A Miraculous Scene

"All right..." Mrs. Cole nodded, draining her glass. Free tuition and financial aid? Such an opportunity couldn't be missed. Riddle was indeed exceptional, though she still didn't like that odd fellow. "His room is at the very end. Are you sure you don't need me to accompany you?"

Putting his hat back on, Dumbledore stood and returned the chair to its place. "Thank you for your kindness, Madam. I need to speak with him alone~"

Arriving at the last room, Dumbledore put on a kind and amiable smile and knocked on the door. "Mr. Riddle?"

Tom nodded, stepping aside to let the unfamiliar middle-aged man in. "Sir, what brings you here?"

Seeing the boy's slightly clenched fists, Dumbledore touched his nose, took off his hat, and sat on a chair. His expression softened further. He was quite adept at handling sensitive children. "There's no need to be so wary~ Please allow me to introduce myself first. Albus Dumbledore, Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I've come to bring you your school acceptance letter~"

Tom frowned and sat on the edge of the bed. Hogwarts? A magic school? Thinking of his own abilities, Tom's eyes flickered. Was that ability magic? But... he wouldn't easily believe a stranger. "Magic? Are you joking with me? Or is this some excuse to send me to a mental hospital?"

Once again struck by a setback, Dumbledore felt a headache coming on. Gellert's bastard business wasn't even resolved, and he had to busy himself guiding students with Transfiguration spells while also cleaning up that bastard's mess outside. Even he felt deeply exhausted.

Couldn't this child just be straightforward, nod, believe him, and end this meeting sooner? QAQ

"I would never send a little wizard to a mental hospital. Perhaps we can let actions speak for themselves..." Dumbledore merely glanced at the cupboard, and flames instantly appeared. Tom's eyes widened as he watched the magical scene unfold. It seemed this professor was indeed his kind.

A wizard? He hadn't expected to be a little wizard. Just as Tom was about to speak, the cupboard began to shake uncontrollably, and the sound of a metal box hitting the door echoed from within.

"Hmm..." Dumbledore's smile vanished, and he looked at Tom very seriously. "It seems there's something here that doesn't belong to you..."

Tom's expression stiffened for a moment. He frowned and sighed inwardly. He could tell the professor was displeased. He pursed his lips, stood up, and looked at the flames before him. Gritting his teeth, he reached through the flames, opened the cupboard, and took out the metal box containing the little snakes' spoils.

Tom breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought he was going to be burned alive; he had worried too much. He opened the metal box and poured its contents onto the bed, preparing to explain the origin of the items. But upon seeing the professor's warm blue eyes turn cold, he shut his mouth.

"Mr. Riddle, Hogwarts does not permit theft... What you will learn is not just how to master magic, but also how to use it correctly. Do you understand?" After speaking, Dumbledore stood up to leave. "Tomorrow, at the same time, I will come to pick you up to go to Diagon Alley to purchase the things you need..."

Tom looked down coldly at the items on the bed, his earlier joy completely vanishing. Pinched his palm, he looked up at the person preparing to leave. "I can also talk to snakes. They listen to me."