Chapter 251: Chapter 251: Dumbledore's Mission (Edited)
The phrase came to Tom, without thinking of using Occlumency at all, and staring into Dumbledore's eyes. He was trying to express his displeasure.
"Why? A frightened Hermione huddled like a scared rabbit was the perfect reason.
"Professor, you always appear in unexpected places," Tom said, feeling worse than when Snape had seen a closed-eyed Harry in Potions class. "Don't Muggles suspect your attire?"
"Muggles have become much more tolerant of costumes in recent years, making it easier for wizards to move around," Dumbledore replied. His gaze swept over the thin bracelets on Tom and Hermione's wrists, with a subtle gleam of delight in his eyes. "It seems you and Miss Granger have spent an entire summer together."
Tom suddenly became alert: that dreadful old Dumbledore wasn't trying to do the same as the professor in class, was he? He began to recall the rules of Hogwarts in his head, to see if there was any rule about falling in love.
"I am pleased that you have come to understand the magic of love." Dumbledore had no intention of meddling with Tom; he simply felt relieved and glad that this time he hadn't made a serious mistake again.
Dumbledore had two knots in his heart. One was his youthful indiscretion of getting too close to Grindelwald, which ended up killing his sister, and the other was watching Tom Riddle rise to become the next generation of the Dark Lord.
When Tom Yodel started school, he caught Dumbledore's attention, who turned a blind eye to some of the younger Tom's "transgressions" and merely guided him from the shadows. Today, when he saw the thin bracelets on Tom and Hermione's hands, he finally felt relieved.
Those two bracelets held a very profound magic, a magic called "love." Magic is based on emotions, like the Patronus Charm, which is born from joy and happiness, or the Killing Curse, which uses the darkness of the human heart to be powerful. But magic born from love is the most mysterious and powerful of all, even rebounding Voldemort's Killing Curse and remaining strong for the next seventeen years. Not even Dumbledore could claim to fully understand the magic of love. However, he knew that a wizard who understood the magic of love would not follow the path of the Dark Lord.
Now that Tom and Hermione had taken such a happy turn, Dumbledore decided...
to burden them both.
So he appeared, bursting into Tom and Hermione's world.
"Kids, can you do me a small favor?" he asked with a smile.
"No." Tom rejected Dumbledore with a clear and crisp voice. He knew all too well that Dumbledore's missions were like cockroaches in the kitchen—once he sent you on one mission, he had hundreds of missions ready to follow.
Once you took them, you became a tool, just like Old Newt. Tom didn't want to be a tool; he just wanted to go to Hogwarts with Hermione and have a good time. The task of saving the magical world would then be in the hands of the boy who survived the disaster.
In a word, being lazy makes me happy!
Hermione was willing to help Professor Dumbledore with some things, but since Tom had refused, she felt too embarrassed to say anything more.
"Of course, then let's talk about the adventures of Dr. Hal Hunter in Egypt," Dumbledore said, pulling out a copy of the Muggle newspaper and pointing to the headline on it.
Tom and Hermione: ...
Tom sighed grumpily; it seemed Dumbledore had mastered the essence of communication with him.
"Everything is an equivalent exchange." Tom consoled himself.
Dumbledore saw that Tom was as "good" as a husky in a corner after breaking something at home, and he knew he was ready to take the next step.
"It's actually a trivial matter; I wonder if you would be willing to lend an old man a hand," Dumbledore sat on the small couch, like a grandfather talking to his grandchildren.
"It's Harry," this time Dumbledore didn't wait for a response from the two before revealing the details of the task, "I need both of you to help me protect him."
Dumbledore then briefly explained to Tom and Hermione the relationship between Sirius and Harry. Hermione was surprised to learn that Sirius, the madman, actually had his sights on Harry. At the same time, she realized a small problem: was this mission being exaggerated?
This was the dark wizard who had escaped from Azkaban, Voldemort's loyal servant, a madman who had killed twelve people. Could they really protect Harry from his attacks?
Hermione had faith in Tom's strength but didn't want to put him in danger. So she replied to Dumbledore in an extremely rare move, a move she couldn't believe she had made.
"Isn't it too dangerous?"
Dumbledore gave her an interested look. "Not for you to go immediately, but to follow him as he heads to King's Cross."
The task seemed so easy that Tom and Hermione had no reason to resist.
So Tom took on Dumbledore's task.
Once they agreed, Dumbledore stood up satisfied and winked at Hermione before leaving. "I recommend velvet socks for the colder weather in Scotland once classes start. Although, I would actually prefer to recommend wool socks, but Mr. Yodel might not like them."
Tom: I'm not, I'm not, don't talk nonsense!
Hermione also lowered her head, not daring to look Professor Dumbledore in the eye at all. It felt as though the old man had seen through her innermost thoughts.
After teasing the young couple, Dumbledore was in a good mood, and looking at the spirited pair made Dumbledore feel a little younger, and his steps seemed to lighten as he walked away. Soon, Dumbledore's tall figure was lost in the crowd.
Tom and the others left the store long after Dumbledore had gone.
Dumbledore's sudden appearance had fluctuated their mood a bit, but Hermione's mood gradually improved after a few shops. She went back and forth between fitting rooms and racks, picking out different styles of clothes, each stuffed into a shopping bag with a double-digit "Eraser" on the back.
Soon, Tom was loaded with large and small shopping bags, and he even silently put some magically expanded clothes into the bag.
When they returned home, Hermione had completely restored her normal self. She kicked off her little leather shoes at the door and ran upstairs to change clothes.
Chapter 252: Chapter 252: Tom Down (Edited)
Upon hearing the knock, knock, knock in his ears, Tom shook his head helplessly, adjusted Hermione's little shoes, and sat down at the kitchen table, dazed.
Tom's system, for the first time in a long time, had given him a mission. The last time he had completed a mission was after the last time: when Tom had destroyed two of Voldemort's Horcruxes, and the hidden quest had been completed. The previous time in Egypt, the system hadn't appeared to review his existence, only occasionally popping up to unlock an achievement, unlock a [World Traveller] travel anchor, or evaluate some magical objects.
And this time, after Dumbledore handed over the task of protecting Harry, the system refreshed the mission.
[Dumbledore's Test (I): Send Harry Potter to Hogwarts safe and sound]
[Mission note: A test from Professor Dumbledore, there is no system reward for passing it, but it will increase Dumbledore's goodwill towards you, and you may receive a reward from Professor Dumbledore when your goodwill reaches a certain level.]
"It seems like a series of missions," Tom thought for a moment, but it didn't seem too difficult. Harry would be perfectly safe during his stay at Privet Drive, and Lily's magic would always protect him. Tom thought the biggest danger might come from the Ministry of Magic...
Tom closed the system window, took a deep breath, and pulled out a scroll of parchment. He was going to write a letter to his friend Yuri; after all, the team he had sent had been annihilated in the desert, and he needed to explain what had happened to Yuri. After writing the letter, Tom thought he could work on the summer assignments assigned by the professors.
Yes, wizards also had to do summer assignments. And they're huge, without answers, and meticulously graded by the professors... it's really sad to hear, and it's really sad to see.
But fortunately, Tom had the smartest girl in class, and he had already decided to take Hermione's turn during the holidays.
Just as Tom was unrolling his parchment, a voice came from above.
"Tom, can you come up and help me with these new outfits I bought?"
Tom's determination to communicate with his allies and study was as strong as steel, and he rolled up the parchment and rushed to the first floor in ten seconds.
...
First day back in London, bathing, sleep.
Second day back in London, stomachache after breakfast, rest.
Third day back in London, shopping with Hermione, looking at the new clothes she bought.
Fourth day back in London, fishing.
Damn it, Tom, are you going to let yourself go? You have to fight! You have to practice magic! The entire magical world is waiting for your salvation, your goal is the stars.
Day 4 in the afternoon, Hermione looks great in the black silk, hehehe!
...
Whoosh!
"The sun is shining! It's time to get up!" Hermione hurried to Tom's room, pulled back the curtains, and let the sunlight shine in.
She frowned upon seeing Tom huddled under the blanket.
"We'll start studying after breakfast. It's good to combine work and fun, but don't relax too much. We've had four days of rest, it's time to get up and do some work. If we take too long, we won't finish the professors' assignments."
Hermione seemed to have recovered from her trip to the desert and was completely rejuvenated. With those words, Hermione went downstairs.
Tom also grabbed the Time-Turner from the nightstand and hurried downstairs. Tom and Hermione hadn't used the Time-Turner since they acquired it because they were afraid of time. The consequences of randomly traveling through time could be very serious. They had reversed time before, and a small unnoticed action could have affected the future, so even though they had the Time-Turner at hand, they didn't use it indiscriminately.
When Tom came downstairs, Hermione had already prepared the cereal.
After eating, Tom opened his copy of "A History of Magic" by Bathilda Bagshot, searching for some words that would help him with his thesis.
His thesis was titled "The Origins of Sorcery: The Rise and Fall of Wizards in Ancient Egypt," and Hermione's thesis was also related to Egypt: The Development of Magic in Ancient Egypt.
It was clear that Hermione was interested in the various forms of magic in ancient Egypt. The trip had been very beneficial for her.
They had been working on their assignments for a while when they were interrupted by two unexpected visitors.
Two owls flew in, one after the other. A common owl, which was nothing but adorable, brought today's Daily Prophet, and the other owl, a Hogwarts owl, delivered two letters.
Tom and Hermione's friendship with others at school was light, and there was little correspondence during the holidays: a few letters from Hermione's friends and two letters from Fred and George, selling their latest prank toy to Tom.
Tom opened the envelope with the Hogwarts crest and took out three letters, the first of which said:
[Dear Mr. Yodel,
We hereby inform you that the new school year will commence on September 1st. The Hogwarts Express will depart from King's Cross Station, Platform 9, at eleven o'clock.
Third-year students will be allowed to visit Hogsmeade on selected weekends. Please have the enclosed permission form signed by your parents or guardians.
Attached is a list of books for the new academic year.
Yours sincerely,
Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress.]
Tom took out the second letter, which contained the Hogsmeade permission form. At that moment, he wondered what he should do in his situation. Could he be his own guardian?
Hermione grabbed the letter directly, as the school owl seemed a bit impatient and was about to spread its wings and leave but was stopped by Hermione, who put both letters, hers and Tom's, into one envelope and quickly wrote a letter.
"Tutor, we'll use my father's name." She spoke as she quickly filled in the addressed envelope, "There's no need to be polite."
She tied the sealed letter to the owl's leg, lightly stroked the owl's slightly ruffled feathers on its head, and grabbed a toast from the table as a reward for its delivery.
Watching the owl disappear into the sky with the envelope, Tom grabbed Hermione's hand.
"Thank you, Hermione."
--
Hermione seemed to have recovered from her trip to the desert and was completely rejuvenated. With those words, Hermione went downstairs.
Tom also grabbed the Time-Turner from the nightstand and hurried downstairs. Tom and Hermione hadn't used the Time-Turner since they acquired it because they were afraid of time. The consequences of randomly traveling through time could be very serious. They had reversed time before, and a small unnoticed action could have affected the future, so even though they had the Time-Turner at hand, they didn't use it indiscriminately.
When Tom came downstairs, Hermione had already prepared the cereal.
After eating, Tom opened his copy of "A History of Magic" by Bathilda Bagshot, searching for some words that would help him with his thesis.
His thesis was titled "The Origins of Sorcery: The Rise and Fall of Wizards in Ancient Egypt," and Hermione's thesis was also related to Egypt: The Development of Magic in Ancient Egypt.
It was clear that Hermione was interested in the various forms of magic in ancient Egypt. The trip had been very beneficial for her.
They had been working on their assignments for a while when they were interrupted by two unexpected visitors.
Two owls flew in, one after the other. A common owl, which was nothing but adorable, brought today's Daily Prophet, and the other owl, a Hogwarts owl, delivered two letters.
Tom and Hermione's friendship with others at school was light, and there was little correspondence during the holidays: a few letters from Hermione's friends and two letters from Fred and George, selling their latest prank toy to Tom.
Tom opened the envelope with the Hogwarts crest and took out three letters, the first of which said:
[Dear Mr. Yodel,
We hereby inform you that the new school year will commence on September 1st. The Hogwarts Express will depart from King's Cross Station, Platform 9, at eleven o'clock.
Third-year students will be allowed to visit Hogsmeade on selected weekends. Please have the enclosed permission form signed by your parents or guardians.
Attached is a list of books for the new academic year.
Yours sincerely,
Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress.]
Tom took out the second letter, which contained the Hogsmeade permission form. At that moment, he wondered what he should do in his situation. Could he be his own guardian?
Hermione grabbed the letter directly, as the school owl seemed a bit impatient and was about to spread its wings and leave but was stopped by Hermione, who put both letters, hers and Tom's, into one envelope and quickly wrote a letter.
"Tutor, we'll use my father's name." She spoke as she quickly filled in the addressed envelope, "There's no need to be polite."
She tied the sealed letter to the owl's leg, lightly stroked the owl's slightly ruffled feathers on its head, and grabbed a toast from the table as a reward for its delivery.
Watching the owl disappear into the sky with the envelope, Tom grabbed Hermione's hand.
"Thank you, Hermione."
[Mission: World Traveller]
[Objective: Explore the magical world]
[Progress: Stage 5 (4/16)]
[Ancient City of Menes Ruins (Exterior) Unlocked: (5/16)]
[Ancient City of Menes Ruins (Interior) Unlocked: (6/16)]
[Menes Mausoleum Unlocked: (7/16)]
[Menes Palace Unlocked]
...
[Time-Turner (5 stars): A casual creation of the first pharaoh, allowing backward time travel. Too bad we didn't ask this pharaoh if he liked playing cards when we met...]
[Translation Sphere (4 stars): Shake it, and it will help convey the sender's will. Regardless of language or script, age or nationality, it can accurately transmit and communicate seamlessly].
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