Hogwarts: Hermione and I switched identities!

It was practically like saying to Tom, "I'm coming in now."

[You have successfully cast a spell. Rating: Perfect+, Occlumency +300.]

[You have successfully cast a spell. Rating: Perfect+, Occlumency +300.]

[You have successfully cast a spell. Rating: Perfect+, Occlumency +300.]

Finally, the strange feeling disappeared, and Snape withdrew his dark magic.

Tom was in a more disheveled state than ever before; he leaned against the wall, drenched in sweat.

He gulped down water from the bottle at his waist, his black bangs plastered to his forehead with sweat.

Tom smoothed his bangs: "Professor Snape, it's still a bit lacking. I'm sorry."

"Hmph." Snape snorted. "Keep practicing. If you're still like this next week, you don't need to come back."

"I will work hard."

After Snape left, Tom looked at the data on his panel.

Brain Occlusion LV.6.

It took him a week.

Throughout the week, Tom thought about practicing Occlumency while eating, sleeping, and even going to the toilet—he was terrified that his secret would be discovered.

I barely reached LV.6, but I was still no match for Snape.

Tom sensed that at the last moment all his barriers had collapsed, and Professor Snape only needed to move a little closer to access his memories.

But Snape didn't do that; he chose to leave.

We still need to work harder.

Tom stared at the dark ceiling, practicing his Occlumency technique over and over again.

……

“Albus.” Snape entered Dumbledore’s office. “Let me see Tom’s file. I’m sure the Ministry of Magic has investigated Tom, and you must have a file on him as well.”

A look of surprise crossed Dumbledore's old face: "I didn't expect you to be interested in a student's past. What happened?"

“A week.” Snape pronounced the word solemnly. “Albus, in a week, Tom used a week to practice Occlumency to a level that was not his own!”

Even I would have to use all my strength to break through his defenses!

Dumbledore's eyes narrowed.

He knew Snape's strength and was even more aware of Snape's mastery of dark magic.

Not just at school, but even in the entire wizarding world, Snape's Legilimency was top-tier.

"A week?"

Yes, a week.

Dumbledore stood up: "Severus, do you think it's possible that..."

"Impossible!" Before Dumbledore could finish speaking, Snape rudely interrupted him. "Tom can't be him. You know Tom's personality, and you can tell."

He was genuinely kind; he showed no disgust towards any student or professor, not even towards you, who were incredibly old. That's something the mysterious man couldn't do!

Dumbledore fell silent, then opened a drawer, took out a thick book, and handed it to Snape.

Page 311.

Tom Riddle, born on December 31, 1980, at Bedlam Royal Hospital in London.

[Father: William Riddell, a graduate of Imperial College London, joined the army after graduation, and died in battle (confirmed)]

[Mother: Lily Riddell, a graduate of Cambridge University, joined the army after graduation, and was killed in action (confirmed)]

Upon seeing a certain name, Snape's breathing quickened.

"Why isn't there a time of death?"

“Tom’s parents were just Muggles.” Dumbledore patted Snape on the shoulder. “Just Muggles, my friend. One cannot live in the past forever. These are all coincidences.”

"Then why was Tom able to perform Occlumency within a week..." Snape began, "Albus, where was Tom when his parents died?"

Dumbledore remained silent for a long time: "Severus, everyone has a painful experience, right?"

All we know is that Harry watched his parents die, but there could have been others too.

Snape: "...I understand."

Now, Snape suddenly remembered what Tom had said to him back then.

The Godfather?

“Severus, you can look at the things here, but you can’t take them away. Also, Tom has a sister—not his biological sister, of course, but a very good friend from the orphanage, named Misha. Misha also has magical talent, and perhaps she can go to Hogwarts with Tom in the future, but that’s all in the future.”

Snape read Tom's file three times.

After reading it three times, he finally put down the book and left.

……

Two days later.

Halloween.

Hogwarts was filled with joy, as if it were a festival.

Tom saw that many of the ghost professors had changed into surprising costumes that day—some were cosplaying as vampires, some as werewolves, but no one would dress up as a witch, because there were already enough witches in the school.

Tom was kicked out of the potions lab that day.

Snape seemed to want him to relax on Halloween and not get too caught up in the world of magic.

The other professors also disagreed with giving Tom special treatment today, forcing Tom to relax.

"Hey Tom, Happy Halloween!" The two roommates cheered early in the morning, already wearing Santa hats...

"Su, it's not Christmas yet."

"About the same." Li Su grinned. "Tom, how many candies do you think we'll get today?"

The two men were dressed strangely and carrying a basket, seemingly on their way to ask for candy.

"Ha!" Terry laughed. "Tom, you wait, when we come back tonight we're going to fill the whole dorm with candy!"

The two suddenly realized, "Wait a minute, Tom, why didn't you go out today?"

"The professor kicked me out and wouldn't let me study." Tom shrugged. "I had no choice but to take a break. Mr. Hagrid said that if I continued like this, I would go crazy. Professor Sprout thought I had no friends and hugged me and cried for a while, saying that she was my best friend. Professor Snape locked the classroom door."

The two couldn't help but laugh.

This was the first time they had ever heard of someone being disliked by a professor for working too hard.

"Tom, why don't you come out with us? We've prepared a set of clothes for you."

“Yours won’t do, Tom, wear mine!” Li Su took out a set of clothes, along with a big hammer.

Tom asked in confusion, "What is this? Why is there so little fabric? It's burning hot!"

"It's Thor, a really awesome superhero. Tom, don't be shy about showing off your abs, you'll look great in this outfit. We won't have to worry about candy tonight!"

"No, Tom's physique isn't suitable. Try mine instead."

Terry dressed Tom in a suit, which was at least reasonable.

After changing their clothes, the two looked at Tom with some trepidation.

"Don't forget the cape." Terry put the cape on Tom. "My God, no wonder the vampires in the books always get girls' blood so easily. Tom, you're so cool!"

Tom's little braids draped over his cape, and his bangs on both sides covered his eyebrows, making him look rather charming.

Because of Tom's long-term exercise, his muscles perfectly filled out his clothes, making the suits, which were not suitable for their age, seem tailor-made for him.

"We should go eat now, let's go! Ask everyone we meet for candy, Tom, cheer up!"

When they arrived at the cafeteria, the three of them had just sat down when suddenly, an owl flew over.

An owl swooped over everyone's heads, a broom in its talons.

Finally, the owl landed in front of Tom and put down the broom.

"This is... a Firebolt! No, the Quidditch Shop clearly stated that the Firebolt is still in the testing phase and won't be available for sale for at least two years. Tom... this is the first and only Firebolt in the Hogwarts... no, it's the first and only one in the folk wizarding world!" Terry covered his mouth. He was a huge Quidditch fan and knew every broomstick, including those that hadn't been released yet.

“My goodness, my father has been looking forward to the invention of the Firebolt for two years. If he knew that my friend had such a broom, he would be so excited that he would come to the school to say hello to you.”

Tom looked at the fire bolt in his hand.

"Tom, who sent this to you? Look, there really is a letter here!"

“Sue, that’s rude of you. Let Tom see for himself. We can’t peek into other people’s secrets.”

Tom opened the letter.

The person who gave him the fire bolt was... the half-blood prince.

Yes, that person's signature was "Mixed-Blood Prince".

He said he was thanking Tom for finding his notes and studying them diligently.

Every word had a familiar feel to it, especially the way some letters were written, which was very similar to what Tom had seen on the bottle labels in the lab.

Professor Snape was so arrogant.

"Hey, Tom!" Hagrid's massive body stood behind Tom. "Oh, is that a fire bolt? I heard some of the tests have already been leaked, but only people of high status can get this broom. It seems you have a very good friend, Tom."

But be careful not to fall off the broom.

Tom smiled and said, "Thanks for reminding me. By the way, Hagrid, it's Halloween today, so here's some candy."

"Of course you'll get some, kid!" Hagrid laughed loudly, pulling candy from his pocket and placing it in Tom's hand. "You two get some too, ha ha!"

After delivering the candy, Hagrid left.

Not long after, Tom and his group ran into an acquaintance.

Cho Chang, a second-year student, is currently with Hermione.

"Happy Halloween, senior."

"Hello, Tom." Zhang Qiu smiled as she looked at Tom's outstretched hand, took some candy out of her pocket and handed it to Tom. "I hope you have a happy Halloween."