Hogwarts: Hermione and I switched identities!

“I don’t hate you, little one. Everyone is free. Theoretically speaking, every living being should think of itself first and then others at the moment of birth, especially you, child. You have left too little love for yourself. I like your kindness, your compassion, and your hard work.”

But you should save more love for yourself, so what do you want to say, little one?

"Lend me Galleons, Professor."

Dumbledore paused for a moment. He had guessed many things Tom might say, but he never expected Tom to say something like that.

Borrow Galon?

Tom doesn't need Galleons at all.

"How much do you need, child?"

"The more the better! If possible, I would like to ask you, Professor, to mortgage Hogwarts School of Management into Galleons and lend them to me as well."

Dumbledore couldn't help but laugh. He slapped the table; he hadn't met such an interesting person in a long time. "And then?"

"Then I want you to sell me the Fox, or I won't pay you back."

"Hmm." Dumbledore listened and nodded. "Are there any other options? Fawkes is out of the question."

"Hermione and I have already applied to all four heads of the department, but Professor McGonagall has not yet agreed. If you could help us, that would be great."

It turned out to be like this...

Dumbledore had a vague feeling about it, and he considered himself to know Tom fairly well—at least much better than that blockhead Severus.

“Child, tell me the reason, the real reason.”

"You didn't come to me just to attend the ball, did you? Sit down, please sit down, you cunning little sir." Dumbledore gestured to the chair in front of him, indicating that it was a seat.

After Tom sat down, he said, "Professor, I'm a very conflicted person. I like cute girls; their smiles can make me feel healed."

Misha is, and so is Hermione, but that doesn't mean I'm just a sucker for good looks—if one day Hermione becomes the Dark Lord and uses Avada Kedavra to wreak havoc, I'll still step in and, as her best friend, see her off on her final journey.

“Please continue.” Dumbledore nodded.

“I can’t bear to see those who are good to me sad. Professor Sprout is, Professor Snape is, Mr. Hagrid is, Professor Flitwick is, and so are you.”

Dumbledore understood: "Hermione too, right?"

“We are best friends, there are no secrets between us. At first I thought she didn’t care about the ball at all, so I just wanted to tease her, but in the end—after we got the consent of the other three professors, we were rejected by Professor McGonagall.”

I saw Hermione's sad expression, Professor Dumbledore. To be honest, I prefer to see her happy than sad.

Dumbledore looked intently into Tom's eyes, trying to see anything else in the little guy, even the slightest bit of selfishness.

But it didn't.

After a long pause, Dumbledore sighed, "Child, what if I refuse?"

“You won’t refuse, sir, because you have heard my reasons, you think my reasons are reasonable, and Hermione and I have worked hard enough to impress you.”

"All that borrowing of Galleons before, including wanting Fawkes, was just a prelude, just to tell me the reason later?" Dumbledore chuckled. "No wonder you asked me at the beginning if I disliked the cunning little fellow."

"No, I really want a phoenix, it's so cool."

Dumbledore: "..."

He could tell that Tom was telling the truth.

"Well, I'll try my best to speak to Professor Minerva on your behalf, but that's all I can say. As for what will happen to her in the end, I have no idea."

"Thank you, Professor. I can take care of Fox for you if needed in the future."

“Hey, little guy, you can’t hide the greed in your eyes. A phoenix is ​​no ordinary owl. If you want to take care of a phoenix…” Dumbledore rubbed his forehead. He had fallen into Tom’s trap again. The little guy was deliberately bringing up Fawkes.

Dumbledore forgot one thing—Tom had very skilled experience in caring for magical creatures!

Even Hagrid, the master of Fantastic Beasts, spoke highly of him.

"If I ever need anything in the future, I'll think of you first, you cunning little guy."

Tom grinned, revealing a bright smile: "Then I'll be going now, Professor. Sweet dreams tonight."

"the same as you."

After Tom left, the Sorting Hat chuckled from the corner: "I'm never wrong about my decisions. He's a clever little fellow, isn't he, Albus?"

Dumbledore nodded: "Yes, even if he hadn't gone down the path of wizardry, he would have been a successful young man in the future."

The initial request to borrow Galon was a lie, and his frank statement of his needs didn't make me feel disgusted; on the contrary, it made me find it somewhat amusing.

He knows me too well; he knows I'll definitely help after hearing all the reasons.

“A lie?” The Sorting Hat paused for a moment. “Albus, you’re wrong. Tom wanting to borrow Galon isn’t a lie.”

"???" Dumbledore was completely bewildered. "What does he need so many Galleons for?"

The Sorting Hat: "Didn't Tom tell you that he wants to buy your Fox? Of course, if you sell it to him now, he definitely won't accept it. Although he desires it, he won't force it."

If one day you grow old and pass away, and at that moment you entrust Fox to Tom… Tom will never allow anyone to harm Fox.

"Because he really likes phoenixes?"

The Sorting Hat shook its tip: "Because it was you who gave it to him. Little Tom is a very honest child. Since someone has entrusted something to him, he will definitely cherish it. Albus, you still don't understand this child enough."

I'm pretty sure Tom hasn't gone back to his dorm; he's gone to see other professors instead.

Of course, this doesn't mean he doesn't trust you; it just means he feels it would be embarrassing for you to go to Minerva alone. The little guy has already thought everything through.

Upon hearing the Sorting Hat's words, Dumbledore couldn't help but gape.

Tom Riddle, a child who surprised himself.

This isn't the first or second time he's surprised himself.

No wonder he's so popular with so many professors; little Tom really knows how to do things that won't embarrass any of them.

That makes sense, if even someone like Severus likes Tom, who would dislike him?

……

Tom was really tired.

Tom didn't rush back to his dormitory until curfew.

Li Su and Terry in the dormitory were already used to it.

"Tom, I'll tell you a secret!" Terry leaned in with a mischievous grin. "You know what? Christmas is almost here."

"Yes, a two-week vacation, I know."

Terry shook his head vigorously: "That's not what I wanted to talk about. This news is good, but it's not good news yet."

What I'm about to tell you... On Christmas Eve, Hogwarts will hold a dinner party, and many beautiful upperclassmen will be attending!

Can you imagine them changing into beautiful dance dresses and dancing with their partners to music?

And I have a spot to participate!

—Terry is a liar.

Tom sat up in surprise: "That's wonderful!"

"Okay... Tom, aren't you envious?"

You envy me! You're jealous of me! And then I'll tell you I was just kidding!

Terry had always wanted to see Tom's angry yet helpless expression.

"What's there to envy? But how did you get Professor McGonagall to agree to your request?"

Terry: "? What Professor McGonagall...?"

"First-year students need the approval of all four house heads and Professor Dumbledore to attend the ball. I've been running around all day trying to get a spot, I'm exhausted."

"Professor McGonagall, I'm not entirely sure myself yet, but I've asked the other three professors and Professor Dumbledore to persuade her, hoping that Professor McGonagall will give me this opportunity."

Terry: "!!!"

Li Su: "!!!!"

No, are you serious?

I was just bragging, how did you actually go and participate!

Terry: "Tom! You're not allowed to go! Waaaaah! Or, or I'll be your dance partner, I can wear women's clothes!"

Li Su: "I'll wear a long dress, and we'll both be your dance partners. Take us there, Tom!"

Chapter 42 Hagrid: They have a really good relationship (3k-word chapter, please read, vote, and recommend!)

"Professor, please wait a moment, we'll wake Tom right away!"

"No need, let him rest well. I'll wait here for him, he'll wake up."

In a daze, Tom heard familiar voices—voices that seemed to belong to Professor Dumbledore.

At first, Tom thought he was hallucinating, but he felt the dormitory was too quiet, so he rubbed his eyes and got out of bed.

Tom felt like a monkey in a zoo.

Terry, Li Su, and Dumbledore were staring at him.

He had just woken up, and his hair was a little messy. Tom smoothed his long hair back and said, "Good morning, Professor."

"Good morning, Tom. I'm glad you're finally starting to look like a student. I thought you'd already be in Professor Severus's office by now."

Tom scratched his head: "Normally, it's like this..."

But he was too exhausted yesterday. Almost a whole day of practice left Tom breathless, so he slept until exactly eight o'clock today—a luxury for Tom.

Dumbledore took a letter from his pocket: "You cunning little fellow, this is what you deserve."

This means...Professor McGonagall has agreed?

Tom was secretly delighted: "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore. I will definitely take good care of Fawkes if I have the chance in the future!"

“No need to be so polite…” Dumbledore hadn’t expected Tom to still have designs on Fawkes. He coughed and said, “Professor Minerva was stunned by you this morning. She’s never seen several of us professors fighting for such a privilege for a first-year student. Congratulations, you can attend the Christmas ball.”

Tom solemnly stretched out his hands, wanting to take the envelope from Professor Dumbledore's hand.

But just as his hand was about to touch the envelope, Dumbledore withdrew it in time.

Tom: "?"