The two looked at each other, but Albus Dumbledore did not find the answer he wanted in Tom Riddle's eyes.
Just like fifty years ago, Tom Riddle remained an excellent student who knew how to hide his true self.
Perhaps his later madness came from creating too many Horcruxes, but that did not mean his obsessive nature had not always existed.
Tom had always been good at hiding.
Before being exposed, his disguise had been flawless to everyone except Dumbledore.
"For this question, I choose D."
Tom's cold voice pulled Dumbledore back to the present.
Looking into Tom's calm, emotionless eyes, Dumbledore understood what he meant.
Tom wanted him to reveal his own knowledge.
Rather than mislead each other, it was better to lay everything out in the open.
Dumbledore sighed inwardly.
Before being consumed by the Dark Arts, Tom's mind had been exceptionally strong.
He had been proud, decisive, and fearless.
He did not care about small gains, nor did he fear future rivals.
Even when facing Dumbledore, it was not fear but caution.
This was the true Tom Riddle.
[Tom Riddle has chosen option D. Answer correct. Rewards will be issued together with Albus Dumbledore's rewards.]
[Would you like to view the analysis?]
"Yes."
[Rewards will be issued after the analysis is complete.]
Outside, those watching were shaken.
Except for Severus Snape, most were both alarmed and impressed.
They began to understand why Lord Voldemort had once dominated the wizarding world.
He was decisive, ruthless, and completely unafraid to expose himself when necessary.
"Professor Dumbledore, perhaps even you didn't expect this."
"What?"
"That I am a blood descendant of Salazar Slytherin."
As Tom spoke, a wand slowly appeared in his hand.
It looked identical to the wand he had used in his youth.
At first, he only intended to test it.
But the space had recreated it perfectly.
No, not recreated.
It had drawn from his memory and materialized it.
"The Gaunt family, Tom?"
Dumbledore's response was calm, but his words struck deeply.
Tom fell silent.
He began to wonder how much Dumbledore truly knew.
He had revealed this secret partly because he did not care, and partly because he wanted to test Dumbledore.
Now, he had his answer.
Dumbledore knew far more than he expected.
Even if he had not known about the Basilisk before, the mention of the Gaunt family was enough.
That alone broke Tom's composure for a brief moment.
Their exchange had been more than conversation.
It was a test.
And both had gained what they wanted.
[Question: Why was Tom Riddle able to control the millennium Basilisk in the Slytherin Chamber?]
[A. Parseltongue allows communication with snakes, but it cannot control a Basilisk. Therefore, this option is incorrect.]
[B. Although Dark Arts can enslave beings, Tom had not mastered such magic at the time. Therefore, this option is incorrect.]
[C. Tom's charisma allowed him to influence people, but it had no effect on a Basilisk. Therefore, this option is incorrect.]
[D. The Basilisk was once the creature of Salazar Slytherin. As Slytherin's descendant, Tom possessed his bloodline and awakened Parseltongue, allowing him to communicate with and ultimately control the Basilisk. Therefore, this option is correct.]
After the analysis appeared, silence filled the space.
Dumbledore's calm eyes rarely showed such seriousness.
The explanation answered many of his long-standing questions.
Why could Tom control the Basilisk?
Tom was born into the Gaunt family, an ancient pure-blood line.
Yet he himself was a half-blood, something rare for that lineage.
Decades ago, the Gaunt family had nearly vanished from the wizarding world.
Unless distant bloodlines still existed, the family was effectively gone.
But their origin remained clear.
The Gaunts were descendants of Salazar Slytherin.
And through them, so was Tom Riddle.
...
📢 Author's Note
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