Dumbledore's Office, Hogwarts.
Almost every professor was packed into the circular room. Even Hagrid had rushed back from wherever he'd been.
The second he saw Tom and Hermione, the massive stone that had been crushing his chest finally rolled away.
Thank Merlin they were both alright…
Hagrid thumped his enormous chest, eyes wet. If either of them had been hurt, it would've been his fault.
"Tom, why didn't you two come straight back to the castle? What happened in Hogsmeade?" Dumbledore poured them each a steaming cup of water, voice warm and grandfatherly. "What made you two decide to hide instead of returning?"
This wasn't an interrogation—just a quiet talk with two kids. Dumbledore kept his gentlest smile in place.
Tom took a sip of the hot tea and answered seriously, "Professor, the owls couldn't get the letters through. You-Know-Who intercepted them. I didn't dare risk coming back—if he ambushed us on the way, it would've been a disaster."
"Oh?" Dumbledore's silver eyebrows rose. "You knew the letters would be stopped?"
"I have a friend—a house-elf. He's tiny and weak, but he's always been good to me. He warned me. I'm sorry, Professors, I can't tell you his name."
Tom shrugged. "We didn't stay at the Three Broomsticks because I was worried Professor Quirrell would show up acting like a proper Hogwarts teacher and just take us away. I've read that You-Know-Who has followers, so… two fists can't beat four hands, right? You told us that yourself, Professor."
"Professor Quirrell…" McGonagall muttered, then her eyes snapped wide. "You already knew Quirrell was working for You-Know-Who? You were the one who told Hermione?"
She still remembered Hermione coming to her earlier that term, insisting something was off about the Defence professor. McGonagall hadn't taken it seriously.
Now it was obvious: this boy had seen through everything from the start.
What terrifying powers of observation.
McGonagall let out a low, impressed sigh.
Any other student would've suspected Snape first—the bat-like Potions Master was the obvious target. But Tom had zeroed in on Quirrell.
Tom just smiled and nodded.
Dumbledore's usual twinkle faded. His fingers drummed slowly on the arm of his chair. After a long moment he turned to the half-giant. "Hagrid, I believe you have something you want to say to these two children?"
"I… I'm so sorry," Hagrid rumbled, voice cracking. "If it weren't for me—"
Tom cut him off gently. "Mr Hagrid, please don't blame yourself. You went after You-Know-Who because you'd already spotted his trail, right? That kind of courage is something we should all learn from.
You-Know-Who was just too cunning. He tricked you into leaving us. That's not some huge mistake, sir. Everyone messes up. Facing a powerful enemy is exactly when mistakes teach us the most—as long as we fix them next time."
Hagrid looked at Tom, eyes shining with raw gratitude, then dropped his shaggy head, too ashamed to speak.
Hermione stood beside them, completely speechless—though she hadn't planned to say anything anyway.
Only today did she finally understand why Tom had so many friends who trusted him without question. Even a house-elf would disobey his master just to warn Tom—something she would never have imagined before.
Tom always forgave people, no matter what they'd done.
"I… I met someone," Hagrid sighed. "Got my head turned by luck. Someone offered me a dragon egg. I thought I'd made a real friend. We chatted for ages, went to see the egg…"
His voice trailed off. He downed the entire glass of water in one gulp. "Albus, this was my fault. I request to leave Hogwarts."
Dumbledore's expression didn't change. "Rubeus, that's running away. Since Tom has already forgiven you, the right thing is to stay and repay him. We now know You-Know-Who has returned. He will strike at Hogwarts again. You cannot leave now."
"I…" Hagrid's huge beard trembled.
Once Dumbledore had spoken, Hagrid nodded fiercely, eyes bright. "I'll do my best. Thank you, Tom."
"Wait!" Hermione spoke for the first time, eyes wide with shock. "You-Know-Who—he actually escaped the professors?"
"Tom was right," Dumbledore said, stroking his long white beard. "The Death Eaters are helping him in the shadows. Even though he isn't at full strength yet, they still believe he will one day lead them to rule the wizarding world. Death Eaters—Voldemort's followers—are cunning and treacherous. If you ever meet one, run. Do not try to fight them head-on.
This time, he escaped because of them."
Tom mentally rolled his eyes.
Death Eaters? More like one giant undercover super-spy.
His gaze "casually" drifted over Snape. After lingering for two full circles, Snape shot him a murderous glare. Tom quickly looked away.
"Off you go, you two. Get some rest. We're all looking forward to seeing you at the Christmas feast."
At those last words, Hermione's face turned scarlet.
Just the thought of dancing in front of all the professors made her stomach twist in the weirdest way…
"Good night, Professors." Tom bowed politely to everyone, then grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her out of the office.
…
"You seem to know an awful lot," Hermione grumbled, lips pursed like an annoyed kitten. "But you never tell me anything."
Tom grinned. "You know plenty too, yet you didn't say a single word back there."
"I'm just not good at talking to adults. Anyway, you're the one who's best friends with every professor. Hmph! Good night!"
"Night."
They parted ways at the staircase and headed to their separate dorms.
Inside the Ravenclaw common room, two very impatient door guardians had been waiting for Tom all day. The moment he walked in, Terry and Sue pounced, pinning him between them.
"A whole day! You were gone the entire day!"
Sue bared his teeth. "Tom, spill right now, or tonight Terry sleeps in your bed and you can listen to him grind his teeth till morning!"
Tom sighed dramatically. "Fine. Ran into You-Know-Who. We fought three hundred rounds. I finally stomped him into the ground, sliced his nose right off, and nearly died."
"…"
"You're full of it!" they shouted together, already digging their fingers into his ribs for a merciless tickle attack.
Terry and Sue obviously didn't believe a word.
You-Know-Who? The most feared Dark wizard in history? The name people were too scared to even say out loud? And Tom claimed he'd stomped the guy and cut off his nose?
Impossible!
"Tell the truth!"
Terry joined in, face already beet-red. "You and Hermione were alone together for that long… you must've done lots of…"
Tom kept a straight face while Terry looked like he was about to combust.
"Done what?" Tom asked innocently.
"You know exactly what!"
"Yeah, we teamed up and wrecked You-Know-Who. Total domination. Alright, I'm going to bed. Anyone who grinds their teeth, keep it down. Snoring? You're on all-night duty. Thanks."
He flopped onto his bed. Less than two minutes later, steady breathing filled the dormitory.
Tom was out cold.
The other two didn't sleep a wink.
When they woke up the next morning, Terry and Sue both had bloodshot eyes.
"You really didn't sleep?" Tom scratched his head. "Weird. I don't usually see you this red-eyed. What happened?"
He found out soon enough.
On the way to first period, every student they passed gave Tom a wide berth, practically sprinting in the opposite direction.
"Uh… M-morning, Tom."
"Morning, Senior." Tom waved cheerfully at Cho Chang. "Hey, Senior, do you know why everyone's avoiding me today? Wait—why are you backing away? Is there something scary on my face?"
The next second he understood exactly what Cho was afraid of.
"Mr Riddle!" Snape's voice cut through the corridor like black coffee at dawn, snapping Tom to attention. "You know what you missed this morning? I waited a full hour in the Potions lab!"
"Sorry, Professor. I was exhausted. I'll be there tomorrow, promise."
"See that you are."
Snape swept away, but the fear in Cho's eyes didn't fade one bit.
"Senior?"
Cho cleared her throat twice, then asked with obvious curiosity, "Tom, have you heard the latest rumour? People are saying you and Professor Snape are… you know… that kind of relationship?"
The British gay rumours were reaching new heights!
"Senior, you're looking at me through coloured glasses. I'm a pure, clean, hardworking student who just wants to study hard and occasionally make friends with the professors. I am definitely not whatever you're imagining!"
"Hermione!" Cho called out, spotting the girl behind Tom. "Hermione, you're close with Tom. Is he and Professor Snape… um, that kind of relationship?"
—Cho meant father and son.
The rumour was that Tom was Snape's secret illegitimate son, and that Snape had dumped him in an orphanage when he was little to toughen him up.
Hermione paused for half a second. "Yeah… I guess you could say that."
—Hermione meant "private tutoring sessions."
"What are you two even talking about?!" Tom panicked.
I look perfectly normal, right? I got tons of candy on Halloween!
How can you just slander me like this?!
"Admit it, Tom!" Cho looked smug now that she had backup.
"Admit what?"
Cho just kept smiling, refusing to say another word.
Hermione watched Tom squirm and finally get a taste of his own medicine. She had no idea what the rumour actually was, but she couldn't stop the grin spreading across her face.
Oh, this is perfect.
Senior Cho, looks like next week I'm going to have to teach you a little lesson.