Hogwarts: I, Tom, am not the Dark Lord

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Chapter 96: All Toms are monsters! Malfoy feels wronged

Friends who often commit crimes know this.

The moment the bad things you have done are discovered, your limbs will go numb, your brain will be dizzy, and you will feel like you are falling into an ice cellar.

This is the case with Hagrid now.

He felt that fate was a cycle. Fifty years ago, he was expelled from school after being discovered by a man named Tom Riddle to be raising a giant eight-eyed spider.

Thanks to Dumbledore's efforts, he was able to stay in the school as a gamekeeper.

Fifty years later, another Tom Riddle appeared, also a Slytherin, also an excellent student, and also... discovered that he raised magical creatures.

At this moment, just as at that moment.

This was the first time Tom had been alone with Hagrid. No, to be precise, it was the first time the two of them had met. Before this, their relationship was the kind where they wouldn't even say hello when they met, and Hagrid would even go around him.

Tom walked into the room without waiting for Hagrid's permission, not even glancing at the other clutter that was in his way, and went straight to the stove.

The firewood crackled and sparks flew, but this did not affect Tom's observation. He nodded and said, "Yes, it is a Norwegian Ridgeback, which is a powerful existence among fire dragons."

Hagrid's love for dragons overcame his fear of Tom Riddle. When he heard Tom's words, his face was filled with surprise and he said, "Norwegian Ridgeback? Are you serious?"

"A black eggshell with the luster of black jade and traces of square scales. If this isn't a Norwegian Ridgeback, what else could it be?" Tom began to doubt Hagrid's professionalism. He didn't even know how to look at a dragon egg to distinguish a fire dragon. He was so bad.

In fact, Hagrid had just borrowed a large number of books about dragons from the library, and Tom came over before he had time to read them.

"That's great." Hagrid said happily, "I like Ridgebacks. They have hard and strong bodies. They are so cute!"

"You seem to be happy too early."

The boy's slow words made Hagrid's face lose all color again.

It’s bad. I forgot there is a huge problem that has not been solved.

"R...Riddle, what on earth do you want?"

The three or four meter tall giant actually took on the attitude of a wronged young wife and said weakly, "I can explain the origin of this dragon egg."

"Don't explain. I don't want to hear it."

Tom waved his hand and sat down at the dining table. Hagrid stood there obediently. For a moment, it was hard to tell who was the owner of the place.

"I only believe what I see with my own eyes. The dragon egg is in your hands, that's a fact. Whether you poached it or bought it from a poacher is unimportant."

"If you want to explain, you can save it for the Ministry of Magic investigators, or... go talk to the Dementors in Azkaban directly?"

thump--!

Hagrid fell heavily to the ground as if all his strength and bones had been drained away. Tom could clearly see the wooden floor cracked and couldn't help but grin.

Hagrid's dog is timid. They say dogs resemble their masters, and this is true for Hagrid.

When he heard about Dementors, he immediately became limp.

"I don't want to go to Azkaban. I don't want to go to Azkaban."

Hagrid was still mumbling madly, looking at Tom as if he were another Tom.

"But I thought about it, if I send you in, it seems I won't get any benefit."

Tom's words made Hagrid's mood fluctuate like a roller coaster. "You are someone Dumbledore trusts. Although I don't know why he trusts you so much, it's really not worth it for me to be at odds with him because of you."

"I'm a Slytherin, Hagrid." Tom looked at the calmed giant, his expression becoming friendly. "What do Slytherins like most? People of value. If you can bring benefits to me, then we can become good friends, right?"

"That's not called a friend." Hagrid muttered softly, but when he saw Tom's cold eyes, he wisely changed his tone:

"Well, I want to be your friend, Riddle. No, Tom, what value do you need from me? It's impossible for me to betray Dumbledore. I'd rather go to Azkaban."

Hagrid was smart for once and told Tom his bottom line.

"You're talking to a student like me about betraying the principal?" Tom looked at him as if he were a troll. "How can you have so much drama in your head?"

"Then how can you not report me?"

Tom glanced at the dragon egg and said, "Since you can even get a dragon egg, it means you have some wild skills. I just need some potion ingredients and herbs. If you can help me find them, not only will I not report you, I will also help you deal with Malfoy's troubles."

"It's that simple?" Hagrid said in disbelief.

Potions ingredients and herbs?

Isn't this something you can just pick up when you enter the Forbidden Forest?

Riddle's requirements are so low?

Hagrid had no idea how difficult this was for the others. Not to mention the dangerous magical animals and tribes of magical creatures, just figuring out the terrain of the Forbidden Forest and knowing where these things were distributed was a huge task.

Apart from Hagrid, Newt is probably the only one who feels the same when going to the Forbidden Forest or returning home.

Tom picked up the parchment and quill on the table and began to make a list. He wrote for a full five minutes before stopping.

Hagrid took it and looked at it, then breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, most of the things in it can be found in the Forbidden Forest. For the few that are not available, he also has acquaintances in Knockturn Alley, so there is no need to worry about not being able to get them. He can just exchange them with things in the Forbidden Forest.

"No problem, give me a few days and I can get them all for you."

Tom held up three fingers. "I'll give you three days. I want to see the goods in three days, and they must be of high quality. If you fool me with defective products, then wait to see Dumbledore's disappointed eyes."

Hagrid nodded repeatedly. In order to become a dragon mother, he was determined to do his best this time.

In fact, Tom was mainly after the venom of the Acromantula. He emphasized the quality and was also hinting to Hagrid to go to Aragog to get the venom.

He has been busy getting close to unicorns recently. The occasional Acromantulas he encounters are all cubs, and the quality of their venom is average, so he simply outsources these tasks to Hagrid. After this first time, he will slowly get used to it in the future.

Tom stood up. Just when Hagrid thought he was leaving and was secretly happy, the boy came to the fire again, his eyes full of disgust: "Don't you know how much the temperature of hatching dragons affects them? Hatching them with ordinary fireplace flames may be the weakest dragon I have ever seen."

Hagrid felt even more aggrieved: "But this is the best offer I can make for him."

Tom didn't say anything, took out his wand and put out the charcoal fire in the stove. Just when Hagrid thought he was going to 'murder' the dragon egg, Tom muttered a few spells, and white flames spurted out of the tip of the wand and fell into the fireplace.

The temperature in the room rose sharply, and Hagrid was stunned.

"What kind of flame is this?"

"Gublai fairy fire, a flame that never goes out. Don't touch the fireplace recently. When the fire dragon is about to hatch, call me and I will take back the fairy fire."

After saying that, Tom left.

Hagrid was in ecstasy. He had heard of the Gubley fairy fire but had never seen it.

But as he laughed, he couldn't laugh anymore.

If I remember correctly, this kind of never-extinguishing flame seems to be only available to top wizards. How did Riddle use it?

After thinking for a long time, Hagrid shuddered suddenly.

Sure enough, those with this name are all monsters!

...

In fact, Gulliver's Fire was not Tom's first choice. If Dumbledore chose to disappear for a while, he might try to hatch a dragon with the most evil Fiendfyre. It is unknown whether an evil dragon would be hatched.

Unfortunately, Old Deng, the otaku, hasn't left school for a long time.

Not only Tom had to be obedient, but Quirrell also had to be obedient and didn't dare to make any moves.

The holidays began, and Tom had more time to study on his own. He spent almost the entire day in the Room of Requirement. In the morning, with Hermione by his side, he guided the little witches in their training. In the afternoon, he had his own time, and when he was hungry, he would ask Pala to bring him food.

Now Pala has settled in Hogwarts and has become Tom and Daphne's exclusive chef. From time to time, Hermione can also get some good food.

Hermione was also learning cooking from Hannah, but she didn't have the elf foundation and time, so she didn't show it in front of Tom for the time being, for fear that Tom would not like it.

Malfoy's side was much more interesting. He had a big handle on Harry, so he was almost acting arrogantly these days. He even appeared in front of Harry many times on purpose. Every time he met Harry, he would show a malicious smile and enjoy Harry's panic-stricken performance.

He himself didn't know that his behavior looked extremely strange in the eyes of Goyle and Crabbe.

This seems like teasing...

Malfoy was just teasing Harry. He had something on Harry that he wouldn't tell anyone else, keeping Harry in a constant state of fear and anxiety until he had enough fun and went to complain. Then both the hated Potter and the stupid half-giant would be punished.

However, Malfoy's dream only lasted three days.

Three days later, Hagrid gathered what Tom wanted, and the two met in the cabin to trade. Tom checked it out and nodded in agreement.

All the materials were very good, especially the Acromantula venom, which was obviously not on the same level as what he had gotten before.

"No problem." Tom used the shrinking spell to shrink the sack and put it into his pocket.

"I promise I won't tell anyone, except Daphne and Hermione. I'll bring them to see the dragons once they hatch."

"I will also warn Malfoy, so you can rest assured."

"Thank you, Tom." Brother Hai said enthusiastically, "If you need any materials in the future, please feel free to contact me."

"I will."

Tom wouldn't be polite to him, that was Hagrid's only value to him.

Back in the common room, Tom glanced around but saw no sign of Malfoy or his lackeys.

"Rosier, do you know where Malfoy is?"

Rozier, who was laughing heartily at the joke book, heard Tom calling him and quickly recalled, "I heard him and Goyle say they were going to the West Tower to shoot birds."

"Please bring him here for me." Tom waved his hand and sat down on a sofa.

Rozier nodded hurriedly. Afraid that he wouldn't be able to find it by himself, he went to the dormitory and pulled out Nott and Sabini, who were fast asleep, to help.

Half an hour later, an uneasy Malfoy appeared in front of Tom.

Malfoy became even more panicked when Tom brought him to the dormitory alone.

No, what is this for?

Is it time to settle the score?

That's not right. His conflict with Riddle was last year. After that, they kept to themselves. He didn't even dare to provoke Daphne and Hermione. He shouldn't settle the score now.