Regarding Gilderoy Lockhart's wish to "make all magical and non-magical people live in harmony," Tom Riddle in his true form expressed strong disdain, but then his tone shifted.
"However, when Lockhart told he would beco Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, the situation changed entirely."
At this mont, Riddle's smile rivaled that of Lockhart, who had once won five Most Charming Smile awards.
"I patiently began playing the role of a close friend, writing responses to fill his vanity with sweet words and satisfy his arrogance with false wisdom...
Finally, Lockhart began to trust gradually and brought my diary to Hogwarts.
However, he still maintained so wariness toward , unwilling to use the magic I taught him to show off, preferring to try things himself.
Originally, I was sowhat worried, but I didn't expect that even I had overestimated his abilities—re Cornish Pixies hardly deserved to be called trouble, yet he was completely helpless!"
Speaking of this, Riddle's face even showed a trace of disappointed resignation.
Sherlock and Hermione exchanged glances but said nothing.
"The final result, as you've seen, was entirely within my control.
With the foundation of that first class, he began relying on more and more in subsequent lessons.
I'm not boasting, Hols—I've always been able to employ different thods for different people, bewitching them at will.
So, this fool went from initial distrust to complete obedience, until... he opened his entire soul to .
And that was exactly what I needed."
Riddle spread his arms, savoring the sensation of power surging through him.
"The mont he opened his soul, I greedily absorbed it like a basilisk devouring prey—his fears, his secrets, his deepest desires.
I devoured his most hidden fears and deepest secrets, my appetite growing ever larger.
I gradually grew stronger, far stronger than this gentleman who only knew mory Charms.
Strong enough to reveal so of my secrets to Mr. Lockhart and begin opening a small part of my own soul to him.
Gradually, I transford from a re mory into an existence capable of controlling flesh and blood...
As you can see, Mr. Lockhart simply fell in love with ."
Sherlock frowned. He disliked this phrasing.
"Professor Lockhart's increasing confidence in later classes represented your growing control over him."
"Quite right, Hols," Tom looked at Sherlock with interest, "Now you should be able to guess the course of events?"
"Not 'guess'—deduce."
Sherlock looked at Riddle. "The sequence of events is obvious.
You controlled Lockhart to open the Chamber, had him kill the school's roosters, released Slytherin's basilisk to attack students, including a cat and a ghost.
What I don't understand is why you initially had Pansy write those words on the wall when you could have had Lockhart do it directly."
"Ah yes, that was indeed unexpected."
Riddle burst into laughter again, this ti cold and harsh, nothing like the sound a sixteen-year-old should make.
This made both Hermione and the invisible Harry's neck hairs stand on end.
After a mont, he stopped his cold laughter and spoke in a fierce tone.
"That filthy, lowly Mudblood—when he discovered my purpose, he actually tried to control in return, to use for himself!
He even promised to share that supre honor with in the future—to beco the hero who brought wizards and Muggles into harmony?
Simply... disgusting!"
"I think that's where Professor Lockhart is more noble than you."
Sherlock said coldly. "Because he wouldn't do such things personally, you found a way to control Pansy?"
"Hah, he indeed refused to do it initially, so I could only make others do it through him. That consud considerable power...
But no matter. From the mont he agreed to open the Chamber, his life was no longer his own.
Speaking of which, I should thank him for fulfilling my wish and letting enjoy the pleasure of being a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
Mr. Hols, this is also why I'm not unfamiliar with you all—after all, I was your teacher for an entire Year!
However, among all the students I taught this term, only you and Harry Potter deserve my respect."
"Thank you."
"Don't ntion it."
After thoroughly humiliating Lockhart, Riddle resud his elegant deanor.
"Mr. Lockhart told all about Harry Potter's thrilling adventures, filling with interest in this wizarding world Savior.
I tried to convince him to give the diary to Harry. If I could et Harry, I would certainly let this Savior witness my capture of that big oaf Hagrid, gaining his trust.
Unfortunately, this was the one thing Mr. Lockhart absolutely refused—such a pity!"
At this mont, Harry standing beside Sherlock was seething with rage.
He used all his strength to control himself, barely restraining the urge to rush forward and punch Riddle.
His clenched fists were gripping so tightly that his slightly sharp nails dug deep into his palms, bringing waves of piercing pain.
"Actually, I think you should thank the Ministry of Magic."
"Why do you say that, Mr. Hols?"
"If they hadn't been so eager to close the case and randomly found a culprit, your fra-up job was full of holes.
From any perspective, Rubeus Hagrid—a half-giant sorted into Gryffindor could never be Slytherin's heir."
"Hahahaha!" Riddle laughed again, "Sherlock Hols, no, Sherlock, you really are..."
He studied Sherlock with an appreciative gaze.
"Absolutely correct! But consider what was in front of Headmaster Armando Dippet.
Tom Riddle—poor but brilliant, orphaned but intelligent and brave, a prefect and model student.
Rubeus Hagrid, crude and clumsy, causing trouble weekly, keeping werewolf cubs under his bed, sneaking into the Forbidden Forest to wrestle trolls.
Anyone with a functioning brain wouldn't suspect , would they?
Though I admit, even I didn't expect the plan to execute so smoothly.
You know, it took five full years to figure out the Chamber's situation and discover that secret entrance.
Even setting aside Hagrid's background, that big fool could never have had the brains and ability to accomplish such a thing."
"That's exactly why I said you should thank the Ministry. Without them, your plan wouldn't have succeeded so smoothly."
"Yes, yes, I'll thank them properly when I get the chance, though Transfiguration teacher Dumbledore firmly believed Hagrid was innocent.
Not only that, he convinced Dippet to keep Hagrid and train him as gakeeper.
I must say, though Dumbledore personally brought to Hogwarts, he didn't like as much as other teachers did."
"I must say, these words of yours have improved my impression of Dumbledore sowhat."
Sherlock glanced imperceptibly in a certain direction, "Let's continue our conversation. Tell what you did afterward and why you remained in the diary."
"After Hagrid's expulsion, I knew it wouldn't be safe to open the Chamber again while at school."
"You do have so self-awareness."
"Thank you for the complint, Sherlock."
"Don't ntion it, Riddle."
Their exchange was the reverse of before.
This made Hermione frown. She felt sothing was wrong with the current situation.
Whether it was Sherlock or Tom Riddle, both seed rather too abnormal, didn't they?
Based on last years' experience, shouldn't they start fighting the mont they t?
But now...
One elegant and composed, the other calm and collected.
Judging solely by their attitudes, they seed more like old friends reuniting after years apart, without a trace of hostility.
Under Hermione's puzzled gaze, Riddle manipulated Lockhart's wand through a series of dazzlingly complex movents, continuing leisurely.
"I didn't want to waste all those years of effort searching for the Chamber, so I decided to leave behind a diary, preserving my sixteen-year-old self within those pages.
This way, soday I could rely on fortune to guide another person along my path, completing Salazar Slytherin's noble work."
"Later, your real self-gave the diary containing your sixteen-year-old mories to Lucius Malfoy at so point," Sherlock sighed, "Your luck was good—you just escaped the opening term inspection."
"I heard about this from Mr. Lockhart too."
Riddle glanced at Lockhart again, saying sowhat contemptuously, "But even if they had searched him, I don't think this diary I created could have been detected."
"You certainly have confidence in yourself."
"Naturally, for I am the greatest wizard in history!"
"Is that why you abandoned the na Tom Riddle?"
"What else? Do you think I should use my filthy Muggle father's na forever?
You should know that Salazar Slytherin's own blood flows through my veins, passed down through his descendant daughter!
That disgusting ordinary Muggle abandoned before I was even born, just because he discovered his wife was a witch!
No, Sherlock, I created a new na for myself.
Because I knew that soday, when I beca the world's greatest wizard, wizards everywhere would dare not speak this na lightly.
From the current perspective, I succeeded!"
"No, you didn't."
Sherlock said bluntly. "The two people standing before you can easily say that na—Voldemort."
To echo Sherlock, Hermione quickly added. "Voldemort."
After saying this, she deliberately traced two light scratches in Sherlock's palm with her finger.
Noticing Hermione's small gesture, Sherlock turned to look at her.
Hermione: ヾ(≧O≦)〜
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