Chapter 149: Diary
When you go through something intense with someone, it naturally builds a kind of bond—and slaying a twelve-foot-tall mountain troll certainly counts as intense.
Following the troll incident, even Draco Malfoy began to greet Ron Weasley in passing. This sudden friendliness left the Weasley twins too shocked to tease Ron as usual, and even Percy was so distracted he left his prefect badge in the Great Hall.
The strangest development, however, was that Ron received a concerned letter from his father, Arthur Weasley. It was filled with worry—not about the troll, but whether the "evil Malfoy boy" had used a love potion on Ron. Arthur even asked Ron to check if he'd been acting strangely or had experienced memory lapses.
But it wasn't just the Weasleys reacting.
The most dramatic entrance came on Saturday—when Lucius Malfoy himself arrived at Hogwarts.
After thoroughly confirming that his son Draco was, in his words, "still normal," Lucius launched into a furious complaint, demanding that Professor Quirrell be dismissed from the school.
Unbeknownst to him, Voldemort, hidden in Quirrell's body, was seething in fury. Had Dumbledore agreed to Lucius' demand, the Dark Lord's plan might have been undone. But Dumbledore refused, coolly rejecting Lucius' suggestion, and so Voldemort's wrath would have to wait.
According to Draco, Lucius had initially been livid over his son's budding "friendship" with Ron Weasley. But when Harry Potter's name was brought up, Lucius' mood changed entirely. The ever-opportunistic patriarch stopped scolding and began pressing for details about Harry instead.
Whatever Harry liked, Lucius declared, he would buy it.
---
At breakfast in the Great Hall that Monday, Alexander Smith sat quietly, watching this shift from the sidelines.
Harry and Ron were baffled by Malfoy's behavior, but Alexander wasn't. From his perspective, everything Lucius Malfoy did made perfect sense.
The Harry Potter of this timeline was not the same mediocre boy from the original one.
Originally, Harry had entered Hogwarts with a lot of fame but little else. He was, at best, a talented Seeker. Certainly not enough to catch the interest of Lucius Malfoy.
But now, Harry had shown real power—first stunning a professor, and now taking down a troll in one strike. Even Lucius, who once suspected that Dumbledore was exaggerating Harry's abilities for political gain, could no longer deny it. His own son had witnessed it.
A direct hit to a troll's skull—a creature known for its massive magic resistance. If that same spell hit an adult wizard, the result would be equally fatal.
Usually, you had to use external tools or clever manipulation to defeat a troll. Offensive spells barely affected their thick hide. But Harry's blast had gone through.
Lucius, ever the schemer, understood what this meant.
Rather than confront Dumbledore about Harry, Lucius made his move through a subtler route—Quirrell.
But that raised a troubling question for Alexander.
"If Lucius is already making moves like this, what about the diary—the Horcrux?"
"In second year, the diary was originally smuggled in through Ginny Weasley," Alexander mused. "But if Lucius is already cooperating with Dumbledore, maybe it won't enter the school at all."
---
That thought didn't last long.
Later that day, after classes ended, Alexander felt a familiar magical pulse—one that couldn't be mistaken.
Lucius Malfoy had returned.
And this time, he carried with him multiple dark artifacts. Including… a Horcrux.
---
In Dumbledore's office, the air was thick with old magic. Several cursed objects rested on the Headmaster's desk, their auras restrained by silver chains and enchantments.
"Good evening, Lucius," Dumbledore greeted warmly.
"Dumbledore," Lucius began with exaggerated calm, "much like Bertha Jorkins, I've recently recovered memories that were taken from me—by a dark influence."
He placed a blackened diary on the desk.
"These objects were hidden in my home, implanted there while I was under the Imperius Curse. This one"—he gestured to the diary—"was buried so deep, I didn't even know it existed until the spell broke."
Lucius' expression was grave, almost convincing. He played the part of the innocent pawn well, though Dumbledore saw straight through him.
"Oh? Is that why you've come so late and quietly?" Dumbledore replied, gently running his fingers over the diary's surface. His eyes twinkled—not with amusement, but with purpose.
He had suspected the existence of Horcruxes for some time. Now, he finally had confirmation, aside from what he already knew about Harry.
The real dilemma was: Should they begin destroying the Horcruxes now?
If they did, would Voldemort sense the destruction and flee deeper into hiding? Or worse, take more drastic action?
And another key question lingered.
Does Voldemort know that Harry is one of his Horcruxes?
So far, Quirrell hadn't tried to harm Harry. That was worth noting.
Lucius said nothing. Dumbledore tapped his fingers on the desk, deep in thought.
"Lucius, do you know what this diary really is?" he finally asked.
"I do not," Lucius lied smoothly. But his expression faltered. Dumbledore's tone told him this object was more dangerous than he'd guessed.
"This is a Horcrux," Dumbledore said quietly. "As long as it exists, part of Voldemort's soul remains in the world."
"And right now, another piece of that soul is inside Professor Quirrell—the very man you wanted fired."
Lucius Malfoy turned pale.
"What?! Dumbledore! Destroy it—destroy that thing immediately!" Lucius shrieked, pointing at the diary. "That monster—he's trying to take revenge on me, to hurt my family—Dumbledore, I'm a Death Eater, yes, but I'll—I'll surrender! Take me to Azkaban if you must, just—just kill Quirrell! Kill him!"
Dumbledore narrowed his eyes.
"You, a Death Eater, dare to call him by name?"
"I—I'm finished if he finds out," Lucius stammered. "Please…"
He collapsed into the nearest chair, his snake-headed cane falling to the floor.
But Dumbledore shook his head. "No, Lucius. You're more useful outside Azkaban. For now, you will continue your act. Continue your complaints about Quirrell. Pretend you know nothing."
Lucius swallowed hard. "And the diary?"
"I haven't destroyed it. Not yet. Voldemort may have created multiple Horcruxes. If we destroy one too early, he may sense it—and vanish. We have to proceed carefully."
Lucius finally nodded. "Understood."
---
Back in the Ravenclaw common room, Alexander Smith sat on a window ledge, sorting through what he had sensed.
Lucius Malfoy really did it, he thought in amazement. In the original timeline, he never made such a bold move.
Maybe it was because the original Harry Potter was too average. Maybe it was because Dumbledore had grown old and tired, with no clear heir.
But now?
With a stronger Harry, and with Dumbledore still in full command—Lucius saw the writing on the wall. And rather than risk Voldemort's revenge later, he took the initiative now.
As for Dumbledore, he remained the same cautious, meticulous tactician. In the original timeline, he didn't confirm the diary's nature until after it was destroyed in second year. He only learned of Voldemort's multiple Horcruxes then.
By fifth year, Voldemort returned, and Dumbledore confirmed—through Snape—that Voldemort couldn't even feel the destruction of his other Horcruxes.
Only then did Dumbledore begin his final campaign.
Now, however, the timeline had shifted.
All because of a small push from me, Alexander thought. And the butterfly effect is just getting started.
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