Throughout the summer vacation, Draco kept one thing in mind.
That was Tom Riddle's diary, which Laodeng had hidden deep inside the manor's Chamber of Secrets.
He showed no fear of those fragments of remnant soul.
That afternoon, Lucius was alone in his study working on old family documents when Draco gently knocked on the door and went in.
He didn't beat around the bush, but went straight to the point. "Father, I want to ask you for something."
"What do you want? Anything the Malfoy family have, you can have." Lucius looked up at him.
"The third row of bookshelves in the Chamber of Secrets, the innermost black, unsigned diary."
As Draco finished speaking, Lucius's fingers holding the quill paused, a flicker of wariness crossing his eyes, but he quickly dismissed it.
He already had complete trust in Draco.
Lucius paused for a moment, nodded, and stood up to take a sapphire-encrusted key from the wall:
"Those are old items I collected years ago, once tainted with a dark aura. I've kept them sealed away and untouched. Since you want them, take them."
"Thank you, Laodeng." Draco took the keys without further explanation.
He knew perfectly well that this diary was Tom Marvolo Riddle's Horcrux—the young Voldemort's Horcrux.
In the original timeline, it would have manipulated Ginny and created panic, but Draco had already anticipated this.
Upon receiving the diary and touching its cold, black cover, Draco felt a chilling, controlling mental fluctuation surge through his skin and into his mind.
[... Found me... Finally, someone found me...]
You are very strong... Your soul is very pure... Your power is very alluring...
[Help me... I can give you power... I can give you the glory of Pure-blood... I can put you at the top of the Wizarding World...]
[ Malfoy... we're on the same path... we should all be looked up to...]
His voice was very low and hoarse, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, carrying a seductive power that could easily tear a person apart.
Any young wizard would probably have already had their mind corrupted and taken over by this dark power.
Draco simply stood there expressionless, his eyes showing no wavering, not even a ripple of emotion.
Riddle's seductive words were nothing more than the insignificant buzzing of mosquitoes to him.
Draco didn't even bother to respond in his mind.
He merely coldly sensed the struggle and allure of that tattered fragment of soul within the diary, his gaze as calm as if he were looking at a worthless piece of trash.
The next second, a thought struck him.
[System: Add the item " Tom Riddle's Diary ( Horcrux )" to your inventory?]
"Yes."
There was no hesitation in seeking income opportunities.
The diary that was still desperately trying to seduce him vanished from his palm in an instant and was thrown directly into the System Space.
The space itself had an absolute isolating effect; in an instant, all the chilling whispers of the mind were cut off, and utter silence descended.
The world became instantly quiet.
Draco flicked his hand as if he had merely tossed away a piece of scrap paper.
Horcrux? Riddle? Bewitchment?
It means nothing to him now.
Draco emerged from the Chamber of Secrets, the chill from the Horcrux vanishing from his face, replaced by a gentle and relaxed smile.
Without delay, he went straight to his study, picked up his pen, and wrote a short but weighty letter to Dumbledore.
The letter contained no unnecessary preamble, stating it in a single sentence:
I have obtained Riddle's Diary, which is Horcrux. I have it under my safe control. Headmaster, please come to the Malfoy Manor to retrieve it when you have time.
An owl carried the letter and flew to Hogwarts overnight.
Dumbledore arrived as promised just two days later.
When the manor doorman announced that " Headmaster Dumbledore has arrived," Lucius and Narcissa were both taken aback.
This is the leader of the White Wizards, the figure whom the Pure-blood families both respect and fear, and now he has actually taken the initiative to come to the Malfoy Manor.
Lucius quickly straightened his robes and personally led Narcissa to greet her in the Entrance Hall.
" Headmaster Dumbledore, it's an honor to have you here. I'm so sorry I didn't greet you sooner."
Dumbledore's gaze swept gently over the two of them, and he smiled slightly. "No need for formalities. I've come at Draco's invitation."
Dumbledore's calm tone surprised the two. The three sat down in the living room, House-elf served tea.
Lucius was still a little apprehensive.
Throughout his life, he dealt with Dumbledore almost always with tension and vigilance, fearing that his past mistakes would be seized upon.
Before long, Draco came downstairs, looking calm and composed, without the slightest hint of unease.
He walked straight up to Dumbledore, raised his hand and gently waved it, and the black-covered diary was taken out of the System Space and landed steadily on the coffee table.
In an instant, even the air seemed to carry a barely perceptible chill.
Dumbledore's gaze sharpened. He only needed one glance to confirm that this was indeed Voldemort's Horcrux from his youth, and its danger far exceeded his imagination.
" Draco, you..." Dumbledore looked at the boy in shock, "You were able to suppress it so firmly, without showing the slightest sign of being corrupted?"
The dark allure of Horcrux is something even adult wizards struggle to resist, yet this boy, who had just finished first grade, handled it as easily as if it were an ordinary stone.
Draco blurted out, "I've learned about its nature from the family library and prepared in advance. It can't affect me."
Dumbledore picked up the diary, and with a touch, he sensed the fragment of a soul filled with resentment within.
The more certain he became, the more shaken he felt.
Voldemort's remnant soul, Horcrux, the secrets of the Malfoy family...
This child, all by himself, quietly and efficiently, took care of everything.
He looked at Draco, then solemnly at Lucius and Narcissa: " Lucius, Narcissa, I'm putting my words here today."
"I am fully aware of the origins of this diary and its past entanglements. From this day forward, this matter is completely closed."
" The Ministry of Magic will not cause you any trouble, and all past matters related to this will be dropped."
Lucius's body trembled slightly, and his fingers tightened sharply around the teacup.
This was a promise he had longed for for over a decade, a promise he never dared to even dream of.
Dumbledore continued:
"If any trouble related to that year ever comes to us in the future, I, Dumbledore, hereby promise that I will do everything in my power to protect the Malfoy family and reduce their guilt if possible."
Narcissa clutched her chest, her eyes slightly moist, and let out a long sigh of relief.
The last huge weight that had been pressing down on the family has finally been lifted.
Lucius stood up and nodded solemnly to Dumbledore: "... Thank you, Headmaster, Malfoy. I'll remember this favor."
Draco stood aside, quietly watching all of this. What kind of favor was this? It was just an exchange.
Dumbledore put away his diary, and when he looked at Draco again, it was with appreciation and acceptance.
He sighed softly, " Draco, you are more remarkable than you think."
" Hogwarts is more secure because of you, and the Malfoy family has truly been reborn because of you."