The Shocking Tom Riddle

The locket stopped trembling, and the pair of eyes on it vanished as wisps of smoke rose from its lining.

The venomous fang had not caused much damage to the locket. It had merely destroyed the inner cover that bore the eyes, leaving it covered in spiderweb-like cracks.

Dumbledore set down the Snake Fang and removed his dragonhide gloves. He weighed the locket repeatedly in his hand, then took out his wand and passed it over the locket several times, conducting a careful inspection.

"The soul fragment inside has disappeared..." He handed the locket to Wizet. "As expected of a locket meant for protection. Although it has acquired a few flaws, it should still be usable."

Wizet took the locket and made a hissing sound. "Close!"

Just as Dumbledore had said, with a crisp click, the locket's lid closed with remarkable ease. Its surface remained perfectly sealed, without the slightest sign of damage.

Dumbledore refused the locket Wizet offered back. "You keep it!"

He waved his wand to open another cabinet, took out the Pensieve, and placed it in the center of the desk.

"Let us see what other clues Hokey's memories have left us."

Wizet nodded. Once everything concerning the locket was settled, he intended to return it to its original owner—Salazar Slytherin.

He slipped the locket into his pocket, took out the bottle containing Hokey's memory threads, and dropped them into the Pensieve.

The previously still surface of the Pensieve rippled. Wizet entered it and immediately felt the familiar sensation of weightlessness.

He traveled through countless silvery substances, falling until he regained his footing in a room and saw Dumbledore looking up ahead.

Wizet followed his gaze. There stood an extremely plump old woman—the locket's former owner, Hepzibah Smith.

Hepzibah Smith wore a ginger wig and was