Not even supporting business from students of your own school. Fine. Someday I will return the favor properly.
Tom added Dumbledore's name to a mental ledger.
For now, however, he had no time for retaliation. Ministries and large corporations came knocking every single day, all requesting bulk purchases. Orders stacked higher than parchment scrolls in the Wizengamot archives.
The stockpile of Runespoor snakeskin was running dangerously low. Fortunately, in another month the little serpent would reach maturity, easing the pressure.
Until then, expansion had to be gradual. Neighboring countries first. No reckless leaps.
Invitations flooded in daily. Tom selected which gatherings to attend with care. It never hurt to recognize faces. One never knew who might become an obstacle in the future.
Tonight, it was past eight when he returned from a Wizengamot member's estate.
Hermione was waiting.
She stepped forward immediately, helping him remove his coat and taking the gift box from his hand.
Tom raised a brow. "It's late. Why haven't you gone home?"
"Professor McGonagall asked me to remind you to confirm your electives for next term," Hermione replied. "We have to choose at least two."
Tom slapped his forehead lightly.
He had completely forgotten.
From third year onward, Hogwarts students were required to take at least two elective subjects alongside their core curriculum. Letters had been sent in July, but ordinary owls could not breach the wards of Riddle Manor. No wonder he had not received anything.
He glanced at Hermione with faint amusement.
Bold enough to add a professor as a WhatsApp contact.
Impressive.
He took her hand and led her to the sitting room. They settled together on the soft sofa.
"What did you choose?"
Hermione's face tightened with distress.
"I haven't decided… Every subject seems useful. It feels terrible to give any up."
Miss Know It All had once again fallen into indecision. Asking her to abandon a class was like asking Ron to sacrifice ten Galleons. Emotionally devastating.
If possible, she would enroll in every course. But certain subjects conflicted in schedule. Arithmancy and Divination, for example. Clearly one or the other.
Tom reached out and smoothed the crease between her brows.
"Did you forget what I told you? Knowledge is infinite. No one can master it all. You focus your energy where it matters most. Instead of asking what to take, ask which two are least useful."
"Divination and Muggle Studies. Drop those. Take whatever else you like."
Hermione bristled slightly.
"Divination could be important. Predicting the future can't be useless. And Muggle Studies might help us understand how wizards view Muggles. That has academic value."
Tom rubbed his temple.
"Charity Burbage resigned because of the political pressure she faced. Do you honestly believe the new professor will surpass her?"
He paused.
"Besides the core subject teachers, do not overestimate the rest of Hogwarts staff. They are ordinary wizards. Some are not even as capable as I am."
Hermione did not argue.
When others made such claims, it was arrogance. When Tom did, it was observation.
"As for Divination…" Tom hesitated briefly. "The professor has some ability. But she cannot teach you."
Hermione's eyes widened.
"What do you mean?"
"Sybill Trelawney. Allegedly a descendant of Cassandra Trelawney. You know the legend."
Hermione nodded quickly. "Of course. The Greek prophetess."
Cassandra of Troy, priestess of Apollo, cursed so that her prophecies would always be true yet never believed. She foresaw the fall of Troy and the deceit of the wooden horse, yet could not alter fate.
In that sense, Sybill was similar. When she delivered a true prophecy, it became destiny itself.
"Then I should definitely attend her class," Hermione said eagerly.
Tom extinguished that hope with a single sentence.
"Trelawney possesses what is called the Inner Eye. Only when it activates does she deliver genuine prophecy. The rest of the time, she is guessing. You lack that gift. You would learn nothing."
Hermione deflated immediately.
Still, she trusted him.
Compared to the Hermione of another timeline, this one had changed. She listened. She no longer challenged reflexively.
In the end, she chose Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Care of Magical Creatures. Three electives instead of two. Ambitious, but manageable without a Time Turner.
Tom selected Arithmancy and Care of Magical Creatures.
His mastery of Ancient Runes was already sufficient to instruct instructors. There was no need.
Care of Magical Creatures required little written work under Hagrid's supervision. And even if it did, he could simply ignore it.
Arithmancy would serve as filler.
He filled out the course form, sent it off to Professor McGonagall via owl, and then looked at Hermione with faint amusement.
"Stay tonight. I will take you out for morning tea tomorrow."
Hermione's cheeks flushed, but after a moment she nodded softly.
Outside, the night deepened.
Inside, the future quietly rearranged itself around their choices.