When it came to respecting school rules, Professor McGonagall was the ultimate authority—unbreakable as a mountain.
She'd heard about Tom: a kid who'd started school early, outstanding, polite, incredibly gifted.
But that didn't give him an excuse to break the rules.
"Young man, perhaps you should spend some time in detention reflecting on this. Hogwarts has seen plenty of talented kids, but without rules to guide them, their futures... well, you know. You can see those sorts on the streets of Britain."
Tom knew better than to explain right now.
In McGonagall's eyes, any explanation would just sound like an excuse—and that would only make her like him less.
"Yes, Professor McGonagall. I'm sorry."
"Child, you should get some proper rest tonight. Head back to your dormitory." Seeing that Tom wasn't being defiant, her stern expression softened a bit. She patted his shoulder. "Every child makes mistakes, dear. I hope Hogwarts hasn't given you a bad first impression."
Tom shook his head. "I've got the best friends and the best teachers here at Hogwarts. It could never leave a bad impression."
Ahem— Snape cleared his throat with a couple of coughs. "Professor Minerva, I asked Tom to come help me with a few things. Tom, come with me first to the dormitory to grab your stuff."
Snape didn't even glance at Tom as he explained to McGonagall. "Minerva, this kid was staying with me before term started—you know how it is. Kids that age always forget things, like his textbooks."
"Oh, child, you should've said something sooner." McGonagall patted Tom's shoulder again. "Severus, it's getting late. You should head back soon too."
Once McGonagall left, Tom finally let out a long breath.
"Not leaving yet?" Snape shot him a cold glare. "Don't think I was covering for you. Starting tomorrow, every afternoon after classes, you report to the Potions lab!"
"Professor Snape, I... could I maybe keep staying in my original dorm?" Tom batted his emerald-green eyes at him. "I can see my classmates anytime, but with you..."
"Now! Get! Out!" Snape shoved Tom out of the lab without another word.
Tch. He totally likes me.
Tom smirked outside the door and headed back to the dormitory without a care.
Crap, I forgot to bring Terry a drink!
Tom had two roommates—their Ravenclaw dorms were mostly two or three to a room, rarely four.
His roommates were Terry Boot and Su Li.
After downing the Calming Draught Snape had shoved at him (the tsundere), Tom got back to the dorm.
"Tom!" Terry looked panicked. "Oh man, you broke rules on your very first day? Are we even gonna see you tomorrow?"
"Poor kid. We'll visit you in detention tomorrow." Su drew a cross over his chest solemnly. "May the Lord bless you."
"Did you get caught?"
Tom: "Ran into Professors Sprout, Snape, and McGonagall."
"It's over. You're definitely headed to detention tomorrow. If it was just Sprout, that'd be fine—she's the kindest, gentlest professor ever. But McGonagall's super strict. No escaping that.
And Snape... Tom, how many points did he dock?"
Su eyed Terry curiously as he rambled on. "Hey, how do you know all this? Aren't we all first-years?"
"My brother's here too—third year, Gryffindor. Every holiday, he tells me how tough their head of house, McGonagall, is. She doesn't even go easy on her own students.
Su, you have no idea how nervous I've been these past few days, praying I wouldn't end up in Slytherin or Gryffindor."
Tom really wanted to say: You wouldn't get into Slytherin anyway. That's rich-kid territory. Us poor folks just get stepped on—like first-year Malfoy.
"Tom, what do you want to eat?"
"Tom, what kind of flowers do you like?"
Tom: "?"
"I just broke a rule, guys. I'm not dying. Come on! The world's pretty forgiving—you don't get crushed for one or two slip-ups. Life's long. Okay, time to sleep."
The Calming Draught kicked in, and Tom's eyelids started getting heavy.
After lights out, the three hopped into bed. Soon, steady breathing filled the room—Tom's.
Su and Terry were a bit homesick and lay awake for a while.
...
The next day.
Terry and Su didn't spot Tom when they woke up—they were almost late and had to rush to class.
By then, Tom had already finished his morning workout and swung by Snape's to "show face." Snape seemed to have been waiting in the Potions lab just for him; the place was already filled with that herbal scent bright and early.
"What's our first class this morning?"
"Charms! We gotta hurry!"
When they got to the classroom, Tom was already seated calmly in his spot.
The two sat on either side of him.
"Tom, why didn't you wake us up this morning?"
Tom shrugged. "If you guys want to see the sun rise over Hogwarts at 4 a.m., I can do that next time. But you'll have to deal with being wiped out all day."
"Four a.m.?"
"Four a.m."
Su gave him a thumbs-up and dropped it.
The Charms professor was Filius Flitwick—a part-goblin wizard. What stood out most was his mop of white hair and his height: under 3'7".
To the kids, this cheerful little old guy was basically their size.
"I'm delighted none of our children are late for their first lesson." Flitwick rubbed his hands together, beaming at everyone. "Now, please get out your textbooks—oh, no one's forgotten theirs? Even better. Turn to the first chapter."
The Levitation Charm.
After a solid ten-minute breakdown of the details, Flitwick raised his hand. "Wands up, children."
"Feel free to practice the Levitation Charm. Try to make the feather in front of you float. Go ahead—"
Three minutes later.
"Wingardium Leviosa."
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
"Wingardium Leviosa!!!!" Su was getting seriously frustrated.
Terry had managed to lift his feather about an inch. Tom... well, Tom's feather was already gliding, looping, and diving through the air like a fighter jet.
And Su still had zero progress.
"Tom, how are you doing that?"
"Hmm?" Tom snapped out of his "feather fighter plane" focus.
He reached over and gently adjusted Su's wand hand. "Relax, Su. First, calm down. Let your emotions guide the feather.
Magic's wonderful—it's unbound. Use your smarts: imagine it, act it out, simulate how a feather really lifts off."
(Those were McGonagall's exact words, actually.)
"Thanks, Tom. Let me try—yes! It worked!"
The three didn't notice little Flitwick had snuck up beside them.
Tom Riddle—the kid who'd made the Sorting Hat hesitate for over ten minutes. Flitwick remembered him.
"Tom? Child, demonstrate again. Everyone, pause what you're doing. Let's watch how Tom does it."
Tom didn't fuss—he gave a perfect demo.
"Child, speed up the incantation. In a duel, the faster caster has the edge. Once you're proficient, you can even drop parts of the incantation."
Tom flicked his wand without saying a word.
Levitation Charm—silent!
Flitwick's eyes widened.
No wonder the Sorting Hat took ten minutes!
Good heavens, is this really something a first-year can do?
"Excellent, child! Truly excellent. Five points to Ravenclaw!"
Su and Terry's admiration skyrocketed.
...
Meanwhile, in Transfiguration.
"Very good, Miss Granger. Excellent work. Five points to Gryffindor!" McGonagall nodded approvingly at Hermione's performance.
First-years... no, even including some second- and third-years, few could match her.
Hermione was different from the others. Those letters she'd sent herself over the summer clearly weren't just for show—this girl was genuinely dedicated.
(Of course, McGonagall didn't know there was an even bigger freak in first year: Tom Riddle.
Tom's skills had already surpassed the previous Tom—at least at the same age.
In a way, he'd outdone Voldemort!)
After class, Hermione packed up lightning-fast, scooping her books and wand into her arms and bolting out the door.
"Hermione, wait up!" Ron and Harry chased after her, huffing.
"Hermione, why are you running so fast?" Ron was out of breath. He couldn't believe his fitness was worse than a girl's.
"I'm in a hurry!"
Once out of the classroom, Hermione started scanning the distance.
Harry opened his mouth to say something but noticed her mind was elsewhere. He swallowed it back.
"Tom—!!!"
Hermione spotted who she was looking for and pushed through the crowd.
Harry's eyes dimmed for a moment, but he forced himself to follow.
He didn't get why Hermione and Tom were so close.
Logically, she and Tom were just friends—and he and Hermione were friends too. He shouldn't feel like this.
But maybe because Hermione was so pretty—she really was stunning. Harry rarely saw anyone who shone in every way like her.
Her hair was clearly well-maintained, her face delicate. Aside from those slightly buck teeth, Harry couldn't find a single flaw.
Strictly speaking, Harry figured Hermione should find Tom more annoying, but that "special" treatment made his chest feel a little sour.
"Tom!"
Hermione grabbed his arm. "Here's my schedule—you know, time's almost up."
"Oh—huh?" Tom's calm face suddenly changed; he actually looked flustered for once. "Hermione, did you know we only have five classes a week?"
"Yeah? I know." Hermione nodded. "Let me see yours."
"My schedule doesn't matter. Yours does—how do you have twenty classes?!"
Ron finally caught up and chimed in. "If there were more hours in the day, she'd cram weekends and evenings too."
"Come with me for a sec." Hermione pulled Tom aside, even away from Ron and Harry.
"I have to go see McGonagall this weekend—don't forget!"
Tom looked outraged. "How can you take up someone's weekend? Weekends are precious for professors!
Oh yeah, I have to see Snape on weekends too—actually, every day. When I get back, I'll write up a schedule and leave it on the bed. Make sure you check it."
"Is it a lot?" Hermione felt a pang of nerves. She thought she was working hard enough.
But standing in front of her was the champion.
"Not really." Tom shrugged. "I didn't sign up for any electives—you know I don't waste time on pointless stuff.
The rest of my time? Charms, Herbology, Potions, Magical Creatures. I'll reach out to the professors in the next couple days.
Schedule-wise... probably like the holidays. Hmm, maybe even busier."
Even busier?
Busier than during the holidays???