Grindelwald stirred things up and then left.
This made Wade suspect—did the old man make the trip here just to fan the flames?Trying to drive a wedge between the two of them and Dumbledore?
Honestly, it was possible!
If Dumbledore came to dislike some of their less-than-proper behavior and started distancing himself from them, then Grindelwald would indeed have a chance to recruit them.
After Grindelwald left, Dumbledore didn't bring up Dark Magic at all.
But that deliberate avoidance only proved he might really have been secretly listening for quite a while…
Otherwise, with Dumbledore's personality, he would have at least said something, like a few words of warning not to go down the wrong path.
Which meant Tom's use of Dark Magic probably couldn't be hidden anymore.
Still… Wade had only come here to save people this time, and he hadn't used any Dark Magic himself.
Even if someone had to be sent to Azkaban, the only one they could take was Tom.
Just as Tom was feeling uneasy, Dumbledore suddenly received a letter.
"Tom, good news…" Dumbledore smiled.
Tom froze for a moment. Good news? Did he still even have such a thing?
Was it that Azkaban suddenly had a bed available? Or maybe a private cell opened up?
Dumbledore had no idea what Tom was imagining. He raised the letter in his hand and said, "Your family has woken up. Because they were treated in time, there are no aftereffects."
"I see… that's wonderful." Wade smiled.
"Professor… did they… um…" Tom mumbled, unable to get the words out.
"What is it?" Dumbledore asked, puzzled.
"Tom means… did Lord Riddle and the others blame him for bringing disaster back home… After all, so many people died," Wade said directly.
"Mm… yes, something like that… Honestly, I don't really care. Truly. If they blame me, that's normal too…" Tom himself didn't even know what he was saying anymore.
Some things—once you've had a taste of them, it's hard to let go again…
"So that's what you were worried about…" Dumbledore sighed. "Tom, oh Tom… You love your family. Do you think your family doesn't love you? Love is always mutual. If it's only one-sided, it can't be called complete love… Those who love you will tolerate the mistakes you make."
Tom hesitated and said, "But… do they really… feel that kind of love for me? You have to know, we're not exactly close. I mean… why would they?"
Dumbledore looked at Tom with delight. "And what about you? You're not close to them either, are you? Yet you still care so deeply about their safety! I think you've already experienced the strength this kind of feeling can give you!"
Wade smacked his lips. As expected, the old man had been eavesdropping earlier. Otherwise, how would he know everything?
"But…"
"Tom, love isn't supposed to be reasonable… When your father pushed you away and took that curse for you, do you think he was worrying about the fact that it was your first time meeting each other?" Dumbledore's blue eyes sparkled under the moonlight.
Tom fell silent. He didn't know what to say.
"Go to St Mungo's, see them for yourself. Hear what they have to say—it's better than sitting here overthinking," Dumbledore said.
"…Alright… I'll go see them," Tom replied, but without much confidence.
If the Riddle family did blame him, he could completely understand.
If that happened, he would simply leave and never come back to this place…
"Then you two go ahead, I should get going as well." Wade picked up his suitcase. "I originally planned to check in on Tom first, then visit Mr. Scamander. Nagini wanted to see an old friend too. I just didn't expect… to run into all this."
"Wade, perhaps your trip to visit Newt will have to be postponed," Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Huh? Why?" Wade felt his liver tremble at those words.
Could it be that because of a few things that old man Grindelwald had just said, Dumbledore was now putting both him and Tom under house arrest?
"Tom's grandparents and father—was it you who performed their emergency treatment?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes… I did give them some necessary first aid…" Wade let out a breath of relief when he realized it wasn't about being grounded.
"The methods you used amazed the healers at St Mungo's. Especially once they learned that the person who came up with such emergency measures was only an eleven-year-old wizard… So, they want to meet you, to exchange some knowledge in that area."
"Can I not go?" was Wade's immediate reaction.
If even the healers at St Mungo's had never seen those techniques before… Sigh.
Then going there to explain them would be no different from the time he'd been stuck helping train interns!
So boring!
Dumbledore looked a little regretful. "Of course you can… though it may be a pity for them. After all, for healers, exchanging ideas is a good thing. Learning more methods of treatment is extremely important. A little more knowledge in saving people might mean a few more lives saved at critical moments… I think they're already considering nominating you for an award."
Hearing Dumbledore's words, Wade suddenly straightened up. "What did you just say?"
"I said, they want to nominate you for an award…"
"Not that part!"
"…that in critical moments, you might be able to save more lives?"
"Not that part either!"
"Uh… that more medical knowledge exchange is a good thing…"
"Exactly! That's the one! Awards don't matter to me—what's important is, I just like doing good deeds!" Wade said cheerfully.
When Dumbledore mentioned awards, Wade had immediately thought of rewards, which then reminded him of the system…
Right! His system was meant to encourage good deeds!
If he shared his techniques with those healers, and they benefited from it, then every life they saved in the future would mean more merit points for him!
That kind of long-term gain was far more stable than just squeezing Tom alone!
Hearing Wade insist he only wanted to do good deeds, Tom said nothing—he just kept up a fake smile.
Otherwise, he worried he wouldn't be able to resist tearing Wade down on the spot…
After all, Wade had been a big help tonight. At least for tonight, he had to give the guy some face.
But tomorrow, he wouldn't have to hold back! He would definitely challenge this fellow properly!
Life's circumstances are constantly changing! Today's Tom Riddle was no longer yesterday's Tom Riddle!
Old grudges and new scores, all to be settled!
It was about time for Tom Riddle to rise and take control!
…
In the days that followed, Wade got along famously with the healers at St Mungo's.
And whenever he happened to encounter a young and beautiful female healer, he became especially talkative…
As for Tom, his situation wasn't bad either—his grandparents truly didn't blame him.
That finally allowed Tom to let go of the weight on his heart.
A few days later, when Tom told Wade that the Riddle family had been discharged and were leaving, Wade even felt a little reluctant.
"Sigh, who knows when I'll get to come back. I'm already starting to miss the days of chatting and laughing with them! Tch, but since I'm not sick, it'd be weird to come running here every day," Wade said nostalgically on the carriage ride back with the Riddles.
"You like this place that much?" Tom frowned.
If he could help it, he hoped never to set foot in that place again…
Hospitals always felt full of despair and sorrow, especially when he saw the families of patients in critical condition.
That kind of atmosphere—something Tom had once felt nothing about—now suffocated him.
"What's not to like?" Wade said, sounding intoxicated. "Sharing healing techniques with the enthusiastic healers was so refreshing. All the female healers inside are absolute beauties, and their voices are so pleasant… I mean, saving lives felt so pleasant.. I love being in there!"
"Heh…" Tom gave a scornful laugh. "If you want to go back, there's a way."
"Oh? What way?" Wade asked eagerly.
"I can send you back myself…" Tom drew his yew wand, sneering. "Wade, I didn't get the chance these past two days, but now… it's about time we settle our accounts! Once we get home, let's find a place to duel!"
"Ohhh…" Wade suddenly understood, his eyes lighting up with delight as he looked at Tom. "Now that's a good idea!"
"What, you really think I could beat you and send you to St Mungo's…"
"Keke~ Nope~ As long as I give you a good thrashing, I'll have the perfect excuse to send you there, won't I? Mm… as long as I hold back a little and don't kill you—just make sure you're hospitalized for half a month or so—then I can stay there legitimately for quite a while."
A dangerous light flickered in Wade's eyes.
That immediately set off alarm bells in Tom's mind. Even though his strength had grown, he still felt an indescribable pressure!
Wade calculated seriously, "Mm… Miss Guinness in the Ground Floor Artefact Accidents Ward is the prettiest… If I just make your wand misfire and injure your 'little Tom', that'll get you admitted… Haah… but there are even more pretty ladies up on the Fifth Floor Spell Damage Ward! Tch, what a tough choice, Tom… How about you pick? Which floor do you want to go to?"
Silently, Tom shoved his wand back into his pocket. A second later, he pulled it out again—only this time pointing the tip to the side, carefully away from his little brother…
"I was only joking with you just now, Wade, don't take it seriously," Tom said solemnly. "You know these past few days have been stressful for me…"
Even with his strength growing, he couldn't get cocky! The time wasn't ripe yet! He had to keep enduring…
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