Toji's life at Hogwarts had taken on a strange blend of normalcy and anticipation. The students were abuzz with gossip about Harry Potter and his rumored participation in the World Cup, and the dueling club had become something of a regular gathering now that people wanted to see him in action. He found himself juggling schoolwork, physical training, and magical studies, all while managing an ever-growing number of admirers and even potential suitors.
But amid all of this, there was one thing that weighed heavily on his mind: the Chamber of Secrets.
He had heard the whispers of serpentine voices, hissing in the dark corners of Hogwarts, and knew that there was more to it than the average student understood. Toji was intrigued by the history and mystery of the Chamber, its secrets buried beneath centuries of myth and fear. He wasn't afraid of danger; on the contrary, he craved it. The thought of unearthing the mysteries hidden in the castle thrilled him, and he resolved to find a way in.
The opportunity presented itself sooner than he had expected. It was a chilly Friday afternoon, and Toji found himself alone in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, staring at the dingy old sinks. He knew, from his research and deductions, that this was the entrance to the Chamber. The question was how to open it.
He looked down at the tap with the small snake etched into its metal, running his finger over it. It responded to Parseltongue—he was sure of that. Taking a deep breath, he let the cold, ancient language slip from his tongue.
"Open."
The word seemed to echo in the chamber, as if the very walls held their breath in response. The sink began to shift, a grinding of stone on stone filling the small bathroom. Slowly, a circular hole appeared, revealing a dark abyss that spiraled downward. Toji smiled in satisfaction, his eyes glinting.
He wasn't finished.
"Stairs," he hissed, feeling the magic pulse through him. In response, stone steps began to form, descending into the darkness below. The stairs twisted and turned into the unknown, but Toji didn't hesitate. He knew that whatever awaited him down there, he could handle it.
With confident strides, he began his descent, each step taking him further away from the light and deeper into the depths of Hogwarts.
At the bottom, the stairs opened up into a massive underground chamber, carved with ancient runes and filled with an eerie green light that seemed to radiate from nowhere. The air was damp, carrying the scent of earth and something more sinister. He continued forward, stepping cautiously as he explored the expanse.
He eventually came face-to-face with an enormous stone statue, its face unmistakable—it was Salazar Slytherin, ancient and grim. The statue was so imposing that it seemed to almost look down on him, as if daring him to uncover its secrets. Toji approached it, his senses alert. There had to be more.
But then, a voice broke the silence.
"Well, well, well... The great Harry Potter, in the flesh."
Toji turned sharply, his gaze narrowing as a figure began to materialize from the shadows. It was a young man, handsome and almost ethereal in his appearance, a spectral presence that seemed to radiate both charm and malevolence. His lips curved into a smile that held no warmth.
"Tom Riddle," Toji said, recognizing the figure from Ginny Weasley's scribblings and the whispers he'd heard in the corridors. "I take it you're the heir of Slytherin."
"Very perceptive, Harry," Riddle responded, his voice echoing through the chamber. "But I have a feeling you've come here for more than just talk."
Toji chuckled softly, his eyes glinting. "If you think you can intimidate me, you're more delusional than I thought."
Riddle's smile faded, replaced by a steely expression. "I think you'll find, Potter, that I'm not without my... allies." He raised his hand, and from the shadows behind the statue, there came a low rumble. The ground trembled as an enormous serpent slithered into view, its emerald eyes fixed on Toji with a hunger that promised death.
The Basilisk.
Toji watched it with interest, his heart rate never quickening. Instead, he cracked his knuckles, a grin spreading across his face. He'd always wanted to see just how strong a legendary creature like this could be.
With a flick of his wand, Toji conjured a shimmering shield of magic, blocking the serpent's first lunge. The Basilisk crashed into the shield with enough force to send a shockwave through the chamber, but Toji barely flinched. He ducked low, sliding beneath the beast as it struck again, its fangs sinking into the stone where he'd stood just moments before.
He could feel the raw power of the Basilisk—it was strong, incredibly so. But compared to him, it was just a beast. Toji dashed forward, his speed blinding. He leapt, landing on the serpent's back, and cast Incendio.
The spell ignited with such force that it enveloped the snake's head in fire, blinding it. The serpent recoiled, thrashing wildly, but Toji was relentless. He channeled his magic, condensing the flames into a thin, searing blade of fire that extended from his wand.
With a final leap, he brought the blade down, severing the creature's head from its body. The Basilisk fell, its body crashing to the ground in a deafening rumble. The chamber was silent again, save for the crackling of the flames.
Toji stood over the fallen serpent, his gaze turning towards Tom Riddle. The spectral figure looked shocked, his eyes wide.
"You think you're powerful, Riddle?" Toji said, his voice cutting through the silence. "You don't even have a body of your own."
He noticed the diary lying on the ground nearby, and everything seemed to click into place. This wasn't a real person—this was a memory, anchored to this world by the diary. Toji smirked. A Horcrux. The remnants of a coward afraid of death.
"Pathetic," he muttered. He raised his wand again, and this time, the incantation was different.
"Pestis Incendium."(Fiendfyre).
A great beast of flame erupted from his wand, roaring to life as it engulfed the diary. The inferno raged, its shape shifting into monstrous forms—dragons, lions, serpents—devouring everything in its path. Tom Riddle's figure flickered, his expression shifting from shock to terror as the flames consumed him.
"No!" Riddle screamed, but his voice was drowned out by the roar of the fire. In an instant, he was gone, his presence erased from the chamber.
Toji extinguished the fire with a flick of his wand, leaving nothing but ash in its wake. He stared at the scorched remains of the diary, the corners of his lips curving upward.
"So that's what you are, Voldemort," he said softly. "A fragment of a soul too afraid to move on."
He turned his gaze back to the statue of Salazar Slytherin. There had to be more here—more secrets, more power. He approached the statue, raising his wand again.
"Open," he hissed in Parseltongue.
With a rumble, the stone began to shift once more, revealing a hidden passageway. Toji's eyes glinted with anticipation. He stepped forward, ready to uncover whatever lay beyond. The secrets of Salazar Slytherin were his for the taking, and nothing—not a phantom, not a serpent—could stand in his way.
The Chamber of Secrets had just begun to reveal its mysteries.
AN: This was far before the canon timeline, so now I have some time before sending our MC off for Summer Holidays.