Chapter 18
(Time skip to a week later)
Harry was sitting in the library after hours holding the diary that Ginny had been writing in for the past few months. He knew he had to be careful with it and not write in it often, after all he didn’t want to turn into something like Ginny. Who was looking better since he stole the book from her, it was slow but after a week any trace of dark magic was gone. He was slightly annoyed that she has managed to find her way back, and was not attacked by a rabid animal, but at least he learned that he obliviated her correctly.
Harry didn’t know what the diary did that made you slowly waste away, but he knew it did something. Opening the book Harry reluctantly wrote, ‘Hello.’ To test it out.
It took a second for it to respond but it had written back, ‘Hello.’
Harry’s eyes widened before writing back, ‘who are you?’
‘Tom Marvolo Riddle. Who are you?’ It had written back faster than before.
Harry pondered if he should tell his name to the artifact, but he quickly decided against it. ‘I am Raynor Manchester, nice to meet you.’
‘Indeed. Tell me things about yourself.’ The book wrote slowly.
Harry’s eyes widened, but he quickly wrote down, ‘No. I want to know something.”
The book seemed to have paused before writing, ‘what?’
‘Do you know anything about the chamber of secrets?’ Harry wrote down asking, he knew it was unlikely for him to know anything, but it seems worth a shot. A few days ago, he had a detention with Mr. Filch and was told to clean the trophy room. That’s when he saw the name Tom Riddle for winning the extra achievement award.
‘Yes.’ The diary wrote simply.
Scowling at the vague answer he wrote, ‘Tell me about it.’
‘No, but I can show you.’ It written back.
Harry was tempted to agree but opted against it. He quickly wrote, ‘No. I know everything but the location. Where is it?’
‘No.’ It wrote as it abruptly shut itself. Growling at the diary Harry took it and threw it at the wall in a fit of rage. Suddenly he heard a noise as he quickly put his invisibility cloak on and ran to the Slytherin dorms, forgetting the diary completely. When he entered the dorms, he mentally cursed himself for being so stupid and Gryffindor like. Taking a quick shower, he then quickly got dressed in pajamas and slithered in his bed.
---
Ginny Weasley had woken up from another restless sleep, ever since she’d got in contact with the diary, she felt weird. But she passed it off as being homesick, after all Tom wouldn’t want to hurt her. He was so kind and comforting she even told him about her secret crush on Harry Potter and he was understanding! So, you could imagine her heartbreak when she left it in the library, and some idiot took it without any thought.
‘Yes, Ginny I can understand how you like him, he sounds very interesting from what you’ve told me. Perhaps you should tell him how you feel?’ Ginny thought of the words Tom told her two weeks week when she confided in him. And much to her surprise Harry did seem to take a liking to her, he was just as kind and charming as she had imagined. He was also the one to go to her!
Shaking herself out of her thoughts she got up and decided she could ask a house elf for some hot cocoa to help her sleep, getting up he quietly started making way to the kitchen. That was until she heard a loud bang behind her. She quickly turned around and ran, she couldn’t have anyone getting hurt! She stopped at the library where the noise seemed to have occurred just to see a figure but a blanket on and turn invisible. She could hear the loud running but was too shocked to do anything, after a few minutes she walked to see what happened.
Turning towards the wall she saw it. The Diary. The urge to grab it surged in her, she knew she shouldn’t, but the urge was too great. Forgetting the want for Hot cocoa she, creeped over to the book and grabbed it, then hurried away to the Gryffindor dorms.
--
Harry awoke in a bad mood as he remembered last night's events. Getting up he quickly got ready, and after ten minutes he finally managed to tame his hair. Going to the Great Hall he sat down with his friends, his thoughts whirling with possibilities, he needed to find a book about basilisks. Turning over to his friends he noticed Neville looked sad compared to everyone else.
“Neville what’s wrong?” Harry asks in fake worry.
Neville looked up at him and said, “Hermione’s been petrified. I-I know you don’t like her, but she nice to me.”
An odd feeling of anger and betrayal shot up in him, Neville was HIS not that brat Granger. Keeping a cool face he said, “I’m sorry about that, Neville. Any reason why she was attacked?”
Neville nodded sadly, “She was looking for the chamber of secrets, I told her not to go and she went anyway.”
Harry perked up slightly, actual interest forming. “Really? Where was she found petrified?” Harry asked, forgetting to sound sorry, instead it sounded more of amusement and excitement. He ignored the odd looks he received from his friends, although Luna seemed smug if anything.
Neville choked out a sob before exclaiming, “In the girls bathroom, the one with Moaning Myrtle.”
“Why does she think the chamber is in the girl’s bathroom?” Harry asks, attempting to sound more worried.
“Apparently, she had been talking to Myrtle or something, I really don’t know too much. She and Ron refused to tell me much more than that.” Neville explained sheepishly.
“Anyway, it doesn’t matter, I’m sorry that happened.” Harry said inwardly grinning. That’s a lead.
Luna giggled as she exclaimed rather loudly, “That implies you can feel empathy Harry! Most people get Nargles when their sad, you don’t!”
Everyone stiffened slightly, and the table got slightly quieter. Anger fired in him, but he did his best to not make it present. Forcing a laugh Harry said, “Now Luna come on, we both know that’s not true! I care for all of you.”
Luna didn’t look convinced but nodded anyway, conversation soon went as normal. They had a good time of that time talking about Yule holidays. Harry was scheduled to spend the holidays with the Malfoys like last time. And in all honesty, he is quite excited to see Quirrell in person again. They would be leaving in two weeks if everything goes to plan.
---
“My Lord, you don’t have to listen to me, but I highly recommend it. When Potter comes here, he’ll be curious where Quirrell is, he isn’t dumb. He’ll pick up the pieces.” Lucius informed him.
Voldemort half-sneered at Lucius when he explained that he shouldn’t send letters to Potter for the time being. He already knew that, but he was delaying it. “I am aware, I was already planning to do so.” He said swiftly before returning to his room. Luckily it wasn’t that bad since he had been busy anyway, he has ordered at least three death eaters that haven’t been imprisoned enter the ministry. Its best to have insiders anyway.
Grabbing a piece of parchment he wrote,
‘Dear Mr. Potter,
I fear I won’t be able to write to you any longer. The Dark Lord had ordered me to go to a location I am unable to tell you to recruit more death eaters. I shall be too busy to write to you.
Have a lovely school year and life,
Quirrell.”
Quickly sending the letter away he called his second truest death eater, Severus Snape. He knew the man was in the middle of class, but he didn’t care, the old fool would probably cover for him. After all it isn’t widespread that he is alive, but to be honest he is quite surprised.
---
Severus was in the middle of class with some first year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws when his arm suddenly burnt. Inwardly cursing he left the room and ran straight to Albus’s office, luckily the man was in it.
“Severus my boy what’s wrong?” Albus asked worriedly before sitting him down.
Severus sneered at the man; he wasn’t weak he is fully capable of sitting himself down. It was one of the many reasons he’s a spy for the order, or at least was one till that brat killed him. Getting back up he growled, “No, there isn’t enough time. The Dark Lord calls for me, watch over the students till I’m back.”
Albus only gave a nodded before running to the students, Severus quickly apparated to the Dark Lord. “My Lord?” He asked as he quickly bowed down to his Lord.
The older man gave a cold, dark chuckled that managed to make him shiver, before saying, “Tell me Severus, has the order done anything yet? If so, what is he planning?”
“Yes Sir, for some reason Albus has not called the order yet. Although he informed me is planning one soon, he does not quite have enough information yet.” Severus responded as he got up from the kneeling position, he was in.
“Good, good. Oh, and Severus I have one order that I expect you to accomplish to the best of your ability.” The Dark Lord said ominously.
Severus stiffened slightly, anything the Dark Lord requests is always proven to be hard and complicated. It was worth it though, and Severus admits he loves the adrenaline. Nodding he responded with, “Yes my Lord?”
“Potter.” Lord Voldemort said distantly, a tone he’s never heard of. If he was stiff now, he may be a statue, he may hate the boy every day, but he does not want him dead. Although something in his Lord’s tone was almost endearing?
“I- What do you want me to do?” He asked.
The man gave a dark cruel smile and stated, “You will watch him and give me updates, also be nice to him as well. Befriend him, even if you hate him for his blood traitor father.”
Severus eyes widened. It was rare for his emotions to play out on his face, not only a Slytherin and one of the best Occlumens in the world. “My Lord if I may ask what interest do you have with Potter? The boy is an arrogant, idiotic, brat! He could have no use fo-“
Before Severus could continue his rant, he heard a quick “Crucio!” and his body was filled with unbelievable pain. He luckily managed to suppress a scream, no matter how many times the torture method might be inflicted on him he will never get used to it. His felt as if it was on fire while being stabbed over and over, his eyes felt like needles where being jammed into his eyes. All the while he could barely breath as it felt like black tar was filling his lungs. He felt the need to move but if he did the knives would jab deeper into him, the needles would press harder in his eyes, and the tar destroys his lungs worse than before.
After five whole minutes the feeling stopped, towering over him is an irate Dark Lord. He shouldn’t have done that; it was stupid and Gryffindor like. He shouldn’t have remembered he is talking to the Dark Lord and not a handsome twenty-five-year-old, because underneath that beauty is the same seventy snake-faced monster. The man sneered, “Are you questioning my reliability? Potter is none of those things and you’d see it if you paid attention! Pathetic. Go to the potions room and fix yourself up.” And at those words the man left, and he was dismissed.
Perhaps he could be a little more observant, although he will never stop hating the boy. For now, he just needs to discover why his Lord has a clear obsession with Potter.