Hogwarts: Hermione and I switched identities!

Some people have been waiting for Tom for a long time.

Professor Dumbledore was a kind old gentleman who, despite his white hair and beard, still stood upright.

Dumbledore did a lot of mental preparation before coming to the orphanage, but in the end he still sent out the owl.

"Hello, Mr. Riddle."

“Professor Dumbledore, hello,” Tom replied respectfully to the old man. “I have made my decision.”

There was no need to ask about the outcome; Dumbledore already knew the boy's choice from his eyes.

"Little one, you will definitely become an excellent wizard in the future."

I once met a child who was about your age and had a very similar name to yours...

He gained considerable fame during his time at Hogwarts, and I hope that one day you can reach the same level as him.

Tom smiled and said, "Professor, I have a request."

"uh-huh?"

"Can I go to Hogwarts to study early? —Sir, you know, I can't practice magic in the orphanage beforehand, that would attract attention."

I don't want these lovely children to see me fail in my magic practice. Perhaps—I mean, if Hogwarts allows it, could I report to the school early?

Tom's first-grade textbooks were no longer enough.

Tom studied for 16 hours a day and had almost mastered the books. He needed more magic teaching books to improve himself.

Entering Hogwarts early is the best option for him.

“Hmm…child, this is not in accordance with the rules.” Dumbledore stroked his beard, a troubled look on his face. “Before entering the House, you must undergo the Sorting Ceremony, and only after that can you be assigned dormitories.”

But what you said makes a good point. Let me think about it.

Dumbledore's mind raced through the thoughts of each professor.

The female professor was the first to be ruled out.

So what's left... is myself, Professor Snape, Professor Flitwick, Mr. Filch, and Hagrid.

Professor Flitwick is the dean of Ravenclaw College and is currently on vacation in Argentina.

Mr. Filch is the school janitor, and he has a cat. He certainly wouldn't agree to live with a child.

Hagrid?

Hagrid's temperament is also suitable, perhaps even a good match for the little guy in front of him.

Before Dumbledore could speak, Tom interrupted, "Professor Dumbledore, I'm very interested in Potions. If I encounter any problems, may I ask the professors at the university—I mean, wouldn't that disturb their holiday break?"

“Oh, little one, of course that’s no problem. Since you like Potions… well, I’ll talk to the Potions professor beforehand. But before that, I should take you shopping for a few things. You haven’t been to Diagon Alley yet, have you, son?”

Magic wand!

Tom was overjoyed.

I can finally buy my own magic wand.

Hermione somehow earned Tom two hundred pounds, which, at an exchange rate of 1:5, was a full 40 Galleons.

This amount of money is actually not enough.

The minimum amount needed to buy things for the start of school is about 106 Galleons, but since Professor Dumbledore didn't mention it, Tom didn't ask. He just silently noted down the Galleons he was short, planning to pay Professor Dumbledore back when he had the money later.

“Tom, you are special,” Dumbledore said suddenly. “I have seen many eleven-year-olds, and whenever they see me, they look at me with disbelief. Even some Muggles—those whose parents are ordinary people and whose children are wizards—have even more varied expressions. Even when I appear, they still do not believe in the existence of magic.”

And you, child, seem absolutely certain that magic exists.

Tom smiled and said, "Of course, Professor Dumbledore."

“You will definitely succeed in the future.” Dumbledore put his arm around Tom’s shoulder. “Can we set off now? Do you need to say goodbye to your friends? They’re still asleep.”

Tom shook his head: "No need. They'll cry if they see me leave. I'll come back to see them during a future holiday."

After leaving St. Redia's Asylum, Tom and Professor Dumbledore bought a wand together.

Even with the most frugal approach, Tom still used 106 Galleons.

Tom's wand was a bit special; it took him more than half an hour to choose the right one for him.

The wand is made of acacia wood, and the core is made of thunderbird tail feathers.

The man selling wands was surprised to see the wand Tom had chosen; he had never imagined that someone would pick it.

Alloy Wings have extremely high requirements for wizards; only those with the highest and most outstanding talent can use them. Thunderbird Tail Feathers are even more demanding; they possess immense power, but mastering them is far more difficult than with other wands.

"Tom, shall we go straight back to Hogwarts?" Dumbledore asked after they had bought everything.

Chapter 7 Early Enrollment

"Kid, Platform 9 3/4 is over here."

"Professor, are we going to take the train to school?" Tom hadn't expected that the Hogwarts train would be running during the holidays.

Dumbledore shook his head and smiled, "Of course not. It's holiday time now. Even many professors at the school are on break. The station is only open during the start and end of the semester. I just brought you here to take a look beforehand."

Upon arriving at the platform, Dumbledore led Tom to Hogwarts.

The towering spires were incredibly imposing, and the willows standing in the school swayed their vines; Dumbledore said they were beating willows and should not be approached.

Dumbledore led Tom to a room and knocked on the door.

A short while later, a man who looked like a bat opened the door.

His face was somewhat weathered and aged, his shoulder-length hair was sparse, and his expression was so unpleasant that it looked as if someone owed him a lot of money.

“Professor Severus, this is Tom Riddle, our future little wizard.”

"Tom, this is Severus Snape, Professor of Potions at Hogwarts."

Snape, who resembled a bat, frowned. "Albus, why did you bring a first-year student to see me?"

Snape's dark, empty eyes swept over Tom, scanning him from head to toe before settling on Tom's eyes.

Those bright, turquoise eyes made Professor Snape's expression even more unpleasant.

“Severus, I’d like you to take him in for a while. He’ll go back to his dorm after school starts, but until then—would that bother you?”

“Of course!” Snape answered Dumbledore without hesitation. “I’m busy every day, and I don’t want a brat like this, especially a Muggle brat, living with me!”

He'll get in my way, and just seeing him annoys me! Albus, don't you have any spare room? Let him stay with you!

Dumbledore: "This boy is very interested in Potions, Severus. I'm an old man now and can't take care of children anymore. Besides, he won't bother you, will he, Tom?"

Tom immediately nodded and said, "Professor Severus, I certainly won't bother you. I do it every day..."

"Call me Professor Snape!"

“Yes, Professor Snape.” Tom swallowed hard. Snape’s aura was really strong. “I promise I won’t be in the dormitory except when I’m sleeping. I’ll spend the rest of my time in the library.”

Snape was silent for a moment, then looked into Tom's jade-like green eyes: "Your name is Tom Riddle?"

"Yes."

"You must be back in the dorm before 11 o'clock. If you miss that time, you'll have to sleep outside."

After saying this, Snape tossed aside his black robes, didn't even glance at Tom, turned and went into the room, leaving a door half-open.

"Go on, Tom."

"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore."

Tom knocked twice on the door before stepping lightly into the room.

Snape's room was somewhat messy, with various books lying open on the floor and shelves filled with potion-making materials.

"If you ever touch my books or my materials, I swear I'll throw you out of England!"

"I will be careful."

Tom put down his things and left the room, heading to the library.

Finally, I can practice magic freely.

Upon entering the library, Tom felt even more strongly that 16 hours was simply not enough after seeing the vast array of books.

There's not enough time.

16 hours might not be my limit... I need to figure out where my limit really is!

In the empty library, Tom's solitary chanting of magic echoed.

……

London.

Hermione was getting a little annoyed.

Two annoying kids came today, and she doesn't know how Tom managed to become friends with them.

Tom has really bad taste!

If it were me, I would never become friends with them.

Hermione found it difficult to even talk to people like them who were completely inconsiderate of others' feelings.

In the afternoon, Hermione received a letter from Tom Riddle.

But those were letters I sent out a few days ago! Letters sent using Tom's body!

Hermione didn't know why the letter took almost a whole week to arrive.

In the evening, another letter arrived, again from Tom Riddle.

The letter was sent yesterday.

Hermione asked the messenger why the letter arrived so quickly, and he replied that it was an expedited delivery, which naturally made it much faster.

The letter was short, containing only a few sentences.

Tom has received his Hogwarts acceptance letter.

It was something that was expected, but Hermione was still somewhat surprised.

Perhaps I should go find Tom and explain the body-swapping thing to him.