"Unicorns are a very beautiful and kind creature," Tom heard, "it is said that killing such a life, one will be cursed."
In the Forbidden Forest, Tom and Autumn Zhang walked together, Tom carrying a windproof lantern, moving with uneven steps through the forest.
Autumn Zhang introduced him to unicorns.
"Our group has been studying Transfiguration lately, and I've read a lot about animals," Autumn Zhang said. "Oh my, their blood is everywhere, it's so sad…"
Because of the Hero group, Tom was quite familiar with Autumn Zhang. In his mind, she was a very "girlish" girl – different from Hermione – but surprisingly not annoying.
She liked beautiful things, was sympathetic, and also very smart.
"Here, this is for you." Autumn Zhang handed a potion to Tom.
"What is this?"
"Werewolf potion," Autumn Zhang explained. "They say there are werewolves in the Forbidden Forest. If we encounter one, use this. Maybe becoming one of them will be safer."
"This potion turns us into werewolves?" Tom was surprised.
"Not exactly, it harmlessly and temporarily turns a person into a wolf. We'd rather have a potion that allows one to transform into any animal at will, but that's too difficult. Professor Murphy says you need a deeper understanding of the Animagus potion."
"Temporary?"
"Yes, the Werewolf Potion can only last for about fifteen minutes now. This bottle should be good for two uses," Autumn Zhang reminded.
Tom doubted the effectiveness of this potion against werewolves but still took it.
The ancient trees in the Forbidden Forest seemed to have been around for a thousand years, unbelievably tall. The further they went, the more massive they became, their roots protruding from the ground like low walls. Tom felt like he was navigating an obstacle course.
However, the blood on the ground became denser, indicating they were getting closer to their target.
Suddenly, Autumn Zhang whispered in shock, covering her mouth, "There, is that..."
A beautiful creature lay on the ground in the distance, its skin as white as pearls or moonlight.
It was dead, its silvery blood covering the ground around it.
Just as they were about to shoot sparks to notify Hagrid, something shrouded in darkness emerged from the bushes like a giant bat gliding across the ground. It pounced on the unicorn and began drinking its blood.
"It's... drinking..." Autumn Zhang whispered in horror.
"Let's go," Tom pulled Autumn Zhang, preparing to leave, but a dry twig snapped underfoot with a soft crack.
The hooded figure suddenly turned its head towards them.
For a moment, Tom felt a strange sensation as if he was looking at himself through the creature's eyes.
He could even sense the cold, murderous intent filling its mind.
"Run!"
They turned and ran, but then, amidst rapid hoofbeats, a centaur charged out. It first shot an arrow at the shadow, which dodged, then reared up, protecting the two wizards behind it.
The figure hesitated, then, like a ghost, slipped into the bushes and disappeared.
"You'd better return to Hagrid," the centaur advised.
"Thank you," Autumn Zhang, still shaken, asked, "Do you know what that was? It was drinking..."
"Yes, drinking unicorn blood," the young centaur said. "That's a vile act, malicious, brutal, desperate to cling to life at any cost..."
"Unicorn blood is said to be cursed, bringing a life worse than death," Autumn Zhang mentioned. "Why would anyone drink it?"
"True," the centaur agreed. "Unicorn blood can sustain your life, even at death's door, but it only prolongs life. Only someone with nothing and desiring everything would commit such a grave sin."
"Maybe he's just trying to buy time with unicorn blood, to drink something else... something that fully restores energy and magic... something granting eternal youth."
"You mean... the Elixir of Life? Someone with nothing and wanting everything... who do you mean?" Tom felt the centaur was implying something.
"You must have heard the name. Who else has waited so quietly for so many years, longing for a resurgence? Who else clings to life, waiting for the right moment?"
Tom was startled, a thought crossing his mind, "That person, are you saying that's Voldemort?!"
If that was Voldemort just now, what about the diary?
Two Voldemorts?
Which one is real?
Harry had mentioned someone after the Philosopher's Stone.
Tom had thought Harry right about the outcome but wrong about the process. He suspected Snape due to bias, but now thought it might be himself.
Sometimes, Tom even wondered if he robbed Gringotts before his amnesia.
But what if Harry's guess wasn't baseless? What if he never robbed Gringotts?
Then who did? Who else is after the Philosopher's Stone?
Does the diary have other helpers?
Or does the diary claim to be Voldemort, but is it really?
He previously thought Voldemort became the diary after being defeated by Harry.
Now it seemed not the case.
In a moment, Tom made a decision.
He needed to confront the person.
He handed the lantern to Autumn Zhang, "Autumn, signal Hagrid."
Then he looked at the centaur, "Can you protect her?"
"Boy, what are you going to do?"
Tom didn't answer. He dashed off, his mind still carrying a strange sense, as if knowing where the creature would flee.
"Danger, boy!" The centaur tried to stop Tom, but he suddenly surrounded himself with black smoke, accelerating past the centaur, disappearing into the bushes.
Tom moved swiftly.
The flight spell, a reward from the diary, required a high magical level for true flight, but using the black mist to lighten his body, it greatly increased his running speed.
He crossed many bushes and roots like a hound on a hunt, guided by a peculiar sensation in his mind.
Soon, he felt close, and the creature seemed to stop.
As he burst from behind a tree, a spell was fired at him, "Immobilus!"
He swiftly dodged, a rope entangling the tree branches where he'd just been.
"Hold on," Tom spoke, "are you Voldemort?"
The figure looked at him, and a hoarse, unpleasant voice came from under the hood, "That magic... who taught it to you?"
"What?" Tom was confused.
"The flight spell," the figure rasped. "I invented that spell. Who taught it to you?"
"So, you really are Voldemort," Tom said.
The flight spell was from the diary, and he found no record of it in the library. However, records about Voldemort mentioned his ability to fly.
So the flight spell must be Voldemort's creation.
The figure was silent for a while, not denying it, "And who are you, boy?"
"I... I might be Lucas Tom Blytheson..." Tom said, taking out the diary.
Since Harry might have seen the diary, Tom had been carrying it again.
"Do you recognize this?" he asked.
The shadow seemed surprised, "Where did you get that diary? Who are you? From the Malfoy family?"
Diary? Tom was now sure the figure was connected to the diary.
"I might have another name," Tom said, his expression bitter and strange, "A name you
might be familiar with."
"My name is Tom, Tom Riddle."
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