Chapter 9: Tom, Stand Tall—Don’t Lose Face!

“He can’t beat me.”

Levi stopped in his tracks and turned to meet Dumbledore’s clear blue eyes.

Dumbledore was momentarily taken aback; Levi’s answer was quite reasonable.

“We’ve arrived,” Levi said.

It was only then that Dumbledore noticed they were standing before a wooden door.

Levi pushed open the door to Tom’s room as casually as if returning home.

“Tom, this is… Mr. Dumbledore. He’s here to talk to us,” Levi said as he entered.

Levi deliberately mispronounced Dumbledore’s name because Mrs. Cole had done the same earlier.

Dumbledore corrected him with a wry smile, “Actually, my name is Albus Dumbledore. I’m a professor.”

Tom sat on his rug, holding a book, eyeing the self-proclaimed professor with suspicion.

Dumbledore extended his hand. “Hello, Tom.”

Tom hesitated, glanced at Levi, then reached out to shake Dumbledore’s hand.

Dumbledore pulled over a chair and sat down, while Levi perched on Tom’s bed.

“Professor? Is that like a ‘doctor’? What brings you here?” Tom asked, glancing warily at Levi again.

“I’m Professor Dumbledore, and I work at a school called Hogwarts. I’m here to invite you to come to my school… your new school, if you’re willing,” Dumbledore explained.

Tom’s reaction was explosive. He jumped up from the rug, backing away from Dumbledore in anger.

“Who exactly are you?! What do you want here? Tell the truth!” The last words rang out like a command.

He glared fiercely at Dumbledore, who simply smiled pleasantly without replying.

“Who are you?” Tom repeated slowly, emphasizing each word.

Dumbledore replied patiently, “I just told you—I’m Professor Dumbledore…”

“No! Don’t try to fool me! You came from the mental hospital, didn’t you? ‘Professor,’ sure! I won’t go, got it?”

Tom’s expression grew more agitated, then suddenly his gaze landed on Levi, and his face changed instantly.

Recalling Levi’s unusual insistence that he come home early today, Tom suddenly understood the “truth.”

“…He’s the one you called, isn’t he? You’re finally moving against me, aren’t you? That’s it, you want to send me to the mental hospital! You… you’re so cruel!”

Dumbledore glanced oddly at Levi.

Levi shrugged. “You know, we’ve fought before.”

Thinking back to what Levi had said earlier—that Tom couldn’t beat him—Dumbledore’s gaze became even stranger.

Clearly, the relationship between Levi and Tom was far more complicated than just a single fight.

Judging by Tom’s reaction, he had been harshly oppressed by Levi.

“I’m not from a mental hospital,” Dumbledore turned his head and patiently said again to Tom. “I’m a teacher. If you can sit down quietly, I’ll tell you what Hogwarts is. Of course, if you don’t want to go, no one will force you…”

“Also…” Dumbledore glanced at Levi again. “Besides you, Levi is also invited.”

“So, he… he’s going too?” Tom looked suspiciously at Dumbledore, then at Levi.

“Tom, can you calm down a bit? Pull yourself together and don’t lose face.”

Levi’s words made Tom’s face flush. His earlier startled behavior was indeed a bit embarrassing…

Once Tom finally calmed down, Dumbledore continued, “Hogwarts is a school for students with special abilities…”

To Tom’s ears, that sounded a lot like a mental hospital!

“I’m not crazy…” Tom began, but then his eyes met Levi’s calm gaze again.

He shut his mouth, swallowing the rest of his sentence, letting Dumbledore continue.

“…It’s a school of magic.”

“Magic?” Tom repeated softly.

“That’s right.”

“The things I can do… they’re magic…” Tom looked at his hands excitedly.

“What can you do?” Dumbledore asked with interest.

“Anything,” Riddle panted, a flush of excitement coloring his sunken cheeks, his fervor obvious.

“I can move things without touching them. I can make animals obey me without training. I can make those who anger me suffer. If I want, I can hurt them…”

Before Tom could finish his animated speech, his gaze met Levi’s again, and his excitement instantly cooled…

‘…Except for Levi! That bastard!’

Calmed, Tom slowly sat back down.

Dumbledore also looked at Levi. “Levi, you don’t seem as excited. Have you known what your abilities are for a while?”

“No, I just found out… just like Tom. I’m aware of what makes me different. But since it’s my ability, now that I know what it is, what’s there to be excited about?”

Dumbledore nodded. “You’re right, Levi…”

‘What a peculiar child… so mature, not like an eleven-year-old. What must he have gone through?’

“You’re both wizards,” Dumbledore said.

“So, you’re a wizard too?” Levi asked.

“Yes, I’m a wizard as well. I have special abilities, just like you.”

“Prove it to me,” Riddle demanded immediately.

His tone was as commanding as when he said, “Tell the truth.”

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.

“If I prove it, you’ll come with me to Hogwarts…”

“Of course!”

“Then you must address me as ‘Professor’ or ‘Sir.’”

Riddle’s expression froze for a moment before he spoke with barely perceptible politeness, “Sorry, sir—I mean… Professor, could you please show me…”

Without further ado, Dumbledore pulled a slender, black wand from the inner pocket of his jacket.

Levi raised an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Dumbledore pointed his wand at a shabby wardrobe in the corner and waved it casually.

“Boom!”

A fierce flame instantly engulfed the old wardrobe!

“Ah!” Tom screamed and jumped up again; all his belongings were inside that wardrobe!

Just as Tom was about to protest to Dumbledore, the flames vanished instantly, and the wardrobe stood there untouched, as if nothing had happened.