The Diary and The Plan

As he made his way back to his room. He had no intention of letting such dark magic take root in his life. The diary may have been handed to him as a tool for power, but Damian knew better. This was no gift—it was a ticking time bomb, and he needed to get rid of it before it could do any more harm.

Damian sat in his room at Malfoy Manor, the weight of the diary in his hands now accompanied by the weight of realization. Lucius Malfoy's plan was becoming clearer with every passing moment. Lucius wasn't merely giving Damian the diary out of generosity or even for the vague promise of "power" as he had hinted earlier. No, there was something far more sinister at play.

Lucius needed the Black family seat. It was a prestigious position that would further cement the Malfoy family's influence in the wizarding world. Until Damian's reappearance, Draco had a solid chance of claiming that seat, especially since Narcissa, being a Black by birth, had strong ties to the family. But Damian's presence complicated that. As the last true male heir of the Black line, he was now the rightful claimant, and Lucius's ambitions were threatened.

The problem for Lucius was that eliminating Damian wasn't simple. If Damian were to die or disappear under suspicious circumstances, fingers would undoubtedly point to Lucius. The connections between the two families were too close for people to ignore. Even though Lucius held power, a scandal like that would ruin him. He needed a way to remove Damian without leaving any trace of his involvement. 

And that's where the diary came in.

The more Damian thought about it, the more insidious the plan appeared. Lucius was betting that Damian, eager for power, would use the diary recklessly. The diary would then possess Damian, just as it had done with Ginny Weasley in the original timeline. Damian would unwittingly open the Chamber of Secrets, releasing the basilisk upon the school. The chaos would ensue, and perhaps the most dangerous part of the plan would take hold: the diary would eventually drain Damian's life force, leaving him a husk, his soul consumed by the dark magic within it.

And when all was said and done, Lucius would be free of his biggest obstacle, with no fingers pointed his way. Everyone, including Dumbledore, would believe it had been the work of Voldemort, orchestrating events from beyond the grave through his Horcrux. Lucius could sit back and watch as Damian fell into the trap, and no one would suspect him.

It was a cunning gamble, but Damian wasn't so easily fooled. Lucius was playing a dangerous game, and he underestimated Damian's knowledge of the situation. The Malfoy patriarch might have thought he was delivering the means to Damian's demise, but Damian had no intention of falling for it.

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Damian sat quietly in his room at Malfoy Manor, the weight of the diary heavy in his hands. It wasn't just any diary—it was a Horcrux, a vessel of Voldemort's dark soul, capable of immense destruction. But Damian wasn't planning to use it for power, not directly. He had a different plan in mind, one that would achieve several objectives without exposing him. 

Now, the diary wasn't just an object to be passed off to Ginny to fuel Damian's own plans—it was also a potential trap set by Lucius. Damian would need to be careful, ensuring that the diary's influence never touched him, even as he set it into motion for his own purposes. Lucius wanted him dead, but Damian had no intention of playing the part of a victim. If anything, he would turn the plan around to his own advantage, manipulating the situation to achieve his goals while keeping a close eye on Lucius.

As Damian pondered Lucius's gamble, a cold smile crept across his face. Lucius thought he had set the perfect trap, but Damian was already steps ahead. The diary would serve its purpose, but it wouldn't be Damian's downfall. If anything, it would become Lucius's greatest miscalculation. Tomorrow, at Diagon Alley, the game will begin. And Damian intended to win.

The original story, as he remembered, involved Ginny Weasley unwittingly receiving the diary from Lucius Malfoy. She would become possessed by Voldemort, open the Chamber of Secrets, and release the basilisk upon the school. Eventually, Harry Potter, the hero, would save her, and Dumbledore would come to understand the diary's true purpose. That Horcrux would be destroyed, and the basilisk would meet its end. 

But Damian had no intention of following that narrative exactly as it had played out. He wasn't concerned about Ginny's fate—she would be rescued, of that he was certain—but the basilisk was an asset he wanted to claim. The chamber held many secrets, and the creature that dwelled there was one of the most dangerous and powerful magical beings in existence. If he could somehow control it or harness its power, it would give him a distinct advantage.

There was also the matter of Dumbledore. Damian couldn't be sure if the old wizard knew about Voldemort's Horcruxes. If not, the diary could serve as a way to force his hand, to make him confront the reality of what he was up against. Damian needed Dumbledore to see the destroyed Horcrux, but without Damian being the one to reveal it. That was where Ginny came in.

By ensuring the diary ended up in her hands, the events would unfold similarly to the original timeline, but with Damian carefully orchestrating certain outcomes to suit his needs. Ginny would unknowingly open the Chamber, and once the chaos ensued, Damian would make his move—securing the basilisk for himself while maintaining his cover.

Lucius had given him the perfect opportunity by suggesting they go to Diagon Alley tomorrow with Draco. There, amidst the bustle and distractions of the shopping crowds, he would have the chance to slip the diary to Ginny. She was innocent and curious, the perfect target for the diary's dark influence. No one would suspect Damian of being involved.

The cruelty of the act wasn't lost on him, but Damian was calculating, not sentimental. Ginny's life was at risk yes but there was a variable—Harry Potter. But if she served her purpose in this plan, it would set everything into motion. The Chamber would be opened, the basilisk unleashed, and Damian would claim what he wanted while Dumbledore was distracted by the Horcrux.

It was a gamble, but Damian thrived on calculated risks. He sat back, staring at the diary one last time. Tomorrow would be the day to set everything into motion. He had to be precise and careful—this wasn't about power for its own sake; it was about control, knowledge, and staying two steps ahead of everyone else. 

And so, with a carefully laid plan in mind, Damian prepared for the trip to Diagon Alley.