It was not the first day she had been suspecting Tom.
All the doubts were too weak.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rXed1z28w
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?
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnALNZ8ai9
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedrCqBCxWy
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIyxHb1SC6
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNEXYfv7Pd
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?
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOaRwr5PWy
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtarDvCzpc
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbuoGnZXBI
"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?"
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jS1T1kzRg
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."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBJFlDtyqn
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."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxE16HCBLH
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvBXDgzr2F
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..."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZLmhy0Rf6
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J0yvYcVo4
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymojbE3oc0
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oe4dLU3TV
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."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNAtjZHrb2
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."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKndCr1roH
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."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwCeOZAX8d
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."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAisa9uXWk
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeBh5bDOEQ
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?"
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuR04R7lDH
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."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6vf3v1XAU
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?
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC2lXCgSYu
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXgbdBYKrg
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzJr710nzT
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTiqacqF5y
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?"
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WaZKzEt7Y
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN0sIX74Qx
"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?"
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IacUmF0UR
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaD7vfPWUy
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."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Xkjc1TNzA
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAkePv2L90
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.
Isn't a beautiful and mysterious person, with a dangerous yet precious friendship, worth risking your life?546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3HPp3kiMJ
Besides, she couldn't be safer in her entire life right now right here.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvElaxbkWXl
--
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0wDhHELRM
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWu3WuZTE6h
Thanks to the efforts of Grindelwald, this rural news only occupied less than a quarter of an inner page, without even a picture.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6oFwFwPDN
The Gaunt family wasn't as important as he had imagined.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cM1HHmjOF
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg8bK8XFMx
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK68SuaXnDE
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3cOGM6l9P
"Hello, Tom," the real Dumbledore welcomed him back to Hogwarts.
Tom complained bitterly, "You didn't come to see me during the summer."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoc3WVr5tC
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCo67T24dOc
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."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RlG2tZkGg
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0YjtG4QMW
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."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfZGKdwJG0
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbZ2t0s9df
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?
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5fxcM5YaO
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."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrzxp0OEhO
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEY8wgUKZJ
Dumbledore sighed again, "I've asked too much of you."
Finally, he wasn't as overbearing or superior as before.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqQsfAb0QZ
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7oXyC3A7N
"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."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhhw2CmxvM
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!"
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NAvdsgnOb
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?"
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizIJHSVGXr
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDwqOcb6V5
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxFf90F3NB
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfj32CKpOc
Tom took a deep breath.
He realized that his attitude towards Dumbledore was misplaced, but he was tired.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPcgX88rwl
He lowered his gaze, feeling dejected, and turned to leave.
"Tom..." Dumbledore called out behind him.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB0jBraW1B
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpUokJD9nV
However, he wouldn't tell Dumbledore anything about his feelings.
In fact, he didn't want to tell Dumbledore anything anymore.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsoIF5OG0D
-------------
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNmCFHKuaG
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdMtEhUin0
Tom took the letter and went to a window, under the moonlight, and set it on fire.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ818MLFnYFZ
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?
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrF21yekTRB
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CrAHkirgN
Unfortunately, no one could tell him what he should or shouldn't do anymore.
No one had the right.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKr79lPMeW
--------------
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK7oaG0T6Z
"Tom, you're finally back!" The Basilisk welcomed him warmly.
Seeing it again, Tom surprisingly felt a sense of comfort.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5WIORiJ5r
Having spent so much time in the Chamber of Secrets, after cleaning it up, he no longer found it dirty.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr23SKhC5b4
"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?
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWtuiWEc9G
Basilisk hesitated for a moment and asked, "What happened to you, Tom?" It sense his sadness.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLusfX3Yji
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."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxNKbrKS9j
Basilisk asked, "Did you suffer? Is there anything I can do to help you?"
Tom replied, "No, I've resolved it, by luck."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlVIsjUGrn
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Tw86cuZKp
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpUsTVBj7X
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."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqFYkTdUSx
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJVn83Du9d
Everyone is important.
But on the other hand, everyone is insignificant.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0VKoHp7mR
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvUTHdRaWH
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdDYsEwZP6
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0TKUyhzTF
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?
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgE7n16vUG
"Horcrux."
This term appeared at this time.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJzXHUcqS8
Salazar Slytherin's study of immortality seemed logically perfect, tightly structured with no loopholes.
The only condition for committing murder, he already unintentionally fulfilled.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAEmwuUDze
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."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9X8f58s40
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHX4Sms3uN
Basilisk said, "Then I'll wait for your child to come to school and continue cleansing the half-bloods!"
Tom was speechless.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbUoZyXdmO
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySJZnfpqMX
The Chamber of Secrets was everything it knew.
It even feared the thought of going out.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iFly1oB0l
It wasn't that it couldn't open the chamber's door, but it didn't want to.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKzdGQSC2g
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PNMxKqkV9
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2C9rcxxA9
Basilisk would rather die in the Chamber.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45z3Yeaj5s
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡya3ncf5oJ9
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzPBVU8AA0
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5EiW7tD97
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGfBA37HXe
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.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg23C9rz5G
As for how to explain it to Dumbledore?
Tom decided to postpone that until after graduation.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fed8TAgc5
Anyway, he planned to personally join the Grindelwald's acolytes after graduation, so it wouldn't be considered a betrayal of Dumbledore.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eqEPHxtYX
Turn out, in 1945, the same year Tom graduated, Grindelwald surrendered.
It was then that Tom resolved to become the Dark Lord himself.
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRE5JUYSZ4f
And He told himself, " I absolutely won't fall in love. For even making one friend is too tiresome."
546Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhvv7MWGr3
