This was a Potions class.
Tom naturally ended up grouped with Lee Su and Terry.
Before class started, Lee Su and Terry were super nervous.
In their minds, Professor Snape was incredibly strict—like every student was his mortal enemy.
That's what the rumors said...
But once class actually began, Lee Su and Terry thought it wasn't so bad.
Not as terrifying as the stories made out...
"Very good, Jones. Since you know timing is crucial in potion-making, why did you wait a full 32 seconds on high heat before stirring? Hufflepuff loses 5 points!"
"Williams, tell me—when did the recipe say to add bezoar? Tell me!
"Why add it? Because of your 'clever' idea, this whole cauldron is ruined!"
"Hufflepuff, minus 5 points!"
"Brown! You belong in a pigsty, not Hogwarts—put that down right now!!!"
"Hufflepuff, minus 10 points!"
"Riddle!" Snape finally called Tom's name. "Stay after class and come to my office."
Lee Su and Terry let out a sigh of relief.
They figured maybe Tom had messed up a step—but that was impossible.
For anything up to fourth-year Potions, Tom could brew it exactly like the notes described!
And why the notes instead of the textbook...?
Because the textbook was by Arsenius Jigger, while the notes were by Severus Snape.
Tom trusted the latter way more.
"That scared me," Lee Su said, patting his chest. "Man, Tom, you're so smooth. How do you get that good?"
"Yeah, if I didn't know your background, I'd think you were some Potions expert's kid."
Tom grinned, flashing his white teeth.
Half an hour later, Professor Snape assigned homework: a 12-inch report due next class.
Tom didn't head back to the dorms with Lee Su and the others. Instead, he followed Snape.
The chubby big bat led the way, and nobody was dumb enough to get in this professor's path.
In the office—no one else around—Snape rummaged in a drawer and tossed out a book.
"Something you left in the dorms."
It was Advanced Potion-Making, with the familiar signature below: Half-Blood Prince.
"Forgetful. If you hadn't been perfect today, I'd have taken 20 points from Ravenclaw."
"Thank you for your mercy." Tom bowed a little and took the book from the desk.
Flipping through, Tom noticed something different from what he'd seen before... there were extra notes.
Annotations that shouldn't have been there—now added.
"What are you still standing there for? Planning to pollute my office air with that nauseating griffin stench?"
"Professor Snape, I'll head out then. See you tonight."
"No time this week. Go to the Potions lab yourself. I'm away until next week. If I come back and find you've wasted ingredients, Tom, I'll skin you alive and let you experience what a Whomping Willow really feels like!"
That was the second time Snape had mentioned a magical creature.
"I won't let you down." Tom stayed polite. "Professor Snape, there's one more thing I'd like to ask for your help with."
Tom looked a bit shy, even avoiding eye contact—soft, weak, helpless, yet still trying hard to learn and be likable.
Tom knew Snape ate that up.
"Tom, you're pushing it."
"Professor, forgive my rudeness, but... I just think you're the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I know... you really love that subject and you're great at it. Professor Quirrell's lessons...
"Um, maybe I'm just too dumb to understand them."
Rarely, Snape paused.
He stared straight at Tom, lips pressed tight. "Tom, I didn't think you were that kind of student. Now, immediately—get out of my office!"
Tom left.
Once he was gone, Snape suddenly let out a cold chuckle from his seat.
Quirrell?
That guy couldn't teach Defense Against the Dark Arts to save his life!
But if Tom said that, didn't it mean this year's Defense classes were going terribly?
Or... had Tom figured something out?
Snape didn't dwell on it—he had another class to rush to.
His favorite: the "Potter" class!
"Gryffindor minus 10 points!"
"Gryffindor minus 10 points!"
"Gryffindor minus 10 points!"
"Gryffindor..."
By the end, the Gryffindors were stunned.
Hermione looked the most shell-shocked.
She finally got why Tom called Professor Snape "a good person."
Yeah, to Tom, he was!
Snape might scold Tom a couple times, then guide him super patiently—at least that's how Tom saw it.
But in class? Hermione felt like even breathing was wrong.
They'd just cut ingredients a bit unevenly—totally forgivable mistakes—but to Snape? Two words.
Points off!
"Harry, do you think Professor Snape has it out for you...?" Ron whispered.
All three could tell Snape was picking on Harry.
"Did you ever tick off Snape before?"
Harry shook his head without hesitation. "Never met him... wait, no, I saw him once at school. He even said my eyes looked nice."
"Are you sure that was a compliment?" Hermione chimed in suddenly. "Professor Snape never compliments anyone. He just docks points viciously—like today."
Harry had no comeback. "Maybe... Hermione, you free tonight? We wanna visit Hagrid."
"Tonight? Sorry, I'm busy." She had a little "stove" session with Professor McGonagall.
"But if you find something cool, tell me. I'll make time... as much as I can."
Harry forced a smile. "Of course."
Once Hermione left, Harry's face dimmed a bit.
"Hey, Harry, don't be like that." Ron sighed. "Come on, you're the Boy Who Lived.
"Your parents left you a ton of money—you could do anything with it. Even if you weren't a great wizard someday—of course that's impossible.
"Plus, we found out about that three-headed dog, right?"
Hogwarts had two forbidden areas: the room in the third-floor corridor and the Forbidden Forest.
Absolutely no entry allowed.
But by accident, Harry, Hermione, and Ron had stumbled in and spotted a massive three-headed dog.
It was standing on a trapdoor, like it was guarding something...
That was their biggest secret.
And why they were heading to Hagrid—to ask about the dog.
"Thanks, Ron. I feel better." Harry took a deep breath and steadied himself.
"No worries. Let's go." Ron patted his back.
...
A few days later.
"Harry, don't you think Hermione's been kinda weird lately?"
"Yeah, a bit." Harry nodded. "She seems way more outgoing than before."
Ron added, "And she talks nicer too. Hey, have you heard? Once a girl gets a crush, she turns into a whole different person."
"No way? Wait, where's Hermione? Afternoon classes are over, right?"
"She said she's going to the Potions lab. No idea what she sees in Snape."
Potions lab.
"No, no, that's wrong! All the steps are messed up—can't you just follow the notes exactly?"
Tom had his hands on his hips.
"Don't pose like that in my body! If someone sees, they'll think I'm some little kid!"
Yep, Tom and Hermione had swapped again.
"So what? If the school allowed it, I'd strip off these robes too. If you keep this up... hmph, when Professor Snape gets back, he'll roast you like a troll.
"He'll say, 'Tom! How are you so stupid? Even a troll's smarter than you!'"
"I know!" Hermione was helpless, hopping around frustrated. "I know, but... it's really hard, and I've been exhausted all day. Classes this morning, Hagrid at lunch, then Professor Sprout... and now brewing potions? Tom, I haven't rested in days!
"Oh my gosh, what year is this potion even from? It doesn't feel like first-year stuff."
Tom smiled. "Congrats, you got it right. Reward: finish these today. This is fifth-year material."
"Fifth-year?" Hermione's mouth dropped.
Potions only went up to fifth year at Hogwarts.
Meaning, just over a week into term, Tom had nearly mastered all of Potions?
"How are you so fast?"
"Fast? Everything I've got is from my own hard work and sweat. And don't think the school's stuff is a lot—it's just the basics of Potions. Watch, I'll demo it again!"
Tom was about to step in when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
A girl pushed the door open.
Asian features—beautiful. The prettiest girl Hermione had ever seen, at least prettier than herself.
"Hermione, you're here!"
Looking for me? I don't know her... Tom?
"Hey, senpai, you made it. Hang on, let me finish teaching him this potion." Tom greeted her warmly.
Cho Chang—a second-year Ravenclaw, someone Tom had met by chance.
Cho was one of Hogwarts' top beauties. Not even fully grown yet, but already stunning. Once she was... Tom figured those eyes would haunt countless boys' dreams.
"You're... Tom Riddle! I know you. Professors Snape and Sprout mention you in class all the time. They say you're a genius in first year—pick up anything super quick. Hi, I'm Cho Chang. Same house as you, Ravenclaw—second year."
"Hi..." Hermione stammered a bit.
This felt awful—Cho gushing about Tom to "her" face, while the real Tom grinned beside her.
Grin all you want—what's so funny!
"Senpai, how do you know Hermione?"
"Oh, from an elective class. You two are both so smart. Shame Hermione's not in Ravenclaw—would've been fun."
Hermione shot Tom a fierce glare.
"So you're here for Hermione because..."
"Hey, none of your business, big guy. Move aside and watch." Tom patted Hermione's head. "First, you..."
Ten minutes later, Tom left Hermione alone in the lab and headed out with Cho.
"Jerk!"
Hermione gritted her teeth.
Thinking about slaving over these awful potions while Tom went off having fun—she was upset.
And then she'd have to do his homework later...
Hermione was even more upset.