"I have something to tell you."
Tom spoke to Harry and Ron.
He wasn’t going to obediently play Dumbledore’s pawn.
Even if the phoenix could keep an eye on him, preventing his escape from Hogwarts, Tom could still fight back —by abandoning Ginny’s identity and revealing the truth.
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The method he used to vanish before Snape’s eyes was simple.
One hand had been writing in blood, while the other had secretly turned the Time-Turner.
As soon as the bell rang, he let go.
Returning five minutes into the past, he took advantage of his other self distracting Snape, he cast a Disillusionment Charm, slipping quietly into the Great Hall.
Timing it just right, he reappeared and walked over to where Harry and Ron were eating lunch.
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Tom took a deep breath.
He had prepared a version of the story that they might actually believe.
He just hoped they wouldn’t start shouting halfway through or call someone to have him locked up in St. Mungo’s.
Honestly, Ron’s presence made the whole confession much harder.
Tom would have preferred to speak with Harry alone.
But as long as he wore Ginny’s face, he could not find an excuse to ask Harry to talk in private.
And he feared Dumbledore had already predicted he wouldn’t surrender so easily, which meant…
"Ginny, if you’re done eating, let me have your seat. I’m starving—I just got back from patrol."
Percy interrupted just as Tom was about to speak.
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Behind Harry, an orange cat silently leaped onto the table simultaneously, staring directly at Tom.
Just one glance—Tom understood.
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The Night Before
To jump or not to jump, that was the question.
Dumbledore had brought in an orange cat, saying he had adopted it from a shelter.
Now, Ginny, possessed this innocent cat, stood by the window of the prison cell.
"Ginny, think of your family," Dumbledore said.
Ginny glanced once more at the height below her.
Nurmengard was built atop a sheer cliff. Looking down, there was only mist and darkness.
Grindelwald sneered. "Do you think killing a cat will work? I highly doubt it."
Dumbledore frowned. "At the very least, we must try."
Grindelwald waved a dismissive hand. "Try somewhere else, then. Stop bothering me—this is my cell."
Dumbledore sighed. "I thought you might have missed me after all these years."
Grindelwald scoffed. "You always only bring trouble to me."
Dumbledore retorted, "And wasn't Tom's problem were you created to me?"
Grindelwald smirked. "You're the one who took him in as a student."
Dumbledore gave up arguing. "Fine, I'm leaving. Happy now?"
He picked up the orange cat from the windowsill and placed her back on the table, then went to put on his coat.
Ginny stared at Grindelwald, feeling dejected, and narrowed her eyes.
Grindelwald turned to her and said, "Creating a new body for you is difficult. But making one for Tom? That’s easy. His servants fill Azkaban, and his enemies are even more numerous.
If I were you, I’d force him to swear loyalty to you first and then after he gains his body, use his fresh to brew your potion. Think about that." He raised an eyebrow.
Ginny found the plan utterly wicked. She turned to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore, now dressed, said, "If Ginny has no objections, neither do I."
Though he felt guilty toward Tom, he had promised Ginny first—to help her regain her body.
He gently stroked Ginny’s feline head.
"Meow." She needed time to think. She wanted to retreat into the diary.
"Meow, meow, MEOW!" Suddenly, Ginny stood up on all four little legs, urgently. Dumbledore was confused.
Grindelwald sneered. "She figured it out."
Dumbledore frowned. "Figured out what?"
Grindelwald said, "Possession magic isn’t meant for animals."
Dumbledore's expression darkened. "What?"
Grindelwald continued, "Don’t go messing with dark magic so carelessly. Human souls aren’t compatible with animal bodies."
Dumbledore snapped, "Then why didn’t you say this earlier!?"
Grindelwald shrugged. "Was I obligated to tell you everything?"
This was his small punishment for Ginny, who had thought about betraying Dumbledore.
At that moment, Tom contacted them. Dumbledore immediately responded.
"Don’t worry, Tom. After you leave the message on the wall tomorrow, just head to the Chamber of Secrets. We won’t kill you."
The connection ended, but they could see the icy look in Tom's eyes—he must had sensed something.
Grindelwald said, "That boy is going to run straight to Harry Potter and spill everything tomorrow."
Dumbledore asked, "What is he thinking? Does he not want to keep Ginny’s identity anymore?"
Grindelwald replied, "He must have sensed the soul connection breaking and assumed we’ve already revived Ginny."
Dumbledore's face grew even darker. "What?" He felt betrayed.
Grindelwald explained, "The cat's soul, trapped inside the diary, blocked the soul link between them. Because human and cat souls are incompatible, Tom can’t absorb this cat's soul at all. Ann also because of that, Ginny’s soul is now well preserved. I’d say that’s exactly the outcome you wanted, isn’t it?"
Dumbledore roared, "And if Ginny had really jumped just then?"
Had she leaped, and her soul couldn't go back to the diary—she will completely lost.
Grindelwald replied indifferently, "Which is why I told you it wouldn’t work."
But inwardly, he thought: And if she had died, so what?
Dumbledore grabbed him by the collar. "I came to you for help, and you play me instead?"
Grindelwald looked him in the eye, unafraid. "I gave you the whole world, but you only come to me when you need something. What do you take me for?"
The night Voldemort disappeared, Grindelwald had thought, At last, Albus must be done with his business. He'll come back to me now.
But he had waited twelve years. And waited. And waited.
Eventually, he realized he was a fool. Dumbledore had never truly had him in his heart.
"Your students aren’t worth saving," Grindelwald said. "This is the only way I know how to save you."
By trapping Ginny inside the cat, she could never reveal the truth.
And Tom—seeing what had become of her—would know to keep his mouth shut.
No matter what agreements they might reach later as cat and human, Dumbledore wouldn't have to rush to be Ginny’s servant anymore.
Dumbledore let go and muttered, "I suppose we were never meant to be together."
Both of their personalities were too strong. They were always trying to manipulate each other into their own plans.
Grindelwald replied, "You never loved me."
His devotion to Dumbledore had never been reciprocated equally.
Dumbledore opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say a word—
"MEOW MRROW MEOW @#￥%#^&!!!"
Ginny yowled at the top of her lungs.
She had just been locked inside a cat’s body, and these two idiots were having a lovers’ quarrel?!
Seeing that both of them swallowed the angry words they were about to, but would have regretted to, say.
With a huff, they turned away from each other.
Dumbledore picked up Ginny and left.
Behind him, Grindelwald called, "Don’t bring any more of those little beasts here!"
Dumbledore shot back, "I don’t ever want to see you, you big stupid beast!"
Ginny had a mental breakdown.
She would never want to be stuck between these two ever again.
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Back to the Present
When Tom saw the orange cat, and because of the resonance of their souls, he immediately recognized Ginny.
He didn’t even hear what Percy was saying—he just left in a hurry, leaving Ron and Harry behind, both puzzled by their growing curiosity about her.
Ginny also leaped down from the table and silently followed Tom, slipping under the long dining benches.
After they entered the Chamber of Secrets, Tom finally asked, “Who gave you this cat?”
Ginny replied, “Meow.” Dumbledore.
Tom asked, “Grindelwald didn’t warn him? Hmm… makes sense.”
Ginny was surprised. “Meow?” You can understand me?
Tom said, “We’ve been connected for so long. I can at least pick up on this much.”
He walked deeper into the Chamber, with Ginny following closely behind.
Ginny said, “Grindelwald said that finding the materials for your body wouldn’t be difficult. Dumbledore also said that if you’re willing to be my servant, he won’t stop you. So…”
She hoped Tom would agree.
Tom heard the condition and thought to himself, Become Ginny’s servant? For her eleven pounds of flesh?
He stopped and said, “What if I refuse?”
Ginny locked eyes with him through her feline gaze. “Meow.” Do you really want to kill me that badly? And aren’t you planning to snitch to Harry as I did?
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Tom softened at the sight of her fluffy little face.
After a moment of thought, he said, “If you want me to be your servant, then you have to agree to one condition of mine.”
Ginny held her breath.
Tom knelt on one knee and said seriously, “You must also be my servant. That way, for the rest of our lives, we can never disobey each other’s orders. Otherwise, I’d rather take your body down with me.”
After fifty years trapped in the diary, he wasn’t about to let go of his desire for freedom.
Ginny asked, “Meow?” Is that even possible? If we’re both servants, doesn’t that mean we’re also both masters? Would magic even recognize such a contract?
Tom said, “Have you ever heard of wedding vows? They’re mutual, and dark magic acknowledges that.”
Ginny snapped, “Who wants to marry you?!”
Tom said, “It’s a metaphor! A metaphor!”
If, in the future, Ginny gave him an order against his will, he could just command her to die.
But if Ginny threatened to die anyway, he’d have no choice but to fulfill her final wish. And vice versa.
Tom himself didn’t want to be entangled with Ginny for a lifetime. But… if Dumbledore interfered, it would be nearly impossible for him to reconstruct his body as well.
He stood up and continued walking, giving Ginny time to think.
Silently, they walked to the deepest part of the Chamber, where Dumbledore was already waiting.
“The potion is ready,” he said.
Behind him, a massive cauldron floated in midair, emitting smoke.
Albus asked, “So, have you decided? Who will be Ginny’s servant?”
Tom looked at Ginny. Ginny, reluctant, said, “Meow.” I agree.
Tom said, “Then I agree too.”
This was their Unbreakable Vow.
Dumbledore asked, “And what exactly have you agreed to?”
Tom didn’t waste words. He climbed the steps to the cauldron, conjured a sharp blade, and shut his eyes.
The potion changed to its final color.
Dumbledore picked up the orange cat and whispered to Ginny, “Don’t be afraid.”
He levitated the cat and dropped her into the cauldron.
Before long, Ginny climbed out. Albus conjured a Hogwarts uniform for her.
Now, she and Tom looked exactly the same—except that Tom was missing his left arm.
He had already numbed and cauterized the wound with magic right before and after making the cut.
“Meow!”
At the bottom of the cauldron, an orange cat was struggling to climb out.
It had returned to the body that had once been possessed—completely bewildered.
Dumbledore lifted it out with magic.
“Now it’s your turn,” he told Tom.
With a wave of his hand, the cauldron was refilled with potion.
“This is your father’s bone.” Dumbledore placed a small, white fragment into Tom’s right hand.
“For your enemy’s blood, I chose the orphanage headmistress. I assume you’ve never forgiven her.”
Dumbledore had been surprised she was still alive—bedridden in a hospital, senile. It had been easy to forcibly extract her blood; all it took was a painful needle prick, and her resistance was evident.
He handed Tom the vial.
Tom said, “I didn’t think you’d go through this trouble for me.”
He had expected Dumbledore to let him find the ingredients himself.
Albus said, “I owe you. You’ve done a lot for me. I shouldn’t have forced you to open the Chamber in the first place. I just… had high hopes for you, you understand?”
He gave Tom a regretful smile.
Tom was moved by this belated apology.
Ginny then said, “Let me be the servant!”
She rolled up her sleeve. Seeing how quickly Tom had cut it, she figured it wouldn’t hurt much—and it possibly would grow back anyway.
Tom stopped her. “Absolutely not. If I return to the diary, the ownership of this body will revert to you. Just throw it in.”
He thought to himself, Dark magic sacrifices don’t regenerate… Why does Hogwarts never teach these things?
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Dumbledore mused, “Oh oh oh, so you two agreed to be each other’s servants?” He smirked knowingly.
Tom and Ginny both glared at him.
Ginny said, “At least I can get married. You’d better work hard.”
After everything she had been through, her fear of Dumbledore had completely faded.
She no longer resented or hated this foolish man.
Tom thought, Honestly, Ginny speaking her mind so boldly isn’t a bad thing. Even if she sounds like an idiot sometimes… but then again, who doesn’t?
But he refocused on the task at hand.
“Alright, let’s hurry. Harry is about to break into the Chamber.”
He handed the blood and bone to Ginny and ordered, “Resurrect me.”
Then he closed his eyes and returned to the diary.
Dumbledore levitated Ginny’s old, broken body and Tom’s diary and dropped them into the cauldron.
Ginny climbed up the ladder and placed the final ingredient inside with her own hands.
“I wish you luck, Tom.”
The cauldron erupted with a blinding light.
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Afterward
Dumbledore pretended to be just as surprised as everyone else when he listened to Harry recounts his adventure in the Chamber of Secrets.
In truth, everything Harry described had been a version of events that Tom had implanted in his mind.
Harry and Ron had been separated after the tunnel collapse caused by Lockhart’s failed spell.
When Harry advanced alone to the heart of the Chamber and found Ginny waking up in his arms, everything—the battle with the basilisk, the rescue by Fawkes, the destruction of the diary—had all been an illusion in his head carefully orchestrated by Tom and Dumbledore from the start.
The diary had long since lost its power, so stabbing a hole into it didn’t mean anything.
Ginny played along, crying the moment words failed her. Yet not all of those tears were fake, no one could imagine the hardships she had endured to finally "return to the world of the living" and reclaim her body.
After taking time to process everything, she found herself curious about only one thing: How had Lockhart ended up involved in all of this?
During the summer, Tom sent her a letter with his theory:
"I believe Lockhart had been under the Imperius Curse, cast by Grindelwald himself, for quite a long time. After Valentine's Day, I happened to catch sight of a pink envelope inside the professor's folder on his desk.
At first, I thought—who would be bold enough to flirt with the Headmaster? But then I wondered—why hadn’t the professor simply thrown the letter away?
So, I conducted a few Dark Magic tests on Lockhart, and discovered that whoever had cursed him was highly skilled—at a level far beyond mine."
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Ginny wrote back:18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC37SRMvIv4
"So, you think Professor Dumbledore knew all along?"
Tom replied:18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4EPYjvMzK
"The professor hates Dark Magic; he would never openly accept such help. Besides, they’ve been dragging this out for so long—I don’t even want to bring it up anymore."
Ginny responded:18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2rjddNE8L
"Me neither. How are you doing now?"
Tom wrote back:18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgA9VO7nr4
"Working. What about you? Enjoying Egypt?"
Ginny replied:18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoXb8g8ogS
"I can’t shake the feeling that this grand prize was just Dumbledore cheating for us."
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Not long after the summer holidays began, Mr. Weasley received a notification—he had won the Ministry of Magic’s Employee Scoops Grand Prize. The reward included round-trip tickets for their whole family to vacation in Egypt, along with a hefty pile of Galleons.
Tomorrow, they were scheduled for a newspaper interview.
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Tom responded:18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4uwTJnUpk
"You deserve it. And please make sure Scabbers gets in the photo."
It wasn’t until Ginny read his reply that she even remembered the issue about Scabbers.
"What? Explain yourself!" she thought, staring at the letter, wishing for more words that were hidden.
Frustrated, she muttered, "Damn it!"
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"Ginny! What are you still doing over there?" Mrs. Weasley called, reminding her it was time to leave.
"Coming!" Ginny replied from inside the dusty tent, hurriedly burning the letter.
If it weren’t for Tom keeping in touch, she might have started to believe everything that happened at Hogwarts last year was just a dream.
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Far away at Hogwarts, Tom looked at the postcard Ginny had sent him. On the back, she had written: Tell me everything!
Beside him, Dumbledore stroked the orange cat and asked, “Aren’t you going to write back?”
Tom looked up. “Does she really need to know?”
His appearance matched that of a seventeen-year-old, as if the fifty years that had passed had never touched him.
Dumbledore said, “One more ally.”
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He had already commanded Ginny to keep it a secret, but he still worried she might let something slip without realizing it.
Dumbledore added, “You’ve finally made a friend.”
Tom scoffed. “You call this friendship?”
After all the calculations and manipulations between him and Ginny, he saw them as nothing more than strangers bound by fate.
Dumbledore nodded.
Tom complained, “You’re always pushing me to be some sort of male escort.”
Dumbledore shot back, “I just don’t want you to end up as lonely as I did.”
Tom rolled his eyes, thinking, It’s not like no one ever wanted to marry you. You were the one who refused.
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The Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts had been successfully “unveiled.”
Officials from the Ministry of Magic and archaeologists wanted to explore it, but Dumbledore dismissed them, citing that it was private school property.
After Dumbledore reinstated his position, the Board of the School followed his every word ever since. Lucius Malfoy was expelled from the Board, and the ancient artifacts “excavated” from the Chamber conveniently filled Hogwarts’ financial gap.
A vast collection of Slytherin relics flooded the market, even Basilisk's skins were sold at an exorbitant price.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn99nzLNJ7T
Since Tom had no public identity to handle the inheritance, he had no choice but to entrust it all to Dumbledore. What's more, in a private agreement with the Ministry, Dumbledore arranged for the Weasley family to “win” their prize. In reality, the prize money was Tom’s payment to Ginny.
As for the legend of Harry Potter solving the mystery of the Chamber, this time, the details were even more convincing. The wizarding world now believed in the prophecy of the Boy Who Lived more than ever.
And Voldemort was walking straight into their trap…
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