the Gambler

The tower of Gryffindor was very lively. Almost all the students crowded around the notice board near the exit. A huge parchment notice was nailed to it, and heated discussions could be heard even from the doorway.Ron went in first, and he squeezed sideways through several seventh graders to get inside.The red-haired wizard waved his hands high at Harry and Hermione, who also cut through the crowd in front of the bulletin board.

"It's the apparition test!"

Harry had known the magic for a long time.To apparate is to disappear from one place and reappear in another in the blink of an eye.He had been manifested by Professor Dumbledore with his entourage, which was by no means a wonderful experience, but he was still a bit more of the former than the nauseating feeling brought by the Portkey.

"Apparition exam! That's really convenient, if you wake up late in the morning, you can appear in front of the classroom with just a click!" Ron danced excitedly, "And it's very handsome, isn't it? It won't act like a Floo Dirty. George and Fred have been showing off to me since they got their licences, apparating up and down the stairs, what a nuisance!"

"Ron, apparition is forbidden in Hogwarts castle!" Hermione couldn't help laughing, her face was flushed, and her hair was still damp with morning dew. "I will take the exam with you this year." She turned her head and gave Harry an apologetic look, who was the youngest of them all and the only one who couldn't take Apparation lessons.Harry shook his head to show that he didn't mind, but Hermione didn't look entirely convinced.

"The exam time is next Hogsmeade weekend, Harry, would you like to go with us?" Hermione showed a dazzling smile, which made Harry a little uncomfortable, as if the witch was deliberately hiding her truth emotional like that.

"Of course, what kind of stupid question is this? You know I will never refuse your invitation." Harry raised his eyebrows and looked at Hermione's expression, the smile gradually became sincere, and he was a little concerned about the reason for this change .Seriously, that's not a surprising answer, is it?Did Harry enjoy the company of his friends, or had they become distant because of Tom?

"You know that Ron is always very nervous on such occasions, and your presence can make him more confident." Hermione lowered her voice, and her brown eyes stayed on the boy who was still waving his arms and talking loudly with Neville, witch Swinging a soft smile that Harry had never seen before.

Harry couldn't help yawning.This kind of sleepiness seems to have been experienced in ancient times. Since following Tom's schedule, he rarely stays up late.Tom would petrify a stubborn Harry to bed without saying a word, and he admitted it was the most effective way to deal with himself, even if admitting it made his stomach churn disgustingly.

Looking sideways at the bewildered blond wizard in front of him, Harry sighed, "Tell me why you came, Draco, it doesn't look like I'm going to swallow you alive." Oh, Merlin, his patience is about to run out!

Draco closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, his blue-gray eyes carefully scanning the dark corners, he still looked very unsure whether his decision was correct.Harry hated the unknown, and even more hated Draco's hesitant attitude, cautious?perhaps.He's more inclined to be risk-averse.The trait of Slytherin's self-defense.Harry snorted, and took the lead in replying to Draco's silent question: "Marvolo is not here, you can say what you want, Draco, I don't have that much time to accept another Slytherin's visit, God knows Who else will appear after you?"

Draco was intrigued: "Who came to you?"

"Bryce and Daphne. Very Slytherin, I have to admit. Your two-faced style has completely refreshed my perception, but what can I expect?" Harry laughed dryly, "Want to make sure I True stance? As if my choices would drastically sway your decisions. No, I'm not going to keep you safe, especially from someone. Focusing on his disgusting pettiness isn't on my agenda On the watch. If your memory is correct, I have a Voldemort behind my ass."

Draco remained silent for a long time, eyes almost burning two holes in Harry's forehead.

"Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to tell you. Marvolo is not the type who likes people to make moves behind his back. I bet he already has a roll of parchment in his hand, which records who crossed when and where." Did he do something unpleasant." Harry glanced at the shadow, "Hogwarts has lots and lots of snakes, Draco."

The blood faded quickly from Draco's face, and he looked horrified at where Harry could see, as if he could see the widened snout and forked tongue of a poisonous snake swimming in the darkness.

"As I said, he likes to be watched, and I happen to hate being watched." Harry waved his wand, and shouted 'fly around' several times, and the poisonous snakes in the rocks fell heavily on both sides. On the round table among the people, the hiss of dissatisfaction filled the entire corner.He raised his chin and looked at the venom slowly dripping from his fangs, ignoring Draco's terrified eyes. Harry softly spat out a similar tone, and a ball of palm-sized fireball hit the area just touching the scales. Instantly, black scorched marks spread rapidly.Draco held his breath, his throat dry and constricted, the panic intensified by the sight of the ashes on the table.

Draco shuddered.

Harry Potter is also a dangerous character.He should have guessed, after all, not everyone can have a heart-pounding waltz with Tom Gaunt.It seems that his understanding of the golden boy is still in the perfect Gryffindor.Harry Potter not only has the appearance of bravery and integrity, but also the insidiousness of Slytherin.

A born leader.

Tom looked around the surrounding environment, which was too familiar. The leather couch and mahogany round table in the middle, the fireplace next to the towering bookshelf, the warm sunlight created by magic penetrated through the huge French windows and fell on the snow-white woolen blanket.He can even clearly know that the wall behind it is made up of 31 stone bricks.Because he spent two years and six months here.

"Are you a peeping tom? Otherwise there's no way to explain why this is so similar to my room." Tom said mockingly, similar was an understatement, and he was sure he couldn't spot a difference.

"A perfect copy." Voldemort stretched out his slender limbs on the sofa, like a beautiful cheetah, "Why, Tom, don't you want to say something to me? I pulled you in because I felt your strong thoughts. "

"Stay away from Harry."

Not offended by the indifferent command tone, Voldemort grinned: "I don't think I would do that. Voldemort has always obeyed his own will."

"Then I promise you will make your life worse than death." Tom tilted his head and glanced coldly at Voldemort's body. He was serious, even if it sounded absurd, another self made him unbearable.He damned wanted to peel off the other's handsome face, yes, he knew very well that this was an important reason to confuse Harry.

"Oh? Can I know why I have to accept so much hostility from my younger self?"

Tom snorted, "Salazar, I know my own taste too well. Don't look at Harry with that obscene look, he is mine and no one can take it away, not even my future self."

Voldemort sat up straight and eyed Tom with interest.

"You dare not disclose your relationship with Harry, because it will expose your weakness," Voldemort said, crossing his fingers, propped up gracefully on the mahogany table, which made the man look particularly attractive, "and most Slytherins Wouldn't be happy to be pinned down by a Gryffindor, especially Harry Potter, who's been fighting against them for so many years. Who knows if those vengeful little snakes will resist?"

Tom's lips were drawn into a thin line.

"That's the kind of rhetoric you'd use, because power trumps love. You've always been firm on that idea, haven't you?" Voldemort let out a deep laugh, his eyes mocking Tom. "You want Harry, but you I want power more. You can't have both, and your greed has exposed your true purpose. Harry is not a boy who is easily confused. He caught your small mistakes and successfully strung together all Clues. I bet he already knew we planned it all. Well, perhaps it would be better to say you planned it," said Voldemort cheerfully, "after all my plans were different from yours from the start. See Did Harry lose confidence in you? Frustrated to lure him//to your side? He probably doesn't even want to give you a look now—"

"Then, all your efforts will come in vain. It's a pity," Voldemort stretched out his right hand, which he held easily, twisted his wrist smoothly and spread his five fingers, moving his lips to simulate the sound of an explosion.He tilted his head to look at Tom's gloomy face through the hair curtain, and smiled more triumphantly: "I said, Harry will be your weakness. Because you can't always maintain the illusion of perfection around him, his instinct can clearly understand Grab the tiny cracks on your gentle mask, he is a sharp-edged type, I look forward to the day when your disguise will be completely peeled off by him. And that day is when I will complete my goal."

"You want to divide us." Tom walked gracefully to the other side of the round table, bent down to look into Voldemort's scarlet eyes, "Do you really think that Harry will leave me and I will fall into your arms? This is too fantastic , separating our identities is why he truly accepts me. Harry hates you, you are the murderer of his parents, he will not love an enemy."

"But he's in love with you, isn't he?" Voldemort smirked. "I can feel the complex emotions in his chest when he faced me. If he can accept you as soon as he killed Myrtle, he can too." Accept me, especially when I offer the olive branch. Harry's heroism is a useful tool," he crossed his fingers again and raised his chin. "Sacrificing yourself for the safety of others is a good deal. You think he will make What kind of decision?"

"What are you going to do?" Tom's tone became colder and colder.

"Thanks to you," said Voldemort lazily, "for allowing me to take advantage of my present appearance. Who would have guessed the true identity of the new politician, a handsome and charming half-blood wizard--Thomas Gaunt Is it the Dark Lord? Oh, he is also the elder brother of Marvolo Gaunt." Without giving Tom a chance to refute, the man raised half of the corner of his mouth, "Unlike you, I have already got what I want, and honesty without deceit is more important. Easy to appreciate, isn't it? And Harry Potter, he would be the perfect mate to stand beside the new Minister for Magic."