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Chapter 321: The Heir to the Counterfeit
Chapter 321: The Heir to the Counterfeit
An eerie silence filled the room from the bed beside Harry's. Even Madam Pomfrey had dozed off. Carefully putting on his shoes and clothes, Kyle quietly left the hospital wing and ventured into the equally quiet castle.
However, it was only after he had made his way there that Kyle recalled Professor McGonagall mentioning that Dumbledore was not at the school that day.
Nevertheless, he encountered Professor McGonagall on the third floor.
She was furious to see him wandering about.
"You ought to be in the hospital wing instead of loitering here!" she exclaimed.
"Professor McGonagall, I know where the Chamber of Secrets is!" Kyle blurted out. "The entrance is in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, right beneath the tap that won't turn off."
"What?" Professor McGonagall stared at him, astonishment written all over her face, and then quickly regained her composure.
"Wait here and don't you move from this spot," she ordered.
With a swish of her wand, a translucent tortoiseshell cat appeared—her patronus.
She gave it instructions, and the cat nimbly leaped up the stairs and out of sight with a few flicks of its tail.
Kyle, however, did not obediently stay put.
In fact, as soon as Professor McGonagall summoned her patronus, he had slipped away through a hidden passage behind him.
Kyle knew the professors would never let him tag along to the Chamber, but he had to go, especially after that peculiar dream. Ever since he reached the third floor, the idea had been growing stronger and stronger in his mind.
Exiting from the other end of the secret passage, Kyle oriented himself and hurried to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
The "Exploding Snap" cards that had been strewn about earlier were now mysteriously gone, but Kyle paid no heed to this.
Using Parseltongue, he opened the entrance to the Chamber and said to the astonished Moaning Myrtle, "The professors will be here soon. Remember to tell them that this is indeed the entrance to the Chamber."
"Bu-but..." Moaning Myrtle seemed to say something, but Kyle didn't hear her.
He had already jumped into the pipe and was sliding downward.
A sticky feeling on his back made Kyle regret his decision.
Why hadn't he just used his broomstick? he thought to himself.
Soon, Kyle reached the ground and quickly made his way through the damp, gloomy tunnel until he arrived at the massive door leading to the Chamber.
Strangely, the buzzing in his head disappeared as soon as he reached this spot, and he felt like his usual self again.
Facing the entrance, he once more spoke in Parseltongue.
"Open!"
The stone door split down the middle and slowly slid open...
The Chamber looked much the same as it had before, but Kyle noticed something new—a black diary resting at the foot of the statue of Salazar Slytherin.
"I wasn't expecting you," a voice said softly.
Kyle wasn't too surprised and turned toward the source of the voice.
Leaning against the nearest pillar was a tall boy who appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen years old. He had black hair and thin lips, and he was remarkably handsome.
At first glance, he bore a resemblance to Cedric.
"Tom Riddle," Kyle stated.
"Indeed," Riddle acknowledged with a nod. "It's been a long time, my... good friend?"
He walked closer. "I've been wondering who would be the first to discover the location of the Chamber... Dumbledore? Harry Potter? But I never expected it to be you."
"Are you surprised?" Kyle asked.
"Not at all," Riddle said with interest. "You're just like me when I was your age—intelligent and meticulous... It's not surprising that you'd be able to find the Chamber's location."
"Don't flatter yourself," Kyle scoffed. "I'm in my third year, and I've already received two Special Awards for School Service and the Second Grade Order of Merlin.
You, on the other hand, only received one Special Award for School Service in your fifth year... Tsk, tsk.
He took two more steps forward, and a wand had appeared in his hand at some point.
It was Ron's wand.
"We are the same kind, Kyle. Those filthy Mudbloods are not worthy of sharing a classroom with you."
Riddle extended his hand. "Follow me. In the presence of the great Salazar Slytherin, I promise you that we can change the world and bring the wizarding world into a new, glorious era."
Kyle narrowed his eyes at the wand that was subtly pointed at him. "I only have one question: how did you get out?"
"To be honest, I don't know," Riddle said, a strange smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he continued to stare at Kyle. "I was still thinking of ways to gain your trust... But one day, I suddenly found myself free from that place where I couldn't feel any magic, and I encountered another person.
Although he was cowardly and weak, and even afraid to lift the dirty disguise, he was much more naive than you and readily bared his soul to me..."
"Look, with his help, I've become so much better."
"Who is it?" Kyle asked again.
"Consider him my future servant..." Riddle said nonchalantly. "Now, it's your turn to answer my question.
Although you deceived me, I don't mind as long as you follow me... I'll let bygones be bygones."
"Hmm..." Kyle stroked his chin. "Can I think about it?"
"Of course," Riddle said indifferently. "The entrance to the Chamber of Secrets that you left in the bathroom has been closed by me, and no one will disturb us for a while."
"Oh, that's really too..."
Without warning, Kyle suddenly raised his wand.
Rows of sharp stone spikes erupted from the ground, impaling Riddle.
But Riddle didn't seem to care.
"It's a pity. I thought you would agree," he said.
Kyle smiled. "If I said I just slipped, would you believe me?"
"What do you think!" Riddle snarled at Kyle, "Drill of the Heart!"
"Phantom Blade!"
A red and a white beam of light collided in midair, then changed direction and landed in different places.
The white light grazed the nearby pillar, leaving a deep gash.
Riddle stared at the pillar, astonished.
"This level of Dark magic, along with the Silent Spell earlier... You're the strongest young wizard I've ever met at this age.
I almost don't want to kill you."
Despite his words, the malicious grin on his face grew more pronounced.
"The game ends here. Let me show you my true power, the power of Salazar Slytherin!"
Riddle turned to face the statue of Slytherin and opened his mouth, emitting a hissing sound.
"Speak to me..."
"Speak to me..."
Two voices spoke as one.
The sudden change startled Riddle, causing him to turn his head.
But in that brief pause, Kyle had finished casting his spell.
"Speak to me, Slytherin... The greatest of the Hogwarts Four Founders!"
"You... You... That's impossible!"
For the first time, a look of fear appeared on Riddle's face. He spun around and shouted angrily, "Damn you, how do you know how to summon the Basilisk!"
"Because I am the true heir of Slytherin," Kyle said, flashing Lockhart's trademark smile. "You're just a counterfeit."
...
(End of Chapter)
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