"Voldemort?!"
The dim wall lamp flickered in the deep, narrow room, casting mottled and fragmented shadows. The already eerie environment became even more mysterious. The eyes of the plaster statue glowed with an unnatural light, like two flickering gems—strangely luminous in the quiet of the night.
Develo stared nervously at the plaster statue, exclaiming in surprise.
"Voldemort? Haha, it's been a long time since anyone called me that. I thought I would drown in this endless sea of knowledge."
The plaster statue turned its head slightly and smiled at Develo. The grin was distorted in the dim light, like time had twisted it. But because this statue lacked arms, the entire scene felt somewhat… comical?
A half-person-sized plaster statue lay on the floor, straining to turn in Develo's direction. If it weren't midnight, Develo might have found it amusing. But now, his body was tense. His wand was raised, pointing straight at the statue, ready to cast a Dark Curse at a moment's notice.
He was 100% certain: this was Voldemort's Horcrux.
He had just seen it registered on the system panel—it carried the power of the Three Unforgivable Curses. Even if it didn't use the Killing Curse, being hit by either of the other two would be unbearable.
He fixed his gaze on the statue, muscles tight, ready to defend himself.
"Hahaha, don't be so nervous. Look—I'm just a little statue," the plaster figure said casually. Its eyes still glowed green. This wasn't just a statue—it was Voldemort's Horcrux speaking.
The statue grunted and rolled to a pile of clutter, leaning against it so it no longer had to strain its neck. "Haha, I just want to ask you a few questions. After all, I've been here a long time."
The youthful voice of Voldemort twisted his neck, as if he had just woken up from a deep sleep.
Develo forced himself to stay calm. He adjusted his breathing, using Zen meditation techniques to stabilize his mood.
"Oh? Visuddhimagga? I thought that was lost ages ago," Voldemort said, eyes fixed on Develo with interest.
Instantly, Develo broke into a cold sweat. Voldemort had recognized the meditation technique he was using.
The depth of this Horcrux's knowledge was truly terrifying.
"What exactly do you want?" Develo asked sharply. He couldn't allow Voldemort to take control of the conversation. He had to figure out his intentions first.
In the original story, Horcruxes didn't talk, let alone behave like this. Everything now was off-script. He would have to improvise.
"Hmm, I just want to know what's going on in the outside world. What happened to the future me—uh—Voldemort?" the young Voldemort said, his tone surprisingly friendly.
Develo noted that the Horcrux seemed harmless now. Armless and still, it didn't appear capable of casting magic. Still, considering Voldemort's eventual defeat, revealing that news might provoke a dangerous reaction.
Develo chose his words carefully.
"You failed. The Death Eaters were all captured."
That might've been too blunt.
But Voldemort remained calm—eerily calm.
"I see… Interesting. Then I suppose I'll have to see it for myself."
As he spoke, the green light in the statue's eyes blazed brighter.
"Let me see it for myself!"
Sensing danger, Develo acted immediately.
"Reducto!"
A flash of red light exploded from his wand, hitting the statue squarely.
Bang!
With a loud noise, the plaster statue shattered. Dust filled the room as fragments scattered in all directions.
But only the statue had been destroyed.
From the debris, a delicate diadem slowly rose into the air. It trembled slightly, as though alive.
"I can't read your thoughts. Someone's protecting you? Interesting… forget it. I don't have much power left," the voice said from the diadem. "But I can make this place accessible only to you. Come back when you have time—and tell this old man some stories from outside."
With that, the diadem floated over to another statue and gently landed atop its head. Instantly, this new statue's eyes glowed with the same eerie green light.
It blinked once—just once—at the dumbfounded Develo.
Immediately, Develo felt the world spin.
The room blurred as the scenery whirled around him.
When everything settled, he found himself standing outside the entrance to the Slytherin common room, holding a piece of parchment and a light blue silk scarf.
He unfolded the paper. The handwriting was elegant and neat.
"Hey, little guy. If you have time, bring the scarf and come back. Tell this old man what's going on in the outside world."
Startled, Develo quickly lit the parchment with his wand. The flames consumed it, leaving behind only a wisp of green smoke. He threw the ashes behind him.
He didn't want to see that Dark Lord again.
But questions swirled in his mind like smoke.
Why hadn't Voldemort reacted violently when he heard he had failed?
Why did the Horcrux seem so… human?
Wasn't Voldemort supposed to be ruthless and terrifying? But during that brief conversation, he had seemed like a lonely person yearning to talk.
Was there something wrong with the Horcrux's description?
Could this all be a carefully planned trap?
And why had the Horcrux initially appeared like any other dark artifact—bewitching and silent—but transformed into a conversational ghost after he used Zen meditation?
Could his meditation have inadvertently activated a consciousness within the Horcrux?
What did Voldemort mean when he said, "Seeing is not necessarily believing"?
Develo's head spun.
There were too many unanswered questions.
He had to tell Dumbledore.
Immediately.
Let the professors handle this mess.
Decision made, Develo picked up the silk scarf, intending to burn it too. But as he touched it—
[Ding!]
[Obtained item!]
He froze.
This was actually a recognized item?
Until now, only system rewards and his wand had been identified as items by the interface. Yet this seemingly ordinary scarf had been marked by the system?
Develo slowly put down his wand and glanced around. No sign of Filch.
It was already two o'clock in the morning, and he really didn't want detention.
He spoke the password to the stone wall, waited for the passage to open, and slipped inside.
The Slytherin common room was silent. Only the firewood in the fireplace crackled softly, and the sound of waves from the lake outside lapped rhythmically against the stone walls.
Develo finally felt a trace of peace—but also a chill.
Shivering slightly, he curled into one of the ringed chairs closest to the fire.
He held the silk scarf in his lap and summoned the item interface.
[Item: Ravenclaw's Token]
Description: Ravenclaw's exclusive token, given only to chosen individuals. Its full purpose is unknown. Once granted, it creates an unbreakable bond between both parties. The recipient cannot betray the other, in any sense.
Develo's brows furrowed.
An oath?
Unbreakable?
What had he gotten himself into?
He stared at the fire, the silk scarf clutched tightly in his hand, questions piling higher than the Hogwarts towers.