The Death of Tom

Light!

Riddle's eyes suddenly filled with a blinding green light. The scorching light pierced through his body, making his soul feel the heat.

Riddle felt like he was cracking open.

Not the body, but the soul!

A piece of his soul was torn apart.

Then, Riddle saw an even more horrifying sight: a small fragment of a soul gushing out of the body.

This feeling is familiar; it's just like how he was split off from Voldemort and made into Horcrux!

Riddle quickly forgot about it; an invisible force grabbed him and tried to drag him out of his body.

No!

Please!

This body was just made; it hasn't even warmed up yet!

Riddle roared furiously, again and again, powerful yet filled with excruciating pain!

His soul was convulsing; his chest and neck ached, a torture-like pain. His throat burned like fire.

He was finally pulled out of his body.

The cold wind filled his lungs, and he felt like a newborn taking its first breath. This world was too torturous. Riddle didn't want anything else but to return to his body.

But that's impossible!

The body is dead.

In a daze, Riddle realized what had happened.

His Killing Curse rebounded!

He was hit by Avada Kedavra!!

What does it feel like to be hit by Avada Kedavra?

Few people can answer this question; most wizards struck by this magic die.

Only Voldemort survived, thanks to the little "tricks" he left behind.

As Horcrux from fifty years ago, Riddle had long since separated from his original body, and he was no longer entitled to that kind of special service...

Now we're enjoying it.

It's not too late!

Riddle most wanted to do... was find a quiet corner and have a good cry.

He hates Potter!

He hates the Stark!

He hated even more... Avada Kedavra!

From William's perspective, he didn't have as many psychological processes as Riddle.

He only saw Riddle shoot out a beam of green light, which hit Harry on the forehead and bounced back along the same path as a mirror.

Then Riddle's body was lifted off the ground, his head pierced through as if by an arrow, and he landed on the ground almost upside down, his head limp.

William's smile was exceptionally bright; he hadn't been this happy in a long time... he was practically dying of laughter!

Dumbledore told him many times that Lily had cast a spell—an ancient magic—as she lay dying.

At the cost of his life, a protective charm was left on Harry. This charm will last until Harry reaches adulthood.

During this time, Voldemort was unable to kill Harry. It was because of this protection that the Killing Curse rebounded.

Twelve years later, how could Riddle, sharing the same soul, possibly kill Harry?

If he casts the Killing Curse, he will inevitably suffer a backlash, just like Voldemort did back then.

A wizard cannot be defeated by the same move twice, except for Voldemort.

William's smile suddenly vanished as he stared at Riddle's corpse.

Even though he was dead, magical energy emanated from Riddle's body.

Strange, is it turning into a ghost?

William frowned.

He quickly realized something was wrong; another Riddle was materializing beside Riddle's corpse.

It was a shadowy, vaporous presence... indistinct and ethereal.

This is definitely not a ghost; on the contrary, its state is very similar to Voldemort's when he left Quirrell's body.

William asked in astonishment, "Tom, you're not dead?"

The shadow glared at William with resentment and sneered, "I told you, I've been resurrected and have a physical body. I'm not the same as the mere fragments of my soul anymore. As long as my original body doesn't die, I will never die either."

I will return for revenge!

After uttering his threat, Riddle immediately drifted towards the wall, passing through it like a ghost.

William seemed to remember something; his expression changed, and he hurriedly ran to the door... The door to the Chamber of Secrets Sanctuary remained locked.

As Riddle said, "Only Parseltongue can open the door."

But William doesn't Parseltongue!

Damn it, are we going to be trapped here and die?

This is a messy, dusty house.

The wallpaper had fallen off the wall, there were stains everywhere on the floor, the furniture was broken, seemingly damaged by someone, and the windows were boarded up.

A wizard dressed in an elaborate robe walked through a low, dark passage, pushed open a door, and entered the room.

"Come forth, Wormtail," the wizard uttered.

The sound didn't seem to come from his mouth, but rather from his body.

There was absolutely no sound from the room!

"Hurry up!" the wizard said coldly again.

A moment later, a mouse crawled out of the hole in the wall.

It shook its head and wagged its tail as it observed, then its body suddenly changed, transforming into a man.

The man was very short, his thin, light-colored hair was disheveled, and he had a large bald patch on the top of his head.

His skin was very dirty, almost like a rat's fur, and his pointed nose and watery little eyes also had rat-like features.

However, he seemed to be eating well, looking quite plump, clearly indicating he hadn't experienced hunger.

The man's eyes darted around, and he asked in a high-pitched voice:

"Master, what happened to you? Isn't this Lockhart?"

"My resurrection encountered some problems, so I temporarily occupied this guy's body."

Lockhart turned his head and pulled his hat back. A young face was visible on the back of his head.

--Tom Riddle.

Lockhart became the second Quirrell!

"Is the problem serious?" Pettigrew Peter shrank back, glancing towards the doorway.

"No problem."

Not even Riddle himself believed that, let alone Wormtail!

"I told you... any wizard could have resurrected him, there was no need to use Potter..." Wormtail muttered, his face covered in sweat.

"I actually succeeded, but something unexpected happened, and Stark ruined it."

"Stark is very strong. I don't even dare to appear in front of him, afraid that the child will find out," Wormtail said fearfully.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. I'm leaving for now," Riddle said. "Leaving United Kingdom."

"Master, where are you going?!"

"I'm going to follow in Slytherin's footsteps. He left me some guidance... that can make me stronger, stronger than the former Voldemort, stronger than Dumbledore."

"Would you like to come with me?" Riddle stared at the Wormtail.

"I need a good helper, a good subordinate."

Riddle, controlling Lockhart's body, extended his hand in an inviting gesture.

Pettigrew didn't speak, but his eyes darted around as if he was thinking about something.

"I know, I know... you're hesitating." Riddle smiled charmingly.

"His new master has become like this, and he has lost his power, just like Voldemort back then..."

"I didn't!" Pettigrew cried out.

"I've thought it through, Peter," Riddle said softly.

"It's time for you to take a stand and figure out who you're loyal to."

Don't you want to put an end to these twelve years of hiding and living in such a miserable state for you?

(Thanks to QQ reader "Sanskrit (Li)" for the tip)