[HP] Similar but different

Divination and Defense Against the Dark Arts classes were very hopeless on Monday afternoon because of Umbridge's presence.Trelawney became more hysterical, and even Harry, whose death was always predicted by her, began to sympathize with her.But given that Hagrid had received Umbridge's stay probation, he was even more unhappy to know that he couldn't go to Hagrid's cottage in the future.

After dinner, Harry said goodbye to Ron and Hermione and pretended to go to the cellar.But as soon as he was sure there was no one around, he put on the invisibility cloak and ran to the eighth floor.He didn't know if Snape had told Dumbledore about it (neither Sirius nor Lupine, it seemed, knew at the moment), and was determined to seize every opportunity he had.

Harry guessed right.When he took off the invisibility cloak in the Room of Requirement, the blue light of the locket faintly peeked out of his trouser pocket.He quickly put the invisibility cloak aside, reached out and grabbed it——

Another long and cold journey; but it cannot be said that there is no difference.Voldemort had arrived before him for the first time, and the silvery room was already glowing softly.

"On time, Harry, very good." Voldemort sat on his chair, pointed to the one opposite, and said calmly, "Sit down."

Harry hesitated for a moment, then moved over and sat down.To be honest, he was a little surprised.After all, they broke up last time - at least Voldemort was obviously angry - but today, it seems that the Dark Lord doesn't remember?

Voldemort really didn't intend to bring up the previous incident.He looked Harry over. "How was the first day of school?"

This opening statement, which sounded so ordinary, made Harry shiver.Voldemort's affectionate concern for his studies?Could this be a fake Dark Lord? "Not much," he said gruffly.

But Voldemort didn't react to Harry's lack of face. "I suppose so," he said with a chuckle, his red eyes sparkling, "Umbridge...there's probably no worse professor in the history of Hogwarts."

"Is she really not a conspiracy designed by you?" Harry couldn't help but choked.

Voldemort's smile widened even further. "Oh, of course not, Harry," he whispered, "but even I have to admit that she exceeded my expectations of her."

"In that case," Harry stared suspiciously at the pearly shimmering skin on the side of the Dark Lord's face—he tried not to look at those gleaming red eyes as much as he could, "did you talk to her last time?" ..."

"Last time?" Voldemort seemed to think for a moment. "She was so clueless. Don't you think so?"

Harry was even more suspicious. "The method she used to punish me was really perverted," he said, quite incomprehensible, "but what does that matter to you? What matter?"

"You really don't know, Harry?" Voldemort asked persuasively.

Harry frowned. "Why should I know?" He was a little rushed, but he still began to recall the earlier situation——

Blood continued to flow from the tip of the pen, and the earliest handwriting had turned dark brown.He vaguely felt an anger that didn't belong to him flashing through his mind, and the scar soon started to hurt...

Harry suddenly understood. "Blood?" he said in disbelief. "Are you going to tell me that you're going to teach her a lesson because she made my blood flow?"

"Only half right, Harry," Voldemort corrected softly. "That's my blood, too."

Harry opened his mouth wide in surprise, unable to understand the logic at all for a moment.Then, he suddenly understood again - Voldemort's concept of ownership of items was different from his; even if something was not obtained by reasonable means, it was still his own property in Voldemort's eyes.

"That's not your blood! It has nothing to do with you!" Harry retorted angrily, "Stop doing that kind of thing again!"

Voldemort narrowed his eyes.Although he still didn't say a word—only I can make you bleed—but..."Really?" He looked at Harry with a half-smile, "Why do I feel that your focus seems to be elsewhere ?Like, don’t do that to your classmates?”

Harry's anger immediately froze on his face.He realized that he unconsciously met those red eyes again. "That's enough!" He wiped his face vigorously, forcing himself to turn aside, "Are you forcing me to talk behind your back?"

"If you learn Occlumency, you don't have to work so hard." Voldemort smirked back.Before Harry exploded further, he added: "But you can really rest easy."

"You don't... huh?" Harry froze firmly.What does it mean?Had the Dark Lord actually given him a... promise?

"Because there's no need, Harry." Voldemort emphasized "no need," seemingly amused, "unless you're going to make me do it."

Harry almost blurted out "None of my business".He had wanted to point out that Voldemort had wanted to kill him when he was a baby; but then he realized that, beyond that, Voldemort really hadn't shown any particular bloodlust towards children.

Don't tell him, it's also because he's different... Harry thought, somewhat annoyed.But he controlled himself and didn't ask.Because he knows that if this topic is opened, they are doomed to fail this time... Anyway, no matter what method is used, he still hopes that Voldemort will take back that piece of soul as soon as possible——

Although he once said that he would use Voldemort's soul to save his own life, it was only a momentary statement; from the bottom of his heart, he would rather die in the battle against Voldemort than live with guilt every day.

Harry took a deep breath. "Can I take your words as a guarantee?"

"As long as you like, Harry," said Voldemort, almost humorously, "at least I can assure you that if you want to ask some pretty girl to Hogsmeade on Valentine's Day, I have no interest in interrupting—maybe I can also give you some advice from people who have experienced it, after all, you seem to be inexperienced..."

"Shut up! Shut up!" Harry yelled angrily, his face flushed. "Do you know what privacy is?"

"At least the book open in front of me isn't called, I think." Voldemort replied tactfully.

...meaning that, to Voldemort, his mind was like a book spread out in front of him?

Harry was almost desperate.He thought he had a certain skill in clichés, but when it came to his words... he was more than ten blocks away from Slytherin, especially when his opponent was the leader of Slytherin. "You'd better not tell me," he said word by word, gnashing his teeth, "Infuriating me is the way you take back your soul."

"Of course not," Voldemort laughed again, "just a way to relax you."

Harry's eyes widened.Exasperation equals relaxation?What the hell, maddening logic is this? "You'd better start doing business quickly," he had to try to warn the other party, "otherwise I don't know what I will do."

"Since you say that..." Voldemort tilted his head, seemingly regretting, "What was your last Charms and Transfiguration class, Harry?"

"...Why do you want to know this?" Harry asked suspiciously.It's suspicious that Voldemort is so obedient...

"Because I need you to do it again," Voldemort replied softly, "to be certain of something."

Harry still didn't understand. "What does my spell have to do with your soul?"

"Of course there is," said Voldemort, in a tone that was almost patient. "In fact, everything about you has something to do with my soul. It's in you, you know."

Harry's suspicions were still lingering.But having said that, it is really not a big deal to demonstrate a spell to Voldemort - it is much easier to accept than being touched by Voldemort...

He stood up and took his holly wand from his pocket.Whether it was Charms or Transfiguration, they had to be taught tomorrow, so he chose the content of the previous semester: "Validation without a trace!"

But unfortunately, only one leg of the chair he pointed to disappeared.Under the gaze of four eyes, it fell to the ground with an extremely ear-piercing bang.

Harry's neck flushed instantly with embarrassment.He made an oversight—Professor McGonagall made them practice with small animals, like snails or something. "It's too big," he insisted, not daring to look at Voldemort's face. "We haven't learned yet..."

There was a low breath, as if Voldemort couldn't hold back his laughter.But when he opened his mouth, Harry couldn't hear the lingering smile inside (maybe it was covered up by sarcasm): "It's too big? Are you sure you can pass this year's OWLs exam (junior wizard level exam) like this?"

Harry would like to say that my exam is none of your business, but he has no face to challenge Voldemort now.He still remembered Crown, and even more remembered how easily Crown could deal with homework that would crush him.So he could only turn his head away and express his dissatisfaction in silence.

"If it's a new spell this semester, I think you have a reason." Voldemort said again, ignoring Harry's embarrassment and anger, "but the Vanishing Curse after learning it for half a year is still like this..." He clicked With a sound, he shook his head again.

"...What else?" Harry couldn't bear it anymore. "I know you're great, okay?" he shouted in despair.

"That's not the right attitude, Harry," Voldemort reproached softly. "Now, grab your wand and do as I tell you."

……what?

Too dismayed by this development, Harry couldn't help turning his head to look - the Dark Lord was slouching in his armchair, seemingly intent on directing his magic. "What the hell are you trying to do?"

Yet Voldemort didn't want to explain at all. "Just do it," he said firmly. "Elevate your wrist half an inch and swing your wand in an S-shape, as fast as possible."

Harry stared at Voldemort with an alien look, but the Dark Lord's expression was unmistakable.He slowly lowered his head, stared at the chair with only three legs, and raised his wrist: "Valid without a trace!"

There was a slight pop, and the chair was left with two legs.

"Not fast enough," Voldemort pointed out disgustedly. "You hesitated, and the spell didn't pick up strong enough at the end... Try again."

Harry gave the Dark Lord another suspicious look, but he complied. "Fade without a trace!"

The chairs are completely gone.Harry stared almost suspiciously at the empty silver ground, but couldn't help but look at his right hand holding his wand. "……how did you do that?"

"Not worth mentioning at all." Voldemort smirked back, and pulled a new chair out of the air. "continue."

While Harry had no particular problem with practicing the spell - even better if he succeeded - he really didn't understand why Voldemort would do it. "Continue?" He asked back, "How long am I going to practice this?"

"It can make a dragon..." Voldemort said, and after meeting Harry's almost terrified eyes, he thought for a while, "at least he can make an elephant disappear."

He sounded forced like he was doing Harry a huge favor, but Harry didn't think it would be easy to make an elephant disappear. "Why?"

"Whatever it is, it won't do you any harm." Voldemort smirked again. "Think about your grades, huh?"

It seemed that Voldemort remembered those "D's" of his... Harry slumped his shoulders in frustration, completely speechless.

The author has something to say:

Player [Harry]: HP 99

Player [Voldemort]: Blood volume? ? ? ? ?