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Chapter 626: The Mysterious Tom Riddle
Chapter 626: The Mysterious Tom Riddle
Despite Ron's insistence that the diary Harry had found was just an ordinary discarded item, Harry felt that the old diary, once belonging to Tom Riddle, might hold some secrets.
The timing and manner of its appearance seemed suspicious, and the fact that it was exactly fifty years old made it hard not to associate the diary with the Chamber of Secrets incident from half a century ago.
The next day, during their lunch break, Harry, Ron, and Hermione went to the Trophy Room on the fourth floor of the castle.
Hermione found Tom Riddle's gold medal, polished to a shine, in a display cabinet in the corner of the room.
Speaking of which, Ron deserved some credit for the spotless condition of the trophies and medals here.
Harry couldn't find any detailed information on why Tom Riddle had been awarded the gold medal.
In fact, none of the Special Service Awards in the Trophy Room provided explanations, and very few students had ever received such an award.
"Maybe Riddle, like Albert, once saved a student and was recognized by the school." Ron was quite reluctant to visit the Trophy Room. After being confined by Filch the last time, he had grown tired of the trophies and medals on display.
What he didn't know was that the information he had was actually a cover story Albert had used to brush off the Weasley twins, and when Fred and George repeated this story, other students naturally believed it as well.
"The person who opened the Chamber of Secrets the last time was expelled from school fifty years ago." Hermione maintained her viewpoint. "Tom Riddle also received the Special Award for Services to the School fifty years ago. Don't you think it's quite a coincidence that Tom's diary suddenly appeared?"
"Who was it that opened the Chamber the last time?" Harry felt this was important. Perhaps it was a descendant of that person who had done it this time.
"I don't know, but I don't think it matters." Hermione shook her head. "Otherwise, Professor Dumbledore would have kept an eye on them and caught the culprit by now."
Before leaving the Trophy Room, the trio did make a small discovery. They found Tom Riddle's name on an old badge for Outstanding Character and on a list of past Boy Prefects.
"Tom Riddle seems like a replica of Percy," Ron said, feeling a surge of disgust. "Top of the class in every subject, becoming a prefect and Boy Prefect, and graduating from school with the highest honors."
"That's not a bad thing, is it?" Hermione frowned, not appreciating Ron's comment. After all, that was also what she aspired to, and who wouldn't want to graduate with excellent grades?
"You can ask Albert," Ron said, ignoring the topic. "You know, he has a lot of old wizard friends. Maybe one of them is called Tom."
Harry stopped Hermione from saying anything further, knowing that their last visit to clean trophies had hurt Ron.
And since Ron obviously didn't want to be there, the three of them left soon after.
"Maybe we can get some useful information from the professors," Harry suggested.
"No, Harry," Hermione said, pointing out the flaw in his plan. "I think apart from Professor Dumbledore, no other professor was teaching at the school fifty years ago. Of course, Mr. Binns might know, but it's best not to count on him to answer your questions."
"I don't think Mr. Binns even remembers a student from fifty years ago," Ron agreed with Hermione. He hadn't forgotten how their ghost teacher sometimes got names wrong. "Actually, I still think we should find Albert. He knows a lot of older wizards, and he's good at divination. If we really want to find out about Tom Riddle, I can't think of anyone better suited than him. Plus, I remember he's also investigating the Chamber of Secrets. Maybe we can tell Albert that Tom Riddle knows who opened Salazar Slytherin's Chamber fifty years ago."
Even Harry thought Ron was going a bit far with his suggestion. If divination really worked, Albert would have likely found the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets by now.
As for asking other wizards about Tom, that was even more far-fetched. It would be better to go to Dumbledore or... they could try asking the school's ghosts.
"We can try asking Nearly Headless Nick for information. Maybe Nick knows who was expelled back then." Harry immediately shared his idea with his two best friends. As the three of them hurried off in search of Nearly Headless Nick, they encountered Albert in the corridor near the library on the fifth floor.
Hermione stopped and watched Albert's back for a moment before chasing after him and calling out to him as he was about to enter the library.
Albert looked at Hermione, puzzled, and asked, "Yes?"
Under the curious gaze of Isabel, Hermione told Albert in detail about Harry finding Tom Riddle's diary and asked him about Tom Riddle.
Albert was pleased that things were progressing according to his plan, but he didn't let his expression change too much.
"This does sound suspicious," Albert agreed with Hermione and promised to help investigate Tom Riddle when he had the time.
Hermione expressed her thanks and then quickly turned and left.
"She seems to trust you a lot," Isabel remarked.
"That's because I've always been reliable," Albert said, his smile fading as he spoke seriously. "She knows I'm investigating the Chamber of Secrets, and she knows I'll be interested in this. That's why she came to me, hoping I can unravel the mystery."
"It's obvious that Miss Granger likes you and admires you," Isabel said with a half-smile as she looked at Albert. "A girl like that, if you show her that you like her, she'll definitely be willing to be your girlfriend."
"Ahem!"
Albert knew Isabel was teasing him, so he quickly coughed to signal her to stop, lest anyone overhear and misunderstand.
Gossip could indeed be awe-inspiring! "Actually, I don't agree with you going on this adventure," Isabel said in a lowered voice once they were inside the library. "I always felt that the Chamber of Secrets business is not that simple. You should focus on protecting yourself for now and wait for Professor Dumbledore to catch the culprit and eliminate the monster in the Chamber."
"I'll protect myself," Albert assured her.
"I just want to remind you that you're not alone anymore," Isabel said, looking into Albert's eyes. "Don't act on every impulse. Think about the consequences before you do anything."
Of course, Albert understood what Isabel meant, and he sighed inwardly. Was this the price of growing up?
"You know I treasure my life," he said, and then fell silent, not wanting to jinx himself.
(End of Chapter)
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