"You used the Avada Kedavra, didn't you?!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Fudge drew his wand, pointing it directly at the Slytherin student who'd dared to speak.
Wow, that was quick! No wonder you're the Minister!
Behind him, the Aurors mentally gave Fudge a thumbs-up even as they mimicked his actions, wands trained on the unfortunate boy.
Arrest him, arrest him… If you're so powerful, why don't you face Voldemort yourself?! Dealing with him is above our pay grade! The Aurors seethed with anger; the boy would definitely be invited for a 'friendly chat' later.
"Huh? Me?"
The Slytherin freshman, barely a day into Hogwarts, looked utterly bewildered. If he remembered correctly, his only skill was 'shoving a big stick in his front teeth.'
"Yes, you!"
"Boy! Come with us!"
"You have the right to remain silent; anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law!"
The Aurors efficiently snatched his wand and dragged him from the Great Hall.
Seeing his underlings vanish so quickly, leaving him alone, Fudge felt a surge of fury.
"You treacherous curs!"
The atmosphere in the hall grew quiet; Fudge could feel every eye on him.
"Ahem…"
Fudge turned, feigning composure. "The Ministry of Magic has apprehended the ruffian. You can all rest assured!"
Hidden in the shadows, Dumbledore shook his head. An eleven-year-old ruffian...only you, Fudge, would think that.
Still, he didn't emerge. Fudge, in his infinite idiocy, would probably demand a manly one-on-one duel with Tom.
Let me be clear, Old Bee, it's not that I'm afraid of losing face to Tom in front of the students, it's just that I don't think such a confrontation is necessary.
As for the student who was taken away, at most, he'd get a stern talking-to; nothing serious would happen.
Click.
As Fudge shut the Great Hall doors, silence returned.
He left so fast…so that means…
The remaining Slytherin students who had reported Tom suddenly understood their predicament. Beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads.
"Heh…"
Tom's quiet chuckle sent shivers down their spines.
"They reported me, huh?" Tom muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
"The Firewhiskey! The Firewhiskey is killing me!!!"
"Professor! I have an eighty-year-old mother and an unborn son… Waaaaah…"
"Professor! It was all his idea! It has nothing to do with me!"
"Oh, it's all my fault? You bastard! Take this!"
With the first fist thrown, a chaotic brawl erupted.
Tom ignored the squabbling students, continuing to feed Nagini.
Once Nagini was satiated, Tom gently stroked her head, then rose from his seat.
As Tom reached the door, the fighting students began to snicker, believing they were off the hook.
Just as they thought the matter was over, Tom stopped.
"One person, one toilet. Those who fail to properly clean their designated areas will await me in the Forbidden Forest tonight."
He fixed the group of bewildered Slytherin students with a cold smile, emerald eyes glinting dangerously.
Click.
The door slammed shut.
"…"
"So? We're really going to clean toilets?"
"What else are we supposed to do, die?"
"…Sigh."
All their resentment ultimately turned into a sigh of resignation.
...
The Transfiguration Classroom.
Today was a joint Transfiguration class for Slytherins and Gryffindors.
Tom pushed open the door to find several students already present, mostly from Slytherin, including Cassandra Vole, his protégé.
Cassandra's eyes lit up at Tom's arrival, but she quickly lowered her gaze back to her books, only stealing glances at him.
Strangely, Professor McGonagall was absent; in her place, a tabby cat sat regally on the podium.
Animagus, an extremely advanced form of Transfiguration, allows one to transform into an animal. The tabby cat was McGonagall in disguise.
But Tom hadn't bothered to learn it. In his opinion, it was "all show and no substance."
His Disillusionment Charm could evade Muggles and most wizards; those he couldn't avoid, he'd simply kill.
So, rather than waste countless hours learning a useless Animagus, he preferred practicing Avada Kedavra.
Tom circled the podium, nodding to the tabby cat.
The cat paused slightly, then nodded back.
Tom snapped his fingers, conjuring a comfortable, cushioned chair and placing it next to the podium.
Seeing this, Cassandra Vole put away her books and took the seat closest to Tom.
Tom looked at his protégé, a question in his eyes.
Cassandra Vole simply turned her head away haughtily.
Tom sighed inwardly.
What could he do? She was his protégé; he had to indulge her.
Back to the matter at hand.
Tom flicked his finger, and textbooks flew from the classroom bookshelf towards him.
He opened one, glanced at the contents, and wondered, "Decades have passed; why are they still using this archaic drivel?"
The books were identical to those used during his time as a student.
Tom flipped through a few more pages and tossed the book aside.
[System:]
[Mission:] Defeat another Voldemort and become the savior.
[Reward:] Unknown.
[Stage Two:] As a descendant of Salazar Slytherin, you must protect Slytherin's honor. Please help Slytherin win the House Cup.
[Reward:] A random prize will be granted for each House Cup won.
Hearing the mission details, Tom frowned.
"System, couldn't you have spaced these missions out a little more? I've already sentenced them to latrine duty."
"Oops, my bad. I'll do it next time."
Tom took a deep breath, calming himself.
"And what's with the 'random prize'?"
"Oh~ I recently…borrowed a bunch of trinkets from my juniors. I'll award them to you one by one as you secure the House Cup." The system sounded quite proud of itself.
So domineering and unreasonable; I wonder where it learned that?
But considering he was the one who would benefit, Tom decided not to blame the system.
"Winning the House Cup, huh?" Tom muttered to himself.
Although he was a teaching assistant, he still possessed the power to award or deduct points.
Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall, in her tabby cat form on the podium, was growing increasingly impatient.
Class had begun, and yet so many students were still absent!
While it pained her to admit it, she'd expect that behavior from Gryffindors, but why were so many Slytherins missing?!
...
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
"This toilet is mine!!!"