long pink hair fell around her shoulders, her eyes sharp with intelligence. “Professor,” she said in carefully chosen words, “Grindelwald’s place in the magical world is still debated. If dark magic is so powerful and effective, can we use it both defensively and offensively?”

Taking a few steps towards Claudia, he spoke. "It is the test of a true wizard not to be carried away by the temptation of dark magic," he began, and continued. Although he seemed to be scanning the class, it was nothing more than feigned glances to catch a glimpse of Ophelia.

Tom Riddle had meticulously answered the students' questions and had managed to captivate them with every word. The voice of this young man who dominated the room was etched into the stone walls of Hogwarts. His eyes were roaming over everyone like a snake, but it was clearly felt that his gaze frequently shifted to Ophelia. Ophelia could not feel comfortable under those gazes and tried to understand why Riddle was constantly paying attention to her. Ophelia had noticed Tom's furtive glances. Her heartbeat quickened with excitement. Every word in Tom's speech felt like it was addressed only to her. The darkness in Tom's eyes was both threatening and fascinating at the same time.

“Now…” said Tom, placing his hands gently on the podium. “This year, in addition to classes, I would like to start a club where you will all have the opportunity to showcase and develop your magical abilities. I am thinking of calling it the Dueling Club.”

A buzz went up in the classroom. Most of the students were looking at each other with excitement and curiosity. The idea was met with great interest among the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws, while the Hufflepuffs seemed a little more cautious. The Slytherins, especially Abraxas and his group, were discussing the idea with sly grins on their faces.

But Ophelia reacted differently than the other students. Her face showed surprise. Her eyes widened. Because this was a plan she had brought up in Principal Dippet's office at the beginning of the year. Ophelia had thought that such a club would be a great opportunity to improve the students' abilities in defensive magic, and she had brought it up with the principal. However, Dippet had not given her a definitive answer. Now, it was both surprising and unnerving to see Tom Riddle express the same idea.

Tom’s eyes remained on Ophelia as he watched the students’ reactions. The expression in his eyes was one of challenge. It was as if he was deliberately trying to increase her surprise.

“This club will not only hone your Defense Against the Dark Arts skills,” Tom continued. “You will also learn how to strategize in real duels. For a wizard’s value lies not in his knowledge alone, but in his ability to use it.”

Many students were already eager to join the club. But Ophelia was confused. How had Tom Riddle found out about her idea? Apart from Headmaster Dippet and Minerva, she hadn't shared it with anyone. Of course, she was sure as hell that Minerva wasn't an incorrigible spy. A nagging suspicion suddenly rose in her heart.

Minerva nudged the young witch's arm and asked what was going on. She couldn't make sense of how an idea shared only between three of them could be included in a fourth person's mind. Ophelia looked at her friend and said, "I'll wait, Minerva." said "When I go to her after class, everything will come to light." But waiting for the class to end had the greatest effect on the young witch's mental torture.

After the lesson, the classroom emptied out, and students filed out, excitedly talking about the club Tom Riddle had just announced. But Ophelia decided to stay. With a mixture of anger and curiosity in her eyes, she walked to the front of the classroom, next to Tom. Tom was writing something on his notebook at the moment, but he remained calm, as if he knew Ophelia was approaching.

“Professor,” Ophelia said, her voice controlled but slightly shaky. “I want to ask you something.”

Tom looked up. The cold gleam in his eyes made Ophelia flinch. “Of course, Miss Black,” he said with a calm smile. “I’m all ears.”

Taking a deep breath, Ophelia spoke. “The Dueling Club idea… It was something I discussed with Headmaster Dippet. How did you find out about it? Did the Headmaster tell you about it?”

Tom paused for a moment, then his smile grew a little deeper. “The club idea?” he asked, his voice so natural and convincing that for a moment Ophelia thought she might be mistaken. “What an interesting coincidence. I had no idea you were talking to the principal. But it turns out that intelligent minds can think along similar lines.”

Ophelia looked into Tom's eyes. She searched for honesty in his every word, but she saw nothing more than a cold-blooded mask on the young professor's face. Her suspicions grew, but she could not figure out how Tom knew.

As Ophelia left the classroom, Tom silently stared after her, as if satisfied with her confusion. He hadn't given Ophelia any notice, but the truth was simple.

In fact, he had first heard of Ophelia at the beginning of the year from Albus Dumbledore. It was a moment when he had applied for the second time to the school for the DADA class, when he felt he had to strike up a satisfactory conversation to convince Dumbledore. The professor had praised Ophelia's intelligence and talents when he spoke of her. But this was a kind of red flag in Tom's eyes. Someone like him was always alert to potential threats.

When they met that night in Principal Dippet's office, he had already known that Ophelia would be there. Just before the young witch arrived, he had been examining the headmaster's desk and had found a notebook filled with Ophelia's ideas, which had intrigued him and inspired him to read the notes about her. A young witch with a strategic mind, determination, and leadership qualities. Tom saw this as both an opportunity and a challenge.

When Ophelia entered the office and met him, their ideas had come together. Riddle had not only read the notes Ophelia had left on Dippet's desk, but had also cast a light Legilimency spell on her during their conversation. It wasn't exactly mind reading. He had simply noticed her thoughts and feelings on the surface.

His ultimate goal was to identify students who might be prone to the dark arts and recruit them into his plans. However, Ophelia Black was a special case that caught Riddle's attention. Riddle knew that Ophelia was a clever and powerful witch. But before he could fully win her over, he had to test her loyalty and her aptitude for the dark arts. Dueling Club was not just a game. It was the first step in Riddle's selection of potential allies and enemies. And Ophelia was at the center of this game.