Hogwarts: I, Tom, am really not Voldemort!

Professor Flitwick was truly speechless. Why was this kid so obsessed with the Patronus Charm? He had to remember that for a first-year student, today was only the third day of school. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Mr. Riddle, why are you so fixated on the Patronus Charm?"

Now it was Tom's turn to be embarrassed. How was he supposed to answer that? Was he supposed to tell Professor Flitwick that the difference between Tom Riddle and Voldemort could be distinguished by a Patronus Charm?

If Tom really answered that way, he figured Azkaban would be preparing a spot for him that very day.

Of course, Tom's ultimate goal was indeed to have Professor Flitwick inform Dumbledore about his learning the Patronus Charm, but some things couldn't be said so bluntly.

Tom's brain raced, and he quickly fabricated a reason that fit the persona of a first-year student, replying to Professor Flitwick, "Because on the train, Cassandra mentioned that the Patronus Charm is one of the most powerful and ancient defensive spells, and one of the hallmarks of extraordinary magical ability is being able to cast it. She was certain I couldn't learn it, so I made a bet with her. If I don't learn it this semester, I'll have to run around Hogwarts Castle naked in front of everyone, shouting that I, Tom Riddle, am a pervert."

'Sorry, Cassandra, I'm blaming you for this,' Tom silently begged for Cassandra's forgiveness.

Professor Flitwick was shocked by Tom's reason. "Has the world changed? Are you kids playing such big games now?"

Seeing Tom nod shyly, Professor Flitwick didn't press further. He turned to ask about Tom's progress and once again advised, "Well, Mr. Riddle, how much do you understand about the Patronus Charm now? If it's really not working out, it's not too late to talk to Miss Warre, apologize, and call off the bet."

'What a nice guy! But my magic talent, which is as high as 10, isn't just for show. Let me show you what I've accomplished in the past two days.' Tom silently gave Professor Flitwick a thumbs-up in his heart and silently raised his wand.

"Expecto Patronum!"

With standard pronunciation and hand movements, silvery mist continuously emerged from the tip of Tom's wand, quickly filling the classroom.

After a while, Tom, having finished casting the spell, looked at Professor Flitwick somewhat embarrassedly and said, "Professor, I can only do this much for now. I still can't conjure a complete Patronus. I still need your guidance."

"!"

Are you even listening to yourself? You just started school! Dumbledore couldn't do this at your age. Are you sure you're not Voldemort? No, Voldemort wouldn't be able to cast a Patronus Charm.

Professor Flitwick's heart was shaken after seeing Tom's spellcasting and hearing his inhuman words, to say the least.

He had thought Tom only had a superficial understanding of the Patronus Charm, but he didn't expect that the problem he was encountering now was that he hadn't yet conjured a corporeal Patronus.

Having finally recovered, Professor Flitwick looked at the young wizard before him and had to take him seriously this time.

"There's no problem with your spellcasting. As for why you haven't summoned a corporeal Patronus, it's not because of your spellcasting technique, but because of your heart."

"My heart?" Tom asked, puzzled, as this wasn't within Old Voldemort's experience.

Professor Flitwick began to patiently explain to Tom.

"The Patronus Charm is a very positive spell. Its underlying logic is hope, happiness, and the desire to live, so casting the Patronus Charm requires concentrating on an experience and recalling the happiest thing in your heart. If you haven't fully tapped into the power of your heart, it will be difficult to summon a corporeal Patronus. That's why it's so difficult to learn."

"So, you're saying that when I cast the spell, I recalled happy things, but they weren't the happiest things in my heart?" Tom immediately grasped the key point after hearing Professor Flitwick's explanation.

"Simply put, that's the case. Discover the happiest thing in your heart, calm down, and think carefully. When you feel like you've grasped it, try again."

Tom once again gripped the wand in his hand, closed his eyes, and began to recall his happiest moments.

Was it the moment he first met the Sakura Country teacher?

Was it the time he spent with Ms. Anna and his brothers and sisters at the orphanage?

Was it the exclamation he made when he first opened the door to Diagon Alley?

Or was it the joy of seeing the panel values increase after absorbing Voldemort's experience pack?

Memories flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern, and finally, all the joy converged and froze on one scene—that night, in that small forest, the green light after he first held the wand and shouted Avada Kedavra.

Opening his eyes, he firmly recited the spell again.

"Expecto Patronum!"

Vast magical power poured into the wand, and strands of silver thread emerged from the tip of the wand, intertwining and weaving in the air.

"He's not really going to summon a corporeal Patronus, is he?" Professor Flitwick widened his eyes. This scene was too challenging for an old teacher's ability to handle.

The silver light gradually took shape, eventually transforming into a large snake with a crown on its head.

"Basilisk!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed in shock, looking at Tom's unusual Patronus.

Not to mention Professor Flitwick, even Tom was dumbfounded when he saw the image of his Patronus.

Aside from seeing it in the Harry Potter movies in his previous life, Tom had never seen a Basilisk in the real world. He was already attracting Old Dumbledore's attention, but what was this all about? Was it really going to make him develop in the direction of Voldemort? Thinking of the image of the noseless Tom, heavens, he never thought about becoming a Dark Lord.

"That, Professor, I've never seen a Basilisk before, I swear," Tom, knowing his situation, really didn't know how to explain himself to Professor Flitwick.

Professor Flitwick composed himself and comforted Tom instead, "The Patronus is formed according to each person's inner world, so even if you've never seen it before, don't be too surprised if it eventually forms a Basilisk Patronus. However, it's incredible to be able to summon a corporeal Patronus at this age. Five points to Slytherin."

"Thank you, Professor," Tom sincerely expressed his gratitude to Professor Flitwick, then hurriedly said goodbye and left.

Watching Tom's departing figure, Professor Flitwick revealed the worry he hadn't shown in front of Tom just now, "It seems I have to tell Dumbledore about this. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing."

Leaving the Charms classroom, Tom suppressed the joy of summoning a corporeal Patronus. He still had one thing to do.

Severus Snape, prepare to bear Tom Riddle's little revenge!