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If there's one thing Gryffindor is known for, it's loyalty. So even though watching the twins being chased around was pretty hilarious, Tom was still a Slytherin—it wouldn't be right for him to just stand there and 'bully' his own.
"George, Fred, I got your backs!"
The first to jump in was their best buddy Lee Jordan. He gathered all his magic to make a huge snowball—almost as big as Tom's snowman—then launched it with a Levitation Charm. Unfortunately, it moved too slowly, and the giant snowman easily smacked it apart like it was nothing.
Fred, who was just crawling out of a snow pile, couldn't help but laugh and scold him: "Idiot Lee! Use the Blasting Curse, not a floaty charm!"
"Oh—oh, right!"
Lee Jordan finally got the memo.
More Gryffindors joined in, showing off their magic—some flinging enchanted snowballs, others copying Tom and trying to make their own snowmen with Transfiguration. Their versions weren't nearly as big though.
Before long, snowballs were flying everywhere and mini snowmen were darting around like headless chickens.
Slytherins couldn't just sit back and watch their guy Tom get ganged up on, so they jumped in to help too.
Soon, what started as a snowball fight turned into a full-on battle between two houses.
Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students backed away quickly to avoid getting caught in the crossfire, happily turning into spectators from a safe distance.
Some students even smacked their lips regretfully, wishing they'd brought snacks. It would've been the perfect time to munch while watching the chaos unfold.
Eventually, even Hermione and Daphne gave up building snowmen and joined their respective house's side of the "war."
Slytherin may have had fewer people, but Tom's massive snowman more than evened the odds.
Gryffindor couldn't take the big guy down, but hey—they were used to taking a beating. But when Tom created another giant snowman, Gryffindor collectively raised their wands... and surrendered by conjuring the white flag.
How the hell were they supposed to win when one guy could outmatch everyone on their team?
First-years looked resentfully at the older students.
This guy's a first-year and already this powerful? What the heck are you upperclassmen doing?
Faced with the accusatory stares from their juniors, the upperclassmen awkwardly turned their heads away, suddenly fascinated by the floor.
The war finally came to an end as the sky darkened. With their bodies warmed up and energy spent, the young witches and wizards headed back to the castle, ready to eat and then hit the baths for a long, relaxing soak.
...
Back in the Great Hall, as Tom was eating, a piece of parchment slid across the table to him.
"What's this?" he asked, looking down at a short list of names.
"That's the sign-up form to stay at Hogwarts over the Christmas break," the fifth-year prefect explained, leaning over. "If you wanna stay, just write your name."
"Nah, I'm going home for Christmas," Tom said, shaking his head. He casually passed the parchment to Daphne, who didn't even glance at it before tossing it over to others.
"Tom, got any plans for the holidays?" Daphne asked, eyes sparkling with hope. "Want to come visit my house? We've got two British Shorthairs—and they can backflip!"
Tom: "..."
Why did that sound so weird?
"Sorry, Daphne." He felt a little bad, but still declined. "I've got a lot going on over the break. I won't have time to hang out."
The Greengrass family manor was in Yorkshire—not exactly next door.
"Oh... I see." The little witch visibly deflated.
"I promise I'll visit during the summer break, okay?" Tom offered with a soft smile. "And I'll finally meet that supposedly cuter-than-you little sister of yours."
Christmas break was only three weeks long, but summer was two full months. Daphne thought about it and realized—if Tom stayed with her for a month and a half, they'd still have time to travel for the last couple weeks. Honestly? It was a better deal.
She perked right back up.
With Daphne appeased, Tom breathed a small sigh of relief and turned back to his food, mind drifting to more important matters.
Classes would be over soon, and Christmas break was just around the corner. He hadn't lied to Daphne—he really was going to be busy.
In the Muggle world, this Christmas was going to be a massive, world-shaking day. Someone was about to deliver a huge "gift" to the Western world, ensuring that 'freedom and democracy' would become the ultimate mainstream.
Tom didn't care about fame or fortune. He just wanted enough money to live comfortably and achieve financial freedom in the Muggle world.
Sure, magic was amazing. But when it came to quality of life and leisure? Muggles still had the edge.
Besides, he didn't even have his own place yet. No way he was actually going to marry into the Greengrass family and live off his wife, right?
Back in the wizarding world, he'd already used up all his strengthening elixirs. He needed to gather new ingredients.
He'd even prepped a batch of Polyjuice Potion just for this—perfect for sneaking around during the holidays.
Thank you, Professor Snape, for your generous 'donation' of materials.
...
That night, with the castle dead silent, Tom set out on yet another late-night stroll—he'd lost count of how many this semester.
Since he was about to leave for break, he figured it was time to stock up. He needed to gather enough materials to last him through the holidays.
He'd only explored the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest before. This time, he was going deeper—looking for higher-tier magical creatures.
Like... Acromantulas.
Their venom was practically liquid gold in the wizarding world. Even if he couldn't use it right away, he could always sell it later if he needed the cash.
Skipping the hassle of sneaking through secret passages, Tom boldly walked straight out the front doors of the castle. By now, he was a pro at this.
Filch and his cat usually focused their patrols on the upper floors—especially near Gryffindor Tower, since those troublemakers never stayed put.
Ravenclaws preferred reading in their common room. Hufflepuffs, if they ever came out, usually made a beeline for the kitchens. Slytherin was too far away to matter, so the main hallways were practically unguarded.
Maybe it was because of the snowstorm earlier, but the night sky was unusually clear. Moonlight poured down onto the peaceful castle grounds.
The Scottish Highlands were way colder than London. While London might hover just below freezing, Hogwarts could drop to ten or more degrees below zero.
As he reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Tom suddenly stopped, nose twitching.
A rich, savory scent—meat stew?—hit him like a truck, making his stomach growl.
"Who the hell cooks something this delicious in the middle of the night? This is basically a crime at this hour!"
Instinctively, he looked toward Hagrid's hut. The castle kitchen wouldn't be cooking at this time, so it had to be nearby.
But Hagrid's place was completely dark. Not a single flicker of light. No chimney smoke either.
He sniffed again. The smell was... coming from inside the Forbidden Forest?
Tom's eyes widened in disbelief.
Someone's having a midnight picnic out here?
Seriously?
Now he was really curious. He followed the scent straight into the woods.
The aroma got stronger and stronger. He could even see smoke drifting lazily through the trees. Climbing over a small hill, he reached an open clearing—and there it was. The source of the "crime."
Three tiny figures, bundled up like dumplings, were bustling around a campsite.
They had a pot over a fire and a grill set up. The stew was bubbling, and meat sizzled next to loaves of bread. It smelled amazing.
They didn't even notice Tom approaching.
"Well, aren't you three having fun. Midnight picnic in the freezing cold. Beef and onion stew, roasted lamb leg, sausages... you really know how to eat."
The trio practically exploded.
One fell flat on her face. One dropped to the ground and curled into a ball. The last one lost her balance and nearly fell into the steaming pot of soup—until Tom intervened.
With a wave of his wand, Tom steadied her and flipped her back onto her feet like a fish rolling in midair.
Can't let a perfectly good pot of soup go to waste.
And now that she'd been saved, the girl finally got a good look at who it was.
"Riddle?"
As soon as she recognized him, she let out a huge sigh of relief and snapped, "Bloody hell, Riddle! Don't sneak up on people like that—I thought we were caught or something!"
She pulled up the one who had fallen. "Eleanor, it's okay, it's just someone from our year."
Tom now recognized who the three were.
The one he saved was Hannah Abbott, the die-hard Hufflepuff loyalist. The one fell on her face was Susan Bones, also a classmate. As for the third… probably a second-year, but he couldn't remember the name.
"Hi, I'm Eleanor Ashworth, second-year Hufflepuff," she introduced herself, stepping forward and offering a hand to shake.
"Tom Riddle, first-year Slytherin," he replied as they shook.
With introductions out of the way, Tom looked over at Hannah.
"So what's this all about? Skipping the feast back at the Great Hall to cook your own food out here? Something must've seriously annoyed you there."
He was on somewhat friendly terms with Hannah. Hufflepuff and Slytherin shared History of Magic together, and he may or may not have once borrowed her homework for 'inspiration.'
"You're the one who looks annoying," both Hannah and Susan said with matching eye rolls.
Hannah huffed. "The house-elves' cooking is just too bland. It's the same stuff every day, and I got sick of it ages ago. If I want to eat something actually good, I have to make it myself."
"And we can't exactly cook in the dorms, can we? Filch and that cat of his, Mrs. Norris, have noses like bloodhounds. So... we came out here."
"Wait—you're saying your cooking is better than the house-elves?" Tom raised an eyebrow.
"Absolutely. Cooking is my favorite thing to do," Hannah said proudly, chest puffed up.
"Really? I don't buy it. Let me be the judge of that."
Before they could stop him, Tom had already grabbed a bowl and ladle, helped himself to a generous serving of soup, and took a big sip without flinching from the heat.
"Mmm… not bad at all. The onion gives it a fresh bite, the butter adds a rich flavor, and the beef's tender and packed with taste. Pretty appetizing." He nodded seriously as he offered his critique.
"Hey! I haven't even tried it yet!" Hannah yelped.
The three girls immediately grabbed their bowls and started ladling soup for themselves.
Well, since things had already gotten this far, they might as well enjoy the meal.
Tom found it annoying to eat while standing, so he transfigured a nearby rock into a large round table, then placed the bread, soup, and grilled meats neatly on top.
He tore off a piece of bread, dunked it into the soup, and let it soak up the flavor. The once-stiff crust instantly softened and absorbed all the broth's goodness. One bite of lamb leg after that?
Absolutely divine.
Turns out Hannah wasn't just boasting—her cooking really was miles better than the house-elves'.
Sure, Hogwarts meals were always decent, but they lacked flair. Everything was safe, plain, and almost soul-less unless it happened to be a personal favorite. Most dishes tasted... fine. Not bad, not amazing.
But Hannah's cooking? Way more impressive. Honestly, better than a lot of restaurants Tom had eaten at in the Muggle world. There was a unique flavor to it—something he couldn't quite place.
"It's the herbs," Hannah explained when she noticed his puzzled expression."I added some herbal ingredients. A lot of magical herbs can be used as spices, you know. Bet you can't guess what I put in the soup."
Tom raised an eyebrow.
"Drumcap mushrooms."
Drumcap mushrooms—so named because their hard caps make a drumming sound when tapped.
Tom blinked, impressed. He never would've thought to use something like that in cooking. He gave her a thumbs up.
"Hannah, I, Tom Riddle, hereby crown you Hogwarts' top little chef."
Hearing the compliment so bluntly made Hannah blush and look down shyly.
"It's not all me. Susan helped a lot too. Her pasta the other day? I'm still thinking about it."
Tom immediately turned to Susan with big, hopeful eyes.
But Susan quickly shook her head. "We didn't bring the ingredients this time, so I can't make anything."
"So when's your next feast? Let me know what ingredients you need. I've got connections in the kitchen—the house-elves and I go way back." Tom offered eagerly.
All three girls gave him weird looks.
Bragging about being friends with the kitchen house-elves in front of Hufflepuffs? Yeah, that came off... strange.
Still, none of them doubted him.
After all, Tom had just devoured half their food. The three of them together only managed to finish the rest.
Food lovers tend to become fast friends. If you love eating, you're one of them. That's all it takes.
By the end of the meal, the three girls had fully accepted Tom. As a certified foodie.
"We probably won't have time for another get-together this term," Susan said with a laugh. "There are only two days left before break. Even if we wanted to pig out, doing this every day would turn us into little blimps in no time."
"By the way, Tom, what were you doing in the Forbidden Forest?" Susan asked curiously.
Tom didn't bother hiding it.
"Looking for ingredients. The apothecaries in Diagon Alley are missing some things—and even if they do have them, the stuff isn't fresh, and the potency is weaker. Figured I might as well come gather them myself."
"You better be careful," Hannah warned. "There are all kinds of dangerous creatures in here. Stay near the edge of the forest and don't go wandering off too far."
.
.
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