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+[[!meta title="Ambition"]]
+
+Finally, his plan had succeeded. Dumbledore had put up a good fight, but in the
+end Tom Riddle had outsmarted and outmaneuvered him.
+
+It had been a long and bitter conflict since his first defeat, shortly after
+graduating from Hogwarts. Tom doubted that Dumbledore even realized exactly what
+the first blow struck was, but he remembered. Everything he had done after that
+point was in pursuit of this single, all-important goal.
+
+The silly Lord Voldemort title. The curse on the defense position. His
+followers, the blood war, engineering that stupid prophecy, even his death; all
+had been orchestrated to lead Dumbledore into believing that he understood the
+mind of Tom Riddle.
+
+Dumbledore *thought* that he was here for the Philosopher's Stone. The idea was
+laughable; what was mere immortality and riches, compared to what he had now?
+He'd already died once to achieve this goal, and soon something far more
+precious than gold would be walking into his classroom.
+
+Little did Dumbledore know that Tom was *also* friends with Nicholas Flamel, and
+that the Stone was taken to Hogwarts at his own request. Nicholas was
+trustworthy, and Tom had long ago taken him into his own confidence. Nicholas
+knew the Plan, and would support him.
+
+And the idea that he was here at Hogwarts to take revenge against Harry Potter?
+Absurd. Certainly, in a way, it was true that he was here for Harry. But he held
+no grudge; he had seen to it that Lily Potter was given books on obscure
+protection rituals from his spy in the Order, and he knew that she had prepared
+her child before he attacked the house that Halloween.
+
+It was vital to his plan that he die that night, after all. A shame that Lily
+and James had to die as well, of course, but he had offered them a chance to
+step aside. He couldn't explain the plan to them; too much risk that Dumbledore
+would discover the truth.
+
+Dumbledore would never have let Tom Riddle teach at Hogwarts in the flesh. But a
+possessed teacher carrying the spirit of Lord Voldemort, bent on the desire of
+revenge and lured by the promise of immortality? Snape, Tom's ever-faithful
+servant, was easily able to convince Dumbledore that it was a perfect
+opportunity to spring a trap.
+
+Ten years was a long time to wait as a disembodied spirit, but he had used the
+time productively. Ten years studying in ancient libraries; floating through the
+stacks in search of obscure and lost knowledge. Ten years spying, watching
+unseen so he could memorize every finest nuance of skill.
+
+Ten years to build up Dumbledore's suspicions. It was vital that Dumbledore
+believed him to be preparing a second blood war.
+
+Tom felt he owed something to the child Potter, though. Harry had looked
+malnourished the previous night at the feast. Perhaps he could find some way to
+make the poor boy's home life a little more pleasant.
+
+And something *would* have to be done about the third floor corridor. Tom had
+expected much more subtlety from Dumbledore; keeping a Cerberus as the first
+line of defense in a school full of children wasn't just reckless, it was
+insane. But that's what wards and locking charms were for, and Snape would see
+to it that none of the pupils stumbled upon something they weren't supposed to.
+
+It would hardly do to have any of them harmed, after all. Not when Tom Riddle
+needed them. Oh, he would turn them into something *great*, and finally he would
+achieve his greatest ambition. Finally the world would see what he could do, and
+recognize him for his true power.
+
+He was going to go down in History. Not as some piddling Dark Lord, defeated by
+a baby. No, he would be remembered for a far greater accomplishment.
+
+Ah, here come the first class of students now. Give them a few minutes to find
+seats and settle down. Savor the moment. Bask in their attention.
+
+This was his time.
+
+"Good morning, class. My name is Professor Quirenus Quirrell, and I'll be
+teaching you Defense Against the Dark Arts. You should know I was a Slytherin in
+school; house of the ambitious. My ambition is to be the best Defense professor
+this school has ever known, and I expect you to all do your own best and *not
+let me down.* Now, let's begin..."
+
+Oh yes, Dumbledore would regret turning him away all those years ago. When he
+saw the OWL results from this year's students, he would understand just what an
+opportunity he had lost in refusing Tom Riddle.
+
+He would have to remember to floo Lucius that evening and ask if he was still
+interested in teaching History. Binns really was *atrocious.*
+
+> I don't dispute that Riddle is crazy. But I got to thinking, what if his evil
+> wasn't motivated by blood? What if it was all just part of an incredibly
+> intricate plan to get Dumbledore *exactly where he wants him?* I give you,
+> InsaneEvilGenius!Voldemort right along with GoodGuy!Voldemort.
+>
+> After all, who else is better qualified to teach DADA? And somebody clearly
+> has to; there are evil dark lords out there, and the students should be
+> prepared!