Three days later, Headmaster's Office.
Tom sat idly in a chair, playing with the Philosopher's Stone.
You heard right, it was the Philosopher's Stone. While Harry was unconscious, Tom secretly put it in his pocket and took it back for research.
Tom came to the Headmaster's Office today because Dumbledore had sent him a small note: "Please come to the Headmaster's Office, and bring the Philosopher's Stone with you. Password: Sherbet Lemon."
At this moment, the portraits of the Principals on the wall were watching him with nervous vigilance, fearing that he might do something bad again if they weren't careful.
The Sorting Hat, however, was very happy about Tom's arrival.
"Little Slytherin brat, come and enjoy the new song I made for next year's Sorting Ceremony."
"You..."
"Aguamenti!"
Just as the Sorting Hat opened its mouth and before it could sing, Tom doused it with water.
"Damn you, Tom Riddle, you actually doused the great Sorting Hat with water! You should have been sorted into Azkaban back then."
Such words had almost no effect on Tom. He slowly pulled out a complete set of cleaning tools and walked towards the Sorting Hat with a sinister smile: "I've tolerated you for a long time. It's time for a full body clean."
The Sorting Hat was so scared that it shrieked: "No! Don't come over here! Help!"
When Dumbledore returned to the Headmaster's Office after visiting Harry, he saw Tom doing the final cleaning touches on the Sorting Hat, and he even thoughtfully stuck a small red flower on it.
The Sorting Hat, meanwhile, looked utterly lifeless. Not only had it lost centuries of accumulated grime, but Tom had also kept digging and digging at it, making it feel impure.
Seeing that the Sorting Hat was about to protest to Dumbledore, it never expected him to say: "Good work, Tom, you have good taste."
This completely shut down the Sorting Hat.
After finishing the cleaning, Tom put away his tools and casually tossed the Philosopher's Stone to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore took the Philosopher's Stone and, seeing Tom's unhesitating manner, became a little curious: "You really don't have any attachment to it?"
Tom replied candidly: "Playing with it for three days is enough. The magic it contains is running low. No wonder you and Nicolas Flamel could take it out without hesitation to lure Lord Voldemort. After it's taken back this time, it will probably be destroyed. It's just a pity that this is probably the last Philosopher's Stone."
"You guessed correctly, Tom, but have you never thought about creating a Philosopher's Stone in the future?" Dumbledore looked at Tom with encouragement.
Tom shook his head: "I can't do it, Professor. Although I don't know the specific process of creating the Philosopher's Stone, I can guess its main material. The core of Alchemy is equivalent exchange. Only life can exchange life. Nicolas Flamel probably only accidentally created the Philosopher's Stone during the great outbreak of the Black Death in Europa in the 14th century."
"Clap, clap, clap..." Dumbledore couldn't help but applaud upon hearing this. "Tom, you are one of the most excellent students I have ever met. All your guesses are correct. By the way, would you like to meet Nicolas Flamel?"
Upon hearing Dumbledore's suggestion, Tom was first stunned, then showed delight. He hadn't expected to meet the legendary Alchemist before his death, and immediately agreed.
When Tom followed Dumbledore to Devon, Nicolas Flamel's new residence in recent years, he thought he was visiting a master, but instead, he stumbled upon him and his wife Perenelle Flamel arguing in the yard.
"I've been with you for over 600 years, and I'm really tired of this unchanging life!"
"Me too, old woman, can you please shut up and let me have some peace and quiet."
"Are you getting tired of me?!"
"Enough!"
Tom and Dumbledore exchanged glances, awkwardly caught between advancing and retreating.
"Ahem..."
At this moment, the arguing old couple discovered Dumbledore and Tom outside the yard, and immediately changed their expressions, welcoming them into the house with beaming smiles.
After taking the tea personally prepared by Perenelle Flamel, Dumbledore was about to introduce Tom, but he spoke first.
"Mr. Nicolas Flamel, and Ms. Perenelle Flamel, my name is Tom Riddle, and it's a pleasure to meet you."
"I just heard you arguing outside, and it seems the reason is that you've grown tired of each other after living together for so long. I'm really sorry I didn't bring a gift for this visit. How about I take the liberty of hosting dinner tonight?"
Nicolas Flamel felt that there was no way a 665-year-old man like him could let an 11-year-old Wizard treat him, and immediately wanted to refuse, but he never expected Tom's next words to almost make him stumble.
"I heard there's a pretty good nightclub in Devon. I'll order ten female models for Mr. Nicolas Flamel then, so you can at least have one last fling before you pass away."
"Of course, the male models at that place are also quite good. I'll order ten male models as well, so Ms. Perenelle Flamel can also have a good time."
"Oh, Professor Dumbledore, do you want to come along and see if there's anyone who looks like Grindelwald? Then you can do things to those male models that you've always wanted to do but never dared to do to Grindelwald."
"And Professor, don't worry, I'm very tight-lipped. I definitely won't tell Grindelwald."
Inside the room, Nicolas Flamel and his wife, as well as Dumbledore, looked at Tom with complex expressions.
'This little Wizard is not serious!'
Nicolas Flamel frequently hinted at Dumbledore with his eyes: 'Is this your student?'
Dumbledore quickly shook his head: 'He's not, don't talk nonsense. He's Severus Snape's student!'
In the end, Tom was very regretful that he couldn't organize an old people's nightclub gathering, but Nicolas Flamel also heard something from Tom's wild talk: "You know I'm dying? Did Dumbledore tell you?"
Tom nodded.
Now Nicolas Flamel was somewhat curious about Tom: "You are a very magical little Wizard. Among the Wizards who know I'm about to die, you are the calmest. Many adult Wizards cannot do that."
Tom had originally come with the mindset of visiting an elder, but now, hearing Nicolas Flamel mention death and seeing their aged, peaceful faces, he felt a sense of melancholy.
"A long journey of life, constantly losing one's relatives, friends, and loved ones, eventually leaving oneself alone, is also a kind of pain. Now, ending this journey and entering death is merely beginning another great adventure. Perhaps in the near future, Mr. Nicolas Flamel and I can meet again."
Suddenly, Tom really wanted to personally make a figurine of Grandma Citralli.
"Why did you suddenly become so sentimental?" Dumbledore, seeing the atmosphere beginning to grow heavy, quickly changed the subject, "Tom, I brought you to see Nicolas, not for you to lament the passing of time."
Tom then remembered his biggest purpose for coming with Dumbledore—to take advantage of the situation.