Hermione fell silent for a moment. "What about your handwriting? The professors will be able to tell."
"In a couple of days, I'll show you something. I guarantee the professors won't be able to tell."
Hermione stared at him for three seconds. "You even prepared for that?"
"I've fallen."
"Fallen?"
"Normally, my roommates aren't even allowed to copy my homework. Now I've gone straight into the ghostwriting business."
Tom laughed. "So you agreed?"
"I agreed. But on one condition."
"What condition?"
"If you score lower than me on the final exams, you'll have to write your own homework from then on."
Tom held out his hand. "Deal."
Hermione took his hand.
"Tom Riddle, if you lose to me on the final exams, I'll hand all your homework over to Professor McGonagall."
"You won't."
"Why not?"
"Because you won't get the chance."
Hermione's face reddened again. She let go of his hand, turned, and walked away quickly, her robes billowing behind her.
After taking two steps, she stopped again and looked back at Tom.
"Tomorrow night, the Room of Requirement. I'm starting training."
"Alright."
Tom stood in the corridor, watching her back disappear around the corner.
The system panel flickered.
[Relationship Update: Hermione Granger—Trust Level increased. Current Level: Trust.]
When he returned to the Slytherin common room, Daphne was reading on the sofa. It seemed she really had been provoked by Tom.
Tom told her that Hermione had asked him for guidance. Daphne's face immediately fell, her little mouth puckering so hard it could have held an oil pot. She regretted it so much her guts turned green.
It was all because she had gotten carried away and bragged to Hermione about learning magic from Tom. Now look what had happened—she had gained another competitor.
Daphne stared at him