Chapter 33
"Voldemort?!"
The dim wall lamps flickered in the shadowy room, casting mottled, eerie shadows that added an extra layer of mystery to the already ominous atmosphere. The plaster bust's eyes glowed unnaturally in the darkness, like two luminous gems, standing out starkly in the quiet night.
Devero stared at the bust with intense nervousness, blurting out, "Voldemort?!"
"Hahaha, it's been a long time since anyone called me that. I thought I was going to drown in this endless sea of knowledge."
The bust smiled at Devero, its grin appearing somewhat distorted under the dim, yellowish light, as if marked by the passage of time. But because the plaster bust had no arms, the scene was... well... somewhat comical?
A half-human-sized bust lay on the ground, straining to tilt its head toward Devero so he could see it. If it weren't the middle of the night, Devero might have found the situation amusing. But right now, his entire body was tense, his wand pointed firmly at the talking bust, ready to cast a curse at any moment.
He was absolutely certain that the bust was being controlled by Voldemort's Horcrux! He had just seen on its panel that it wielded the three Unforgivable Curses at an unmatched level. Even if Voldemort didn't use the Killing Curse, a single hit from one of the others would be more than Devero could handle.
So, he kept his eyes locked on the bust, ready to defend against any attack.
"Hahaha, don't be so tense. Look, I'm just a little statue," said the glowing-eyed bust—or rather, Voldemort's Horcrux. It rolled clumsily to a pile of clutter, propping itself against it so it no longer had to strain its neck to speak to Devero.
"Haha, I just want to ask you a few questions. I've been stuck here for far too long."
This young version of Voldemort even twisted its neck, as if stretching after a long slumber, finally waking up.
Devero tried to stay rational, regulating his breathing and using meditative techniques to calm himself.
"Oh? The Tao of Tranquility? I thought that was long lost," Voldemort remarked, eyeing Devero with interest.
Devero broke out in a cold sweat. Voldemort was referring to the meditative technique he was using! The depth of his knowledge was truly terrifying.
"What do you want?!" Devero demanded, determined not to let the other party take control. He needed to figure out Voldemort's intentions. In the original story, Horcruxes never came to life like this, so he had to adapt on the fly.
"Hmm, I just want to know what's happening in the outside world. How's the future me... er... Voldemort doing?" This young Voldemort seemed remarkably friendly, and without arms, it didn't appear capable of casting spells. But considering Voldemort's ultimate defeat—killed by Harry's rebounding curse—Devero worried that revealing this might drive the Horcrux mad. He decided to phrase it delicately.
"You failed. The Death Eaters were all captured."
Well, that was still a bit blunt.
Surprisingly, Voldemort remained calm, showing no signs of agitation.
"Is that so, little one? If that's the case, I might need to see for myself!"
Suddenly, the bust's eyes blazed with intense green light. "Let me see what happened!"
Sensing danger, Devero whipped his wand. "Reducto!"
A laser-like beam shot toward the bust.
Bang!
With a loud explosion, the bust shattered, sending fragments scattering and dust billowing. But only the plaster bust was destroyed!
Ravenclaw's Diadem slowly rose into the air, trembling as if alive.
"I can't see your thoughts. Are you protected by someone? Interesting kid. My power is running low, but I can make it so only you can enter this place. Come back sometime and tell me about the outside world."
With that, the diadem floated lightly to the top of another statue. Instantly, the statue's eyes glowed with the same eerie green light, winking at a dumbfounded Devero.
In that moment, Devero felt a wave of intense dizziness. The surroundings spun wildly. When he regained his footing, he found himself standing outside the Slytherin common room, holding a note and a pale blue scarf.
Devero unfolded the note. The handwriting was neat and elegant:
"Hey, little one, if you have time, bring the scarf and visit me again. Tell this old man about the outside world."
Devero quickly ignited the note with his wand. The flames consumed the paper, leaving only a wisp of smoke. He tossed the ashes behind him. There was no way he was going back to see that Dark Lord!
Yet doubts clung to him like shadows. Wasn't Voldemort's trait Born Heartless? But their conversation made him seem more like a lonely soul craving connection.
Was there something wrong with the trait's description?
Devero couldn't help but wonder if this was all a carefully crafted trap to lure him in. Why had the Horcrux initially seemed like a typical manipulative object, only to become something conversational—almost like a Hogwarts ghost—after he used his meditative technique to perceive it indirectly? Had his magic unintentionally awakened some kind of consciousness in it?
And why didn't Voldemort react with anger or any emotion upon hearing of his failure? What did he mean by "seeing is not always believing"?
Devero's mind was overwhelmed by these tangled questions, unable to find answers.
He made up his mind. He would report this to Dumbledore immediately and let the professors handle it.
With that thought, Devero picked up the pale blue scarf, intending to burn it as well. But the moment he touched it—
[Ding!]
[Item acquired!]
Devero froze. This scarf was a system-recognized item? Previously, only system rewards and his wand had been classified as items by the system. This unremarkable scarf was an item?
Devero lowered his wand, glancing around to ensure Filch wasn't nearby. It was nearly two in the morning, and he didn't want to end up in detention. He whispered the password to the stone wall, and as the secret passage opened, he slipped into the Slytherin common room.
The common room was empty, filled only with the crackling of the fireplace and the sound of lake waves lapping against the shore outside. The sounds brought Devero a sliver of comfort, though the cold, damp air made him shiver.
He sat in an ornate chair closest to the fireplace and began examining his new item.
…
[Item: Ravenclaw's Token]
…
[Ravenclaw's Token: This is a token exclusive to Ravenclaw, given only to special individuals. Its purpose is unknown, but once given, it forms an unbreakable vow between the giver and the recipient. The recipient cannot betray the giver, in any sense.]
***
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