Tom finally chose to face reality. As for the future, he would take it one step at a time.
Just as Tom was sighing and lamenting his difficult life, he didn't know that in a corner of the castle, Quirrell was having an even harder time than him.
"Quirinus, how are you doing with the task I assigned you?" Voldemort, who had awakened in Quirrell's head, shouted.
"Master... Master, I'm trying my best. I'm afraid that too big a movement will arouse Dumbledore's suspicion." Quirrell replied tremblingly.
"You useless piece of shit! It's been so long, and there's still no progress at all." Voldemort's anger rose.
"Ah…ah…Master…Master, please forgive me, please forgive me this time."
The intense pain struck Quirrell's soul directly. His body curled up, beads of sweat the size of beans dripped from his forehead, and he let out shrill wails and pleas for mercy.
Voldemort tortured Quirrell for a long time, and his anger gradually subsided. He continued to ask, "How is Hogwarts lately? Has anything big happened?"
"Well...it looks like nothing serious happened."
Please, Quirrell's mind has been hanging on the task assigned by Voldemort during this period. Who knows what happened in Hogwarts.
Quirrell's hesitation brought Voldemort's even more severe punishment: "You useless piece of shit, you know nothing, what use are you!"
It took a long time for Quirrell to recover from his collapse, but he heard another piece of bad news.
"I'll take your place in the first-year Defense Against the Dark Arts class tomorrow."
"Ah?" Quirrell was stunned by Voldemort's words. It seemed, seemed, probably, that he had not attended the lower-grade Defense Against the Dark Arts class for a long time.
"What's wrong? What's the problem?" Seeing Quirrell's look, Voldemort's sinister voice sounded in his mind. If Quirrell gave a bad answer, he would be in trouble in the next second.
"Well, Master, Dumbledore has found an assistant to take charge of lower-grade courses." Quirrell avoided the main point and did not dare to reveal that he had delegated full authority.
"Who is it?" Voldemort's tone became even more gloomy.
Quirrell quickly replied, "It's a first-year Slytherin wizard."
"A first-year wizard?" Voldemort narrowed his eyes and began to ponder the deeper meaning of Dumbledore's actions.
"Yes, master, it's a first-year Slytherin wizard named Riddle," Quirrell added hastily.
"Riddle?" Voldemort hadn't heard that last name spoken in ages. "What's his full name?"
"Tom Riddle!"
Voldemort thought he must have been hallucinating because he had slept for too long, so he couldn't help but raise his voice and ask again: "What did you say his name was?"
"Master, his name is Tom Riddle!" Hearing the different emotions in Voldemort's mouth, Quirrell repeated it more carefully.
The excessive surprise made Voldemort silent at that moment.
"Master, is there something wrong with this Tom Riddle?" Looking at the silent Voldemort, Quirrell asked cautiously.
"Quirinus, go to the Defense Against the Dark Arts class tomorrow." Voldemort did not answer Quirrell. After giving a brief instruction, he fell asleep again.
The next day, Tom was preparing to teach the Defense Against the Dark Arts class to Gryffindor and Hufflepuff by the lake as usual, but he never expected to see an uninvited guest.
"Why is he here?" Tom wondered when he saw Quirrell, who had not appeared for a long time.
Voldemort, who was possessed by Quirrell, was also in a state of confusion. The moment he saw Tom, Voldemort felt as if he saw himself when he first entered school, but this also overturned his initial guess.
"It's not a diary. Compared to the diary, it's too young. Could it be that it's a Horcrux that has found a way to revive, as I suspected? But you have the same name and the same appearance as me when I was young. If you're not a Horcrux, it doesn't make sense. Who are you?"
When Voldemort stared at Tom with suspicion, Tom also felt the burning gaze that seemed to devour him.
"Interesting! It seems Lao Fu couldn't resist his curiosity and wanted to come see me. I wonder if he was surprised or frightened to see me like this. But as a courtesy, I can't be stingy. This class will teach you something fun."
When Tom was sure that the leader who came was not Quirrell, but the awakened Voldemort himself, he decided to temporarily change the content of the class.
"Professor Riddle, isn't the class starting yet?" Seeing that Tom seemed to be in a daze, Harry couldn't help but remind him.
Hearing the title "Professor Riddle" that he had longed for, Voldemort was in a trance again, and a feeling of jealousy involuntarily surged in his heart.
Meanwhile, Tom, having regained his composure, nodded slightly in thanks to Harry, then began teaching the students in front of him: "I had intended to continue with the content of last lesson, but I think everyone is getting a little bored, so we're temporarily changing the content of the lesson today. Does anyone know what the Unforgivable Curses are?"
Harry, who hung out with Tom all day, was the first to raise his hand.
"Harry, it's you."
Harry, who was named, quickly answered: "Killing Curse, Cruciatus Curse, Imperius Curse."
"Very good, one point for Gryffindor. Today we're going to learn about the Unforgivable Curses."
As soon as Tom finished speaking, the originally quiet students burst into noisy discussions.
Neville even mustered up the courage to persuade Tom: "Professor Riddle, this is not a good idea. Why don't we change the content?"
Tom remained unmoved. After quieting down the crowd, he continued, "Of course, this class won't teach you all three Unforgivable Curses all at once. Today, we'll mainly be learning about the Killing Curse. Does anyone know the characteristics of the Killing Curse?"
"…"
No one responded to Tom, and the situation became awkward. Just as Tom was about to continue his own speech, Ron murmured, "Irresistible?"
Tom was very pleased with Ron's advice. "Excellent! One point for Gryffindor. Weasley was right. The most important feature of the Killing Curse is that it is impossible to resist."
"Efficient, convenient, targeting the soul, one-hit kill, instant death, no pain, this is the Killing Curse. You know, there is nothing in this world that can't be solved with a single blow."
Then Tom waved his wand, and the rocks in the distance became bigger, and more than a dozen huge rocks were lined up in a row.
"Next, cast the Killing Curse at the boulder over there. Don't do it to anyone else, don't do it to anyone else, don't do it to anyone else. I say this three times. Anyone who doesn't comply will be sent to Azkaban."
After giving a stern warning, Tom began to demonstrate to the young wizards: "Now follow me, draw a lightning bolt from top to bottom with your wand, be filled with murderous intent, aim at the target, and shout loudly when casting the spell.
"Avada Kedavra!"
The bright green blooms most dazzlingly in the open space by the lake.