Robert sighed again, "Alphard, you're also from a pure-blood family. You should have your own pride and dignity. How can you let your sister bully you like this all the time?"
"I can't help it, Wade. I don't want to be like this either, but… my sister is just too fierce! If I do something wrong and she beats me, that's fine—I deserve it. But… when she gets angry outside or is just in a bad mood…"
Alphard swallowed hard, as if recalling a painful memory.
"Tsk, that's why I don't understand your British pure-blood families…" Rogers shook his head.
Alphard lowered his head, feeling ashamed.
His family, the Blacks, had a long and prestigious history, but compared to some others, they were far inferior in certain aspects.
"Anyway, I've said what I needed to. Take care of yourself." Rogers, having finished his little speech, brushed past Alphard and walked into the common room.
Anne didn't follow him. Instead, she turned to Alphard and asked, "How do you know so much about his family? I'm his friend, but he never talks about them."
Alphard sighed. "He told me himself. Back then, my sister mistook him for a Mudblood... Wade was furious."
"Honestly, my sister went too far. Even if someone isn't a pure-blood, that kind of insult is unnecessary."
"He said it himself? Was there any proof?" Anne asked.
Alphard shook his head. "Does he need proof? I've never met a pure-blood who acts more like a pure-blood than him."
Anne fell into deep thought.
She thought back to her time with Robert—his actions, his demeanor.
No matter who he was with, Robert always had a gentle smile, but beneath that, there was a deep, almost unshakable pride.
It was as if… he always saw himself above everyone else.
If he had been born into a Muggle family or even an ordinary pure-blood family, it was unlikely he would possess such a unique temperament.
Alphard was right. Anne had never seen a wizard who seemed more like a pure-blood than Robert…
Then, she thought of Tom. Compared to Robert's quiet pride, Tom's arrogance was much more obvious—almost aggressive.
However, in front of Robert, Tom would unconsciously suppress that arrogance.
It was… an interesting dynamic.
Tom returned to the dormitory very late.
His face didn't look good—it seemed he hadn't found the answers he wanted in the library.
Since the library closed early, it meant he had been wandering around for a long time before finally coming back.
Clearly, whatever insight he had gained was weighing heavily on his mind.
At this hour, Alphard and Henry were already asleep.
Robert was also lying quietly in bed.
Tom glanced at Robert, then lay down on his own bed without saying a word.
"You're not actually taking Anne's words seriously, are you?" Robert suddenly asked in a low voice.
"It's still a clue, isn't it?" Tom said weakly. "But I looked through all the records on Slytherin and couldn't find anything related to… the name Riddle."
"Maybe… you should try searching under your mother's surname instead. Do you know her name?" Robert asked.
"Mrs. Cole told me her name was Merope Gaunt," Tom muttered.
"Then I suggest looking up the surname 'Gaunt,'" Robert said.
Tom frowned, staring at the ceiling. "But how is that possible? If my mother was a descendant of that man, why would she die in such a pathetic way?"
Robert replied calmly, "Tom, you've seen the children of other pure-blood families. You should know the kind of people most of them are."
Tom fell silent. He didn't want to accept the most likely conclusion—that his mother had been a weak, unremarkable witch.
He preferred his previous theory.
That his father had been a wizard… and his mother just a Muggle.
"It looks like you won't be getting much sleep tonight," Robert observed.
"Yeah…" Tom admitted, sounding frustrated.
Robert glanced at his watch and suddenly sat up.
"Where are you going?" Tom asked.
"I think you might need a bottle of Water of Life and Death. I still have some left…"
"No, I don't need it," Tom refused immediately.
It was better not to mess with Robert's potions.
"Suit yourself," Robert shrugged. He grabbed a bottle from his bedside, tilted his head back, and drank it before heading toward the dormitory door.
"Where are you going?" Tom asked again, puzzled.
Robert smirked. "To find something."
The common room was empty this late at night.
Even the ghost by the fireplace seemed to be dozing off.
Robert had never known ghosts could sleep. Then again, maybe it was just a habit left over from life.
Carefully, he opened the common room door and stepped out.
He took a deep breath of the cold night air, then raised his wand, preparing to cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself.
"You're sneaking out?" Tom's voice came from behind him.
"You should be in bed," Robert frowned.
"I can't sleep anyway. Take me with you," Tom said.
Robert was silent for a long moment. "Do you even know where I'm going?"
"I'd guess… the Restricted Section?" Tom shrugged.
Robert raised an eyebrow. "And how did you figure that out?"
"You scouted the area during the day, didn't you? You walked in the opposite direction from me but still ended up near the library. That means the library was your real target. The only books there that would interest you… are in the Restricted Section."
Robert smirked. "Your reasoning is a bit of a stretch, Tom…"
"Come on, I saw the route map you drew. Stop wasting time. If you won't take me, I'll go on my own."
Robert sighed. "Fine. Just don't slow me down."
He pointed his wand at Tom's shoulder.
Tom shivered as a cool sensation washed over him, and his body began to blend into the darkness.
"A Disillusionment Charm? You even mastered this advanced spell…" Tom muttered.
"You're not the only one who studies, Tom," Robert replied.
Then, he cast the spell on himself as well.
"I'll teach you another spell," he said. "It'll let you see in the dark."
Tom raised an eyebrow. "You really came prepared."
Robert snorted. "I learned an important lesson today. No matter how well you prepare, something unexpected can always happen. And tonight… you are that unexpected thing."
Tom wisely kept his mouth shut.
He focused on learning the night-vision spell Robert taught him.
Now, they wouldn't need lanterns or Lumos spells, which would have made the Disillusionment Charm useless.
Robert also showed him a whispering spell.
"This keeps your voice from being heard beyond a short range. I call it 'Team Voice.'"
Tom was impressed. "How does your brain even come up with these things?"
"It's just a variation of the Silencing Charm," Robert replied calmly.
Five minutes later, they were moving through the castle.
"Exactly what are you looking for?" Tom asked.
"A book. What else would I be looking for in the library?" Robert shot back.
Tom sighed. "Did you eat chili tonight? Why are you so irritable?"
"Guess why?"
"Because of me?" Tom guessed.
Robert smirked. "Good guess."
They finally reached the library, but Tom suddenly pointed ahead.
"There's someone there."
Robert narrowed his eyes.
"Peeves," he whispered. "That troublemaker… If he sees us, forget tomorrow—we'll be in Dumbledore's office in five minutes, and our house will lose 100 points instantly..."
(End of Chapter)
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