"Hey, long time no see. I just greeted you, but you were so engrossed you didn't even notice me."
Bill Weasley's attitude was very enthusiastic.
Tom responded somewhat awkwardly, "Bill, long time no see. I'm sorry about that. Why are you here?"
"Work. Those greedy Goblins insist on squeezing the last bit of value from this pyramid, which has already been mostly developed. As someone with limited experience, I was sent here to work overtime. And watching performances here every day is one of the few hobbies I have during my boring work hours."
Bill's tone sounded quite helpless.
Tom, however, became interested: "I heard Gringotts pays very well, with high bonuses and overtime pay, a four-day work week with three days off, paid leave, and triple pay on holidays."
"Uh... not really." Bill suddenly felt that his job at Gringotts didn't seem so appealing anymore.
At this moment, Tom felt he could try asking Bill, a Gringotts Curse-Breaker, who should be more reliable than Mr. Diggory. So he asked, "Bill, I heard there are many mysterious ruins in Egypt. Do you, as an expert, know anything about them?"
Bill laughed after hearing him: "It's impossible to know, Tom."
Tom asked curiously, "Why?"
"Because there are simply too many. Egypt's thousands of years of civilization have created too many ruins, and they contain too much magic. In fact, with so few people from Gringotts and the Ministry of Magic, I think it's already amazing that they've managed to develop a few pyramids here. It has already taken a lot of time."
Bill explained patiently, also giving Tom a suggestion: "If you are looking for something in an Egyptian ruin, unless you have very clear clues, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. Unless you have a lot of time and manpower, you should just give up."
After listening to Bill's words and thinking for a moment, Tom agreed to take the advice, as internal friction was not his style.
Moreover, his high Divination talent of 2 made Tom feel that his opportunity had not yet arrived.
For the next few days, Tom, having completely let go, began to enjoy his vacation with Cedric and his family.
However, on the third day of their trip, Tom was once again cornered in a dead end, this time bringing Cedric, who was shopping with Tom, along with him.
"Hehe, two little guys, hand over your valuables, and we can let you go. Otherwise, no one will know who did it if you die in this foreign land."
Two black-robed Wizards looked at Tom and Cedric with sinister smiles.
Cedric had already pulled out his wand, determined to escape with Tom even if it meant violating Ministry of Magic regulations. Tom, on the other hand, looked relaxed, even having the presence of mind to quip: "Cedric, why do villains always 'hehe' laugh and like to wear all black? And do I really look like a harmless fat sheep? This is already the second time this month. Also, if you're going to act, do it quickly. Why so much nonsense?"
"Don't talk, Tom, you escape first, I'll try to hold them off, get ready..."
Cedric hadn't finished speaking when he saw that the two people in front of them had already been hit by Petrificus Totalus and were frozen in place.
He stiffly turned his head to look at Tom, his voice dry: "You did that?"
"Of course, is there anyone else here?" Tom said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Aren't you afraid of the Ministry of Magic's punishment? Don't worry, I'll explain for you then." For Cedric, a good kid and good student, this seemed like a big deal.
Tom, however, casually started to argue with Cedric: "Cedric, how does the Ministry of Magic determine if a young Wizard has cast spells during the holidays?"
"By tracking the Trace on the wand." Cedric knew this point.
"Did I use a wand then?"
Looking at Tom's empty hands, Cedric fell silent, then chuckled dryly: "I guess the people who made the rules at the Ministry of Magic never imagined that a young Wizard could perform wandless magic. You've found a loophole that others can't even learn."
Tom, after hearing Cedric's words, looked smug: "Thanks for the compliment. Also, Cedric, you're a really good person."
Finally, after Mr. and Mrs. Diggory arrived, the two robbers were handed over to the local Ministry of Magic. Unexpectedly, these two turned out to be minor fugitives, and Tom even received a small reward, which Just right covered the travel expenses for the trip.
The three strongest bonds in life are: having studied together, having fought together, and having experienced difficult times together.
From then on, the unbreakable friendship between Tom and Cedric was officially forged.
After a pleasant vacation, Tom parted ways with Cedric's family and returned to the orphanage to live the life of a homebody.
During this time, Harry also sent a letter, informing Tom of his recent situation, and two things piqued Tom's interest.
The first thing was that Lucius, as if by fate, had an unrestricted duel with Mr. Weasley in Diagon Alley. The reason for it was unknown, but it was said that the process was so spectacular, even surpassing Egyptian belly dance performances. Tom, who missed witnessing it firsthand, deeply regretted it and had secretly decided to borrow Dumbledore's Pensieve after school started, asking Harry to extract that memory so he could enjoy it thoroughly.
The other thing was that Lupin had moved in with Sirius, which gave Tom a burst of inspiration. The inspiration for Harley Evans's next novel, which her editor had been pressing her for, had just arrived. It truly was like finding a pillow when you're sleepy.
Thanks to Sirius, thanks to Lupin, thanks to Snape, and thanks to the deceased James. After all, a part of Tom's quality of life in his later years would depend on the love and hate between these four good people.
In the last five days before school started, Tom stayed up all night to finish his untouched summer homework, and with that, his first summer vacation after enrolling at Hogwarts came to an end.
After another sad farewell, Tom chose the Muggle way of travel, changing several trains to reach King's Cross Station, which made Tom, accustomed to Apparition, extremely uncomfortable.
At the station, like fixed-spawn NPCs, the Weasley family, along with Harry, Sirius, and Lupin who were traveling with them, happened to meet Tom in front of the pillar.
Mrs. Weasley immediately gave Tom a big hug: "Long time no see, how have you been, child?"
"I've been very well recently, Madam. And a few days ago, I even met Bill in Egypt and received a lot of his care. The time I spent with him was really enjoyable." Tom's words made the relationship between the two parties even closer.
Mrs. Weasley also enthusiastically introduced her youngest daughter, Ginny, to Tom.
Looking at the shy little girl in front of him, Tom decided to tease her: "It's a pleasure to see you again. Welcome to the Hogwarts family, Mrs. Potter."
These words made Ron, the sister-con, immediately ready to fight Tom. Harry, who was a beauty-con, felt embarrassed but didn't retort. Ginny, a Savior worshipper, lowered her head, her ears red, while the others laughed heartily, enjoying the show.
Seeing that it was getting late, they once again passed through the pillar and entered Platform 9 ¾.
New semester, Hogwarts, your king, Tom Riddle, is back.