[HP] Dearest Enemy

Dumbledore was awakened by the sound of an owl knocking on the window before dawn, sat up with a heavy sigh, put on his dressing gown, and walked slowly to open the window.Although it was Christmas yesterday, Dumbledore was not infected by the festive atmosphere in the castle, in fact he was quite depressed.

On the way back to his office after the dinner, Dumbledore accidentally saw the vampire Sardin Umberur, who taught ancient runes, wearing a rather formal black dress robe and gliding under the cover of night Crossing the castle grounds and disappearing deep into the Forbidden Forest, no doubt looking for his kind.Dumbledore rarely saw the reclusive vampire, but the fellow was a friend of the Big Four and no teacher, not even the headmaster, could interfere in his affairs.After returning to the office with an unhappy mood, Dumbledore received a message about Getler Grindelwald's men sneaking into England again to inquire about his diet and daily life.The news reminded Dumbledore of the last thing he wanted to recall, but he couldn't allow himself to wallow in tragic memories and stay busy until well past midnight before lying down.After less than four hours of sleep, Alex Palampeon's owl roused the weary man from his bed with a note that said the young Gryffindor needed See him immediately.

"I'm sorry to disturb your rest, Professor Dumbledore." Alex was wearing a traveling cloak, and his short black hair was brushed back as usual.He sank into Dumbledore's armchair, his whole body revealing indescribable exhaustion.

"What do you want to drink? I think coffee is a good choice?" Dumbledore couldn't say he didn't mind his old friend's grandson disturbing him like this, but he still had a gentle and understanding expression on his face.Alex nodded, Dumbledore waved his wand lightly, and a tea tray appeared in front of Alex, "How much sugar do you want?"

"I'll do it myself, professor, thank you." Alex took the cup politely, put two pieces of sugar into the cup and stirred it, picked up the steaming coffee and took a shallow sip, "I Just finished an unpleasant trip."

"So," Dumbledore sat down at his desk, knowing that the kid had gone to Germany in September.He looked over the half-moon-shaped lenses and looked at the pale young man, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I'm here for a friend of mine. He needs your help, Professor." Alex drank the drink in his glass. "Do you know Harry Potter?"

Dumbledore was a little surprised, and nodded slightly: "I have written with Mr. Potter. He is a very studious person and is very interested in time magic."

"Harry is not just interested in this kind of remote magic." Alex showed a wry smile on his tired face, "I met him on the way back, and he set up a research laboratory near Heidelberg .Harry told me that his research has reached a critical moment now, and he cannot walk away, as long as he works harder, he will be able to produce results."

"Is Potter working for Grindelwald?" Dumbledore asked alertly.

"No, he didn't." Alex shook his head, "Harry didn't want to deal with those dark wizards, and had a few conflicts with them. He hid himself and his workshop. Harry please me One thing, let me deliver a Christmas gift to his godson Tom Riddle on his behalf, and he doesn't think it's safe to use an owl." Alex took out a small parchment-wrapped package from his cloak and put it on the table, "He also made me have to send Tom back to Hogwarts for the holidays. Harry promised Tom would come back for Christmas, but he can't leave his studio now or he'll be hunted down. It took me a day and a night to get rid of the Germans who followed me, and I lost time. If I may excuse you, I would like to ask you to come with me to fetch Tom, and I wonder if you would accept my little request?"

Dumbledore looked at Alex whose eyelids were almost closed, and shook his head at him: "Go back and rest, I'll pick Mr. Riddle back to Hogwarts."

Alex breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore, for Harry."

"So, Harry won't come back?" Tom sat across from Dumbledore with red and swollen eyes, without any expression on his face, "He abandoned me."

"I believe Mr. Potter has not abandoned you, Tom." Dumbledore said gently.

Tom raised his eyebrows because of Dumbledore's too intimate address, looked up at Dumbledore, and turned his head again: "I don't think so."

"This is the news from Palampion this morning. Mr. Potter's research will be completed soon, and he will be back once his research is completed." Dumbledore explained kindly, and Tom hummed heavily With a sound, Dumbledore ignored Tom's rudeness and continued, "Mr. Potter wants you to spend the rest of your vacation at Hogwarts. I'm here to pick you up, Tom. It's not safe for you to stay here."

"I don't see why it's unsafe to be here," Tom replied dryly, in a heavily nasal voice. "Harry has put a protective spell over the whole house to keep his research from Muggles. Me and He lived here for five years and nothing happened."

"You're still a boy, Tom," said Dumbledore. "It's not a very peaceful place in London these days."

"I know what's going on in London now." Tom glanced at the newspaper on the table, "Harry asked me to pay more attention to Muggle affairs, so I ordered a Muggle newspaper. I also know the situation in Germany Some. More than other unreasonable concerns, I want to know what he wants to do in researching time magic! Why abandon me in this kind of place!"

"Mr. Potter has not abandoned you, Tom." Dumbledore repeated his point.

"Then he won't let me write to him, won't tell me his condition makes me afraid, and if he promised me to come back, he won't abandon me? I know he hates me! I've known it since I was a child!"

Dumbledore's bright blue eyes narrowed.Tom suddenly realized that he had said something hidden in the deepest part of his heart, and immediately shut his mouth tightly.

"With all due respect, Tom." Dumbledore looked at Tom with his sharp eyes, "Harry Potter is your godfather and guardian. If he really hated you, then he would not have adopted you in the first place, you Will be sent to an orphanage. You shouldn't think him so badly."

"What do you know! How do you know what he's thinking! Have you ever seen the way he looks at me! He's been lying to me all this time! I've had enough!"

Tom's anger finally broke out.He picked up the small unopened package on the table and slammed it across the room.Dumbledore frowned, and the package slammed against the wall with a dull sound.

"I've been waiting for him for a whole day and two nights!" Tom breathed heavily and trembling, "I couldn't control myself, I thought of many situations to explain why he didn't show up, I thought he had some accident, even died I'm waiting, but he had to leave me alone because of his own research!" Tom suddenly noticed Dumbledore's gaze, and immediately pressed his lips tightly together, turned around and closed his eyes.What's wrong with him, getting angry at his least favorite teacher, it's really not like what Tom Riddle would do.He shouldn't be angry with Dumbledore, it will make Dumbledore see himself as a problem boy, and this old guy doesn't like Slytherin, let alone pay more attention to himself than the whole first year. More Slytherins combined.But Harry, he... Tom bit his lip, and a rusty taste spread on the tip of his tongue.

Dumbledore said nothing.Before meeting the boy, he knew Tom Riddle was not Harry Potter's son.Dumbledore hadn't met the young man yet, but he had no doubt that Potter had put a lot of effort into Tom's education.Although Tom is only in the first grade, he has knowledge and insights far beyond his age, and it is extremely rare that he is not hostile to Muggles and is willing to accept the knowledge of Muggles. Didn't show this.The wizarding children soon formed a circle around him, including older students like Obather Malfoy, and Tom showed no signs of ambition.Tom is so good, he is always so calm, polite, humble but full of confidence, with a calmness and sophistication rarely seen in children of his age.But these were enough to make Dumbledore wary of him.This child will definitely have amazing achievements in the future, and Slytherin is not a reassuring house. Will he go further and further down a road that they don't want to see, as Potter's letter implicitly hints? Far?

Looking at the boy's stiff back, Dumbledore slowly stood up.Since he still gets angry, it means that Tom is still a child at least. He has his fears, the people and things he cares about the most, and he also has weaknesses.Tom had gradually controlled his anger, and Dumbledore put his hand on the dark-haired boy's shoulder.What the child needs most at this time is comfort: "Tom, your Harry will not leave you alone like this. If he really abandons the custody of you because of his research, then Mr. Potter will be punished for it." Prosecution by the Ministry of Magic."

Tom moved, turning to look at Dumbledore.The blue eyes, often hidden by half-moon lenses, were not as sharp as usual.Dumbledore gave himself a step, Tom lowered his head slowly, his voice was a little stiff: "I'm sorry, Professor, I shouldn't lose my temper."

"I can understand, Tom." Dumbledore said gently, pulled out his wand and pointed to the small package that fell in the corner, and waved his wand to send it back to Tom, "I think you'd better put this present away, Even if you don't want to open it, that's Mr. Potter's wish."

Tom nodded stiffly, and then asked, "Professor Dumbledore, must I go back to the castle to finish my holiday?"

"That's Mr. Potter's request," Dumbledore replied. "I suggest the same. You'll be safer going back to the castle."

Tom lowered his head and played with the small package in his hand. He pondered for a while before raising his head: "I'll go back to Hogwarts with you, and I hope you will forgive me for my bad attitude. Can you please wait for me to pack my suitcase?"

Dumbledore nodded and sat down on the sofa again.Tom bowed slightly to him, and hurried into his room.Tom closed the door and quickly unwrapped the small package.What Harry gave him was a Muggle camera made in Germany, with a letter inside. Harry had already enchanted the camera and told Tom how to use potion to animate the people in the photo.Harry had attached a photo as a sample, and Tom looked at the black-and-white photo of Harry smiling at himself with his signature tousled hair, and pursed his lips again.

Ten minutes later, Tom, who was dressed neatly, opened the door and walked out. He had already recovered his usual calm appearance: "Professor Dumbledore, we can set off."

The holiday ended soon, students returned to school one after another, and Hogwarts became lively again.

"Tom, it's a pity you didn't come to my house." Alfart sighed to Tom's camera on the shelf, "My father wanted to meet you very much."

"I told you not to brag to me in front of your family." Tom tapped Alfred's head lightly, "You are a Greader, you can't be so frivolous."

"Tom." Al pouted pitifully and looked at his roommate, covering the place he knocked, and couldn't help but put away his playful smile.Something has been wrong with Tom since Christmas.During the vacation, Tom politely declined his invitation and did not take the initiative to contact Alfart. Both Walburga and Doria asked him about Tom's situation and put on a clear look, saying that Tom probably had the same relationship as his Guardians went on a trip together.Alphat also thought so at first, but the changes in Tom these days could not be hidden from the eyes of his roommate, "Tom, are you okay?"

"Huh?" Tom turned his face and saw his roommate who was staring at him closely, frowning slightly, "What's wrong?"

"You look different from before." Alfat carefully searched for words, "Did something happen?"

"No, it's all right." Tom turned his head back again.Was his desperation all too obvious?I am obviously the same as usual.

"Tom, I'm your friend. I want to know what happened to you." Arafate put down the camera and looked directly into Tom's black eyes. "Sometimes you look like you're dead."