war and peace

After the Easter holidays, there are more and more breezy days, and the weather is getting clearer and warmer every day.Inversely proportional to the mood of all the fifth and seventh graders at Hogwarts, they had to give up the wonderful idea of ​​going to the lake to bask in the sun, and they were stuck in the room reading all day because the exam was approaching.

Harry was equally distraught.But it's not because of the same reason as the others, but because of the scar on his chest.Harry tried all kinds of healing potions he knew, both internally and externally, but they had no effect on healing; he also tried Shen Feng Wuying's anti-curse, but the effect was still not high.Based on this inference, the situation on Voldemort's side is obviously not optimistic.Harry was sure that Voldemort also knew counter-curse (because it was one of the spells Voldemort taught him, whether he broke it himself or asked Snape), the powerful dark arts that he knew in seventh grade The lethal spells are nothing more than God's Shadow (except for the Unforgivable Curse), so why is the wound healed so late?

The only thing Harry was thankful for at times like this was the location of the wound.If it's on the wrist or face, it's impossible for summer clothes to hide it.It was also good news that he hadn't fainted out of nowhere again, otherwise Tom wouldn't have been able to hide it - but Harry felt that he must have been suspicious, but he didn't say it.

The cellar was now overwhelmed with pamphlets, leaflets and notices about various magical professions, and there was a notice on the bulletin board telling them that all fifth-year students would need to have a brief meeting with Professor Slughorn. The interview is followed by a long schedule.

"Oh, the Dean really favors you, boss," Malfoy said after reading the timetable. "You're the first."

"Yeah." Tom said a single syllable, without looking up, to show he heard it.He was sitting at a table beside him, reading the brochures at an astonishing speed, and within a short time there was a pile of books piled up beside him.In the half a minute Harry had been watching him, he had pushed aside a leaflet bearing the St. Mungo's coat of arms and several Ministry of Magic pamphlets, the one he was reading had a large pile of gold on the cover. Galleon - "Treasure beckons!" - apparently a Gringotts brochure.

"Potter is second," continued Malfoy, drawling, "You two are now Professor Slughorn's favorite treasures!"

Harry almost spit out, and Tom didn't bother to talk to him this time.He tossed the Gringotts book aside again and began to look at a crumpled piece of paper, this time obviously staying longer than before.Harry read the title backwards from the back of the thin parchment, "Boggin-Bock Store Hiring Buyer"...

"Looks like our boss finally has a job he wants to do." Michelle Knott's voice came from the other table.He had already decided that he wanted to enter the Ministry of Magic. He thought Tom would also want to go, but he just looked at it and threw it aside, so now he is extremely curious about the career Tom is looking at.

Rozier and the big Mulciber sat next to Nott, and Malfoy's seat was there too—everyone in Slytherin had known since the Valentine's Day party that Tom had been so close to Harry. Indulging is tantamount to acquiescing, both cleverly giving space to both of them.It was difficult for Harry to get used to the feeling of being surrounded by stars at first, because Gryffindors have never been able to wink at people like this.

Malfoy was the only one standing, and he was right behind Tom, so it was easy to see what was written on the paper. "I'm afraid you're wrong this time, Mike (Michelle's nickname)," he twisted his mouth into a weird smile, "I never thought the boss would be interested in this kind of work!"

"What the hell?" Seeing Malfoy's disgusted expression, Nott was also surprised.Could it be the Muggle liaison?That type of work has long been picked out of the Slytherin brochures and thrown away...

"Borgin-Bock," Tom said in a flat tone, and at the same time stuffed the crumpled parchment into the pile of books he had read, "I just think what they sell is interesting."

Hearing the second half of the sentence, Nott, Rozier, Mulciber, and Malfoy all showed expressions of relief. "Boss, are you not interested in those positions in the Ministry of Magic? With your ability, no one can surpass you." Roderick Rozier still doesn't like Harry very much until now, probably because he The reason for getting too close to Tom.

"That's not for me," said Tom curtly, giving Harry a deep look.What his future career was, probably no one knew better than Harry.

The four Slytherins followed his gaze to Harry.Why did the boss stare at Potter so meaningfully when he was talking about work?Is the boss planning to find the same as him?No, this is too scary, absolutely impossible!

From the twitching corners of their mouths, Harry could see the thoughts going on beneath their heads.Completely wrong guess, Tom just suddenly became curious about his future career. "Maybe you haven't seen enough." Harry pushed the pile of career guidance in front of him to the dark-haired boy opposite.He'd tell the whole story when he felt the time was right--if only Tom could prove he wasn't going the same way again.

"Oh?" Tom raised an eyebrow.Harry's apparent reluctance to talk irritated him a little.If someone who doesn't care about his own life can hide it from him, then what reason is more important than that?

Harry watched Tom fall silent again, clattering the pages in his hand.It made him unhappy, but there was nothing Harry could do about it, and Harry didn't want to see history repeat itself.Whether it is a teacher or a Borgin-Bock, neither is better than the truth.The most fortunate thing for Harry now is that it is completely impossible to find the profession of Dark Lord in Hogwarts career guidance!

"I'm going back to sleep." Tom threw away the booklet in his hand, pressed between his eyebrows, and stood up, obviously not interested in the pile of things Harry pushed past.

"But boss, you haven't told us yet, what do you want to do?" Several people looked at each other in blank dismay, and finally the timid and bold Rozier asked after him.

Tom had reached the stairs of the common room by then and said nothing about it.Harry got up too, silently glanced at the foursome of Slytherin's future Death Eaters, and then went down to the cellar dormitory.

The two returned to the dormitory, Tom washed up without saying a word, Harry stared at his back, and sighed inwardly.Then he remembered the homemade easter eggs in his pocket. Due to accidental injuries, he delayed the realization of this idea for a few days.Anyway, better late than never.

When Tom came out, the tips of his hair were as wet as ever.He brushed them aside, and his eyes fell on the nightstand.There are several eggs of different sizes on it, some are painted with chocolate patterns, and some are wrapped in a thick layer of icing.But they all have one thing in common, that is, they are all a bit crooked.

"I know they're ugly... It's the first time I've done it, so I'm really not very good at housework magic!" Harry saw Tom staring at the egg and didn't speak, so he couldn't help explaining with a dry smile.Like bonbons, this stuff is not in his area of ​​expertise. If he wants to fry veal steak, he can show his skills. After all, he used to cook a lot when he was at the Dursleys' - they don't let him eat sweets. , because Dudley, who is so addicted to sweets, is worried that he will steal it.

It was the first time someone specially made Easter eggs for him... Tom opened his mouth, and felt his voice seemed to be choked in his throat: "It's pretty ugly." He reached out and picked out an egg painted with phoenix feathers, and directly I peeled it off and started to eat it, then commented: "The chocolate tastes pretty good."

Harry didn't know whether to be annoyed by Tom's bluntness or flattered by his praise.He was very touched when he received Christmas gifts and eggs from Mrs. Weasley, but Tom's expression looked the same as usual.Anyway, he made such an obvious overture, let the awkward period between them pass!

But Merlin didn't seem to hear the prayer in Harry's heart at all.Tom sat on the bed, pinched the chocolate candy inside the egg in one hand, and held a thick book in the other, and said something totally different from Harry's expectations: "I won't go back to the orphanage during the summer vacation."

"If you don't come back, you won't come back... Ah!" Wait!Harry's eyes widened instantly. Tom wanted to go to Little Hangleton... Could those tragedies happen again?

"Judging from your attitude, I guess you know where I'm going, and you will follow me." Tom said lightly, the content and tone were contrary, hitting the nail on the head.

"Well, I really think so." Harry spread his hands and could only admit it.He had known since his last slip of the tongue that he would never succeed in following him without Tom's knowledge, so he might as well admit it.Harry thought Tom might be getting angrier, but the latter didn't show any irritation on his face, but changed the subject suddenly: "You didn't read any of those career guidance..."

"Oh, yes," Harry didn't understand what Tom meant, and carefully chose his words: "I... want to stay at Hogwarts." He subconsciously felt that he should stay where this happened.Then Harry saw a pair of dark eyes staring straight at him, seemingly surprised and surprised, their eyes shining brightly.Tom obviously thought he wanted to teach at Hogwarts, too, and they hit it off.

Harry's heart skipped a beat, he liked seeing that expression... He suddenly realized that the place he wanted to stay was actually next to this person.

On Monday morning, the Slytherin fifth years began talking to their headmaster one by one.When it was Harry's turn, Professor Slughorn said as soon as he opened his mouth, "I heard Tom say that you both want to stay at the school? It couldn't be better. Our little party will be without you two." It's really eclipsed..."

Harry was stunned for a moment, but he had expected Tom's attack first, so he didn't say anything.After determining the direction, it will be much easier. I want to be a teacher of which course... what subject I am best at... all the necessary qualities of a teacher... I talked a lot about it eloquently.Finally, he also mentioned that they were too young when they graduated, and it was suggested to wait for two years before returning. Mr. Dippet would definitely be happy to accept them. "Professor Mellors is retiring, and he speaks very well of you both! With his recommendation—" Professor Slughorn winked at Harry, "Of course I'd be happy— Finding a teaching position is not difficult! I don’t need to emphasize the importance of grades to you, they must be excellent anyway, right?”

It was June, and the castle grounds were shining in the sun, and the satin-smooth green grass occasionally rippled in the soft breeze, which meant that the Ordinary Wizarding Level Examinations had officially begun.The only proctor Harry had ever seen was Professor Marchban, and the subjects she proctored for them were Charms and Transfiguration.She had been head of the Wizarding Examinations Board in Harry's own time, though she wasn't quite there yet.Harry and Tom each easily solved eleven OWLs exams. Although the results will not come out until July, according to the words of Professor March, "Excellent! There is no doubt!".Of course, neither of them chose divination, even if they make up that kind of thing, they can't make a good one.

After the exams, summer vacation is just around the corner.Malfoy once again graciously invited Tom to Malfoy Manor for vacation, but the result was still the same: "I still have things to do." Malfoy, unwilling to reconcile, turned to ask Harry again. According to his guess, Harry probably wanted to be with them again. Boss together.And Harry's answer also confirmed this from the side: "I also have something to do." Then the two went back to the dormitory together.

The foursome of Slytherin looked at each other helplessly.Finally Malfoy said reluctantly: "Looks like I can only take back what I said... The boss must not be willing to part with Potter, right?"