Tom considered Crabbe and Goyle to be insignificant, not worth the System's time to analyze. They could continue to serve Malfoy.
Too-toot~
Hearing the train whistle, Tom glanced out the window. "I suggest you put on your robes; we'll be arriving shortly."
"We're already here?!"
Hermione panicked. She hadn't expected the journey to be so quick, and began to worry about being accepted into Hogwarts. Concerned about entrance exams, she silently recited a spell, hoping it would prove useful.
"What's she doing?" Harry asked, puzzled by Hermione's strange behavior.
"Worried about being expelled, probably," Malfoy sneered. "I heard from upperclassmen that Hogwarts only admits the best wizards, like pure-bloods such as ourselves. Someone like her…"
Malfoy stopped abruptly, turning his head to find Tom's cold, emerald-green eyes fixed on him.
"Uh…"
Malfoy panicked, momentarily forgetting what he was saying.
"You think being a pure-blood is so great?" Tom asked slowly. "I am but a half-blood. Do you dare look down on me?"
"…"
Malfoy was too frightened to speak, his mind blank. He wished he could be reborn as a Muggle.
"But teacher, didn't you used to advocate pure-blood supremacy?" Cassandra asked, unafraid.
"How else could I get those people to work for me?" Tom explained matter-of-factly. "If I couldn't guarantee their interests, who would dare to rebel with me?"
Cassandra nodded, as if suddenly understanding.
"However, Cassandra, you must remember to be more proud of your own excellence than your bloodline," Tom continued, launching into another earnest deception. "Pure-blood supremacy is a lie. Strength is the only truth."
Tom chuckled inwardly, pleased at how he had successfully swayed the young wizards. He liked those who were ambitious and hardworking.
"I'm sorry, sir, I…" Malfoy looked guilty. He decided to consult his father later; Tom's words differed greatly from Lucius Malfoy's teachings.
"You don't need to apologize to me. You offended Miss Granger, and you know what to do." Tom even smiled at Hermione.
Seeing Tom's incredibly handsome face and knowing he was defending her, Hermione felt her face burn. "Um… thank you… sir…"
Tom noticed Hermione's reaction. My charm is still potent. I could probably seduce half of Hogwarts into my service in a few years.
However, Tom didn't notice Cassandra glaring at him with murderous intent. Cassandra then directed a warning glare at Hermione, who understood immediately.
There's no rush. We have seven years at Hogwarts. Who knows what will happen?
"Teacher, how does the Sorting Ceremony work?" Cassandra deliberately changed the subject, seeking Tom's attention.
"Oh, you simply wear a tattered hat, and it automatically sorts you into the appropriate house."
Tom easily broke the ridiculous tradition of "not telling new students about the Sorting Ceremony."
His answer bewildered the young wizards, except for Harry and Hermione, as it differed from what they had heard. Harry and Hermione hadn't had the chance to be fooled.
"What if I can't be sorted into Slytherin?" Harry suddenly worried. The tattered hat doesn't sound very intelligent. What if I'm not sorted into Slytherin? I, the Death Eater's second-in-command, would become a laughingstock!
Hermione looked at Harry, puzzled. "Why do you want to go to Slytherin? I want to go to Gryffindor because the books say Dumbledore, the greatest wizard of the century, came from there."
"Because your teacher came from Slytherin," Cassandra said proudly, crossing her arms and tilting her head slightly.
"Then I want to go to Slytherin too!" Hermione declared, apologizing to Dumbledore in her thoughts.
"You're not suited for Slytherin," Tom said immediately, pouring cold water on Hermione's enthusiasm.
"Ugh…" Disappointed by Tom's rejection, Hermione became sullen.
"Muggle-born wizards will be ostracized in Slytherin unless you're someone like me, who can make them scream." When I first entered Hogwarts, they assumed I was a Muggle-born wizard.
"But personally, I think you'd be better suited for Ravenclaw. It's a great place."
This comforted Hermione considerably.
Returning to Harry's question, Tom said casually, "As long as you firmly state which house you want to go to, you can sway the Sorting Hat's decision. That's how I did it. Actually, I was initially sorted into Azkaban."
The young wizards fell silent.
After a long pause, Harry asked quietly, "What's Azkaban?"
Hermione seized the opportunity to display her knowledge. "I've read about it in books. It's the wizarding world's… prison."
To be told so soon 'you shouldn't be going to school but to prison'... well, you can only say he's worthy of the Dark Lord.
Too-toot…
The train whistled again.
"Let's go. We're here."
Tom stood and walked toward the door.
...
After disembarking from the train, Hagrid shouted, "Freshmen, gather over here! New students, come on over…"
Hagrid paused, staring at the tall, slender figure stepping off the train. Black robes adorned with silver, handsome features, and piercing emerald-green eyes—elegance tinged with madness.
"Tom…"
"Just call me Tom."
Tom strode past Hagrid, transforming into black mist and flying toward Hogwarts.