Entering Knockturn Alley
When Mrs. Greengrass saw her in person, she couldn't help but nod, thinking, "No wonder she's her daughter; she has excellent taste."
Even without knowing her, I'm certain that Tom is definitely the best-looking one at Hogwarts.
Did Daphne spend all the money she asked for on this child? Oh well, it's not much anyway, it's not a big deal.
"Thank you for taking care of our little madman at school." Mrs. Greengrass smiled slightly, her tone friendly and without any airs.
"Tom, why don't you spend Christmas with Daphne?" Mrs. Greengrass invited. "She said in her letter that she wouldn't have made so much progress this semester without your help."
Daphne couldn't help but scold him playfully for revealing her secret, but she still looked at the boy expectantly.
Tom knew this was a test, so he smiled calmly and shook his head slightly, "Thank you for your kindness, but I'm sorry, madam, this vacation is probably not possible."
"Daphne and I have already made plans to visit you next summer, and we might even stay for a long time. I just hope you won't find me a nuisance."
He has no time for tea and conversation right now; his holiday plans are already packed, and every minute is precious.
Mrs. Greengrass smiled gently. "Not at all! The longer you stay, the better. You're always welcome."
"Tom, you must remember to write to me!" Daphne hugged his arm, her face full of reluctance.
"Don't worry, I promise." Tom ruffled her hair, nodded slightly to Mrs. Greengrass, turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Mrs. Greengrass watched the boy's brisk retreating figure, her eyes darkening slightly. "This child is not simple; he's far more calculating than you imagine."
"Mom, Tom is amazing!" Daphne immediately defended Tom. "He's better than many older students, and he's especially kind to me!"
The lady smiled gently and said nothing more. Some things need to be observed slowly.
Tom returned to the Wool's Orphanage, but no one was there. Seth was attending boarding school and wasn't planning to come back for Christmas.
The other problem children who had been temporarily staying there also left, and he picked up his cleaning tools and began to clean.
This made him feel a little uncomfortable. He was used to using magic to do many things, and coming back made him feel restricted.
After a quick tidying up, Tom changed into ordinary Muggle casual clothes, hid his wand in his sleeve, and used Polyjuice Potion to adjust his appearance.
In an instant, he went from a refined young man to an inconspicuous, ordinary Muggle child, the kind of kid who wouldn't even get a second glance if thrown into a crowd.
He entered Diagon Alley Leaky Cauldron, Diagon Alley was still bustling with Christmas cheer, a stark contrast to the dark and damp Knockturn Alley.
Upon entering Knockturn Alley, a chilling, decaying aura assaults the senses. Sunlight seems to be completely blocked out; this is a dark corner of the Wizarding World, a melting pot of all sorts of evil and rife with wickedness.
Tom lowered his head, hunched his shoulders, and pretended to be a lost and panicked little wizard, with a hint of fear in his eyes, perfectly playing the role of an innocent lamb who had wandered into a dark alley.
Knockturn Alley is like a small maze, with many branching alleys besides the main road, and many shops have their doors tightly closed.
He turned pale with fright when he passed a shop with a sign that read "Potions" and two human skeletons hanging below it.
A voice rang in his ears, and a hunchbacked old witch stood before him, holding a dish of dead men's fingernails. She smiled at him, revealing teeth covered in moss.
"Little wizard, are you lost? This isn't a place for children. Shall I take you to a safe place?"
Tom held his breath, a delighted smile spreading across his face as he nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, I'm lost! I want to go to Diagon Alley!"
The old witch's smile grew increasingly disgusting. Her voice was gentle, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, come with Grandma, Grandma will help you find your way to Diagon Alley."
He waved to Tom and led him forward.
Tom sneered inwardly, but his face remained timid as he obediently followed the old witch forward.
He knew very well that what awaited him next was not help, but kidnapping, extortion, or even darker deals.
In Knockturn Alley, a lone little wizard is a valuable commodity.
The two arrived at the middle of the alley, turned into a side street, and after a winding and twisting journey, came to a door.
"Go through here and you'll reach Diagon Alley," said the old witch.
Tom pushed open the door without hesitation and entered. Inside was a courtyard, and the gate slammed shut and locked instantly.
The kindness on the old witch's face disappeared instantly, replaced by ferociousness and greed.
"Little one, don't blame Grandma for being heartless. Blame yourself for coming here on your own."
There was also a middle-aged male witch in the courtyard. The old witch said, "We're lucky. We've found a lost child. Judging from her clothes, she's well-off. We'll make a good profit this time."
Tom slowly raised his head, his earlier timidity and panic vanishing instantly. His eyes were cold and calm, and a faint smile even appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"You didn't bring a fool with you, did you?" the male wizard asked the old witch.
The old witch was also puzzled. "That shouldn't be the case; the boy was speaking quite normally just now."
Tom smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm not stupid, I'm just happy."
The wizard was even more speechless. "What are you so happy about? Kid, you still don't understand the situation? Hurry up and tell us your family's information so they can pay the ransom!"
Tom shook his head. "I'm just happy that I got two important things done in one trip. Don't rush, I'll take her to meet my parents now."
The old witch's expression changed drastically. She realized she had misjudged the animal; it was not an innocent lamb at all, but a beast in disguise!
She suddenly pulled out her wand and screamed, "Now that you know, you're not leaving here alive!"
Tom's eyes showed no emotion, no hesitation, no fear, only calm.
The instant the other woman raised her wand, Tom struck first, his left hand flashing out to grab the old witch beside him.
A layer of frost covered his palm, then solidified and bulged into a sharp icicle, which he used with his own strength to pierce the old witch's neck.
The old witch's throat was pierced through, and she made a hoarse sound, but she couldn't utter a single word.
The middle-aged wizard was completely caught off guard. He couldn't believe Tom would suddenly attack him. He was still in a daze when the Stunning Spell landed on him.
There's a first time for everything, including murder. Don't be fooled by how ruthless and decisive you were just now; it was all part of a pre-planned scheme that you carried out without hesitation.