The light suddenly brightened. Tom narrowed his eyes slightly, and only after adjusting did he begin to examine his surroundings: floating candle flames, students seated around long tables, a slowly shifting, rotating ceiling like a night sky filled with countless stars, and a filthy hat before the professors' table...
For the first time, Tom had an intensely urgent thought. With a dark expression, he silently prayed that the singing hat absolutely, absolutely could not be a tool for sorting students!
"Those whose names are called, come up~ Sit on the stool..."
The professor's words completely shattered Tom's hopes. Dumbledore cheerfully watched the pale-faced young wizards below and let out a few grinning laughs.
The single-file line continued to move forward. When Tom heard his name, he clenched his small fists and pressed his lips together. Smoothing the wrinkles in his robes, he slowly walked up, sat upright on the tall stool, and a shadow fell over his eyes. The next second, the hat atop his head shouted, "Slytherin!"
After jumping down from the stool and giving the nearby professor a slight bow, Tom walked toward the quietest long table. His gaze swept over that flash of platinum blond hair before he headed straight for the end of the table. If angels truly existed in this world, it was not him—it was the person seated at the head of the table.
Tom lowered his head. He acted as though he could not hear the quiet murmurs around him; all that remained in his mind was the breathtaking figure he had just seen.
"Ha! A down-and-out half-blood actually got into Slytherin. Tsk, how irritating..."
Abraxas gave a soft laugh. Though somewhat displeased, he still maintained a perfect false smile. The Sorting Hat had barely touched the new student's hair before placing him in Slytherin. Was it because of talent, or bloodline?
Volga shot Brent a warning glare. Seeing Abraxas's smile, she grew curious and wanted to know what had caught the Malfoy heir's interest. "What are you laughing at? Did you find something interesting~?"
Without answering, Abraxas heard that the headmaster's speech had ended and took the lead in giving a light round of applause. Only after he picked up his utensils did all the Slytherin students begin eating. "I did find something interesting..."
Volga followed his gaze. The black-haired new student in secondhand school robes looked somewhat out of place here, but that face... She nodded knowingly. She had long understood this upperclassman's preferences; it was quite in line with House of Malfoy's tastes.
"Your mind really is..." Abraxas sighed helplessly and slowed his pace of eating so that Riddle could imitate his movements. "I'm not so desperate that I'd do anything to a first-year."
Holding her cup in front of her mouth, Volga's eyes flickered. That was not necessarily true. Over the past two years, she had seen quite a few boys and girls trying to get close to Abraxas. Unfortunately, his standards were too high, and he had not found a single one he liked.
Now that a handsome new student had arrived, would he not be able to swallow him whole after keeping him for a few years?
"Don't speak too soon~ The little princess of House of Bulstrode would not be happy to see you taking an interest in anyone~"
His appetite vanished instantly. A trace of coldness flashed through Abraxas's gray eyes. He did not object to marriages between families, but if the other party foolishly tried to interfere with his life, he would not mind doing something. "The future mistress of House of Malfoy... doesn't have to keep living, does she~?"
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