Hogwarts: Hermione and I switched identities!

"Albus, what are you doing here?"

Dumbledore stroked his beard, pacing back and forth in the laboratory. Finally, he and Snape stood by the window, watching Hermione running quickly below. "Professor Severus," he said, "perhaps I am the true headmaster of Hogwarts. I feel I have the right to inspect the laboratory."

"What do you mean?"

Dumbledore raised his head, avoiding Snape's eyes: "Tom's a good boy, isn't he?"

“I think he’s a stupid student, actually doing this for…” Snape’s words trailed off, and he didn’t finish his sentence.

“Professor Severus, last night Mr. Adalbert—the one whose portrait is displayed outside your dormitory—he is…”

“I know who he is, Albus, you don’t need to explain so much to me.”

Dumbledore continued, "Mr. Adolbert told me something very interesting. He said that Tom has been somewhat confused when he gets up to use the toilet at night these past few days, and he keeps muttering something about the Lockhart Junior Magic Competition. Do you have any clue about it?"

Snape: "Lockhart? He's a fraud. If I were Lockhart, I wouldn't show up in a place like this."

"Oh? But I never said Lockhart would be showing up there, nor did I say today was the day of the match. What a coincidence, why today—wait, there are still so many materials in the lab, does Tom need to go out and buy more?"

Snape's face instantly darkened: "Albus, have you been a bit too free lately? You're usually such a busy man."

“Severus, Tom is a good student, isn’t he?” Dumbledore repeated the question he had asked earlier. “I’ve never seen you care so much about a student.”

"I! Didn't!" Snape answered, enunciating each word clearly, and left the Potions Lab.

madness!

Albus is just as stupid as Tom!

……

It was already afternoon when Hermione arrived at Diagon Alley.

Diagon Alley was packed with wizards, and even the Leaky Cauldron was full.

"It's a pity, Mr. Lockhart is too busy. I was hoping to find an opportunity to take a photo with him."

"Forget it, didn't you see how many people were surrounding Mr. Lockhart? There will be another chance next time."

"But I never expected that a first-year student would win the championship. I heard that she hasn't even entered Hogwarts yet."

“She can cast spells faster than the two third-year Weasley children, and even Cedric and Cho can’t match her—Cedric is from Hufflepuff and Cho is from Ravenclaw.”

A first-grade student?

Hermione heard the key words.

Could it really be Tom?

No, no, no, that's impossible. Tom has only been exposed to magic for a short time. He must be a child from a magical family who has received magical education since childhood and is far more powerful.

Hermione arrives at Flourish and Blotts.

Mr. Lockhart has already left; the match ended at noon.

"Young sir, what do you need?"

Hermione asked, "Are there any photos of today's match?"

"Yes, of course, here it is, 2 sisal per serving."

"Thank you." Hermione paid and took the photo.

It really was him!

Hermione stared in disbelief, her mouth agape.

"This child is really amazing, isn't she?" the clerk at Flourish and Blotts laughed. "All the first-year magic is a piece of cake for her. Look at her casting speed, my goodness, she can rival some fifth and sixth-year students."

Hermione stared in surprise at the photograph in her hand—the photograph kept changing.

Tom, wand in hand, waved it in the air: "Incendio!" (Fire-starting spell!)

Flames shot out from the tip of the wand, instantly igniting the coals in front of it.

When Tom finished casting the spell, the red-haired boy who was with him hadn't even finished reciting the incantation.

It's really him!

Hermione couldn't help but cover her mouth.

That means Tom now has Lockhart's complete set of signed books and his personal photographs in his possession?

Hermione was overjoyed, and the darkness in her emerald green eyes dissipated considerably. She instantly felt that all the treatment she had received at Hogwarts was worthwhile!

After buying the materials, Hermione happily returned to school.

……

Seventh day.

Tom changed into his black robe and sat alone in the Leaky Cauldron.

"Hey, ma'am, sorry to keep you waiting." The two twins appeared at the same time.

"I'm not a lady," Tom said inexplicably, using Hermione's voice.

The two Geminis exchanged glances and smiled in unison: "Yes, ma'am, about what we were discussing earlier..."

Tom took out a briefcase and handed it forward.

George opened the box, inspected its contents, and nodded. "It's real, ma'am. Where did you get all this stuff?"

Tom held up a finger to his lips, a slight smile playing on his lips: "How many Galleons?"

"I think 400 Galleons is a suitable option, what do you think?"

"500."

George snapped his fingers: "Deal, ma'am, but we don't have that many Galleons right now, so you may have to wait a while."

Tom shook his head and wrote down an address: "You can sell it first, and then store the Galleons here. I've already left a code in Gringotts, George, Fred."

George and his companion were not surprised to be called out by name by the man in black robes. They already had a guess about the man's identity—or rather, anyone who wasn't stupid could guess it.

Who can win the championship prize right after the competition ends?

“Thank you for your trust.” George grinned.

They're going to make a profit on this trip—at least 50 Galleons!

After Tom left, George gestured in Tom's direction with his chin and asked, "Fred, what do you think Ginny would do if she knew that the person she idolizes is like this in private?"

During the match that day, their sister, Ginny Weasley, seemed to be bewitched, constantly talking about how cool Hermione Granger was.

He was dressed very coolly, unlike other wizards. He looked cool when he chanted spells, and he looked cool standing confidently next to Mr. Lockhart after winning the award!

In short, it's super cool!

Fred shrugged. "I don't know, but we can't tell Ginny, it would shatter her illusions."

The two of them laughed out loud: "She's our cash cow now, and maybe we'll even see her at Hogwarts in the future."

Chapter 12 The Half-Blood Prince

Exhausted, Hermione lay on the bed.

The last day! Today is the last day!

Hermione had always heard her mother say that she filled her schedule too full and didn't leave herself any time to rest.

But Hermione realized after seeing Tom's schedule that her amount of studying was nothing at all.

Hermione longed to return to her body more than ever before.

She was exhausted. All Hermione wanted to do was read Mr. Lockhart's signed book and look at his photograph—the legendary Lockhart would give her the courage to keep living.

……

At 4:30 in the morning, the alarm clock rang on time.

Hermione sat bolt upright in bed, staring blankly at the magical alarm clock flying through the air, ringing incessantly.

Damn Tom—

Last week it was 5:30, how come you're an hour earlier now?

Hermione reached out to grab the alarm clock, but saw it nimbly spin in the air and dodge her hand.

Hermione: "?"

"Ding Ding Ding-"

Stop arguing!

"Ding ding ding ding—"

asshole!

Hermione saw a note next to her that read: "Please use the Levitation Charm on the alarm clock. If you are not skilled enough in casting the Levitation Charm, the alarm clock will not stop."

Tom, you've gone too far!

Hermione picked up her wand and used a levitation charm on the alarm clock, causing it to fall into her palm before turning it off.

After searching the room for a long time, Hermione couldn't find any of Lockhart's works, so she quickly opened her diary.

I'm so sorry, Hermione. I'm so sorry I couldn't win the Mr. Lockhart competition—I didn't even make the top three. I'm really sorry…

After all, the age limit for the competition is under 13—which means I'll have to compete with other third-grade students for the championship. My current strength is still too weak. However, I bought you two very pretty clothes and brought you back some homemade flower cakes from Ms. Thomas's family. They tasted like the taste of spring.

"Tom!"

Hermione was breathing heavily. She looked at the diary in her hand, then, imagining Tom's face, she punched the Snoopy doll by the bedside twice.

Asshole!

……

Hogwarts.

Tom stood by the window, looking at the foggy sky outside.

From now on, Tom can finally say those words to people.

Have you ever seen Hogwarts at 4:30 in the morning?