[HP] Comparative

*Title source "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" ([US] Mark Twain)

By the time Tom stepped off platform nine and three-quarters the sun was already in the west.The sun shines through the translucent roof of the station and falls on the bustling stream of people.He narrowed his eyes slightly, quickly looked around, and soon found a corner that no one was paying attention to, and then Apparated.

In theory, wizards under the age of 17 cannot take the Apparition exam, and naturally they cannot Apparate at the risk of disintegration, but this rule, like many other rules, is just a decoration for Tom.

Theoretically, as an orphan, Tom has nowhere to go but back to the orphanage, but the place where he Apparated again is equally bustling, not at all similar to the gloomy and old-fashioned building of the orphanage——

Between a large bookstore and another record store, the dirty, narrow facade of the Leaky Cauldron poked its head stubbornly.Tom glanced at the pub sign on top that only wizards could see, and stepped in.

The bar was too dark for a landmark in the wizarding world, but it didn't affect the boss's business at all.Tom avoided the crooked tables and chairs, and walked nimbly around some old women with pipes in their mouths.No one noticed him until he climbed the wooden stairs to the second floor.

Tom didn't make any noticeable movements either.He walked silently through the corridor, and soon stopped in front of a room - the number seven was marked on the brass door - and knocked lightly.

The door opened almost immediately.Tom dodged in and closed it with his wand backhand.

"How is the journey? Is it going well?" Seeing him, the man inside asked impatiently.

The man had straw-colored half-length hair and freckled skin as pale as paper.If there was a third person present, he would probably be shocked by the unconcealed hospitality in the man's words-because this person was Barty Crouch Jr., the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts, and also a The only son of the current Minister of Magic, Elder Crouch.

Tom nodded in reply. "Found something?"

"Of course!" Little Crouch was very proud.When he handed out the parchment, he puffed out his chest not yet noticeably. "It never occurred to me that my father could actually be of any use - even if it was just to use his title."

Tom declined to comment.He spread out the scroll, and inside was a detailed hand-drawn map with rows of small characters on the edge.He scanned ten lines at a glance, flicked his fingers casually, and the parchment ignited into flames, only to be reduced to ashes in a short while. "Enough." He raised his eyes and asked again, "Is the follow-up cooking done?"

Little Crouch grinned triumphantly. "Don't worry, I put something in that poor fellow's glass in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and he won't remember anything when he wakes up."

"Very well," Tom finally nodded, "thank you for your generous help."

To be honest, the tone of thanks was very blunt, but little Crouch didn't care at all, and was even a little flattered. "I've said it many times, you don't have to be so polite. What's more, this map was drawn more than ten years ago, and I don't know what it has become now..."

Tom read sharply between the lines. "you mean?"

"I can apparate you to Northallerton. It's not far from there." Little Crouch said, watching Tom's reaction carefully. "You haven't been to North York, I guess. ?”

Tom recalled the map he had just seen.

It was created by a former Ministry of Magic employee named Bob Ogden.That year, Ogden took the lead in arresting Marvolo Gaunt and Morfin Gaunt, the only remaining pure-blood descendants of Slytherin, as well as Tom's maternal grandfather and uncle.Marvolo was sentenced to six months in prison by the Wizengamot for intentional injury, and Morfin was charged with assaulting Muggles and spent three years in Azkaban.

After that, no wizard ever went to Little Hangleton again, after all no one wanted to mess with two lunatics.Therefore, let alone whether there is doubt as to whether Marvolo and Morfin are still living there, there is even a big question mark as to whether they are still alive.

Thinking of his long-standing misunderstanding—he thought his father was a wizard, but his mother wasn't. After all, how could a wizard let himself die in childbirth without moving his wand—the muscles on Tom's cheeks twitched slightly one time. "No need." He rebuffed straight away, "I can handle it by myself."

Obviously, Crouch Jr. was disappointed.But soon, he cheered up again: "Is there anything else I can help with? You know, I'd be happy!"

Tom glanced over, and Harry's anger at asking who had signed him up for the Triwizard Tournament came to him suddenly. "My only hope," he said slowly, "is that nothing should be done that I have not expressly asked."

Little Crouch was a little stiff when he heard that.Fortunately, he was not stupid, and quickly found the right one among a bunch of things. "That Potter thing?" He tried to defend himself. "You know, he overheard our conversation, and I just wanted to teach him a little lesson."

Of course the Tom he was talking about understood, but... "It's not like it used to be."

Little Crouch could hear from this sentence that Tom's attitude towards Harry had changed a lot, and he could also hear from Tom's tone of voice that the other party was unwilling to talk deeply. "I see." He wisely changed the subject, "Then Lestrange and the others..."

"Keep them waiting," interrupted Tom before he could finish. "I have more important things at hand. If they lose patience, they will regret their wrong choice."

This could be said to be extremely cold, but little Crouch's eyes shone brightly. "That's right!" He nodded in great agreement, "Honestly, I can't wait to leave school! Our previous plan was to wait until you graduated..." After meeting another person's calm gaze, he unconsciously revisited Considering what to say next, "Or do you still need someone to spy for you at school?"

Hogwarts spies can only target Dumbledore.Tom admits that Crouch Jr. is right about their biggest rival, but that's just for now. "It doesn't matter, Dumbledore is old," he replied, in a nonchalant tone, "as originally planned."

Thinking of being able to get rid of the old Crouch's shadow completely, and take revenge at all costs, the little Crouch became visibly excited. "That's great!"

After this conversation, the two had dinner together, during which they discussed some details.When night fell, Tom went downstairs alone, entered Diagon Alley from the patio behind the bar, and went straight to Ollivander with a clear goal.

The wand shop was also small and dilapidated, with its gold letters peeling off.Tom opened the door and entered, and happened to meet the old craftsman behind the counter—Mr. Ollivander was arranging the wand boxes on the shelf on the wooden ladder, and turned his head when he heard the sound. "Oh, it's you," he said with a look of enlightenment, "I think I know why you're back... You heard someone had a wand made of the same phoenix feather as you, didn't you?"

Tom didn't know if he actually remembered every customer, or if he was so picky and special, but it didn't matter, it didn't matter. "I've heard it's not common."

"Yes, it's very wonderful," said Mr. Ollivander, climbing tremblingly down the ladder. "It's amazing, it's amazing..." He finally stood on the ground, turned around and walked towards the tall wooden counter, and carefully looked at the tall boy from behind, "Usually this kind of thing only happens to two wizards who have a close relationship , for example, brother. Let me take the liberty to ask," his already large silver eyes widened, "does your family have any connection with the Potter family?"

Yes, but it's almost gone...

Tom answered in his heart, only shaking his head on his face. "If I had known, I wouldn't be standing here now, sir."

Mr. Ollivander's eyeballs looked clouded with disappointment. "Although I have been making wands all my life, there are always some things that are beyond my expectations..." He shook his head lightly, "Sorry, I couldn't solve your problem."

"Not necessarily." Tom took up the conversation, "I also want to ask you, have you heard the rumor of the Elder Wand? I read it in a book, but it didn't go into great detail. I think..." He Showing a dilemma at the right time, "Since your store has a long history of more than 2000 years, maybe you know more."

Mr. Ollivander's eyes widened again. "You're not the first to ask me that question," he sighed, "but it's just a legend. I repeat, the wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Riddle. There is no such thing as an invincible wand. "

To be honest, Tom was also skeptical about invincibility.After all, it was an attractive gimmick, and many people throughout history must have wanted to have it; he also found some famous duels, none of which never failed. "You mean," he thought for a moment, "that the Elder Wand always chooses the winner."

Mr. Ollivander was about to say something, but was stunned by the words. "Yes . . . you are quite right." He began to look at Tom with a new look, and added: "If there is such a wand."

However, since the cloak of invisibility that never wears does exist, the Deathly Hallows cannot be just a legend.There may be exaggerations and misinterpretations, but there is definitely a magic wand.There is also a stone that is said to bring the dead back to life...

Tom withdrew his excessively divergent thoughts, and asked politely again: "So you haven't heard any news, have you?"

Mr. Ollivander hesitated, looking at the boy, who was obviously brilliant, in front of him.After a while, he sighed again. "The last time I heard about it, it was in Grigovich's hands. His wands are a household name in Germany, and we're kind of competitors... so I think he's just bragging, to expand his business or something .”

This is indeed a new clue.Tom suppressed his excitement, thanked Ollivander politely, and left.

The author has something to say:

Tom: Am I kidding when I say everyone likes me except Dumbledore?

感谢在2022-05-1219:25:27~2022-05-1322:47:49期间为我投出霸王票或灌溉营养液的小天使哦~

Thanks to the little angel who cast the deep water torpedo: 1 Amu;

Thanks to the little angel who threw the shallow water bomb: LobsterJam1;

Thanks to the little angels who voted for the rocket launcher: bo a big boer, LobsterJam, Tang Chenxin, Fusheng Wuyu 1;

Thanks to the little angels who threw the grenade: 2 little otters;

Thanks to the little angel who threw mines: Find the Passion 1;

Thanks to the little angels of the irrigation nutrient solution: 6 bottles of Zier; 2 bottles of Tianying; 1 bottle of passing W;

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!