Chapter 358: Hermione's Attributes (Edited)

Tom returned to the Ravenclaw common room. In the end, he didn't manage to get the pudding from lunch.

Once in the common room, Tom looked around and noticed that there were many students in the room. Some were curled up in armchairs reading books, while others chatted in small groups.

Tom found a quiet corner and sat in an armchair, placing the crown on the table. Just as he was settling in, a bowl of yellow pudding appeared in front of him, covered with a thin layer of caramel.

"I was lucky to catch the last bowl of pudding. They didn't take you directly to the Dementors, and Professor McGonagall didn't insist on knowing where you were. Today is our lucky day," Hermione said with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.

Tom seemed not to have understood Hermione's words, as if he hadn't heard her comment, he took a spoonful of the pudding.

"Yes, we were lucky," he replied as he savored the rich taste of caramel mixed with the milky aroma of the pudding in his mouth.

He put on the crown and looked at Hermione.

Hermione Jean Granger, attribute panel, select.

[Link?]

[Link!]

The second page of Tom's attribute panel gradually transformed into Hermione's appearance.

[Hermione Jean Granger]

[Date of birth: September 19, 1979]

[Magical items: Wand (vine wood, 10 inches, dragon heartstring core); Ravenclaw crown]

[Body measurements: Locked]

[Foot length: Locked]

[Arch height of foot: Locked]

[Thumb height: Locked]

[...]

There was something wrong with this attribute panel! Tom was fully aware that there were a lot of strange things mixed in there.

"Locked, I suppose I still don't know..." he refrained from investigating further.

Then he looked back and navigated to the talents section of Hermione.

[Talents]

[Charms: 6 (Top Talent)]

[Potions: 6 (Top Talent)]

[Divination: 0 (No Talent)]

[Transfiguration: 6 (Top Talent)]

[Herbology: 4 (Intermediate Talent)]

[...]

[Dark Arts: 1 (Ally of Justice)]

Very impressive! Seeing Hermione's talents, Tom was surprised. She was like a hexagonal warrior! Getting 6 points in the three core subjects: Potions, Transfigurations, and Charms was amazing. Remembering his own initial score in Charms, which was only three points, and that he wasn't very good at Transfigurations, having only five points in Potions, it was clear that he had a long way to go. As for Divination and Dark Magic, it was better not to talk about it.

Hermione's talents in Herbology seemed fairly average, but when Tom saw Hermione's Divination talent, he almost laughed out loud.

"It's true that you have no talent for Divination!" Tom struggled to control his laughter and mercilessly teased Hermione.

Hermione: ???

She was stunned when she saw Tom put on the strange crown and then say something so incoherent.

"Look me in the eyes and say that again." Hermione placed her wand on the table. What did he mean by saying she had no talent in Divination? She couldn't bear to hear those words.

"I'm not making this up... this is what this crown tells me, it can see the talents of wizards in different subjects!" Tom took off the crown from his head and waved it in front of Hermione, but she didn't seem to believe him.

For Hermione, the credibility of that claim was very low.

Seeing that Hermione didn't believe him, Tom couldn't do anything. He had told the truth, but if Hermione didn't believe him, he couldn't blame her.

Although she didn't fully believe Tom's words, Hermione was very intrigued by Tom's crown.

This crown seems to be something special, isn't it? She thought to herself. Maybe it has some special function like Ravenclaw's crown. Besides, she still had a glimmer of hope: what if Tom was telling the truth? What if this crown really could reveal the differences in people's talents in different subjects? She also wanted to see her own talents and Tom's!

It was like when students were always eager to know their grades. Hermione also wanted to see the values of her own talents.

"Give it to me, let me try it on." Thinking of this, Hermione reached out to Tom, wanting to take the crown and try it on.

Tom handed the crown to Hermione. He was delighted that Hermione wanted to try on the crown because Tom was clear that the credit for being able to see specific values in the attribute panel belonged to the system, but he also wanted to know if the crown had any other functions besides being a status symbol.

This was a test that only involved Hermione apart from Tom.

However, the scene Hermione imagined didn't happen at all. She hoped that a dialogue box with her talent values in Transfiguration, Potions, and other subjects would appear, but in reality, when she put on the crown, Tom turned into a whirlwind of bright and vibrant colors.

"Liar!" Hermione took off the crown and threw it into Tom's lap.

"You can't even see the talents!" Hermione rolled her eyes.

After hearing Hermione's description, Tom pondered.

"Are all the groups of colors the same size?"

After a brief recollection, Hermione realized that each group of colors she saw had slightly different sizes, but they were clearly separated and didn't mix with each other.

"That's right, these groups of colors should actually represent talents," Tom speculated.

"Oh?" Hermione raised an eyebrow. Her heart was beating faster than usual. "Then... can you tell me what my talent is?"

She felt a little embarrassed, as if she were being a bit too interested.

Tom told her the truth about her attribute list and briefly explained it.

Hermione: (*￣︶￣)

It looks quite good. Transfiguration, Charms, and Potions, I have quite a talent for them. What if I have no talent in Divination? I don't need that fortune-telling skill from charlatans. Besides, maybe Tom forgot to mention something.

"I've said that my talent isn't very high either, I'm just especially good at studying," Hermione said. "Look, I got a grade of six out of nine. These subjects are just passing grades."

While Hermione "boasted" of her achievements, Tom couldn't help but be speechless. Is this just a passing grade? Don't you see the "Talent Superior" in parentheses? Oh yes, she really can't see it.

"Eh? You didn't mention Defense Against the Dark Arts? What's my talent in that subject?" Hermione counted on her fingers and realized that Defense Against the Dark Arts wasn't on the list. As for History of Magic, that subject wasn't based on talent but on memory.

"Oh, there's actually no corresponding talent for that, the corresponding talent is called 'Dark Magic,'" Tom replied. In his system's talent list, there was no talent called "Defense Against the Dark Arts," but there was a talent called "Dark Magic."

Before Hermione could say anything, Tom told her that her talent in Dark Magic was practically insignificant.

"That's fine," Hermione said, not feeling too disappointed about not having much talent in that aspect. "What's your talent in Dark Magic?"

She asked on a whim.

Tom: ...

Tom changed the subject and refused to answer. But the more he avoided it, the more curious Hermione became.

"Could it be 9 points?" Hermione asked with a smile. She didn't think that was very likely. A nine would mean a perfect score, which would mean that this wizard was extremely skilled in Dark Magic. Being skilled in Dark Magic would mean being a dark wizard, but how could Tom be a dark wizard?

"Almost..." Tom said.

Hermione: ?!

"An eight?" She asked incredulously.

"..."

Hermione looked at Tom with curiosity, thought for a moment, and then opened her eyes in surprise. "Nine is the maximum value, isn't it?"

Tom nodded. Now Hermione clearly understood Tom's talent in Dark Magic. She remembered that a large area of Tom had turned black earlier. She couldn't help but be speechless.

"I'm thinking about whether I should find Professor Dumbledore and have him teach you a bit about Azkaban," Hermione sighed. "I've heard that many dark wizards improve their Dark Magic skills after being imprisoned there." Hermione was surprised to discover Tom's high talent in Dark Magic after spending so much time together.

Tom: ...

Seeing the uncomfortable expression on Tom's face, Hermione began to laugh. "It's okay, I was just kidding. How could I send you to Azkaban just because you have a 'slight talent' in Dark Magic? You haven't committed any crimes."

Hermione realized it was fun to tease Tom every day. Seeing his expression, it seemed like he really thought she would send him to Azkaban.

"Dark Magic is also magic. Although you have great talent, it seems you haven't researched much in that area. So what?" Hermione's perspective suddenly changed. "Look, a knife can be used to cut vegetables or to cut people, but no one would judge a knife as guilty. The same goes for potions, they can be used to make weapons or to clear paths in mining. Has anyone been convicted for knowing how to make potions? The Nobel Prize was even established for it!"

Saying that, Hermione patted Tom's shoulder like an older sister. "Don't worry so much, kid."

Tom was initially a little uneasy; he wasn't completely ignorant of Dark Magic. His ability "Protego Diabolica" summoned Fiendfyre flames, which was a standard form of Dark Magic. He also knew about the Killing Curse.

But all of Hermione's actions managed to make him laugh, and his slight concern dissipated completely.

"It's okay, but I'll be keeping a close eye on you too!" Hermione waved her small fist. "I won't allow you to take the dark path!"

The topic of talent in Dark Magic was left behind in this way. After talking a bit more, the conversation revolved around what had happened to Tom that day.

Hermione was very curious about what had happened between him and the Dementors. She wanted to know what Tom and those dark and soulless creatures could have in common.

"What? You say you made a deal with them?" Hermione exclaimed in surprise. The news she had just heard was so shocking that she forgot to control her voice volume.

Fortunately, the common room was noisy at that moment, and no one paid attention to their conversation.

"Are you insane? No, I really think we should inform Professor Dumbledore about this," Hermione began.

"He already knows," Tom interrupted.

Hermione: Ah, this...

Hermione felt like her brain was about to explode. In her understanding, making a deal with Dementors was extremely dangerous. Not even expressions like "playing with fire" or "getting into trouble" were sufficient to describe such an action. But Dumbledore already knew about it?

Wasn't he against it?

Of course, Hermione knew that if Dumbledore was already aware of this, and Tom had managed to do it, it meant that Dumbledore had at least given his tacit approval to the situation.

"This is very dangerous," she muttered to herself.

"In reality, it's not that bad. If you interact more with Dementors, you'll understand that they don't have as many complications in their minds, their sense of morality isn't as similar to humans. But so far, everything has gone well for me," Tom explained.

Hermione frowned and asked Tom seriously, "So, have you considered what would happen if they eventually lose control? What consequences would it have for humans?"

"So far, wizards have a clear advantage over Dementors. The Patronus Charm is very effective," Tom replied.

"But what if they multiply more and more?" Hermione raised a long-term concern. She had discovered a flaw in Tom's plan: according to his arrangements, the number of Dementors would continue to increase. What if their numbers exceeded the limit that wizards could control?

"They're not potatoes you can chop into pieces and plant in the ground for them to grow," Tom replied. "In fact, don't you think the magical world knows almost nothing about these creatures? We don't know how they're born, how they reproduce, and we don't even know how to kill them. Do you think these problems will be solved if we simply ignore them?"

Of course not. If the magical world chooses to ignore the Dementor problem, there will come a time when some force will seek them out and use them. Voldemort and his Death Eaters did it that way.

What they did was much more direct and brutal than Tom's plans: they released the Dementors from all their bonds and allied directly with them, allowing them to indiscriminately devour Muggles.

Rather than being used by the Death Eaters, it was better to keep that force under control from the beginning.

"Alright," Hermione said, although she still seemed undecided. "But be very careful. You're playing with fire."

Tom nodded seriously.

"And the Ravenclaw diadem? Do you have it with you?" Tom remembered something. He recalled that when Hermione wore the diadem, her thinking seemed to be more active. Would there be any changes in her attributes when using it?

"Wait a moment, I'll go get it." Hermione didn't have the Ravenclaw diadem with her; she had hidden it in her dormitory. She got up from her chair and hurried back to her bedroom to retrieve the diadem.

Tom took out a small bag and handed it to Hermione.

"Put it in the bag; it's better to carry something important like this with you."

Hermione nodded slightly and put on the Ravenclaw diadem. Tom also put on the crown and looked at Hermione.