It is the height of the autumn term at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The leaves outside the castle windows are ablaze with gold and crimson, whispering the promise of mystery and hidden secrets. In the midst of the ever-turning gears of the school, one particular professor has begun to stir both curiosity and unease among the students: Tom Riddle, a new Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor. Despite his youthful appearance and impeccable demeanor, there is something in his eyes—sharp, calculating, almost hypnotic—that commands attention without any need for overt displays of authority.