Hogwarts: Lacus doesn't want to be a witch who destroys nations.

Chapter 106 Guidance

Tom repeated impatiently, "Destination and fare, eleven scooters each—"

"No, the previous sentence!" Lux interrupted him, "What was your first reaction when you saw me? 'How come it's you?' And why are you selling tickets here?"

"Didn't you previously say you scoffed at this 'unrefined form of public transportation'?"

She remembered very clearly the look of disgust on Tom's face when he mentioned the Knight Bus, as if even looking at it would dirty his eyes.

Tom's face instantly turned even uglier, and he pursed his lips, seemingly unwilling to answer.

But Lux just stared straight at him, determined to get to the bottom of it.

A few scattered passengers in the carriage looked over curiously.

Tom finally gave in, and said in a very reluctant, rapid-fire voice, "You didn't even show up for the Christmas dinner organized by Professor Slughorn. Professor Dumbledore even came to ask me later if I knew where you were. I thought you had finally gotten into some big trouble and been expelled or—humph, I didn't expect you just ran off somewhere and stayed away for a month."

There was a hint of probing in his tone.

There was even a hint of unease and anxiety he himself wasn't aware of, stemming from Dumbledore's questioning. After all, Lux was the only opponent he truly acknowledged; if something were to happen to her—

Lux was stunned.

Looking at Tom, who was wearing an ill-fitting ticket seller's uniform and busy with a few tickets, she suddenly felt a contrast between him and the image of the always meticulous, proud, and perfect top student in school.

She sighed, paid the fare, handed over two silver siecos and a few copper nut, and her tone softened: "Tom, I—I think I've made a huge mistake, a very, very serious mistake, so serious that—I don't even know how to begin, or what to do next."

She rarely spoke to Tom in such a bewildered and pleading tone; their relationship had always been filled with competition and tension.

Tom paused as he took the money, then looked up and scrutinized Lux.

He saw the genuine frustration, lingering fear, and deep weariness on her face; it wasn't feigned.

The golden lion, who was always energetic and troublesome, looked genuinely frightened and even somewhat helpless at this moment.

He remained silent for a few seconds. The bus lurched violently around a sharp bend, throwing several passengers to the side, but he stood steadily, seemingly deep in thought.

Then he spoke, his voice unusually calm, carrying a composure and pragmatism beyond his years: "Since the mistake has already been made and cannot be undone immediately, the only thing you can do now is to return to a safe place, find someone who can solve this problem or at least give you the right guidance, and be honest about everything. Hiding and regretting it alone is the most foolish choice and will only make things worse."

He paused, then added, "Of course, before you confess, it's best to organize your thoughts and think carefully about what to say and what you can hold back for now. After all, I don't think even Dumbledore is without a dark side."

These words were extremely rational, even mature, and didn't sound like advice given by a second-year student council member.

Most importantly, he has very positive values.

Lux looked at him in surprise, as if she were seeing Tom Riddle for the first time.

"Why would you think that?" Lux couldn't help but ask. "I mean, it sounds too—normal."

She wanted to say, "He seems like such a nice person," but she stopped the car in time.

Tom glanced at her, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes, but it didn't seem to be directed at her: "It's just basic risk management and efficiency maximization thinking. Did you expect me to suggest you go back and find someone to duel or run away? If you could win, would you still be here?"

"But you don't want to run away, so you're here, aren't you, you foolish lion."

Lux was taken aback, but had to admit that Tom's suggestion was the most reliable one at the moment.

Yes, let's go back to Hogwarts and find Dumbledore. If the sky falls, there are tall guys to hold it up, and Dumbledore is the tallest one right now.

Lux, feeling a little more relaxed, was suddenly filled with curiosity again: "So, you still haven't answered me. How did you end up working as a ticket seller? Didn't you used to work at Borgin-Bock? And you look—like you're really short of money?"

In her memory, Tom didn't value money particularly much; he valued knowledge and power more.

Tom's face immediately darkened again, as if he was extremely unwilling to discuss the topic.

But perhaps it was the late hour and exhaustion, or perhaps Lux's rare vulnerability lowered his guard, but he finally replied stiffly, with a hint of barely concealed humiliation, "Bogin-Bock is currently closed for inventory, and not everyone can just casually pull out a few Galleons to buy candy like you."

His voice was low, with a cold self-mockery: "Hogwarts' grants are only enough to buy the most basic textbooks and robes. If you want more and better things, you have to find your own way. There's nothing shameful about that, Lux. It's just that you've never had to deal with such trivial matters."

Lux was completely stunned.

She looked at the fleeting awkwardness and stubbornness in Tom's dark eyes and suddenly realized that she seemed to have never truly understood Tom Riddle's real life beneath the glamorous facade of Slytherin.

He has always been alone, and he has to fight for everything on his own.

He even needed to work to support his studies and buy the "better things" he craved.

What is it? A dark magic artifact? Or something else entirely?

She suddenly felt that all her previous competition seemed somewhat naive and extravagant in the face of the reality Tom was facing.

An eerie silence fell over the carriage, broken only by the roar of the engine and the whooshing sound of the scenery rushing past the window.

After an unknown amount of time, the Knight Bus performed another wild drift before screeching to a stop.

"We've arrived at Hogwarts!" Tom's voice returned to its emotionless, professional tone. He opened the car door, and a blast of cold air rushed in. "Please get out."

Lux snapped out of her daze and pulled Eve out of the car.

She stood in the familiar Hogwarts setting, looking at the castle's warm lights in the night, and let out a long sigh of relief.

This trip was really far.

She turned to look at Tom, who was about to close the door, and suddenly called out, "Hey, Tom!"

Tom paused, looking at her impatiently.

"Thanks."

Lux said, her tone unusually serious, "Your advice is very helpful."

Tom seemed to pause for a moment, then turned his head, mumbled an "uh-huh," and quickly closed the car door.

"Bang!" Another loud noise, and the Knight Bus disappeared into the air just like it had come, leaving only acrid exhaust fumes and a whirlwind.

Lux stood on the empty road, gazing in the direction the car had disappeared, her feelings a mix of emotions.

Eve stood quietly beside her.

"Let's go, Eve," Lux finally said, turning to face Hogwarts Castle. "We need to find Professor Dumbledore. Hopefully he's not asleep tonight, and hopefully he won't faint from anger after hearing what he's heard."

She took a deep breath of the cold air, preparing to face the enormous mess she had created that could affect the entire magical world.

At least now she knows where to take the first step, and the person who guided her was none other than Tom, someone she never expected to be able to comfort her.

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