Outlaw Tom!

Ravenclaw's Bronze Ring, as William's greatest asset, is known to very few people.

This small group definitely does not include Ron and Lockhart... the two who briefly possessed the diary.

Riddle couldn't possibly learn that from them.

On the other hand, the Tywin incident has been widely discussed, so he might have guessed it... Therefore, he might be deliberately trying to get information out of him!

William instantly channeled the Golden Raspberry Award- winning actor, a bewildered look on his face as he shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Exaggerated... a bit exaggerated." Riddle grinned and said, "William, you should hesitate for a moment, and it's best to have some thought in your confusion."

This kind of performance has tension and depth, making it more convincing to the audience.

"A true expert," William said with a smirk.

"Not really, I've just gotten a bit of a feel for it from pretending in front of Dumbledore for so long," Riddle said calmly.

"But you never kept it from him."

"Yes, I admit it. I can't hide it from Dumbledore." Riddle's face darkened.

"His blue eyes were always fixed on me, not with tenderness or admiration, but with a cold gaze... from the very first time we met!"

No matter how well I perform, he ignores it!

William glanced sideways; Riddle's tone sounded like that of a neglected, resentful woman... or more like that of an unloved son trying to make a good impression.

Sixteen-year-old Riddle clearly harbored many grievances against Dumbledore.

"Alright, William, let's talk about the ring."

"There's nothing to talk about. Don't be like Professor Tywin... He just believed in legends too much, and I've already sent him to Azkaban for a hard labor."

I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to see him again. I really miss him.

"Just a legend?" Riddle stared at William. "But the more I look into what you've been doing these past two years, the more astonished I become."

You're much more amazing than I was in third grade...

"Otherwise, how can you call yourself a genius?" William retorted, refusing to admit it even if he wanted to.

He chuckled knowingly, "Tom, the ring really is just a school legend, like all the other big and small, strange and wonderful school legends."

Riddle stood up, gently put his hands behind his back, and slowly paced around the room. He suddenly asked:

"William, do you even know where you are?"

"Chamber of Secrets?"

"To be more precise, it is the Chamber of Secrets Sanctuary, the room left behind by Slytherin."

"He studied magic here, contemplated life, observed the universe and time, and even reflected on... death," Riddle explained.

William looked up and observed; he did indeed notice something unusual about the room.

On the surrounding walls hung special flames— the Gubraithian Fire.

This is a flame that has been enchanted and can burn forever, hence it is also known as the Eternal Fire.

William had once seen this precious flame at Nicolas's estate.

The ceiling is covered with star charts: planets, satellites, constellations, all interspersed with astrological symbols, charts, and formulas.

The arrows represent elliptical star orbits, the geometric symbols represent ascending angles, and the animals belonging to the twelve zodiac signs all look down upon the room.

Slytherin was quite the Astronomy enthusiast!

I guess he often gazed at the stars when he had nothing to do, marveling at the vastness of the universe and the infinity of space and time... Slytherin, the cosmic wizard!

etc...

How do you know what Slytherin did here?

William stared at Riddle, frowning. "Judging from your tone, it sounds like you've seen it with your own eyes."

"I didn't know," Riddle laughed. "But I know because of you."

"What's the meaning?"

"The first time I controlled Ron and entered the Chamber of Secrets, I found the Basilisk was gone... Do you know how I felt at that moment?"

William smiled.

"I killed the Basilisk, but you can't blame me; it was your future— Voldemort —who released it."

To be honest, that little cutie tastes pretty good... crunchy, chicken flavor. I've even secretly sliced it into meat slices and deep-fried it a few times.

I still have some frozen corpses here, would you like to try some?

"..." Riddle took a deep breath, telling himself not to get angry.

"I was really disappointed that the Basilisk was dead. But I wasn't giving up, so I climbed into the entrance of this sculpture to see if there were any more Basilisk, and that's when I unexpectedly discovered this room."

"... You mean, you've never been here before?" William asked, taken aback.

"No," Riddle sighed. "Even the greatest wizards have their moments of error."

At that time, I had immense respect for Slytherin, so how could I have climbed the statue?

Add to that the long-standing rumor: the monster in the Chamber of Secrets of Secrets was left to Slytherin as his successor to purge students unworthy of learning magic.

After I summoned the Basilisk, I never thought to check inside the statue... until that time!

"After I climbed in, I discovered that there was another room inside the Slytherin Statue's mouth; this was the real... Chamber of Secrets!"

Riddle's eyes gleamed with a burning light.

"Slytherin left the Basilisk not to eliminate the Mudblood, but simply to protect this room... to protect the things inside from being seen by others."

Besides the adult Basilisk, there were seven juvenile Basilisk in the room, completely asleep.

A Basilisk lives for eight or nine hundred years before dying... then a second Basilisk awakens and continues to guard... until the successor of Slytherin appears."

"What did Slytherin leave behind?" William pressed.

Riddle smiled mysteriously.

He left behind no magic, but he left behind invaluable records.

What record?

"The story of the Four Founders' adventures... Death... The Deathly Hallows... Prehistoric Mysteries... There's so much more."

William's heart sank; these were also the things he and Nicolas had been searching for.

"I'm so stupid, really." Riddle suddenly burst into laughter.

"My true form went down the wrong path! What a load of rubbish about immortality! He couldn't even kill a baby! That piece of trash, that idiot, he deserves to die!"

Riddle's face contorted into a ferocious expression.

"Now that I have been resurrected and have received guidance from Slytherin... I will take his place and become the true Voldemort."

I will be stronger than ever before... I will truly live forever!

"So, give me the ring, one of the Deathly Hallows!"

Riddle's eyes were cold.

"I'm not pretending anymore, I'm coming clean... The ring is indeed with me." William flipped his right hand, and a ring appeared in his palm.

"But Tom, if I put on the ring now and enter the time loop again... your rebirth will be gone."

William quickly put it on, but then felt something was off. He pulled with his left hand and easily took the ring off.

"..."

Once inside the time loop, the ring cannot be removed... Since it was removed, it means he failed.

Riddle stared at the ring with fascination, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.

"William, I know about the ring now, so I'll definitely take precautions."

Why did I choose Chamber of Secrets as the location for my resurrection, and why did I choose the dead of night?

Strictly speaking, the Chamber of Secrets of Secrets isn't located within Hogwarts Castle; it's deep underground!

Once midnight has passed, my resurrection will be a foregone conclusion, and even if you manage to return to Hogwarts, you will not be able to rewrite history.

William frowned.

The power of the Ravenclaw Ring is activated by the castle's magic; outside, he indeed cannot enter the time loop.

Similarly, once you enter the time loop, you cannot leave the castle.

These are two essential prerequisites.

"This Chamber of Secrets requires Parseltongue to open," Riddle sneered. "And Apparition is forbidden; even a phoenix can't fly out."

"I've done so much, prepared for an entire school year... how could I possibly let you leave? Dumbledore isn't going to come in and help you either!"

Riddle laughed loudly and held out his hand. "Come on, give it to me, and I might spare your life."

"I see." William nodded, then flipped his right hand and put the ring away again.

"Since I can't use the ring's power, then I'll just... kill you right here!"

William's voice was gentle, as if he were talking about something trivial.

He tilted his head and rubbed his neck.

"Sixteen-year-old Voldemort... Tom, who do you think you are, invincible?"

"Have you gotten too cocky, or am I just too weak to lift my wand?"

William spat and laughed, "You want me to hand over the ring? You think you're worthy?"

"Hand over the Slytherin notebook right now... and I'll spare your life! You outlaw Tom!"

William was filled with murderous intent. Even though Tom Riddle had been resurrected, killing him would be considered self-defense.

He might even win his third Award for Special Services to the School.

(Thanks to "," for the reward)