When Gilderoy Lockhart saw the massive yellow eye reflected in the small puddle on the ground, his first reaction was confusion.
And then there was nothing.
Even if he had more thoughts, he could no longer express them.
He had already become a statue.
Walking up to him, Tom Riddle let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"I finally dealt with you, Lockhart, Professor."
He picked up his wand, preparing to move the three bodies out of the Chamber of Secrets, when a sharp cry suddenly echoed through the chamber.
Tom froze.
"Professor Dumbledore's phoenix."
He looked up, uncertainty flashing across his face, unsure if what he heard was real, but when the cry came again, he realized it was real.
Fawkes had arrived, and that meant Albus Dumbledore could appear at any moment.
Tom lowered his head and looked at the three figures before him, deep in thought.
The phoenix's arrival carried two meanings, a warning and a sign of restraint.
Dumbledore had not come in person, and that alone was his greatest concession.
But Tom had no doubt that if he harmed Lockhart, Harry Potter, or Hermione Granger, Dumbledore would appear instantly.
Tom slowly put away his wand.
He would not attack them.
"It seems I will be leaving today, leaving Hogwarts, and you are truly heartless, Professor, because after finding me, you will not even let me stay one more day."
Tilting his head slightly, Tom looked at the fiery red phoenix that had landed nearby.
The bird tilted its head back at him, as if confused.
Tom's expression twitched faintly.
He bent down and gave a respectful bow.
Even now, he still acknowledged Dumbledore.
He was still a student of Hogwarts.
That fact had not changed.
Tom straightened and walked toward the statue of Salazar Slytherin.
A low hissing sound escaped his lips.
Behind him, the Basilisk responded, sliding down from the statue and following him.
Tom held his wand as a white robe appeared over his body.
The robe bore two blood-red markings, giving him an imposing presence.
His demeanor changed completely.
He did not turn back, because he knew that if he met the Basilisk's gaze, the result would be fatal.
"I thought I would remain at Hogwarts a little longer before leaving, but I did not expect it to happen so soon, and there is also something else I did not expect, which is that I found a new purpose here, something worth giving everything for."
"How interesting."
He looked up at the statue, as if speaking across a thousand years.
"I will prove you wrong, because a new era will begin with me."
There was no audience.
No one would witness this moment.
Only the ancient statue stood as silent witness.
Tom raised his wand and cut his palm.
Blood dripped onto the ground, spreading along engraved patterns.
Magic-infused blood was only the first step of the ritual.
He had prepared this long ago.
At first, his plan had been simple.
Use a young wizard's body to resurrect himself.
Command the Basilisk.
Purge all Muggle-born students from Hogwarts.
But everything changed after entering the [Live Broadcast Q&A System].
The Soul Condensing Pill restored his soul.
The Cloak of Righteousness freed him from the influence of his Horcrux and the pull of Lord Voldemort.
For the first time, he began to think for himself.
He had once been the purest fragment separated from Tom Riddle.
Even though he had been influenced by darkness, that was no longer absolute.
Now, his mind was clear.
There were no whispers.
No violent impulses.
No intrusive thoughts.
It felt peaceful.
For the first time, he could exist as himself.
Not Tom Riddle.
Not Lord Voldemort.
But Tom Gaunt.
A completely independent existence.
And if anyone tried to take that away from him, he would fight with everything he had.
This was his only chance.
He would not give it up.
Because of that, he changed his ritual.
He understood something clearly.
Dumbledore might allow him to exist.
Might even accept him as an ally against Voldemort.
But there would be a price.
A price for what he had already done.
Releasing the Basilisk.
Endangering Hogwarts.
Fortunately, no one had died.
The victims had only been petrified.
Even Lockhart's fate could be called accidental.
But Dumbledore would still demand a price.
And there was only one thing that could serve as that price.
The Basilisk.
Tom looked down at the blood dripping from his palm.
"I am a little sorry, but Dumbledore wants you dead, and I need you dead too, so you have no choice."
The blood continued to flow into the ritual pattern.
At that moment, Tom suddenly felt lighter.
As if something within him had finally broken free.
...
📢 Author's Note
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