Ambition

"This involves a secret of time. The Time Force will correct the effects caused by time travel.

If the effects of time travel on the 'Collective Consensus' exceed a certain range, a new Parallel Timeline will be created.

For example, among those included in the 'Collective Consensus,' the only person who knew the Basilisk was hidden in the Chamber of Secrets was Tom Riddle, who had opened the Chamber. Once he decided not to open it again, no one in the 'Collective Consensus' knew what had become of the Basilisk.

Killing the Basilisk at that point wouldn't affect the 'Collective Consensus.' Whether the Basilisk lived or died, no new Parallel Timeline would be created.

If the Basilisk were killed before the Chamber was permanently closed, the Time Force would make a correction based on Tom's memories, creating a Timeline in which Tom knew the Basilisk had died.

If you chose not to return to the past and kill the Basilisk at this point, then until the Chamber was opened again, what was inside would remain unknown.

Perhaps there was a Living Basilisk. Perhaps someone else would return to the past and kill it before the Chamber was opened again." Merlin explained.

What was this, Schrödinger's Basilisk...

Matthew understood. So, by the time he had traveled to this world, a new Timeline had already been created.

In terms from his previous life, he could also say that he had traveled to a Parallel Space-Time in the Hogwarts World.

The initiative was still in Matthew's hands. As long as he avoided changing the 'Collective Consensus,' the Basilisk's life or death wouldn't affect his return to the current Timeline.

Matthew asked again, "Do ghosts and portraits count as part of the 'Collective Consensus'?"

Merlin shook his head. "Only living beings count as part of the 'Collective Consensus.' Ghosts and portraits aren't complete, so the Time Force will forcibly correct their memories.

"My situation is rather special. I can make the Time Force ignore my existence."

Matthew couldn't help yearning for such a thing. Merlin had gone so far down this path that he had even found a loophole in the Rules of Time.

He decided to accept Merlin's Trial. It might be the beginning of his exploration into the mysteries of time, and he had no reason to miss this opportunity.

Besides, he had his eye on that Thousand-Year Basilisk. Basilisks were five-star Magical Creatures and were rare in the modern era, let alone one that had lived for a thousand years.

Every part of a Basilisk was valuable. Its eyes could be made into Alchemy Items with a Petrification Function, and its venomous bite was powerful enough to destroy things. Its fangs were one of the few things capable of destroying a Horcrux. Its flesh and Snake Bone were excellent ingredients for Potions, and even its skin was valuable—it could be made into armor with extremely high Magic Resistance.

Matthew said, "I accept the Trial. Please help me return to the past."

In the portrait, Merlin raised the wand in his hand. Dazzling halos of light radiated from its tip.

In an instant, Matthew was enveloped in white light.

A moment later, Matthew found himself in a strange place. It was still the same room, but everything except Matthew was in shades of black and white. The entire world looked as though it were made up of black-and-white sketches.

After a while, it was as if an invisible painter had added color to Merlin's portrait. Its original colors gradually took shape.

Once the portrait had regained its color, Merlin came to life again.

Merlin pointed his wand forward, and a Light Door glowing white appeared in front of them. "Go through this door, and you'll return to 1943."

He said solemnly, "Remember, you only have one day. Make sure you return to this room within the day."

Matthew nodded gravely. "I'll remember."

Matthew stepped through the Light Door. In an instant, the black-and-white world filled with its original colors.

Matthew had returned to 1943.

"Meow~" Preserved Egg had come along too, still nestled in Matthew's arms.

Matthew sensed the disk in his mind. It hadn't been affected. He could tell that even in the past, he could still activate the disk and travel to another world.

Holding Preserved Egg, he walked out of the room. The Slytherin Common Room from decades ago hadn't changed much from the one in the future, though a few of the decorations were different. A clock carved with serpent patterns hung over the fireplace. In the future, a Slytherin banner hung in its place.

"Tom, curfew's about to start. Are you still going out?"

A black-haired boy said gently, "The professor just told me to go to the Headmaster's Office."

Another, burly boy curled his lip and said:

"Is this about Rubeus Hagrid again?

"If you ask me, Tom, you're just too kind. The one who died was a Muggle-born, after all. Just let that Half-giant and those Muggle-borns tear each other apart. Why go to all this trouble?"

A murderous glint flashed deep in Tom Riddle's eyes. His father was a Muggle too. He hated that Muggle and hated his own name. One day, he would cast off this filthy identity.

He had already found a way. Not long ago, he had successfully created a Horcrux. In the future, he would rule the world forever under a brand-new identity!

Matthew stood beside them, holding Preserved Egg and watching with interest. From their conversation, he gathered that the black-haired boy before him was Voldemort as a student at Hogwarts.

The Time Force had concealed Matthew and Preserved Egg's presence. No one in the Common Room noticed them.

Tom wore a warm smile and said sincerely, "After all, it's that Half-Giant's pet. I'm afraid they'll hurt our Slytherin friends in the future. Before any of our friends get hurt, I have to make his actions known."

Matthew blinked. Young Voldemort's acting was truly worthy of an award. Even Matthew couldn't find a single flaw in his expression. He looked completely sincere.

No wonder he'd managed to fool people at school and successfully frame Hagrid. If Dumbledore hadn't insisted on protecting Hagrid, Hagrid would probably have ended up studying at Azkaban.

Matthew followed Tom out of the Common Room. The students they passed along the way all greeted Tom. In everyone's eyes, Tom was a hero who had risked his life to report Hagrid.

The person sitting in the Headmaster's Office was a thin, frail-looking wizard. His head was completely bald, with only a few wisps of white hair.

Dumbledore wasn't Headmaster of Hogwarts yet. At the time, he was the Transfiguration professor.

When the old wizard saw Tom enter, he said weakly, "Ah, Riddle."

"You wanted to see me, Professor Dippet?" Tom looked a little nervous.

"Sit down," Dippet said. "Let's talk."

Once Tom had sat down, Dippet looked him in the eye and said softly, "Hagrid has been expelled."

Tom looked grief-stricken. "Hagrid didn't mean to kill anyone, but his hobby cost Myrtle her life. The monster in the Chamber wasn't an ideal pet."

"What's done is done. We can only try to minimize the damage," Dippet reassured him gently.

"To protect Hogwarts's reputation, we'll say that Myrtle died in an accident. The Chamber is just a legend, something that doesn't exist.

"I hope you won't discuss the Chamber with anyone from now on.

"For your brave actions, we've decided to award you the 'Special Contribution to School Award.'"

The Headmaster intended to portray the incident as Hagrid keeping a dangerous pet at Hogwarts without permission, resulting in a student's accidental death at the hands of his pet. The whole matter would have nothing to do with the legend of the Chamber.

Tom hesitated for a moment, then a look of resolve crossed his face.

"I understand. Hogwarts's reputation must not be tarnished."