Draco had no idea the sticker had fallen off. He walked toward Tom still holding the hammer like it was nothing.
Then he noticed the stunned looks on everyone's faces—especially Ron, who was desperately trying not to laugh.
"What?" Draco checked himself over. Everything looked fine. The hammer still had the 1000T label on it. Wait. 1000T?
His stomach dropped.
Before he could react, the hammer suddenly became impossibly heavy. It yanked him forward and slammed him straight into the floor, digging a crater in Hagrid's hut.
Tom strolled over, cackling.
[Oops. I told you to be careful with that sticker~ Look at you, all banged up.]
He casually lifted the hammer off Draco and hauled the dazed boy out of the hole.
Draco's face twisted with rage until he saw Tom still holding the hammer. He immediately forced a smile.
"I'm fine! Really. Just… sorry about the floor, Hagrid."
Ron muttered under his breath, "Typical Malfoy. Switches sides faster than a Snitch."
Draco shot him a murderous glare. Ron wisely looked away.
Tom watched their little exchange with open amusement. These two were ridiculous.
[Since you're so sorry about the floor, you can fix it.]
Draco opened his mouth to protest, then saw the look in Tom's eyes and immediately nodded.
"Of course. I'll take care of it."
Tom was very pleased. He had used Draco to test something important—whether his cartoon logic could "infect" other people. The fact that Draco hadn't been crushed proved it could.
He decided not to tell Harry and the others yet. Some things were better kept as secret weapons.
After that, life settled into a comfortable rhythm.
Tom caused trouble in class, ran his translation shop, and occasionally visited the Forbidden Forest. Norberta had apparently decided the best way to win back his affection was to bring him expensive magical creature materials.
The Acromantulas were suffering the most.
Thanks to the unicorn's influence, most creatures in the forest were happy to donate shed parts. The spiders, however, got bullied into giving up venom every single day.
By the time Christmas approached, Tom was probably the richest person at Hogwarts besides Hagrid.
Then Dumbledore finally returned.
He brought two old men with him to his office.
Tom looked at the strangers, then at Dumbledore.
[This is my reward? I'm not in the market for old men, old man.]
Dumbledore chuckled and stroked his beard.
"Tom, this is Nicolas Flamel. The alchemist I promised to introduce you to."
Nicolas Flamel raised an eyebrow.
"You didn't mention the talented young wizard was a cat."
"Does that change anything?" Dumbledore asked.
Flamel studied Tom for a moment, then shook his head.
"Not particularly. Though I admit I'm curious."
Dumbledore turned to Ariana.
"Ariana, show him the gloves."
Nicolas Flamel's eyes sharpened the moment he looked at her.
"Wait. Ariana? That's your sister's name. Don't tell me—"
He stared at the girl standing calmly in front of him.
"She's a ghost?"