Chapter 326: The Return
Chapter 326: The Return
A pair of snake eyes appeared on the armor at the end of the corridor, and Professor Bubaghi was petrified before she could take two steps.
"Sleep well..."
Kyle, who had rushed over, successfully sent the Basilisk back into the Chamber of Secrets using the "shutdown password" that Slytherin had once mentioned.
However, he was now faced with a dilemma. Professor Bubaghi was discovered at night, but it was broad daylight now, and this corridor was a necessary passage to the fourth floor. If left unattended, it would surely be discovered by someone.
Kyle had no choice but to move her to an empty classroom next door and then hurriedly left the scene.
When night fell, he went to the kitchen, claiming he wanted to practice magic there, and asked the house-elves for help in cleaning.
They happily agreed.
...
After that, there were the December ghosts and the February dwarf, both of which passed smoothly without any unexpected incidents.
Kyle gradually got used to this life of not having to attend classes, reading books, or practicing nonverbal spells every day.
He even tried wandless magic...
To be honest, it was much easier than he had imagined. All he needed was sufficient control over his magic to make it work. The spells were usable, but their effects were mediocre, or even poor.
It was like the difference between sawing wood and chopping wood with bare hands; everything felt off.
Without the assistance of a wand, it took him two months to finally transform a beetle into a complete button... If he had to describe it, it would be similar to Ron's skill level.
During this time, there was also a bit of trouble when the Gryffindor trio frequently visited the Room of Requirement.
Fortunately, Hogwarts Castle was vast, and Kyle could always find other places to read. After all, reading could be done anywhere.
...
He waited until Hagrid was taken away by the Ministry of Magic officials.
After that, whether he was reading or practicing spells, Kyle found it hard to concentrate.
The fifth attack was imminent... Both the petrified Ron and the impending end of the time loop made Kyle feel a nameless tension.
In this state, he almost got discovered.
On the fifth day after Hagrid was taken away, Kyle absentmindedly pushed open the door to the Room of Requirement, intending to go to the Chamber of Secrets.
He had forgotten to use the Disillusionment Charm and also encountered Hermione, who had just come up the stairs.
"Kyle?"
Hermione looked at him in surprise, her eyes full of confusion. "You... Aren't you still eating in the Great Hall? How did you get here!"
"Oh, I just remembered that I left my Intermediate Transfiguration book in the Room of Requirement."
Kyle tried to remain as calm as possible, "But I came through the secret passage, so you didn't see me."
"There are secret passages in Hogwarts?" Hermione was even more surprised.
"Of course." Kyle nodded, "It's on the second floor, behind the Sphinx tapestry. From there, you can go straight to the eighth floor, which is much faster than taking the stairs."
"Oh, I've never heard of this before." Hermione realized, without any suspicion.
...
After this incident, Kyle became much more cautious. Every time he left the Room of Requirement, he would first check if the Disillusionment Charm was still working.
Time passed by.
On the day Ron was attacked, Kyle took a risk and found Fred and George, borrowing the Marauder's Map from them.
"If you're looking for the heir, you shouldn't get your hopes up too high."
Fred said, "We've been watching the Marauder's Map every night, and there's been no discovery."
"I'd say that guy must be scared." George shrugged.
Kyle took the Marauder's Map, "It's fine. I've been a bit bored these days, so I'll just use it to pass the time."
"Suit yourself." Fred didn't mind.
After obtaining the Marauder's Map, Kyle immediately went to the Chamber of Secrets.
Riddle had become strong enough, and his attack on Ron was clearly aimed at his wand. Therefore, he might follow along.
If that was the case, it would be difficult to take further action.
Kyle thought for a long time and decided to take a risk by controlling the Basilisk himself.
Through previous observations, Kyle discovered that Riddle didn't have much control over the Basilisk, often leaving it to roam freely. This provided a significant opportunity for manipulation.
Kyle could control the Basilisk to petrify Ron in advance and make it seem like the Basilisk's own action... As long as Riddle obtained Ron's wand in the end.
As for the time...
Professor McGonagall mentioned in the Hospital Wing that Ron was attacked after parting ways with Lockhart.
Kyle opened the Marauder's Map and found Lockhart's name in the Great Hall.
Ten minutes later, after the students finished their meal, Lockhart led a group out of the Hall, including Ron.
Kyle anxiously stared at the map.
After passing through several corridors, Lockhart's name stopped near the Gryffindor Common Room and then started to retrace his steps.
Harry and Ron quickly moved downstairs, separating on the third floor. Harry headed towards the corridor where Filch was attacked, while Ron seemed to be going towards the location where the two ghosts were attacked.
This must be it, Kyle thought as he turned and summoned the Basilisk.
But just as he was about to leave the Chamber of Secrets, the map showed a new change.
Ron, who had been moving quickly, suddenly stopped after turning a corner.
Scabbers' name also appeared, casually walking into an adjacent classroom.
A few minutes later, Harry arrived, hesitated beside Ron for a while, and then quickly ran towards the third floor.
Then the professors came, and seven or eight names surrounded Ron, leading him towards the Hospital Wing.
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This...
Kyle looked at the Basilisk beside him and couldn't help but think of a possibility.
Ron was probably hit by a regular Petrification Charm.
Thinking carefully, considering Ron's personality, why would he need a Basilisk to steal his wand? That rat could change its tricks every day and steal it eight times, and Ron still wouldn't notice.
Soon, as the professors gathered in the Hospital Wing, Scabbers also came out.
Kyle, who had just realized what was happening, was about to ask the Basilisk to return to the statue when a familiar feeling of dizziness quickly overwhelmed him.
Everything around him started to accelerate, and blurry colors and shapes flashed by...
Vaguely, Kyle seemed to hear Professor McGonagall's voice and a faint, ethereal music.
"Stupefy!"
The blue light of the Stunning Spell flashed before his eyes.
Kyle saw the Basilisk; its head, like a large hammer, smashed harshly against the pillar beside it.
A deep red bird descended from above and landed on Kyle's shoulder, covering his eyes with its wings.
"Professor McGonagall... Fox..."
Kyle's heart filled with joy... He was back, returned to the original timeline! But then, as if remembering something, he shouted:
"Close your eyes!"
Although the Basilisk had just resisted Professor McGonagall's Stunning Spell and was still a bit dazed, it obediently closed its eyes upon hearing Kyle's voice.
Professor McGonagall stopped in her tracks, covering her mouth in disbelief: "Kyle, you..."
"No, Miller, not Kyle."
Dumbledore stepped forward from behind, his expression more serious than ever as he looked at the black mist that had coalesced.
"Tom Riddle!"
"Long time no see." Riddle turned around and smiled, "My dear Professor Dumbledore... Ah!"
Before he could finish his sentence, it turned into a scream that almost pierced the eardrums.
Riddle's body twisted and struggled, his arms flailing, and his mouth emitting painful cries. Then...
He disappeared, as if he had set off a poorly made firework.
"Sorry, Professor Dumbledore."
Kyle pulled the diary from the Basilisk's fangs, "I guess you wouldn't want to talk to him, so I took the initiative and closed his mouth for you."
"I must say thank you," Dumbledore said softly, his expression somewhat complex.
"Who can tell us what happened here?" Professor McGonagall stepped forward, glancing at the massive Basilisk and clutching her chest, breathing heavily.
Harry squeezed through the crowd... He also wanted to know.
"He's probably the most outstanding student in Hogwarts history!"
Dumbledore spoke up, "Few know that Voldemort was once named Tom Riddle. Fifty years ago, I personally taught him at Hogwarts. After graduation, he disappeared, wandered the world, and sank deeper into the quagmire of Dark Arts, eventually resurfacing as Voldemort."
"But..." Professor McGonagall asked, "Why did he appear here?"
"It's a Horcrux, Professor."
Kyle held up the diary, now soaked in ink, "This is what Voldemort left behind during his school days, containing his sixteen-year-old soul."
(End of Chapter)
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