Traits of Slytherin

Since Dumbledore had yet to find a suitable house, Li Weide and Tom could only stay temporarily in Hogsmeade Village until the start of term.

Both Li Weide and Tom had plenty of patience for this.

Especially after they received dozens of books from Dumbledore that morning.

However, unlike Tom's excitement, Li Weide appeared far calmer.

Having already inherited an enormous collection of Dark Arts books, Li Weide found that while the books Dumbledore had sent were quite good, they were no longer enough to stir any emotional reaction in him.

Yet Tom, who knew nothing of this, saw how composed Li Weide was and compared it to his own overwhelming excitement. He immediately felt somewhat ashamed of himself.

He felt that he, too, ought to remain unflustered at all times.

Otherwise, if he kept making such a fuss over everything, how was he any different from all those ordinary fools?

I, Tom, no matter where I am or who I am among, even if Li Weide always stands above me, must become the most exceptional person beneath Li Weide!

Tom looked at the newly unwrapped books. He had originally intended to pick out several right away, but after glancing at Li Weide, he withdrew his hand.

"Tom, what's wrong? Haven't you been longing for these books?" Li Weide found Tom's behavior rather strange.

"You choose first," Tom said calmly.

Li Weide said in surprise, "That's rare. You're being so polite today."

"I'm not being polite. It's just... you're stronger than I am, so when there are good things, you naturally have the right to choose first." Tom's expression remained calm. "If one day I become stronger than you, I won't be polite with you!"

Li Weide could tell that Tom was actually telling the truth this time.

All he could say was... Tom truly was a Slytherin. Though arrogant, he also possessed a Slytherin trait—admiration for the strong.

They considered themselves strong, and so they likewise respected those stronger than themselves.

Even Tom, who would one day become the infamous Voldemort, could not change this tendency to admire strength after discovering someone stronger than himself.

Having understood this, Li Weide did not decline. He simply picked out a copy of "Outsmarting the Dark Arts" from the pile.

"Then I'll read this one first. All right, I've chosen. Go ahead and take yours."

Only after hearing Li Weide's words did Tom carefully select several books that interested him most from the pile.

Li Weide swept his gaze over them and found that the books Tom had selected were "Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1," "Defensive Charms," "Practical Defensive Magic and Its Countermeasures Against the Dark Arts"...

Almost all of them were books on Defense Against the Dark Arts recommended by Dumbledore.

There was no doubt that what Tom had on his mind was still how to become stronger as quickly as possible...

Suddenly, Li Weide placed "Outsmarting the Dark Arts" in front of Tom.

"What's wrong?"

"I suddenly remembered that I have something to do today. You can read this book first, then return it to me when I get back," Li Weide said.

"Where are you going?" Tom froze slightly.

"I'm going to Diagon Alley with Toby. To buy a few things."

"What are you buying? Haven't we already bought everything we need?" Tom found it very strange.

Logically speaking, they had already bought what they needed. Even if they had forgotten something, Hogsmeade Village had most things for sale.

And even if Hogsmeade Village did not have it, Li Weide could have Toby buy it for him. There was absolutely no need for him to go himself...

Why waste time that could be spent studying?

"I'm planning to buy several more second-hand wands. I need to be there in person to choose the ones most suitable for me," Li Weide said without hiding anything.

"Don't we already have wands? Did you lose yours?" Tom looked at Li Weide in astonishment.

"Of course not... In fact, I recently discovered a spell called Prior Incantato. It can replay the magic most recently cast by a wand..." Li Weide looked quietly at Tom, his black eyes growing several shades deeper. "And I don't want others to learn what magic I've recently cast through my wand."

Tom understood completely now. In fact, he agreed with this point as well!

Tom immediately put down the book in his hands and said, "I'm going too..."

"I also need another wand as a spare. I heard that Newborns' wands have a kind of magic called the Trace..."

"It's used by the Ministry of Magic to monitor students casting spells outside school. Because we aren't allowed to use wands after the holidays begin."

"That really is a stupid policy! I don't want to be stuck staring anxiously at my wand whenever school is out."

Li Weide nodded. "If that's the case, then let's go together..."

It should have been effortless for Toby to Apparate with two Young Wizards.

But Li Weide's magical strength was no different from that of an adult wizard, so Toby had no choice but to take them to Diagon Alley in two trips.

Toby said, "At the Junk Shop, you can buy almost any second-hand item. Most of it is rubbish, of course, but sometimes people find good things there."

He was far too familiar with the Junk Shop.

Back then, his former master had come here quite often...

Without stopping anywhere else, the two of them and their House-elf guide reached the entrance of the Junk Shop in only a few minutes.

"All right, Toby, here's another list. Help me buy everything on it, then wait for us where we appeared earlier."

Li Weide took out a piece of paper and a bag of Galleons, handing them to Toby.

"At once, Young Master Weide!" Toby respectfully accepted them, then vanished from the spot.

"Tell me... when will we be able to learn that magic where you vanish with a pop?" Tom stared enviously at the place where Toby had disappeared.

"That magic seems to be called Apparition, but House-elves' Apparition is somewhat different from wizards' Apparition. At our age, we probably can't learn it yet."

Although Li Weide said so, he was just as tempted as Tom.

Tom was still young, and his magical power was only at the level of an underage wizard. He truly had not yet reached the point where he could learn Apparition.

But Li Weide was different. He already possessed the magical strength of an adult wizard. After practicing, he could cast many relatively advanced spells as well.

In other words, he could begin learning Apparition at any time.

However, learning Apparition carried an extremely high risk. A moment of carelessness could easily result in splinching.

When ordinary wizards first learned this magic, they generally needed an experienced teacher watching at their side.

If splinching occurred, the teacher could help reattach the separated body parts.

Li Weide secretly considered whom he should ask to watch over him if he truly wanted to learn Apparition.

Practicing alone was absolutely out of the question.

He did not want his head in one place and his body somewhere else...