It was not the first day she had been suspecting Tom.
All the doubts were too weak.
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For example:
If Tom and Malfoy were working together, why would they attack Eugene?
Perhaps Ricky just happened to forget Hagrid's name during class?
Or maybe Hagrid had introduced himself to Tom at that time?
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In the end, it was her own inability to believe in Tom.
Yet, she relied on him, even hoping she could become someone like him.
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He was far too good to be true.
It was like seeing a cartoon character come to life.
You would start to wonder if your world was real or not.
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All the settings the diary had told her, suddenly had a living face to embody them.
Prefect, Special Award of Services, and then promoted to be the Head Boy.
Percy couldn't compare to him, nor could Bill.
But he just disappeared, and all he has left to remember is an old strange diary.
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On top of that, if he really was the heir of Slytherin as the diary said.
Fifty years ago, during the Chamber of Secrets incident that was said in the newspaper, wasn't he behind it all?
Then why was he able to receive the Award that year?
What did he contribute? Some petrified students? A dead girl?
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Ginny returned to her room, filled with thoughts.
The diary was still in her bag, and she hadn't figured out whether to tell Tom about it or not.
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Hermione looked up from her book and said, "You're back. I packed dinner for you, you must have forgotten again."
She noticed that Ginny didn't look well.
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"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.
She knew Ginny was introverted, unwilling to talk about her affairs in especially disliked others interfering.
But this time, Ginny spoke up: "Hermione... how do you know you can trust Harry and Ron with everything?"
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Hermione blinked and asked in return, "Did someone bully you again? Tell me."
Ginny countered, "Did you also hear the rumours about me?"
Hermione said, "I haven't heard anything about you, but I can tell."
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Ginny closed her eyes.
Hungry and tired, she fell onto the bed, set her bag aside, and buried her face in the pillow.
Seeing this, Hermione said, "It's okay. I didn't have any friends at first either. Everyone hated me."
Ginny said, "That's their problem."
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Hermione sighed, "It's good that you know. If you believe you haven't done anything wrong, don't feel sorry. Regardless of how others see it, they have their own problems to face."
Ginny disagreed, "No, it's all my fault. I was just being stupid." No one told her to write a diary.
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Hermione cheered her up, "That's okay. We'll figure it out together. You'll be fine."
Tears welled up in Ginny's eyes, buried in the pillow. "I really don't know..."
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Tom was important to her, why did he have to be so troublesome?
What could she do to trust Tom? Should she have him examined by someone?
Ginny didn't have the money to hire someone to do that.
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If she handed it over to a teacher, it would certainly be confiscated.
If she tried to learn and research about it on her own, she might graduate from Hogwarts before making any progress.
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Hermione sighed and said, "I used to hate those boys too, especially Ron. He made me hide in the bathroom and cry, and I almost died because of it."
She earnestly answered Ginny's first question.
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Ginny, amidst her sadness, became curious. Ron had never mentioned this incident before.
Hermione continued, "It was on Halloween when a troll came into the school. Harry and Ron accidentally locked it in the same bathroom with me.
And I was crying alone in the bathroom because, in Charms class, Ron and I were paired up, and I pointed out that his pronunciation was incorrect. Then I overheard him mocking me to Harry right after class, saying no wonder I had no friends."
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Ginny couldn't help but glance at Hermione. Hermione went on,
"I was thinking at that time, it would be better to drop out and become a Muggle for the rest of my life.
I wasn't born into a wizarding family, you know. I didn't have the privilege of learning at home, did I?
Even if I had to live in an ignorant and oblivious world, at least it was a happier and more familiar one.
Who could stand being surrounded by those narrow-minded, self-unaware people who were born into the wizarding world?
Clearly, in the area where they should excel, they hindered my learning and had to rely on my reminders and help instead.
And afterward, they even spoke ill of me behind my back. People are all such ungrateful brats."
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Ginny sensed Hermione's resentment and quickly asked, "So what happened next? How did you manage to tolerate Ron? Did you kill the troll?"
Hermione smirked, "I wasn't that strong. I was terrified. It was Harry and Ron who heard me scream and rushed in. In the end, it was like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse, they knocked the troll unconscious."
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Ginny blinked and said, "Is that it? So you forgave them?"
Hermione said, "I even covered for them, lying that I voluntarily went to find the troll, so please don't tell the teachers."
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Ginny said impartially, "You're too generous, aren't you?"
Even though Ron is her brother, she agrees that he's a carefree person when it comes to speaking.
It takes great courage for someone from an unfamiliar world to come to a completely strange place for school. Besides, it was Ron who slowed her down, not Hermione intentionally mocking him.
"But at least I know they would risk their lives to save me. That's the first sense of security I have in the wizarding world," Hermione said.
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Ginny empathized with Hermione's difficulties and thought to herself, "It turns out that not every student who comes to Hogwarts is happy and excited, I am not the exception.
I underestimated the challenges of boarding school. My brothers always shared their joys but not their worries at home, which made me think their success was so easy and made me feel even more like a failure.
But maybe 'failure' is normal after all?"
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Ginny said, "I envy you." At least you can trust two real people instead of a faceless diary.
Hermione said, "I feel lucky too. Just think, when my other classmates were enjoying the Halloween feast, didn't they notice that I wasn't there? Let alone the boys, but those two girls who were supposed to be my roommates, didn't they know exactly where I was crying."
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On that day, Hermione had narrowly escaped death. After returning to the Gryffindor Tower, and separated with the boys. She went to her room.
When those two girls saw her, they didn't even ask what happened, despite her being completely soaked. (That was because the troll had broken a pipe, causing water to spray everywhere.)
Their first reaction was to tell her not to wander off on her own. When the prefect called for attendance, they didn't know how to respond.
Were they "concerned" or were they "blaming" her for holding their back and making them "appear" to abandon her after what happened?
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Hermione didn't want to dwell on it.
At that moment, she had just worn out from experiencing a life-or-death situation.
So she learned not to care about everyone, not to correct everyone.
Don't waste time on unworthy people, give up what needs to be given up because life could be much shorter than one imagines.
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From the story, Ginny realized that some "qualities" that had been taken for granted by her family, were actually rare in Gryffindor.
If she and Hermione did the same things and were in the same situation, she believes not a single first-year could come to save her. She imagines the one who would be in time and have the ability to save her could only be Tom.
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And this thought made her sad again. "Hermione, if one day, a person who is very kind to you suddenly appears, but he probably has ill intentions... would you, send him away?" Her voice was very low, filled with sadness.
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Hermione tried to console her, "Well, you haven't really confirmed anything with him, have you?"
Ginny could only say, "Even if I confirmed it with him, how do I know he's not deceiving me?"
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She hoped Tom would tell her all the facts, including his creator, and his intentions, and provide tangible evidence. She didn't care about his so-called "secrecy" setting anymore, she needed to know for sure.
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"It sounds like a complicated relationship," Hermione sighed. She distractedly thought, "Ron said Ginny loved Harry, right? Why does it sound like she's fallen for another now?"
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Ginny sarcastically laughed at herself, "Yeah, he would never have a chance to risk his 'life' to save me, would he?"
Instead, it was always her who was on the edge of "death" and being saved.
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Hermione continued to ponder distractedly, "Maybe Ginny loves someone else, would be less troublesome for Harry and Ron." So she said, "But I still think you should try to trust someone new. While all your brothers is around and care for you, and if you need my help, I'm always here too."
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Hermione just wanted to impart the sense of security that Harry and Ron had given her to others. Besides, she couldn't imagine how bad the situation could be, trolls weren't running around Hogwarts every day.
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Ginny couldn't help but have tears in her eyes and said, "You're so kind to me." If she wasn't sharing a room with Hermione, she probably wouldn't be able to hold on.
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Besides, she couldn't be safer in her entire life right now right here.
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--
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Tom, at the age of sixteen, returned to Hogwarts wearing the ring. On the train, he read in the newspaper that Morfin Gaunt had been imprisoned and openly admitted to killing the Riddle family.
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Thanks to the efforts of Grindelwald, this rural news only occupied less than a quarter of an inner page, without even a picture.
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The Gaunt family wasn't as important as he had imagined.
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Even though Morfin Gaunt kept proclaiming in court that he was the descendant of Salazar Slytherin with Parseltongue, he was just a deluded fool when no one, not even a snake, responded to him.
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Tom originally intended to return the ring to Morfin. But at the last moment, he couldn't bear the thought of leaving this protective treasure behind in Azkaban, to rot away with the pigs.
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Perhaps out of a guilty conscience, thinking that "he who killed often becomes he who also be killed," he felt a deep sense of unease.
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"Hello, Tom," the real Dumbledore welcomed him back to Hogwarts.
Tom complained bitterly, "You didn't come to see me during the summer."
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He had returned to the orphanage before the end of the summer and confirmed with the headmaster that no one had come looking for him while he was away.
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Dumbledore sighed. "Did you encounter any trouble?"
Tom replied coldly, "She didn't let me go back next year. She said there were too many people to accommodate at the orphanage. And I'll turn seventeen next year, I considered an adult in the wizarding world, so I'm leaving for good this time."
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He had initially thought about informing Dumbledore in advance, but he didn't have an owl with him. Besides, he didn't want to stay there for another minute after seeing the expression on the orphanage headmaster's face.
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Dumbledore asked, "What about next summer?"
Tom exhaled, "I don't know where to go, we'll see."
Dumbledore seemed relieved. "That's also a good thing. Finally, no more lies."
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Tom had a strange feeling in his heart. Dumbledore wasn't just talking about the orphanage. He suspected that Dumbledore had just learned from the newspaper that his father's entire family had died, and he was hesitating whether or not to tell him.
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He nervously touched the ring again and couldn't help but think of Grindelwald. He didn't know how to bring it up with Dumbledore. If Dumbledore found out everything that happened there, would he blame him or look at him with strange eyes?
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Tom thought about the events of their first meeting and decided to keep the secret hidden deep in his heart. He replied nonchalantly, "Yeah, lying is really troublesome."
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He was referring not only to the headmaster of the orphanage but also to Hagrid, the Riddle family, and this deeply concealed and rotten wizarding world.
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Dumbledore sighed again, "I've asked too much of you."
Finally, he wasn't as overbearing or superior as before.
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Tom should have been pleased that Dumbledore was showing consideration for him, but now he felt that Dumbledore was deeply disappointed in him because of the Chamber of Secrets incident.
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"Professor..." Tom couldn't help but change the subject, not wanting Dumbledore to have a chance to mention his parents. "I will talk to the Basilisk. Maybe it won't be so insistent anymore."
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Dumbledore shook his head, "This is my fault. I will personally go down and put an end to it."
Tom frowned, thinking to himself, "Why don't you ever listen to me? That's my Chamber, my Basilisk!"
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But he said, "I don't want to kill it, Professor. Can't we continue with our plan?"
Dumbledore looked at him, surprised, as if he were looking at a stranger. "Have you developed feelings for it?"
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Tom thought, "Am I seen as a more cold-blooded and heartless creature in your eyes compared to the Basilisk?"
He remained silent, just staring at Dumbledore quietly.
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Perhaps he had lives too well at Hogwarts. His temper grow faster than his age. He knew he shouldn't blame others. This mission was his own agreement, his own desire to achieve the Special Award of Services. And even the mission failed, he still received it.
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Dumbledore wasn't his parent, just a salaried teacher with his own interests. Even if they had "worked together" secretly for a while, it didn't mean that Dumbledore had an obligation to be kind to him, consider his needs, or indulge his temper.
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Tom took a deep breath.
He realized that his attitude towards Dumbledore was misplaced, but he was tired.
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He lowered his gaze, feeling dejected, and turned to leave.
"Tom..." Dumbledore called out behind him.
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That only made Tom dislike his own name same as his father's even more. He didn't want to grow up to be like him. The thought of that lifeless face made him sick, and for that he hadn't looked in the mirror for a long time.
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However, he wouldn't tell Dumbledore anything about his feelings.
In fact, he didn't want to tell Dumbledore anything anymore.
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-------------
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Afterward, Dumbledore wrote a letter reassuring Tom that he should take his time and try to persuade the Basilisk on his own. He comforted him by saying that even if he couldn't resolve anything before graduation, he would find a way to handle it later.
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Tom took the letter and went to a window, under the moonlight, and set it on fire.
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He thought to himself, "Dumbledore should be more careful. If someone saw the evidence and discovered that he and I conspired, and accidentally kill Myrtle, then Grindelwald would..."
What's wrong with Grindelwald winning? Tom couldn't help but reflect.
But what would be Dumbledore's fate?
Should he really betray Dumbledore's trust?
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He watched the flames rise and slowly disappear into the air, feeling even more confused.
Visiting his origins, his family, hadn't provided him with clearer answers about life. It only added to the mud of guilt in his heart.
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Unfortunately, no one could tell him what he should or shouldn't do anymore.
No one had the right.
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--------------
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"Tom, you're finally back!" The Basilisk welcomed him warmly.
Seeing it again, Tom surprisingly felt a sense of comfort.
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Having spent so much time in the Chamber of Secrets, after cleaning it up, he no longer found it dirty.
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"It's been a while, Basilisk," Tom replied, using the creature's name.
The name of the Basilisk was simply Basilisk because it had no knowledge of others of its kind. It didn't know that "Basilisk" referred to more than just itself. But the word itself also implied "little prince." Perhaps Salazar Slytherin had indeed named it that way?
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Basilisk hesitated for a moment and asked, "What happened to you, Tom?" It sense his sadness.
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Tom dropped the act and said, "I encountered bad persons during the summer break."
It felt good to confide in someone. He thought to himself, "Maybe I've always needed a friend, just not a human one."
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Basilisk asked, "Did you suffer? Is there anything I can do to help you?"
Tom replied, "No, I've resolved it, by luck."
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Basilisk said, "You're too weak. Study our master's magic quickly."
It was worried that Tom might die, leaving it without even someone to chat with.
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Tom suddenly remembered, "By the way, he forgot to tell Dumbledore about this study room."
But should he inform Dumbledore? No. He shouldn't get accustomed to reporting to Dumbledore anymore, he warned himself.
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Basilisk asked again, "Did I cause trouble for you, that girl in the bathroom?"
Tom replied, "That matter is over too, but for now, I can't find a way to bring you out safely again."
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Basilisk asked, "Is she an important person?"
Tom initially wanted to say "no," but then he felt it wasn't right to think that way.
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Everyone is important.
But on the other hand, everyone is insignificant.
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Tom could only say, "They suspect me, and I can't afford to have anyone else die around me. Unless..."
If he could reach the level of Grindelwald, no one would dare to arrest him.
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Basilisk saw the seriousness on his face and comforted him, "You will achieve it, I believe in you. Take it slowly."
Even though it couldn't fully understand, Basilisk wholeheartedly believed in Tom.
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Tom could only smile and say, "Thanks."
And so, he spent every day in the Chamber of Secrets, studying more profound ancient dark magic in Slytherin's study.
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Starting from his sixth year, he spent almost every night in the Chamber.
Since he didn't have a roommate and no one knew he hadn't returned to the dormitory, even if someone saw him going out late at night, who would dare to provoke him?
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"Horcrux."
This term appeared at this time.
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Salazar Slytherin's study of immortality seemed logically perfect, tightly structured with no loopholes.
The only condition for committing murder, he already unintentionally fulfilled.
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But in terms of results, did Slytherin still die? Tom wasn't sure.
He seriously considered to practice it because:
"If I can split my soul, a part of me won't have to abide by Basilisk's vow anymore."
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During these past few months, Tom and Basilisk became true friends.
So he had been trying to find out what Basilisk wish after "finishing" all the Mudboolds.
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Basilisk said, "Then I'll wait for your child to come to school and continue cleansing the half-bloods!"
Tom was speechless.
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Was Basilisk assuming that he would definitely marry a pure-blood and have children?
Um... he thought maybe Basilisk was just finding reasons not to go out because it had been here for a thousand years.
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The Chamber of Secrets was everything it knew.
It even feared the thought of going out.
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It wasn't that it couldn't open the chamber's door, but it didn't want to.
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It had never seen forests, lakes, sunlight, and all the beautiful things that could bring tears to one's eyes. Tom had been tempting it all along.
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But it sniffed at him, stubborn like a house-elf.
For it, freedom was a betrayal to Salazar Slytherin and would render its entire life meaningless.
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Basilisk would rather die in the Chamber.
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As much as Tom tried to convince himself, to be ruthless and kill Basilisk before graduation, he couldn't do it. Neither could He deceive Basilisk any longer.
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So If he could squeeze the "Unbreakable Vow" onto a small fragment of his soul and then split it to create a Horcrux, perhaps the immortal "himself" could keep abiding by the vow on his behalf.
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In the river of time, 'he' could occasionally lure and possessed a few Hogwarts students to come down and visit Basilisk...
"Let's do it!" Tom made a resolute decision one day.
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Regardless of what would happen in the future, out of his only friendship now, what would a sliver of his soul count for?
He wanted to continue weaving a beautiful dream between Basilisk's impossible "goal" and reality.
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So, on December 30, 1943, the day before Tom's seventeenth birthday, he quietly created the first and most special Horcrux.
He hoped that no matter what the future held, this perpetually sixteen-year-old diary named "Tom" would remain forever young.
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As for how to explain it to Dumbledore?
Tom decided to postpone that until after graduation.
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Anyway, he planned to personally join the Grindelwald's acolytes after graduation, so it wouldn't be considered a betrayal of Dumbledore.
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Turn out, in 1945, the same year Tom graduated, Grindelwald surrendered.
It was then that Tom resolved to become the Dark Lord himself.
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And He told himself, " I absolutely won't fall in love. For even making one friend is too tiresome."
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