Hogwarts: I, Tom, am really not Voldemort!

The Slytherin students, never ones to pass up a spectacle, had scattered to watch, leaving a large open area in the common room.

Avery and Tom stood facing each other, wands at the ready.

“Senior, you should bow before a duel, you know. But I suppose it's too much to ask a pure-blood like you to bow to a Mudblood like me,” Tom said, opening with a taunt.

Avery retorted with a sneer, “If your skill was as sharp as your tongue, you might be a challenge. Don't go crying for your mommy and daddy when I'm done with you. Oh, wait, you've never even met them.”

“Then, let the duel begin. Bow to each other.”

At Farley's words, Tom and Avery gave slight bows.

“3!”

“2!”

“Stupefy!”

Before the countdown was even finished, Avery made the first move.

Tom casually raised his wand, deflected the spell, and redirected it into the nearby wall.

'Huh? Why is he so weak? Isn't Seventh-level magic supposed to be the strength of an average adult wizard? Could it really be based on Old Voldy's level?'

Tom felt puzzled, but his mouth didn't hold back.

“Senior, you jumped the gun, just as expected. Such are the manners of the Averys.”

“Bombarda!”

“Weak magic, powerless spells. You don't even need a Shield Charm, Senior, try harder.”

“Petrificus Totalus!”

“Is that how you use the Body-Bind Curse, Senior? Are you serious? Professor Flitwick would be crying in the loo.”

Tom mocked him while casually blocking Avery's attacks, his relaxed demeanor as if he were teasing a child.

“Tom is too strong!”

His effortless performance stunned the Slytherin onlookers, especially Draco and Cassandra, who knew Tom best. Who would have thought that this first-year wizard could steadily dominate a sixth-year student?

Growing impatient from his fruitless attacks, Avery began throwing all sorts of offensive and dark spells at Tom. But they couldn't even graze the hem of Tom's robes, let alone defeat him.

After casually deflecting another spell, Tom found that teasing Avery for so long was quite boring. So he decided not to waste any more time playing around. “Senior, you must be tired after attacking for so long. Now it's my turn.”

Having narrowly escaped death, Avery couldn't bear the immense fear, his face turning pale in an instant. His legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground, losing control of his bladder. A warm, steaming stream flowed from his crotch.

The once noisy common room fell silent.

“Oops, missed. Guess I'm rusty from not using it in a while. But, Senior, the next one won't miss!”

“Avada…”

The familiar green light emerged from Tom's wand again, and Avery, witnessing this scene, couldn't take it anymore and fainted.

“Tch, boring. So, Head Girl Farley, I believe I've won?” Tom canceled the Killing Curse and looked at Farley.

“Ah… Ah… The winner is Tom Riddle.” Farley, barely recovering from the shock of the Unforgivable Curse, announced the result tremulously.

“Then, my dear Head Girl, does Slytherin welcome me now?” Tom looked at Farley with a smile.

Farley looked at Tom's smiling face but felt like a hunted prey, a chill running down her spine.

“Of… Of course. Welcome to Slytherin, Tom.”

Hearing Farley's answer, Tom nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the onlookers, who were still stunned. “I've always believed Slytherin to be the most loving house. I hope to have a pleasant student life here for the next seven years.”

“If anyone in the house wants to make a move against me or my friends, then—”

With a light wave of his wand, azure Fiendfyre erupted from all around, encircling the crowd. Tom's face flickered in the firelight, his cold gaze sweeping over everyone like a demon king descending.

“I wouldn't mind burning Slytherin to the ground!”

“Don't say I didn't warn you!”

The boy spoke the harshest warning in the calmest tone.

“Gulp!”

The onlookers instinctively swallowed, too terrified to move, like quails in fear.

Only two people were exceptions among the fearful Slytherin students.

'As Father said, this is definitely the demeanor of a third-generation Dark Lord. It was right to befriend him in advance. Malfoys never lose!' Malfoy thought of Lucius's instructions and felt pleased with himself for following his father's words and befriending Tom early on.

The other was Cassandra. From their meeting at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, Tom had always been a warm and interesting person. Cassandra had never imagined he would have such a side. She had been worried about this Muggle-born student being sorted into Slytherin, but she didn't expect him to use the Unforgivable Curse and Fiendfyre right after entering school. For a moment, she wanted to say something but didn't know where to start.

After staring at each other in the silent atmosphere for a moment, Tom canceled the Fiendfyre and smiled at Draco and Cassandra. “See? As long as you have blood or strength, Slytherin is the best house.”

“Is that so? So Mr. Riddle sees Slytherin in that light.”

A cold voice came from behind. Tom's body stiffened, and he turned his head stiffly, only to see Snape staring at him expressionlessly.

“A first-year wizard using the Unforgivable Curse and Fiendfyre right after entering school. It seems Mr. Riddle looks down on Slytherin and can't wait to go to Azkaban for further studies.”

Venom spewed from Snape's mouth, but Tom stood as straight as a student being lectured by the head teacher.

“Detention, every Saturday evening at 7 o'clock, starting this week until the end of the term.”

After Snape issued the punishment, Tom wilted like an eggplant hit by frost, vowing in his heart.

“Snape, this round, I will definitely get my revenge.”

Little did he know that Snape also had a complex expression at this moment, recalling Dumbledore's instructions to him.

“Severus, besides helping to look after Harry, please pay more attention to that student named… Tom Riddle.”

“Oh, a Muggle-born student sorted into Slytherin is worthy of your attention.” Snape, already annoyed by Harry being sorted into Gryffindor, felt even more irritated by Dumbledore giving him this task.

“Do you know what Voldemort's original name was?”

“What?” Snape was baffled by Dumbledore's question.

But when Dumbledore spoke the name, Snape's pupils widened involuntarily.

“Tom, Tom Marvolo Riddle!”