My partner at Hogwarts is Tom

"Ding..." The crown above her head emitted a clearer ring than before, and the sapphire's light flickered a few times before quickly dimming.

It was even duller than before Tom wiped it, as if it had exhausted some kind of energy, and even the metal parts looked more gray and faded.

"Meow?" Tom stopped patting and blinked in confusion.

The annoying itching and invasive feeling in my head disappeared, and I felt much more comfortable.

He shook his head; the crown was a little loose, but it was still on.

He looked down at his paws, then looked up at Fred and George.

The twins were completely petrified, their mouths agape, their eyes wide open, staring intently at Tom and the crown on his head that seemed to have instantly "withered."

The bizarre scene of Tom's head deforming and then returning to normal, and then him slapping his head repeatedly, has exceeded the comprehension of their prankster career.

"Just...just now..." Fred's voice was hoarse.

"Boss Tom... your head... and that crown..." George swallowed hard.

Tom looked at their silly expressions and decided to ignore the strange feeling in his head since it was gone now.

He raised one of his front paws, elegantly adjusted his slightly crooked crown, straightened his chest, and tried his best to maintain the dignity of the "boss," even though he was covered in dust and debris.

Meow~

At that moment, the head that had grown hands and feet from Tom was suddenly slammed back into the crown, and Voldemort, whose entire face was smashed into the crown inside the head by that punch, had not yet reacted.

With a "plop," the handsome face that had been smashed into the head reappeared.

Tom Riddle's handsome face, smashed into the crown, reappeared on the smooth surface of the sapphire, his features slightly distorted by the lingering shock and raging fury.

The deep black eyes no longer held elegant calculation, but instead surged with almost tangible violence and humiliation.

He—the heir to Salazar Slytherin, one of the greatest wizards of all time—was just punched away by a cat… a stupid cat whose brain was empty except for fish and glitter! with a bizarre brain that had grown limbs!

What a shame!

This humiliation even briefly overshadowed the astonishment at the strange consciousness space and the brain that had grown hands and feet.

His gaze pierced through the confinement of the crown, fixing on the blue-grey British Shorthair cat outside, still wearing its crown and even proudly puffing out its chest.

Then, his gaze swept over the two dumbfounded, disheveled red-haired twin wizards beside him.

A young body... a vibrant soul... though it may not seem very intelligent, it is sufficient as a temporary vessel and an assistant in the resurrection ritual.

As for that damn cat...

Voldemort's remaining sanity was consumed by pure malice.

Failed to read memories? Frustrated in consciousness intrusion? No problem.

The most direct and domineering approach is equally effective.

He's going to drain this stupid cat of its life force!

Using this vibrant life energy as the first foundation, a temporary magical body was forcibly formed.

Then he controlled the two little wizards, set up the ritual, and reshaped his perfect body!

Dumbledore? The wizarding world? The entire world? They will all grovel at his newfound feet!

And it all started with this cat.

Without the slightest hesitation, Voldemort the Crown activated the deepest dark magic within the Horcrux.

It was not a subtle seduction or a slow erosion, but a brutal plunder.

The crown, pressed tightly against Tom's scalp, suddenly unleashed a chilling, bone-deep suction force.

Like a miniature black hole, it frantically devours all life energy and the essence of flesh and blood!

"Meow?!"

Tom, who was feeling quite smug, suddenly froze on the surface.

That triumphant "meow" was cut off in his throat.

A feeling even more terrifying than the previous invasion of consciousness swept over my entire body.

It wasn't itching, it wasn't numbness, but a bone-chilling cold and a rapid weakness!

He felt something warm and vibrant being forcibly ripped out of his body at an astonishing speed.

The glossy, bluish-gray fur lost its luster at a visible rate, becoming dry and dull.

Her plump body shrank rapidly like a deflated balloon, her round cheeks became sunken, and her bright blue eyes quickly became clouded.

"Thump!"

A heavy, muffled thud.

Before Tom could even utter another sound, the cat pounced straight forward onto the pile of junk.

Tom's once fluffy body was now light and airy, almost nothing but fur covering his skeleton, his life force as faint as a candle flickering in the wind.

At the same time, the Ravenclaw tiara automatically floated up from Tom's withered head and hovered in mid-air.

The dull sapphire vibrated violently, emitting an ominous grayish-blue light.

Tom's life force, forcibly extracted, intertwined and spun wildly with the dark magic contained within the crown, outlining a blurry human figure beneath it.

Magic and life energy, like dark threads, rapidly weave and fill.

The outline became clearer and clearer—the figure of a tall, black-haired, black-eyed boy slowly materialized, his handsome appearance pale and sinister.

It's exactly how Tom Riddle looked at seventeen years old in the crown.

He wore an old-fashioned Hogwarts robe that looked like condensed smoke, and his body was slightly transparent.

But the terrifying magical pressure had already spread like a tide, filling the entire junk storage room.

The illusory image of Voldemort, temporarily formed by the crown, slowly lowered its head, looked at its translucent yet powerful palm, and a cold, satisfied smile curled at the corner of its mouth.

Success! Although this is only a temporary shell that requires continuous energy to maintain, it is enough to cast magic and control the situation.

As he felt this new body, immersed in the moment of regaining "freedom" and power—

"Fainted and collapsed!" *2

Two sharp shouts from the teenagers, filled with shock, anger, and determination, rang out almost simultaneously!

It's Fred and George!

From Tom's head deforming to his sudden collapse and shriveling, to the crown floating up and the shadows coalescing, all of this happened in the blink of an eye.

The twins were stunned by the series of unexpected events.

But their affection for Tom and their innate fighting instincts in dealing with all sorts of unexpected "pranks and disasters" allowed them to react quickly.

This weird crown is hurting Boss Tom!

This ghostly figure that suddenly appeared is the enemy!

Without any discussion or eye contact, the two endured the pain and tried to minimize their presence.

Then, almost instinctively, they drew their wands, aimed them at the newly formed, most dangerous-looking phantom, and unleashed the most powerful and direct attack spell they possessed—the Stunning Spell.

Two crimson beams tore through the dim air from the left and right, precisely striking Voldemort's chest and back, perfectly coordinated and sealing off any angles for evasion.

However, this combined attack was powerful enough to stun an adult wizard.

The newly formed crowned Voldemort merely raised his eyelids slightly.

His dark eyes were full of disdain and mockery, as if he were looking at two ants trying to shake a tree.

"snort."

A cold snort, utterly contemptuous.

He didn't even chant any incantations; he simply raised his semi-transparent hand and lightly waved his sleeve at the two incoming beams of red light.

His movements were casual, as if he were brushing dust off his shoulders.

"Bang! Bang!"

The two powerful, heavy beams of red light that were supposed to induce unconsciousness collided with the seemingly light and airy black robe phantom as if they had hit an invisible and unshakeable iron wall, instantly shattering into countless tiny red fragments that dissipated into the air.

The twins' powerful spells couldn't even make the illusory image of the Crowned Voldemort sway.

Fred and George stood frozen in place, wands in hand, their faces drained of color.

Their strongest combined attack was so easily... casually shattered?

The chilling aura brought by the enormous power gap instantly gripped their hearts.

Voldemort slowly turned around, his pale, handsome face bearing a cruel smile like a cat toying with a mouse. His gaze, like a cold snake, slowly swept across the twins' horrified faces.

"Commendable courage, but... utterly foolish." His voice was deep and pleasant, yet carried a chilling edge that seeped into one's bones.

"Now, let's talk about... your new uses, and how to make up for the little unpleasantness this... pet has caused me."

His gaze finally settled on the withered, lifeless cat-shaped body on the ground, a hint of pleasure flashing in his eyes.

Inside the storeroom, the air seemed to freeze, with only the chilling magic emanating from Voldemort's crown roaring silently.

Tom remained motionless, like an abandoned, worn-out doll.

Just as Voldemort's words fell.

Fred and George's faces suddenly lit up with an incredible look of surprise.

The two men's eyes widened simultaneously, their gazes passing over the shoulder of the Voldemort phantom and looking behind him, before they shouted in unison.

"Boss!"

The surprise and excitement in his voice seemed genuine, as if a drowning person had grabbed onto a piece of driftwood.

The cruel smile on Voldemort's lips deepened. He didn't even turn around, but let out a mocking snort from his nose.

"Ha...a cheap trick." His voice was slow and deliberate, tinged with an all-knowing boredom.

"Trying to distract me with such childish tactics? It seems I overestimated your intelligence. Your poor pet has been completely drained of its life force; its soul has probably already dissipated."

"No living being can survive my full-force absorption at close range; even Dumbledore himself could not recover instantly!"

He tilted his head slightly, glancing at the empty pile of clutter behind him out of the corner of his eye. Confirming that there was no movement, the mocking smile on his face widened.

However, just as he was about to turn his attention back entirely to the twins and begin to exert control.

A faint but absolutely undeniable "presence".

A familiar "scent" belonging to that silly cat quietly appeared very close to the back of his neck!

You can even feel a cold, non-material "gaze" on you!

"?!"

For the first time, a crack appeared in Voldemort's perfectly controlled posture. His pupils contracted sharply, and he turned around abruptly!

The scene before him left him completely stunned, and his mind even went blank for a moment.

Behind him, almost touching the place where his floating phantom stood, floated a semi-transparent cat-shaped silhouette with edges that faintly emitted a pearly white light—it was Tom's soul!

Tom's soul appeared slightly larger than his physical form in life, but it still retained the shape of a blue-gray shorthair cat, only appearing somewhat ethereal.

His signature deep blue eyes were wide open at that moment.

It burned with a furious rage that was not an illusion, almost as if it were spewing fire.

At this moment, he was staring intently at Voldemort's face, which was inches away from his own!

How is this possible?!

How could his soul still retain such a clear form and such a strong will?!

It can even detach itself from its dying body and appear here in a nearly materialized spiritual form?!

Before Voldemort could react to this scene that defied the common sense of magic, Tom's soul stirred!

"Meow—!!!"

A silent yet explosive roar of anger that resonated deep within the soul.

Tom's soul stretched out two front paws—also translucent, but with clear outlines and sharp nails.

With lightning speed, he swiftly reached out with one claw and precisely grabbed the chin of the semi-transparent phantom of the Crowned Voldemort, forcefully pulling it downwards!

"Huh?!" The crowned Voldemort was caught off guard, and the mouth of the phantom was forcibly pried open into an exaggerated arc.

Then, under the horrified, almost distorted gaze of the Crowned Voldemort...

Tom's other claw, without hesitation, plunged his entire arm directly into his pried-open "mouth"!

The feeling was not a physical entry, but a more direct and ruthless invasion and seizure at the level of the soul!

The Crowned Voldemort sensed the interior of his newly formed temporary body, composed of Tom's life force and the Crown's magic.

Something core, closely connected to the absorbed life force, was violently stirred and scratched!

Tom's soul arm rummaged and groped mercilessly inside his "body," its movements as rough as searching for a lost ball of yarn in a pile of junk.

The illusory image of the Crowned Voldemort trembled violently, emitting painful, silent howls as it tried to resist.

However, they found themselves unable to effectively resist this plunder that directly affected "the very essence that constitutes themselves".

Especially when the other party's actions are so swift and their purpose so clear.

Then, Tom's soul arm suddenly stopped, as if he had caught his target.

A grotesque grin, which Voldemort found utterly menacing, spread across his face. He then forcefully pulled outwards—

A soft, warm ball of light, about the size of a billiard ball, constantly shifting with a faint glow, was forcibly pulled from Voldemort's "mouth"!

Inside the sphere of light, there were faint, blurry images of cats playing, dozing, and chasing glittering objects, radiating a pure aura of life and vitality.

This is precisely the core life essence belonging to Tom, which was forcibly absorbed by the crowned Voldemort and has not yet been fully transformed!

"No—!!!" The Crowned Voldemort let out an angry and unwilling scream on the soul level, the light of his phantom dimmed a little, and he reached out to snatch it.

But Tom's soul moves even faster.

He didn't even glance at the phantom figure trying to pounce on him from behind.

Clutching the ball of light, he swiftly floated to his own withered, tattered body on the ground beside him.

He used his own soul claws to forcefully pry open the tightly closed, dry mouth of the cat-shaped body on the ground.

Then, he aimed that warm ball of light at his mouth and, without hesitation, forcefully stuffed it in like a ball of yarn!

"Gurgle..."

A faint, almost inaudible sound, like swallowing, rang out.

Then, a miracle happened.

The cat's body on the ground, which had been withered, gray, and lifeless, was filled and restored at a visible speed, like parched land receiving rain!

Dry, dull hair regained its fluffiness and healthy shine.

The sunken cheeks and body quickly became fuller.

The gray haze faded from his blue eyes, and although his gaze was not yet open, the rosy glow of life had returned to his pink nose and paw pads.

Breathing returned, initially weak, but quickly became steady and strong.

In just a few breaths, Tom's body had recovered most of its strength.

Although he still looked a little tired and weak, anyone could see that he had come back to life and was recovering rapidly!

"Burp~"

Tom's body unconsciously let out a silent, satisfied burp.

Then, with a "whoosh," it burrowed back into its recovering body, fitting in perfectly.

Left behind was Voldemort, who had just suffered a severe blow from the "deep throat," his shadowy figure swaying unsteadily, instinctively making a gagging motion.

He clutched his throat, which still felt like it was burning, his handsome face contorted with shock, rage, and a hint of indescribable... horror.

He looked at the blue-gray shorthaired cat on the ground, whose breathing was gradually stabilizing and which even unconsciously kicked its legs.

The absurd scene that had just occurred, which defied all scientific and magical principles, was still replaying in his mind.

But then, that shocked and furious gaze was gradually replaced by a more intense and greedy light.

Plunder! Transform! Absorb!

This cat...this seemingly ordinary cat...

Its essential soul, its life force, and its strange resistance to Horcrux power.

Even its soul, capable of actively leaving the body and carrying out "anti-plundering"... all of this is too unusual!

This is no ordinary species! It may even touch upon some unknown realm of life and soul magic!

If we could completely analyze and control this power...

If only I could make this cat my own, or integrate its essence into myself...

Then, he may gain more than just resurrection.

It is a new life that surpasses the past, is truly immortal, and is even more powerful!

Dumbledore? The entire wizarding world? Will no longer be an obstacle!

The gaze of the crowned Voldemort phantom was fixed on Tom, the desire and greed within it almost turning into a tangible flame.

"Interesting...so interesting..." he murmured in a low, trembling voice, as if he had discovered a priceless treasure.

"It seems my plans need... a slight adjustment. You, little one, will become the core of my greatest work..."