Section I

Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Lockhart stood in the doorway, covered in mud and slime. For a moment, there was silence all around. Suddenly, a scream came out - "Ginny!"

It was Mrs. Weasley, who had been sitting in front of the fire crying. She jumped to her feet, followed by Mr. Weasley, and both of them simultaneously threw their arms around their precious daughter.

Harry's gaze passed over them and into the room. Professor Dumbledore was smiling and standing in front of the mantelpiece, next to him Professor McGonagall, holding her hand to her chest and gasping for air. Fawkes flew past Harry's ear and landed on Dumbledore's shoulder. At that moment, Harry found himself and Ron both in their arms held tightly by Mrs. Weasley.

"You saved her! You saved her! How do you do that? ”

"That's what we all want to know." Professor McGonagall said weakly. Mrs. Weasley let go of Harry, who hesitated for a moment before stepping over to his desk and placing the Sorting Hat, the ruby silver sword, and Riddle's Japanese book on the table. Then he began to tell them what had happened. He spoke for about a quarter of an hour, and everyone listened attentively, and the room was silent. He said that he had always seen the disfigureless, geist-like voice, and that Hermione had a great deal to see the sound of a basilisk lurking in a water pipe; He also recounted that he and Ron had followed the spider into the Forbidden Forest, and that Aragog had told them where the last victim of the basilisk had been killed, and he guessed that the weeping Myrtle was the victim, and that the entrance to the chamber was probably in her bathroom......

"Very well," Professor McGonagall encouraged him to continue as he paused, "so you found out where the entrance is—I must add, you broke more than a hundred school rules along the way—but how did you get out of there, Potter?"

So Harry continued, his voice hoarse from the incessant talking. He told them how Fawkes and Sauron had arrived in time, and how the Sorting Hat had given him the sword. But then, his voice became hesitant. He had avoided mentioning Riddle's diary - Ginny. At this moment, Ginny was standing there, resting her head on Mrs. Weasley's shoulder, tears still silently rolling down her cheeks. What if they fired her? Harry pondered nervously. Sauron says Riddle's diary is out of order...... How could they prove that Riddle had forced her to do all these things? Harry instinctively turned his gaze to Dumbledore, only to see the Headmaster smile faintly and the firelight flickering on the lenses of his half-moon glasses.

"What interests me most," said Dumbledore mildly, "is how Voldemort used to confuse Ginny, for according to my sources, he is currently hiding in the Albanian forest." ”

Harry breathed a sigh of relief—a great, relieved sigh of relief, a sense of relief all over his body, and his heart warmed.

"W-what?" Mrs. Weasley said in a stunned voice, "Mysterious? Confused Ginny? But Ginny wasn't...... Ginny didn't ...... Really?"

"It's all this journal," Harry said quickly, grabbing the journal and showing it to Dumbledore, "Riddle wrote it when he was sixteen. ”

Dumbledore took the journal from Harry's hand, his gaze shooting down his long hooked nose, staring intently at the pages. Then, he closed his eyes, put his hand on the journal, and after a few moments, he opened his eyes.

"It's remarkable," he said softly, "needless to say, he's probably the best student Hogwarts has ever seen." Perhaps, the best student ever. He turned to face the Weasleys, both of whom looked confused.

"Few people know that Voldemort used to be called Tom Riddle. Fifty years ago, at Hogwarts, I taught him personally. He disappeared after leaving school...... Traveling all over the world, footprints to the ends of the earth...... Sinking deeper and deeper into the mire of dark magic, mingling with the most evil in the wizarding world, undergoing many dangerous magical transformations, and finally reappearing as Lord Voldemort, it is difficult for people to recognize him. Hardly anyone associated Voldemort with the smart, handsome boys' student council president who had studied here. ”

"But what about Ginny?" Mrs. Weasley said, "What does our Ginny and--what does it have to do with him?"

"His day—diary!" Ginny sobbed, "I've been -- writing on it, for a whole year, and he's- he's kept writing me back-"

"Ginny!" Mr. Weasley was stunned and said, "Didn't I teach you?" What have I been telling you? Never trust anything that can think for itself unless you see where it is hiding your mind. Why didn't you show me or your mom the diary in the first place? A suspicious thing like that, apparently full of black magic and sorcery!"

"I—I don't know," Ginny was still crying sadly, "I found it in a book my mother gave me. I-I thought somebody was caught in there, and forgot about it."

"Miss Weasley should go to the hospital immediately," Dumbledore interjected, "it's a painful ordeal for her. The school will not punish her in any way. Many wizards who were older and more resourceful than her were blinded by Voldemort. He strode over to the door and opened it. Bed rest and, perhaps, a big steaming glass of chocolate milk, I've always found it good for my mood. He said, looking down and winking at Ginny kindly. You'll find that Madam Pomfrey hasn't slept yet. She's just handing out Mandela herbal water - dare I say, the basilisk victim could wake up at any moment. ”

"So, Hermione is fine!" Ron said happily.

"No lasting damage was caused." Dumbledore said.

Mrs. Weasley led Ginny out, and Mr. Weasley followed, still looking badly battered.

"You know, Minerva," Professor Dumbledore said thoughtfully to Professor McGonagall, "I think it's worth a feast to celebrate. Can you please inform the kitchen?"

"Alright," said Mrs. McGonagall dryly, and made her way to the door, "Potter and Weasley will be left to you, won't you?"

"Of course." Dumbledore said.

She was gone, and Harry and Ron stared at Dumbledore uneasily. What did Professor McGonagall mean by that? What to do with them? Aren't they going to be punished?" I remember I seem to have said to both of you that if you break the school rules again, I'm going to have to expel you. Dumbledore said.

Ron's mouth opened wide in horror.

"This shows that even the best of us can sometimes only talk." Dumbledore smiled and continued, "You both received awards for special contributions to the school, and - let me think about it - by the way, each of you earned two hundred points for Gryffindor. Ron's face suddenly turned bright pink, like Lockhart's Valentine's Day flowers for everyone, and his mouth was closed. But one of us remained eerily silent about this thrilling adventure. Dumbledore added, "Why are you so humble, Gildero?"

Harry was startled. He had completely forgotten about Lockhart. He turned around and saw Lockhart standing in the corner of the room, still with that warm smile on his face. When Dumbledore asked him a question, Lockhart turned his head to see who Dumbledore was talking to.

"Professor Dumbledore," Ron said quickly, "there's an accident in the Chamber of Secrets below. Professor Lockhart—" "What, I'm a professor?" Lockhart said with a slight surprise, "Oh my God, I didn't think I was going to be very good!" He tried to cast an Oblivion spell, but his wand fired backwards. Ron whispered to Dumbledore.

"My God," Dumbledore said, shaking his head, his long, silver-white beard trembling slightly, "Gildero, you were stabbed by your own sword?"

"Sword?" Lockhart said confusedly, "I don't have a sword." The boy has a sword," he pointed to Harry, "and he'll lend you one." ”

"Excuse me, can you get Professor Lockhart to the hospital as well?" Dumbledore said to Ron, "I'd like to have a few more words with Harry...... and Lockhart walked out with brisk steps. As Ron closed the door, he glanced back at Dumbledore and Harry curiously. Dumbledore walked over to a chair by the fire. "Sit down, Harry." He said. Harry sat down, feeling indescribably nervous.

"First of all, Harry, I want to thank you," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling again, "you must have shown absolute loyalty to me in the Chamber of Secrets below. Only this loyalty can summon Fawkes to your side. ”

The phoenix had fluttered to Dumbledore's lap, and he stroked it gently. Harry smiled unnaturally as Dumbledore watched.

"So you met Tom Riddle," Dumbledore said thoughtfully, "I can imagine that you are most interested in ......him" Suddenly, something that had been bothering Harry blurted out from his mouth. Professor Dumbledore...... Riddle said that Sauron and I were like him. There are some peculiar parallels, he says......"

"That's what he said?" Dumbledore said, eyes under thick silver eyebrows looking at Harry contemplatively, "What do you think, Harry?"

"I'm not like him!" Harry said that he didn't want to speak in such a loud voice, "I mean, I-I'm in Gryffindor, I'm ......" but he was silent, and a trace of doubt resurfaced in his mind. "Professor," he said after a moment, "the Sorting Hat told me that I would be good in Slytherin.

For a while, everyone thought I was the heir of Slytherin...... Because I can speak Parseltongue."

"Harry, you speak Parseltongue," Dumbledore said calmly, "because Voldemort speaks Parseltongue. He was the last heir of Salazar Slytherin. If I'm not mistaken, the night he scarred you, he transferred some of his own spells to you. He didn't mean to, I'm sure ......"

"Voldemort transferred a part of himself into my body?" Harry was stunned.

"Apparently so."

"So I should be in Slytherin," Harry said, staring desperately at Dumbledore's face, "The Sorting Hat may have seen some Slytherin skills in me, and it ......"

"Put you in Gryffindor." Dumbledore said unhurriedly, "Listen to me, Harry. You happen to have many of the qualities that Salazar Slytherin particularly valued in his hand-picked students. He had some rare gifts of his own, Parseltongue, resourcefulness, strong-willedness, and a certain defiance of the law. He said, his silver-white beard trembling slightly, "But the Sorting Hat put you in Gryffindor, do you know why?" Think about it. ”

"The reason it put me in Gryffindor," said Harry in a tone of dismay, "is because I offered not to go to Slytherin ......"

"Exactly," Dumbledore said, smiling again. "That's a big difference between you and Tom Riddle. Harry, expressing our true self, is our own choice, which is more important than the ability we have. Harry sat motionless in his chair, completely frozen. Harry, if you still need proof that you really belong to Gryffindor, I'll take a closer look at this. ”

Dumbledore leaned over and picked up the silver sword from Professor McGonagall's desk and handed it to Harry. Harry flipped it over in a daze, the ruby shining in the firelight. Then he saw it, and near the hilt of the sword was engraved a name: Godric Gryffindor.

"Only a real Gryffindor can pull it out of his hat, Harry." Dumbledore said simply. For a while, neither of them spoke.

"What about Sauron?" Harry asked sharply, and he said with some concern, "Does he have Voldemort's power in him?" He was in Slytherin, powerful, and ......" Harry was trying to say cold, thinking of being in Tumbledown Alley, thinking of Sauron's methods against Dobby in the school hospital, Harry hesitated, thinking that it would make Dumbledore misunderstand Sauron.

Dumbledore stared at Harry for a moment, then sighed and said, "Harry, there are many things about Sauron that he doesn't want you to know. I know what you're trying to say," Dumbledore sat back in his chair, his hands folded over his chest, "he's wise, calm, hungry for power, and—ruthless, like Voldemort back then." ”

Harry couldn't help but take a breath of cold air.

"But it's not because of Voldemort's power," Dumbledore shook his head, "If it really has anything to do with Voldemort, it should be said that Sauron has the same hatred as Voldemort - hates the misfortunes inflicted on him by the world, and hates his own incompetence, which is why he can be so persistent and crazy in his search for power." Fortunately, Sauron still has what he cherishes, while Voldemort has nothing. ”

Harry listened, confused, for a long time, "You mean that Sauron is not as evil as Voldemort, do you?" ”

Dumbledore looked at Harry, his green eyes were clear and transparent, just like when he was a child, once upon a time, Sauron also had a pair of such eyes, who would have thought that after that night, it would become those golden eyes like blades.

"Fate...... Dumbledore whispered, and then he smiled, "Of course not." Remember, Harry, if there's one person in this world that Sauron wouldn't hurt, it's you. ”

Then, Dumbledore opened one of the drawers of Professor McGonagall's desk and pulled out a quill and a bottle of ink.

"Harry, all you need now is to eat something and get a good night's sleep. I'll let you go down to the feast, and I'll write a letter to Azkaban here—it should be our hunting ground guards back." I'm also going to draft a job ad to be published in the Daily Prophet," he said thoughtfully, "and we need a new teacher to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts class." Oh my God, the teacher in this class is draining so fast, isn't he?"

Harry stood up and walked towards the door. He had just grasped the doorknob when the door suddenly opened.

Lucius Malfoy stood there, his expression as indifferent as ever. The trembling man who followed him was none other than Dobby, with bandages all over his body.

"Good evening, Lucius." Dumbledore said kindly.

Malfoy walked straight into the room, his eyes swept over Harry, his pupils narrowed, but then he relaxed again, and Dobby followed in panic, hunched over, staring at the seams behind his master's robes, his face in desperate and helpless fear.

"Okay!" Luciusmar stared at Dumbledore calmly and said, "You're back." The Board of Directors suspended you, but you returned to Hogwarts on your own initiative. ”

"Oh, that's right, Lucius," Dumbledore said with a smile, "and I've been contacted by the other eleven directors today. Truth be told, the owls flew one after another, and it was like a hailstorm. When they heard that Arthur Weasley's daughter had been killed, they wanted me to get there immediately. They seem to think that after working for a long time, I am still the best fit for the job. They also told me some strange stories. Some of them seem to think that you have threatened to suspend me if they do not agree to suspend me. You are going to curse their families.

Lucius snorted.

"So-did you stop those attacks?" He asked, "Did you catch the murderer?"

"We got it." Dumbledore replied with a smile.

"Oh?" Mr. Malfoy snapped, "Who is it?"

"It's the same guy last time, Lucius," said Dumbledore, "but Voldemort is acting through another person this time." With his diary. ”

He held up the little black notebook and looked at Lucius calmly. Harry, on the other hand, looked at Dobby, not noticing the flash of relief on Lucius' face.

Dobby's behavior is very eccentric. His two bulb-sized eyes stared at Harry meaningfully, pointing at the journal and then at Mr. Malfoy, then slamming his fists hard. own head.

"I see......," Mr. Malfoy said slowly, to Dumbledore, his tone lighthearted.

"An ingenious plan," Dumbledore said in a calm tone, still staring into Mr. Malfoy's eyes, "if this Harry-" - Mr. Malfoy glanced at Harry with a strange gaze - "and his friend Ron did not find the journal. Oops-Ginny, Weasley might be going to have to take the blame. No one can prove that she didn't act on her own will......"

Lucius didn't say a word, and his expression was angry.

"Imagine that," Dumbledore continued, "what would happen then...... The Weasleys are one of the most prestigious families of pure wizard blood. Imagine what would happen to Weasley and his Muggle protection laws if it were discovered that Arthur Weasley's own daughter was attacking and murdering Muggle-borns. Thankfully, the journal was discovered, and Riddle's memories were erased from it. Otherwise, who knows what the consequences will be......"

"It's a blessing." Lucius said.

Dobby, who was cowering behind him, still oddly pointing first at the journal and then at Lucius, then pounding his head desperately. Harry suddenly understood. He nodded at Dobby, who retreated into a corner and grabbed his ear as punishment.

"Don't you want to know how Ginny got this diary, Mr. Malfoy?" Harry said.

Lucius Malfoy turned towards him. "How do I know how that stupid little girl got it?" He said.

"Because you gave it to her," Harry said, "at the Blotted Bookstore, you picked up her metamorphosis textbook and secretly stuffed it inside, didn't you?"

Lucius raised an eyebrow, "Is there any evidence?" He said calmly.

"Oh, there's no way anyone can provide proof," Dumbledore said with a smile on his face as he looked at Harry, "and now Riddle has disappeared from the notebook." Also, Lucius, I'm going to give you a word of advice, don't give out the old stuff from Voldemort's student days anymore. If any of these things fall into the hands of innocents, at least Arthur Weasley will be able to find out that they came from you......"

Lucius snorted, then showed an angry expression, before turning to his house-elf and saying, "We're leaving, Dobby!"

He unscrewed the door, and the house-elf rushed over, and Lucius kicked him out of the door. Walking to the door, he glanced back, then slammed the door shut, making a loud noise that could be heard in the entire hallway.

Harry stood there, feeling that Lucius was a little strange, and there didn't seem to be much of an atmosphere of conspiracy being ruined. But Dobby's occasional screams interrupted his thoughts.

"Professor Dumbledore," he said hurriedly, "may I return this journal to Mr. Malfoy?"

"Of course, Harry," Dumbledore said calmly, "but hurry. Don't forget the banquet. Harry grabbed the journal and rushed out of the office. He heard Dobby's screams of pain circling around the corner, getting farther and farther away. Wondering if the plan would work, Harry quickly took off one of his shoes, ripped off his sticky, smelly sock, and stuffed his journal inside. Then, he sped down the dark corridor.

Just as the two men were about to descend the stairs, he caught up with them.

"Mr. Malfoy," he said, gasping, staggering and paving, "I have something for you." ”

He shoved the stinking sock into Lucius's hand.

"What's this—" Lucius tore off the stocking from his diary and tossed it aside, glancing at it with a strange expression, then at Harry. He smiled inexplicably, "Well, thank you." ”

"Come on, Dobby. Do you hear me, hurry up!"

But Dobby didn't move. He held Harry's slimy, smelly sock aloft and looked at it excitedly as if it were a priceless treasure.

"The master gave Dobby a sock," said the house-elf in surprise, "and the master gave Dobby." ”

"What?" Lucius was a little surprised, "What did you say?"

"Dobby got a sock," Dobby said in disbelief. "It was the master who threw it, Dobby caught it, Dobby—Dobby was free."

Lucius stood there, looking at the house-elf in some surprise, and then at Harry, to Harry's surprise, Lucius looked calm, gave Harry a meaningful look, turned and left.

Harry looked at Lucius's back in surprise, there were so many things that puzzled him today, he didn't hear Lucius's whispered to himself, "Cunning little one." ”

"Harry Wave frees Dobby!" The elf interrupted Harry's thoughts with a shrill screech, and Dobby looked up at Harry, moonlight streaming in through the nearest window, reflecting his bulging eyes, "Harry Potter set Dobby free!"

"I didn't do anything, Dobby," Harry grinned, "and you promised me not to try to protect me again. ”

A bright smile suddenly bloomed on the elf's ugly brown-red face, revealing a mouth full of teeth. "I have only one question, Dobby," Harry said as Dobby put his trembling hand on Harry's stockings, "you once sued me that this qiē had nothing to do with the man who couldn't even mention his name, remember?" But—"

"It's a hint, sir," Dobby's eyes widened as if it were self-evident, "Dobby is giving you a hint. The Dark Lord can mention his name before he changes his name and surname, and his name can be used as he pleases, understand?"

"Understood," Harry reluctantly said, "well, I have to go." They're having a party, and my friend Hermione should wake up......"

Dobby stretched out his arms, wrapped his arms around Harry's waist, and hugged him tightly.

"Harry Potter is even greater than I knew it would be!" He sobbed, "Farewell, Harry Potter!"

Dobby let out another loud choked sound in his throat, and then disappeared.

At the evening banquet, everyone wore pajamas, and the celebration continued throughout the night. Harry initially tried to find Sauron, but soon he gave up. No matter which college the students are, they are all partying to their heart's content.

First, Hermione ran all the way to Harry and Ron, screaming "You've got it!" You've figured it out!"; Justin hurried over from the Hufflepuff table, grabbed Harry's hand, and apologized endlessly, saying that he shouldn't have doubted him in the first place; Hagrid appeared at half-past three in the morning and slapped Harry and Ron on the shoulders so hard that they could not eat and fell on the plate with the sweets; The 400 points Harry and Ron earned allowed Gryffindor to successfully defend their title in the House Cup, but to Harry's confusion, there didn't seem to be any mention of Sauron; Professor McGonagall stood up and told them that the school had decided to cancel the exam for the sake of hospitality ("Oh, oops!"). Hermione said); Dumbledore announced that Professor Lockhart would unfortunately not be able to return next semester because he would need to find his memories elsewhere, and everyone erupted in cheers when they heard the news, and several teachers applauded. Out of so many exciting things, Harry really didn't know which one was the most wonderful and wonderful.

"It's a shame," Ron said, taking himself a piece of jam doughnut, "I'm getting more and more fond of Lockhart." ”

In the corner, Sauron, Epikos, Draco, and Isabella were sitting together, and the three men offered Isabella a glass of wine to welcome her back, and to the trio's surprise, Isabella became tearful.

"How do you feel, Your Highness?" Ibpicos dodged Draco and Isabella and whispered, "You should have a lot to gain by facing the Dark Lord." ”

Sauron nodded with some sighs, "I'm afraid, he's more difficult to deal with than I thought." ”

Ibikos was a little surprised.

"It's not because of strength," Sauron whispered, "it's just that he's prouder than I thought. ”

The rest of the summer semester was spent in a dazzling sunshine. Hogwarts returned to normal with only a few minor changes: Defence Against the Dark Arts classes were cancelled, and Lucius Malfoy was expelled from the school board. To Harry's surprise, Draco didn't seem to be upset, in fact, Harry felt that he was smiling more freely, as if something big had happened, and at the same time, Ginny Weasley had regained his lively and cheerful personality.

In the blink of an eye, they were about to take the Hogwarts Express home. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny occupy a compartment alone. They make the most of the last hours of magic allowed before the holidays. They played "Crackling Explosion", set off Fred and George's last few laborious fireworks, and practiced using magic to disarm each other's weapons. Harry was now very skilled at this set of magic. Sauron, on the other hand, didn't like to be noisy, and sat in a cubicle with Draco, Epikos, and Isabella.

As the train was about to arrive at King's Cross Station, Harry suddenly remembered something.

"Ginny—what you saw Percy do that day, he wasn't allowed to tell anyone"

"Oh, you ask that," said Ginny with a giggle, "that's it—Percy has a girlfriend." ”

Fred dropped a stack of books on George's head.

"What?"

"It's the Ravenclaw prefect, Penelope Crivat." "He wrote so many letters to her last summer. He's been secretly dating her all over the school. One day, I bumped into them kissing in an empty classroom. You're not going to make fun of him, are you? She asked uneasily.

"I wouldn't dream of it." Fred said, but looking at his happy face, it was as if his birthday had come early.

"Absolutely not." George replied, smiling secretly.

The Hogwarts Express slowed down and finally stopped. Sauron found Harry, followed by Isabella, and the five of them walked off the train together.

Harry pulled out his quill and a piece of parchment, turning to Sauron, Ron, and Hermione.

"It's called a phone number." He told Ron, scribbling the numbers three times, then tore open the parchment and handed them to each of them. "Last summer, I told your dad how to use the phone, and he would understand. Call me at Dursley's house, okay?"

"Your aunt and uncle have heard all this you have done this year," Hermione said, as they got off the train, joined the crowd, and walked slowly towards the enchanted wall, "I'm going to be proud of you, aren't you?"

"Pride?" Harry said, "Are you confused? If they heard that I had almost died so many times, but I had escaped my life, they would have been furious......"

"Again, Harry." Sauron whispered, "If the Dursleys bully you, let Hedwig bring me the letter." And, I'll go see you when I have time. With that, Sauron turned and left, Isabella following him.

Looking at the two of them in the distance, Ron said in a strange tone, "I think Isabella likes Sauron like Ginny likes Harry." ”

Hermione smiled, and Harry snorted in shame.

"Hope you have a nice holiday." Ron and Hermione said.

"It should be." Harry gloated a little, "Sauron scared the Dursleys so much last year, you know, he almost blew up the Dursleys' house......"

Sauron was as empty-handed as ever, while Isabella was dragging her little box. The two walked like this without saying a word, and for a long time, Isabella said softly, "Your Highness." ”

Sauron stopped, turning to look at her. Isabella hesitated for a moment, then suddenly took a step forward and hugged Sauron, much to Sauron's surprise.

"The moment I was petrified, I thought I was going to die, I thought I would never see you again......" Isabella cried.

Sauron patted her on the back, and after a long time, she let go of Sauron, and said with some embarrassment, "Offended, Your Highness." Then he turned and ran away.

Sauron froze, smiled, and disappeared into the crowd.