Hogwarts: I, Tom, am really not Voldemort!

Again?!

Dumbledore, upon receiving the newspaper, nearly blacked out. Couldn't they give the old man a break?

Rita Skeeter, did you even look at what you wrote in your report?

Explain to me what you mean by the Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters originally being the same gang, and that they only split because Dumbledore and Voldemort couldn't agree on how to divide the spoils. Please, when were he and Voldemort ever in the same gang? And splitting the spoils? That's slander, fabrication, understand?

And what's this about the Wizarding War being just Dumbledore and Voldemort fighting over territory, trying to swallow each other up? Should I send you a Time-Turner and send you back to that era to have a nice chat with Voldemort about this issue, and see if he'll send you a '啃大瓜' (Avada Kedavra)?

Furthermore, what's this about the return of the White Magic King and Dumbledore about to reign over the magical world? He was completely bewildered by yesterday's events, okay? All the reputation he's painstakingly built up in the magical world over the years feels like it's about to vanish. It's all that damn Tom Riddle's fault. Could it be that playing with Horcruxes has really made him lose his mind?

And what on earth is that 'Dumbledore's Scripture' that takes up an entire page?

Listen to this: 'May your will be done on earth as it is in your kingdom.'

This is nothing but blatant flattery aimed at killing him, Dumbledore, with praise. How will the magical community view him, Dumbledore, after this?

Dumbledore wearily put down the newspaper, feeling more mentally exhausted than ever before.

When he looked up again, he was met with complex gazes from the other professors. Clearly, they had also read Rita Skeeter's report.

Grindelwald even exchanged a look with him, as if saying: 'If you had this in mind, why did you put on such a show with me back then? If you had just asked, I would have helped you realize your wish long ago.'

When he looked towards the Slytherin table, he found it empty.

Huh?

Where's Tom?

A sense of foreboding arose in Dumbledore's heart.

Just as Dumbledore was starting to become paranoid, Tom had already taken a seat in Sirius Black's small apartment with a natural and generous air.

"Tom, why are you here? Didn't you submit an application to leave school for the Christmas holidays?"

Harry looked at the uninvited guest with a puzzled expression.

"Who says you can't leave school without a leave application? Just ask Sirius if he agrees."

Sirius, who was suddenly cued, nodded subconsciously: "School rules are meant to be broken, Tom. The first time I saw you, I thought you were more suited for Gryffindor. The Sorting Hat must have been broken to put you in Slytherin."

"Stupid dog!" Tom cursed inwardly, secretly adding another mark against Sirius in his little notebook.

Then he turned his gaze back to Harry: "Did you receive the Christmas gift? Do you like it?"

Harry immediately thought of the '365 Ways to Pursue a Wife' strategy guide and the newly released James Potter and Sirius Black cards that Tom had sent him. They were supposedly limited editions, and his face flushed red, his voice barely audible: "I like it, thank you."

At this moment, Tom took out two contracts with a smile and handed them to Harry: "Take a look."

"What are these?" Harry picked up the contracts in confusion and began to read. "Investment and Shareholding Agreement? And a Charity Foundation Fundraising?"

"That's right. I've recently partnered with someone to do some small business and also set up a charity foundation. We're currently raising investments, and I immediately thought of you."

Seeing Tom's serious demeanor, Harry was still confused: "Why me?"

"Please, you're the Savior and the heir to the Potter family. You have fame and money. Who else would I look for?"

"Besides, Harry, if you don't invest, how can I invest? If I don't invest, how would Professor Lockhart invest? If Professor Lockhart doesn't invest, Professor Dumbledore won't consider investing. If Professor Dumbledore doesn't invest, how can you and I improve? You understand, right, Harry?"

"Ah?"

Harry looked at Tom blankly. What was all this about?

Fortunately, Lupin, the only reliable person present, had already finished reading the contract that Harry had handed him and returned it to Harry.

"Harry, there are no problems with the contract. It won't cost you much. What do you plan to do?"

Hearing Lupin say this, Harry, believing that Lupin and Tom wouldn't deceive him, immediately signed his name on the contract.

As Tom put away Harry's contract, Sirius suddenly spoke up: "How about I invest a share too?"

A sucker, no, a gold master, had taken the initiative to come to his door. Tom's eyes lit up, and he immediately took out a new contract and handed it to Sirius.

Sirius, who had always been grateful to Tom for rescuing him from Azkaban and wanted to find an opportunity to repay him, signed his name without thinking.

After Sirius finished signing, Tom thoughtfully took out a list of investors and handed it to them: "Here, this is the list of shareholders so far. Please check it."

After the two finished reading, Sirius suddenly jumped up, his gaze towards Tom changing: "Why are most of the people on it Death Eaters? Could it be, Tom, that you..."

"Of course not. Would I have nothing better to do than join a dead-end team like the Death Eaters? I'm closely following Professor Dumbledore's footsteps. This matter itself was initiated by Professor Dumbledore, and these candidates were all strongly recommended by Professor Dumbledore. Didn't you all read today's newspaper?"

As Tom spoke, he kindly handed the three of them today's 'Daily Prophet'. After reading Rita Skeeter's article, the three of them were shocked and fell silent.

After a while, Sirius asked in a dry voice: "It should be fake, right? How could Professor Dumbledore be the new master of the Death Eaters?"

"There are photos, and so many people in the Ministry of Magic witnessed it yesterday. There might be exaggerations, but it's likely to be true. Maybe Professor Dumbledore couldn't bear to see the Death Eaters continue to do evil and took them in, or maybe Professor Dumbledore's true colors are just like this. Who knows? Anyway, all I know is that following Professor Dumbledore's footsteps is definitely the right thing to do."

After leaving these words, Tom turned and left Sirius's apartment.

Harry and the others struggled to digest the enormous shock. Was this still the magical world they knew? What was true and what was false? It was really impossible to tell!!!