Tom's Collection

Tom's screaming stopped. He stared fixedly at the wardrobe, excitement once again gleaming in his black eyes.

Clearly, Dumbledore's display had truly intimidated him.

Li Weide's gaze likewise fell upon the wardrobe.

Because he knew that unless there was a special reason, even if Dumbledore was demonstrating his magic, he would never use such a drastic method.

As it turned out, that was indeed the case.

Dumbledore said calmly, "I think something seems to be trying to come out of your wardrobe."

Sure enough, a creaking sound immediately came from inside the wardrobe, and Tom suddenly looked somewhat frightened.

"Open the door," Dumbledore said in an unquestionable tone.

Tom hesitated for a moment before finally walking over and opening the wardrobe door.

On the very top shelf of the wardrobe, atop a pile of worn clothes, sat a cardboard box.

"Take it out," Dumbledore said.

Tom became somewhat flustered at those words. When he took out the box, even his hands were trembling slightly.

"Is there something in that box you shouldn't have?" Dumbledore asked.

Tom lowered his head, his lips pressed tightly together, his hands resting indecisively on the lid of the box.

Dumbledore noticed Tom glance at Li Weide, who had remained silent at the side. He seemed very reluctant to open the box in front of him.

"Tom?" Dumbledore prompted him again.

"Yes, I think so, sir," he finally said stiffly. He slowly opened the box, then tipped its contents onto the bed.

It was a jumble of ordinary little trinkets, including a yo-yo, a silvery thimble, and a tarnished harmonica.

Once the box had been emptied, they stopped trembling and lay quietly on the thin bedsheet.

"You will return them to their respective owners and apologize," Dumbledore said calmly, putting his wand back into his jacket.

"I will know whether you have done it. And I must warn you that Hogwarts does not permit theft."

Tom glanced at Li Weide, who wore a faintly amused expression, and gripped the box lid tightly with both hands, his face full of embarrassment.

He would rather be locked in a dark room for a month than give that bastard Li Weide another chance to laugh at him!

But now...

In the end, he replied in a voice so low that Dumbledore could barely hear it, "Yes, sir..."

"At Hogwarts," Dumbledore continued, "we not only teach you how to use magic, but also how to control it."

"All this time, unwittingly... I am certain that the way you have used magic is neither what our school teaches nor something we would tolerate."

"You are not the first, nor will you be the last, to let magic get out of control in your hands. But you should know that Hogwarts expels students, and the Ministry of Magic... yes, such a department exists."

"It punishes those who break the law more seriously. Every new wizard entering our world must accept this and obey our laws."

"Yes, sir," Tom replied, then suddenly asked, "But why are you only talking about me? I'm not the only one here who uses magic."

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Li Weide, who had been watching the show from the side all this time.

"That is because Weide has never made innocent people the targets of his spells..."

Dumbledore's gaze on Tom also sharpened. "I know very clearly what you have done in the past, Tom. Especially what you did to Amy and Dennis in that cave..."

Tom's face went pale. His lips moved soundlessly, but he said nothing more. After all, Dumbledore was telling the truth.

Li Weide truly had never used any magic on the other ordinary people at the orphanage the way he had...

Because he thought such behavior was childish, boring... Hm, he must think I'm childish too! Boring!

Remembering Li Weide's mocking gaze, Tom once again felt humiliated.

He had clearly made up his mind not to give that bastard another chance to mock him...

Dumbledore looked at Li Weide and asked gently, "Weide, would you be willing to help me keep an eye on Tom?"

"Of course, Professor. In fact, he has already begun to change. Perhaps he simply hasn't had the chance to return these things yet."

Li Weide took the box from Tom's hands and put the items back inside.

"I'll return them to their owners with him."

Tom looked up at Li Weide in surprise, his expression unreadable.

"With you watching him, I can rest easy, Weide..." Dumbledore said, then looked at Tom again. "Tom, I am glad that you have indeed changed greatly recently. I hope you can keep it up and not repeat your past mistakes. Magic is wondrous, but it is also extremely easy to lose control of... I do not want it to get out of control in your hands again."

Tom nodded expressionlessly. "I understand, sir."

Li Weide set the box aside, then asked, "Does it cost tuition to attend Hogwarts? As you can see, Tom and I are both penniless..."

Hearing Li Weide raise the crucial question, Tom no longer had the time to care about his discomfort. He too looked at Dumbledore expectantly.

"Oh, that is easily resolved..." Dumbledore took two leather money bags from his pocket. "Hogwarts has established a fund to assist needy students who need to buy books and robes. You will need to buy some secondhand spellbooks and the like, but..."

"Where do we buy spellbooks?" Riddle interrupted him. Without thanking Dumbledore, he took one of the heavy money bags and pulled out a large Galleon to inspect closely.

Tom had never before been so desperately eager to grow stronger! Buying spellbooks and learning magic was the simplest path!

"In Diagon Alley. I can take you to buy everything you need..."

"You're going with us?" Tom asked.

"Of course, if you would like me to."

"No, I..." Only after seeing that Li Weide did not stop him did Tom continue, "We don't need you. We can manage ourselves. Just tell us the address of that... Diagon Alley."

Tom wanted Dumbledore to leave immediately. Why would he be willing to let Dumbledore go shopping with him?

Dumbledore did not insist. Instead, he handed Li Weide and Tom the two envelopes containing their Acceptance Letters and shopping lists.

After giving them detailed directions to the Leaky Cauldron and other precautions, Dumbledore rose and left.

Some time after Dumbledore had left, Tom weighed the leather money bag in his hand and could not help asking, "When are you planning to go to that... Diagon Alley to buy things?"

Li Weide picked up the box from the bed, a faint smile appearing on his face. "Naturally, after you return these little trinkets to their owners."

At those words, Tom's pale face flushed red again...