[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hp-i-am-sherlock-holmes":3,"chapter-hp-i-am-sherlock-holmes-hp-i-am-sherlock-holmes-chapter-248":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","HP: I AM SHERLOCK HOLMES",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1879788,2495,"Chapter 248: 0248 Tom Riddle","hp-i-am-sherlock-holmes-chapter-248",248,"\u003Cp>Regarding Gilderoy Lockhart's wish to \"make all magical and non-magical people live in harmony,\" Tom Riddle in his true form expressed strong disdain, but then his tone shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, when Lockhart told me he would become Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, the situation changed entirely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Riddle's smile rivaled that of Lockhart, who had once won five Most Charming Smile awards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I patiently began playing the role of a close friend, writing responses to fill his vanity with sweet words and satisfy his arrogance with false wisdom...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Lockhart began to trust me gradually and brought my diary to Hogwarts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he still maintained some wariness toward me, unwilling to use the magic I taught him to show off, preferring to try things himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, I was somewhat worried, but I didn't expect that even I had overestimated his abilities—mere Cornish Pixies hardly deserved to be called trouble, yet he was completely helpless!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of this, Riddle's face even showed a trace of disappointed resignation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock and Hermione exchanged glances but said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The final result, as you've seen, was entirely within my control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the foundation of that first class, he began relying on me more and more in subsequent lessons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'm not boasting, Holmes—I've always been able to employ different methods for different people, bewitching them at will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, this fool went from initial distrust to complete obedience, until... he opened his entire soul to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was exactly what I needed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riddle spread his arms, savoring the sensation of power surging through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The moment he opened his soul, I greedily absorbed it like a basilisk devouring prey—his fears, his secrets, his deepest desires.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I devoured his most hidden fears and deepest secrets, my appetite growing ever larger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gradually grew stronger, far stronger than this gentleman who only knew Memory Charms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strong enough to reveal some of my secrets to Mr. Lockhart and begin opening a small part of my own soul to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually, I transformed from a mere memory into an existence capable of controlling flesh and blood...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As you can see, Mr. Lockhart simply fell in love with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock frowned. He disliked this phrasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Professor Lockhart's increasing confidence in later classes represented your growing control over him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Quite right, Holmes,\" Tom looked at Sherlock with interest, \"Now you should be able to guess the course of events?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not 'guess'—deduce.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock looked at Riddle. \"The sequence of events is obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You controlled Lockhart to open the Chamber, had him kill the school's roosters, released Slytherin's basilisk to attack students, including a cat and a ghost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What I don't understand is why you initially had Pansy write those words on the wall when you could have had Lockhart do it directly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah yes, that was indeed unexpected.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riddle burst into laughter again, this time cold and harsh, nothing like the sound a sixteen-year-old should make.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made both Hermione and the invisible Harry's neck hairs stand on end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, he stopped his cold laughter and spoke in a fierce tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That filthy, lowly Mudblood—when he discovered my purpose, he actually tried to control me in return, to use me for himself!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even promised to share that supreme honor with me in the future—to become the hero who brought wizards and Muggles into harmony?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simply... disgusting!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think that's where Professor Lockhart is more noble than you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock said coldly. \"Because he wouldn't do such things personally, you found a way to control Pansy?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hah, he indeed refused to do it initially, so I could only make others do it through him. That consumed considerable power...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter. From the moment he agreed to open the Chamber, his life was no longer his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of which, I should thank him for fulfilling my wish and letting me enjoy the pleasure of being a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Holmes, this is also why I'm not unfamiliar with you all—after all, I was your teacher for an entire Year!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, among all the students I taught this term, only you and Harry Potter deserve my respect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't mention it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thoroughly humiliating Lockhart, Riddle resumed his elegant demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Lockhart told me all about Harry Potter's thrilling adventures, filling me with interest in this wizarding world Savior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to convince him to give the diary to Harry. If I could meet Harry, I would certainly let this Savior witness my capture of that big oaf Hagrid, gaining his trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, this was the one thing Mr. Lockhart absolutely refused—such a pity!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Harry standing beside Sherlock was seething with rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He used all his strength to control himself, barely restraining the urge to rush forward and punch Riddle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His clenched fists were gripping so tightly that his slightly sharp nails dug deep into his palms, bringing waves of piercing pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually, I think you should thank the Ministry of Magic.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do you say that, Mr. Holmes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If they hadn't been so eager to close the case and randomly found a culprit, your frame-up job was full of holes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From any perspective, Rubeus Hagrid—a half-giant sorted into Gryffindor could never be Slytherin's heir.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahahaha!\" Riddle laughed again, \"Sherlock Holmes, no, Sherlock, you really are...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He studied Sherlock with an appreciative gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Absolutely correct! But consider what was in front of Headmaster Armando Dippet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tom Riddle—poor but brilliant, orphaned but intelligent and brave, a prefect and model student.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubeus Hagrid, crude and clumsy, causing trouble weekly, keeping werewolf cubs under his bed, sneaking into the Forbidden Forest to wrestle trolls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone with a functioning brain wouldn't suspect me, would they?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I admit, even I didn't expect the plan to execute so smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You know, it took me five full years to figure out the Chamber's situation and discover that secret entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even setting aside Hagrid's background, that big fool could never have had the brains and ability to accomplish such a thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's exactly why I said you should thank the Ministry. Without them, your plan wouldn't have succeeded so smoothly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, yes, I'll thank them properly when I get the chance, though Transfiguration teacher Dumbledore firmly believed Hagrid was innocent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only that, he convinced Dippet to keep Hagrid and train him as gamekeeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I must say, though Dumbledore personally brought me to Hogwarts, he didn't like me as much as other teachers did.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I must say, these words of yours have improved my impression of Dumbledore somewhat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock glanced imperceptibly in a certain direction, \"Let's continue our conversation. Tell me what you did afterward and why you remained in the diary.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After Hagrid's expulsion, I knew it wouldn't be safe to open the Chamber again while at school.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You do have some self-awareness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for the compliment, Sherlock.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't mention it, Riddle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their exchange was the reverse of before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Hermione frown. She felt something was wrong with the current situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was Sherlock or Tom Riddle, both seemed rather too abnormal, didn't they?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on last years' experience, shouldn't they start fighting the moment they met?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One elegant and composed, the other calm and collected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging solely by their attitudes, they seemed more like old friends reuniting after years apart, without a trace of hostility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Hermione's puzzled gaze, Riddle manipulated Lockhart's wand through a series of dazzlingly complex movements, continuing leisurely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn't want to waste all those years of effort searching for the Chamber, so I decided to leave behind a diary, preserving my sixteen-year-old self within those pages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This way, someday I could rely on fortune to guide another person along my path, completing Salazar Slytherin's noble work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Later, your real self-gave the diary containing your sixteen-year-old memories to Lucius Malfoy at some point,\" Sherlock sighed, \"Your luck was good—you just escaped the opening term inspection.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard about this from Mr. Lockhart too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riddle glanced at Lockhart again, saying somewhat contemptuously, \"But even if they had searched him, I don't think this diary I created could have been detected.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You certainly have confidence in yourself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Naturally, for I am the greatest wizard in history!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that why you abandoned the name Tom Riddle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What else? Do you think I should use my filthy Muggle father's name forever?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You should know that Salazar Slytherin's own blood flows through my veins, passed down through his descendant daughter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That disgusting ordinary Muggle abandoned me before I was even born, just because he discovered his wife was a witch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, Sherlock, I created a new name for myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because I knew that someday, when I became the world's greatest wizard, wizards everywhere would dare not speak this name lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the current perspective, I succeeded!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, you didn't.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherlock said bluntly. \"The two people standing before you can easily say that name—Voldemort.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To echo Sherlock, Hermione quickly added. \"Voldemort.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, she deliberately traced two light scratches in Sherlock's palm with her finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing Hermione's small gesture, Sherlock turned to look at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione: ヾ(≧O≦)〜\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can read more than 40 chapters on:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>patreon.com\u002FMikeyMuse\u003C\u002Fp>",1524,"2026-06-10T06:27:24.273Z",1,"novelbin.me","1a3b5f6afc258346f1003bf0b2d83873ca285657c7b9c2ce7033fc4916fed47c","hp-i-am-sherlock-holmes-chapter-249","hp-i-am-sherlock-holmes-chapter-247",637,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhp-i-am-sherlock-holmes-cover.jpg"]