Hogwarts: Hermione and I switched identities!

"Hmph, as long as all the professors agree, even first-year students can attend the ball."

"That's even more impossible! Professor McGonagall would never agree. I went to see her when I was a freshman, and the look in her eyes was practically an invitation to put me in solitary confinement!"

The two red-haired boys smiled and extended their hands: "I'll give you the most accurate information; nobody else knows this except us."

After receiving the Gallon, the twins' smiles grew even brighter: "I'll let you in on a secret: even Professor McGonagall agreed to let Tom attend the ball—it's said that all the heads of the house, even Headmaster Dumbledore, went to persuade Professor McGonagall before she finally relented."

News spread like wildfire; interesting gossip at Hogwarts can travel at a speed comparable to ink being dropped into water.

By the time Harry and Ron found out the news, everything had completely changed.

"Tom? He's Professor Snape's illegitimate son and Professor Dumbledore's adopted son. He's lived with Professor Sprout since he was a child."

Isn't Tom very attentive to Hermione? Hermione was quite sad the other day, so Tom found a way to take her on a trip to Hogsmeade Village. Aren't you Hermione's friends? Don't you know that?

At Christmas, Hermione would wear a gown and dance arm-in-arm with Tom, seemingly enjoying themselves on the dance floor. Rumor has it they were already engaged as children.

Ron: "?"

Harry: "???"

It's fake! It's definitely fake!

Harry gritted his teeth. What arranged marriage? He had never heard of such a thing before, and Hermione had personally said that Tom was the person she hated the most!

The idea that Tom is Professor Snape's illegitimate son is even more impossible!

Just when Harry was feeling frustrated, he saw another like-minded person who was also feeling frustrated—Draco Malfoy.

Malfoy placed the plate next to Harry and sat down.

Harry never expected that this annoying guy would be sitting next to him.

"Malfoy, what are you doing here!"

Malfoy took a bite of the honey crepe, and despite having so much honey and sugar, it tasted incredibly bitter.

"Potter, I remember you and Hermione were very close... Do you know anything about her and Tom?"

"It's all fake!" Harry said fiercely. "We're Hermione's best friends. Hermione herself said that Tom is the person she hates the most. Coward, why are you asking these questions!"

"Is it really fake?" Malfoy didn't refute him, but instead asked inexplicably, "Are you sure it's fake?"

Harry insisted, "I'm sure!"

“Professor Snape won’t get angry at me, you know that, but whenever Tom is frustrated, Snape gets very angry and will attack everyone indiscriminately, even Slytherin—even me!”

Do you remember where you first met Hermione? It was on the Hogwarts Express! And who was sitting opposite Hermione? It was him, Tom Riddle!

They've known each other for a long time, and their relationship is very good! Think about it carefully!

Several memories suddenly flashed through Harry's mind.

It seems that... when the troll appeared in the potions room, Hermione was the first to rush forward, waving her wand as if to protect something precious.

When she saw the pool of blood on the ground, Hermione rushed over to it—despite her love of dressing up, she knelt in the pool of blood without a second thought.

Harry's mouth twitched, and he lowered his head, his bangs covering his eyes.

“You already have your answer, don’t you?” Malfoy put down the mille-feuille he was holding. “I won’t give up. We, the Malfoy family, are noble pure-blood wizards! And he, Tom Riddle, is just mud… just a half-blood!”

Harry asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

“As you said, I am indeed a coward. If I had stepped up that day—that day in the Forbidden Forest—and not left Hermione to face that terrible thing alone, perhaps she would have looked at me more seriously and wouldn’t have hated me so much.” Malfoy held out his hand to Harry: “Draco Malfoy.”

"Harry Potter!"

The two like-minded people shook hands at that moment, seemingly forming a united front.

Ron watched from the sidelines, completely bewildered.

What are you talking about...?

……

Hogsmeade Village.

"Tom, why is it so hot at the Three Broomsticks Bar?"

"I don't know if you're hot or not, but your face is all red." Tom had a bad feeling.

No, you're not drunk, are you?

Hermione, how much did you drink just now?

Hermione across from her was a little dizzy. She held up three fingers: "One sip? You're so stingy. What's wrong with taking a sip? I'll just order you another one."

"Madam, I need some hangover tea. Could you please bring a cup to this young lady across from me?"

Can a sip of butterbeer really make you drunk?

I'll sit at the same table with the kids from now on! Lemon tea suits her best!

“Tom, I’ll tell you a secret.” Hermione hiccuped and held up a finger. “A huge secret, a secret only I know.”

"You said."

Ms. Rosmerta arrived with the hangover tea. Seeing the two adorable children seemingly sharing their secret, she covered her mouth and chuckled. After putting down the tea, she quietly left without disturbing them.

"Thank you." Tom said thank you and placed the hangover tea in front of him, intending to give it to Hermione after she revealed that huge secret.

"Hiccup... I'm telling you... I'm thirsty, could I have a glass of water?"

Tom handed over the hot mead: "Please, this is water."

Chapter 45 Selling Magic Potions (3k-word chapter, please read and vote!)

Hermione took two sips, then smacked her lips sharply.

"What secret did you just tell me?" Tom asked, resting his chin on his hands, his face serious.

“I know you won the championship in Mr. Lockhart’s competition… hic! Then, you sold the stuff and traded it for Gallon.”

What kind of secret is this...?

Tom was ashamed.

So what if you know? What can you do about it?

"So I hid a lot of Galleons and earned a lot of Galleons while taking care of Mr. Hagrid’s animals and while organizing greenhouse herbs for Professor Sprout."

No wonder there were so many Galleons missing!

Tom nodded: "Where did you hide it?"

“I forgot…” Hermione frowned like a kitten, “I was afraid you would find out if I wrote it down, so I kept it in my head, but Professor Snape is very strict every day, so I forgot…”

"Never mind, it's not much Galleon anyway," Tom sighed, trying to comfort the other person.

He's practically a minor potions master now, and to be honest, he almost never lacks Galon.

In the entire Hogwarts, there is probably only one person who dares to say he is ahead of him in potions—Severus Snape.

"More than 300 Galleons."

Tom: "???"

Tom's weariness vanished instantly, and his eyes widened in surprise.

More than 300 Galleons?

How many Galleons did I earn working there? Where did you get 300 Galleons from?

Okay, okay, it seems Hermione has her own little secrets too.

After saying that, Hermione collapsed onto the table.

Hermione didn't regain consciousness until two hours later.

She rubbed her eyes, her head still feeling a little dizzy.

"Don't drink it if you can't handle it, this is hangover tea."

Hermione felt a little embarrassed and couldn't save face, so she thanked him and then lowered her head to drink it down in two or three gulps.

"How long have I slept?"

"3 hours, 32 minutes, and 16 seconds, are you feeling better?"

Hermione was a little surprised, feeling that Tom seemed much gentler than before.

She shook her head, trying to recall, only remembering that she felt dizzy after drinking that sip of butterbeer, and what happened after that... she couldn't remember.

Has Hagrid not returned yet?

"Yes." Tom nodded solemnly. "Judging by the time, he has been gone for 4 hours."

Hagrid said he would be back in three hours at most when he left.

But now it's clear that time has passed.

Moreover, Tom did not receive any messages from the other party.

"Is something wrong with Hagrid?" The curious Hermione suggested, "How about we go find him?"

For Hermione, embarking on an adventure in Hogsmeade would be a good option.

“I’ll go ask Ms. Rosmerta.”

A few minutes later, Tom returned and shook his head.

"What...what do we do?" Hermione asked anxiously. "Hagrid might really be in danger. We can't just stand here like this anymore, Tom!"

"Call Mirora over, we'll inform Professor Dumbledore."

“I’ve locked Mirola in a cage. Perhaps we can speak to Ms. Rosmerta about it.”

“...Tom…” Suddenly, a low voice sounded in their ears.

Tom and Hermione both lowered their heads at the same time. Dobby the house-elf hid in the corner, covering his face with his hands: "Dobby can't say... but Dobby has to say... Dobby, Dobby... Tom, Hermione, you can't go back to school, you absolutely can't go back!"

Don't leave Hogsmeade Village! You absolutely mustn't leave!

Dobby's tone was urgent, but you could tell from his restless hands and those eyes that things were really tense.

Is he the father of the arrogant guy, or some ugly thing without a nose?