Sure You Didn't Find the Wrong Person?

She came to the orphanage while pregnant, clearly a fool abandoned by a man, with only a small amount of money on her, not enough to cover the medical expenses of a sickly person. The Old Headmaster took her in out of pity, never expecting that shortly after the child was born, she would leave a name and pass away.

Was it really worth it? Mrs. Cole's expression flickered for a moment. She had seen many people obsessed with love in her life, but few had happy endings. That's why she deeply disliked those fools who abandoned everything for love.

Especially that kind! The kind who gave birth to a child and then just kicked the bucket! Did they really think the orphanage was some kind of paradise?

The next morning, Tom arrived at the kitchen without any hope. He was surprised to see food that belonged to him. His gaze swept over the two terrified individuals. Fine, it seemed yesterday's events had robbed them of even the courage to report him.

But this was for the best, saving him from further hunger. If he continued to be confined, his stomach would eventually have problems, no, it would have more problems. Sigh... He let out a sigh in his heart, unsure if he would have money for a hospital in the future.

His body was truly precious. Just from frequent hunger, he had developed stomach problems. A little nobody, unwanted by anyone, had no right to be sick.

He didn't know if some new rumor had spread, but Tom felt his current life was pretty good. At least those guys didn't bother him anymore. Completely immersed in studying and discovering his own abilities, Tom lived exceptionally comfortably.

No longer the shorty he used to be, eleven-year-old Tom, though somewhat thin, stood tall and slender. The baby fat on his face had disappeared, his features becoming more defined. His ink-black hair was neatly kept, and his handsome appearance was quite captivating, easily winning him favor from others.

This year, Wool's Orphanage welcomed a very special guest. Mrs. Cole, with a hint of hesitation, invited the middle-aged man before her to sit. She wasn't sure if the professor's identity was genuine, especially considering the unusual issues surrounding Riddle.

This man with brown hair and a crooked nose... looked like a good person, but weren't there plenty of wolves in sheep's clothing?

"Mr. Dumbledore, are you absolutely sure that the school you represent wishes to admit Tom? Tom Riddle, and not some other child?"

Smiling kindly, Dumbledore took off his hat and pulled out a blank piece of paper from his pocket. Under Mrs. Cole's disbelieving gaze, he waved his wand, "I think... you'll understand once you see this~"

Mrs. Cole's eyes darted as she picked up the blank paper. The expression on her face gradually turned serious. After a while, as if she had finished reading, she handed the paper back. Noticing the gin and glasses on the table, she felt a pang of confusion. She could swear on God that those things absolutely weren't there a moment ago!

"Perhaps... I could offer you a drink of gin?" Mrs. Cole lowered her voice, pouring a glass for Dumbledore. She then lowered her eyes and stared at the cup in her hand. "Hmm... how should I put it? Tom is a very peculiar child. He barely cried as an infant, and as he grew older, he became even stranger... Are you sure you haven't mistaken him for someone else?"

Dumbledore maintained his smile and blinked. Was he being mistaken for a bad guy? Amused by his own thought, Dumbledore chuckled softly, "Such children are easy to manage, aren't they~ Just as you saw, Hogwarts never makes a mistake... I am very sure of who my students are~"