"Hmph, here." Hermione pulled a small box out of the crossbody bag she always carried and handed it to Tom. "Just so we're clear, this isn't a special Halloween gift I made just for you or anything! It's just… whoever's the first person to wish me a Happy Halloween today gets one. That's all."
Hermione was stumbling over her own words.
She cleared her throat. "Ahem—and thanks, by the way." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear to hide how red it had gotten. "Don't read into it. It's just… Cho, let's go."
Cho Chang flashed a knowing little smile, waved goodbye to the group, and left.
"Oh, right—Happy Halloween!" Cho handed out candies to Lee Soo and Terry as she passed.
"Happy Halloween," Hermione added, giving them each a couple of pieces too.
"Happy Halloween!" the two boys snapped to attention, standing ramrod straight.
As the two girls walked away, Lee Soo and Terry immediately grabbed Tom by the shoulders, breathing like they'd just run a marathon.
"Tom!" Lee Soo's eyes were practically bloodshot. "How the heck do you know Cho Chang and Hermione?"
"Spill it right now, or I'm hitting you with a Tickling Charm!"
Tom shoved the two wild animals off him. "They're just friends… Can you guys not crowd me like that? And why are you both freaking out so much?"
How could they not freak out?
Lee Soo practically yelled, "You clueless idiot! Is your brain only full of studying? Do you have any idea that Cho is the most popular second-year girl in the whole school? Pretty much every guy here rates her an O!"
In the wizarding world, O stands for Outstanding—the highest possible grade.
"Exactly!" Terry jumped in. "Hermione's rated O-minus. If she got those front teeth fixed, she'd be right up there with Cho. Though… I swear her teeth didn't look as big as everyone says. What do you think, Terry?"
Terry nodded eagerly. "I'd give her an O-plus easy. She's really cute!"
Tom obviously wasn't about to admit he'd already fixed Hermione's teeth for her. He just clapped both boys on the shoulder. "Trick-or-treating with little kids isn't that exciting. Come on, I'll take you somewhere way more fun."
More fun?
Their eyes lit up instantly.
Did he mean the older girls? The upper-year students always seemed so mature—their clothes, their expressions—it was like they were from another dimension compared to the first-years.
No little boy could resist a big sister vibe, and Lee Soo and Terry were no exception.
Only… Lee Soo never imagined that the "big sisters" Tom had in mind would be quite this… big.
Professor Sprout gave each of the three boys an affectionate kiss on the cheek. "Here's your candy, dears. I hope you all do wonderfully in Herbology.
"Tom… you really should rest more. You spend way too much time studying. I worry about you the most. As for you two little rascals, you need to work harder."
"We will, Professor!"
Once they were out of the greenhouse, Lee Soo and Terry started chattering again.
"Tom, how did you even think of asking a professor for candy?"
"I'm seriously impressed. And Professor Sprout is so biased! She just told us to practice more, but with you… she told you to get some rest."
"Can you even compare? While you're snoring in class, Tom's already practicing spells. The time you spend daydreaming is longer than Tom sleeps every night."
Lee Soo coughed awkwardly. "I'm just relaxing my brain, okay? Anyway, Tom, where to next?"
They'd figured it out by now: as long as they stuck with Tom, candy was guaranteed.
Who cares where it came from—just that they got it!
…
"Tom, calm down!" Lee Soo and Terry were clinging to Tom for dear life—they knew exactly where he was headed.
They couldn't go there! No way!
Right in front of them was Albus Dumbledore's office.
Commonly known as the headmaster's office.
They never dreamed Tom would march straight up to the gargoyle guarding the door.
"Tom! Tom! Soo, grab him harder—he's slipping!"
Just then, the door swung open and Dumbledore stepped out, eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles—though maybe because of his age, they always looked a little squinted.
"Professor Dumbledore!" The two boys instantly stood at attention, perfectly still behind Tom, heads slightly bowed, too nervous to meet the headmaster's gaze.
"Oh? Three young Ravenclaws. What can I do for you?"
Tom, as calm as ever, held out his hand. "Happy Halloween, Professor Dumbledore."
The elderly wizard blinked in surprise, then let out a warm chuckle. "My boy, it's been many years since anyone asked me for Halloween candy. Ha ha—come in, come in."
After receiving candy straight from Dumbledore himself, the two boys were practically bursting with confidence.
They'd gotten treats from the headmaster! If they weren't scared of him, who could possibly scare them now?
"Tom, who's next?" Terry asked dramatically, like they were fearless assassins sweeping through Hogwarts taking down one target after another.
"Next one… I'd suggest you two sit this one out."
"No way!" Lee Soo thumped his chest. "We weren't even afraid of Professor Dumbledore. Who could possibly scare us?"
…
Fifteen minutes later.
Lee Soo and Terry were practically on their knees.
"Bro, we really can't do this one. You go in alone."
"Yeah, Tom. We'll wait out here."
Tom rolled his eyes.
It's just Professor Snape. A minute ago they were acting all brave—now they're chickening out at the door?
Tom, of course, wasn't scared at all. He knocked, heard the bat-like voice from inside, and pushed the door open.
Lee Soo and Terry immediately pressed their ears to the door, listening in silence.
Snape stared at Tom, eyes cold and sharp as a snake's.
"What do you want?"
"Happy Halloween, Professor Snape."
Snape took a deep breath, his voice grave. "Tom, do not celebrate this foolish holiday. You're making me feel childish—and stupid."
Yep, Tom was getting scolded…
The two outside shivered. Good thing they hadn't gone in with him.
But Tom didn't flinch. He kept smiling. "Professor, could you maybe give this foolish kid a little candy anyway? It would make me really happy."
"…"
"On the desk. Take it yourself."
"Thank you, Professor. Happy Halloween."
"Get out!"
Jackpot!
Tom walked out of Snape's office hugging an armful of candy. His two followers were already waiting respectfully like loyal little brothers.
Lee Soo gave him a huge thumbs-up. "Tom, you're the man.
"I can't even look Professor Snape in the eye. You might be the only person in history brave enough to ask him for Halloween candy."
"Scary…" Terry didn't even know what else to say.
The candy Snape had given looked expensive—just the wrappers were fancier than everyone else's. But the boys didn't dare touch it. No way.
"Tom, can we please not hit any more places like this? Let's get out of here…"
They hadn't gone far when Tom ran into a group of older students he didn't know—mostly girls.
Tom didn't recognize them, but they definitely knew him. They all handed him candy. Thanks to sticking with their awesome leader, Lee Soo and Terry scored some too. Big haul!
"Tom, anywhere else you wanna go?"
Tom shook his head. "I need to ask Professor Dumbledore for a quick leave. You guys head back. I'll be back tonight or tomorrow."
He figured it was time to visit St. Lydia's Orphanage again.
Halloween was one of the kids' favorite days.
They got to wear nice new clothes, Misha would cook up an amazing dinner and desserts, and everyone got to celebrate.
He'd been at Hogwarts a while now—he missed them and wanted to see how they were doing.
Dumbledore would have been easy to ask, but Tom went to Professor Snape instead.
At first Snape grumbled and snapped, but after Tom's "sincere and repeated pleading," he finally Apparated him.
Of course, Tom wasn't dumb enough to ask something like, "Professor, aren't we not allowed to Apparate inside the school?"
"Your Occlumency lessons were clearly wasted," Snape said icily.
"Professor, come inside with me. The kids would be thrilled to see a professor come back with me."
"Idiotic. I have no interest in that sort of thing!"
Tom was stubborn—he nagged and wheedled until Snape reluctantly followed him into the orphanage.
"Tom!" From far off, Misha spotted him. She dropped what she was holding, wiped her flour-covered little hands on her apron, and ran over to throw herself into his arms.
Misha was dressed up today—she wore an oversized golden wizard hat that was wider than her shoulders and a loose, flowing robe. She looked exactly like a little witch.
For some reason, as Snape watched the scene, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Misha, this is Professor Snape. He's my favorite professor at school."
"Hello," Misha said, tilting her head up with a perfect, bright smile. She held out her flour-dusted little hand to Snape.
After a brief hesitation, Snape took it.
"Hello."
"Professor, has Tom been causing any trouble at school?"
"Him?" Snape gave a cold huff. "He's a foolish boy. Aside from being somewhat talented, he's utterly worthless."
Getting the word "talented" out of Snape meant Tom had already beaten 99% of people.
…
"Hermione." Harry looked a little awkward, forcing a smile. "Happy Halloween."
"Mm-hmm, Happy Halloween," Hermione replied with a nod. "I'll come with you guys to Hagrid's tonight."
"Yeah…" Harry clearly had something he wanted to say but couldn't quite get it out.
Ron had no such reservations. "Hermione, your teeth—did something happen to them?"
"Tom fixed them," Hermione said, flashing a big, bright grin.
Tom again.
Harry sighed inwardly. He wasn't sure why it bothered him so much.