Three days passed in a flash.
When Tom received the message and rushed to the Headmaster's Office, Harry was already sitting in a chair talking to Dumbledore, having clearly been there for some time.
"Tom, you're here. Have a seat first; I have something to tell you two."
Dumbledore beckoned to Tom, inviting him to sit next to Harry.
Once Tom was seated, Dumbledore went straight to the point: "Today's trial, Tom and Harry, you will attend as observers, though you may be required to testify if necessary."
"I must remind you, especially you, Harry, that there may be some uncomfortable remarks during the court proceedings, and I hope you can remain calm."
Looking at Harry, whose body tensed up at his serious words, Dumbledore's tone softened, soothing his emotions.
"Relax, Harry, don't be too nervous. The evidence is very sufficient now. Don't worry, child, I promise you that today's trial will be fair and just, and they will receive the outcome they deserve."
Harry was influenced by Dumbledore's words, and his original nervous and uneasy emotions gradually calmed down.
As for Tom, please, he only heard the first sentence; he mostly ignored the rest.
After finishing what he needed to say, Dumbledore glanced at the time.
"Peter and Sirius's trial starts at 11 o'clock. There's still some time before it begins; you don't mind going early, do you?"
Seeing that neither of them objected, Dumbledore took out a bag of Floo powder: "Today, the Headmaster's Office temporarily applied for Floo Network access... Harry, you first. Remember to clearly call out Ministry of Magic Hall."
Harry stepped forward, pinched a handful of Floo powder from the bag, sprinkled it into the fire, walked in, and clearly shouted: "Ministry of Magic Hall."
Flames shot up, and Harry instantly vanished.
"Tom, it's your turn."
Tom sprinkled the Floo powder Dumbledore handed him into the fire, letting the green flames engulf his body.
Stepping out of the fireplace again, what appeared before Tom was a solemn and magnificent hall, with dark green walls decorated with exquisite magic runes and ancient murals. Rows of fireplaces were embedded in the wooden panels around, with Wizards constantly emerging from them.
The fireplace Tom used was isolated, with a 'Visitor' sign hanging on its side.
After Dumbledore walked out of the fireplace, he led Tom and Harry to the registration desk.
A short, plump middle-aged Witch was lazily dozing on the table, mumbling, "Please register here... Please register here..."
Dumbledore stepped forward and gently tapped on the table, saying, "Hello, Albus Dumbledore, bringing Harry Potter and Tom Riddle to attend the trial of Peter and Sirius."
Dumbledore spoke very softly, but as soon as the words left his mouth, the sound was so loud that it startled even him, and he turned to look at Tom.
Tom gave him a shy smile and mouthed, "Sonorus Charm, you're welcome!"
"Dumbledore, and Harry Potter, where... where?"
The Witch, who had been dozing, sprang up, and people who had been busy with their own affairs in the Hall gathered towards them, wanting to catch a glimpse of Dumbledore and the legendary Harry Potter.
The Witch in charge of registration was about to go up and exchange a few pleasantries when she found her clothes being pulled tightly by a young Wizard.
"Madam, please help me register first."
The Witch was about to say 'wait a moment' but found the pull on her clothes grew stronger.
"Madam, please help me register first," Tom repeated, emphasizing his tone.
Seeing that Dumbledore and Harry were already surrounded three layers deep, and Tom had an attitude of not letting her go until she finished, the Witch had no choice but to process his registration first.
"Yew, Phoenix feather, 13.5 inches."
The Witch quickly passed Tom's wand over a brass machine resembling a scale, poked the slip of paper the machine spat out onto a brass nail, and then hurriedly squeezed into the crowd. Even Tom's wand was still lying on the machine; she forgot to return it to him.
Tom silently retrieved his wand, unable to help but mumble, "This is truly... I guess she's never been this efficient in her life. Fudge should be paying me for this."
Afterward, Tom quietly bypassed the crowd, walked alone through the golden door, and arrived at the elevator hall.
At this time, the crowd in the Hall had all been drawn to Dumbledore and Harry, so there was practically no one in the elevator hall.
Tom quickly entered an empty elevator and pressed the 9th-floor button without hesitation.
When the elevator doors opened again, what met his eyes was a simple corridor leading to a black door.
Seeing that no one was around, Tom quickly passed through the corridor and pushed open the black door.
Beyond the doorway lay a huge, purely black circular room. Under the faint blue flame of candles on the walls, twelve unmarked, handle-less, identical black doors were embedded at equal distances in the black walls.
"Department of Mysteries!"
Tom silently repeated the name in his mind.
Just then, Tom heard what seemed to be faint footsteps. He unhesitatingly cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself and, ignoring the open black door, quickly returned along the corridor the way he came.
Only when the elevator doors closed and began to descend slowly did Tom breathe a sigh of relief.
'Today isn't a good time, but I will definitely visit the Department of Mysteries again.'
As Tom was calculating in his mind, the elevator quickly reached the main hall on the eighth floor.
Stepping out of the elevator, Tom found that the crowd surrounding Dumbledore and Harry had dispersed. Silently, he walked to a corner, removed his Disillusionment Charm, and then returned to the elevator hall, pretending to be at a loss while waiting for the elevator.
"You... you're Tom Riddle?"
A voice came from behind. Tom turned and saw Arthur Weasley looking at him in surprise, then bowing in greeting.
"Hello, Mr. Weasley, long time no see."
Mr. Weasley looked around Tom and asked curiously, "Hello, Tom, I thought I was seeing things. Weren't you supposed to come with Dumbledore and Harry? Where are they?"
"We got separated, sir. Just now, everyone in the Ministry of Magic Hall crowded around Professor Dumbledore and Harry, and the dense crowd separated me from them. The trial of Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black is about to begin, and I don't know where the courtroom is. I was about to ask someone when I ran into you, Mr. Weasley. Could I trouble you to take me there?"
Tom objectively and factually recounted everything that had just happened, his tone polite and courteous, though only he knew how much embellishment was in his story.
Mr. Weasley did not doubt him and said to Tom with a touch of sympathy, "You must have been scared getting lost alone just now. It's alright, I happen to be going to Courtroom Seven."
"Let's go together, Tom."