Chapter 10: Tom's Collection

Page 1 of 3

Tom’s scream came to an abrupt stop. He stared fixedly at the wardrobe, fresh excitement flickering once more in his dark eyes.

Clearly, Dumbledore’s display had truly intimidated him.

Wade’s gaze also settled on the wardrobe.

He knew that unless there was some special reason, Dumbledore would never choose such an extreme method, even when demonstrating his magic.

As it turned out, that was indeed the case.

Dumbledore said calmly, “I believe something is about to come out of your wardrobe.”

Sure enough, a series of creaking noises immediately came from inside. Tom suddenly looked rather frightened.

“Open the door,” Dumbledore said in an unmistakably firm tone.

Tom hesitated for a moment, but in the end he walked over and opened the wardrobe.

On the uppermost shelf, atop a pile of worn-out clothes, sat a cardboard box.

“Take it out,” Dumbledore said.

Tom grew flustered. His hands were even trembling slightly as he took down the box.

“Is there something inside that you ought not to possess?” Dumbledore asked.

Tom lowered his head, his lips pressed tightly together. His hands hovered uncertainly over the lid.

Dumbledore noticed him glance at Wade, who had remained silent beside them. Tom seemed extremely reluctant to open the box in front of him.

“Tom?” Dumbledore prompted again.

“Yes, sir. I suppose there is,” he finally replied woodenly. He slowly opened the box, then tipped its contents onto the bed.

Inside was a jumble of ordinary little objects: a yo-yo, a silver-white thimble, and a tarnished harmonica.

Once the box had been emptied, the objects stopped trembling and lay quietly on the thin bedsheet.

“Return them to their rightful owners and apologize,” Dumbledore said calmly, slipping his wand back into his jacket.

“I’ll know whether you’ve done it or not. And let me make one thing clear: Hogwarts does not tolerate stealing.”

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

Tom glanced at Wade, who was watching with an amused yet mocking expression, and gripped the box lid tightly with both hands, his face flushed with embarrassment.

He would honestly rather spend an entire month in solitary confinement than give that bastard Wade another chance to laugh at him!

But now…

At last, he answered in a voice so faint that Dumbledore could barely hear him. “Yes, sir…”

“At Hogwarts,” Dumbledore continued, “we teach you not only how to use magic, but also how to control it.”

“All this time, you have been using magic unconsciously… I am certain that the way you have been using it is neither what our school teaches nor something we can tolerate.”

“You are not the first person to lose control of magic, and you will not be the last. But you should understand that Hogwarts can expel students, and the Ministry of Magic… yes, there is such an institution.”

“It punishes those who violate the law more seriously. Every young wizard entering our world must accept this and obey our laws.”

“Yes, sir,” Tom replied. Then he suddenly asked, “But why are you only lecturing me? I’m not the only one who has used magic here.”

As he spoke, he looked toward Wade, who had been sitting by and enjoying the spectacle.

“That is because Wade has never used innocent people as targets for his magic…”

Dumbledore’s gaze sharpened as it settled on Tom.

“I know very clearly what you have done in the past, Tom. Especially what you did to Amy and Dennis in that cave…”

Tom’s face went pale. His lips moved soundlessly, but he said nothing more. After all, Dumbledore was telling the truth.

Wade had indeed never used magic on the other ordinary children at the orphanage as Tom had…

Because Wade considered such behavior childish and boring…

Well, he definitely thinks I’m childish and boring too!

Remembering the mocking look in Wade’s eyes, Tom once again felt a wave of humiliation rise within him.

He had already made up his mind that he would never give that bastard another opportunity to mock him…

Dumbledore turned to Wade and asked gently, “Wade, would you be willing to help me keep an eye on Tom?”

“Of course, Professor. In fact, he has already begun to change. Perhaps he simply hasn’t had time to return these things yet.”

Wade took the box from Tom and put the objects back inside.

“I’ll return them to their owners together with him.”

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

Tom looked up at Wade in surprise, his expression unreadable.

“With you watching over him, I’ll feel much more at ease, Wade…” Dumbledore said, then turned back to Tom. “Tom, I’m very pleased to see that you have changed so much recently. I hope you’ll continue this way and never repeat your past mistakes. Magic is wondrous, but it is also extraordinarily easy to lose control of… I don’t want it to run wild in your hands again.”

Tom nodded expressionlessly. “I understand, sir.”

Wade set the box aside, then asked, “Do we need to pay tuition to attend Hogwarts? As you can see, Tom and I don’t have a penny between us…”

Hearing Wade raise the crucial question, Tom temporarily forgot his discomfort and turned an equally attentive gaze toward Dumbledore.

“Oh, that’s easily solved…” Dumbledore took two leather pouches from his pocket. “Hogwarts has established a fund to assist students in need with purchasing books and robes. You’ll have to buy some secondhand spellbooks and the like, but…”

“Where do we buy spellbooks?” Riddle interrupted. Without thanking Dumbledore, he accepted one of the heavy pouches and drew out a large gold Galleon, examining it carefully.

Tom had never been more eager to become powerful! Buying spellbooks and learning magic was the simplest path toward that goal.

“In Diagon Alley. I can take you there and help you purchase everything you need…”

“You’re going with us?” Tom asked.

“Of course, if you’re willing.”

“No, I…” Only after seeing that Wade was not stopping him did Tom continue, “We don’t need you. We can manage on our own. Just tell us the address of that… Diagon Alley place.”

Tom now wished more than anything for Dumbledore to leave immediately. There was no way he wanted the old man accompanying them on their shopping trip.

Dumbledore did not insist. Instead, he handed Wade and Tom their respective envelopes containing their admission letters and shopping lists.

After explaining in detail how to reach the Leaky Cauldron and warning them about the other matters they needed to keep in mind, Dumbledore rose and left.

A long while after Dumbledore had gone, Tom weighed the leather pouch in his hand and could not help asking, “When are you planning to go to that… Diagon Alley place to buy the things?”

Wade picked up the box from the bed, a hint of amusement touching his face.

“Obviously, after you’ve returned these little trinkets to their owners.”

At those words, Tom’s pale face once again flushed crimson.