"Aaargh!"
Tom let out an agonized scream.
The Diary shook violently, as though enduring tremendous torment.
From the moment the Spellbook had identified the Diary as a "curiosity" and finished analyzing it, Hermione had gained absolute control over it.
In other words, Tom Riddle's soul fragment was now entirely in Hermione's hands, with no possibility of resistance.
She could knead and squash him however she pleased, stretching him into a spread-eagled figure one moment and a straight line the next.
Never mind tormenting him-she could completely annihilate his soul with a single thought.
"You, you filthy Mudblood... what have you done to me?!"
Tom's voice came in broken bursts, filled with uncontrollable terror.
He could distinctly feel an irresistible force tearing at his soul and crushing it. That pain was more terrifying than death.
"Looks like you're determined to take this beating to the bitter end."
Hermione sounded resigned.
"AAAAARGH!!!"
With a thought from her, the screams from the Diary grew even more agonized.
She flipped through the Diary in her hands as though examining an amusing toy.
What kind of decent person keeps a diary, anyway?
"Stop... stop! I... I surrender..."
He'd learned his lesson. Please spare him.
There was a pleading note in Tom's voice. He had never imagined he would end up in such a predicament.
Once, he had been Hogwarts' finest student, Slytherin's most promising heir, someone destined to become the greatest Dark Wizard of all.
Now, however, he was like an ant, being toyed with by a girl without the slightest power to resist.
"Tom Riddle... Actually, I'll just call you Little Voldemort. You want a body, don't you?" Hermione suddenly asked.
Little Voldemort's weak voice rang out. "Yes."
"As long as I successfully manipulate someone, I... I can absorb soul power from them... once,