It did not take Will long to figure out how to explain this away.
His excuse was simple—he had lost it during the attack in Egypt.
It was a good excuse. He really had gone to Egypt, he really had been attacked, and the diary really had disappeared that year. The incident had caused quite a stir in Egypt's wizarding world at the time; it could even be called a diplomatic incident.
Quite a few pure-blood families had also put pressure on the Egyptian Wizards' Council, and Voldemort knew all about it.
As for who those "mysterious wizards" who attacked him were, or why they had stolen the diary, that was hardly something a poor little second-year wizard could know.
As for whether Voldemort believed him—if he did, everyone would be happy, and Will could carry on treating Voldemort as his professor.
If he did not, Will would simply have to lie low at Hogwarts for a while, then help him meet a dignified end.
Still, Will went to the Headmaster's Office.
Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk drinking tea, with Fawkes dozing on his shoulder. When he saw Will come in, he set down his cup, a glimmer of understanding flashing in his blue eyes. "A letter from Tom?"
Dumbledore kept an extremely tight grip on information these days. How could an owl from Malfoy Manor possibly escape his notice?
Will nodded and told him everything.
After listening, Dumbledore fell silent for a moment, then smiled.
"Tom has started taking inventory of his collection," he said, a hint of mockery in his voice. "That means he really does intend to return.
"A ghost about to rise again must first check what remains in his coffin."
Will nodded, then asked, "Then, about the Horcrux—"
"That can wait." Dumbledore took a