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Chapter 260: Making a Friend
Chapter 260: Making a Friend
Tom Riddle indeed had a talent for reading people and masking his true self.
Upon learning that the owner of the diary was an academically gifted young wizard, he quickly crafted the persona of a "genius overachiever" to expedite his growing friendship with Kyle.
Perhaps it wasn't exactly a persona... After all, he was genuinely an academic star.
And so, whenever Kyle asked him questions, he always responded swiftly. Kyle even learned numerous handy tricks from him.
For instance, in Transfiguration class, when dealing with smaller insects, waving the wand in a circular motion improved precision far more effectively than simply poking at them.
"I just tried it, and your method works wonders!" Kyle scrawled in the diary.
"I always thought wrist movements would affect the outcome of the transformation."
[Actually, once you're skilled enough, wrist movements can be quite helpful.]
[I learned that from a professional magazine called 'Transfiguration Today'.]
"I'll be sure to check it out... Can I buy it in Diagon Alley?" Kyle inquired.
[You don't need to buy it. The school library has it, located on the bottom shelf of the fifteenth bookshelf from the right corridor.]
"I'll go take a look after school starts."
[But they may have moved it by now. You could ask the librarian first.]
[After all, I was created back in 1943, so it's been quite a while...]
Kyle paused for a moment as he read the words appearing on the diary, his quill hovering over the page before he continued writing nonchalantly, "Wow, it's been fifty years... I thought you were only a few years older than me!"
[You're not wrong about that.]
[I am but a fifteen-year-old memory, frozen in time. Time holds no meaning for me, so no matter how many years pass, I remain forever fifteen.]
"Then you must have been lonely," Kyle wrote.
[Not at all. Because I've found a friend in you.]
Soon, another line of text appeared in the diary, the handwriting much messier than before, as if Riddle had written it in a rush of excitement.
[Would you like to be friends with me?]
"Of course!" Kyle wrote without hesitation. "I've always wanted a friend like you—smart, kind, and passionate about learning."
[I'm truly delighted.]
Kyle spent the entire morning conversing with Riddle in this manner, his writing speed increasing as his handwriting grew more casual and relaxed.
During their exchange, Kyle not only asked questions about spells but also expressed his regret that they couldn't be classmates.
Riddle, meanwhile, probed for more information about Kyle while answering his queries.
Gradually, from the subtle clues Kyle unwittingly revealed, Riddle formed a rough impression of the owner of the diary.
He's a bit clever, but not nearly as gifted as me. His good grades are mostly due to rote memorization, and his knowledge is limited to what he's read in books.
He also has very few friends, only two to be precise. One is fond of Wizard's Chess, while the other is obsessed with Quidditch—both mediocre individuals I wouldn't even spare a glance.
And I can tell... all of this is true; he's not lying to me. How exhilarating!
This is like prey delivered right to my door, a gift if you will.
Dealing with someone like him will be child's play.
...
By the afternoon, when Riddle could no longer contain himself and started subtly bringing up the situation outside, Kyle decided it was time to end the conversation.
"Someone's coming..."
He hastily scribbled those words, then closed the diary and casually tossed it into the nearby box.
Kyle stood up and stretched his wrists.
Just as he had suspected, the diary-bound Riddle did indeed possess the ability to Legilimens.
While writing earlier, he had suddenly felt a vague sense of being watched, though it was fleeting and might have gone unnoticed if he hadn't been on guard against Riddle.
Moreover, Riddle wasn't as composed as he had imagined.
Kyle had expected him to maintain his act for a while longer before revealing his true intentions, but it had only been a single morning, and Riddle was already inquiring about the outside world.
How youthful and impetuous.
Who is the most powerful wizard now... Is Dumbledore the headmaster of Hogwarts... These questions were obviously aimed at learning about his future.
If Dumbledore was still alive, it would undoubtedly prove that he had failed in the future, and failed spectacularly.
On the other hand, if he had succeeded, then the most powerful wizard could only be Lord Voldemort... though that was impossible.
From the moment the diary was opened by a young wizard, Riddle should have guessed that Voldemort had "died," otherwise, how could such an important Horcrux have fallen into someone else's hands?
So, his ultimate goal was probably to uncover the reason for his downfall.
However, just as he was getting started, Kyle had cut him off and provided no opportunity to continue.
Kyle walked to the window and stroked the feathers on Fawkes's neck. Hmm, Riddle seemed a little easier to handle than he had anticipated.
The first step of his disguise was a success, and now he just needed to take it one step at a time. He believed he could still find out a lot of things Riddle wanted to know.
At the very least, the information about "Voldemort's demise in the Valley of Riddle" was extremely valuable.
There was no such thing as a free lunch; a fair exchange of information was what he sought.
"Kyle!"
"Look here!"
At that moment, Fred and George's voices rang out from outside the window.
Kyle looked down and saw the twins waving at him while carrying their brooms. Harry, Ron, and Ginny were with them as well.
It seemed they were preparing to play Quidditch on the hill behind the castle.
"Do you want to come with us?" Fred shouted.
Kyle hesitated for a moment before grabbing his Nimbus 2000 and leaving the room.
"We were just talking about you this morning," Fred said as they met. "Why have you been busier than Percy lately?"
"It's nothing," Kyle replied casually. "I just found something interesting the other day, so I spent some extra time reading it."
The others didn't mind.
"Are you done reading it now?" George asked.
"Yeah, pretty much," Kyle answered.
After this initial exchange, he could take things slowly. After all, he had plenty of time and was in no rush.
If Riddle wanted to know why he had failed, then he could ponder that for a while.
Kyle intended to leave him hanging for a few days; he wouldn't be touching that diary again anytime soon.
...
(End of Chapter)
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