Big Brother?

According to Andros, Tom had already grasped the basics of magic. It wasn't anything extraordinary, but it put him far ahead of other wizards his age.

He didn't need to memorize spells or practice them over and over. With that bit of insight, he picked things up half a step faster than everyone else.

That wasn't an exaggeration. Take Gobstones, for example.

Daphne had practiced for three days and still kept knocking the stones off course. Tom picked it up in two minutes, mastered the knack, and played with such precision and force that he thoroughly trounced her.

"Tom, you're cheating! You must've practiced in secret!" Daphne grumbled, slamming a pink Gobstone onto the board.

The moment it hit the board, the stone sprayed foul-smelling liquid all over her face. She was so angry she nearly cried. "Even this stupid stone's on your side!"

Tom had a candy between his teeth. With a lazy flick of his wand, he nudged the stone back into its hole and grinned smugly.

"Is that my fault? You're so clumsy you can't even handle a stone. Why don't you beg me to teach you a trick or two?"

"I'm not begging you!" Daphne grabbed a deodorizing spray and blasted her face with it. She put on a tough front, but kept sneaking glances at Tom's hands.

She really envied how accurate Tom was. If she could be that good, the stones wouldn't bully her anymore.

While the two of them were fooling around, a shadow suddenly fell over the board.

Tom looked up. Sure enough, Malfoy was standing in front of them with Goyle and Crabbe, wearing expressions that begged to be punched.

Goyle still had half a Chocolate Frog stuffed in his mouth, crumbs clinging to the corners of his lips.

"Riddle, looks like you're having a nice, relaxing time," Malfoy said, folding his arms and practically turning his nose up at the ceiling.

"I thought you'd be busy. Turns out you're just hiding here, playing house with a little witch."

Daphne immediately bristled and grabbed her wand to fire back, but Tom pressed down on her hand.

Tom leisurely finished chewing his candy and spat out the wrapper. His eyes were languid, but there was a shameless swagger about him.

"Malfoy, are you that bored? Can't you see I'm busy playing with a pretty girl? Be smart and get lost."

"You!" Malfoy flushed with anger. He'd come looking for a fight, but hadn't expected Tom to pay him no mind at all.

"Riddle, don't push your luck! You think we're afraid of you?"

"Afraid of you?" Tom scoffed and slumped back in his chair, twirling his wand between his fingers. "What, got an itch for a beating?"

Seeing this, Goyle quickly swallowed the rest of his Chocolate Frog, rolled up his sleeves, and charged forward. "Draco, stop wasting your breath and beat him up!"

Crabbe nodded along and was just about to raise his wand when Tom flicked his wrist. Two beams of white light shot out, and the pair were instantly frozen in place, like wooden posts.

Malfoy stumbled back half a step, then tried to look composed. "Riddle, you dare use magic in the common room? Aren't you afraid the Prefects will catch you?"

"The Prefects?" Tom laughed as if he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world, slapping his thigh.

"You're bringing up the Prefects? Since when have Slytherin Prefects ever bothered with other people's business? Besides, even if they show up, I can make sure they get detention with you."

As he spoke, he flicked his wand. Malfoy's feet suddenly slipped out from under him, and he landed hard on his backside, grimacing in pain.

Daphne clapped and laughed from the side. "Serves you right! That's what you get for running your mouth!"

Malfoy scrambled to his feet, trembling with rage, but didn't dare charge at Tom again.

He knew what Tom could do. If it came to a real fight, he, Goyle, and Crabbe together wouldn't stand a chance.

But he couldn't bear to slink away with his tail between his legs, either.

"What's the matter? Still not satisfied?" Tom raised an eyebrow and suddenly stood up, pointing his wand at Malfoy.

"All right. Since you're looking for a beating, I'll oblige. But let me make one thing clear: don't go crying to your dad afterward. I can't be bothered."

Malfoy was just about to snap back when Tom hit him in the arm with a spell. He howled in pain.

Goyle and Crabbe cowered off to the side, not even daring to breathe too loudly. This guy was vicious. Getting beaten by him sounded worse than Snape's lines.

Before long, Malfoy was crouched on the ground, clutching his arm and groaning.

Tom crouched down and prodded Malfoy's head with his wand. "Learned your lesson? Are you going to come bother me again?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"

Malfoy hurriedly nodded. He was genuinely scared. If Tom kept going, his arm would break.

Tom stood up, satisfied, and brushed the dust off his trousers. Then he handed Daphne a candy. "Come on. Let's ignore these three idiots and get back to Gobstones."

Daphne took the candy and nodded with a smile. Before leaving, she stuck her tongue out at Malfoy, making him stamp his feet in fury.

But he didn't dare chase after them. He really couldn't beat Tom.

Tom and Daphne were having a great time when footsteps suddenly sounded from the common room entrance.

Tom looked up. It was Stephen Avery, a sixth-year Prefect, with two other Prefects behind him. All three wore faces dark enough to drip with anger.

Apparently, the commotion had been too loud. The Prefects had noticed after all.

Avery planted his hands on his hips and glared at Tom. "Riddle, you've got some nerve! You dare beat someone up in the common room? You think the Prefects are just for show?"

Tom glanced at him, leisurely put away the Gobstones, and wore a smug, punchable grin.

"A Prefect? Oh, who is it? Avery, is that you? I thought it was someone important. You startled me."

"You!" Avery's forehead bulged with anger. He'd been a Slytherin Prefect for two years and had never been treated with such contempt by a first-year.

"Riddle, as a Prefect, I order you to apologize to Malfoy right now and copy the school rules a hundred times. Otherwise, I'll take points from Slytherin!"

"Go ahead." Tom shrugged indifferently and leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other.

"Whatever points Slytherin loses, we can earn back. But what about you, Avery? How long were you standing at the door just now?"

"Why didn't you step in when I was beating Malfoy?"

Avery was left speechless. He really had been standing at the door, watching the show. He'd planned to wait until Tom was done before coming over to put on an act, but Tom had called him out on it.

The two other Prefects looked embarrassed, standing there at a loss.

"Enough talk!" Avery said, trying to stay composed as he raised his wand. "This is your last warning. Apologize and do the lines, or I'll use force!"

"Use force?" Tom laughed as though he'd just heard the funniest joke of the century. After laughing until he could barely stand, he leisurely raised his wand.

"Avery, have you lost your mind? With skills like yours, you think you can take me on? I'd get out of here if I were you, instead of standing around getting in my way."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a spell sent Avery flying into the wall. He slammed into it with a thud and grimaced in pain.

The other two Prefects went deathly pale and turned to run, but Tom used a spell to bind their ankles, sending them sprawling flat on their faces.