Hogwarts: Hermione and I switched identities!

Page 32

Tom picked up a mirror from the side and handed it to Hermione.

The latter took it and admired his reflection in the mirror.

This was the first time Hermione had paid so much attention to herself, and she realized that she had really changed—her clothes were no longer randomly matched, but rather she was systematically imitating various models.

Her skin has become much smoother because of the attention she's paid to it, her long hair is very well maintained, and she's added a lot of accessories, the brown ribbon being her favorite.

Hermione looked at herself in the mirror and felt like she was looking at a familiar stranger.

Is this what I used to look like?

Hermione suddenly had a feeling that she might be... quite pretty?

"Let me hold it for you." Tom took the mirror and held it up for Hermione so she could see herself in the mirror.

Hermione was somewhat mesmerized as she looked at her teeth in the mirror—they were neatly arranged, none of them protruding, and all were the same size.

"Tom."

"uh-huh?"

"Thank you."

Tom snapped his fingers: "You're welcome. After all, we're one, and in the future I might use your body to go on a date with Senior Zhang Qiu, or play with other kids. I'm happy that you've become beautiful."

Hermione's lips twitched, and her expression visibly changed: "What...did you just say?"

Dating?

With my body?

So, did Zhang Qiu really hug Tom?

Hermione: "Tom, you're such a jerk!"

"Thank you for the compliment. I'll leave this week's homework to you as well, Hermione."

Hermione: "You're really awful!"

“I really appreciate your compliment. We should go now. Mr. Hagrid is waiting for me to come and see the hatching of the Giant Scaled Chicken.”

Hermione: "Wait, I have class, it's probably too late now..."

"It's okay, I've skipped classes a few times already, one or two more won't make a difference."

After saying that, Tom took Hermione's hand and walked outside.

"Hey, just because you skipped class doesn't mean I'll... wait, explain yourself, whose body did you use to skip class?!"

……

Hagrid's cabin always had a magical animal scent.

Tom sniffed and could smell at least five magical creatures.

"Hagrid, I've come, and I've brought a friend with me."

Hagrid saw the two of them and smiled like a child: "Tom, welcome, Hermione—you seem a little different..."

Hermione grinned, revealing her white teeth.

"Son, your teeth are even prettier than before, I'm so happy... Tom, did you do that?"

"It was nothing!" Tom accepted Hagrid's praise without hesitation.

“Let’s not stand outside.” Hagrid opened the door, stepping aside to let the two of them in. “Please come in. It’s in the incubation stage right now. I have a feeling that your Rainbow-Scaled Giant Chicken will be born soon. Before that, you need to think of a name for it.”

The giant egg on the table was constantly wriggling, its shell covered with fine cracks, as if a small mouth was pecking at the shell, trying to crawl out.

"Tom, have you thought of a name?" Hermione leaned close to Tom, her voice soft and low, as if she were worried about disturbing the animals inside.

"dog."

"A dog?" Hermione tilted her head, not understanding what Tom meant.

Suddenly, it dawned on her: "You're going to name this chicken 'Dog'?"

"Isn't it cute?"

"How could you be such a... bastard!" Hermione said the last two words in a voice only the two of them could hear.

Tom smiled and said, "By the way, don't you have an owl too? What did you name it?"

Hermione never told Tom the name of the owl—Hermione felt it was "her" owl and she couldn't let that jerk Tom use it!

But Tom isn't such a jerk anymore; he even fixed my teeth. Maybe I can tell him...

"Mirrora".

"Huh, I thought you would name him Tom or Riddle, but he's so normal. No wonder he didn't respond when I called him several times. I'll name the Giant Rainbow Chicken Hermione then."

Hermione Riddle.

Hermione immediately became angry.

Hagrid, on the other hand, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the show.

That's wonderful; young kids should be this energetic.

However, Hagrid interrupted the standoff between the two: "That name sounds like Hermione, you married Tom."

When someone gets married, their surname changes. If Hermione were to marry Tom one day, her name would be changed to Hermione Riddle.

"Who would want to marry such a... villain!"

"Am I not an asshole?"

“Bastards are much better than you. They only steal other people’s money or hurt other people, but you, but you…” Hermione’s face flushed red. She stopped chattering and fell silent, resting her chin on her hands on the table.

Did I say something wrong?

Hagrid also fell silent. The three of them sat side by side, with Tom in the middle and the two on either side remaining silent—Hermione didn't want to speak, while Hagrid wanted to speak but didn't dare to.

He's already caused trouble once; he can't afford to do it a second time.

"They're out!" Hermione exclaimed excitedly, her face beaming with joy.

A tiny beak pecked open the eggshell, and its head peeked out from inside.

The giant, colorful-scaled chicken had just hatched; its head was still very small, only about the size of Tom's thumb, and its eyes were squinted and completely closed.

Its feathers were soft and loose, scattered sparsely across its body.

Can I hold it in my arms?

Tom nodded and said, "Of course, but we have to be careful."

I won't hurt it!

Tom: "No, you have to be careful it doesn't peck you. Even though the Giant Rainbow Chicken is so small now, it still hurts a bit if it gets pecked."

Hermione didn't pay attention and carefully held the Rainbow Scale Giant... Rainbow Scale Chick in her hands, radiating a childlike innocence and maternal glow—she had also taken good care of this eggshell for a long time!

The moment Hermione saw the chick in her palm, she felt all the fatigue of the past few days vanish.

“Sonia is still young. When she grows up, she can help me deliver messages and even carry me through the air… Sonia is the name I just gave her.”

"It can grow that big?" Hermione asked, somewhat surprised.

“Of course,” Hagrid finally chimed in. “The adult Rainbow-scaled Giant Chicken is comparable to a griffin. By the time you’re in your second year, it will probably be able to carry Tom in the sky.”

It will probably take three to five years for them to fully grow up, at which point it won't be a problem for the two of you to sit on it together.

Hermione was even more excited.

"Hagrid!"

When a third voice appeared, Hermione instinctively hid the chick in her hand.

Harry and Ron appeared at the door, panting, and were intimidated when they saw the people inside.

"Tom... Hermione? What are you doing here?"

"Long time no see, Harry." Tom waved. "You two seem to be in a hurry, something must have happened. I'm off to class now, see you next time."

"See you next time," Harry replied.

"Be careful on the road," Hagrid instructed.

"See you... next time." It was Ron, who was a little out of breath after running all the way with Harry.

Hermione stubbornly turned her head away without saying a word.

“Hey, Hermione, you should say goodbye to Tom.” Hagrid patted her on the shoulder. “Otherwise you’ll regret it. Friends are the most precious thing in the world.”

"We're not friends," Hermione grumbled. "Hmph, goodbye."

……

After leaving Hagrid's hut, Tom returned to Professor Snape's secret room—a secret room hidden in the laboratory.

During this time, Tom has been learning a spell here.

Snape gave him a deadline: he had to master the spell within a week, only one week!

Time was short, and Tom devoted almost all his attention to it.

Today is the day to verify the results.

A short while later, the door behind him opened, and Snape walked in.

The two exchanged a single glance, and Snape immediately raised his wand.

"Legilimency!!!"

Tom closed his eyes tightly, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with a deep, abyss-like darkness.

Just like Snape's.