757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdx9ECAHx74
About two weeks ago,
Snape reported to Dumbledore, "I find something suspicious about Miss Weasley."
During the interrogation about the reason for Eugene's withdrawal application, he used Legilimency on him.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtPS1ZBRRz
Seeing Ginny's cruel side, he couldn't believe that the Weasley family could produce such a 'brilliant' descendent.
But he couldn't report it too "strongly" to Dumbledore, because Dumbledore was tired of hearing about his complaints towards the Weasley family.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5KQa2zEcs
Given the connection between the Weasley family and Harry, it's possible that it could ultimately involve Harry.
Dumbledore didn't dismiss Snape's warning too lightly, "I will keep an eye on her."
He sighed inwardly, "The Weasley family really like to break the rules."
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3C02LAF9Z6
Dumbledore had just used his influence to ensure that Arthur wouldn't be fired from the Ministry of Magic due to the flying car incident, but demoted.
The Weasley family's financial situation couldn't get any worse, otherwise, even their newly independent eldest and second sons would be held back.
If this flying car incident had happened fifty years ago, and if the Weasley family had no connection to Harry...
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ94xc05l4
Dumbledore knew he was too biased in favour of this family, so when the Headmaster of Ilvermorny sent a letter inquiring about why Eugene transferred schools and what happened at Hogwarts, Dumbledore wrote a letter full of kind words.
Saying that Eugene had been a little mistreated at Hogwarts and he hoped they would provide him with a safe haven and offer him the emotional support he needed.
He also instructed the other teachers to keep a close eye on Ginny, not allowing any special treatment so that she could focus on her studies.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2Bur5EiII
He guessed that Eugene was being so fine in Ilvermorny that he sent him a letter from America, apologizing and saying that Ginny was not to blame.
The other teachers also reported to him that Ginny, aside from being not sociable, doesn't have any major issues and doesn't seek trouble.
That's why Dumbledore wanted to personally meet Ginny, and bring her to Eugene and observe their interaction.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4zPhw9pgV
--------
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bjxSEcysa
"Hi, it has been a long time," Eugene greeted first.
Ginny's eyes showed hatred and distance, still hiding behind Dumbledore, unwilling to interact.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNXz0daiO4
"I know I was wrong..." Eugene said a lot.
Ginny's expression improved, but she remained silent still.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgAVRk4Ycv
Dumbledore prompted, "In Slytherin, is it directed at all Gryffindor students or just Ginny?"
Eugene hesitated and glanced at Ginny with fear in his eyes.
"Malfoy heard that Ginny and I were in the same group, that's why..."
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1zksj8AzL
His confession took a lot of courage. It meant that he had no intention of going back to England.
But Dumbledore, on the other hand, thought that this also meant Ginny was scarier than Malfoy in his mind.
Why would he be afraid to such an extent?
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEg3ZonNEl
However, even when Eugene said this much, Ginny remained indifferent in her heart.
Her reputation had already been destroyed.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIowSRLdZJL
She couldn't let go of the people who had spoken ill of her and accept them again.
Time couldn't be turned back, just like how a murdered person wouldn't come back to life, and no matter how sorry the killer was, even if the killer is sentenced to death, it wouldn't make a difference.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64i3sSSf0q
Ginny knew that her dream of a wonderful cheerful campus life no longer existed.
This mistake wasn't solely Eugene's, but Eugene was the only one who was kind enough to apologize.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ070GVUCjp4
"Goodbye," was the only word Ginny said to Eugene.
Eugene wasn't forgiven but forgotten.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6Y2Ln5Ait
Dumbledore felt that this was enough.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0iqWQU3I6
-------------
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlopO1pWwW
Back at Hogwarts, Ginny let out a sigh of relief.
Dumbledore asked, "How are you feeling?"
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwrAM4hqXP
Ginny looked at him gratefully and said, "Thank you, Professor."
Dumbledore said, "Let the past be gone."
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPrxRNZY3T
Ginny hesitantly asked, "Professor, there's one more thing about my parents..."
She explained the situation with Percy's view of her.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DvwBSndqb
Dumbledore hadn't received any letters or withdrawal requests from the Weasley couple.
He speculated that the Weasleys probably couldn't afford to have Ginny go back home.
Ginny's worries were unnecessary, and it was very likely that the Weasleys had already written back to scold Percy.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaL4WmGSJO
"I will talk to your parents, don't worry," Dumbledore reassured her.
He could only comfort Ginny in this way.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGgtCxmSOi
He truly hoped that the Weasley family wouldn't cause any more trouble this year...
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbb3PdxONS
-----------
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iNGYjLztI
"Ginny, wake up."
Hermione pulled open her bed curtain, and sunlight streamed in.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90qHnVfw9t
Ginny had her arms crossed, holding a diary.
Hermione found it strange, wondering what kind of sleeping habit it was.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZO4jXKckxz
Suddenly, Ginny opened her eyes in panic, gasping for breath, as if she were a fish pulled out of water.
"What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" Hermione asked, concerned.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPA12ov8o5r
"You came back late last night, so it's no wonder you overslept. I'm going to have breakfast now. Come down soon, OK?" Hermione sighed and left after checking the time.
Ginny's last memory was falling from a height, fracturing her shin, and then succumbing to unconsciousness amidst tremendous fear and pain.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniY8wBIkVb
"Tom?" She looked at the diary in her hands and then checked her perfectly intact body.
Was last night just her imagination? How did she return to the dormitory?
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡri0oegpwvo
During breakfast, she kept looking toward the Hufflepuff table but didn't see Ricky.
Ginny felt uneasy and couldn't eat.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehs35qzbn1
Before the first class started, she pushed open the door to the girls' restroom and opened the diary.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjuojSbmWX
Ginny: What happened?
Tom didn't play coy this time: I healed you and modified Ricky's memory.
Ginny was astonished: How did you do it?
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nJ4RNGOKu
Last night, Tom hadn't wanted to intervene.
Ginny was sensitive about trivial things but tended not to overthink when it came to important matters, causing herself great trouble.
However, Tom couldn't remind her to think differently.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrKNbcu6tX
At that time, Hagrid asked Ricky to call Dumbledore.
He was worried that if Dumbledore came, he might notice the diary, so...
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGxJeEXKVC
Tom:
I endured the pain and got up while Ricky hadn't gone far. I used a spell to stun him from behind.
Hagrid was surprised and asked me what I was doing.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThtVYeGufO
I secretly healed your leg while crying. I blamed Ricky for attacking me and hitting the venomous bug on my face.
I said it was definitely a trap, and I couldn't break the rules again because Percy had already badmouthed me in front of my parents.
If Dumbledore found out about my nighttime adventures, I would surely be sent back home.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEIArAjnaV
After crying for a long time, Hagrid finally believed me.
He let me use the levitation charm to take Ricky back to the castle.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7kivgZ2gv
As soon as I returned to the castle, I modified Ricky's memory.
It became that he slapped you in a panic, and you punched him in the nose, feeling disgusted and angry.
Hagrid heard you two arguing and came over to scold both of you. You pleaded with him not to report it.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3sGDIeu5y
Hagrid sternly warned both of you not to repeat it, and this time, he let it go.
So, on the way back to the castle, you made up with each other again.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bLWU0A9G3
Ginny found it all too incredible.
Tom could control her body, attack others, and even modify someone else's memory?
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKUjTYzwwF
Wasn't this dark magic?
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6QgPhdxz3
But she didn't have time to dwell on this terrifying thought, she was almost late for her first class: Herbology.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt8pghUsbt
Ricky showed up, and when he saw her, he touched his nose, which had just been treated by Madam Pomfrey that morning.
Before Ginny could say anything, he apologized again, saying he shouldn't have brought such dangerous bugs and gone to such a dangerous place last night.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFEF0IjJv1
Ginny could only awkwardly indicate that it was nothing.
She touched her face, realizing that Tom had only healed her leg.
There was still a bump on her face, like a mosquito bite, but it still hurt when pressed.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacpOQcuk7O
During dinner, Hagrid proactively came to talk to Ginny, which scared her.
Hagrid said that if she had free time over the weekend, she should come to his hut to chat and not pay attention to those annoying little brats.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkubck8IyL
Ginny had no choice but to continue lying and said that she and Ricky had apologized and made amends.
She also mentioned that Eugene had contacted her and apologized with Dumbledore's help.
She genuinely thanked him for that, promised to be more careful in the future, and so on.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56yKgkmTpf
Hagrid didn't sense anything amiss and bid her farewell with kindness, cheering her on.
And so, for now, this incident was temporarily brushed aside.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBUtZIICBO
After such an eventful day, Ginny lay in bed, thinking before sleep,
"Even if Tom knew dark magic or was a product of dark magic, fortunately, he wasn't a bad person..."
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NK6hNs5px
-------------
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWP7ukGqype
Fifty years ago,
Tom was in the pitch-black, dripping underground tunnel filled with tiny animal bones, eerie and terrifying, cautiously moving forward.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJijGxpEl5
"Why did you come?" Basilisk spoke before he got close, and Tom could only see its shadow and tail.
It was in the process of shedding its skin, and Tom couldn't tell how long it had been, but its voice was filled with weariness and pain.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtM1Q3JJUj
"I came to apologize," Tom said with a sincere tone.
His voice had changed from a few years ago.
After going through puberty, it became deeper and more pleasant.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEtXwj8clt
"Hmph," Basilisk didn't take it.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3l1OvVM9n4
Tom said, "I understand now how difficult it is for you. Please allow me to help."
He extended his wand and tapped it on the old skin.
The old skin gradually dissolved, and Basilisk felt much better.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rIxGnmQQ7
"Have you found my master?" Basilisk asked.
"No, not at all. There are no leads," Tom replied.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5EKdr9jKD
Basilisk asked, "What about your parents? Why has no one from your family ever come to Hogwarts?"
Tom said, "I don't know them. I was abandoned at a Muggle orphanage."
He added, "So when I first started school, I was bullied by the pure-blood students, and I took it out on you. I'm sorry."
Basilisk patted its tail and said, "You, the half-breed, just go away."
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTjMDnBYQE
Tom didn't give up. "Perhaps the Slytherin family are just good at abandoning others. Don't you think?"
Basilisk insisted, "My master did not abandon me!"
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLVU4PAH8k
Tom said, "Whatever. I just came to tell you. I'll be graduating in two years, and I may not come back. Take care of yourself."
Tom didn't believe that it would want to spend the rest of its life to stay here alone forever.
And he is right, halfway through his walk, Basilisk said, "Wait."
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMgaEuhn6b
Tom stopped in his tracks, feeling the Basilisk slithering toward him.
He didn't turn around as the Basilisk's shadow gradually covered him.
"Promise me that you will fulfill my master's vision, and I will give you the Chamber of Secrets," Basilisk said, it keeps its purpose.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡum60j2gIm3
Tom calmly responds, "I'm a half-breed too. Are you trying to make me exclude myself as well?"
Basilisk said, "At the very least, I want the Mudbloods to be expelled."
Tom said, "How am I supposed to know who is a Mudblood?"
Basilisk said, "That's your problem."
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmmEMdnJhE
Tom said from a different perspective, "I came with good intentions to apologize to you, hoping that you could have a better life, but you treat me like this?"
Basilisk wasn't foolish either and replied, "You dirty half-breed, you're here only after the master's inheritance!"
Tom sighed inwardly.
He had indeed insulted it too harshly during their previous encounter...
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8DzRh141B
He vowed to himself that he would never reveal his true self again, no matter who it was, in any circumstance.
At the same time, he kept silently calling out in his mind, "Fawkes!"
But the Fawkes didn't appear.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUUB4BcpZo
Fawkes!
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNcgdwtviN
Basilisk continued to threaten, "What's wrong? If you don't agree, then die here."
Its wet tongue was touching the back of Tom's neck.
Tom shivered and thought to himself for the millionth time, "Curse Dumbledore! And his big, unreliable, stupid bird!"
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtp45JQuSdK
-----------
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkiRHLXD2s
"It forced me to make an Unbreakable Vow. I must kill it," Tom said fiercely to Dumbledore upon returning to the surface.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26v3pnti1K
Dumbledore carefully thought about it and found a flaw in the vow.
"So it doesn't even know who is a Mudblood or a half-blood. It all relies on your judgment?"
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5RBNqMUmZ
Tom also realized where the flaw was.
"The problem is, I don't really know that many Mudbloods. There aren't any in Slytherin... In the other houses, I can only recall three."
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLnGnLWH6X
Blood status is not something people often discuss openly.
It's easier to identify with new students, but when Tom was in his lower years, he was hardly social with anyone talking about these staff.
As he advanced to higher years, there's only fewer people would bring it up, especially in front of Slytherin students.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUOqj5G9HG
Dumbledore said, "So all we need to do is carefully plan three incidents and we can gain access to the Chamber of Secrets."
Tom hesitated and asked, "Three incidents? What kind of incidents?"
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sHqmAoI36
Dumbledore narrowed his eyes and said, "The Basilisk's eyes are too large; it's likely nearsighted, and it has lived underground for years..."
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZ9vdI4EpU
--------------
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eiureYctm
Therefore, in the Chamber of Secrets incident in 1943, all three victims were only petrified and then sent to the hospital out of Hogwarts for recovery.
Each victim happened to be alone at the time, appearing in secluded and wide areas, conveniently avoiding patrols.
During the incidents, there were always mirrors, reflective surfaces, or crystals nearby, and upon waking up, the victims vaguely mentioned seeing something yellowish and blackish in a flash.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K7kA7tPve
No one checked Tom's alibi because he was always on his prefect duty during each incident, paired with Dumbledore.
The teachers also never suspected Tom because they knew behind the scenes: he was the only student in the school who came from a Muggle orphanage, most likely the only Mudblood in Slytherin, right?
That's why Tom was the highest-risk student and needed careful protection instead.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tC0WkrRvS
As for his classmates, they have no reason to suspect him either.
Tom still had to take the N.E.W.T. exams this year, and all his peers were busy studying while awake.
No one wanted to be the unlucky prefect, risking their lives every day for patrols this year.
The pure-blood students even secretly rejoiced, as they finally got the chance to close the gap between them and the top scorer.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOin9Irfs4
Basilisk also rejoiced inside the plumbing, truly believing that it had killed three people.
It couldn't understand human speech, but it knew the scent and frequency of people's fear.
After centuries of silence, it had finally fulfilled its purpose as a basilisk!
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNyKlaJati
"Tom, oh Tom!"
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uf3FYx8pe
Basilisk, filled with joy, opened the final Chamber of Secrets — the Slytherin's study room for him.
"Now you can continue our master's research and achieve immortality with me!"
Tom smiled on the surface, but inside, he thought, "Finally, I'll be free! Tonight, once I lure it out again, Dumbledore and Newt have set up the final trap..."
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY68zR98lDv
However, unexpectedly, when they emerged from the Chamber that night, they heard a voice from a restroom.
Who could have been here after long bypassing the curfew...
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqSJih2JuB
When Tom turned back and saw Myrtle's lifeless body, he couldn't react at all.
Basilisk simply asked, "So, was she also a Mudblood?"
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsvRYsS0ke
Tom forced himself to remain calm and said, "I'll go check. You go back first."
The basilisk sensed something was off with Tom's emotions and asked, "Are you sure you'll come back for me?"
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0VbJPiHoO
This question once again invoked the "Unbreakable Vow."
Did Basilisk now suffer from separation anxiety?
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡao8suo6jQn
"Um," Tom, with an unsettled state of mind, made another vow lightly.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQbuOvoyAQ
----------------------
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHSVl3qf1d
"We must frame Rubeus Hagrid for this," Dumbledore said to him.
Tom's face turned pale. "But..."
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzc1fpQ1Dkb
Dumbledore continued, "Even if Hagrid graduates normally, he won't find a job in the wizarding world. Besides, he's already violated school rules and compromised the safety of the school by raising that creature."
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMg1FaMR1U
Tom shook his head. "No one would believe it. The giant spider doesn't have the power to petrify people, does it?"
Dumbledore said, "That's why you need to let the spider escape. We can't let people determine its true nature."
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8MIp0EReq
Tom furrowed his brow. "What? No one would believe that Hagrid is the heir of Slytherin. It's too far-fetched, isn't it?"
Dumbledore said, "No one is certain that the petrification incidents were caused by the heir of Slytherin. It's just that the three victims all happened to be of Muggle descent."
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqlXh0YGVH
Tom remained silent.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIFcevtg9i
Dumbledore reassured him, "Tom, we all know this was an accident. We could have saved the life of that basilisk, and Newt agreed to keep it a secret. This is the best course of action.
...Look, I will personally ensure that Hagrid finds employment for the rest of his life. You're doing a good thing."
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04NFB6ynHY
-------------
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYXxQEa13t
The adult world is complex.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGdxXSiSLQ
In 1943, due to Grindelwald, the Daily Prophet's headlines were filled with reports of people disappearing or dying every day.
Tom was certain that Dumbledore and Newt were busy with something of great importance, so they had no choice but to handle Myrtle and Hagrid this way.
Besides, it was already June, and Tom would soon be on summer break.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Z9aZ6mPqP
The Muggle world was no different from theirs.
Britain was experiencing the peak of World War II, and the entire country often went without food.
Orphanages were overflowing with children, and the young ones kept crying, crying incessantly.
The sound of air raid sirens echoed constantly, all the time...
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiT3PIIMeE
Tom couldn't muster the motivation to look for a summer job, let alone meet anyone from the wizarding world.
Sometimes, when Tom woke up from a dream, he even began to suspect that Dumbledore would kill to silence him, or that the ghost of Myrtle would suddenly recognize his voice or figure...
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZ9lmGCTYn
Both sides of the war were too extreme, regardless of which world it was.
Tom began to lose sight of what was just and what was evil.
If the truth about the Chamber of Secrets were to be revealed, his future would be ruined, along with Dumbledore and Newt. They might end up in Azkaban, allowing Grindelwald to win.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7388XJYDjE
Sometimes, for the sake of greater "good," every person involved in history must make some sacrifices... right?
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4De5Pm74Q
That summer, in pursuit of inner peace and the answers to life, he decided to put an end to something that also had been weighing on his heart for a long time.
He spent some of his savings and left London, heading to the village of Little Hangleton.
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLtpHbvlzK
757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4shhKm3N8E
and then Add to home screen.