"Let's go." Wade walked into the Headmaster's office in a fresh set of clothes.
"That's your grand preparation? Changing your coat?" Tom asked.
"Heh~" Wade patted one of the pockets on his coat, and a pocket watch popped out from inside.
He opened it, glanced at the time, and said, "This isn't just any coat, Tom. But we're short on time, so I can't explain it in detail right now."
Just then, a white soul-like cat darted into the office. It leapt onto the desk and locked eyes with Dumbledore.
"A Patronus?!" Tom immediately recognized it. After all, he had spent nearly the entire Christmas holiday practicing that spell.
"Yes, this is Professor McGonagall's Patronus," Headmaster Dippet said.
Dumbledore tilted his head, as if listening to something the white cat was saying. After a moment, he nodded.
"Minerva says they're all in position," Dumbledore said.
"A Patronus can deliver messages?" Tom asked in surprise.
"That's just a small technique for using a Patronus, Tom," Dumbledore said with a smile. "I'll teach you all in the future."
Tom suddenly looked at Wade and said, "That's wonderful. In fact, I'm very curious to see what Wade's Patronus is."
Wade looked up at the ceiling, pretending he hadn't heard anything.
"Wade? What's your Patronus? Don't tell me you can't cast the spell."
Driven by jealousy, Tom started needling him.
"The weather's great today, Tom. How about some roast meat tonight?" Wade changed the subject.
"Wade, that was a very stiff diversion," Tom said.
In the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore, Headmaster Dippet, and Newt all turned their attention to Wade.
It seemed everyone was quite interested in what Wade's Patronus might be.
Tom was thrilled. Come on, everyone, see Wade's true nature. He's no saint.
This was someone so dark inside he couldn't even produce a Patronus.
"Fine, I can't learn the Patronus Charm," Wade said helplessly. "Maybe it's because I'm too dark inside. I don't have any truly happy emotions. The optimism I show is all an act. In reality, I'm… I'm a very gloomy, very pessimistic person. Maybe that's why I pick up Dark Magic so easily. Professor, perhaps it's best to expel me, or send me to Azkaban. I'm afraid that one day I'll lose control and do something none of you want to see."
Tom was stunned. What on earth was this guy doing?
Not pretending anymore? Confessing everything? Sudden self-destruction?
No, this wasn't what Tom wanted. He only wanted to see Wade embarrassed, not ruined.
Expulsion? Azkaban?
What about his ambitions? His future?
Were all those things he'd talked about before nothing but empty promises?
Something was wrong. Extremely wrong.
But these seemingly self-destructive words sounded entirely different in Dumbledore's ears.
He had once suspected that, before Wade ended up in the orphanage, something truly tragic must have happened to his family.
That would explain why he refused every offer of adoption, choosing instead to live alone at such a young age.
If not for Tom, who also had magical ability, Wade might not even have had a single friend at the orphanage.
And thinking back to how Wade had once asked him how to control himself and restrain his desire for power…
Dumbledore understood instantly.
This child was far too kind. Even when he couldn't overcome his own inner struggles, he still thought of others. He feared that his pursuit of power might lead him to lose control and hurt innocent people.
Whether it was when his ancient magic talent was first discovered or now, he was still just as kind as ever.
"It's alright, Wade. What's in the past is already behind you. You're young, and you still have a long life ahead of you. You can't keep your heart trapped forever in those tragic memories," Dumbledore sighed.
"You know my story as well. In fact, for several years after my sister's death, I couldn't cast the Patronus Charm either."
"I always thought I had an exceptional gift for magic. But that time, I failed. Because I hadn't truly moved on. The deep pain I carried left no room for joy."
"But a few years later, when I returned to Hogwarts to teach, I felt happiness again for the first time in a long while. As time slowly eased the pain in my heart and I began to step out of the shadows, the Patronus Charm I could never learn suddenly came to me one day."
Tom stood to the side, completely stunned. What was happening?
No, this wasn't right. The guy had practically exposed himself, and yet Dumbledore was comforting him?
He's a Dark wizard! A Manipulative Dark wizard!
Meanwhile, Headmaster Dippet and Newt were both looking at Wade with sympathetic expressions.
They had heard Dumbledore recount Wade's "circumstances" before, so they understood perfectly why Dumbledore spoke the way he did.
Then Tom witnessed something he couldn't make sense of at all.
A self-confessed Dark wizard was being comforted one after another by three of the most upright people he knew…
Wade: Muhahaha~~!!
In the end, Tom finally pieced together the truth from Dumbledore and the others' words.
He let out a long sigh and wiped his face helplessly.
It seemed that aside from strength, there were many other things in which he couldn't compare to Wade.
Had Wade started building this persona the moment he first met Dumbledore, deliberately planting a lasting impression in his mind?
Study… I really need to study… That bastard had been preparing for this day right from the very beginning.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know," Tom said, offering Wade an apology that came from the heart, along with genuine respect.
He couldn't beat him. He simply couldn't beat him.
"It's fine, Tom. Alright, enough of that. We need to get moving," Wade said.
"Right. We can talk more when we get back." Dumbledore and the others began leaving the Headmaster's office one after another.
Wade turned back and glanced at Tom, and Tom immediately noticed that there was not a trace of sorrow left on his face.
Instead, Wade smirked at him triumphantly.
Then a white blur shot out from the tip of Wade's wand so fast it was almost invisible before it vanished.
Tom's eyes widened in shock. Even if he couldn't see what creature it was, he still recognized it.
A Patronus. That was a Patronus.
Wade, that bastard, could actually cast a Patronus Charm.
Then Tom heard Wade's voice whisper beside his ear through a whispering Charm.
"…I really can cast it. If that upsets you, what can I do?"
Watching Wade's retreating back, Tom felt his heart shatter.
Damn it. Beast. Not only did he strike the blow, he had to stab the soul too.
…
On the second-floor corridor, they arrived at the entrance to the girls' bathroom.
"We think the entrance is inside. Tom…" Dumbledore turned and pulled the dazed Tom closer.
"Tom, what's wrong?" Dumbledore asked.
"Huh? Oh… nothing," Tom said quickly.
Tom's mental strength was still solid. Even after Wade's provocation, it was only his confidence that had cracked a little. It wasn't a big problem. He was used to it by now.
"We suspect the entrance is at the sink. Once you open it, step aside immediately," Dumbledore said, gesturing for everyone to put on their glasses before striding into the bathroom.
Tom pulled himself together and followed them inside.
There was indeed a small serpent engraving on the faucet.
Tom tried speaking to the pattern in Parseltongue, telling it to open.
A moment later, the entire sink gave a loud sound.
A sharp crack.
Newt immediately pulled Tom behind him.
Everyone raised their wands, ready for the Basilisk to lunge out at any moment.
A deep rumble echoed through the room.
The sink began to shift.
Section by section, the basins contracted toward the center, then drew upward.
In the end, a dark, deep hole appeared before them.
Headmaster Dippet flicked his wand, sending a small orb of light into the opening, illuminating the interior.
"Uh… is this a drainage pipe?" Tom couldn't help asking.
"This explains it," Dumbledore said with a nod. "A creature like a Basilisk, which prefers damp and cold environments, would naturally hide underground."
Headmaster Dippet flipped through a stack of notes. "Yes… it says here that the Chamber holding the Basilisk has several exits. What we've found might be the farthest one. Or rather… this is the Basilisk's entry and exit point."
"You mean, if the Basilisk were released, it would come out from here?" Tom asked.
Newt examined the pipe. "In theory, yes. This clearly isn't an entrance meant for people. But for a serpent, it's just right."
This downward pipe would require a person to slide through it…
It was hard to imagine someone like Salazar Slytherin entering his own chamber in such an undignified way.
"Well, that means there should be a proper door further below," Headmaster Dippet said seriously.
"Actually, there's no need to be that nervous. Since this creature was left by Slytherin for his descendants, Slytherin's heir would definitely be safe in front of a Basilisk. So…" Wade pushed Tom toward the hole, "I suggest Tom take the lead."
"Who? Me?"
Tom was stunned. That was a Basilisk that killed with a glare. And they wanted him at the front?
With so many powerful wizards present, how did it come to him?
"That's not a good idea. It's too dangerous," Newt said.
"Don't worry, I'll keep him safe," Wade said, pushing Tom forward again.
"Ah, hearing you say that really puts me at ease… of course, if you didn't insist on putting me at the very front like a shield…" Tom's face had gone pale. He truly regretted running his mouth earlier.
Wade's revenge always came late, but it always came. Why did he keep forgetting that?
"Relax, Tom. I really think this is the safest way."
"No! This is absolutely not safe!" Tom clung desperately to the edge of the chute, refusing to go down.
"Be brave, Tom!" Wade continued pushing him downward.
"Why don't you go then!"
"If I were Slytherin's heir, I'd already be knocking on the Basilisk's door."
"I refuse!"
"Down you go!" WACK!
Tom tried to say something else, but before he could get a word out, Wade kicked him straight into the pipe.
Everyone stared at Wade in shock.
"Don't worry, he's quite good at the Levitation Charm," Wade said.
"WADE!!!!.... YOU BASTARD....!!!!"
Sure enough, Tom's furious shouting soon echoed up from the pipe.
"Hmm, that voice… very lively. Tom! Has anyone ever told you that you sound like you're pouting when you curse?"
There was a brief pause from inside the pipe, followed by even louder swearing.
"Looks like it's safe down there. Tom wouldn't be this energetic otherwise." Saying that, Wade jumped into the hole as well.
The remaining three looked at each other. After a moment, Headmaster Dippet said, "Let's go too. We can't really let two children go first."
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