Hogwarts: Hermione and I switched identities!

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley.

These two often broke the rules, but he rarely managed to catch them.

Today, Professor Dumbledore finally brought him to his side.

Unfortunately, there was one person who frequently broke the rules who wasn't brought along—Tom Riddle.

Compared to Tom, these two are child's play.

Filch knew, or rather, Mrs. Lorris had told him many times, that Tom frequently left the dormitory.

Not just once or twice, but frequently, almost every night!

But Mr. Filch never managed to catch Tom.

He didn't even catch a glimpse of Tom, let alone catch him.

Just when they were about to find Tom, Pippi would always come out and cause trouble.

The corridors of Hogwarts seemed to have become Tom's maze, as if he lived in it!

"Professor Dumbledore, if there's a chance next time, could you send Tom over as well?"

Dumbledore: "?"

“I will try my best…” Dumbledore sighed.

Getting Tom over here won't be that easy.

"Mr. Filch, Tom didn't do anything, did he..."

"He has violated the rules many times, but there is no evidence."

Dumbledore wiped his brow: "Mr. Filch, we at Hogwarts still value evidence. We can't just arrest people for no reason."

What's more, it's Tom!

Even if there is evidence... look at Professor McGonagall, she turned a blind eye, so why is Filch still so insistent on Tom?

"Let's take these two little ones to the solitary confinement room first."

Under the watchful eyes of Harry and Ron, Dumbledore slowly turned away, avoiding their gaze.

After Ron and Harry left, Dumbledore sat in his chair and sighed.

After these little guys got together, Dumbledore felt increasingly troubled.

To be honest, Dumbledore wanted Tom to grow up quickly, but right now Tom is growing up at a really... too fast.

No one has ever been faster than him.

So much so that even Dumbledore began to feel afraid.

"Bang bang bang-"

A knock came at the door.

Dumbledore smoothed his messy hair and opened the door.

“Mr. Lucius…” Standing outside the door was someone Dumbledore never expected.

Lucius Malfoy.

Draco's father.

Dumbledore spoke up: "Lucius, what brings you here?"

“Yes.” Lucius nodded, glanced at the students passing by outside, and nodded toward the office. “Let’s go inside and talk.”

Dumbledore invited Lucius into his office and poured him a cup of tea.

Lucius took a sip of tea and looked at Dumbledore: "Tom...that little fellow, where is he now?"

"Outside."

Lucius shook his head, indicating that he didn't mean that: "I mean, today... no, to be precise, about half an hour ago, around this time... where was he then?"

"They're still outside. Tom went out early this morning on his dragon, with Misha and Isabel."

Lucius looked puzzled and leaned forward. "Dumbledore, are you sure? Tom really isn't at school today?"

"Not here..."

"That's strange."

Lucius looked puzzled. "This trouble seems to be quite serious. Do you know if any students at Hogwarts have learned dark magic? I mean, the really powerful kind, not the ordinary kind."

In an instant, Dumbledore also sensed that something was wrong. He frowned and asked, "What kind of dark magic are you talking about? At least tell me what level of dark magic it is."

"Avada Kedavra".

“No, no,” Dumbledore said firmly. “I’m certain that no one at Hogwarts knows this evil magic.”

"Tom doesn't know either?"

Dumbledore was about to reply that Tom wouldn't do Avada Kedavra either.

But Dumbledore swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Yeah...who said Tom couldn't do it?

Who can guarantee that Tom won't use Avada Kedavra?

The Shadowstep spell was taught to Tom by Snape, or rather, all the dark magic Tom learned was taught by Snape.

Dumbledore can guarantee that Snape absolutely did not teach Tom the Avada Kedavra technique.

But that was Snape, after all. Just because Snape didn't teach it doesn't mean that Tom's teacher didn't teach it...

Merlin, he definitely knows Avada Kedavra, and Tom has seen Voldemort use Avada Kedavra, so it's very likely...

"He might... I'm not sure, Lucius, what are you talking about? What about Avada Kedavra?"

“Dumbledore…Hogwarts. Someone used Avada Kedavra at Hogwarts. I’m here on behalf of the Ministry of Magic.”

Previously, Lucius would never have been so polite, but ever since Tom stayed at his house for a while and Lucius got to know this super genius, he became much more polite to Tom.

Lucius had guessed that the person who used Avada Kedavra was likely Tom.

"Hogwarts?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, looking at Lucius in disbelief. "You think it's Tom?"

"It can only be Tom, you understand what I mean? I know how talented Tom is, it can only be him!"

"Impossible, Tom has been like this since this morning..."

Suddenly, Dumbledore fell silent.

wrong.

wrong!

Was it really Hermione who went to the Chamber of Secrets?

Is it possible that it wasn't Hermione who saved Harry and Ron, and it wasn't Hermione who entered the Chamber of Secrets and put the Basilisk back to sleep, but rather... Tom!

So... the person I went to see back then wasn't Tom, but Hermione?

Dumbledore felt his mind was in a mess.

Everything was heading in a direction he couldn't understand.

Tom... he wouldn't be trying to isolate me and become the headmaster of Hogwarts himself, would he?

Just how many tricks does this little guy have up his sleeve?

"Maybe... it's Tom." Dumbledore reached up and touched his forehead.

Everything is now aligned.

If it were Tom, he should have used Avada Kedavra on the Basilisk.

And now... he's down there doing some kind of research on the basilisk's corpse.

When she went to see Hermione herself, she mentioned a date.

Two weeks.

It will take Tom at least two weeks to complete his research.

So……

Dumbledore narrowed his eyes.

Does this mean I need to help Tom, at least to get him to study the basilisk monster without reservation for the next two weeks?

“Lucius, I think I need to investigate. Give me some time to investigate, and I will definitely give you the person when the time comes.”

Seeing Dumbledore say this, Lucius nodded: "It will take a few days."

"Two weeks."

“Okay… wait, two weeks?” Lucius looked at Dumbledore in surprise. “You just said two weeks? That’s impossible. The Ministry of Magic won’t give you two weeks!”

Once you get those people at the Ministry of Magic impatient, you know…

"I know, but I need at least two weeks to investigate, that's not unreasonable!"

"..." Lucius seemed to realize something, and he dusted off his suit. "I'm trying to buy you some time, but you know, two weeks is still too long."

I can't guarantee how long I can negotiate for you. To tell you the truth, I originally came here today to take the person away on the spot, but..."

However, Lucius guessed that the culprit was Tom.

"I'll contact you when the time comes." Dumbledore saw Lucius off.

He paced back and forth in his office, hoping Tom would come out of the secret room soon!

Forget about all that research for now, he needs to get out of here quickly!

but……

Tom actually used Avada Kedavra...

Is this good news?

Dumbledore couldn't determine whether Tom or Voldemort was stronger at the moment.

It could be Voldemort... but he thought it was more likely to be Tom.