Hogwarts: Hermione and I switched identities!

Hagrid crossed his arms: "Little guy, the new semester hasn't even started yet, how did you get into school?"

Tom didn't hide anything and told everyone what had happened.

……

“What a poor little fellow, but at Hogwarts you can eat your fill without worry. You won’t freeze or starve here, and you can even learn magic.” A hint of sympathy flashed across Hagrid’s face. “I noticed you yesterday. You’ve worked very hard, and hard work will not let down any hardworking wizard.”

"Thank you for your kind words," Tom said. "Actually, life at the orphanage is quite good."

Although the blanket couldn't cover my feet, and although I could only eat half a meal at each meal, there were my friends there.

Tom's words only made Hagrid feel more sorry for him: "Little Tom, if you ever need anything in the future, you can come and find me in this area. I live over there."

Haige Yaoyao pointed to a small house standing alone on the edge of the forest in the distance: "I spend most of my time there."

"In the future—well, I mean after school starts, you'll make new friends. I hope Hogwarts will give you wonderful memories. Now you can go have breakfast."

"I've already eaten. I'm going to the library to study now. By the way, Mr. Hagrid, do you know where I can make money?"

“Money—oh! You mean Galonnaise?” Hagrid stroked his chin. “Perhaps you could—I happen to be short of an assistant, and if you could help me, I can give you a small reward.”

"Of course, if you want to earn more, you'll need to go see Professor Sprout. Professor Sprout is the Headmistress of Hufflepuff House and also your Herbalism Professor, but she's currently on vacation, little Tom. It might take some time before she returns."

Tom nodded slightly: "I understand, Hagrid. What do I need to do for you?"

Hagrid waved his hand and put his arm around Tom's shoulder: "No rush, kid. Before that, you should tell me why you need Galon."

“The study of Potions requires Gallon. Without Gallon, I cannot support the materials needed for Potions. Also, I have friends in the orphanage, and I want to send them some money to improve their lives.”

Hagrid looked Tom over carefully for a few moments and then gave him a time.

He hoped Tom could come and help him every day from 12:00 to 14:30, for a daily wage of one Galleon, which is five pounds.

This price exceeded Tom's expectations, but it was enough for him!

30 Galleons a month is enough for him to buy some of the materials.

"Tom, why don't you wait until school starts to learn Potions? Professor Snape will prepare all the ingredients you need for potions, then you won't have to... Good heavens!"

Hagrid saw Tom take out a notebook filled with his daily plans.

Is the schedule really that packed?

How much time does he spend studying each day? 16? No, 18 hours!

"Tom, you're going to exhaust yourself like this. At least... at least you should read a storybook before bed instead of a boring potions textbook."

Tom smiled and said, "It's precisely because it's boring that it helps me fall asleep quickly. I'll come find you at noon. Thank you, Hagrid."

After saying that, Tom turned and ran towards the library, his steps light and quick.

"He's a pretty good little guy, isn't he?" The old man's voice suddenly came from behind Hagrid.

“Albus?” Hagrid saw Dumbledore, looked at Tom seriously, and nodded. “I have never seen such a diligent young wizard. He is the first. I just asked him why he was working so hard during the holidays, and he actually said that the holidays are the best time to overtake others. He is only a first-year student!”

A smile spread across Dumbledore's weathered face: "Yes, I thought about it for a long time before admitting him to the school."

"Because of his name?"

Hagrid knew what Tom's name meant.

There once was a man with the exact same name as him, and that man became the infamous Black Demon King.

To this day, his other name has become taboo—Voldemort.

“Yes.” Dumbledore sighed. “I don’t know if this is a good thing for him. If the Void finds out that there is someone with the same name as him at Hogwarts, Tom will definitely be targeted by him.”

The mysterious man was like this—he chose that code name precisely because he disliked his ordinary name.

"Albus, you're worrying too much. By the way, where is that little guy staying now? The dorms probably aren't open yet."

“I live with Professor Severus. I was just about to go see Severus when I saw you talking, so I came over to listen in.”

……

"Severus, you look terrible today."

In the potions lab, Snape was working on concocting a potion when he saw Dumbledore come into view. He shook his head and said, "I do this every day."

"It's obvious that your dark circles are worse."

"Same here, Albus! If you're worried about me, kick that kid out of my dorm. I can't stand having someone living with me!"

Dumbledore thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll go find Hagrid."

“Rupert Hagrid?” Snape sneered. “Do you want a first-year student to be frightened by Hagrid’s magical creatures?”

I can imagine that within a week, that wretched Tom will be reeking of filth, like a griffin, a burrowing beetle, and you might even find plenty of fleas on him.

"Then... Filch?"

“Filch and his Mrs. Lorris—that big yellow cat—they’ll kick Tom out. Filch will never allow anyone to live with his cat.”

“My bunk bed is fine too,” Dumbledore said.

“That would be perfect.” Snape looked coldly at Dumbledore. “I hope you’ll be careful when you get up tonight and don’t step on our first-year students.”

This time, Dumbledore didn't continue.

He went through all the male wizards in the school, but Snape clearly rejected them all.

"Your place is still the most suitable. Thank you for your hard work, Severus."

Snape didn't say anything.

He remembered Tom from last night.

His tired eyes, revealing the weariness of a day's study, were impossible to miss, yet he still diligently read his Potions textbook before bed.

Snape shook his head, banishing the thought from his mind.

What a pretentious little guy!

That's the kind of person he hates the most.

Potions is not a subject that can be learned by simply reading a textbook; it requires a great deal of experimentation.

Theoretical knowledge is ultimately just theory; theories without practice are futile!

Last night, he finally had five minutes of free time, but Tom didn't ask him any questions. Instead, he continued reading his book, which made him very angry. Did Tom think he had already mastered the textbook?

"Where is Tom now? Is he still sleeping soundly in his dorm?"

“The library,” Dumbledore said, pointing to the library in the distance. “He went out to exercise after waking up this morning, and then went into the library. You probably won’t see him until dinner.”

"Hmph!" Snape flung the chair aside and left the laboratory like a chubby bat.

"Where are you going?"

"Diagon Alley, the materials for the first-year students have arrived. I'll go pick them up."

……

At noon, Tom went to Mr. Hagrid's place to help him with some small tasks. To Tom's surprise, he gained valuable experience from Hagrid!

[You successfully helped the griffin trim its long feathers. Rating: Normal. Animal Affinity gained +10 experience.]

[Title earned: Magical Creatures' Helper.]

[Fantastic Beasts Helper: You'll feel an innate affinity for magical creatures, and they won't inexplicably feel hostile towards you.]

In the evening, Tom received a letter from Hermione while he was eating in the dining hall.

Tom Riddell:

I went to the orphanage to look for you, but you weren't there anymore. Misha told me you went to Hogwarts. I want to know how you got into Hogwarts, even though it's still the holidays.

And you bastard, why did you run off with my money?! You even filled my books with notes, how am I supposed to study now?! If we ever meet, I'll definitely beat you up!

Finally, what happened to us last week, and I don't know if we'll continue the exchange next week. I hope you can write down what happened each day before you go to bed so I won't feel so embarrassed. I plan to tell Professor Dumbledore about this and hope he can help us resolve it.

Hermione Granger.

"Your friend, Hermione... is also a first-year student?" Hagrid chuckled when he saw Tom receive the letter. "I told you, you'd find your friends at Hogwarts." Hagrid didn't read the letter; that would be disrespectful to Tom.

A friend? Now it seems more like a creditor.

Two hundred pounds, so what? We're all in this together, it doesn't matter who uses it...

Tom scratched his head and changed the subject: "Hagrid, do you think there's a kind of magic that can prevent people within a certain area from using any magic, stripping them of the power of their wands?"

"No," Hagrid confirmed without hesitation.

If such a person truly exists, then they wouldn't need to fear the mysterious figure.

"By the way, I heard Professor Snape won't be back at school until tomorrow. He's gone out. Aren't you scared staying alone tonight? Would you like to come to my place?"

"Never mind, Professor Snape's dormitory is very close to the library, so it will be easy for me to go back."

Hagrid's house is only so big; it would feel a bit cramped if Tom lived with him.

And Tom didn't know if Professor Hagrid snored at night. If he did—that would be terrible!

Given his size, Tom would much rather spend his time alone in Professor Snape's dormitory than listen to Hagrid's snoring.

"Okay, okay, so after you finish dinner... you'll still go to the library?"

"Yes, today's task is not finished yet."

Tom plans to practice all his magic to level 5 before school starts.

“Child, you can’t learn by doing in isolation. You should find a great professor—like Albus. The worst thing for freshmen is to practice magic incorrectly, because that will lead you astray and you’ll never be able to turn back.”

Albus is free from the afternoon until bedtime, and he certainly wouldn't refuse a studious child like you.

Tom suddenly realized.

That's right.

Thanks to Professor McGonagall's reminder, his magic practice rating improved from poor to average.

Would it be even better if we had the guidance of a top wizard like Professor Dumbledore?

"I will. Where should I look for Professor Dumbledore?"

"Hmm—I'll take you there in a bit. I also have something to discuss with Mr. Albus."

Hagrid ate the meat heartily, filling his stomach.