Tom didn't usually like sweets, but right now his body was craving sugar like mad, desperate for the burst of energy.
"Then hurry and eat." Daphne said softly, her expression full of concern. She even dragged the entire dessert tower right in front of him.
"Parra!"
Astoria clapped her hands, summoning their house-elf. "Parra, please prepare some proper lunch for Tom."
"Right away, Miss," Parra said with a polite bow before vanishing.
The other girls sitting around couldn't help exchanging looks with each other.
The Greengrass sisters… were they spoiling Tom or what? This wasn't just doting—it was full-on pampering! Food brought to his mouth, clothes ready at hand, even a house-elf waiting on him like some aristocratic prince. What girl wouldn't secretly dream of such a life?
Completely oblivious to the envious glances being thrown his way, Tom only focused on filling his stomach, while Daphne resumed her story.
"Daphne, was the Buddha's Transformation really so powerful? He could turn a single finger into an entire mountain?"
"And is it true he could turn Muggles into wizards? Wouldn't that make him a half-blood—or… something even stranger?"
"I think he'd count as a new species altogether!"
"If the Elder Wand makes spells stronger, then what if I swap to a bigger wand? Wouldn't my magic get stronger too?"
The girls' earnest questions made Tom break into a cold sweat. Merlin's beard… they're actually taking this seriously. He was just glad they hadn't read the real version of Journey to the West. Otherwise, Daphne's "magical edition" would've been exposed in an instant.
"Pff—pfft!"
A muffled laugh suddenly broke out behind him. Tom stiffened, his face turning ashen.
Of all the rotten luck…
He had just been thinking no one at Hogwarts would know Journey to the West. And yet, the one person most likely to have read it was now standing directly behind him.
Her long black hair flowed like silk under the sunlight, gleaming with a soft sheen. Her features weren't as sharp as the typical Western witches, but her gentle eyes and delicate smile carried their own exotic charm. The unmistakable traits of the East were all there—there was no mistaking her identity.
Cho Chang.
"Oh—sorry! I… I didn't mean to eavesdrop," Cho said quickly, pressing her fingers to her lips as her shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. "But when I heard you mention Sun Wukong and Erlang Shen, I couldn't help it. You were telling Journey to the West, weren't you?"
Every head turned toward her. Embarrassment colored her cheeks, but she couldn't contain her giggles. The thought of Erlang Shen as some kind of Animagus was simply too absurd.
"You're… Cho Chang, from Ravenclaw, right?" Daphne asked, squinting at her. "You've heard of Journey to the West too?"
Cho nodded. "Mm. My parents told me the stories when I was little. I'm Asian—it's part of our culture. I grew up with it."
"And where did you hear it from?" she added curiously, her gaze sliding over to Tom.
The other girls turned to look too.
Daphne, without hesitation, answered brightly: "From Tom, of course!"
Tom wanted nothing more than to cast a Fissure Charm, open a hole in the ground, and bury himself alive.
Cho's eyes widened slightly, her lips curving into a graceful smile. "I didn't expect you to be the storyteller, Riddle…"
The way she said it made his ears burn.
"I'd love to hear it again. It's been years, and I've forgotten most of the details. Miss Greengrass, would you mind if I joined in next time?"
"Of course you can!" Daphne agreed instantly.
"Cough, cough!" Tom suddenly hacked, forcing out a rough cough. "Daphne, didn't you say yesterday you wanted to test yourself against Megatron? If we wait until after dark, it'll be harder. Better to go now."
No way was he letting this storytime continue—his social death was imminent.
Daphne hesitated, torn, and glanced at Cho. But Cho, ever considerate, smiled again. "It's fine. We can reschedule. Actually, I'd be interested in seeing this Megatron myself. I missed him last time."
"Then come along!" Daphne said happily. "I'll fetch Hermione too."
She left for the library, while Tom led the rest toward the training grounds. Astoria stuck close to his side like a loyal little bodyguard, making it awkward for Cho to strike up a conversation with him.
But when Megatron came stomping into view, Cho forgot her questions instantly.
Compared to two weeks ago, Megatron had evolved again. Tom had plated its armor with a special enchanted film, boosting its resistance to spells while giving its metallic frame a darker, colder sheen.
Students nearby spotted the towering construct and hurried over, excitement lighting up their faces. Many hadn't gotten a chance to duel against it last time, thanks to Lockhart's interference. Now was their opportunity.
"Riddle, I swear Megatron looks even cooler than before." One boy's eyes sparkled as he admired the construct's imposing silhouette. Even witches and wizards found themselves fascinated by the sheer allure of living machinery.
"I've made some improvements," Tom said with a calm smile. "It's tougher now—and more energy efficient."
"Unbelievable…" murmured a Ravenclaw seventh-year. "Your alchemy is unreal. I can't imagine how you learned it."
He wasn't the first to wonder. Some had even gone to Professor Elio Vilandor, Hogwarts' Alchemy instructor, to ask how they could craft their own "Megatron."
The professor had only sighed bitterly.
"Children, in any field the worst mistake is aiming too high, too soon. And that is what you're doing now. Riddle's 'Megatron'… is not something you can even dream of building. Even I can't make sense of the magic patterns and power conduits that run through it. Focus on your own studies—stop chasing impossibilities."
The words had spread like wildfire, only strengthening Tom's mysterious reputation. Even the professor had admitted he wasn't on Tom's level.
Now, as the Ravenclaw boy voiced his awe, Tom simply smiled and said nothing. Some circles were allowed to know he had once studied under Nicolas Flamel—but others… didn't deserve to.
Soon Daphne returned, Hermione in tow, and everyone knew the rules: the two girls got first crack at Megatron. The others stood at a respectful distance, waiting their turn.
Just as Daphne was about to activate Megatron, a drawling voice cut across the field—laced with the unmistakable accent of America's West Coast.
"Well, well… isn't that Megatron?"