Let's Be Friends

Tom Riddle was indeed very good at understanding people's hearts and disguising himself.

After learning that the person who found the diary was a high-achieving young wizard, he began to cultivate his image as a "genius student" in an attempt to quickly get closer to Kyle.

Perhaps it can't be considered a persona... after all, he was originally a top student.

That's why he was always able to answer Kyle's questions very quickly.

Kyle even learned a lot of useful tips from him.

For example, in Transfiguration Class, when dealing with relatively small insects, drawing circles with a magic wand can increase accuracy and is much more convenient than poking them directly.

"I just tried it, and your method really works."

Kyle scribbled in his diary.

"I always thought that wrist movements would affect the outcome of the Transfiguration."

[In fact, with enough practice, wrist movements can actually play a very good supporting role.]

[I learned this from a very professional magazine called <Today's Transfiguration>]

"I'll definitely look into it... Can I buy it in Diagon Alley?" Kyle asked.

[No need to buy them, the school library has them; they're on the bottom of the fifteenth bookshelf near the right-hand aisle.]

"I'll go see it after school starts."

[However, they might have changed locations; you can ask the librarian first.]

[After all, I was made in 1943, so it's been a long time now...]

Kyle glanced at the words in the diary, his hand holding the quill paused slightly, then he continued writing as if nothing had happened:

"My goodness, fifty years have passed... I thought you were only a few years older than me!"

What you said isn't wrong.

[I am merely a memory frozen at fifteen years old. Time means nothing to me, so no matter how many years pass, I am always fifteen.]

"You must be very lonely."

No, because I've found you as a friend.

Soon, another line appeared in the diary, the handwriting much more messy than before, as if Riddle was very nervous when he wrote it.

Would you like to be my friend?

"Certainly!"

Kyle wrote without hesitation, "I've always wanted a friend like you who is smart, kind-hearted, and loves learning."

I'm so happy!

For the entire morning, Kyle communicated with Riddle in this way, writing faster and faster, his handwriting becoming increasingly casual.

During this time, besides asking questions about spells, Kyle mostly expressed his regret at not being able to become true classmates with Riddle.

While answering those questions, Riddle also subtly inquired about Kyle's situation.

Gradually, from the subtle clues that the other party inadvertently revealed, he also gained a general understanding of the person who found the diary.

He's a bit clever, but not nearly as good as him. His good grades are mostly due to rote memorization, and all he knows are things that are already written in books.

He also has very few friends, only two: one likes Wizard's Chess, and the other is obsessed with Quidditch. They are both mediocre people whom he wouldn't even bother to look at.

Moreover, Riddle could see... that all of this was real, not a lie, which excited him immensely.

This is practically prey delivered to their doorstep, like a free gift.

Dealing with this kind of person is too easy.

Because of a long-term sense of alienation from those around them, they naturally develop a severe lack of belonging...

He only needs to act as a good listener and companion, and the other person will definitely open their heart to him and tell him all their secrets.

By the afternoon, when Riddle couldn't contain himself any longer and started bringing up the situation outside, Kyle decided not to continue.

"Someone's coming..."

He quickly wrote down this sentence, then closed his diary and casually put it into the box next to him.

Kyle stood up and stretched his wrists.

Just as I had suspected, the diary records that Riddle did indeed Legilimency.

While he was writing, he suddenly felt a vague sense of being watched.

However, it was only for a very short time, just a moment. If he hadn't been constantly on guard against Riddle, he probably wouldn't have noticed this subtle change at all.

Moreover, Riddle wasn't as composed as one might imagine.

He had thought the other party would pretend for a while before revealing their true intentions, but after only one morning, they couldn't help but inquire about the situation outside.

Still so young, too impetuous.

Who is the most powerful wizard right now...? Is Professor Dumbledore the headmaster of Hogwarts...? Asking these questions is just a way of finding out about one's own future.

If Dumbledore still alive and well, it undoubtedly proves that he failed in the future, and lost utterly.

Conversely, if he succeeds, then the most powerful wizard can only be Voldemort... although that's impossible.

After the young wizard opened the diary, Riddle should have guessed that Voldemort was "dead," otherwise, how could something as important as Horcrux have been lost?

So the ultimate purpose of asking this question is probably to find out the reason.

However, he had barely begun when Kyle made an excuse to close the diary, not giving him a chance to ask any more questions.

Kyle went to the windowsill and ruffled the feathers on Ladon's neck. Well, Riddle seemed a bit easier to deal with than he had imagined.

The first step of setting up the facade is done; now, as long as we proceed step by step, we should be able to get a lot more information out of him.

At least the section about "Voldemort's demise in Godric's Hollow" is extremely valuable.

Want to get something for nothing? That's impossible. It's only fair if everyone answers one question.

"Kyle!"

Look here!

Just then, Fred and George's voices came from outside the window.

Kyle looked down and saw the twins waving at him from a short distance away, carrying Broomstick, with Harry, Ron, and Ginny following behind.

It looks like they're planning to play Quidditch on the hillside behind the house.

"Want to come along?" Fred asked loudly.

After Kyle for a moment, Kyle picked up his Nimbus 2000 and left the room.

We mentioned you this morning.

Upon meeting, Fred asked, "Why are you busier Percy lately?"

"Nothing," Kyle said casually. "I just found something interesting a few days ago and read it for a while."

No one else paid any attention.

"Finished watching now?" George asked.

"I guess so," Kyle said.

After the initial exchange, things can be done slowly; after all, he has plenty of time and there's no rush.

Riddle wants to know why he failed, so he should think about it carefully.

Kyle was going to give him a break for a while; he wasn't planning to touch the diary again for the next few days.