Author's Note: Don't forget to vote, comment and leave a 5 star review to help the story grow and reach more people.
Read upto +30 Chapters worth of content ahead and receive extra updates daily by going to my Patreon and becoming a fellow Patreon.
By reaching 50 paid Patreons, I will make writing my full time job, guaranteeing more consistent updates and more extra chapters daily.
Patreon: mrfanfiction140
Be sure to read my other Novels as well:
- Naruto: Multiverse Adventures
- One Piece: Multiverse Shop.
----
Before they could even reach the Headmaster's office, news of "Hufflepuff William being attacked and petrified by the heir" reached their ears.
In the corridor, a group of students were gathered, discussing excitedly:
"Did you hear? It's terrifying! William from Hufflepuff, that top student, was attacked by the heir last night! He was petrified instantly!"
"What are you talking about? Isn't he walking right there?" Another student pointed at the approaching quartet of William and the others, looking skeptical.
The student who had spoken first looked in the direction of the finger, immediately dumbfounded, and rubbed his eyes vigorously.
"Bloody hell! I clearly heard a Gryffindor upperclassman say this morning that he was found as hard as a statue, and even Professor McGonagall was alerted! This… what's going on?"
Equally feeling like she'd seen a ghost was Professor McGonagall; wasn't William petrified?
She brought the four of them to her office.
After listening to the explanation given by Lynn, a look of immense appreciation appeared on Professor McGonagall's face. "Remaining calm in the face of danger, using what you've learned to save a classmate—this shows extraordinary talent and the true Hufflepuff spirit. For this, fifty points to Hufflepuff House!"
Professor McGonagall didn't say a single word about Lynn's nighttime wandering.
Immediately after, Professor McGonagall looked at William, her tone grave: "Now, child, please tell me everything you encountered last night, exactly as it happened. What on earth attacked you?"
William described his encounter as concisely as possible; he didn't exaggerate, but every word made Professor McGonagall's lips purse tighter.
"This is no small matter, William," Professor McGonagall's voice was even more strained than usual. "It involves a Hogwarts professor… I must report this to Headmaster Dumbledore immediately."
Professor McGonagall didn't even wait for a response before turning to leave the office and heading toward the Headmaster's office, her pace so fast she was almost running…
Meanwhile, in the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's office, Gilderoy Lockhart was prattling away at the diary spread out on his desk.
(My dear Tom, you'll never guess what I heard today! Those poor fellows petrified by the heir of Slytherin have actually been cured!
I heard it was a younger brat who fixed it using a potion he brewed himself!
Merlin's beard, if only I had done it—paired with a few brilliant photos of medical magic, I'd have material for my next book! "Lockhart and the Secret of Unpetrification"… doesn't that sound wonderful? Sadly, it wasn't me…)
Lockhart rambled on, expecting a complimentary response to surface on the diary.
But this time, the page remained blank.
(Tom?)
Lockhart leaned in closer, puzzled, and poked the paper gently with his quill.
(Why aren't you speaking? Don't you find this news shocking too?)
The diary remained silent.
However, in the next second, something happened that left Lockhart dumbstruck.
The diary actually began to flip its pages on its own in front of him, so fast it created a breeze, the corners of the pages making a rapid rustling sound as they rubbed together.
"Whoa!" Lockhart cried out in fright, springing up from his chair and backing away repeatedly, nearly knocking over the bookshelf behind him.
"T-Tom? What's wrong? Is… is this some new type of magical communication?" His voice cracked with panic.
"Stop it! You'll wrinkle the pages! Dear, are you alright?"
It was evident that, in a sense, Lockhart had truly invested sincere emotion into this "pen pal who was the only one who could understand his talent."
Under Lockhart's terrified and confused gaze, a black hole dissolved into the center of the flipping diary.
Immediately after, a thick black mist surged out, quickly condensing and stretching, outlining the blurry silhouette of a young wizard, slowly "emerging" from the pages.
"Tom! You really came out? This is amazing! How did you—"
"Ah—!!!"
The "Tom" composed of the not-yet-solidified black mist raised a hand, and a bolt of pitch-black fog shot out, slamming hard into Lockhart's chest.
Lockhart felt a force instantly pierce through his body, as if even his soul were being gripped and pulled; his life force drained away rapidly like a flood breaking through a dam.
The expression on Lockhart's face turned completely to one of extreme agony, and then his eyes rolled back. He collapsed limply to the ground like a puppet with its skeleton removed, his face ashen, his breathing so faint it was barely detectable.
The black mist condensed completely, transforming into the sixteen-year-old form of Tom Riddle.
He cast a cold glance at the unconscious Lockhart on the floor, his face devoid of any warmth, showing only loathing.
"Hmph, fool! If not for your identity and this bit of petty noise being able to temporarily draw some attention…"
With those words, the young Lord Voldemort didn't give Lockhart a second look.
His form dispersed once more, turning into an even thicker and swifter black smoke.
This black smoke swept up the now somewhat dimmed diary from the floor and, with a whoosh, slipped out through a gap in the office window, vanishing without a trace once again.
Shortly after the diary left, the closed door of Lockhart's office was slammed open.
Dumbledore stood at the doorway with Professor McGonagall right behind him, her face solemn; Professor Flitwick and Professor Snape also appeared on either side of the door.
On the floor, Lockhart lay slumped, his face ashen, his breathing so weak that the rise and fall of his chest was almost invisible.
"Severus." Dumbledore's voice was steady.
Snape walked quickly to Lockhart's side.
He knelt down, quickly checking Lockhart's pulse and pupils, and moved the tip of his wand slowly over his body, sensing something.
"His life force has been forcibly drained in massive amounts, almost to the point of exhaustion; he is in a deep coma. No obvious external injuries, but there are traces of the Dark Arts—a very… greedy kind."
As he spoke, he showed unmasked disdain for Lockhart.
Nevertheless, he efficiently pulled a crystal vial from his robes, containing a clear potion.
He pinched Lockhart's jaw open and roughly poured the entire bottle of Awakening Potion down his throat.
The potion took effect quickly.
Lockhart began to cough and choke, his eyelids trembling violently before snapping open.
His eyes were unfocused, and he instinctively cried out: "Tom! Don't… don't leave! Uh… Tom… who is that?"
Lockhart's vision finally focused, taking in the several serious faces surrounding him.
Lockhart's voice caught, and he tried to squeeze out a smile.
"H-Headmaster? Professor McGonagall? Professor Snape? Professor Flitwick?… Did I… just have a… well… quite intense nightmare?"
He tried to sit up, but found his body as soft as noodles and his head spinning, so he could only barely prop up his upper body with his elbows.
Looking around and seeing his office was "normal" while the diary had vanished, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, though his guilt and fear could not be entirely hidden.
Dumbledore stepped forward a few paces, looking down at him.
"A disturbing 'nightmare' indeed, Gilderoy."
Dumbledore didn't give him a chance to continue making things up; he turned to Professor McGonagall, his tone gentle but brooking no argument:
"Minerva, please contact the Ministry of Magic immediately, specifically the Auror Office. I believe some things require an explanation."
"Now, Mr. Lockhart, before the Ministry officials arrive and thoroughly investigate the crimes you have committed, I'm afraid you'll need to come with us to assist with the investigation.
For the safety of Hogwarts—and for your own… well, 'safety'."
Lockhart's final forced smile froze on his face.