"This is serious," Richard thought.
Harry picked up the diary and began to turn it over. He said:
- Ron, you didn't buy it, did you?
"No," Ron shook his head from side to side.
"But it ended up with Ginny," Harry continued to think out loud. "So someone planted the diary on her."
Ron thought for a moment, then suddenly it dawned on him.
"Malfoy!" he exclaimed.
"What, Malfoy?" Richie asked.
"When we were at Flourish and Blotts in August, Lucius Malfoy touched the books in Ginny's cauldron. Dad got into a fight with Malfoy because he started insulting us. I'm sure it was Malfoy who planted You-Know-Who's diary on Ginny."
Potter dropped the diary and began to wipe his hands on his robes.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Ron asked, puzzled.
"What if he's cursed or poisoned?" Harry suggested.
"I doubt it," Ron said hesitantly, glancing warily at the notebook. "I took it from Ginny almost a month ago. If the diary had been cursed or poisoned, Ginny and I would have been dead long ago."
Richie had been eyeing Riddle's notebook with curiosity during his comrades' conversation. Turning his gaze to Weasley, he asked:
- Ron, why didn't you give the diary to your father?
"Father?" Ron grimaced. "He would have taken it away, but I wanted to show it to you."
"Ron, this thing could actually be dangerous," Richard continued.
"There are all sorts of dangers there, like if you write in a notebook, the ink disappears and the answers appear," Ron dismissed carelessly.
Richard sighed heavily, closed his eyes and rubbed them tiredly with his palm.
"Gods, give me strength!" he said. "Ron, you know this is Riddle's diary. You know it was planted. It's a magical artifact. And yet you used it so calmly and didn't give it to an adult?! Ron, are you sane?"
"Hey!" Weasley exclaimed indignantly.
"I agree with Richie," Harry said seriously. "Do we need it? Let's tell Mr. Weasley."
Ron's eyes widened in fear and he silently shook his head from side to side.
"Why not, Ron?" Harry asked.
In response to this, Weasley said:
"If Dad finds out we've been keeping a dangerous artifact in our house for a month, do you know how he'll scold me? He only scolded me once, but that was enough for me."
"Ron, don't worry," Richard said soothingly. "I have a better idea. Secret research is currently being conducted at the Rich Workshop under the supervision of a representative of the Department of Mysteries. I suggest we send Riddle's diary to the Unspeakable overseeing the research. He won't tell your father, Ron. The Unspeakables know best what to do with dangerous artifacts."
"Um..." Ron mused. "If he doesn't tell us anything... But maybe we shouldn't give the diary to anyone? We might learn the secrets of You-Know-Who..."
"No, Ron," Richard shook his head. "It's not worth it. Life and limb are far more valuable than some terrorist's secrets. And 'secret' knowledge can easily be gleaned from the Hogwarts library or any regular university."
"Oh, come on!" Ron rolled his eyes. "Richie, whatever you say..." he snorted cheerfully. "Secret knowledge in the library! Ha-ha! Do I look like Granger?"
"I need to send the notebook," Potter stated. "Perhaps I should call my uncle? He might come back."
"No need, Harry," said Richard. "There's a faster way. Donkey!"
A distinguished-looking house elf appeared among the boys in the compartment with a pop. Dressed in an expensive black three-piece suit, white shirt, dark blue tie, and highly polished shoes, he looked very respectable and imposing.
The elf held himself with the dignity of a butler. He immediately found Richard with his eyes and bowed deeply.
"Did my lord call Donkey?" he asked.
"Yes, Donkey," Richie replied, turning his gaze to Riddle's diary. "What can you tell me about this item?"