Tom smiled and strolled forward, his little finger hooked around the end of his wand. Under Brent's terrified gaze, he gave an elegant bow. "You let me win, dear upperclassman..."
Enduring the pain coursing through him, Brent trembled as he tried to pull out his wand. He had never imagined that this first-year would use a spell like that. Damn it—Riddle knew spells even he did not. Where had Riddle learned them?
"Professor Merrythought likes me very much. I thought you knew that..." Tom seemed to see through his thoughts and smiled as he gave him the answer. That Defense Against the Dark Arts professor had given him plenty of private guidance, especially after he had tactfully mentioned the targeting and insults he had endured in Slytherin because of his half-blood status.
Those offensive spells were not that difficult to learn, were they? If he had not wanted to go too far, he would have pulled every bone out of this idiot's body.
"Riddle! Where are you?"
Tom regretfully put away his wand. Upon hearing the voice, he shot the man on the ground a warning look, then turned away with a disdainful curl of his lips and headed toward the sound.
"Stinging Jinx!"
Seeing the figure enter his field of vision, Tom paused in the middle of dodging. He narrowed his eyes, turned back with a panicked expression, cried out in pain, and clutched his arm as he fell to the ground.
"Brent, you despicable ambusher! I'll definitely tell the head of house what you did!" Avery jogged over and supported the attacked Tom. He spat contemptuously at his upperclassman. This was truly humiliating. "Have you no shame? How did the Flint family produce someone like you?"
Feeling as if his lungs were about to explode with rage, Brent pointed at the two of them and roared, "Greengrass Avery! Since when did you become this guy's lackey? He attacked first!"
Avery rolled his eyes. So what if he liked being a lackey? Should he not follow someone with a promising future, and instead follow a despicable sneak attacker like this? He was not an idiot. Anyone with eyes could see Tom's talent. "All I saw was you attacking someone from behind, you trash."
Supporting Tom as they headed toward the Hospital Wing, Avery huffed angrily several times. Most of the first-years in their year admired Tom. Though he was a half-blood, he was stronger than pure-bloods like them. For all they knew, he might be some great noble family's illegitimate child.
Tom subtly moved away from Avery's hand. With a faint smile on his lips, he drew his wand and cast Finite Incantatem on himself. His swollen arm returned to normal, and the burning sensation gradually faded. "How did you know an upperclassman had called me to the Forbidden Forest?"
Avery watched Tom's actions with admiration, then frowned in disgust. "I was about to see Mr. Ogg when I saw you outside his hut. That idiot has always been hostile toward you. Tom, you should have kept your injury and let the head of house teach that fool a proper lesson."
Still smiling gently, Tom waved his hand dismissively. If the matter reached the head of house, he could not be sure that the somewhat snobbish head of house would offend the Flint family for his sake. "It was only a small matter... There's no need to trouble the head of house. Next time, I'll teach him what a Stinging Curse is..."
Avery shut his mouth and said nothing more. The last time he had gone looking for trouble, this exceptionally well-behaved-looking person had taught him a thorough lesson. Only a brainless fool would offend a poisonous snake skilled at hiding its true nature.
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