A belated update, sorry for the wait.

Recently, I've been busy with work, and I'm addicted to online games and new manuscripts, so ......

Looking at the sky

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Sword 5 (upright): A dark cloud in the shadows.

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Blake Manor, England

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[Riddle, where is this?] ]

After following Riddle to his feet, Opal looked at the obviously dilapidated manor in front of him with some curiosity.

"A manor that belongs to Voldemort, you just have to remember the location."

Riddle said with a cold expression, "I'll use it later." ”

In the past, he used this place as a meeting place for Death Eaters, and although it is now dilapidated, it is presumably that with Bella's personality, he and his men will still run here.

[Well, Opal got it.] ]

Opal nodded, but didn't ask much though he was puzzled, [So, don't you have to go in?] ]

She already sensed that Riddle seemed to be gradually distancing himself from "Voldemort", and although she couldn't guess what Riddle really wanted, it was certain that whatever Riddle wanted was what she needed to work towards.

"Just to let you know there's such a place."

After a slight pause, Riddle added, "The people in here...... Opal, you pay attention. ”

He can already be sure that his former subordinates have already begun to act, although Bella is very loyal, but sometimes it seems too crazy, but a subordinate like Bella, the current "Voldemort" will definitely not let go.

[Will it cause problems for Riddle?] ]

Opal is very simple and matter-of-fact, [If it's troublesome, I can directly call on the power of the family to erase this place.] ]

This is the latest permission she has added after being asked by Mr. Yeji to go to the secret realm of the lake two days ago, and it seems that Senior Sister Qianwei specially explained it.

At the same time, there was also a genealogy belonging to the Cappadocia family, and Opal was surprised to find a name belonging to Riddle and herself on it - it seems that Qianwei Senpai really planned to dump this family for her to deal with.

Of course, Riddle's name on it also has the name "Tom Marvolo Riddle", but it is in parentheses after the name "Riddle V.B. Cappadocia".

Opar's own name is "Opal Yonik P. Cappadocia Snape". Although it is different from the usual name, there are a few more middle names, but Opal does not think it affects the relevant understanding.

But...... Does Riddle know about this?

Knowing that Riddle would never pay attention to such things, Opal was very curious about this, but he didn't have the courage to ask directly—because he had a gut feeling that if he did, he would be disciplined by Riddle.

"There's no need for that just yet."

Riddle shook his head, he wasn't surprised by Opal's suggestion - although her mind was indeed simple and easy to understand, she was not blindly kind.

In fact, he had already seen that Opal's code of conduct was not so much "kindness" as "indifference" and indifference.

It is precisely because I don't care that I don't care, so it doesn't matter, but it is precisely this attitude that makes things particularly "fair" in the handling of things - it is right to conform to the laws and laws that allow the natural world to develop normally, and it is wrong to violate the laws and make things unsustainable, and there is no extralegal reason to talk about.

Except for specific objects, other existences, whether good or bad, are all non-discriminatory existences for her.

Riddle often wondered that perhaps this calmness, which could even be described as "cold," was what the "Son of Gaia" should have.

The only exception is probably myself.

[Got it.] ]

Opal nodded obediently, but secretly crossed out some of the thoughts that would make her classmates scare.

"So, help me keep an eye out for the people who live here if they try to enter Hogwarts......"

Putting those somewhat inexplicable thoughts behind him, Riddle thought for a moment and then commanded, "You can sit by and watch if there is no threat to the life of Slytherin House, and if they try to attack the Slytherin students, then it is up to you." ”

Most of his past Death Eaters were born in Slytherin, and "protecting the short" is a tradition for those born in Slytherin House.

Right now, his Silent Girl was the best of the pack, and he didn't want her to make it too difficult for her to take care of her orders - but considering that he couldn't expect too much from the fragment of power that had reached his past name and had autonomous consciousness, Riddle hesitated for a moment and relaxed the restrictions on Opal.

Power attracts power, and considering the location of the shards of power found so far, as well as the things that you have been exposed to in the past, it is likely that the shards will be eyeing the Ravenclaw Crown that your past self has stored in the Hogwarts Requirement Room.

Although, according to Opal, the Ravenclaw crown had been destroyed, the fragment was unaware of this. He had collected the relics of the Hogwarts Four only as a memento, and although he didn't remember the reason for the original collection, he remembered the whereabouts of the three relics very well.

The Slytherin locket, which he received, was not too far from the orphanage at the time, in a secret cave; The Ravenclaw tiara is placed in the Requirement Room at Hogwarts; The Hufflepuff Gold Cup was given to Bella, the deputy at the time, who guessed she would put it in Gringotts. As for the Gryffindor Sword, according to Opal, it was in the custody of the Sorting Hat, so it's no wonder that he never collected the corresponding information.

Thinking of this, Riddle paused before speaking, "Also, one of the people who live here has the key to a warehouse in Gringotts, where the Hufflepuff Gold Cup is stored. ”

[Does Riddle want that?] ]

Opal easily captured the point of Riddle's words.

"Get that cup back."

A simple phrase, "Don't get too much attention." ”

[Well, okay.] ]

It's also a very calm promise.

The person who says doesn't care how difficult the task is, and the person who answers doesn't care how much effort he puts into it.

One request, one promise.

Riddle and Opal get along with each other in such a simple way.

"Is there a place you'd like to go?"

It seemed that because the task had been completed, Riddle's mood was somewhat relieved, and he lowered his head slightly to look at the girl beside him.

[As long as it's with Riddle, it's fine.] ]

This is Opal's answer, as always.

"Let's go, then."

[Hmm.] ]

The corners of his mouth were slightly hooked, and Riddle clenched the hand that had never let go, shifting his shape.

Calm was restored to the outskirts of the abandoned manor.

========================I'm the dividing line ==================== the switching scene

Hogwarts Gryffindor common room

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"Look, Harry!"

Ron said, "We brought you so much candy that we couldn't bring more." ”

As he spoke, a handful of candy rained down on Harry's lap.

It was late in the evening, and Ron and Hermione had just made an appearance in the common room.

Although their faces had been blown pink by the cold wind, they seemed to be in good spirits, as if they had really been playing happily for a while.

"Thank you."

Harry said, picking up a small bag of pepper urchins, "How's Hogsmeade?" Where have you all been? Then it's time to listen.

Everywhere - Devis and Bans, the magic equipment store, Jokowi's joke shop, and the three brooms that served the frothy butterbeer, and many other places.

"The post office, Harry! There are about two hundred owls, all sitting on shelves, all color-coded, depending on how fast your letter needs to go! ”

"Duke Honey has a new milk fudge, they're handing out free samples, here's a little bit for you to see......"

"We think we saw a man-eating demon, really, three broomsticks have all sorts of ...... there"

"I'd love to bring you some butterbeer, it's going to warm you up......"

Compared to Ron's rambling, Hermione was obviously more concerned about another aspect: "Speaking of which, Harry, did you finish any homework during your time at school?" ”

"Not really."

Harry shrugged his shoulders to show his innocence, "Actually, I was approached by Professor Lupin not long after you left. ”

"He's looking for you?"

"Well, made me a cup of tea in his office. Then Snape came in......"

Harry remembered what he had been in Professor Lupin's office that afternoon, chatted with Professor Lupin, was asked a little about before he went to Hogwarts, and was asked a little about after he ran away from home during the summer holidays, and then Professor Snape pushed the door open and entered, carrying a goblet of steaming medicine.

When he said all of this, Ron's mouth opened wide in astonishment.

"Did Lupin drink?"

He seemed to be in disbelief, and was heavily dressed, "Is he crazy?!" ”

At this time, Hermione looked at her watch and interrupted Ron's words: "I think we should go downstairs, you know, in five minutes, the dinner will begin......"

Her proposal was agreed upon by Harry and Ron, who hurried through the hole in the portrait of the Gryffindor common room door to join the crowd that was pouring into the dining room.

"But if he's—you know......"

Hermione, who said this, lowered her voice and looked around nervously, "If he wants to manage...... Poisoning Lupin...... He wouldn't do it in Harry's presence. ”

"I'm just saying that Snape handed Professor Lupin a cup of medicine."

Harry shook his head slightly, noncommittal, "I never said anything about Snape wanting to poison Professor Lupin. ”

In fact, because of the events of the summer vacation, and the fact that he had used the information found in the Room of Requirement to speculate, he didn't hate Snape as much as he used to - of course, if the black bat could have improved his attitude towards him a little, maybe he would have been willing to call him "Professor".

But it was clear that Snape himself would not want that to happen.

"Harry?!"

Ron let out a short, rapid gasp, "You know what you're talking about?" ”

"I just wanted to say...... Some things are often not as simple as they seem. ”

Harry shrugged his shoulders again, "Rather than discussing whether Snape wanted to poison Professor Lupin, I think it's even more strange why Professor Lupin drank that potion?" ”

What's more, when he was learning the Patronus Charm before, Opal had vaguely mentioned to him that Professor Lupin's physical condition was not very good, and suggested that he arrange the periodic table of the moon in more rows. If he can't think of some things, then the common sense of the wizarding world that he was made up by the Slytherin noble quartet in various ways during his time at Opal's house this summer will be in vain.

Those miserable days made Harry shudder even now when he thought about it.

"Yes, that's right!"

Hearing this, Hermione's eyes immediately lit up, "Professor Snape is indeed very accomplished in potions, so Professor Lupin had to turn to him for help...... I just don't know what kind of medicine it is, so I'm going to have to look into it and write it into my Potions homework! ”

She didn't believe that she couldn't get an A!

“……”

Looking at Hermione, who was now completely burning, Harry sweated profusely from the back of his head - as for it?

Fortunately, by this time they had already made their way to the antechamber and entered the dining hall.

The auditorium was now filled with hundreds of jack-o-lanterns, a swarm of fluttering bats, and many flaming orange streamers that floated lazily beneath the ceiling like brilliant water serpents.

The food is exquisite; Even people like Hermione and Ron, who ate Duke Honey's candy to the point of bursting their stomachs, asked for a second portion of each food.

Harry stole a glance at the faculty chair.

There, Professor Lupin looked happy and was having an active discussion with the little Charms teacher, Professor Flitwick, and the other professors had their own amusements, such as Headmaster Dumbledore, who was recommending his weird sweet treats to Professor McGonagall, who was sitting next to him. The only one out of place was probably Snape, and the atmosphere at the table seemed gloomy on his side.

Overall, the Halloween dinner was quite enjoyable, and it was a quiet relief for Harry, who had been a little nervous and a little tense after recalling the previous two years.

After that, he turned his attention to the tables of the other colleges on the side, and then ......

"Why does Slytherin feel weird?"

Quietly poking Ron beside him, Harry asked in a whisper - it wasn't really that he was nervous, but that Opal and Draco, who had been sitting together, had been sitting together for the first time in the middle, and Pansy had been sitting separately for the first time in history. Speaking of Halloween, it seems that Slytherin table manners are a little looser than usual, and many students are not in their seats, which can be said to be "fixed".

"Ha, I'll tell you when it comes to this, Harry!"

I don't know which gossip nerve of Ron was touched, he immediately danced with his hands and said excitedly, "That kid from the Malfoy family has fallen out of love!" Opal already has a boyfriend, and I heard that he is still a fiancé who has been set since he was a child! This time, Hogsmeade Zhou Opal was there to see her fiancé. ”

Uh, isn't it Ravenclaw's Sister Zhang and Hufflepuff's Diggory Senior's Opal?

Harry looked at Ron with an excited expression, and a drop of sweat broke out in the back of his head again.

I said, Ron, how much of a grudge you have against the Malfoy family, and this kind of gossip that you know is distorted when you hear it can be so interesting.

Although you don't have much image to speak of, ...... Can you please be a little more cautious and don't spray the food in your mouth?

I really don't want to admit to knowing this guy.

Harry silently covered his face and turned his head, but as his gaze turned back to Slytherin House, he noticed that Draco's face didn't seem to be very good—could Ron's gossip really be part of the truth?

Poor Draco.

Harry, who had also established a personal relationship with the Slytherin group of four during the summer, couldn't help but express his deepest sympathy for the proud little platinum master, and then ......

Equally excited to prepare for the play.