There are no secrets in the magical world. Everything that exists will leave traces.
Even something as secret as a Horcrux could be unraveled with clues, and was dug out one by one by Dumbledore.
The name Tom Riddle shone like a star in Hogwarts sixty years ago, and thirty years ago, it became a taboo name that everyone was afraid to mention.
At that time, Dumbledore was the professor of Transfiguration and Flitwick was the professor of Charms. Sprout and McGonagall did not work at Hogwarts, but with their close relationship with the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore, Dumbledore would naturally tell them such basic information.
Snape was once Voldemort's most capable subordinate, but now he is the one who hates him the most, and he has investigated everything clearly.
As for Hagrid, the big man was shaking the most and his face was pale.
Hagrid was a classmate of Tom Riddle, and he even naively thought that Riddle was a good person.
There was another person who was not calm either.
Quirrell.
When Professor McGonagall read out the name, Quirrell, who had been shrinking his neck to avoid Snape's scrutiny, suddenly looked up and stared at Tom who was walking towards the Sorting Hat.
At this moment, Snape had no time to pay attention to Quirrell's abnormality, and there was hatred in his eyes.
This was not directed at Tom. No, he was indeed targeting Tom, but a different Tom.
"Severus."
Dumbledore's lips twitched, and no one but Snape heard his call.
"There are many people with the same name in the world, and the name is just a carrier for you to remember each different individual. Don't have extra thoughts about other people."
whispering sound!
Snape didn't respond, just sneered.
Don't think he didn't know that Dumbledore went to welcome the new students during the summer vacation. He originally thought that Dumbledore was going to find Harry Potter, but it turned out to be that big fool Hagrid.
Apart from Harry Potter, the only person who could alarm the old headmaster was Tom Riddle.
Smart students also noticed the changes in the professors, and the auditorium gradually became quiet.
When Tom walked over to the barstool, all the noise died away.
"Riddle, just put on your hat."
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips. She didn't expect that she would have the opportunity to coach Tom Riddle...
Tom nodded, sat on the stool, and put his hat on his head.
He could swear on Merlin's Hi Silk stockings that the Sorting Hat only lightly touched the tip of his hair, and he couldn't wait any longer, screaming as if someone was choking him:
"Slytherin! Born Slytherin!"
McGonagall was stunned, Snape was solemn, and Dumbledore was silent.
Tom... was confused.
With the help of the geographical position and the high stool, he looked down at all the students who craned their necks, and his brain went into a state of shutdown for a short time.
How could it be...Slytherin?
First, he is not a pure-blood, second, he is not a half-blood, and third, he has no ambition. Why should he be sorted into Slytherin?
Is this Tom Riddle's fate?
In the study room, Andros, who was watching everything silently, almost fainted with laughter. He knew very well what plans Tom knew, there was even a plan to go to Gryffindor, but there was no plan for Slytherin.
Just when Professor McGonagall wanted to remind Tom to return to his seat, the boy suddenly put his hat hard on his head in full view of everyone.
"Let's talk, Hat," said Tom in his mind.
"Well, little wizard, the Sorting is over. What do you want to talk about?" a tiny voice said in his ear.
"You haven't touched my head just now, so you should be talking about Potter's sorting result, right? He is the savior who defeated the mysterious man, and he is also the last descendant of the Potter family. He has pure blood. He is indeed very suitable for Slytherin."
In order to get everything back on track, Tom didn't care and sold Harry Potter directly.
I don't know if Dumbledore will come to talk to him after finding out.
"Of course not."
The Sorting Hat's voice was a little annoyed. "Riddle, don't doubt the professionalism of a hat. I have never made a mistake in judging anyone. Although I am an old hat, how could my reaction time be so long? Although Slytherin is your sorting result."
"But this isn't magical at all, how can I possibly go to Slytherin?"
He is not Sister Li!
The Sorting Hat continuously absorbed Tom's confused emotions, and its voice became cheerful again: "The ambition to become the strongest, the tenacity to never give up until the goal is achieved, and the ancient magic that is purer than Salazar and Godric."
"If Salazar were still alive, he would definitely kneel down and beg you to become his disciple."
Tom gritted his teeth secretly. He was born with the talent...Slytherin. How come he didn't know that he was so bad?
This lousy hat slanders me!
"The Sorting Hat, didn't it say that the Sorting House would consider students' requests? I strongly request to go to Ravenclaw."
"I reject your request." The Sorting Hat said cheerfully, "Well, don't delay my work. There are still a few little wizards waiting for me. If you really can't bear to leave, you can come to Dumbledore's office to find me. I can chat with you for a few Galleons."
"Then Hufflepuff will do too. You see, I'm a little wizard of Muggle origin. I'm kind-hearted and what I like most is making friends. I'm simply a natural Hufflepuff." Tom tried hard to introduce himself.
The atmosphere fell into silence. After a long while, the voice of the Sorting Hat finally sounded. This time, it sounded a little gentler and more persuasive: "Child, you can have nothing, but you must know yourself. Promise me that you will face up to who you are, okay?"
"You stinky hat, sooner or later my mouth will be sewn shut," Tom cursed in his heart.
As soon as his idea of revenge came to mind, the Sorting Hat caught on and shouted again in anger:
"Slytherin! Slytherin! Tom Riddle belongs to Slytherin!"
Tom was about to say something, but Professor McGonagall took off his hat.
"Mr. Riddle, the Sorting Ceremony has ended. If you have any questions, please talk to me later."
Tom forced a smile that was uglier than crying, bowed slightly to Professor McGonagall, and then walked towards the Slytherin table.
There was no applause at first because everyone was confused by Tom's operation of putting the hat back on.
"Maybe it was too fast, and he wanted to be more involved?"
The little wizards thought uncertainly.
It was not until Daphne reacted, smiled sweetly and clapped vigorously that a few voices echoed the Slytherin table.
Tom sat next to Daphne.
"I really didn't expect you to come to Slytherin." The girl lowered her voice excitedly and said, "That's great. We can go to class together in the future."
"Yeah, I didn't expect that either." Tom responded weakly.
After him, the last few students completed the sorting ceremony, and Blaise Zabini was the last to be sorted into Slytherin.
Only then did Tom notice that this man was the one who had believed Professor McGonagall's lies and treated the school as his own home.