Friday night, in the Headmaster's office.
"Good evening, Professor," Tom ascended from the spiral staircase.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBPtJNKiyW
Dumbledore stared intently at him and asked, "Miss Weasley?"
"It's me, Tom Riddle. Fifty years have passed. Professor, do you still remember me?" Tom said.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXK07bmtkG
Dumbledore sarcastically replied, "You've returned with a new hostage. I must admit, I'm impressed."
Tom blinked his eyes. "Have I often bothered you?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqE5b6BhHy
Dumbledore found him particularly shameless. "What do you want this time? To kill this girl and drive Harry's friends away?"
If Ginny Weasley died under his supervision at Hogwarts, would anyone dare to be Harry's friend anymore?
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6QGgvT1lR
Tom stared cautiously at Dumbledore and said, "Harry? I don't understand what relation he has with me."
Dumbledore felt somewhat surprised. Was this another plot?
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1XyuDi7zf
"Then why did you target Ginny instead of someone else?" Dumbledore asked.
Tom said, "Ask Malfoy. He forced me into this girl's cauldron."
"How did he force you?" Dumbledore inquired.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR35nh9N53x
Tom intended to take out the diary from his pocket, but Dumbledore immediately pointed his wand at him.
"Don't move, raise your hands," he commanded, and Tom reluctantly complied.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Vm0UpYDul
"There's a diary in my pocket. I've split my soul, and I've resided in it since I was seventeen," Tom said and thought to himself, "It seemed that his future self had caused a lot of resentment."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAM6HLr6xT
Dumbledore summoned both Ginny's wand and the diary from Tom. He sensed that the dark magic within the diary was indeed complex.
"Now, leave Ginny," he ordered.
Tom sighed, "I came here just to tell you that Basilisk is dead. I thought you'd want to know. Seek revenge for me against myself in the future. Goodbye."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9gvWy0WAk
Feeling a bit sorrowful, but knowing that his future self had become an outcast, his words seemed superfluous.
He closed his eyes, and Ginny's body collapsed.
Dumbledore levitated and examined her with magic.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFHAt4UKR6
Ultimately, he chose not to modify Ginny's memory because the "threads" of Tom within her mind were too entangled.
If he erased Tom, Ginny wouldn't be able to understand many of her own actions.
Dumbledore didn't want Ginny to panic, but he was just too lazy to think of a fictional story to replace Tom's existence in Ginny's mind.
So, he summoned a house-elf to safely return her to her room with no trace.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUHGyQJ3ms
--
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmT9w6boDbZ
Saturday morning, Nurmengard Prison.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9iOulUvwG
"What do you think?" Dumbledore handed the diary to the person at the other end of the table.
Grindelwald is no longer the picture of elegance.
With dishevelled hair and pale skin, he picked up the diary and flipped to Tom's name.
"Poor boy," he said with an indifferent tone, but his hands kept turning the pages.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LJokrFrFR
Blank pages, filled with words and intriguing links in the eyes of the most powerful dark wizard. "Do you mind if I borrow it for a few days?" he asked.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPXUknIs8c
Dumbledore pursed his lips. "Was it you who taught him about splitting the soul?" he suspected.
Grindelwald clicked his tongue. "I wish I did. One of me marries you, while the other goes on to rule the world."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTBH4TM9Ia
Dumbledore rolled his eyes. "So how old is the one inside?"
Grindelwald playfully asked, "Why is that important? Do you have a soft spot for him?"
He saw through Dumbledore's mind.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvmBw0CXEb
Dumbledore coldly replied, "He's useful to me."
Grindelwald said, "To groom your saviour? I've heard about the Philosopher's Stone and such."
"That's none of your business," Dumbledore retorted.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMtgD51eXU
Grindelwald leaned forward and asked, "Are you angry? Angry at me for corrupting Tom?"
Dumbledore squinted his eyes. "Since when and how?"
Grindelwald shrugged. "Who knows? I have too many followers."
Dumbledore stood up angrily and gestured for him to return the diary.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBt5TexkhQy
Grindelwald raised an eyebrow. "You're too hard on him. If you let him choose, he'd probably prefer to stay with me."
Dumbledore asked, "What do you know about him?"
Grindelwald said, "I know what this kid wants. A real home, a place where he can stay forever."
Dumbledore doubted, "Did you surrender because you knew that he would take your place?"
Grindelwald smiled. "Without Voldemort, there will still be others. This wizarding world is already rotten."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEgNdV3TlM
Dumbledore stood there, staring at him in silence.
They remained silent for a long time.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoplYJspXLn
Grindelwald suddenly said, "Tom wants to talk to you."
He held the diary in his hands, closed his eyes, and Tom opened them.
Tom asked, "Professor, so I become the next Dark Lord in the future?"
Dumbledore frowned. "So, are you proud of yourself now?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOiPc7CbEx
Tom said, "I just want to add that I'm most likely not the only Horcrux. I think one person can create in a maximum of seven."
Dumbledore asked, "How did you do it?"
Tom said, "I learned it in the Chamber of Secrets."
Dumbledore further asked, "When did you start betraying me?"
Tom answered coldly, "I'm just your student, not your soldier. You don't have the right to command me to do anything I don't want to."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFurMifT3Ty
Dumbledore asked again, "What did Gellert tell you?"
Tom took a deep breath and said, "He said he missed you and asked me to deliver an engagement ring to..."
Dumbledore blinked. "An engagement ring?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe41yhlbI9k
Tom's face turned red. "Um... Mr. Grindelwald told me to shut up."
Tom closed his eyes, and Grindelwald opened them.
"The boy is lying. I only..." Cough, "... I only discovered that the gem inherited from his mother's family is the Resurrection Stone! So... I... but he got it all wrong, that's all!"
He blushed with embarrassment too.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPysowTrLns
Dumbledore's face blushed as well, "What exactly did you say to him?"
Grindelwald countered, "You're the one who said something! Otherwise, how could he have misunderstood?"
Albus said, "Give me back the diary."
Gellert said, "He said he prefers to stay with me."
Albus said, "I didn't hear that."
Gellert said, "You still have to find six more. Why don't you let me keep this one!"
Albus said, "Stop joking. The Malfoys must be trying to open the Chamber of Secrets. It's the best opportunity for Harry to act!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u3OXWlAQN
Grindelwald supported his chin with one hand. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakRPt039p9
"Tell me more." He was truly interested.
Dumbledore sighed, feeling sympathy for him.
Grindelwald had been imprisoned for too long.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WWSOnzz78
So they talked about Harry Potter for the rest of the morning.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavnKbiLvph
---------
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVj9kaA5VBp
"Tom couldn't possibly be 'you know who'," Ginny said to Luna in the library.
They opened the 1945 yearbook and discussed it in a small corner.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdGQz1hlOu
Luna said, "But 'you know who' was also Parseltongue, a descendant of Slytherin."
Ginny said, "I'm not sure if Tom was joking with me back then. Maybe he was just teasing me? And if he is that person, why would he keep protecting me instead of using my body to assassinate Harry?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGknfTvW86Z
Ricky said, "Why don't we just go ask Hagrid, Dumbledore, or Professor McGonagall?"
They searched for people they knew in the yearbook.
Luna said, "If Tom is indeeded 'you know who', they would ask how we found out."
Ricky said, "We can just say we were curious."
Ginny said, "They might think we had contact with dark wizards privately."
She was a bit worried if Tom was indeed...
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNT1qGkMKvX
Luna said, "Or we can ask of the ghosts, they might know something."
Ricky said, "But ghosts wouldn't know what students do after graduation, right?"
Luna muttered to herself, "Should we ask Bloody Baron from Slytherin or Gray Lady?"
Ginny sighed and said, "Let's go ask Moaning Myrtle. She was the victim of the Chamber of Secrets incident."
She had read about it in the newspaper on Thursday.
Ginny prepared herself for the worst possible truth.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY78ezOhhON
They went to the second-floor girls' bathroom.
Myrtle was furious as soon as she saw Ginny. "How dare you come again?"
Ginny was perplexed.
Luna spoke directly, "Did you see Tom Riddle yesterday?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1AABtLsW3
Myrtle frowned. "What are you talking about? Why are you constantly targeting me?"
Risky asked, "What did Ginny do to you yesterday?"
Myrtle was angry. "So, it is you who sent her to play an adventure on me? Tell me your name!"
She misunderstood their intentions as confirming Ginny's challenge completion.
Ginny could only say, "I really don't know what I have done yesterday..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPpxN48oeh
Upon hearing her "pretending to be ignorant," Myrtle became so angry that she rushed into the toilet, splashing them with water.
Then the toilet turned into a fountain, flooding the floor.
They had no choice but to leave temporarily.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqODEzK67Zo
As first-year students, they hadn't learned the Drying Charm yet, and they knew that Myrtle's toilet water wasn't dirty because no one would go there at all.
So they decided to go back outside, take off their wet clothes and socks, and let them be sundry.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9x7KCOPuqU
"Oh, you guys are disgusting!" Stephanie said.
It was her, along with Daisy, Ken, and Colin who happened to "pass by."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHt6FfKB74z
The weather was sunny today, and many people came out for picnics by the lake.
Ginny and her friends had already walked to a more secluded corner.
Stephanie saw them looking dishevelled and embarrassed from a distance, so she intentionally approached.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpfseF5KEw
Ken sarcastically said, "Don't do such things at school, okay?"
He looked at their bare feet and Ricky, who had half of his shirt undone, implied something.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TQnnlnp6k
Even the usually timid Colin had a change of heart. "Hey! Stop saying things like that."
When he first started school, he was just jealous of Ginny for her relationship with Harry Potter.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4CdFeTMAM
Daisy also gathered her courage and said, "Let's leave, Stephanie. This isn't funny."
She felt that Ginny was indeed arrogant because she always kept things to herself and went on her own way. But...
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVyFJqUdQg
Ken continued, "It doesn't matter if these pure-blood families have more 'interactions.' They're all relatives anyway."
Ricky rushed up and punched him.
Ginny and Luna also pulled out their wands.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyqi8tNFvV
Stephanie cursed Luna first, but Ginny blocked the curse, and it rebounded, hitting Daisy instead.
"Daisy!" Colin nervously shouted as Daisy fainted.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsa7s6rPYA
Ken and Ricky were still fighting each other, with Ricky being at a disadvantage.
Luna said, "I'll go call the teachers!"
She ran off because she didn't like facing violence.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwFRFw1nFv
Ginny blocked the path for Luna to escape and confronted Stephanie.
Ginny asked, "Why did you target me from the beginning?" She was certain it wasn't her imagination.
Stephanie said, "It's because you looked down on us from the start."
Ginny asked, "Why aren't you in Slytherin? Are your parents both Muggle-born?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr62vPLzoYP
Stephanie was angry and said with a horrible expression, "You scum pure blood that can rely on connections to get away when breaking rules. Who can compete with you guys on a fairground?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdtvJd5Bav
Everyone says that Hufflepuff takes in the worst students, but Ginny doesn't agree.
If a person has no brain, nor virtue but "courage," what distinguishes them from a thug?
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBC5dQYhID
Ginny initially didn't plan to attack. She only wanted to defend herself.
But Ricky was being beaten so badly, and the sound indicated that even his bones were broken. Ken kept pressing and hitting him.
So Ginny couldn't help but point her wand at Ken and said, "Stupefy!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxZPhhsZhs
Ken was blasted away and fell unconscious on the grass.
Stephanie took the opportunity and pushed Ginny with her hands.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfg5D94mQO
Ginny fell backward, hitting the back of her head on a sharp rock.
Colin saw blood flowing from her head, staining the grass with a vivid red colour.
He couldn't help but scream in fear, "Y...you killed her!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcp5pEHzHqh
Stephanie also retreated in fear, saying, "She fell on her own."
She continued to lie to herself.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwcek2ptVv
--------
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9siqLb6hL
Meanwhile, in Hagrid's cabin.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalJup9AUUW
"Your sister...she doesn't seem to fit in well," Hagrid mentioned to Ron.
He had promised not to reveal the incident that night, but he still worried about her.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJAg55Fq5d
Hermione added, "The first-year students have been talking behind her back."
Harry didn't interject, but his expression showed concern.
They all looked at Ron.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskxhklu3bH
Ron shrugged and said, "She told us not to interfere. What else can I do?"
Harry asked, "What exactly are the first-year students saying about her?"
Ron replied, "Percy said she had an arrogant attitude and that we should advise her to change."
He rolled his eyes, "Then Fred said to him, 'Not until you learn to change it yourself'?"
Hermione and Harry laughed.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfKvVz2lsf
Hagrid still frowned, "It seems like she's trying too hard to have some friends, you know? Might be those troublemaking kids could encourage her to do something bad."
It sounded like he was speaking from experience.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7X8CAdP54
Ron retorted, "Are you saying we've led Hermione astray? It is you who raised a dragon last year!"
Hagrid loudly coughed and tried to change the subject.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbs8Qdkx7Uv
Harry gently said, "I don't think she's arrogant."
Just like when the Dursleys or Snape insulted him for that, he never took it to his heart.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6TLJ8nDlN
--
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDNlVLfP1X
That afternoon, Dumbledore returned and quickly made his way to the hospital wing after hearing Professor McGonagall's calling.
"How is she?" he asked Madam Pomfrey as he pushed open the door.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIqc3DABmP
Madam Pomfrey shook her head.
Daisy's injuries were the least severe, and Ricky's injuries were okay, only Ginny had no chance to recover.
Her nerves were damaged, and she had become a vegetable.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfqvGIosCl
Dumbledore examined her brain and saw that her consciousness was still active but unable to connect with her body.
In the magical world, for injuries like this, it would be up to the family to decide whether to euthanize or not.
They needed to inform the Weasley couple...
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1xvf751G3
Dumbledore closed his eyes and said, "May I try a surgical procedure? It's an experimental magic."
Everyone gained a bit of confidence upon hearing Dumbledore's words and followed his instructions to leave the room.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4iQvfcSbu
"Ginny, I know you can hear me," Dumbledore said.
The light orb representing Ginny's consciousness flickered.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMuTrKetrC
Dumbledore continued, "I took away your diary without realizing how severe your social situation was."
The orb representing her consciousness flickered twice.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLbauUGtTK
Dumbledore asked, "Tom's magic can control your body and communicate with your consciousness. Do you trust him?"
He didn't have a more sophisticated method to connect her nerves.
The orb of light slowly flickered.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl48vP0hxTK
Dumbledore said, "If you refuse euthanasia, your parents won't be able to afford the hospital fees. You'll have to stay home and be cared for the rest of your life. Do you understand?"
The orb flickered once.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6H5BpOQKVa
Dumbledore said, "If there are any new methods in the future that can restore control of your body to you, I promise I'll bring you back."
This time, the orb flickered with a clear affirmation.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0A6EBDl4x
--
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbURkQ6S4P
When the Weasley couple rushed in, they saw Ginny sitting up and softly answering Madam Pomfrey's questions.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHGILww4IN
"Oh, Ginny!" Molly gave Tom the biggest hug of his life.
Arthur stood behind, wiping away tears, and said, "Merlin! Ginny, let's go home right away. Are you feeling alright? I'm sorry I didn't listen to Percy's words. I should have known!"
Ginny retorted in Tom's mind, "Percy? Fuck Percy! I don't want to go home!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCsEouzhiq
Tom glanced at Dumbledore discreetly and told the Weasleys, "I'm fine. They have been suspended, and other students witnessed it this time. No one will bully me anymore."
Molly frowned and immediately placed her hand on Ginny's forehead, "Are you not well?"
Their daughter seemed strange, but they couldn't quite put a finger on why.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcvG9VFwpg
Arthur added, "Daddy will find a way to support you. Don't worry, alright?"
He feared that his responsible daughter was pushing herself too hard.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPQeH6mvFV
Tom hesitated and lowered his eyes, "I...I have many friends here. Truly, I don't want to go home."
In his heart, he thought, "If I go home with them now, I will exposed at once!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZ1rIL5cbp
Dumbledore had seen enough of Tom's predicament, and said, "Ginny has bravely protected two classmates in the conflict. We all see how brave and capable she is now."
Molly shook her head, "Ginny isn't that strong."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzYZlqb7w7
Professor McGonagall, who was standing nearby, also chimed in, "Ginny has always been top of the class."
Under the persuasion of everyone, the Weasley couple returned home peacefully.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4ZdGXoFPd
Professor McGonagall intended to inform Ginny's brothers to come and visit.
But Tom said, "Really, there's no need. I'm tired. Thank you, Professor McGonagall."
Madam Pomfrey also said, "I think she can be discharged tomorrow. It's truly miraculous."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVIxsalFMA
She wanted to discuss this advanced magical healing technique with Dumbledore, so he led her back to his office.
Professor McGonagall felt a bit apologetic and said to Tom, "I'll believe in you fully from now on."
Tom lowered his head and replied again, "Thank you, Professor."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6m4e5wT9k9
After everyone was gone, Ginny asked Tom in her mind, "Where have you been?"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcWms1IqBI
Tom replied in his mind, "Dumbledore took me to visit Grindelwald."
Ginny exclaimed, "What? Don't lie or hide to me again!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzsJyj0HnK
Tom sighed and told Ginny everything about himself.
