After taking the ring, I spent the next few hours meditating while slowly recovering my magical reserves. The forest remained silent around me, my wards ensuring that nothing disturbed the process.
Magic gathered within me gradually, filling the empty spaces left by the battle within the Resurrection Stone.
And when I finally felt the full extent of the change, I opened my eyes in satisfaction.
My reserves had expanded enormously.
Nearly five times larger than before.
The sensation was unmistakable. The amount of magic I now possessed was almost identical to what Tom Riddle himself had held when he originally turned Marvolo Gaunt's Ring into a horcrux. The difference in raw power compared to earlier was staggering.
Good.
Once I finished appreciating the improvement, I stood and raised my wand, carefully casting several spells across the ruined shack. The lingering traces of magic from the wards and the confrontation were dismantled one by one, leaving the place as lifeless and forgotten as it had been before I arrived.
With that done, I decided it was time to return.
I had made a rather irritating mistake earlier.
I had forgotten to properly guide Ginny toward choosing Ravenclaw. Allowing her to remain close to Potter would only complicate matters later, especially with the Diadem of Ravenclaw eventually coming into play. After witnessing the reaction the ring had to my presence, I had no intention of taking unnecessary risks with another horcrux while the boy remained under the constant supervision of Albus Dumbledore.
I focused on the first location and twisted space around myself.
The familiar compression of apparition crushed in from all sides as the forest vanished.
A moment later I emerged on the outskirts of a deserted road several miles away. I steadied myself, waited briefly for my magic to settle, and apparated again.
The second jump carried me closer to the countryside where the the burrow stood hidden among fields and crooked trees.
One final apparition.
Space folded once more and released me quietly within the tree line overlooking the ramshackle house.
Three jumps.
More than enough to prevent anyone from tracing the path.
As soon as I arrived, I felt it, the pull of the diary.
The familiar connection linking my soul to the Tom Riddle's Diary stirred within my mind, gently tugging at my consciousness.
I did not resist.
My body dissolved into dark mist and flowed toward the hidden diary, slipping effortlessly through the pages as I returned to the fragment that served as my anchor.
The moment I entered, a comforting warmth spread through my soul.
Returning to the diary felt strangely natural.
Almost like returning home.
I allowed myself a moment to settle before reaching out through the connection I had established earlier.
Ginny responded immediately.
The girl's presence rushed forward with unmistakable excitement the moment she sensed my awakening, her thoughts bright with joy as she eagerly began to speak.
[ Ginny POV ]
It had been over a day since Tom last spoke to me, and I could not stop worrying.
What if he never wakes up?
The thought refused to leave my mind. The more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that it was my fault. Tom had warned me to take things slowly, but I had insisted on letting him control my body for long periods.
What if that was the reason he had not woken up?
The guilt twisted painfully in my chest.
Tomorrow I would be boarding the Hogwarts Express and finally becoming a student at Hogwarts. I had wanted to talk to Tom before leaving for school, but that seemed impossible now. Between the excitement of starting at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the constant worry about Tom, I had barely slept at all.
It was already close to midnight.
And Tom still had not spoken.
Then suddenly I felt it.
A gentle pull through our connection.
Realizing what it meant, I blurted out loudly, "Tom!"
My hands immediately flew over my mouth as I realized what I had just done. If anyone had heard me talking to myself in the middle of the night, they would think I had gone mad.
I quickly reached out through our mental link.
Tom, you're finally awake! Are you hurt?
I felt his presence respond almost instantly.
He let out a quiet chuckle in my mind.
"Of course not, Ginny. I told you I wouldn't wake up for about a day. Look at you, though. It's almost midnight and you're still awake. Don't you have to board the Hogwarts Express tomorrow?"
"Um… uh…" I stammered, suddenly embarrassed. "Forget about that. I want to see you in person and make sure you're alright."
"Quite persistent, aren't we?" he said with amusement. "Very well. I also have a surprise for you."
Excited, I reached for the diary and channeled my magic into it. The familiar pull returned instantly, and the world around me faded.
When my vision cleared, I found myself standing once again in the endless darkness inside Tom Riddle's Diary.
And Tom was there.
He stood a short distance away, looking exactly as he always did, yet somehow different. Healthier, perhaps. Stronger. I couldn't quite explain it, but something about him felt more vivid than before.
I ran toward him without thinking and threw my arms around him.
He laughed softly and began ruffling my hair.
"I was really worried about you," I said quietly. "I thought you might not wake up. I'm sorry, Tom."
"It's alright, Ginny," he replied gently. "In fact, thanks to you I think I've gained a rather interesting ability. I'd like to show you."
He smiled slightly.
"Cover your eyes for a moment."
I nodded and did exactly that.
Snap.
"You can open them now, Ginny."
"Okay," I said eagerly as I lowered my hands.
What I saw left me completely stunned.
The endless darkness of the diary still surrounded us, but part of it had changed. A small section of the space had transformed into something completely different. A miniature pond lay before me, its water reflecting faint light. Smooth slate tiles surrounded it, while several trees stood nearby, their leaves gently rustling as though touched by a soft breeze.
And beside the pond stood a small wooden cabin.
"Is… is this real?" I asked, staring at Tom in disbelief.
He simply nodded.
I walked toward the pond and cautiously placed my feet in the water. It felt exactly like real water, cool and gentle against my skin. I moved toward one of the trees and touched its bark. It felt solid and rough beneath my fingers.
Completely real.
Still amazed, I stepped inside the cabin. It was empty.
Snap.
A wooden table and several chairs appeared instantly in the center of the room.
"Have a seat," Tom said.
Still stunned by everything I had seen, I nodded and sat down while Tom took the chair across from me.
"This is amazing, Tom," I said.
He chuckled softly.
"It's thanks to you, Ginny. I was only able to do this after you allowed me to take control for that day."
"I should be the one thanking you."
My face grew warm as I looked at him.
Snap.
Two cups appeared on the table, each filled with a steaming drink. A chandelier materialized above us, casting a warm white glow across the cabin.
"Try it," Tom said. "It's my favorite muggle drink. They call it hot chocolate. I'm not sure if the wizarding world has something similar."
"But you can't transfigure food," I said in surprise.
"Indeed. One cannot create food from nothing," Tom replied calmly. "However, this is not real food. It is simply a memory that you are experiencing here."
"None of this truly exists," he continued. "Everything you see here is a manifestation of my thoughts, recreated through the diary."
I nodded slowly, though I still could not fully understand how something like this was possible.
I took a small sip from the cup.
My eyes widened instantly.
"Th-this is delicious!"
"I've never tasted anything like this before!"
Tom smiled faintly.
"That was my exact reaction when I first tried it."
"Oh! By the way, Tom," I suddenly remembered. "We received a letter from the Ministry today. Something about the secrecy wards becoming unstable. They said the Hogwarts Express has been rescheduled to leave at 6:30 in the morning instead of the usual eleven."
"Hmm," Tom said thoughtfully. "If the Ministry is taking it that seriously, it must be quite important. Could you show me the letter?"
"Sure… but how?"
"Simply think about the letter and remember what it said. It should manifest here."
I nodded and focused on the memory.
Moments later, the parchment appeared on the table in front of us.
"That's amazing," I murmured again.
The letter lifted off the table and floated toward Tom's hand.
As he began reading it, the relaxed expression on his face slowly faded.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Something about the contents clearly had his full attention.
[ Tom Riddle POV ]
Mr Arthur Weasley
The Burrow
Ottery St Catchpole
Devon
The British Ministry of Magic wishes to inform you and your guardians of an unexpected adjustment to this year's departure schedule for the Hogwarts Express.
During a routine annual inspection of several British secrecy wards, one of the primary wards connected to the national concealment network has recently begun exhibiting volatile magical fluctuations. While the situation remains under control, the instability has created temporary risks for magical travel routes and ward-protected passages used by wizarding citizens.
In order to prevent any possible interference with the protective enchantments surrounding Platform Nine and Three-Quarters and other connected concealment barriers, the Ministry has authorized a precautionary rescheduling of the Hogwarts Express departure.
The train will now depart at 6:30 AM on the scheduled date instead of the originally planned 11:00 AM departure.
Officers from the Department of Magical Infrastructure who are dressed ministry uniform will be present at the station to stabilize the local ward network and ensure that all students may board the train safely without disruption from the affected enchantments.
The Ministry understands that this sudden change may cause inconvenience to some families. In the event that a student is unable to board the Hogwarts Express at the revised time, an alternative travel arrangement has been authorized.
Students who miss the train are requested to report to the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM on the same day. Students must bring this letter with them as proof of notification.
During this time, a team of Aurors in official Ministry uniform will be stationed within the establishment. These officers will escort affected students and ensure their safe arrival at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry through a Ministry-sanctioned Floo Network route.
The Department of Magical Infrastructure sincerely apologizes for any disruption this change may cause to you and your family. Please rest assured that these measures have been taken solely to ensure the continued stability of the British magical concealment network and the safety of all wizarding citizens.
We thank you for your cooperation and wish you a successful start to your studies at Hogwarts.
Sincerely,
Office of Ward Maintenance
Department of Magical Infrastructure
British Ministry of Magic
---
As I finished reading the letter, I found myself slightly impressed. Augustus had done an excellent job. The notice made the British Ministry of Magic appear far more competent than it actually was, especially with the alternative arrangements and the flexible time window for those who might miss the Hogwarts Express.
Anyone reading this would simply assume the Ministry was acting responsibly in response to a volatile ward network.
I folded the letter slowly between my fingers, allowing myself a faint smile.
Well played.
I noticed the curious gaze Ginny was giving me across the table and decided to explain what it was and also convince her to join Ravenclaw.
- To Be Continued -
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