Hogwarts: Hermione and I switched identities!

So much so that by the time Malfoy realized it, he found himself seemingly constantly, almost imperceptibly, paying attention to this Mudblood—starting last night.

In his dream last night, he dreamed of Hermione, and also of himself.

Malfoy couldn't remember the specific details of his dream. After waking up, he only felt a little empty. Looking at his two little followers, he instantly felt that they were so stupid.

“Riddle, we need to sort this out. Come with us!” Harry reached out and tugged at Hermione’s arm.

“Me? Harry, you…” Hermione stammered, “No, I was just talking to Tom… talking to Hermione about something personal.”

Ron shrugged. "Riddle, you're too clingy to Hermione. No girl likes someone being that close to her, even if you are a first-year genius."

Seeing the two step forward, Malfoy also spoke up: "Yes, Riddle, I admit that I am not as strong as you, and Professor Snape is on your side, but... you are wrong about this!"

Hermione didn't have Tom's composure in front of a crowd. She immediately waved her hands forcefully: "I, I didn't. Hey, you can't do this to me, Harry, let go of me... Ron, what are you doing! Don't pull me."

"Alright, let's not disturb Hermione, come over here."

"Go to the classroom right now, don't skip class!!!" Hermione shouted at Tom before being dragged away.

What do you mean by skipping class? I'm seriously skipping class.

Today's lesson was an incredibly boring "Fast Mantra Recitation Correspondence Course".

Tom is wasting his time and energy by taking this course now.

Unless he's bored and wants to show off.

With Tom's current strength, his ability to quickly chant spells is no worse than that of the seventh-grade students.

"Granger, Miss Granger..." Tom was just about to skip class when he heard a stumbling voice.

He turned around and saw Professor Quirrell.

"Professor Quirrell, hello there." Tom smiled, but his breathing became slightly stiff at that moment.

He could feel a gaze fixed on him—from behind Quirrell's head.

"Professor Quirrell, have you ever been to Japan?"

When Hermione asked him that, Quirrell suddenly became nervous, and his words became increasingly stammering: "N-no, no, Granger, Miss, what, what, do you want to say?"

"My parents were Muggles. Before I received my Hogwarts acceptance letter—no, before Professor McGonagall appeared in front of me—I never believed in magic. During that time, I often traveled with my parents, for example, to Japan."

On the streets, in restaurants, on buses, or on trains in Japan, I always feel a strange gaze. Those gazes stare at me, rudely looking me over, which I find very annoying.

Professor Quirrell, did you feel that gaze?

As soon as Tom finished speaking, Voldemort's gaze vanished.

“Miss Granger, or perhaps you’re just too nervous. Yes, right, didn’t you have a problem last week?”

Tom thought for a moment and nodded.

Professor Quirrell mentioned the phrase "capturing the mind" during his lecture.

He said Legilimency is a dirty, terrifying black magic that can acquire other people's memories and emotions.

At that moment, the curious cat Hermione immediately raised her hand to ask a question.

He asked Professor Quirrell what to do if he encountered this terrifying dark magic.

Professor Quirrell told a magic trick.

Brain block surgery.

“Granger, no, I don’t know if you have time now, perhaps I can give you some guidance on your Occlumency technique.”

Whom am I to guide? Me?

If I told you that my teacher was Professor Snape, how would you react?

"Now..." Tom suddenly realized, "Professor Quirrell, how do you plan to teach? Occlumency seems to be a very advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts subject, right? I'm just a first-year student, so it might be a bit difficult for me to learn."

"No, it's alright. I'll use Legilimency on you within your limits. Real combat is the best practice."

Is this an attempt to help me practice Occlumency?

I'm afraid it's not that simple, Professor Quirrell.

His purpose was probably to use Legilimency on me to read my memories.

"Of course," Tom smiled. "But could you please give me some time? Are you free at seven o'clock this afternoon?"

Yes, there are.

After saying goodbye to Professor Quirrell, Tom quickly left.

……

"Professor McGonagall!"

Tom knocked and entered the office, then suddenly covered his mouth with both hands and let out a surprised gasp: "My goodness, Professor, you look so beautiful today, and you seem to be in a good mood. Has something good happened recently?"

When I was little, the older girl next door was just as pretty as you, and I really liked her.

Professor McGonagall couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Hermione, you get this sweet-talking every now and then. Tell me, what do you want me to teach you this time?"

"Professor, you're making me sound so materialistic. I was just praising you from the bottom of my heart."

"By the way, Professor, did the [Bocha Bocha Beauty Elixir] I introduced you to last time work? Did you notice your skin becoming smoother and more delicate?"

“Of course, child, I’m very grateful.” Professor McGonagall’s smile grew even brighter. “I’m so glad you did it. You seem to be the hardest-working child in first grade—it would be even better if you didn’t break the school rules.”

But children, don't be sad about this. Everyone may break the rules to some extent. The punishment I'm giving you doesn't mean I hate you. I just want you to remember your mistakes.

Tom chimed in, "I understand, Professor. Making mistakes isn't terrible; what's terrible is... not repenting, right?"

"Child, you are very smart."

Tom smiled and said, "But you guessed right, Professor, there is one thing I do need to ask you for a favor."

"Hmm?" Professor McGonagall was in a good mood. "Child, go ahead and tell me."

"Use Legilimency on me!"

Professor McGonagall suddenly stopped writing with her quill and looked at Hermione in surprise.

What is this guy talking about?

"Professor, please don't misunderstand!"

Tom explained Professor Quirrell's situation and added his own "objective conjecture."

For example, when you see Professor Quirrell, you might feel like something is watching you.

For example, I just met a mysterious person last night, and today I ran into Professor Quirrell.

For example, why would Professor Quirrell teach his first-grade student Occlumency technique...?

After Tom's repeated nagging, McGonagall understood what he meant.

Tom suspects that Professor Quirrell is Voldemort!

"I want to test my skills in Occlumency. Well, I've learned a little bit, just a tiny bit, but as you know, I don't trust Professor Quirrell, and I don't want him to see my memories."

Furthermore, no girl likes having her memories spied on by others.

Chapter 32 Best Friend (3k-word chapter, please read and vote!)

"Are you ready, Hermione?"

The catgirl professor had already struck a pose, wand in hand, a faint gentleness in her eyes—a gentleness that was well hidden.

Intelligent, brave, hardworking, kind...

McGonagall saw so many wonderful qualities in Hermione.

In an era where everyone praises Harry and Tom, she has the highest opinion of and the most affection for this little witch.

Harry is the prophesied savior, the boy who survived a great calamity, and from the moment he was admitted to the hospital, he received a great deal of adoration and honor.

Tom is a true genius, an incredibly low-key genius.

Professor McGonagall observed that Tom never asked or answered questions in his class, but he always did everything well and correctly, making him a likable child.

It seems to be the same with other professors—except for Professor Sprout.

Tom cared a lot about the kind old lady. Every night before returning to his dormitory, he would remind Professor Sprout that the temperature would drop the next day and tell her not to catch a cold, or to wear more clothes.

Because these two were so dazzling, many people forgot about another young and outstanding witch—Hermione Granger.

“Child, I will not pry into your memories, I will only try to break through your defenses, so…”

“Wait a minute, Professor McGonagall,” Tom asked tentatively, “could you be a little gentler?”

The tense atmosphere was broken by a joke from the other person, and McGonagall couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Of course, relax, relax, it won't hurt much."

"Capture the spirit and grasp the mind!"

When Professor McGonagall looked up and met Tom's eyes, she felt a slight dizziness.

She saw the shadow of another person in Tom—Severus Snape.

It was as if his magic had crashed into a wall that wasn't very hard.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Each time Professor McGonagall breached Tom's mental defenses, she felt as if he was about to wither and collapse, but there was an invisible thread connecting each brick, preventing her from ever stepping inside.

"Ok?"

Professor McGonagall asked in surprise, and her wand burst forth with a fierce light.

……

Fifteen minutes later, Professor McGonagall put down her wand.

"Hermione, you're being too modest."

Tom shook his head and said, "No, Professor, my understanding of Occlumency is still far from complete."

a little?

Professor McGonagall smiled, feeling somewhat ashamed of herself.

She wouldn't say how deep her understanding of Legilimency was, but she had once been an employee of the Ministry of Magic's Department of Law Enforcement.