A shy smile appeared on Tom's face as he modestly bowed slightly to his matron. "Thank you for the compliment, Professor Slughorn. I only made it according to your explanation."
With a smiling pat on Tom's shoulder, Slughorn looked forward to this freshman's growth. Once he reached his third year, Slughorn would invite this talented youngster into Slughorn's Slug Club~
Tom's performance had won the professors' favor, but it had also stirred up certain people, especially some older Slytherin students.
Brent sat in the common room, rolling his eyes as he complained loudly to his friend. "Merlin, the matron has mentioned that half-blood more than once in class. Senior Greengrass, don't you want to teach that guy a lesson?"
Casting a sidelong glance at the chattering fool, Leander Greengrass closed the spellbook in his hands, brushed aside the hair draped over his shoulder, and moved to sit at the other end. "Stay away from me. If you want to cause trouble for someone, go do it yourself. Bother me again, and you'd better watch out—I might put a curse on you."
Volga covered her mouth and chuckled, casting a pitying look at the brainless fool. She truly did not understand how the Flint family had produced such an idiot—and one who was her classmate, at that. Tilting her head, she raised a brow at the senior who had been watching coldly. "Abraxas, someone is having bad thoughts about your little pet. Aren't you going to say something?"
Leaning lazily against the sofa with his head propped on one hand, Abraxas played with his long hair. "He managed to get a permit for the Forbidden Section from the matron. Do you really think he'd be afraid of an idiot only one year above him?"
Abraxas did not believe that little fellow was truly as harmless and well-behaved as he appeared. More than once, he had seen how Little Tom knocked down freshmen with spells. Those vicious curses were only simple magic, but they were enough to prove that the boy's talent was indeed exceptional.
"Actually, I'm looking forward to it too. A little cat that has put away its claws always becomes rather boring, doesn't it~"
Celeno, seated on the other side, gently picked up a pastry beside her and fed it to her fiancé. After he finished eating, she took a handkerchief and wiped the crumbs from her hands clean, then rose and returned to her dormitory. The things she had ordered should have been delivered by now.
Brent curled his lips in displeasure. He was just a half-blood, yet the professors held him in the palms of their hands. Brent wanted to see whether that guy was really as good as they said!
Leaving the common room, Brent headed straight for the library. On the way, he ran into Tom, who was preparing to return, and raised his chin to look down at the youngster before him. "Hey! Come with me."
Tom sighed helplessly, feeling somewhat irritated. Was this guy too obsessed with him? Instead of spending all that energy looking for trouble with him, couldn't he read more books and fill that empty brain of his? Tom stared coldly at the idiot blocking his path and nodded slightly. Since the other party had no intention of giving up, Tom would let him know the consequences of provoking him.
"Sure~ Senior Flint... I was just about to go to the Forbidden Forest. Want to come along?"
Brent sneered with a wide grin and took the lead toward the Forbidden Forest. The two made their way to its edge without a word.
After looking around, Tom did not spot Mr. Ogg, the keeper of the Forbidden Forest. He immediately drew his wand and pointed it at the person in front of him. "Blasting Curse!"
Blue flames burst from the tip of his wand, and the powerful magic sent the unprepared Brent flying, smashing him hard against a tree trunk.
Before you continue