Chapter 308: True Multitasking!
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The notebook in Tom’s hands wasn’t a spellbook in the traditional sense. There were no wand movents, no incantations. It was more like the secrets behind Occluncy or Legilincy—a manual on controlling the mind itself.
The first requirent was mastery of Occluncy. You had to understand your own mind and spirit before you could reshape them.
Tom could skip that part entirely. He was already a master of ntal defense—easily on Snape’s level, and capable of hiding his thoughts from both Voldemort and Dumbledore.
The second step, however, was trickier: separating ntal energy.
Separating it like strands of hair—turning a solid clump of power into finer threads that could later be stored or sealed. The core training thod? True multitasking. Thinking two things at once—or even three.
Tom thought this would be easy. He already split his focus between the outside world and his study space all the ti.
Ravenclaw clearly disagreed. She set up two chessboards and told him to play both simultaneously.
After a few minutes, she called him to a stop.
"Tom, that’s not it."
Seeing his puzzled expression, she explained, "You’re not really doing two things at once. You’re just switching your attention back and forth very quickly. It looks similar, but it’s fundantally different."
"I need you to think about both boards at the sa ti, not one for a second, then the other for a second."
Tom gave it a try, following her instructions. Within monts, his mind turned to mush. He didn’t even know what moves he was making. Three minutes later, he’d lost both gas—Ravenclaw had only lost three pieces total.
"Take it slow," she said with a gentle smile. "Once you get past the first wall, it becos easier."
Tom rubbed his temples. "How long did you take to get the hang of it?"
"?" Ravenclaw tilted her head, thinking. "I never really noticed. There were so many problems I wanted to solve at the ti... and sowhere along the way, it just beca instinct."
"..."
"Show-off." Tom laughed helplessly. "Alright, I’ll pick it up again later. I’ve got to go to Hogsade tomorrow."
As his body began to fade from the study space, he glanced at his system interface.
[Ravenclaw’s Approval: 16]
Only sixteen? Won’s hearts were truly unfathomable. Still, once her approval reached twenty-five, maybe he could unlock a talent related to her.
Tom suspected Ravenclaw’s greatest gift wasn’t her magic at all—it was her mind.
---
The next morning
Most students left the common room around eight or nine. The younger ones headed to breakfast in the Great Hall, while the older ones—those with Hogsade permission slips—marched eagerly toward the front gates.
After all, why fill up at breakfast when you could save room for Honeydukes and butterbeer?
"Be good, Astoria. I’ll bring you back so sweets!" Daphne said in her best big-sister tone, patting her little sister’s head.
Astoria barely resisted rolling her eyes. "Just have fun, sis. Don’t worry about ."
"Of course." Daphne puffed out her modest chest proudly. "I’ve studied all the Hogsade guides. I’ll be the perfect tour guide for Tom!"
Astoria gave her an awkwardly polite smile.
’Tom’s already taken
there more tis than I can count, sis. You’re the one getting the tour this ti.’
At the end of the line, Tom walked beside Daphne toward the school gates, where Filch was carefully checking each na against his list like a detective hunting criminals.
This ti, Harry didn’t need to sneak out under his Invisibility Cloak like in the original tiline. With Sirius’s signature, he was free to go—grinning ear to ear as he left with Ron and Neville.
When it was Tom’s turn, Filch’s expression softened instantly.
"Ah, Mr. Riddle! I’ve got your na right here. You can head out."
"Thanks, Mr. Filch," Tom said with a polite nod, leading Daphne through the gate without issue.
Ever since he’d saved Mrs. Norris the previous year—and caught her attacker—Filch had treated him with unusual respect.
What Tom didn’t know was that part of that goodwill ca from sothing else. Filch, a Squib himself, didn’t see pity or disgust in Tom’s eyes—and that the boy’s attitude toward him hadn’t changed one bit, just as he was like anyone else in Hogwarts.
That alone had earned Filch’s silent respect.
...
After walking for a while, Daphne started to look bored, so Tom quietly grabbed her hand and Apparated them straight to Hogsade.
The village looked completely different from usual. Every house had pumpkin lanterns hanging by the door, and shop signs had been replaced with floating ghosts that puffed out white mist from their open mouths. The Halloween vibe hit instantly.
In addition to the usual visitors, there were far more ghosts than usual. By rough count, there were around two hundred ghosts scattered across Britain—but on Halloween, they all ca together for gatherings like this.
"Look, the Headless Band!" Daphne pointed excitedly at a group of headless ghosts drifting by. "Their music’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard, but for so reason ghosts love it."
"That’s what you call inhuman taste," Tom said dryly. "If you liked it, that would be the problem."
"Ha, fair point. Co on, candy first!" She hooked her arm through his and dragged him toward Honeydukes.
Inside, the shop was bursting with custors. The owner, Ambrosius Flu, and his assistants were moving quickly behind the counter, all smiles as they served the flood of students.
Whenever Hogwarts had an open Hogsade weekend, business soared—but this year was especially good. Normally, the presence of two stationed Dentors scared off a lot of custors, which had caused the local shopkeepers to protest to the Ministry again and again. The Ministry’s reply had been the sa every ti: {Once we catch the two fugitives, the Dentors will leave.}
Today, though, was different. The Heads of House themselves had co to Hogsade to supervise, temporarily driving the Dentors away so students could actually enjoy themselves.
"Mr. Riddle!"
Flu looked up in the middle of packing a box of sweets and imdiately lit up when he spotted Tom. He hurriedly passed his work to a clerk and squeezed through the crowd to greet him.
Tom smiled and shook his hand. "Mr. Flu, we’re just browsing. You don’t have to—"
"Nonsense! I’ve been waiting for you! The special batch I prepared is ready." Flu gestured for Tom and Daphne to follow him into the workshop behind the store, where a large bag of candy waited—limited editions not available on display.
Daphne eagerly opened each box and sampled them one by one, while Tom chatted with the shopkeeper about business.
"It’s all thanks to you," Flu said with a sigh of relief. "If it weren’t for your new sales network, this year would’ve been a disaster. Those Dentors nearly ruined us."
His gratitude made sense. After Fred and George’s shop had beco a success through Tom’s new marketing model, Tom had expanded the system to Hogsade. Many local shopkeepers were now using the "Codex" platform to sell products online. Tom charged a 10% commission per sale, plus advertising fees.
Even with the cut, the rchants were thrilled. Before, their custor base was limited to whoever visited the store. Now they could sell across the country.
Tom noted down Flu’s feedback and suggestions for improvents before leaving with Daphne to visit other shops.
Everywhere they went, it was the sa—warm welcos, free gifts, and generous discounts. The biggest complaint he heard was about paynt thods.
Currently, magical cards could only be used by their vault owners. Students and housewives without Gringotts access still had to pay in gold, adding an annoying extra step to transactions.
Tom jotted it down ntally. Sothing to fix later.
By the ti they were done, the morning had flown by. After a final stop at the Owl Post Office to buy a few stamps, Tom escorted Daphne back to Hogwarts before returning to Hogsade with Hermione.
Hermione wasn’t interested in sweets, so they headed straight for the bookstore, browsing shelves for a long while before stopping by the pet shop to buy Crookshanks so food and treats.
Since becoming Hermione’s cat, Crookshanks had been living the good life. It had gotten so fat that picking it up felt like holding a furry water balloon. Tom couldn’t help finding it hilarious every ti.
When they finally arrived at Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop—the most popular date spot in town—the waitress froze in disbelief.
She rembered this boy vividly: ridiculously good-looking, polite, charming. He’d been here just this morning... with another girl.
Now he was back. With soone else.
Her expression scread scumbag. If not for professional restraint, she might’ve tattled to Hermione right then and there.
Good thing she didn’t. It wouldn’t have affected Tom anyway—and it would’ve cost her the job. Tom had no patience for people gossiping about his personal life.
...
Once inside the tea shop, Hermione’s usual confidence softened. Surrounded by candlelight and couples, she seed almost delicate—a rare contrast to her usual sharp, fiery energy.
They sipped their drinks and talked about everything and nothing, laughter never leaving their faces.
When most students began heading back, they followed, returning to Hogwarts as dusk fell. Pumpkin lanterns floated above the Great Hall, glowing warmly as preparations for the Halloween feast began.
After parting with Hermione, Tom slipped away to the edge of the school grounds—the furthest point where Apparition was still allowed—and vanished.
— — —
Nurngard
Gellert Grindelwald paced restlessly inside his narrow cell.
He’d been imprisoned for decades, but now that freedom was within reach, patience had beco unbearable.
If not for Tom insisting he wait until his full strength was restored, Grindelwald would’ve already made his move. Even weakened, he could still level a mountain or two without much trouble.
A cold wind howled through the peaks. Tom appeared silently on the mountain opposite the towering fortress, eyes locked on the faint flicker of candlelight at its highest window.
Then he transferred his accumulated points into the system.
Inside his cell, Grindelwald froze. The magic contract he’d signed with Tom flared in his mind, his na glowing gold beneath Tom’s. Light burst through him, rippling across his body as the contract dissolved into sparks of power that soaked into his flesh.
A surge of vitality and magic flooded his veins.
After fifty long years of slumber—
The Dark Wizard, Leader of the Acolytes, was back.
.
.
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