The little red train began its journey through the wilderness. The weather outside was gloomy, threatening rain at any moment.
None of this dampened the enthusiasm of the new students, who sat in their respective carriages chatting.
"Honestly, even sitting on this train, I still can't believe magic exists."
"Well, it's alright. When I was preparing for Eton College, I was overjoyed to hear I was a wizard."
"You're not a wizard yet. Just a student. A student who doesn't know any magic."
"Actually, I'm a little worried. What if we get thrown into a fire and burned alive?"
Just then, a prefect happened to pass by.
Overhearing his younger schoolmates' discussion, he decided to push open the door and explain.
"Younger students, you don't need to worry. Most of those wizards burned at the stake were either children having magical outbursts or ordinary people who were framed."
"Knowing a simple fire prevention spell is enough to handle these situations."
With the older student's explanation, the group of students learned many secrets.
The so called witch burning spree was utterly ridiculous and absurd.
The vast majority of those who died were ordinary Muggle girls who had been framed.
Their deaths were caused by malicious intent directed at them by certain individuals.
A student raised his hand and asked the prefect, "What about Joan of Arc? Why was she burned? Was she a witch?"
Faced with his junior's question, the prefect scratched his head awkwardly and explained, "It's not in the history books."
"You'll have to find out for yourselves in the future. I have to continue my patrols. Goodbye."
To avoid being asked questions he didn't know the answers to, the prefect quickly left the compartment.
The train continued its journey, and the young wizards continued their excited discussions.
Some of the older students began showing off their summer adventures and magical items to their classmates and friends.
Everything was wonderful, except for one person. Tom Riddle, our future Voldemort.
To make matters worse, he found the morality professor, the orange cat he secretly feared, sitting right in front of him. Damn it.
Why didn't you check the corners of the seats properly when you came in?
The Demon King is the Demon King. It was lunchtime, and the train conductor selling snacks walked to the door.
He asked Garfield and Tom Riddle through the compartment, "Do the children need lunch?"
Before Tom Riddle could speak, Garfield asked the conductor, "What do you have?"
A talking orange cat. The conductor's mind quickly flashed back to the headmaster's instructions.
A high ranking wizard resembling an orange cat was the new morality professor at Hogwarts, specially hired to teach there.
"Are you Professor Pendragon?"
Garfield nodded. "Yes, that's me. Give me one of everything." With that, Garfield snapped his fingers and handed the conductor five Galleons. "Is that enough?"
The conductor nodded.
"More than enough." Garfield said, "It's yours." The conductor replied, "Thank you."
The advantage of the wizarding world was that prices were very cheap.
The variety of snacks wasn't much in this era, so the conductor could only give them an extra portion before leaving.
The observant train conductor knew that Garfield, a cat, wouldn't eat that much. The food was probably prepared for the student sitting opposite him.
The seat was filled with various magical foods. Tom Riddle's eyes were filled with curiosity, but he was smart and well behaved. He made no move.
At the bottom of the food chain, you must maintain sufficient humility. Tom Riddle deeply understood this principle.
It was something he had learned in his childhood.
Garfield stared at Tom Riddle for a while and said to him in a very calm tone, "Tom, why aren't you eating? You must be hungry too."
Tom Riddle humbly replied to Garfield, "Professor, this is food you bought. How could I eat before my master without your permission?"
"Tom, you should be able to tell that this food was bought for you. As a young wizard just entering the magical world, recognizing food is a first step." Tom Riddle said, "Thank you for your guidance, Professor."
Very politely. Garfield knew that this situation could only be established with someone stronger than himself.
Who am I? A renowned Flerken from the universe. The disciple of the Sorcerer Supreme from the Naruto world."
"A prince of the Northern Gods. A Jedi Master from the Star Wars world. The king of Carter Manor.
Displaying his regal disdain, he said to Tom Riddle, "Try these foods."
Tom Riddle replied, "Yes, thank you, Professor."
Tom Riddle began to examine the various snacks in his hands. These things seemed normal, but some were actually enchanted.
For example, there was a chocolate frog that could jump away. There were milk candies that turned into red nosed beans.
And there was a pile of cockroach shaped candies that Garfield found disgusting, though they were Dumbledore's favorite food.
Garfield looked at the box of chocolate cockroaches and, disgusted, casually used magic to turn them into immobile chocolate beans.
Garfield inadvertently revealed a skill that made Tom Riddle's eyes widen.
He whispered to Garfield, "Professor, what's the name of that spell? Can I learn it?"
Garfield curled his lip and told Tom Riddle in a dismissive tone, "It's just simple magical control. With your talent, you'll master it before graduation."
Talent? Was he really that talented? Was this orange cat teacher testing him?
Garfield saw Tom Riddle's ambition and directly crushed him. He said, "You do have talent, that's true."
"It comes from the bloodline of the four founders of Hogwarts. Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin. This bloodline is inherited from your mother. Don't blame your father for abandoning your mother."
"It was your mother who gave your father a love potion, causing him to break up with his ex girlfriend and marry your mother."
Tom Riddle was stunned. He had never guessed that his tragic backstory was due to this.
Garfield continued to admonish Tom Riddle. "You have no right to blame your parents for this. Without them, you wouldn't exist."
"Similarly, love is blind. But it's hard to say whether you, Tom, can let go of your ambition and find your true love. When you are confused, I hope you can find your way out on your own."
Next, Tom Riddle asked Garfield about some things concerning his mother. Garfield also told Tom Riddle some things that Dumbledore hadn't mentioned.
Tom Riddle pondered for a while. He was truly shocked by Garfield's revelation of his past.
He also made a bold decision.
"Professor, may I become your student?" The question was reasonable, but it surprised Garfield.
After careful consideration, Garfield decided neither to refuse nor accept.
Instead, he asked Tom Riddle, "Are you prepared to set aside your desires and follow me on a different path?"