Hogwarts on the tip of the tongue

"Professor Dumbledore?!"

The smile on Tom Riddle's face disappeared instantly, and he looked at the white-haired old man in surprise.

There is no doubt that the burning wardrobe in the orphanage during his childhood has always been the source of fear for Tom Riddle. Of course, it also made him realize that only absolute power can bring absolute fear, and fear can shock people. .

From this perspective, it is difficult to say whether Lao Deng's education method was one of the reasons that led to Voldemort's pursuit of power.

At least one thing that most people who know Voldemort know is that Tom Riddle has known since he was a child that the wisest thing to do is to show absolute obedience and obedience when facing a power stronger than himself - even though Dumbledore When asked if these people were your servants, Tom Riddle insisted on using the title "friends."

But in fact, the later Voldemort essentially used this logic of fear to rule the Death Eaters.

"Why are you here, all this-"

"Tom Riddle, I have been waiting for you for a long time," Dumbledore said. "I have always hoped to have the opportunity to see you and talk to you... Although it may be too late, in a sense Say, isn’t it a wonderful thing?”

"Ah this-"

Tom Riddle glanced at the diary open beside him and said with wandering eyes.

"I don't understand what you mean. What's in front of you is just a memory from 50 years ago, and I can't stay outside for too long."

"That's not a problem."

Dumbledore said softly, still with a calm and warm smile on his face.

Before Tom Riddle could speak, a skinny white-haired old wizard walked quickly from behind Dumbledore, took out a crimson gem from his arms and waved it gently.

The next moment, a powerful wave of magic like a tsunami washed over the diary in an instant, effortlessly "replacing" Draco Malfoy's supply path.

In contrast, the originally blurry outline of Riddell quickly became clear and stable.

Tom Riddle clenched his fist subconsciously. He could feel an unprecedented power pouring into his body along the diary. The long-lost touch of flesh and blood was coming bit by bit. recovery.

The young Riddle stared blankly ahead, a little dazed and confused.

Although he had always thought that he was the great wizard who was most likely to defeat death, the white-haired and skinny wizard standing in front of him now exuded a strange aura of death and vitality. Although he looked only over 100 years old, Tom happened to have seen a portrait of this wizard in an ancient document.

Strictly speaking, the wizard in front of him was actually the first person in the magic world to defeat death.

"This is... the Philosopher's Stone? The immortal Nicolas Flamel?!" Tom asked uncertainly.

"Maybe he can be considered an older person, but he is not ageless..."

Nico Flamel shook his head with emotion and corrected him calmly.

"Besides, I haven't really defeated death, and the magic stone is not a real answer. Everything follows exchange in the dark, and the price that humans can bear and pay is only enough to pay half of the reward. At this point, the same as you."

He picked up the diary on the table and looked at it carefully for a while.

Regarding the extremely evil and crazy black magic called Horcrux, Nico Flamel's research is not too deep.

Due to the lack of experimental materials and cases, most of the understanding of the properties of Horcruxes mainly comes from theoretical speculation. If the time is right, Flamel even wants to take this diary back to the alchemy workshop to study it now.

However, on this occasion, they have more important things to solve.

"You must listen to me, Professor Dumbledore."

Tom Riddle took the initiative to put down his wand and said calmly and submissively.

"I may not be able to answer too many questions about what will happen in the future. The person in front of you is just an ordinary fifth grade student. I don't know what kind of people and things 'I' will encounter after this. In the end I have gone down a wrong path, but at least in my current memory, I don’t know what I did wrong at this time..."

Dumbledore didn't speak, but looked at Tom quietly with a meaningful look.

Fifty years ago, he had thought the same way—it was just the first time he went astray. If Tom Riddle was given enough attention and warning, he might be able to pull himself back from the brink and return to the right path.

pity……

Dumbledore's blue eyes flashed with regret and disappointment. Was it really too late?

In the suffocating atmosphere, Tom Riddle swallowed, clasped his hands together tightly, his eyes met Dumbledore's complicated gaze without fear, and he waited nervously for Dumbledore's answer.

But it was not Dumbledore who answered him, but another unfamiliar voice.

"SCP-017-01: Marvolo Gaunt's ring, second containment time, 1992.08.31..."

Following the sound in his ears, Tom Riddle raised his head and saw a middle-aged wizard with slightly bulging eyes, whose dress and temperament looked a little out of place with the wizards around him, speaking.

"Hello, you can call me 'The Hermit'."

Xenophilius Lovegood said with a smile, looking at Tom Riddle curiously.

"As for the diary you are possessing now, according to the order of containment, the number should be SCP-017-03: Tom Riddle's diary. By the way, the initial containment time of 03 happened to be the last day of August this year. .”

Looking at the "young Dark Lord" whose pupils shrank violently, Xenophilius revealed a very strange smile.

"Most of the people present are already very familiar with the principles and knowledge of the birth of Horcruxes, so I suggest that Mr. Tom Riddle should not take too many chances - your concealment is meaningless. In fact. The reason why we are waiting for you here is not to ask you any questions, but more to explore and test unknown magical knowledge..."

Exploring, testing... unknown... magical knowledge?

Tom Riddle's eyes subconsciously crossed Nico Flamel's body, and the uneasiness in his heart became more and more obvious.

Judging from the current situation, this may be the worst answer - this is not a very difficult guessing guess, just as what attracts potion masters is always rare potions, and what attracts alchemists is …

"Wait, listen to me..."

Tom Riddle said anxiously, turning his eyes to Dumbledore.

"I know where the secret room of Hogwarts Castle is! Salazar Slytherin left a lot of magical treasures inside, as well as extremely terrifying creatures. As long as you give me a little time, I can help you. …”

"Unfortunately, we already know the location of the secret room."

Gellert Grindelwald grinned, his eyes brightened, and he let out a sneer.

"Of course, as for the big snake inside that you mentioned just now, it is indeed a trouble, so we have set up quite tight magical protection around it. I think Mr. Scamander should be able to help us find a proper solution. If If you have any better suggestions, I think it would be best to share them together... although I think it may be outdated."

Tom Riddle looked at Grindelwald in shock and opened his mouth.

It was another wizard he had never seen before, but judging from the cold eyes of the old man, this was definitely not an ordinary wizard harmless to humans and animals - it was like a connection between beasts, and he could clearly feel it. This old wizard is terrifying.

And the most important thing is that in the whole room, it seems that only this old man has refreshments and drinks in front of him.

Tom Riddle really couldn't imagine who else in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry could have such transcendent privileges and status in today's wizarding world - this kind of aura of superiority from the heart is definitely not an ordinary wizard. What was possible was that the moment the old wizard spoke, almost everyone in the room subconsciously focused their attention on him.

"Oh, little Tom, I see confusion in your eyes... Unfortunately, it's not class time."

The smile on Grindelwald's face became more obvious, and he glanced at Lockhart next to him.

"To put it simply, we have prepared another position for you - the first E-class personnel of the SCP Foundation. Of course, you can also refuse this very good request. I believe Mr. Nico Flamel will be happy to see this. .”

"As for the specific details, after you sign the magic contract, we can slowly communicate and explain..."

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