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An hour later...
Snape was still there. Hermione coughed relentlessly on the hospital bed, completely unable to fall asleep.
Madam Pomfrey had checked on her, assuring them it was perfectly normal. The constant coughing was just a sign that her body was fighting off the illness.
Another hour passed. Snape still hadn't left.
Waiting by the door, Tom was starting to lose his mind.
What happened to 'only staying for an hour'?
Was Professor Snape seriously going to stand guard all night?
Suddenly, Snape moved, pushing the doors open.
"Uh... good evening, Professor Snape."
"Good evening, Granger. I expect your assignment on my desk, on time, next week."
When had he noticed him?
Tom hadn't sensed a thing. One second Snape was inside, and the next, he had simply appeared, catching Tom red-handed.
He swept past Tom with icy indifference and vanished down the corridor.
"Tom... cough, what are you doing here?" Hermione lay on the bed, her eyes lighting up the moment he walked in.
As he approached, she immediately pushed him away. "Don't get too close. You'll catch my cold."
Tom flashed a wide grin. "It's fine. It's not my body anyway. If I catch it, you'll just be the one stuck in bed for a few extra days."
"?"
"Hey, don't look at me like that. Look what I brought you."
Tom clapped his hands. An owl flew in through the window, while a rainbow-scaled giant chicken tiptoed in behind him, carefully retracing Tom's exact steps.
"Mira! Sonia!" Hermione beamed. "Tom, you really are my best friend."
She thought for a second, then quickly added, "For today only!"
"Well, as long as you're happy, I'm relieved." Tom nodded, crossing his arms. "And now, I have some good news for you."
"What good news?"
"Did you hear what Professor Snape just said? Once you're fully recovered, don't forget to finish your homework. Writing down the effects of one hundred potion ingredients. Two copies." Tom held up two fingers. "Unfortunately, every single first-year has to do it."
Hermione instantly fired up, completely forgetting she was supposed to be sick. "Why do I have to do your copy too—"
"Because if you don't, Professor Snape is going to keep piling on the pressure. Sigh. Just imagine how crushed he'll be when his favorite student disobeys him. Ravenclaw won't be the only House suffering."
He was absolutely right.
Snape today... no, Snape for the past few days had been a ticking time bomb. He was in a notoriously foul mood, handing out punishments to anyone who crossed his path.
Neville had already served three straight days of detention in his office and was currently walking around looking like an abandoned puppy.
"I take back what I said. Tom, you're still a complete jerk." Hermione angrily grabbed an apple and took a bite, mumbling with a full mouth.
"So, do you have any idea why Professor Snape is being so..." She gestured wildly with her hands, struggling to find the right word.
"Professor Snape is getting older. It seems you really haven't been paying attention to him lately." Tom sighed. "If I had to guess, he definitely wanted to tell you something. Actually... it felt more like he wanted to teach you something on his own initiative. And obviously, you completely missed the hint."
Hearing that Snape wanted to teach her something, Hermione's jaw dropped. "But he didn't say anything to me!"
"You'll be waiting a lifetime if you expect to hear him be that straightforward. It's a real shame, little Hermione. You missed your chance to get Professor Snape's direct, hands-on instruction. Now you'll just have to settle for my secondhand tutoring."
"That's not fair! I want to learn it firsthand too!"
"Oh? Well, your chances are probably gone. You're sick today. By the time you're fully recovered, he'll likely just spell it out for you. But by then... you won't be playing the role of Tom Riddle anymore."
"I'll be perfectly fine by tomorrow!" Hermione wasn't ready to concede. She muttered under her breath, "I'll go to Professor Snape's private lessons myself, just to spite you."
Hermione finished her apple and reached for a second one.
It was a little too far from the edge of the bed. Tom smoothly grabbed it for her, peeling it in one practiced motion before handing it over.
"Thank you." Hermione glared at him fiercely. "But I'm not giving up. Tomorrow, I'm absolutely going to find Professor Snape and learn that new magic."
Tom patted her on the head. "Sure, sure. Then stay awake. That way the potions won't work as effectively. Yep... just keep lying in that bed tomorrow. By the time you finally recover, I'll be back in peak condition to receive Professor Snape's lessons."
Hearing that, Hermione abandoned the apple entirely. She held out her hands for Tom to clean them off, then immediately burrowed deep under the covers.
Tom knew exactly how to handle kids. Within fifteen minutes, Hermione was fast asleep.
"Dobby, come out." Tom tapped his chair.
He didn't have to ask twice. A House-Elf popped into existence beside him, immediately bowing his head. "Dobby shouldn't have listened. Dobby doesn't know anything. Dobby won't say a word..."
Tom nodded. "That's for the best. But you're wrong."
He patted Dobby on the shoulder, giving him a gentle, friendly smile. "Do you remember what I told you before? You should be making amends for Hermione's sake. Not because you're scared of me, and not out of fear. You hurt Hermione, so..."
"Dobby knows! Dobby has been doing exactly that!" Dobby squeaked. "Dobby just saw you... um... Dobby saw that 'Mr. Tom' was sick, so Dobby came to check on him. Dobby won't do it again."
"No, you did great. That is exactly how a free elf should act. Follow your heart and make your own choices, my friend. What do you think you should do right now?"
Tom asked, his clear, sharp eyes fixed on Dobby as he waited for the elf's answer.
"Dobby should stay by Hermione's side! Dobby really wants to stay by Hermione's side!" Dobby looked up. "Mr. Tom, you are a good person, and Hermione is a good person too. Dobby should do this!"
"Good friend. When Hermione finds out later, she won't blame you. I'm going to head out now. But... if a professor named Quirrell shows up here, notify me immediately!"
Dobby nodded vigorously. "Dobby understands, sir."
With Dobby and Hermione settled, Tom left the hospital wing.
Hogwarts in winter was biting cold, and December was already in full swing.
Throughout the school, the older students were locked in a state of high tension.
It was a stress level that rivaled final exams—the Yule Ball was fast approaching.
Scoring a beautiful date for the ball meant bragging rights for an entire year—right up until the next dance rolled around.
And those who couldn't find a date? They would be pathetic. Truly pathetic.
As for why Tom knew all this in such exhausting detail? Because last week, when he was still occupying the body of "Tom Riddle," he had already received a massive pile of invitations.
Older girls had earnestly begged him to dress up, look a little more mature, and sneak past the professors to escort them to the ball.
Naturally, Tom refused.
It was way too high-profile. If he actually agreed, even Professor Snape wouldn't let him off the hook.
Two days later, Hermione was fully recovered!
Unfortunately, Madam Pomfrey refused to discharge her. She forced Hermione to stay in the hospital wing for at least one more day of observation before she was allowed out of bed.
Bored out of her mind, Hermione resorted to devouring every book she could get her hands on.
It wasn't until late afternoon, after relentless pleading, that Madam Pomfrey finally let her leave.
Thrilled, Hermione practically skipped out the door, thanking the matron several times on her way out.
"Tom! Congratulations on getting discharged!"
"Tom! It's so good to see you looking so lively! Here, child, put this flower crown on. Professor Sprout sent it especially for you. She's teaching right now, so she couldn't come see you herself." Hagrid, the half-giant, affectionately placed the flower crown on Hermione's head.
Terry, Sue, and several other Ravenclaws Hermione only vaguely knew had all shown up to welcome him back.
Sue leaned in close. "Tom, you have to keep pushing! You have no idea—while you were sick, Professor Snape didn't dock a single point from anyone!"
Hermione blinked. "What am I supposed to do about that...?"
"Hey, everyone knows you and Professor Snape are super close. If you ask me, you should—"
Sue was yanked away by Terry before he could finish. "Are you really trying to tell Tom what to do? Tom, ignore him. You just got back—you need to rest. Don't work yourself into the ground again. Seeing you push yourself that hard actually hurts us. Though Sue took it the hardest. He literally put a portrait of Merlin by his bed and has been holding some kind of weird ritual every single day."
"Terry! You promised you wouldn't tell him!" Sue's face instantly burned bright red.
"Thank you, guys." Hermione smiled. Then, spotting a certain someone hiding in the corner, she marched over and held out her hand. "Discharge gift."
This was pure revenge!
Back on Halloween, Tom had pulled this exact same stunt, demanding candy from her.
Hermione hadn't forgotten a single detail.
But Tom, completely unfazed, stepped forward and pulled her into a warm hug. "Congratulations on getting out."
"No, you—you—" Hermione panicked, completely flustered. "What are you doing? I asked for a gift!"
"Isn't a hug and a blessing from your best friend the greatest gift of all?" Tom shot back smoothly. "Or do you really think material possessions are worth more than my genuine affection?"
"Jerk!"
Hermione turned her head away, completely ignoring the teasing smiles of the kids around them.
She had a mission. She was going to find Professor Snape!
She was going to learn that new magic!
Just wait, Tom. This semester... no, next semester!
Next semester, she would absolutely master advanced Transfiguration and Professor Snape's new magic. And then... she would defeat him fair and square!
She was going to turn Tom into a little rat and lock him in a cage with Sonia and Mira!
The mere thought of it filled her heart with absolute joy.
And with that, she marched right up to Professor Snape's office door.