Wade leaned back dramatically and slowly closed his notebook.
"So you specifically came over here and even cast a Silencing Charm just so I could help you escape from her?"
"I've tried hiding with other people too, but only when I'm with you does she stop coming over to bother me," Tom replied irritably.
Wade gave a cold laugh.
"Sorry, but while you don't want to talk to them, I very much do. At a time like this, I have no desire to sit here with a stick-in-the-mud like you. Do you actually have any serious business? If not, stop interrupting me while I chat with the ladies. Unlike you, they don't slow down my spellcasting."
"If there's nothing important, I'm cancelling the Silencing Charm." Wade drew his wand.
Tom stared at him with wide eyes. "You're really going to do that? Shouldn't you be helping me?"
As he spoke, he glanced towards Grace, who was sitting near the front, only to catch her secretly looking in their direction as well.
Tom quickly looked away, his brow furrowing deeply.
Wade noticed the trace of panic in his eyes.
"I can't help you with this, Tom. It's something you have to face on your own. My, my... You've grown up before I even realised it. And once you grow up, these things are unavoidable. Everyone goes through them," Wade said with a smile.
Tom's expression darkened. "I feel like this is something that should be said by..."
"Your father isn't here, so it's the same if I say it."
"Will it kill you not to take advantage of me?" Tom snapped irritably. The bastard always had a lecture ready, as though he really were his father.
To Wade, however, a boy Tom's age truly was still just a child.
After all, Wade had already been an adult before coming to this world.
Even after years of playing the role, he had never fully managed to think of himself as an ordinary teenage boy.
"But it's true. Young people developing feelings for each other is perfectly normal, especially when they're attractive. Good-looking boys and girls are simply more likely to encounter such things," Wade explained.
Then, however, his own expression gradually turned displeased.
"Why do you suddenly look upset?" Tom asked.
"Something's wrong here. This makes no sense, Tom! I'm much more handsome than you, so why are girls interested in you while no one has shown the slightest interest in me?" Wade scratched his head in genuine confusion.
"Please. You're always disappearing without a trace. Even your own people can never find you outside class. How are any girls supposed to show interest in you? I'm different. I spend every day helping you manage the society and dealing with all its members..." Tom suddenly paused. "Wait. In that case, the reason I'm dealing with this now is entirely your fault!"
"How can you blame me for that?" Wade protested.
"Who else am I supposed to blame?"
"I certainly don't think I've harmed you. You've lacked affection since childhood. If you didn't interact with people more often, I can't imagine how withdrawn you'd become," Wade said, shaking his head.
"Withdrawn? Like you? You're probably the least sociable person in all of Hogwarts, Wade Reynolds," Tom shot back.
Wade nearly slammed his hand on the table.
"If you were capable of helping me with my research, would I have ended up this isolated?"
"I'm only a child. I don't understand all those strange experiments. Besides, didn't I already lend you my ancestor as an assistant?" Tom said as though it were perfectly reasonable.
"I was the one who dug your ancestor up for you!" Wade snapped. "Forget it. There's no point talking when we can't agree. You should focus on figuring out how to face Grace."
Seeing Wade about to remove the spell, Tom hurriedly stopped him.
"Wait. I really do have something important to discuss."
"What?" Wade asked impatiently.
Tom looked away. After a long pause, he finally said, "Andre graduates next June. What are you planning to have him do?"
Wade lowered his wand and replied flatly, "You only just thought of that, didn't you? There's no need to force yourself to invent serious business."
The boy was clearly stalling for time.
"No, I genuinely want to discuss the future direction of our great cause with you. And I believe Andre will play an extremely important role in it," Tom said hurriedly.
"I do have something very important for him to do," Wade replied.
"Then... will he be the third person to join Hydra?" Tom asked, his eyes flickering.
Wade frowned slightly.
"He's in a somewhat unusual position. He's extremely loyal, but his loyalty is directed only towards me. In the long run, that could create problems. I still need to see whether he can accept the ideas we advocate. I want him to be loyal not only to me, but also to our beliefs and principles."
Tom couldn't understand Wade's thinking at all.
Was there anything wrong with having someone loyal only to him?
If someone was loyal to you alone, then wouldn't he believe whatever you told him to believe?
"I know you don't quite understand," Wade continued, "but if his loyalty is directed solely towards me, then one day that loyalty may be exploited by our enemies. And have you considered what might happen if I were gone and he happened to have little interest in our beliefs or principles? If he were only an ordinary member, it wouldn't matter much. But if he joined Hydra, he could become the greatest source of instability within our organisation."
"What exactly are you afraid of?" Tom frowned. "Is there really anyone in this world who can hurt you? You seem much less reckless than you used to be."
"Tom, if I'm struck by the Killing Curse, I'll still die. How do you know I won't let my guard down one day?" Wade said cautiously.
"I still think you're worrying too much. With all that strange equipment of yours and your absurd strength, I honestly can't imagine what could threaten you. Even if Professor Dumbledore turned against you, you'd still be able to leave safely."
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Read 12 Advance Chapters—P@t- Captain69