Hogwarts: Hermione and I switched identities!

Snape slowed down—clearly, he was buying it.

……

The next morning, Tom arrived at the potions lab early.

Two bottles of potion were on the lab table—the same kind of magic potion Tom had concocted yesterday.

However, the liquid in these two bottles of medicine was more concentrated, and a faint milky aroma filled the air.

It's a magic potion mixed with milk!

"What are you waiting for? Take your medicine and come help me right now! I need to take the medicine for a whole week, a whole week. I don't want you to look like a giant who just woke up when you're helping me!"

When Tom finished his first bottle and reached for the second, Snape started again: "When did I tell you to drink two bottles? Tom, did your family teach you to be someone who doesn't work for anything?"

Tom lowered his hand and awkwardly walked over to Snape's side.

"Professor Snape..."

"Stop talking nonsense and speak!"

"I came from an orphanage. I've never seen my parents since I was a child. I have no family. I'm sorry..."

……

Tom had a very fulfilling time at Hogwarts.

Every morning at four o'clock—now Tom has moved his wake-up time to four o'clock—he would meet Professor Snape in the Potions Lab on time.

After drinking a bottle of magic potion, she began practicing potion-making with Snape early on.

Tom's potion level is constantly rising.

Two weeks have passed in the blink of an eye, and next week is the start of the new school year at Hogwarts.

[You have successfully concocted a potion. Rating: Perfect! Potions Mastery +100.]

[You have successfully concocted a potion. Rating: Perfect! Potions Mastery +100.]

[You have successfully concocted a potion. Rating: Perfect! Potions Mastery +100.]

[Potion Mastery Level Up!]

[Potion Mastery LV.3.]

[Title earned: Potions Prodigy]

[Potion Master: You have a deeper understanding of the art of potion brewing. Each time you harvest potions, there's a 30% chance of getting an extra bottle. The quality of potions you brew is also slightly improved!]

Textbooks? The potions in the textbooks could no longer stop Tom's practice. He and Snape were progressing very quickly, in just two weeks—with Hermione taking up a week of that time.

Tom, who worked tirelessly day and night, demonstrated what true strength is!

Despite using Hermione's body, Tom didn't waste any time.

The word "hard work" is perfectly embodied in Tom.

At the same time, Tom's magical abilities are also increasing significantly.

After taking the magic potion for a week, Tom's total magic power has increased. He can now cast spells faster and stronger than before, with significant improvements in both explosive power and duration!

If you only look at the effect of the spell and not his strength, no one would guess that he is a soon-to-be first-year student!

To be honest, aside from Defense Against the Dark Arts, the rest of the first-year courses weren't very useful for Tom anymore.

……

It's Monday again.

When Tom arrived at the Potions Lab, Snape had not yet arrived.

Tom skillfully added various materials to concoct the potion, making three circles to the left and three circles to the right. He was no longer nervous as before, and now all that remained was a sense of relief.

Brewing potions was Tom's most relaxing time—he could even practice spells while brewing potions!

After the potion was finished being brewed, Tom took out the liquid.

This time, Tom was lucky. In the past, he could only extract two bottles of potions from it, but this time the title worked, and Tom got a total of three bottles of potions.

Snape also entered the laboratory at this time.

"Tom! Tell me what you're doing right now!" Snape lunged forward, grabbing Tom by the collar. "Didn't I tell you not to brew potions while I was away? You'd ruin all these ingredients! Didn't I?! Answer me!!!"

Tom didn't resist, but instead handed over several bottles of potions with both hands: "Professor Snape, these are potions I made using materials I bought with my own Galleons. I have to leave—but only for a short while. I need to go back to the orphanage to see my friends."

"Thank you for taking me in these past few days, and for teaching me how to brew potions so generously. These potions are from an extracurricular book I read about; I'm giving them to you." Tom's eyes were full of sincerity—the sincerity towards a mentor!

This caused Snape to involuntarily loosen his grip.

"Professor Snape, this is a vitality tonic. I've noticed you haven't been sleeping well, all because I disturbed your sleep in the dormitory. This vitality tonic might help improve your condition."

This is a stimulant—it can cure colds. Professor Snape, you don't seem to be feeling too well lately. I can tell. It's normal to catch a cold during the changing seasons. I hope it can cure you.

This is a magic, all-purpose stain remover. I'm afraid to clean your dorm; it has so many of your treasured things. I know I'm incredibly stupid—you always say that—but I hope this solution will help you.

Snape suddenly choked up, letting Tom place the potion in his hand, unable to utter a single word for a long time—he didn't know what to say at that moment.

He looked at Tom in front of him and spoke in a softer and softer voice, his crystal-clear jade-colored pupils now filled with a misty haze.

“Professor Snape, when I come back next week it will be the start of the semester, and perhaps—I mean, I won’t be able to stay with you anymore, and I won’t be able to bring you midnight snacks anymore. I’m very sad.”

Tom bowed solemnly and walked toward the laboratory door, leaving Snape alone with several bottles of potions in his hands—potions infused with all of Tom's hard work.

“I never thought you were as stupid as a troll, and if—if I really thought so, I wouldn’t have taught you.”

Unfortunately, Tom had already left and didn't get to hear Snape's words.

He was only talking to himself.

Snape's dark, lifeless eyes flickered, a trace of emotion that shouldn't have appeared taking hold of his mind.

……

“Professor Sprout, all the weeds have been cleared away and the medicinal herbs have been sorted. As you said, these mandrakes are all in the flowerpots, and I haven’t touched them.”

“Little Tom, you are such a hardworking and good boy. Here is today’s pay.” Professor Sprout affectionately patted Tom’s head. “Good boy, I sincerely hope that you can join Hufflepuff School.”

Tom grinned. "Professor Sprout, that's not something I can decide, you know that."

"But I'm leaving today, Professor Sprout. Thank you for your help these past few days. We'll meet again in a week."

"Oh?" A hint of sadness flashed in Sprout's eyes. "Little Tom, are you leaving already? I was hoping to have afternoon tea with you."

“I hope to spend more time with the children in the orphanage. There is a little angel in the orphanage who is very attached to me. I didn’t dare to see her when I left the orphanage, for fear that she would cry. I want to go back and spend time with her since I have a week of vacation left.”

“Kind child.” Sprout smiled. “Then you’d better hurry. See you in a week.”

"Goodbye."

Tom then said goodbye to his remaining two friends—Hagrid and Dumbledore.

When Mr. Dumbledore heard that Tom wanted to return to the orphanage, he offered to see Tom off and asked Tom to hold his hand.

Tom hesitated at first—as everyone knows, Dumbledore is gay…

"Are you going to take the train back? That will waste your time, young master. We'll use teleportation."

"Teleportation?" Tom exclaimed in astonishment. "Isn't teleportation forbidden at school?"

Dumbledore nodded: "That's usually how it is, but I'm the headmaster, and it's the holidays now, so you don't want to waste your time, little Tom."

"Sir, I'd like to go to Gringotts first—Gringotts in Diagon Alley."

Gringotts is the wizarding world's bank; deposits and withdrawals of Galleons, as well as the exchange of Galleons for British pounds, all take place at Gringotts.

Upon arriving at Gringotts, Tom took out all his Galleons—392 Galleons.

These Galleons were the money Tom had saved up over the past few days, including tips from Professor Sprout and the Weasley twins, as well as a few Galleons he earned from selling potions...

He exchanged 200 Galleons for pounds, a full 1000 pounds!

“Professor Dumbledore, may we go to 23 Parrot Road? There’s a really delicious dessert shop there. Misha and her friends at the orphanage love their desserts, and I’d like to bring some back for them.”

“Of course, no problem.” Dumbledore nodded with a smile and led Tom to their seats.

Tom ordered five of most of the desserts in the shop, including one for Dumbledore, before returning to the orphanage.

Saint Redia Welfare Home.

After putting Tom down, Dumbledore left, reminding Tom to come back next week.

"Tom?!" A child saw Tom and couldn't help but cover her mouth. "It really is you, Tom? Misha, come out quickly, Tom's here!"

The little angel still looked adorable, except her cheeks were a little red.

She struggled to walk out of the warehouse, and her complexion improved considerably after seeing Tom.

"Tom!"

"Hey Misha, you look terrible...do you have a cold?"

"Cough cough..." Misha coughed, covering her mouth, and nodded. "It's alright, Mr. Middleton examined me, and I'll be fully recovered soon. Tom, why are you back? Did the school reject you?"

Can't you say something nice?

Never mind, children speak without thinking.

Tom tapped her on the head: "It's a holiday, I'm leaving next week, and when we meet again... well, it'll be a long time. I brought back a lot of cakes this time, all of them are your favorites."

Misha's eyes lit up, but the gleam quickly faded; she had a cold and couldn't eat these things.

"Misha, come with me." Tom pulled Misha into the warehouse, took out a few bottles of potions from his pocket and handed them to Misha. "These are cold medicines. Drink them and sleep it off, and you'll be fine. When you wake up, you can eat cake with your other friends."

Misha's mouth slowly opened wide, forming an "o" shape.

"Don't worry, I won't give the cake to the other children before you wake up. You should all eat it together."

Misha reached out and covered Tom's mouth, saying earnestly, "We're family, we should eat together!"

Chapter 14 Hermione has been captured?

Hermione had been searching for a long time for the complete works of Lockhart—she really liked Mr. Lockhart.

However, it could not be found.

Tom had already won the championship, but she couldn't find it either at her own home or at Professor Snape's dormitory where Tom lived.