Wes's Plan

Lucius's fingers trembled lightly against the rim of his teacup. Shaking, he set it down, and the exquisite cup lightly struck its saucer with a faint clink.

His eyes slowly closed, restless flickers hidden beneath his lids as he struggled to suppress the turmoil in his heart.

He was still wavering. He did not know whether this choice would condemn him and his family to eternal ruin.

Sharp-eyed Wes watched him like a hawk. He knew that a storm was raging deep within Lucius's heart.

Wes quietly walked to Lucius's side, moving with the utmost care as though approaching a frightened little animal.

Then he gently placed a hand on Lucius's shoulder.

"Mr. Malfoy, you made the right choice. Headmaster Dumbledore is surely more trustworthy than that madman Voldemort."

His voice was low and gentle, as if soothing a wounded soul.

"Lucius, I promise that your family will have my protection." Dumbledore was not as carefree as usual; he was utterly serious.

The reputation of Dumbledore, the greatest white Wizard of this century, was indeed far more reassuring than Voldemort's.

The color gradually returned to Lucius's pale face, and the spark of hope was rekindled in his heart.

"He was once so outstanding, so dazzling. He was the perfect leader in my eyes."

Complex emotions surged within Lucius as he recalled why he had followed Voldemort in the first place.

Voldemort had been powerful and wise then, a figure held in awe throughout the wizarding world. His charisma and strength had drawn many followers, Lucius among them.

They had believed Voldemort could lead them toward a more glorious future—an era in which Wizards ruled Muggles and the magical world prospered.

"We once dreamed of raising him to the pinnacle of power—from Britain to Europe, and then to the entire world. Every Wizard would bow beneath our feet."

Lucius's voice carried a dreamlike yearning, but it was swiftly shattered by the cruelty of reality.

"But..." Lucius's lips began to tremble, and so did his voice.

"But his change was too sudden. He became cruel and suspicious, filling everyone with fear."

"The Voldemort of today is no longer the leader people admired. He is a Dark Lord feared by everyone. Most absurd of all, the invincible Dark Lord was defeated by an infant."

Lucius's face was filled with disbelief. He found it difficult to accept the defeat of that leader.

He took a deep breath and continued, "I didn't know that Diary was his Horcrux. He only told me that when the Diary returned to Hogwarts, it would purge those impure Wizards."

Lucius unconsciously touched the Dark Mark on his left arm. Once a symbol of his loyalty, it had now become a crushing weight upon his heart.

"Last year, the vanished Dark Mark appeared again. I knew he had returned, though he was still very weak. I wanted to earn some merit for myself before he regained his strength..."

Lucius confessed his plan.

"I originally intended to hide the Diary in the textbooks of the youngest daughter of the Weasley family, but things did not go according to my plan..."

As Lucius spoke, his voice grew lower and lower, regret appearing on his face.

The moment Dumbledore heard the words "purge non-pure-blood Wizards," rage surged within him.

Hogwarts's students were incomparably precious to him. Any act that harmed them was unforgivable.

Lucius was so startled by Dumbledore's fierce reaction that he staggered backward repeatedly, as though cowed by an invisible force.

"Headmaster, nothing has happened yet, and Mr. Malfoy has already realized his mistake." Wes quickly interjected, trying to calm the sudden storm.

Although Lucius still felt lingering fear, the power Dumbledore displayed gave him some reassurance.

This old man was over a hundred years old and still this strong. With the unfathomable Erwin as well, they still had a very good chance of winning.

However, when Dumbledore asked how the Diary intended to purge Hogwarts, Lucius knew nothing at all.

"He never truly trusted anyone. I had no idea it was his Horcrux," Lucius said somewhat aggrievedly.

"Perhaps we should ask Senior Tom directly." As Wes spoke, he opened the Diary and recited an incantation.

At once, Voldemort's soul fragment appeared in the form of sixteen-year-old Tom Riddle.

"Master..." Lucius instinctively bowed to Tom. As he prepared to kiss Tom's toes, he suddenly remembered that he had already betrayed him. He stopped mid-motion, his entire body frozen stiff.

"What exactly do you want?" Tom did not spare Lucius a single glance. His eyes were fixed intently on Dumbledore and Wes.

Lucius did not dare raise his head. His body trembled slightly, terrified that Tom would notice him.

"Why be so impatient, Senior? I merely wished to ask a few questions," Wes said calmly.

Tom's face darkened, his blade-like gaze locked tightly onto Wes.

"It seems Senior has no intention of cooperating. Fortunately, I have another method."

Wes drew his wand and softly recited the incantation, "Cruciatus Curse!" A Cruciatus Curse struck Tom with flawless accuracy.

Seeing Wes use the Cruciatus Curse, Dumbledore merely raised an eyebrow and said nothing.

Lucius, however, instinctively moved farther away from Wes.

Tom fought desperately against the Cruciatus Curse's invasion, but he was only one fragment of Voldemort's soul. How could he withstand Wes's spell?

Very quickly, Tom's will crumbled.

"Tell us. How did you plan to purge Hogwarts?"

Driven by the Cruciatus Curse, Tom revealed his plan without reservation—control students into opening the Chamber of Secrets, release the Basilisk, and use it to purge the non-pure-blood students.

He also confessed how, years ago, he had used the Basilisk to murder a female student and frame Hagrid for it.

After learning the truth, Wes closed the Diary, and Tom's image faded away with it.

"Headmaster, what do you think?" Wes asked.

Dumbledore wiped his glasses as he pondered. "I never expected the legend to be true. Slytherin really did leave behind a Chamber of Secrets, and Tom actually found it."

"The Basilisk is the key. Such a dangerous creature has been lurking in Hogwarts for nearly a thousand years. If it hadn't been trapped in the Chamber of Secrets, then I'm afraid..."

Imagining the Basilisk rampaging through the school and slaughtering students, Dumbledore felt killing intent rise within him. He took a book from the shelf.

"A Basilisk won't be easy to deal with, especially its eyes. Anyone who meets its gaze will be killed."

"We can use the Blight Curse," Wes suggested.

"Good idea. A Basilisk's hide is extremely tough and highly resistant to magic. Ordinary spells won't work on it," Dumbledore said, nodding in agreement.

"I think, with our strength, dealing with one Basilisk should be possible," Wes said confidently.

"You intend to do it yourself?" Dumbledore asked.

Wes nodded. "Every part of a Basilisk is valuable."

The two quickly settled on a plan to eliminate the Basilisk, and also planned to clear Hagrid of the murder charge.

Lucius listened from the side, dumbfounded. He had originally thought they were going after Goblins, not a Basilisk.

Wes invited Lucius to come along, but Lucius shook his head and refused.

He had no desire to risk his life fighting a Basilisk.

"You won't need to do anything. You just need to quietly watch."

"Seeing our strength for yourself will put your mind at ease, won't it?" Wes continued persuading him.

In the end, Lucius agreed.

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