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While Ravenclaw and Gryffindor Quidditch teams were battling, Tom was recuperating.
In fact, when he woke up, his injuries were already healed, and he was mostly fine. However, Madam Pomfrey insisted he stay and continue to be observed.
Tom was compliant, not insisting otherwise, and he peacefully stayed in the hospital wing. During this time, he thought about pulling a few more cards, but each time he approached the wish interface, he had a bad feeling, as if something unspeakable would happen if he made a wish. So, Tom dismissed the idea.
Although he couldn't leave the hospital, the conditions for visits were relaxed.
Thus, after two days, Hermione saw Tom again.
She rushed to his bedside, looking worried and teary-eyed.
"Are you okay? I've been worried these past few days, but Madam Pomfrey wouldn't allow any visitors."
Tom gently patted her hand. "I'm fine."
Before he could finish his sentence, Hermione interrupted him and opened her arms, hugging him.
"Tom, I thought you— the whole school has been talking about your injury. What happened after Professor McGonagall took you away?"
Tom felt a sweet fragrance in the air, making it momentarily difficult for him to find the right words. Hermione noticed his hesitation and quickly released him, trying to control herself. However, a blush lingered on her cheeks.
Tom sighed, regaining his composure, and recounted everything that happened. The events behind the portrait were not as elaborate and mysterious as the rumors suggested, but they were thrilling nonetheless.
When he mentioned the traps, Hermione's eyes widened in amazement. When she heard about Professor Snape presenting a logical reasoning puzzle, she excitedly took out her quill and asked Tom to repeat the question so she could solve it.
After Tom wrote down the question, Hermione furrowed her brow. She took her time writing and drawing on the paper. Finally, she hesitantly said, "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi."
"Correct—"
"Oh, then you got this condition wrong; it should be like this..."
Tom: ...
Upon careful recollection, it seemed that he was a bit unclear about that condition, and Hermione's version did make more sense.
The conversation turned to the revelation that Quirrell was the one behind the traps, and Hermione gasped.
"Harry and Ron asked me to find out the details! I never expected that it was Professor Quirrell trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone." Hermione covered her mouth, and after a moment, she laughed, "They are still debating how Professor Snape managed to conceal his identity. I said, Dumbledore would never make a mistake. Professor Snape might be strict, but overall, he's a good person!"
When they reached the part about Tom's confrontation with Quirrell, Hermione nervously shivered.
"So, did you get the Philosopher's Stone in the end?"
Tom shook his head. His pragmatic nature had prevented him from gaining the Mirror of Erised's approval.
After hearing the entire story, Hermione couldn't help but say, "Oh, Dumbledore, how could he— I mean, he shouldn't have sent you. You were almost killed, weren't you? If Professor Snape had been sent—"
"Then he might have fought with Professor McGonagall," Tom thought of the image of Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall working together, and he couldn't help but laugh. "Besides, I'm more familiar with these challenges, ensuring that Professor McGonagall would arrive as soon as possible."
At this moment, Madam Pomfrey barged in and ordered Hermione to leave.
"You're fifteen minutes overdue! You must leave," she insisted.
Behind Hermione was Dumbledore!
Dumbledore, with his iconic glasses, wearing a starry wizard robe, sat down at Tom's bedside with a friendly smile.
"Good morning, Professor."
"Hello, Tom."
The name seemed to evoke some memories in Dumbledore, as a trace of nostalgia flashed across his face, quickly concealed.
"Is Quirrell the servant behind you-know-who?" Tom asked knowingly.
Dumbledore glanced at Tom with interest, confirming his statement, "Don't worry, the Philosopher's Stone has been destroyed by me."
This statement solidified Dumbledore's intention to use the Philosopher's Stone as bait for Voldemort.
"Actually, both morally and logically, I should have given you the Philosopher's Stone, but if the stone is not destroyed, Voldemort will surely know about it. By then, it may bring danger to you."
This sentence affirmed Dumbledore's intention to use the Philosopher's Stone as bait for Voldemort.
"In fact, it's my fault," Dumbledore continued, "I made a mistake in my judgment. If I sent Professor Snape—"
"Then he might have fought with Professor McGonagall," Tom laughed, recalling the image of Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall working together. "And I'm more familiar with these challenges, ensuring that Professor McGonagall would arrive as soon as possible."
At this point, Madam Pomfrey burst in, driving Hermione out.
"You're fifteen minutes overdue! You must leave," she insisted.
Behind Hermione was Dumbledore!
Dumbledore, with his iconic glasses, wearing a starry wizard robe, sat down at Tom's bedside with a friendly smile.
"Good morning, Professor."
"Hello, Tom."
The name seemed to evoke some memories in Dumbledore, as a trace of nostalgia flashed across his face, quickly concealed.
"Is Quirrell the servant behind you-know-who?" Tom asked knowingly.
Dumbledore glanced at Tom with interest, confirming his statement, "Don't worry, the Philosopher's Stone has been destroyed by me."
This statement solidified Dumbledore's intention to use the Philosopher's Stone as bait for Voldemort.
"Actually, both morally and logically, I should have given you the Philosopher's Stone, but if the stone is not destroyed, Voldemort will surely know about it. By then, it may bring danger to you."
Tom listened calmly.
"In any case, you should take this." Dumbledore took out a small pouch.
"This is the debris of the Philosopher's Stone. You can use it for research. It can no longer extend life, but it has good research value."
After handing the pouch to Tom, Dumbledore left.
The system also popped up a prompt: **[Obtained Debris of the Philosopher's Stone]**
...
The next ten weeks passed in the blink of an eye. Tom enjoyed the time without the pressure of final exams. All professors—except Professor Snape—stated that Tom's highest score in two end-of-year exams would be counted towards his grades. Professor Flitwick even hinted that he could try the exams for the second year.
Tom attempted the exams, but unsurprisingly, he did not pass—he still didn't invest enough effort, just barely passing.
At the closing ceremony, the hall was decorated in blue and bronze, representing Ravenclaw, celebrating their break of Slytherin's seven-year monopoly on the House Cup.
All professors and staff attended the ceremony, and Dumbledore personally conducted the award ceremony for the House Cup. From the staff seats, Professor Snape looked awkwardly amused, while Professor McGonagall seemed very pleased, as if Gryffindor had won the House Cup.
After the
closing ceremony, grades were quickly released. Hermione forcefully took the first place in the year, and Tom was second—but it didn't matter, both of them were Outstanding students.
Before leaving the school, Tom decided to do something.
**[Mission Instance: Shallows Cleansing]
Instance Reward: Abundant Magic Stones, Enhancement for the Borgin and Burkes Soul Ring**
He triggered this instance before but hadn't entered it. With some free time on his hands, he checked the rewards, deciding to complete the instance before leaving school.
The rewards were incredibly generous, especially the enhancement for the soul ring! The instance rewards could partially compensate for the shortcomings of a certain transformation. The system generously allowed Tom to check the issues with his transformation for free. Upon inspection, it was unsurprisingly very different from his previous analysis:
- The Phoenix doesn't have true immortality.
- Only one head of the three-headed dog can move at a time.
- The dragon is in its juvenile stage and cannot fly.
- The witch...
To choose one for enhancement, Tom stood in the corridor, ensuring the instance wouldn't pose a life-threatening danger. He placed his hand on the portrait.
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(End of this chapter)