Tom's Collection

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

Clearly, Dumbledore's display had genuinely intimidated him.

Li Weide's gaze also fell upon the wardrobe.

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

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 a little frightened.

"Open the door," Dumbledore said in a tone that brooked no argument.

Tom hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he walked over and opened the wardrobe door.

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

"Take it out," Dumbledore said.

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

"Does the box contain something you should not have?" Dumbledore asked.

Tom lowered his head, lips pressed tightly together, his hands lingering uncertainly over the box lid.

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

"Tom?" Dumbledore prompted 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: a yo-yo, a silvery thimble, and a dulled 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, slipping his wand back into his jacket.

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

Tom glanced at Li Weide, who seemed to be smiling but not smiling, and gripped the box lid tightly with both hands, his face full of embarrassment.

He would rather be locked in the Dark Room for a month straight than give that bastard Li Weide another chance to laugh at him!

But now...

In the end, he replied in a voice so quiet 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, unconsciously... I am certain that the way you have been using magic is neither what our school teaches nor what we will tolerate."

"You are not the first, nor will you be the last, to let magic run 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 toward Li Weide, who had been watching the show from the sidelines.

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

Dumbledore's gaze, fixed on Tom, sharpened as well. "I have learned very clearly about 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 like Tom had...

Because he thought that kind of behavior was childish, boring... And he must think I'm childish too! Boring!

Thinking of the mockery in Li Weide's eyes, Tom once again felt a surge of humiliation.

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 has not had the chance to return these things yet."

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

"I will return these things to their owners with him."

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

"With you watching him, I am quite at ease, Weide..." Dumbledore then looked at Tom again. "Tom, I am glad that you have truly changed a great deal recently. I hope you can continue this way and not repeat your mistakes. Magic is wonderful, but it is also extremely easy to lose control of... I do not want it to run out of control in your hands again."

Tom nodded expressionlessly. "I understand, sir."

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

Hearing Li Weide raise the crucial question, Tom could no longer spare any attention for his discomfort. He too looked at Dumbledore expectantly.

"Oh, that is easy to solve..." Dumbledore took two leather money pouches from his pocket. "Hogwarts has established a fund to assist needy students who need to buy books and robes. You will need to purchase some secondhand Spellbooks and such, but..."

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

Tom had never been more desperate to grow stronger! Buying Spellbooks and learning magic was the simplest path!

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

"You're coming 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 want Dumbledore accompanying him while he went shopping?

Dumbledore did not insist. Instead, he handed Li Weide and Tom each an envelope containing their admission letter and shopping list.

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 pouch 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 of yours to their owners."

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