The stars twinkled in the night sky, and the moonlight bathed the houses of Diagon Alley in a soft glow.
In Hermione's room, darkness enveloped everything except for the sound of her steady breathing.
Across the hall, Luke's room was illuminated by candlelight. He sat at the table by the window, dipping his quill in ink as he wrote and drew in the diary.
The sixth-year student Tom Riddle was still scheming, and he and Luke had been testing each other. However, their interactions had only yielded vague, nonsensical responses.
"Have you ever been bullied at Slytherin?" the diary wrote in a new font.
Luke knew what Tom was getting at. Before he could reply, another line appeared.
"I can teach you a powerful spell that will make you the king of those little snakes!"
Luke's mouth twitched. "What spells can you teach me?" he asked.
"I can teach you any higher-order spells!" the diary responded eagerly.
"Have you heard of the Thunderbolt spell?" Luke inquired.
"No, I haven't," the diary replied. "Let's try something else. How about the Portego? It's a good defensive spell that Flitwick probably won't teach you in first grade."
Luke shook his head. "I've already learned that one."
The diary fell silent for a moment before suggesting, "What about the Crucio? You haven't learned that one yet."
Luke chuckled to himself. He had indeed learned the Crucio and had even experimented with it alongside Voldemort.
He couldn't help but wonder how Tom would react if he found out about Voldemort's situation.
He thought mischievously.
"To be frank, I've not only mastered the Crucio but also the remaining two Unforgivable Curses, so—can you show some sincerity?"
Luke harbored no fear of exposure, inscribing his message without hesitation.
Unlike before, this text lingered on the paper, resembling an ordinary diary entry.
After a prolonged wait, just as Luke grew impatient, the diary responded.
The once elegant script now appeared rushed and even scratched, hinting at underlying irritation.
"How could a first-year wizard learn this? You must be lying to me!"
"You're not a first-year wizard!"
"How dare I lie to you? These spells were acquired in the forbidden section, simple enough, aren't they?"
Unfazed, Luke maintained his composure, his penmanship graceful .
Perhaps his arguments lacked conviction. He reiterated the titles and authors of the banned books.
"You—a promising candidate for a dark wizard!"
For a prolonged silence, this accusation lingered in the diary.
"I don't think you belong in Slytherin; Azkaban might suit you better."
"I've often felt like an underachiever in Slytherin."
The diary remained silent, seemingly irked by Luke's retorts.
"Do you possess knowledge of alchemy? It's a recent pursuit of mine."
Observing Tom's lack of response, Luke took the initiative.
"Ah, alchemy. While I'm not well-versed, I can offer explanations."
The diary's response was curt, its brilliance indicative of its perturbed state.
Luke realized he could discern Senior Tom's mood through his handwriting, akin to someone wearing their emotions on their sleeve.
"Ever attempted to inscribe a spell on a ring or bracelet?"
"I've contemplated it, but failed. Those spells' power proved too unruly."
The luminescent script hinted at the diary's surprise.
"Perhaps the two of us could engage in a fruitful conversation..."
A satisfied smile adorned Luke's lips. Tom had indeed mastered this method, suggesting he had his own ideas and opinions. The exchange between the wizard and the diary persisted until four in the morning.
Subsequently, the communication intensified, and Tom's handwriting gradually faded.
He was on the brink of being drained.
Yet, Tom remained astonished by this seemingly first-year student. Many of his ideas were overlooked, leaving Tom contemplating the genius of the little wizard who claimed him.
He was genuinely surprised by the vast reservoirs of knowledge possessed by Luke.
Undoubtedly, the wisdom required to become the Dark Lord was impressive. Perhaps the present nose-less version was not as sharp. However, the current Hogwarts student, Tom, was at the peak of his intellectual prowess.
After their exchange, Tom even offered improvement methods for depicting runes.
"I believe we'll continue our discussions another night."
The faint black writing on the notebook hinted at running out of ink. After all, the diary had just been awakened, with minimal power that couldn't interfere with the outside world.
Much of Tom's manipulative magic had to be left unsaid.
"Alright, it's not too early. We'll talk when we have the time."
Glancing at the clock, Luke closed the diary and tossed it into a different space. There was no opportunity for Tom to bid farewell; he was merely a tool.
Once Tom's essence was drained, the diary would be handed over to Dumbledore, earning Luke some credits.
Luke contentedly went to sleep.
....
Early morning arrived with a knock on the door. Hermione, an early riser, came to wake Luke.
"I'm coming!"
Luke yawned, getting up to pack his belongings. Spotting Hermione looking at him curiously outside the door, he walked over and hugged her.
"Good morning."
"No, seriously. Did you stay up late last night?" Hermione tried to push Luke away but blushed, pulling him back.
Observing the dark circles under Luke's eyes, she couldn't help but ask, "Did staying up all night affect your health?"
"It's a bit tough on the body, but I managed. I just stayed up all night."
After all, going to bed at four and waking up at six wasn't much different from an all-nighter. His reinforced body, however, could handle it.