I hear a soft knock on the door — precise, polite, deliberate.
"Mr. Riddle?" a voice calls, calm, gentle, yet carrying a weight that makes me sit up immediately. Dumbledore. The man himself. I've read of him in fragments of my borrowed memories, glimpsed him in other lives. Powerful, observant… dangerous if underestimated.
I straighten. I am calm. I am composed. I am exactly what I have trained myself to appear: polite, humble, curious.
"Good evening, sir," I say, my voice even, confident without arrogance. "I was wondering when you might arrive."
He steps into the room, tall, dignified, his piercing blue eyes scanning me like a chess player measuring the board. I can feel the slight undercurrent of his curiosity, the subtle probing of a mind used to detecting lies.
Not today.
I have spent days building the fortress around my thoughts. Occlumency shields every impulse, every truth I do not wish revealed. My aura is calm, inviting, trustworthy. I offer him a polite smile.
"Mr. Riddle," Dumbledore says, his voice even but warm, "you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Ah. The moment. The quest begins.
[New Quest Detected: Receive Hogwarts Acceptance Letter]Objective: Claim the letter and absorb all knowledge possible before entering Hogwarts.Reward: Genius Intellect Boost + Eidetic Memory Upgrade]
I nod. "I… I see. That is an honor, sir." My hands rest calmly on the desk, controlled, deliberate. "I've read much about Hogwarts in my studies. I look forward to learning."
Dumbledore tilts his head, eyes narrowing subtly — a test. Perhaps he senses the flicker of something more, some untold ambition behind the obedient mask.
Good. Let him think that. Let him underestimate me.
[Status Update: Genius Intellect Boost Activated][Eidetic Memory Upgrade Applied][Cognitive Processing: +200 IQ equivalent]
Suddenly, the world sharpens. Knowledge and understanding flare into my mind, systems of thought and analysis running faster than they ever could before. A glance at Dumbledore, a single observation, reveals every subtle hint in his posture, every shadow of intent behind his measured tone.
I smile faintly. He won't detect me. Not fully.
[Quest Reward Claimed: Mastery of Observation and Recall — Active]
I accept the Hogwarts letter from his hand with perfect politeness. My fingers barely brush his, yet I can sense the energy around him — precise, strong, yet not invulnerable. Interesting.
"Your studies here will challenge you greatly, Mr. Riddle," Dumbledore says softly. "I hope you embrace them with curiosity and… integrity."
I incline my head. "Of course, sir. I intend to give my very best."
And I will. Best not in the way he imagines, but in the way I intend: mastering every system, every mind, every magical nuance, until nothing — and no one — can truly surprise me.
After he leaves, I sit back and close my eyes, feeling the pulse of magic in my veins, the hum of the system in my mind. Hogwarts is a playground of power, a world of potential I now fully possess. Every spell, every person, every lesson is mine to analyze, manipulate, and control.
I let the thrill of the challenge settle deep inside me.
The letter is more than paper. It is a key.And I? I am the locksmith, the master, and the inevitable force that will shape every move on this board.
[Quest Completed: Hogwarts Acceptance Letter][Rewards Applied: Genius Intellect, Eidetic Memory, Enhanced Strategic Thinking]
I stand, looking out the window at the approaching evening. Soon, I will leave this orphanage — but not as the boy I once was.
I am Tom Riddle reborn.I am calm, calculating, ambitious.I am ready.
And the game… has only just begun.