Hogwarts: Hermione and I switched identities!

As Tom sipped his coffee, his mind gradually cleared.

It must be said that Hermione is a very studious child. Tom doesn't know how she got on good terms with Professor Snape and was able to receive his personal instruction, and even keep such complete notes.

"Tom, what are you laughing at!" Snape came in from outside, saw the smile on Tom's face, and scolded, "Now that you're awake, get to the Potions Lab!"

“Professor Snape, I’m so happy to see you the first thing I saw when I woke up this morning,” Tom said sincerely.

"?" Snape's eyes narrowed. "Didn't I tell you not to try to please me? If you make even the slightest mistake with your potion-making today, you'll be sleeping with the Whomping Willow!"

Before long, in the potions lab, Tom was working his hands up and down, his hands moving with incredible precision, down to the pound.

"Why are you using so much force to grab the potion ingredients? Don't you know that potion ingredients are fragile? You're wasting materials!" Snape's cold voice scolded Tom.

……

"Tom! Three and a half laps, three and a half laps, how many times have I told you, don't you understand what the word means?!"

……

"I really want to dig your brain open and see what kind of creature's brain is inside. The control of the heat needs to be subtle, why can't you understand that? Your temperature is a full 2 ​​degrees Celsius higher than what is written in the book!"

……

[You have successfully completed a potion-making attempt. Rating: Precise. Potions experience +50.]

"Tom, what are you laughing at? Keep going!"

Despite his stern tone and cold exterior, Snape was warm-hearted at heart—at least to Tom.

This is a precise rating! A full 50 experience points!

Previously, when I practiced alone using materials, I could only get an average rating even if I worked my butt off.

Half an hour later, a bottle of magic potion was placed in front of Tom.

"Drink it."

Tom stared at the bottle in his hand, momentarily stunned.

"I told you to drink it, don't you understand English?"

“Professor Snape, I’m just so touched.” Tom held the medicine bottle in his hands. “This is the first time I’ve ever concocted such a high-quality potion, and I think—I think the student should give it to the teacher first.”

Tom held the potion in both hands and handed it to Snape: "Professor Snape, although you are already a master of magic, this can still help you."

"Get out!!!" Snape grabbed Tom by the collar and lifted him off the ground. "Now, take your potions and get out of here! I don't want to see you again today!"

"Tom, you've crossed my line!" Snape threw Tom out the door and slammed it shut.

After a long while, Snape's voice came through: "Mixing in milk will not change the effect of the magic potion."

Tom dusted off his pants: "Thank you, Professor Snape. You're my favorite professor."

Silence fell over the room. Tom quietly pressed his ear to the door, but heard nothing. After a while, he took the medicine bottle to the canteen, mixed it with milk, and drank it.

The fatigue vanished, a warm feeling spread through his lower abdomen, and Tom's jade-like pupils became even more crystal clear.

"Hey, little Tom, you're up so early today too." Hagrid appeared beside Tom at some point, patting him on the shoulder. "I have some good news for you."

Hagrid made a pretext; he had originally wanted Tom to guess what the good news was, but seeing Tom's flawless, innocent eyes, he abandoned the idea: "Child, don't look at me like that, or I'll remember all the wrong things I've done in the past. Well, Professor Sprout is back."

You can go to her and ask Professor Sprout for a position to help her with some things, and then earn some Galleons. That will fill some of your financial gap. Professor Sprout is a very easy-going lady. Go ahead, Tom, she's in the greenhouse now… Ah, but it might not be appropriate for you to go alone. I'll go with you after dinner.”

Tom placed a large chicken leg into Hagrid's bowl—though it was nothing more than a tiny piece of meat for Hagrid.

"Thank you, Mr. Hagrid, you are my best friend."

Hagrid grinned, showing his bright white teeth, and smiled more radiantly than anyone else: "Eat slowly, little Tom, don't rush."

After breakfast, Tom and Hagrid went to the greenhouse.

The greenhouse is located at the back of the castle, and this place will be where they will have their herbalism classes in the future.

"Hi, Professor Pomona, it's been a long time! How was your holiday?"

Professor Pomona Sprout was a kind witch whose long, gray-white curly hair was now somewhat flowing. She wore a thick hat covered in patches and was covered in mud—as she was squatting on the ground tending to her lovely little plants.

“Mr. Rube, it’s been a long time. France is a wonderful place, my dear. I was having coffee by the Seine yesterday. The Mona Lisa in the Louvre is a masterpiece. Perhaps you should visit there someday—oh dear, child, it’s not time for school to start yet.” Professor Sprout spotted Tom.

She walked over to Tom and looked him up and down for a moment: "Kid, I like your eyes. They're just like those of a girl I once met. They're very beautiful."

"Thank you for your compliment, Professor Sprout. Hello, I am Tom."

Tom stretched out his little hand and shook hands with Sprout in front of him.

Hagrid explained Tom's purpose for coming...

"Poor child, but things will definitely get better in the future. Please make yourself at home, Tom. Before we get to work, perhaps I should tell you something... or, how much do you know about these amazing plants?"

Professor Sprout stepped aside, allowing Tom to see the weed-overgrown empty spaces in the greenhouse.

"Child, do you know what this is?"

"It's white peony, Professor."

It can be used to make potions, and white licorice also has excellent healing properties; when mixed with silver powder, it can even treat werewolf bites. "Tom bought this stuff," he said. "If you're using white licorice to make a beauty potion, you can combine it with 30 drops of morning dew, heat for 20 seconds, stir clockwise two and a half times, then add the white licorice, and then..."

Tom spoke eloquently, without thinking at all; it just slipped out unconsciously.

"Good heavens, little Tom!" Professor Sprout covered his mouth. "You've already read the herbalism textbook?"

"Yes, Professor, I have memorized all the herbs."

Hagrid listened to their conversation and proudly puffed out his chest—even though Tom's efforts had nothing to do with him: "Professor Pomona, Tom is a good boy, isn't he?"

"Of course, of course, little Tom, please come with me. Starting today, come over every day after you wake up—14:00 is fine, right? You can have dinner at 17:00, and the rest of the time is yours. Your daily wage is 3 Galleons."

so much?

Tom was somewhat surprised: "Professor Sprout, that's too much."

“It’s not much, child. There’s less than a month until school starts. Without your help, I would have to work alone until then. This is the reward that those who work hard deserve.”

“Thank you, Professor.” Tom bowed deeply and began to help Professor Sprout.

[You have successfully processed a herb. Rating: Common, Herbalism +10.]

[You have successfully processed a herb. Rating: Common, Herbalism +10.]

[You have successfully processed a herb. Rating: Common, Herbalism +10.]

You have successfully resolved the issue...

Herbalism LV.2.

[Title earned: Little Herbalist]

[Little Herbalist: There is a 20% chance of getting double the harvest when picking herbs, and the survival rate of planted herbs is increased by 50%.]

Tom picked it up quickly, and by the afternoon he had already earned 3 Galleons as a reward.

The remaining time was naturally spent practicing spells.

However, the spells taught in first grade were no longer enough for Tom, so he started learning second-grade spells and some extracurricular books.

These extracurricular books always contained some magical elements that would catch Tom's eye.

For example: spells that can fill one's body with fragrance, spells that can make green grass bloom with flowers...

At 10:30 p.m., Snape paced around the school like a chubby bat, and he saw the library lights still on.

This foolish—dumb Tom, is just as intelligent as a troll!

Doesn't he know that he needs to rest properly after taking a magic potion?

Snape clicked his tongue and waved his cloak.

Fat bat sprints!

"Tom! You should know what time it is. I told you, what...what book are you reading?"

Snape paused for a moment.

"Advanced potion making, Professor Snape." Tom held up the old, yellow book in his hand. The cover of the book was worn, and the words inside were difficult to understand, even for Tom himself.

It was a secondhand book, filled with the previous owner's notes.

There is a line of small print on the inside page of the back cover of the book.

This book belongs to the Half-Blood Prince series.

Snape's face paled slightly without anyone noticing—even though his face was already as pale as a vampire's.

A half-blood prince.

A familiar name.

Chapter 13 I'm sorry, I'm an orphan

"Put down your book now! Right now!" Snape urged Tom to go back to rest.

On the way back to the dormitory, Tom kept trying to strike up a conversation with Snape.

"Professor Snape, would you—I mean, do you feel hungry and need a little snack?"

Snape remained silent.

"Professor Snape, the dining hall has a lot of delicious food for supper. Last time I even saw a huge crab."

Snape remained silent.

"Professor Snape, do you know who the Half-Blood Prince is?" — Tom knew in his heart.

Far in the sky, close in front of you.

“Tom…” Snape turned his head, glared at Tom, and stuck his finger out to touch Tom’s nose. “From now on, I expect you to keep quiet!”

And... shut up your little schemes!

"Professor Snape, I'm hungry. I need to get a little snack, just a tiny bit, otherwise I won't be able to sleep well tonight. Would you like some?"

Tom's eyes were full of sincerity, but the other party was clearly not buying it. Instead, the other party increased their pace and quickly distanced themselves from Tom.

“Professor Snape, what do you need? A sandwich would be fine?” Tom shouted, but the other man did not slow his pace.

"How about pizza? Or... or maybe I'll bring you a big crab back too?"