[Bonus Chapter for Reviews!]
(≧∇≦)ﾉHuge thanks to MadJdog for the patronage!♥♥
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Heh~
Wade let out another sigh. "Alphard, you're a member of a pure-blood family too. You should have your own pride and dignity. How can you let your sister bully you like that all the time?"
"I can't help it, Wade… I really don't want to, but… my sister is just too scary! If I mess up and get a beating, that's one thing—I probably deserved it. But… if she's had a bad day or is simply in a bad mood…"
Alphard swallowed hard, as if recalling some particularly painful memories.
"Ugh, that's why I really can't understand you British pure-blood families…" Wade shook his head.
Alphard lowered his head, filled with shame.
The Black family was considered a long-standing pure-blood family, but compared to Wade's, in every aspect, they fell far short.
"Well, I've said what I needed to say. It's up to you now," Wade finished with a flourish, brushing past Alphard and stepping into the common room.
Anne didn't follow him in right away.
Instead, she turned to Alphard and asked, "How did you know about his family being one of the founders of Canada? He even told you his family's origin! I'm his friend too, but he's never once talked to me about his background."
Alphard replied, "He said it himself. That time, my sister thought he was a Mudblood… Wade was furious."
"Honestly, my sister really went too far. Even if someone isn't pure-blood, that's no excuse to use such offensive language…"
"He said it himself… and no one else has confirmed it?" Anne asked.
Alphard shook his head. "Does it even need to be proven? I've never seen anyone more like a pure-blood than him."
That statement made Anne fall into deep thought.
Thinking back to her interactions with Wade, recalling his demeanor and behavior…
Anne realized that although Wade always wore a gentle smile no matter who he spoke to, deep down, he carried a profound pride.
It was as if… he was always standing above everyone else.
If he were merely Muggle-born, or even from an ordinary pure-blood family, it would be impossible for him to possess such a distinct air.
Alphard was right—Anne also hadn't seen anyone who seemed more like a pure-blood than him.
Her thoughts drifted to Tom. Compared to Wade's restraint, Tom's pride was worn plainly on his sleeve.
Yet, only in front of Wade did Tom unconsciously rein in that pride…
It was something worth pondering.
…
Tom didn't return to the dorm until quite late.
However, his expression didn't look good—it seemed he hadn't found the answers he was looking for in the library.
The library closed relatively early, which meant Tom had wandered outside for quite some time after leaving it before returning to the dormitory.
It was clear that what he had learned had left a deep impression on him.
By now, both of their roommates, Alphard and Henry, were already asleep.
Wade was also lying quietly in his bed.
After glancing at Wade, Tom said nothing and got into bed.
"You didn't actually take Anne's words seriously, did you?" Wade suddenly asked in a low voice.
"Whatever the case, it's still a lead, isn't it?" Tom replied weakly. "But I searched every record I could find on Slytherin and couldn't find anything connected to the name Riddle."
"Maybe… you could look into your mother's surname instead. Do you know what her name was?" Wade asked.
"Mm… Mrs. Cole once told me. Her name was Merope Gaunt," Tom replied.
"Then I think you should definitely look into the Gaunt name," Wade suggested again.
Tom frowned, staring up at the ceiling. "But how is that even possible? If my mother really was… a descendant of that man, then how could she have died in such a pitiful, worthless way?"
Wade said calmly, "Tom, you've seen what most of the pure-blood families' heirs are like… You should know what level the majority of them are really at."
That sentence left Tom in silence. For a moment, he couldn't accept the most likely conclusion—that his mother had been a mediocre witch.
As he'd said before, he'd rather believe in his previous assumption: That his father was a wizard, and his mother merely a Muggle…
"Looks like you're not getting any sleep tonight, huh?"
"Yeah…" Tom replied gloomily.
Wade glanced at the clock, then suddenly sat up.
"Hmm? What are you doing?" Tom asked.
"I figured you might need a dose of Draught of Living Death. I think I still have a decent amount left," Wade replied.
"No, I don't need it," Tom said firmly.
When it came to Wade's potions… best not to touch them.
"Alright then. I guess you'll just have to lie there awake."
Wade grabbed a vial of potion from his bedside, tilted his head back, and drank it in one go, then walked toward the dormitory door.
"Where are you going?" Tom asked in confusion.
He had assumed Wade had taken the Draught of Living Death.
But instead of lying down to sleep after drinking it, Wade was heading outside, which immediately piqued Tom's curiosity.
"I'm going to look for something…" Wade said as he exited the dorm.
The common room was completely empty at this hour.
Even the ghost was dozing by the fireplace.
Wade had never realized ghosts needed sleep. Of course, it might just be that this particular ghost was clinging to its old human routines…
He carefully opened the door to the Slytherin common room and stepped out.
Standing in the corridor of Hogwarts Castle, he took a deep breath of the cold midnight air.
Then he raised his wand, preparing to cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself.
"You're sneaking out?" Tom's hushed voice came from behind him.
"You should be in bed, Tom," Wade turned and frowned at him.
Tom replied, "I can't sleep anyway… take me with you."
Wade was silent for a while before asking, "Do you know where I'm going?"
"I'm guessing… the Restricted Section," Tom shrugged.
"How did you know?"
"You said you were just wandering around today, but really you were scouting routes, right? And while you were 'wandering,' you were heading in the opposite direction from me, yet somehow managed to run into me while I was fighting those guys—on the way to the library. So your destination must've been the library, and in the library, the only thing that could possibly interest you… is the Restricted Section."
Wade was quiet again for a moment. "Your reasoning is pretty far-fetched, Tom…"
"Fine. I saw the route map you drew. Enough talk, I want to go to the Restricted Section too. Are you bringing me or not? If not, I'll go by myself."
Wade studied him for a second, then nodded. "Heh~ Looking for more about Slytherin… so that's why you want to go. Alright then. Just don't slow me down." As he spoke, he tapped Tom's shoulder with his wand.
A chill ran through Tom's body, and he watched as his form began to shimmer and blur.
"Disillusionment Charm? You've mastered even that advanced spell…"
"Don't think you're the only one who works hard, Tom," Wade replied.
As he spoke, he cast the Disillusionment Charm on himself as well.
"Right, let me teach you another spell. This one lets you see clearly even in the dark."
Tom looked surprised. "Looks like you came well-prepared!"
Wade muttered with annoyance, "I learned something new today — no matter how thorough your preparation, how flawless your plan, there's always room for disruption… and that disruption is you, Tommy boy!"
"What.. Oh.."
Knowing he was in the wrong, Tom didn't argue. He was afraid Wade might change his mind and knock him out with a Stunner. So he focused intently on learning the night vision spell Wade taught him.
With that, they wouldn't need to carry lanterns or use the Lumos spell for light.
Having a light source during a night excursion would defeat the purpose of the Disillusionment Charm entirely.
"And this is the Whispering Charm," Wade added. "It lets your voice carry only to a designated person's ears for over an hour. I call it 'party chat mode.'"
Tom was astonished by the Whispering Charm. "What is your brain made of? How can you even create spells like this?!"
"Ah, it's noting~ It's just a minor modification of the Silencing Charm…" Wade replied calmly.
…
Tom's talent was truly frightening.
It didn't take him long at all to master the two spells Wade had just taught him.
Five minutes later, they were already making their way toward the Hogwarts Library.
"Um.. What exactly are you looking for?" Tom asked.
Because of the "party chat" effect of the Whispering Charm, they could speak freely, and not a sound would be heard in the dark corridors around them.
Wade said, "That's a funny question… I mean, why else would someone go to the Restricted Section? Obviously to look for books. It's not like we're going there to have a meal."
"..." Tom was speechless. "Did you eat something spicy tonight? Why are you so fiery?"
Wade: "Guess why."
Tom sighed. "Alright, alright—it's because of me. Got it… I'll shut up now."
Wade was extremely cautious along the way.
In areas cloaked in darkness, he moved quickly, but wherever there was moonlight or any kind of illumination, he would crouch down and creep past any paintings that looked like they might just be dozing off.
His level of expertise left Tom in awe. If it weren't for the fact that today was their first day of school, Tom would've thought Wade had done this sort of night excursion countless times before.
To be fair, Wade had every reason to be careful—on this short journey alone, they'd already run into Professor McGonagall doing her nightly rounds, a group of ghosts who didn't need to sleep, and even the castle caretaker...
"We're finally here… wait, is that someone over there?" Tom suddenly pointed toward the library doors.
Wade glanced in that direction and immediately recognized who it was.
"Peeves. A mischievous poltergeist… maybe even worse than a ghost. If he catches us out of bed, we won't have to wait until morning. Give it five minutes, and we'll be sitting in Dumbledore's office, watching our hard-earned hundred house points vanish in a puff of smoke…"
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So, I saw that the 6 reviews were completed.. until I realized someone doubled up. Nice try, internet Diddy—thought you could sneak past me with that two-for-one special. 😤 BUT since it's technically my fault for not clarifying (and I know you guys will crucify me), HERE'S ANOTHER CHAPTER!! 😭😭
NO MORE SCAMMING THO. I'M WATCHING YOU. 👀💥
o(*￣▽￣*)ブRead two weeks ahead:
P^treon: Captain69
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Every 200 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter
Every 6 Reviews = 1 extra chapter