After the torturous tutoring session finally ended, the three left the library. Tom smiled as he said goodbye to the two little badgers, but the moment he turned away, the smile vanished from his face. Disgusted, he took out a handkerchief and wiped his hand. Other people's touch—even an accidental brush of fingers—always irritated him.
Tom looked up and saw the tall figure some distance away. After hesitating for a moment, he tucked the handkerchief he had been about to throw away into his pocket and put on a gentle, polite smile once more. "Good day... Professor Dumbledore..."
Dumbledore gave the bowing boy an indifferent glance. After a moment of silence, he seemed to suddenly come back to himself and recognize who stood before him. In a cheerful tone, he greeted Tom. "Sorry~ I seemed to have been lost in my thoughts just now. You know, even I have quite a few matters that give me headaches..."
With a helpless shrug, Dumbledore tilted his head toward the humble boy. "It seems you get along very well with your friends..."
The corners of Tom's lips rose, and he nodded gently, meeting those blue eyes that concealed a chill. "Of course~ Professor Dumbledore, Ian was my... first friend on the train. He taught me quite a few things, but..." He pursed his lips in an embarrassed, conflicted manner and sighed. "His talent for Potions really is... giving me a bit of a headache..."
"Ha ha~" Dumbledore laughed happily and patted the thin shoulder reassuringly. "No one is perfect. Friends are those who can tolerate each other's flaws. You do that very well, don't you..."
Lowering his head, Tom accepted the praise with a faint, modest smile. Yes, he had indeed done very well. Just as Professor Dumbledore had said, he understood perfectly