The Chamber of Secrets echoed with distant dripping water as Tom Riddle showed up.
Harry felt a slight pain on his forehead when the image of Tom Riddle arrived.
Harry blinked in confusion.
"I… don't understand."
Lockhart began laughing again.
"Well… I suppose the truth will come out eventually."
He straightened his robe, trying to look sharp.
"I am… how shall I put it… somewhat of a fraud."
Harry blinked.
"A fraud?"
Lockhart sighed dramatically.
"I never actually defeated those dark creatures or accomplished those heroic deeds."
"I only wrote the books!"
Harry's mouth slowly fell open.
"What?!"
Lockhart raised his wand proudly.
"But I am incredibly talented at one thing."
He smiled smugly.
"Memory charms."
Harry stared in shock.
"What?"
Alexander explained.
"Lockhart is good at erasing people's memories?!"
Lockhart clapped happily.
"Precisely, Mr. Chen! I take their stories… erase their memories… write the books… become famous."
Harry stood there in silence, trying to understand everything.
Alexander burst out laughing.
An unrestrained laugh echoed throughout the chamber.
Alexander finally stopped laughing to wipe the tears from his eyes.
"You actually admitted it."
Lockhart's face became ugly, and he said.
"There's no point hiding it from dead students."
Tom watched the scene with amusement.
"Fascinating," Tom said calmly.
He floated forward.
"I have been waiting for this moment… for fifty years."
His gaze turned toward Lockhart.
"And I must thank Professor Lockhart for making everything possible."
Harry broke his silence and asked.
"What do you mean?"
Tom smiled.
"Greed."
Lockhart smiled too.
Tom continued calmly.
"The professor desired power. Recognition. Strength beyond what he truly possessed."
His eyes glowed faintly.
"And my diary… was more than happy to help."
Lockhart laughed.
"You said you would make me stronger!"
Tom chuckled.
"And I did."
Alexander crossed his arms, thinking.
"Hold on," he said casually.
Tom turned toward him.
Alexander tilted his head.
"I had the diary the entire time."
Harry looked at him in surprise.
"You did?"
Alexander nodded.
"Yeah."
Then he looked back at Tom.
"So explain something, Tommy boy."
"How did Lockhart get the diary… and return it before morning?"
Silence filled the chamber.
Tom laughed slowly.
"Oh, Alex, my dear friend…"
His smile widened.
"You will never find out."
Alexander stared at him for a moment and shrugged.
"Stupid rat."
Tom's face changed.
Just for a split second.
A flicker.
Barely noticeable.
But Alexander noticed.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Interesting," Alexander said softly.
Tom's expression had already returned to a calm look.
Alexander smirked.
"There has to be a rat."
He glanced around the chamber.
"A traitor somewhere at Hogwarts."
Tom said nothing, but the air felt colder.
After a moment, Tom looked at Alexander and spoke.
"My friend Alex, for the past year. We had many pleasant conversations."
His voice carried faint admiration.
"You are a very talented wizard… perhaps even as talented as I once was."
Harry looked between them nervously.
Tom spread his arms slightly.
"Join me, Alexander Chen."
The chamber fell silent.
Harry turned toward Alexander quickly.
Alexander rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Hmm."
Tom waited.
Alexander smiled casually.
"No, thank you."
Tom's eyes darkened.
Alexander shrugged.
"I'd rather not spend my life hiding in shadows."
Tom's voice became cold.
"Then today… will be your death."
He turned toward Harry.
"And I have also wished to meet the famous Harry Potter."
Harry tightened his grip on his wand.
Alexander clapped once.
"Alright."
Both of them looked at him.
Alexander pointed casually.
"Harry, you talk to Tom."
Then he pointed his wand toward Lockhart.
"I'll take care of the professor."
Lockhart stiffened.
"Now wait just—"
Alexander suddenly ran away.
"HEY!" Lockhart shouted, chasing after him.
Their footsteps echoed across the massive chamber.
Alexander ran toward the center. After being a certain distance away from Harry and Tom.
He stopped and turned around.
Alexander faced Lockhart and smiled.
"Professor."
"Are you sure you got stronger?"
Lockhart said nothing.
Alexander chuckled.
"Because picking on weaklings doesn't actually make you stronger."
Lockhart snarled and fired a spell.
A flash of magic shot forward.
Alexander quickly raised his wand.
"Protego!"
The spell deflected with a bright flash.
Lockhart frowned.
"Sharp tongue as ever."
He fired another spell.
Alexander blocked it again effortlessly.
After a few exchanges, Lockhart stopped.
"Tell me," Lockhart said, "when did you figure out I was a fraud?"
Alexander shrugged.
"Honestly?"
He flicked his wand.
"Bombarda!"
The spell blasted toward Lockhart.
Lockhart barely blocked it, sliding backward across the stone floor.
Dust scattered everywhere.
Alexander smirked.
"You talk about yourself too much."
He took a step forward.
"And you lack basic common knowledge."
Lockhart gritted his teeth.
Alexander smiled confidently.
"You aren't as handsome as I am."
Lockhart's eye twitched.
Alexander continued talking.
"Or as talented."
He fired another spell.
"Confringo!"
Lockhart barely dodged as the explosive curse smashed into a pillar behind him.
Stone fragments scattered across the floor.
Alexander shrugged.
"I don't understand what the ladies see in you."
He tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"Maybe just because you have money?"
Lockhart's face became ugly.
Alexander grinned.
"I have money too. A lot more than you."
He raised his wand.
"Maybe it's because I'm still young."
He nodded to himself.
"Yeah… that must be it."
"Stupefy!"
The red beam shot toward Lockhart.
Lockhart blocked it, but stumbled backward several steps.
Alexander lowered his wand slightly.
"Professor…"
He smiled.
"Why are you not talking anymore?"
Lockhart suddenly fired another spell in frustration.
Alexander blocked it again with ease.
Lockhart's face twisted with panic.
"Why… why is this happening?!"
His voice became desperate.
"I'm supposed to be stronger than you!"
He pulled out the Diary and shouted.
"Give me more power!"
Alexander's expression became excited. He now knew where the diary was located.
He asked Lockhart.
"Do you even know the price of the power you're receiving?"
Lockhart laughed confidently.
"It's just a little life energy! It is worth the price to be stronger!"
Alexander shook his head.
"Wrong."
Suddenly—
Tom began laughing loudly.
Both of them turned toward him.
Tom's eyes gleamed with cold amusement.
"That's right."
"I am not surprised you figured it out, Alex."
He smiled cruelly.
"I will be taking all of Lockhart's life energy."
Lockhart froze.
Tom's voice echoed across the chamber.
"And I will be fully reborn."
His smile widened.
"That idiot can't even defeat a child."
Lockhart's face turned pale.
"What…?"
Before he could react—
Alexander flicked his wand.
"Stupefy!"
The red beam hit Lockhart square in the chest.
He collapsed instantly.
Unconscious.
Alexander walked over calmly.
He picked up Lockhart's wand.
"Thanks for the lesson, professor."
Then he pointed his wand at Lockhart.
Lockhart's unconscious body lifted into the air.
Alexander flicked his wrist.
The body quickly flew across the chamber toward the exit.
Alexander dusted off his robe and calmly walked back toward Tom and Harry.
"Alright."
He twirled his wand.
"Did I miss anything interesting?"