"This is the wonder of magic," Dumbledore said, trying to deflect the subject again as Snape's face turned green.
At last, he reined in his playful expression and said solemnly, "Severus, talent alone doesn't make a genius. Hard work matters just as much."
"I've seen Riddle studying in the library late at night more than once. That kind of perseverance is even rarer than his talent."
"His current strength may seem absurd, but he built it up bit by bit. It makes perfect sense."
Snape nodded without thinking, just about to agree, when he suddenly caught on. Late at night in the library?
That meant he was out after curfew! His eyes lit up, and he hurried over.
"Riddle dares to wander the halls at night? And more than once? Dumbledore, punish him however you like—detention, a formal reprimand, anything. Just don't take points."
"That boy is so eager in class that he'll earn back any points you take in no time. It's pointless."
Remembering how Tom had brushed off his attempt to give him detention in the office last time, Snape felt his anger rise all over again.
This time, Dumbledore would deal with him. Let's see if he dared to act so arrogantly then!
Dumbledore was bewildered by Snape's odd mix of protectiveness and fairness. He blinked.
"Severus, you're acting strange today. You know the school rules. We can't punish a student without catching him in the act."
"Besides, I had to use a little trick to see him in the library."
Then his tone shifted, and his expression turned serious. "I can tell you plainly: Tom Riddle is fine. He has nothing to do with You-Know-Who."
"He's simply a talented student who's willing to work hard."
As he spoke, a trace of sadness entered Dumbledore's eyes.
"I once met another genius like that, someone who had never encountered magic before reaching adulthood."
"But after only a short time, he had the power to blow up a mountain. Later, he was even able to fight me."
Snape was listening intently, but Dumbledore suddenly stopped and brought the conversation back to the point.
"So we can't suspect Riddle just because he's powerful."
"You're his Head of House and his professor. Your job is to guide him, not distrust him. Do you understand?"
Snape said nothing. Deep down, he knew Dumbledore was right.
Ever since Voldemort's downfall, Dumbledore had been reflecting on his approach to teaching.
When he'd first noticed the darkness in Voldemort, he'd treated him with coldness and suspicion, even refusing his request to stay at Hogwarts. That had indirectly helped create the Dark Lord.
So now, Dumbledore was especially patient with every student. Even the Death Eaters from back then had only been told to follow the rules; he'd never interfered beyond that.
After all, students chose their own paths. All a professor could do was guide them toward the right one.
Besides, Tom hadn't crossed any lines. He only went to the library's open areas, and he'd asserted his authority within Slytherin simply to avoid trouble.
Even if he was ambitious and yearned for power, there was nothing wrong with that. What Hogwarts student didn't have a little ambition?
After a long silence, Snape finally muttered, "I understand."
"But I have a feeling that boy Riddle is going to do whatever he likes. He's made a huge commotion after only a month at school. Who knows what he'll get up to over the next seven years?"
"Let's wait and see," Dumbledore said with a smile. "A stagnant pond is no fun. A little excitement now and then livens up the school."
"Quirinus, on the other hand, has been far too quiet lately. I'm starting to wonder if I was wrong about him."
"He's definitely up to something!" Snape immediately chimed in, finally remembering the real reason he was here this term.
"I'm certain he's working for You-Know-Who. His target is whatever you brought back from Gringotts."
Dumbledore nodded, agreeing with his assessment.
"Quirinus is very wary of me, so I can't approach him directly. You'll have to keep an eye on him and try to make him lower his guard."
"I understand," Snape said expressionlessly. "After all, we're colleagues. I'll find a way."
"Remember to find out what he's up to," Dumbledore reminded him.
He knew Quirrell was working for Voldemort, but he'd never imagined that Voldemort would be bold enough to possess Quirrell himself and risk exposure.
Snape nodded, then couldn't resist asking, "Do you really think the protections in the Third Floor Corridor can stop him?"
"Of course not," Dumbledore said, shaking his head. "Quirinus was an excellent student in Ravenclaw, but unfortunately, he strayed from the right path."
"True protection never comes from obstacles like those. It comes from people's hearts."
Snape rolled his eyes. He was used to Dumbledore's cryptic remarks. "If there's nothing else, I'll be off."
"Go on. Be a little more lenient with Riddle."
Snape didn't answer. He slammed the door on his way out. As soon as he'd left, the office erupted. The headmasters' portraits, who'd been pretending to sleep, all leaned out of their frames and started chattering over one another.
"Ridiculous! A first-year beating a seventh-year? Are this year's Slytherins really that formidable?" one bearded headmaster exclaimed.
Another headmaster with a hooked nose scoffed. "Maybe the last few generations of Slytherins were just idiots?"
"Rubbish! Slytherins have the advantage when they're students. If they're idiots, what does that make the rest of us?"
"There's something strange about the name Tom Riddle. How can there be two people with that name, and both of them be monsters?"
"Why don't we tell our younger relatives to give their newborns that name and see if they turn out to be geniuses too?"
"Hahaha! You must be mad! We're wizards, not fortune-tellers!"
A raucous burst of laughter suddenly rang out. A gaunt, sallow-faced, middle-aged headmaster with a walrus moustache poked his head out, looking utterly smug.
"In the end, Slytherin just has the best feng shui. It raises people right!"
His words instantly enraged several short-tempered headmasters. Their figures sprang out of their frames and charged into his, pummeling him with fists and feet. Screams immediately filled the office.
No one stepped in to help. This was Phineas Black, the only Slytherin to have ever been headmaster—and the most unpopular headmaster in Hogwarts history.
During his time as headmaster, the four Houses had set aside their thousand-year feud for the first time and united to oppose the way he ran the school. That showed just how much everyone hated him.
While chaos reigned in the office, Dumbledore had no mind to pay attention. He sat behind his desk, lost in thought.
He had a lot on his mind: Quirrell's movements, Voldemort's plot, and Tom's temperament.
He could see that Tom was too extreme in his actions and showed no mercy when he struck. With a temperament like that, he was bound to get into trouble sooner or later.
But figuring out how to guide him was a problem. Tom wasn't some hot-blooded, impulsive kid like Harry.
He'd endured a hard life and had long since developed his own way of handling things. Trying to lecture him out of the blue would only make him rebel.
Dumbledore sighed. His head was pounding, and he began wondering again where Voldemort was hiding.
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