[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hogwarts-chill-i-m-not-that-riddle":3,"chapter-hogwarts-chill-i-m-not-that-riddle-hogwarts-chill-i-m-not-that-riddle-chapter-60":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Hogwarts: Chill, I'm Not That Riddle",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1763704,2336,"Chapter 60: Borrowing Books from Dumbledore","hogwarts-chill-i-m-not-that-riddle-chapter-60",60,"\u003Cp>——————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the Headmaster’s office\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tom had no idea Lucius was giving Draco a crash course in the Malfoy survival handbook—using him as the lesson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the moment, he was enjoying a lemon sherbet and casually eyeing the decor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The office was perched atop one of the castle’s towers, and the high ceiling allowed for two levels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The upper one was likely Dumbledore’s personal quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lower level, where guests were received, was filled with portraits of past headmasters, rare magical trinkets, and towering bookshelves packed with thick, dusty books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tom had sharp eyes. He could make out a few of the titles—none of which he’d seen before in the Hogwarts library or even in Diagon Alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe they were from the Restricted Section?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But up until now, he hadn’t had a chance to enter it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his eyes landed on a wooden shelf that stood strangely empty. It was made of fine paulownia wood, but the surface was covered in a faint layer of ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Professor,\" Tom asked, \"I heard you keep a phoenix. Why isn’t it here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, Fawkes?\" Dumbledore smiled. \"He comes and goes as he pleases. I’ve never tried to control him. He’s probably off hunting somewhere right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tom felt a bit disappointed. He’d wanted to see a real phoenix—just to see if it looked anything like the one in the movies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that he didn’t want a pet. A wizard who didn’t want a magical companion wasn’t a real student in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was, he didn’t see much use in ordinary ones. If hewasgoing to get a pet, it had to be something as unique and powerful as Dumbledore’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tom, if you don’t mind me calling you that...\" Dumbledore’s voice gently broke his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at the boy who was still staring at the phoenix’s perch. \"You seem to love books.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tom turned back, taking another bite of the lemon sherbet. \"There’s just not much to do in the magical world. Not a lot of hobbies or entertainment. So, yeah—reading kind of became my go-to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I feel the same way,\" Dumbledore said with a knowing nod. \"In the Muggle world, there’s opera, radio, television... so many things. Their huge population fuels endless creativity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s a shame this castle rejects all that. I once tried to put a television in here. Couldn’t get it to turn on. A few days later, even the wiring wouldn’t work!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait—so it’s magic that interferes with electronics?\" Tom asked curiously. \"But then how come the TV at the Leaky Cauldron works just fine? I mean, the place is packed with wizards too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore chuckled. \"No, no—it’s not just the magic. Magical energy can disrupt Muggle tech, yes, but only during a magical surge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The casual magical residue from young witches and wizards isn’t enough to cause major interference.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up at the ceiling above them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s Hogwarts itself. The castle’s alive in a way. It’s an enormous magical artifact with layers of ancient enchantments. There are still things about it even I don’t fully understand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh...\" Tom nodded thoughtfully and fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know what Dumbledore’s real purpose was in calling him here, but he was sure it wasn’t anything malicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he decided to just wait and see what move the old man would make.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oddly enough, Dumbledore seemed to genuinely want a chat. He bounced from topic to topic—asking how Tom was doing in his studies, how his dorm life was going, what he thought about the classes and the professors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tom, a little confused but always composed, answered each question without giving too much away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then finally—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard from Severus that you’ve come up with a ’Shadow prefect’ system?\" Dumbledore asked, smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here it comes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tom straightened up a little. \"It was just a random idea, really. In the Muggle world, each school grade has its own class president. I figured, why should only the upper years have prefects? The younger years need someone to manage things too. There’s always going to be a gap between different grades—it’s easier to bridge that with someone your own age.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A very thoughtful idea,\" Dumbledore chuckled. \"And what about this... Shadow Head of House concept?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Professor,\" Tom said earnestly, \"I just want to improve.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Professor Snape is overwhelmed—twenty-something classes a week, plus grading. It’s no wonder he doesn’t have time for student affairs. I just want to help lighten the load.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Dumbledore, with all his years of experience and composure, was momentarily at a loss for words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re a first-year student, and this is what you say?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tom, however, was the type to toss out three lines even if only one might hit the mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because if by some miracle Dumbledoredidgo along with it...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, that was just more achievement points for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The profits were guaranteed—no risk, all reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if Dumbledore didn’t agree? Well, that was fine too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d come around eventually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Tom expected, Dumbledore turned him down gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tom,\" the old man said kindly, \"a student’s main focus should be learning and enjoying the beauty of their school years. Leave the burdens of adulthood to the adults.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Severus is a responsible and dedicated Head of House. You should trust in his abilities.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spy, Potions Master, Head of Slytherin, keeping an eye on Quirrell, and protecting Harry Potter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, Snape was like some kind of born workhorse—whatever you threw at him, he’d somehow manage. That’s why Dumbledore wasn’t the least bit worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright then.\" Tom shrugged as if it didn’t matter. Then he shifted gears with a casual smile. \"What about expanding the Shadow Prefect program to the entire school? If something works well, shouldn’t it be shared?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore went quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe not,\" he said finally, \"not all Houses are like Slytherin. Some of them prefer a little more... freedom.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at the clock on the wall. \"It’s almost lunchtime. I imagine Miss Greengrass is waiting for you. I won’t keep you, this old man’s rambled on long enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conversation had clearly run its course—Dumbledore, who had been the one to invite Tom in, now seemed eager to see him go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now it was Tom who wasn’t in a rush. The boy blinked innocently. \"Professor, you’ve got a ton of books here. Mind if I borrow two?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore looked momentarily surprised but agreed with a chuckle. \"Of course not. I could never say no to a student’s thirst for knowledge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tom stood up and walked over to the enormous bookshelf. He climbed the old ladder that leaned against it, scanning the titles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no idea if the books were magically protected, so he decided to go the old-fashioned route—manual search.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take long for Tom to settle on two books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Advanced Magical Theory and Development in the 16th Century.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>AndFrom Ignorance to Equivalent Exchange – A Beginner’s Guide to Alchemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These are the two, Professor,\" Tom said as he descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore barely glanced at the first book, but when he saw the second, his eyes lit up with amusement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re interested in alchemy, too? That one was written by an old friend of mine. It was never published publicly—just passed around privately among a few circles.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To pickthatbook out of this whole collection... maybe it’s fate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that so?\" Tom smiled politely. \"Well, if I run into any problems later, maybe I can ask your friend for advice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the cover, aside from the gold-stamped title, there was a tiny line of text in the corner, marking the author:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nicolas Flamel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.\u003C\u002Fp>",1264,"2026-06-08T09:49:09.630Z",1,"novelbin.me","6e1961c6ca1e92804cf4c3ddd4fbe1b722c65569780c46fa055f69a0af06f9a2","hogwarts-chill-i-m-not-that-riddle-chapter-61","hogwarts-chill-i-m-not-that-riddle-chapter-59",636,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhogwarts-chill-i-m-not-that-riddle-cover.jpg"]