Chapter 7 — The Dragon in the Shadows
The game had begun.
And for the first time since arriving at Hogwarts, I wasn't sure who was playing against whom.
Tom Riddle had a diary.
The Chamber of Secrets had been opened.
A basilisk was wandering through the castle.
Ginny Weasley was being manipulated.
And somehow...
my own bloodline was connected to all of it.
That last part bothered me more than anything else.
Because I could understand Tom Riddle.
I could understand the Chamber.
Even the basilisk made sense, in a strange way.
But the symbol that had appeared on my arm didn't.
The serpent.
The crown.
And the black dragon.
I had never seen that symbol in any family record.
Not in the Black family history.
Not in the White family records.
Not in the Rosier genealogies.
And yet the system had identified it as a bloodline.
That meant it wasn't simply a magical mark.
It was part of me.
And it was awakening.
Slowly.
But unmistakably.
I stood alone in the Slytherin common room, staring through the enormous windows.
The Black Lake was completely still.
Too still.
—System.
[Yes, host?]
—Tell me everything you know about the Black Dragon Bloodline.
Silence.
Then:
[Information insufficient.]
I sighed.
—Of course.
[However, some information can be inferred.]
I raised an eyebrow.
—Go on.
[The bloodline predates the establishment of Hogwarts.]
My expression changed.
—How old?
[Unknown.]
—Older than Salazar Slytherin?
[Probability: 91.4%.]
I stared at the lake.
—That's...
I couldn't even finish the sentence.
Older than Hogwarts.
Older than Slytherin.
And somehow connected to my family.
I clenched my fist.
—Can you tell me what it does?
[Partial information available.]
A new window appeared.
[Black Dragon Bloodline]
[Status: Dormant.]
[Awakening: 3%.]
[Known effects:]
[Enhanced magical affinity.]
[Increased resistance to magical corruption.]
[Improved physical adaptation.]
[Unknown latent abilities.]
I frowned.
—That's all?
[For now.]
—What happens when it reaches 10%?
[Unknown.]
—Twenty?
[Unknown.]
—One hundred?
There was a pause.
[The system recommends not attempting to force the awakening.]
I smiled.
—That sounds ominous.
[It is.]
I laughed quietly.
—At least you're honest.
I looked toward the lake again.
Then I felt it.
That sensation.
Someone was watching me.
I turned.
Nothing.
The common room was empty.
But the feeling remained.
I stood.
—Who's there?
Silence.
I drew my wand.
The shadows between the chairs seemed darker than they should have been.
I walked slowly toward them.
Nothing.
Then I heard a faint sound.
A whisper.
Not Parseltongue.
Something older.
Something I couldn't understand.
My blood reacted.
The symbol on my arm burned.
I immediately pulled back my sleeve.
The black dragon had become clearer.
Its eyes were glowing.
—What the hell...
The moment I touched it, the sensation disappeared.
The common room returned to normal.
I stood there for several seconds.
Then smiled.
—So that's how it's going to be.
---
The next morning, I found Hermione in the library.
She was surrounded by books.
Again.
I smiled.
—Do you ever sleep?
She looked up.
—Do you?
—Fair point.
She pushed a book toward me.
—I found something.
I sat down.
—About the diary?
—Yes.
I opened the book.
It was about magical artifacts.
Hermione pointed toward a paragraph.
—Read this.
I did.
"Some enchanted objects may develop a magical resonance with a specific individual. Such resonance can allow communication, influence, or even temporary possession."
I looked at her.
—That's exactly what the diary is doing.
—You think so?
—I'm certain.
She lowered her voice.
—Then we need to get it away from Ginny.
I nodded.
—Yes.
—Without exposing her.
—Exactly.
Hermione thought for a moment.
—Could we tell Professor McGonagall?
I shook my head.
—Not yet.
—Why?
—Because if we tell a professor, the Ministry will probably get involved.
—And?
—And Tom Riddle will disappear.
Hermione nodded slowly.
—You're right.
I leaned back.
—We need to catch him first.
She looked at me.
—You said "him."
I frowned.
—What?
—Tom.
—Yes.
—You talk about him as if he's still alive.
I remained silent.
Hermione noticed.
—Michael?
I looked toward the window.
—I'm not sure.
—What do you mean?
—When I spoke to him through the locket, he didn't feel like a simple memory.
Hermione's eyes widened.
—What did he feel like?
I thought about it.
—Alive.
She swallowed.
—That's impossible.
—I know.
—A memory can't think.
—Exactly.
We remained silent.
Then Hermione spoke.
—Unless...
I looked at her.
—Unless what?
She hesitated.
—Unless the diary isn't just storing a memory.
My eyes narrowed.
—You think it's something else.
She nodded.
—Something much worse.
---
That afternoon, I saw Ginny again.
She was walking alone.
The diary was in her hands.
I watched from a distance.
She seemed distracted.
Tired.
Almost sick.
Then the diary fell.
Ginny froze.
She looked around.
No one was nearby.
She picked it up.
Then whispered something.
I couldn't hear the words.
But I could see the diary move.
Its pages turned by themselves.
Ginny smiled.
Not her normal smile.
Something colder.
Something unnatural.
My expression hardened.
I followed her.
She entered an empty classroom.
I waited outside.
A few seconds later, I heard a voice.
—You promised me.
Ginny.
Then another voice.
A male voice.
Cold.
Calm.
—And I will keep my promise.
Tom.
My grip tightened around my wand.
I opened the door.
Ginny turned.
The diary slammed shut.
—Michael!
Her face was pale.
I looked at the diary.
Then at her.
—What were you doing?
—Nothing.
—Ginny.
She stepped back.
—I was just talking.
—To whom?
She didn't answer.
I walked closer.
—Ginny, give me the diary.
Her expression changed.
—No.
I stopped.
—Why?
—It's mine.
—It's dangerous.
—You don't understand!
Her voice cracked.
I softened my expression.
—Then explain it to me.
She shook her head.
—He understands me.
—Who?
She hugged the diary.
—Tom.
My eyes narrowed.
—What has he told you?
She began crying.
—He said he could make everything better.
I took a slow breath.
—Ginny...
—He listens to me.
—He's using you.
—No!
The diary opened.
Black smoke escaped.
Ginny screamed.
I reacted instantly.
—Protego!
The smoke hit the shield.
But this time...
it pushed back.
My feet slid across the floor.
—Interesting.
I increased my magical output.
The shield strengthened.
The black smoke recoiled.
The diary slammed shut.
Ginny collapsed.
I caught her before she hit the ground.
—Ginny!
She was unconscious.
I checked her pulse.
Normal.
I sighed.
Then I looked at the diary.
It was sitting on the floor.
Completely still.
I picked it up.
The moment my fingers touched it...
the world disappeared.
---
I was standing in a room.
A small room.
Old.
Dark.
There was a boy sitting at a desk.
Black hair.
Pale skin.
Cold eyes.
Tom Riddle.
He looked up.
—So you finally came.
I looked around.
—Where am I?
—Inside the diary.
I frowned.
—You're not a memory.
He smiled.
—Very good.
—You're a fragment.
His smile widened.
—Even better.
I stepped closer.
—A piece of your soul.
Tom's expression changed.
For the first time, he looked genuinely surprised.
—How did you know?
I didn't answer.
He laughed softly.
—Interesting.
I pointed my wand at him.
—How did you know about my bloodline?
Tom stood.
—Because I searched.
—For what?
—Power.
He walked toward me.
—Long before you were born, I searched for the oldest magical bloodlines.
—Why?
—Because power has roots.
He stopped in front of me.
—And your blood...
His eyes narrowed.
—Your blood is older than mine.
I remained silent.
—Salazar Slytherin discovered part of it.
Tom continued.
—He believed that blood could be cultivated.
—What does that mean?
—He wanted to awaken it.
My expression hardened.
—Why?
Tom smiled.
—Because he was afraid.
—Afraid of what?
The smile disappeared.
—The dragon.
I felt my blood freeze.
—What dragon?
Tom looked directly into my eyes.
—Not a creature.
He whispered:
—A legacy.
The room began shaking.
I heard a distant roar.
The black dragon symbol on my arm burned.
Tom stepped back.
—You don't even know what you are.
—Then tell me.
—No.
His smile returned.
—Discover it yourself.
I raised my wand.
—You aren't leaving this place.
Tom laughed.
—You can't destroy me here.
—Maybe.
I smiled.
—But I can destroy the diary.
His expression changed.
—You wouldn't.
—Try me.
The room began collapsing.
Tom stared at me.
—If you destroy this diary, you will lose the answers.
—Then I'll find them somewhere else.
I raised my wand.
But before I could cast the spell...
A roar shook the entire room.
The dragon symbol exploded with light.
The vision shattered.
---
I opened my eyes.
I was back in the classroom.
Hermione was kneeling beside me.
—Michael!
I sat up.
—How long?
—Only a few seconds.
I looked at the diary.
It was still in my hand.
Hermione stared at me.
—What happened?
I looked at her.
—It's not a memory.
—What?
—Tom.
I tightened my grip.
—He's a fragment of his soul.
Hermione went pale.
—A Horcrux.
I nodded.
—Exactly.
She looked toward Ginny.
—Then...
—The diary is controlling her.
Hermione immediately understood.
—We need to destroy it.
—Yes.
I looked at the diary.
But then I remembered Tom's words.
The dragon.
Not a creature.
A legacy.
My eyes narrowed.
There was more to my bloodline than I had imagined.
Much more.
---
We took Ginny to the hospital wing.
Madam Pomfrey examined her.
—She'll be fine.
Hermione sighed in relief.
I remained near the door.
Then Professor Dumbledore entered.
His eyes immediately found me.
Then Hermione.
Then Ginny.
Then...
the diary.
My hand tightened around it.
Dumbledore approached.
—Mr. Black White.
—Professor.
His eyes remained on the diary.
—What happened?
I studied him.
My mother's warning returned to my mind.
Do not trust the Headmaster.
—I found Ginny unconscious.
Dumbledore looked at Hermione.
—And the diary?
Hermione hesitated.
I answered.
—It was with her.
Dumbledore extended his hand.
—May I see it?
I didn't move.
His eyes met mine.
—Mr. Black White.
—Professor.
I smiled.
—Why?
Dumbledore's expression remained calm.
—Because I believe it may be connected to the Chamber.
—So do I.
—Then give it to me.
I looked at the diary.
Then back at him.
—Not yet.
For the first time...
Dumbledore's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
—Why?
—Because I want to understand it first.
He stared at me.
—Curiosity can be dangerous.
I smiled.
—I've heard that before.
Silence.
Then Dumbledore nodded.
—Very well.
He turned away.
But before leaving, he said:
—Be careful, Michael.
I watched him disappear.
Hermione approached.
—You didn't give it to him.
—No.
—Why?
I looked at her.
—Because my mother told me not to trust him.
Hermione's expression became serious.
—Do you think she was right?
I looked toward the door.
—I don't know.
I paused.
—But I'm starting to think she had a reason.
---
That night, Hermione and I met in an empty classroom.
The diary was on the desk.
—We need to destroy it —she said.
I nodded.
—Agreed.
—How?
I thought about the Chamber.
The basilisk.
Its venom.
Then I remembered something.
—Basilisk venom.
Hermione stared at me.
—That could destroy it?
—Probably.
—But we can't just ask the basilisk for venom.
—Why not?
She stared at me.
—Because it's a basilisk.
I smiled.
—Fair.
I picked up the diary.
—We'll have to find another way.
Hermione looked at me.
—What about the fangs?
I froze.
—The Chamber.
She nodded.
—Exactly.
I smiled.
—You're learning.
She rolled her eyes.
—I've always been smart.
—True.
She smiled.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
No Chamber.
No Tom Riddle.
No bloodlines.
Just two students talking.
Then the symbol on my arm burned.
I immediately looked down.
The black dragon had changed.
One of its eyes was glowing.
Hermione noticed.
—Michael...
—I know.
The system appeared.
[Bloodline awakening: 5%.]
I stared at the number.
—It increased.
Hermione looked confused.
—What does that mean?
—I don't know.
The room suddenly became colder.
The windows froze.
The candles went out.
Hermione raised her wand.
—Something is here.
I stood.
My wand appeared in my hand.
The shadows began moving.
Then...
a voice whispered.
Not Tom.
Not the basilisk.
Something else.
Something ancient.
"Blood of the Dragon..."
I froze.
Hermione looked at me.
—Did you hear that?
I nodded.
The voice continued.
"The heir has awakened."
A black mark appeared on the floor.
A dragon.
The same symbol on my arm.
Then it disappeared.
The temperature returned to normal.
The candles reignited.
Silence.
Hermione looked at me.
—What was that?
I stared at the floor.
—I don't know.
But I had a suspicion.
Whatever had been watching me in the Slytherin common room...
had finally decided to speak.
And it knew exactly what I was.
---
The next morning, I returned to the library alone.
I searched for dragons.
Not ordinary dragons.
Ancient magical bloodlines.
The search took hours.
Most books contained nothing useful.
Until I found a restricted book.
The Forgotten Bloodlines.
I opened it.
The first pages were filled with families.
Some had disappeared centuries ago.
Others were believed extinct.
Then I found it.
A black dragon symbol.
My heart stopped.
The page contained only a few lines.
"The Draconic Bloodline was not created. It was inherited."
I continued.
"Those who carry it possess the potential to command magic through blood rather than wand."
My eyes widened.
Another line.
"The Black Dragon branch was considered the most unstable."
Then the final sentence.
"Its last confirmed bearer disappeared before the founding of Hogwarts."
I closed the book.
Slowly.
—Before Hogwarts...
I looked at the symbol.
The bloodline wasn't merely old.
It was ancient.
And if the last bearer had disappeared...
how had it reached my family?
I turned the page.
There was one final note.
"The bearer will eventually return to the place where the blood was sealed."
My eyes narrowed.
—Sealed?
The system appeared.
[Hidden information discovered.]
[Bloodline Quest progress: 12%.]
[New objective unlocked.]
Find the place where the Black Dragon Bloodline was sealed.
I smiled.
—So that's where we're going.
I closed the book.
Then I heard footsteps.
I looked up.
No one.
But a shadow moved between the shelves.
I reached for my wand.
—Who's there?
Silence.
Then a familiar voice answered.
—You really should stop asking questions you don't want answered.
I froze.
Tom Riddle.
I looked toward the shelves.
—Show yourself.
A dark figure emerged.
Not completely physical.
A projection.
Tom smiled.
—You've been digging too deeply.
—And you're worried.
—No.
He smiled.
—I'm curious.
—About what?
His eyes moved toward the book in my hands.
—How far the dragon blood has awakened.
My expression hardened.
—You knew.
—Of course.
—How?
Tom's smile disappeared.
—Because I was looking for it long before you were born.
The projection began fading.
I stepped forward.
—Tom!
He looked back.
—When the dragon awakens completely...
His voice became quieter.
—Everyone will come for you.
Then he disappeared.
I stood alone.
The library was silent.
I looked down at the book.
Then at my hand.
The black dragon symbol was glowing.
I smiled.
—Then let them come.
Because I had spent my entire life wondering why I was different.
Why my magic felt different.
Why I had talents I couldn't explain.
Why my blood seemed to react to ancient magic.
Now I finally had a direction.
The Chamber was only the beginning.
Tom Riddle was only one enemy.
And whatever secret my family had hidden from me...
I was going to uncover it.
No matter how old it was.
No matter how dangerous it was.
No matter who tried to stop me.
Because if there was one thing I had learned since arriving at Hogwarts...
Secrets were powerful.
But knowledge...
was power too.
And I intended to have both.