December 24th, Christmas Eve.
As one of the few students remaining at school, Tom and Harry gathered early in the morning to prepare Christmas gifts.
"Milia and their candies... Anna's tea set... Cassandra's necklace... Draco's 'The Overbearing CEO's Fierce Love'... Hermione's 'Past O.W.L. Exam Practice Sets'... Neville's two-handed sword... Professor Dumbledore's wool socks stuffed with lubricant... Professor Snape's Potter brand shampoo... Professor McGonagall's cat wand, and Professor Flitwick, Pansy, Theodore, Zabini, Ernie, Hannah... why are there so many?"
Tom didn't realize until he started packing that there were so many people to give gifts to—from the orphanage, Professors, STARGAZER, and within the school—it added up to an unexpected number. He couldn't help but complain to Harry, "Harry, we're Wizards, aren't we? So why do we celebrate Christmas? Isn't that heresy?"
Harry didn't respond. Tom looked up and saw his aggrieved, hesitant expression, and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
What he got in return was Harry's silence, his head lowered in dejection. Tom thought for a moment and tentatively asked, "Your gift?"
Upon hearing this, Harry looked up again, his eyes filled with hope. The Savior's appearance amused Tom: "Are you upset because you didn't hear me mention your gift? Don't be sad, your gift isn't here. Don't worry, I promised you a special gift. I always keep my word."
Hearing Tom's solemn promise, Harry's face immediately lit up with joy.
After comforting the Savior, Tom categorized and packed the gifts, then shouted, "Lord Voldemort, stop being lazy! Come deliver the express packages!"
Harry was startled by Tom's words, jumping up with a whoosh and pulling out his wand, on alert: "Where? Where is Lord Voldemort?"
After waiting for a long time, Harry didn't see any sign of Lord Voldemort. Just as he was about to ask Tom, he saw him unhurriedly hand the prepared gifts to his owl.
After feeding the owl some food, Tom stroked her feathers and said softly, "Go, Miss Lord Voldemort, I'm counting on you."
Harry stared blankly at Tom's actions. It wasn't until Lord Voldemort flew out the window that he found his voice again: "So, the Lord Voldemort you were talking about is this owl?"
"Otherwise, who did you think I was calling?" Tom gave Harry a strange look, then his face became proud, "My chosen name is pretty good, isn't it? Honestly, it's an honor for that noseless fellow that my owl gets to be called Lord Voldemort."
"So cold!" Professor Quirrell, by the office fireplace, couldn't help but pull his clothes tighter, feeling that the Lord Voldemort behind his head was inexplicably starting to emit resentment again.
In the evening, when Tom and Harry entered the Great Hall together, they found it had been redecorated.
Garlands of holly and mistletoe hung from the walls, warm snowflakes floated gracefully from the ceiling, and the tall, upright Christmas tree was adorned with various small ornaments, tiny icicles, and small candles, all emitting a charming glow, adding a festive atmosphere to the entire Great Hall.
The number of students staying at school for Christmas was no more than two digits, and students from all houses sat together at one long table. In the teacher's section, except for Professor Quirrell, everyone else was present, and the clinking of glasses made for a lively scene.
After Tom pulled Harry to their seats, the table was already laden with a feast. Without any wasted words, Tom grabbed a roasted chicken leg and began to gnaw on it.
After eating and drinking his fill, Tom let out a satisfied burp. Seeing Dumbledore preparing to leave, he immediately tugged at Harry, who was still devouring his food: "Stop eating. Come on, I'll take you to get your gift."
Harry immediately put down his half-eaten sausage, hastily wiped his hands on his robes, and quickly followed Tom's steps.
"Professor, Professor Dumbledore, wait! And Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, all of you, wait!"
Tom's urgent shouts echoed deafeningly in the somewhat empty Great Hall, immediately making the departing Professors stop in their tracks.
"Tom, is something wrong?" Dumbledore asked softly, looking at Tom, who was jogging over with Harry.
Tom looked around: "Professor, I have something important to tell you. This isn't the place to talk. Can we go to the Headmaster's Office instead?"
Snape snorted coldly: "Riddle, you'd best not waste our time."
Tom calmly said to Snape, "It's about Lily."
Immediately, Snape fell silent and even subtly gestured to Dumbledore.
After Dumbledore agreed, the group moved to the Headmaster's Office.
Once the Headmaster's Office door was closed, Dumbledore gestured for Tom to begin.
"I wonder if everyone still remembers Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew?"
Upon hearing these two names, everyone's expressions changed.
Harry looked curiously at the reactions of those around him. He had heard of these two in Snape's rumors; apparently, they were his father's closest friends. Now, he didn't know why Tom suddenly brought them up, so he didn't speak rashly.
Unfortunately, someone in the room exploded first. Remembering something, Snape's face darkened, his hatred almost materializing: "That damned fool is still locked up in Azkaban, and Peter died 10 years ago. I don't know what you're trying to do by suddenly bringing this up, Riddle."
Tom, however, paid no attention to Snape's feelings, and threw out a bombshell on his own: "What if I told you that Peter isn't dead?"
"What!" Everyone present was thrown into a dizzying spin by Tom's bombshell, unable to help but shriek.
Professor McGonagall even pressed Tom: "What is going on? What exactly happened?"
Except for Harry, who was confused, everyone present sensed a hint of conspiracy and desperately wanted to know the truth.
Tom didn't keep them in suspense and directly revealed: "It's simple. Lily and James's Secret-Keeper back then was Peter, not Sirius. It was Peter who truly betrayed them to Lord Voldemort. And it was Peter who framed Sirius in the end."
The secret revealed by Tom was so shocking that everyone found it hard to digest for a moment. Snape, especially, couldn't maintain his calm expression; his eyes blazed with fury, and his fists clenched with a cracking sound.
Tom said no more, waiting quietly for them. After a moment, Professor Sprout raised a question: "Riddle, where did you learn all this? Do you have any evidence?"
"I can't reveal my source; everyone has their little secrets. As for evidence, once Peter is found, it will all be clear."
Professor Sprout, seeing that she couldn't get any more information from Tom, looked at Dumbledore, waiting for his decision.
Dumbledore met Tom's gaze for a few seconds before speaking: "Tom, I trust you. You should know where Peter is, right?"
"Of course, Professor." Tom gave an affirmative answer.
Dumbledore made an immediate decision: "Severus, prepare the Veritaserum."
Snape left swiftly, without a second's delay.
Then Dumbledore said to the other three Deans: "Minerva, Filius, Pomona, get ready. We'll go together soon."
Within a few minutes, Snape returned.
Seeing that everyone was present, Tom announced loudly: "Since everyone is here, let's go. Destination: The Burrow."