To Unlock Bonus Chapters:
Reach 50/100/200/400 Power Stones! 3 Extra Chapters!
Reach 800 Power Stones to activate NP!
Resets Weekly! [Monday]
—————————————————————————————————————————
When surrounded by two Heads of Houses and the Headmaster, Ginny finally broke down in tears.
"The diary... the diary!" Ginny sobbed, barely managing to choke out the words.
The young girl was clearly too terrified to speak properly, confronted by these three imposing figures in the dimly lit dungeon.
"Now, now, child, there's no need to be frightened." Dumbledore smiled kindly, gently patting her head with his weathered hand. "If only we were in my office - I would offer you some lemon drops and honey tea."
Behind him, Snape shot him a withering glare and irritably flicked his wand.
A large drawer sprung open, revealing its contents of confiscated items - crumpled papers, ink bottles, sweets, and various other contraband from students.
With another wave of his wand, a packet of biscuits soared towards Ginny.
Dumbledore's eyebrows rose in surprise, earning a sharp retort from Snape:
"Don't give me that look - they were all confiscated from Gryffindors in Potions class."
Ginny clutched the packet, equally surprised, her mouth hanging open as her tears dried on her cheeks.
She had spent half the summer listening to Ron and Harry's complaints about Professor Snape, which had colored her opinion of him before they'd even met. This impression had only strengthened after experiencing his classes herself.
Yet as she munched on the biscuit, she found herself wondering if perhaps this perpetually scowling, sharp-tongued professor wasn't quite as cold-hearted as he seemed.
—A thought that lasted precisely until she transformed into a canary with a startled squawk.
Professor McGonagall rushed forward to examine Ginny's condition, quickly waving her wand to restore her to normal.
"Blast those Weasleys!" Snape snarled through clenched teeth, his face thunderous. He snatched up the packet, noting the telltale canary design - the very items he'd confiscated from the Weasley twins during Potions.
His mind raced to Crabbe and Goyle's reports of being transformed into canaries by Jane Yu, and the whispered rumors in Slytherin about Jane's frequent meetings with the Gryffindor Weasleys.
How had those troublemaking twins gotten to Jane?
Considering their persistent nature and penchant for mischief, warning bells clanged in his mind.
They must have corrupted Jane, leading this model student astray!
Absolute menaces to the school, causing nothing but trouble!
Seething with anger, Snape glared at Ginny: "Miss Weasley would do well to advise her twin brothers to cease their harassment of Miss Yu from Slytherin."
"Though they'll likely never understand the concept of gentlemanly behavior, preferring instead to be insufferably persistent—"
Snape's caustic tirade was finally cut short by Dumbledore's forceful coughing, as Ginny looked about ready to faint.
Fred and George... harassing... Jane Yu from Slytherin?
Mom would kill them!
She thought despairingly.
"Perhaps we should return to the matter at hand, Severus, Miss Weasley," Dumbledore said with difficulty, attempting to change the subject.
The interruption had given Ginny time to collect herself, and she was finally able to stammer out the story of the diary.
"I found it inside one of my books—"
"I wrote in it all year long, and he kept writing back to me..."
"I started losing memories... my robes were covered in feathers... On Halloween Eve, I couldn't remember what I'd done, but my chest was covered in paint... After every attack, I couldn't remember where I'd been."
"I was terrified... so I threw the diary away in an abandoned bathroom. I thought that would be the end of it—"
Dumbledore produced the diary and laid it before her.
"Child, do you know who was corresponding with you?"
Ginny stared at the corroded remains of the diary with horror, trembling slightly:
"He said... his name was Tom Marvolo Riddle, sixteen years old, a former Hogwarts student."
At these words, Dumbledore's expression changed dramatically.
Snape also seemed to realize something, his hand shaking on his wand.
"So that's what happened..." Dumbledore said softly. "Child, I need to examine your condition."
He began casting spell after spell, his expression growing increasingly grave.
"I'm afraid I must notify your parents immediately. Your soul has been severely weakened."
"If the diary hadn't been destroyed, you might not have survived this long."
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley quickly arrived through the Floo network. They immediately embraced Ginny, asking anxiously:
"Headmaster, our daughter... what's happened to her?"
Upon learning about the diary, they were stunned speechless.
"Ginny!" Mr. Weasley covered his face with his hands. "Such a suspicious object - it was clearly Dark magic! Haven't I taught you? Never trust anything that can think for itself— Will our child be alright?"
Learning that Ginny had much of her life force drained away, the couple was beside themselves with worry.
However, they were relieved when Dumbledore assured them that she would recover with some soul-stabilizing potions and rest.
"But... this person... I've never heard of him," Mrs. Weasley said puzzled. "Someone capable of creating such a Dark object must have been a well-known wizard."
"Indeed, he was very well-known," Dumbledore sighed. "One might say he was the most brilliant student Hogwarts has ever seen."
He waved his wand, and the name [TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE] appeared in the air.
Then the letters rearranged themselves: [I AM LORD VOLDEMORT]
Everyone in the room gasped, feeling as though they'd been doused with ice water.
Ginny let out a terrified scream, looking as though she might faint:
"I've been... chatting with You-Know-Who... for an entire year?!"
She clutched her head and crouched down, seemingly unable to accept this reality:
"I didn't know... but he was... so charming. Understanding and sympathetic..." Her pale face flushed with embarrassment. "No one had ever understood me like that... I told him everything... my secrets... Harry's..."
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley exchanged glances, quickly understanding the meaning behind their daughter's expression.
"During his school days, he was clever, handsome, polite, and Head Boy... Very few knew his name from those times," Dumbledore shook his head, seemingly lost in distant memories. "He was skilled at manipulation, using power and feigned understanding to make himself appear charismatic... Every student and professor adored him."
Looking at Ginny crouching on the floor, he seemed to want to offer some encouragement:
"Child, you've been very brave. Coming forward with the truth has helped us greatly in understanding what happened."
Ginny bit her lip shyly and mumbled:
"No, it's not like that. It's because of Harry... I know he wouldn't coerce Jane... He must have been deceived by You-Know-Who too..."
Dumbledore was taken aback, but he quickly recovered.
Ah, youth - still capable of experiencing such enchanting emotions.
"No, I wasn't deceived!"
A sudden shout from the doorway made everyone turn.
Snape opened the door to find Harry standing there.