When I woke, the exhaustion that had plagued me the night before was gone as if it had never existed.Instead, my body thrummed with energy — three times the magic, three times the power. It felt… alive. My veins pulsed faintly with that energy, humming with a low, quiet rhythm that matched my heartbeat.
I sat up, flexing my fingers, feeling raw magic coil in my palm like liquid lightning. The sensation was intoxicating — effortless control, perfect balance.I had reached a new threshold.
After a long shower, I buttoned up my robes and adjusted the Slytherin crest on my chest. My reflection in the mirror smirked back at me, sharp-eyed and confident. There was no trace of the weary boy who'd first stepped into Hogwarts. Only calm focus. Precision. Power.
My first class of the day: Potions.Slughorn's domain.
As I stepped into the dungeon classroom, the warm scent of herbs and potion fumes filled the air. Slughorn's plump face lit up when he saw me.
"Ah, Tom, my boy! Always early, I see! Splendid, splendid!"
He waved me over to the front row, where Abraxas Malfoy was already preparing his cauldron. I gave him a small nod before unpacking my own neatly arranged kit.
The minute I began brewing, I could feel it — the difference.
My mind was sharper, clearer. Every measurement, every ingredient, every swirl of my wand was guided by pure instinct.The Severus Snape Potion Talent flowed through me as though it were my own. I could see reactions before they happened, sense the precise temperature a potion needed just by the scent in the air.
While the others fumbled through basic mixtures, I'd already advanced to sixth-year content.
Slughorn moved through the room, his voice booming cheerfully — until he stopped behind me.
His moustache twitched, his eyes widening as he watched my cauldron shimmer with perfect color and consistency."Tom, my boy…" he whispered, voice almost reverent. "That… that's Amortentia, isn't it? You're brewing Amortentia!"
The room went silent.A first-year brewing the most complex love potion known to wizardkind? Unheard of.
I smiled faintly, not looking up. "Just experimenting, Professor. I wanted to see if I could stabilize the reaction with powdered moonstone rather than pearl dust."
Slughorn blinked, completely speechless for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Merlin's beard! Ha! You've got the makings of a master alchemist, my boy! Absolutely brilliant! Slytherin's got another genius in its midst!"
The other students glanced over, their expressions ranging from disbelief to envy. Abraxas gave me a proud grin.
By the time class ended, I'd brewed three flawless potions — each one advanced far beyond the curriculum.
As the students filed out, Slughorn stopped me by the door."Tom," he said warmly, patting my shoulder, "you must come to the next gathering of my Slug Club. You have too much potential to hide away in the dungeons. You, my boy, could be one of the greats."
I inclined my head humbly. "Thank you, Professor. I'll be honored to attend."
He smiled, clearly pleased, and waddled off humming happily.
As I walked down the stone corridor, I allowed myself a quiet smirk.Slughorn was hooked. A powerful ally, easily swayed by talent and charm.
And this was only the beginning.With my potions mastery, magical growth, and system's guidance, I was carving a path no one — not even Dumbledore — could predict.
The old Tom Riddle sought immortality through darkness.But I would reach it through absolute mastery.