Chapter 284: The Diary
Chapter 284: The Diary
After a long pause following Vold's words, Dumbledore finally spoke, "Do you wish to have it destroyed as well?"
"I believe that's a decision for you to make," Vold said. "This Horcrux is quite special... I've been hesitant about how to deal with it."
Dumbledore fell silent for a moment before saying, "Then, let me see it."
"Of course, I wouldn't carry something so important with me," Vold explained. "To prevent accidents, I left it at the school."
"In the dormitory?" Dumbledore frowned slightly. "That's not a safe choice. The Horcrux might tempt students or house-elves to help it escape."
"No, it's in the Room of Requirement, on the eighth floor of the castle," Vold clarified. "Do you remember? That's where I found Ravenclaw's Diadem, which Voldemort also turned into a Horcrux."
The last time Vold had been this open with Dumbledore was in this cave, on a small boat heading towards the center of the Black Lake.
Vold mentioned finding the Diadem in the Room of Requirement, but at that time, with another Horcrux of Voldemort so close by, Dumbledore didn't inquire further.
Vold believed that Dumbledore couldn't have forgotten about this, but after that, the Headmaster didn't pursue the matter.
Previously, Vold felt that this mutual respect and distance made him feel more at ease and trusting. There was no need to repeatedly bring up the Horcruxes that had already been dealt with.
But at this moment, he felt... perhaps Dumbledore wasn't unwilling to use more extreme measures, but rather, he possessed an unimaginable level of self-control and patience beyond that of a normal person.
"Ah... that's a clever idea."
Dumbledore closed his eyes, as if freeing himself from some emotion.
He said amiably, "If it's in the Room of Requirement, then indeed, no one but you could easily find it... perhaps it's the safest place in the world..."
He thought of Voldemort's job application at the school, how the Diadem Horcrux had been hidden in Hogwarts for decades, and also recalled the time he had accidentally discovered the Room of Requirement.
"Voldemort realized this quickly, but I never thought of it... I was always proud of my knowledge about the school... Ralf was right, I was too arrogant..."
—Ralf?
Vold felt the name was familiar, as if someone had mentioned it to him.
After a moment of recollection, he remembered.
—Myk mentioned him.
He said that Ralf was the oldest house-elf in the school, even much older than Dumbledore.
House-elves could live up to 200 years, and in ancient wizarding families, a house-elf would often serve multiple generations, holding many of the family's secrets.
Vold waited for a moment, allowing Dumbledore to finish his self-reflection, before asking, "Then, shall we go back to the school? I'll retrieve the Horcrux and give it to you."
Dumbledore didn't object.
He held Vold's arm, and the Phoenix Fox landed on Dumbledore's shoulder.
With a flash of fire, they appeared on the eighth floor of the castle.
The portrait of Barnabas the Fool was nearby, still being poked in the head by giant trolls wearing ballet skirts, looking rather silly.
Vold walked up and down the corridor three times, and a familiar door appeared on the wall. He turned to Dumbledore and said, "Professor, please wait a moment."
"Alright," Dumbledore patiently waited.
Voldemort opened the door and entered, closing it behind him before letting out a long sigh.
He untied the pouch from his waist and tossed it to the ground, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into the shape of a suitcase.
Voldemort opened the case and found the magic-proof box, and inside lay the black notebook, silent and still.
This was Tom Riddle's diary.
The Horcrux... had been with Voldemort all along.
Even during classes, the pouch was with him in the form of a backpack, and when he transformed into a peregrine falcon, he held the pouch in his claws.
Although the diary had remained quiet, and Voldemort had locked it in the shielded box, he would never allow this cursed thing to be near his parents in the same house.
And leaving it at school, risking someone finding and taking it away? That was even more impossible.
The reason he had said that earlier was actually because of the atmosphere in the cave... or perhaps Dumbledore's suppressed emotions... which made Voldemort feel uneasy.
But now, back in the familiar environment of the school, not only did Voldemort relax, but he also clearly sensed that Dumbledore quickly returned to the elder he knew.
Thinking of the cold hand that had just grabbed him, Voldemort couldn't help but sigh softly.
Ariana—the death of Dumbledore's sister—even after a hundred years, it was still a hurdle that Dumbledore couldn't get over.
Voldemort snapped the case shut with a 'clack' and transformed it back into a pouch, stuffing it into his pocket. Then, holding the box, he left the Room of Requirement.
"Professor, this is the Horcrux I mentioned, and it's the last one I could find," said Voldemort.
Dumbledore hesitated for a moment before taking the box and opening it to see the diary inside, causing him to pause slightly.
"This is Tom Riddle's diary."
Voldemort explained, "At the beginning of my second year, I saw Lucius Malfoy take advantage of the chaos to stuff it into Ginny Weasley's cauldron, so I took the opportunity to get my hands on it."
"This is a sentient diary, and it even tried to communicate with me. But I've kept it locked in the box and never taken it out."
Voldemort didn't explain why he did this.
Since Dumbledore understood him to be a wizard with precognitive abilities, wouldn't it be reasonable to foresee the danger of Voldemort's diary?
Dumbledore took the diary and stared intently at the tattered black cover, opening to the first page, which read 'Tom Marvolo Riddle.'
In the headmaster's hands, the diary seemed obedient and ordinary, as if there wasn't a trace of strange magic on it.
But Dumbledore looked as if he had seen something of interest, his gaze scanning the blank paper.
After a while, he closed the diary.
"Thank you, Voldemort," Dumbledore said softly, looking down: "This diary may be the first Horcrux that Voldemort created... I think it will tell us a lot of useful things..."
"As long as it helps you," Voldemort said. "I just hope that after you're done researching it, you won't destroy it with that Incendio spell. You can use a Basilisk Fang to give it a 'whole body' destruction. This diary may have other uses..."
He lowered his voice and whispered a few words.
Dumbledore showed a look of surprise, then smiled.
(End of Chapter)
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