章節 79: Chapter 79: The Curtain Rises on a New Era
Mrs. Weasley, who had been sitting by the fire weeping, leapt to her feet. Mr. Weasley followed closely, both of them rushing forward to embrace their daughter. Augustus smiled faintly and stepped aside, giving the reunited family space to cherish this hard-won moment.
Beyond the Weasleys, Augustus noticed Professor Dumbledore standing near the fireplace, his expression warm and gentle. Beside him was Professor McGonagall, clutching her chest and breathing heavily, her composure shaken.
Fawkes let out a mournful cry and affectionately nudged Augustus's cheek before soaring past him to perch on Dumbledore's shoulder.
"You saved her! How did you do it?" someone exclaimed.
"We'd all like to know that," Professor McGonagall added, her voice trembling slightly.
Mrs. Weasley reluctantly released Ginny, and all eyes turned to Augustus.
Calm and composed, Augustus recounted the series of events. From attending the ghostly ball and hearing the strange hissing sound in a room, to following the trail that led them to Hagrid's hut and the spiders in the Forbidden Forest. There, they encountered Aragog, the leader of the acromantulas and Hagrid's old pet, who revealed that the creature in the Chamber of Secrets was a basilisk. By piecing together the clues—how the basilisk traveled through the castle's pipes and how the victim fifty years ago had been Moaning Myrtle—they discovered the entrance to the Chamber.
The rest was straightforward: the group entered the Chamber, confronted the memory of a youthful Voldemort as Tom Riddle, and with Fawkes's assistance, Augustus defeated both the basilisk and Riddle.
Though Augustus narrated the events with an understated tone, glossing over the dangers of facing Aragog, the basilisk, and Riddle, it was clear to everyone that the ordeal had been perilous. For Harry and Ron, whose abilities were well-known, surviving such a trial seemed impossible without Augustus's guidance. His strength and composure far exceeded that of any ordinary wizard, even Aurors.
Dumbledore's half-moon spectacles gleamed with a curious light as he smiled warmly at Augustus. Professor McGonagall, still processing the tale, clutched her robes tightly, her expression a mix of awe and contemplation.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stepped forward hesitantly to thank Augustus, not only for saving Ginny but also for protecting Ron. In their minds, without Augustus leading the way and shielding the children, Harry and Ron would have likely met terrible ends long before reaching the Chamber.
To the Weasleys, Augustus's youth, strength, and the influence of his powerful family painted him as a future giant in the wizarding world—on par with Dumbledore. Establishing goodwill with him now, they thought, was far better than seeking his favor later when his rise was complete. For Ron to have such a connection was nothing short of miraculous.
"What interests me most," Dumbledore said gently, "is how Voldemort managed to influence Ginny. My sources tell me he is currently hiding in the forests of Albania."
"Wha—what?" Mrs. Weasley stammered, her voice trembling. "You-Know-Who? Influenced Ginny? But Ginny didn't... Ginny couldn't have... Did she?"
"Voldemort's teenage memory resided in this diary," Augustus explained. "It seems he used a special method to imbue it with a fragment of his essence. Ginny was ensnared by the diary's influence. With Voldemort's skill for manipulation, it's no surprise that someone with Ginny's limited experience would fall victim to his schemes."
"If not for this diary, none of this would have happened," Loki added coolly. "The diary was the catalyst for everything: controlling the basilisk, opening the Chamber, and ensnaring Ginny. But now, after Augustus destroyed Riddle, the diary has lost all its power."
Dumbledore took the diary from Harry and studied the now-empty pages intently.
"Extraordinary," he murmured. "Few know that Voldemort was once called Tom Riddle. Fifty years ago, I taught him here at Hogwarts. After leaving school, he vanished—traveling far and wide, delving ever deeper into the dark arts, and surrounding himself with the most wicked of allies. Through numerous transformations and dangerous magics, he returned as Voldemort, unrecognizable to nearly all who knew him. No one could connect the terrifying Dark Lord with the brilliant, handsome Head Boy he once was."
"What a tragedy," Augustus said softly, shaking his head. "Someone of his talents, straying so far down a dark path. If he hadn't chosen that path, his achievements would have been limitless."
"But what about Ginny?" Mrs. Weasley interjected. "What does she have to do with... him?"
"His diary!" Ginny sobbed. "I wrote in it all year, and it wrote back—he kept replying to me!"
"Ginny!" Mr. Weasley gasped. "Haven't I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain! Why didn't you show the diary to me or your mother? Something so obviously filled with dark magic—"
"Blaming Ginny won't help," Augustus interrupted gently. "Even adult wizards fell prey to Voldemort's manipulations during his reign. For someone as young as Ginny, resisting him was impossible. She is simply the youngest of his victims."
Dumbledore nodded. "Miss Weasley should go straight to the hospital wing. This has been a terrible ordeal for her, but the school will not punish her in any way."
As the room settled, Augustus and Loki bid their farewells. Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and the Weasleys watched them leave, their expressions a mix of gratitude and complex emotions.
A new star was rising in the wizarding world. Like Tom Riddle before him, like Grindelwald in his time, Augustus would shape the tides of an era. A new legend was beginning, heralding a shift in the course of history.
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