Tom's apology stemmed from his decision to hand Harry over to Voldemort, so that he could truly survive. However, Harry misunderstood, thinking Tom was apologizing for being late, and didn't give it much thought. He said, "We came earlier than others, but there's only this mirror here. I didn't see the Philosopher's Stone."
Harry didn't suspect me?
Tom was surprised but relieved that Harry wasn't on guard against him. He thought about knocking Harry unconscious immediately, but then decided against it.
First, find the Philosopher's Stone.
He thought.
After all, Harry can't defeat me.
"This mirror... could it be..." Tom also looked at the large mirror.
"Yes, the one we saw before," Harry said, "Dumbledore must have moved it here later. I think this is probably one of Professor Dumbledore's traps."
Tom approached the mirror and again saw Tom Riddle.
But this time, he wasn't wrapped in chains. He saw himself sitting at the High Table in the Great Hall, with Harry, Ron, Hermione, even Murphy and Autumn Zhang by his side...
The scene momentarily confused him, but he knew it was impossible. It would never happen again.
He was going to deliver Harry to Voldemort, and if he did, he couldn't stay at Hogwarts any longer. He wouldn't see these people again.
He would become Voldemort's assistant, a dark wizard, and a criminal...
That was the price for living.
"Dumbledore said that this mirror shows what one's heart desires most," Harry said. "Tom, what did you see?"
Tom frowned, "Nothing... but the image seems different now..."
If this is Dumbledore's trap, what does it mean?
The Philosopher's Stone must be hidden in this mirror, but how to get it?
"Harry, you try."
Harry stepped in front of the mirror, not seeing his parents this time, but almost the same image as Tom.
The Great Hall, tables laden with food, students' laughter, floating pumpkin lanterns, friends all around him, professors smiling and nodding at him...
Is this what I want now?
It seemed... yes.
Harry realized that what he desired most was for this peaceful life to continue.
And for that, he needed the Philosopher's Stone.
As he thought this, the image shifted, and only he remained in the mirror.
He looked at the boy in the mirror, who also gazed back. After a while, the boy in the mirror touched his pocket.
Harry felt something heavy in his pocket and, in surprise, pulled out a red stone.
"Tom!" He held up the Stone, "Is this..."
"Yes, the Philosopher's Stone!" Tom was also surprised. "What did you do?"
Harry just looked at the mirror, and the Stone appeared in his pocket?
But why didn't it work for me?
"I don't know, but we got it." Harry was excited, "Quick, we must leave before Snape."
Since they hadn't wasted much time, the effects of the potion they had drunk hadn't worn off, and they could leave through the fire gate now.
Tom's hand went to his wand at his waist.
There was no more waiting. It was safest to subdue Harry here, with only the two of them in the room.
But at that moment, Harry suddenly stopped, "Tom, do you need the Philosopher's Stone?"
"What?" Tom was startled, his breath seemingly caught in his throat, "What do you mean?"
Harry looked at him, and after a while, said, "I saw your notebook. You need the Philosopher's Stone to live, right?"
"..."
Tom wasn't sure if Harry was testing him, wondering if Harry would challenge him to a duel the next second. There was no point in hiding now, and he clenched his teeth, "Yes."
"Someone wants you to get the Stone, right? Is it Voldemort?"
Tom felt like he was suffocating, "Yes."
Harry still looked at him, "One last question, Tom. Are you a dark wizard?"
"What?" Tom was stunned.
"Are you stealing the Philosopher's Stone for Voldemort willingly? Do you want him to resurrect?"
"No," Tom said, "I don't want to, but I need it, and..."
"Then, take it." Harry said, handing the Stone over.
Tom looked at the Stone in shock, then back at Harry, hesitatingly taking it.
He was almost prepared for the Stone to suddenly explode.
But it didn't; he held the blood-red stone in his hand.
He was puzzled, "Why? Aren't you afraid I'll give it to Voldemort?"
"A bit afraid. To be honest, I was a little worried that you were a dark wizard; you've been secretive lately, and you're a Slytherin... But then I thought about it, and I believe you."
"...Believe me?"
"Yeah, I sometimes feel we're quite similar. Neither of us had parents, didn't know about the magical world before, and we both consider this place our home."
"We're friends, aren't we? I haven't really had friends before."
"I don't want Voldemort to get the Stone. But if he doesn't get it, and you die... then I'd rather he come back, and I'll fight him again... I defeated him once, remember?"
Harry said optimistically, "Maybe I can defeat him a second time."
"And... you saved my life."
Tom was stunned; he knew Harry meant Halloween night, but it was also Harry who lured the troll away.
That was hardly a favor.
His hand tightened, a part of him yelling, "Even with the Stone, you still need the resurrection potion, only Voldemort has that..."
But another part of him just stood there, his heart filled with a storm of confusion.
Finally, he relaxed his hand.
Maybe there's another way... he thought, maybe he could learn the Repairing Charm and live on like this...
But at that moment, the fire in the gate went out, and a figure burst in, raising his wand, "Stupefy!"
Harry was struck by the spell without a sound, falling to the ground. Tom instinctively drew his wand, but the experienced opponent flicked his wand, "Expelliarmus!"
Tom's wand was knocked away.
"Harry Potter, and you, Lucas Blytheson!" Snape glared at them, "Daring! You really are daring!"
He said, grabbing Tom, "Come with me, let's see what you have to say to the Deputy Headmistress!"
"Professor, please listen to me..." Tom was in shock, "I, we were trying to..."
But Snape refused to listen, waving his wand, and Tom's mouth felt as if it was sealed, unable to open.
"Make your excuses to the Deputy Headmistress later!"
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