Chapter 582: Patience is a Virtue
Chapter 582: Patience is a Virtue
Tom Riddle was inexplicably irritated.
The last time, he had manipulated the Basilisk through Ginny Weasley and attacked a Mudblood at night, even successfully tricking Dumbledore and McGonagall.
But on his way to Borgin and Burkes, he was ambushed from behind.
What irritated Tom Riddle even more was that he had no idea who had attacked him.
His assailant was clearly prepared and had seized the perfect opportunity, leaving Tom with no time to react before he was struck by an unknown force.
Ever since Ginny Weasley had poured her energy into the diary and gradually opened up to him, Tom's power had grown stronger. It had become strong enough for him to control Ginny, but he never expected that at the height of his triumph, he would be slapped down so harshly.
After that incident, no one had written in the diary again.
Tom Riddle was completely cut off from the outside world and could no longer sense or influence his surroundings.
After an unknown period of time, someone finally wrote in the diary again.
Tom Riddle didn't know if this person was the same one who had ambushed him before, but what was worse was that this person had done some strange things to his diary before attempting to communicate with him.
Then, they tried to establish contact.
"I am Gilderoy Lockhart, Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts, a Third-Class Knight of Merlyn, and an Honorary Member of the Anti-Dark Arts League."
After reading this, Tom Riddle immediately realized that this person was most likely the one who had attacked him before.
Although Ginny Weasley had mentioned that the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was incompetent, it was clear that this person was deliberately hiding their identity.
Tom Riddle couldn't sense Lockhart's presence near the diary, indicating that he was keeping his distance and remained cautious.
Despite his frustration, Tom believed that he could handle this person. As long as they continued to communicate through the diary, he would be able to manipulate them.
Without waiting for Tom's response, the other party continued writing in the diary:
"Just now, I tested this diary with a Revelator, and it is indeed a Dark object."
Tom Riddle understood human nature well, and he knew that the other party was eager to communicate with him. So, he patiently played along, teasing them with his silence.
"I'm curious. What kind of Dark object is this? Perhaps..."
Although the sentence was left unfinished, Tom Riddle could sense a veiled threat in the other party's words.
However, Tom Riddle didn't care. The person had made a foolish mistake by attempting to study the diary and communicate with him.
Tom Riddle understood the psychology of these self-righteous individuals, and after giving them a moment to squirm, he finally responded:
"Hello, Gilderoy Lockhart. I am Tom Riddle. How did you come across my diary?"
Tom Riddle wanted to take control of the conversation. Only by doing so could he guide the direction of their exchange and lure them...
However, Tom Riddle never expected that he was dealing with an extraordinary opponent.
As Albert gazed into the mirror and saw the rapidly appearing and disappearing words on the diary, he immediately realized that Tom Riddle was testing him and trying to control the topic of their conversation. Without hesitation, he took control of the quill and wrote in the diary:
"Tom Riddle, I know who you are.
Fifty years ago, you received a Special Service Award, and your medal is still on display in Hogwarts.
Can you tell me what you are now?"
To be honest, Tom was stunned at this moment. He never expected Gilderoy Lockhart's train of thought to jump so quickly.
Or perhaps, the other party had always intended to ask questions and had no intention of answering his.
Should he just ignore this person?
Tom Riddle kept telling himself that he needed to be patient. Gilderoy Lockhart was, after all, skilled in dealing with Dark Wizards, and it was normal for him to be cautious about the diary.
After all, from the beginning, Lockhart had believed the diary to be a Dark object, and he should have tried to ease his suspicions and make him less guarded.
"Me? I am Tom Riddle, and this is just a diary. Back then, I tried to record my past in a more permanent way than ink, and you can think of it as a recollection of memories."
Tom Riddle carefully chose his words in response to Gilderoy Lockhart's question, or rather, Albert's question.
"You're lying. This diary is a Dark object, and I just tested it with a Revelator."
The other party's response was quick, but it left Tom Riddle feeling a bit queasy. (Oh right, he didn't have a stomach anymore.) At this moment, Tom was even more convinced that this was the person who had ambushed him.
So, he must have realized that the diary could control Ginny Weasley in some special way, and by communicating with him, he wanted to figure out that secret.
However, since the other party was pretending not to know and was reaching out to him, Tom Riddle saw an opportunity.
"There are always some people who don't want their past to be known, so I used this diary to record those secrets."
No matter what the other party thought, Tom Riddle intended to continue his charade until they revealed their true colors.
"About the Chamber of Secrets?"
Before Tom Riddle could respond, the other party continued writing:
"So, you received the Special Service Award because you captured the heir of Slytherin?
And when you say 'unwilling for the past to be known,' do you mean the identity of the heir of Slytherin, the location of the Chamber, how to open it, and what kind of monster is inside?"
Tom Riddle felt uncomfortable. He felt like Gilderoy Lockhart was leading him by the nose, but he suppressed his inner agitation and patiently replied:
"You guessed it right. When I was in my fifth year, the Chamber of Secrets was opened, and the monster attacked several students, even killing one.
In the end, I caught the person who opened the Chamber, and they were expelled. But the monster is still alive, and the one who has the power to release it is still at large.
The Special Service Award was Professor Dippet's way of silencing me, and he warned me not to speak about it. So, I recorded this truth in my diary."
"You're referring to Hagrid when you say you caught the person who opened the Chamber, right? He told me himself that you accused him of being the culprit."
Tom Riddle fell silent. He had realized that he had been played by the other party from the very beginning. This was definitely the work of the person who had ambushed him.
Not cursing them out loud was already a display of Tom Riddle's good manners.
Well! If it weren't for his inability to leave the diary, the young Voldemort would have drawn his wand and cast the Avada Kedavra curse on that damn Gilderoy Lockhart.
(End of Chapter)
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