Chapter 57: The Black Diary (Part 1)

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Days passed with no leads about the heir's identity.

Finding that one person among nearly a thousand students was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

That day, Jane was heading to the Great Hall for lunch when she encountered Moaning Myrtle, who was looking around furtively.

"You're out?"

This surprised her, as Myrtle spent 90% of her time in her toilet.

Seeing Jane, Myrtle's eyes lit up. She floated mysteriously to Jane's side and whispered:

"Shh—follow me, I have a treasure for you."

Jane followed her upstairs to Myrtle's usual bathroom.

Myrtle gestured toward a black book in one of the stalls:

"This is my farewell gift for your expulsion—sorry I don't have any possessions to give you something better."

Jane picked up the book, and the moment she touched it, something felt off—her whole body began to itch.

"Where did you find this book?"

But Myrtle's mood changed as quickly as June weather. She suddenly let out a shriek, dove into a toilet, and began sobbing:

"Someone just threw a book at me again—"

Jane's instincts told her something was wrong. In these dangerous times, who would specifically come to an abandoned bathroom just to throw things at a ghost?

"Who threw it?"

Myrtle shook her head, sniffling:

"I don't know... I was just sitting on the toilet seat, thinking about death, when it hit me right in the head."

"Of course, ghosts can't feel it—but I have feelings too—"

Jane examined the book and found it appeared to be a diary, dated fifty years ago.

Opening the first page, she discovered a familiar name: T.M. Riddle

The same name she'd seen on the Special Award for Services to the School in the trophy room!

"Do you know this Tom Marvolo Riddle?"

Myrtle stopped crying, her cheeks turning silvery with embarrassment:

"Oh yes, I knew him—he was an older Slytherin student, very handsome."

She flew a couple circles around the diary in Jane's hands, covering her cheeks:

"The professors and students all liked him, so polite, top of his class—who could resist someone like that?"

Jane flipped through the diary, finding all the remaining pages blank.

"He received a Special Award for Services to the School—what did he do?"

But Myrtle shook her head, her eyes full of confusion:

"I never heard about that... perhaps it was after my... death."

Thinking of her death, she became distraught again and plunged into the toilet, crying in the U-bend.

Something unusual was definitely afoot.

Why would someone throw away a blank diary from fifty years ago in this abandoned bathroom?

Back in her dormitory with questions swirling in her mind, she began examining the diary carefully.

"Aparecium!"

The diary remained unchanged, its blank pages revealing nothing.

Meanwhile, that itchy sensation persisted, like thousands of ants crawling over her skin, making her want to conjure a back scratcher on the spot.

But Daphne returned just then, forcing Jane to stuff the diary into the bottom of her wardrobe alongside Lockhart's "works," adding two binding charms for good measure.

The moment her hands left the diary, the itching sensation stopped.

...

"Disgusting!" Daphne complained upon seeing Jane, "Lockhart doesn't deserve to be a professor! He actually suggested students brew love potions and cast enchantment spells in the Great Hall!"

It was Valentine's Day, but everything had been ruined by Lockhart's dwarfs and his words.

She ranted indignantly, her blonde hair quivering with anger: "People under love potions become completely devoted to whoever drugged them! Just look at medieval history—how many wizards were born because of love potions!"

"Indeed," Jane rarely agreed with her views, "Such potions should be controlled."

Daphne's eyes lit up, realizing this was a good chance to build rapport with the heir.

She steered the conversation toward more familiar topics like hairstyles, fashion, sweets, and potions... while watching Jane's expressions, but found her uninterested.

Even the most socially skilled person couldn't maintain a one-sided conversation against such indifference. Daphne fell silent awkwardly.

She cursed her own social ineptitude—why couldn't she find a topic Jane liked!

She continued thinking of other ways to connect.

Ah! Gifts!

She pulled out a large box of Honeydukes chocolates: "Would you like some?"

Jane politely declined—she hadn't even finished last Christmas's chocolates yet.

"Oh..." Daphne hesitated.

But she quickly approached again, holding a new beauty potion:

"Would you like to try this? It's a new limited edition, for skin care and acne removal..."

Her sales pitch gradually died under Jane's strange look.

This time Jane finally responded, because the potion in Daphne's hand was one she had recently produced.

"Thanks, but no need."

She pulled out a box from under her bed containing hundreds of identical beauty potions.

Daphne gasped, her eyes filled with shock.

—What immense wealth!

—To spend hundreds of Galleons on beauty potions!

—Her own monthly allowance couldn't even buy a few bottles!

She recalled their first meeting last year, when Jane wore second-hand robes and carried used textbooks, and felt foolish!

How could she have thought Jane was just a poor Muggle-born witch?

Those second-hand robes must have been enchanted with protective magic, those textbooks must contain family notes passed down!

Maybe even from Slytherin himself!

Trying to verify her theory, Daphne carefully examined Jane's clothes.

She quickly noticed something unusual.

Though the clothes looked old and outdated, they were embroidered with fine silver threads!

Her mother had a treasured garment just like this, decorated with ancient defensive runes!

No wonder Jane showed no interest in sweets and beauty potions—with such wealth, what couldn't she afford!

Daphne remained lost in shock.

But then she heard Jane speak.

"Lately... I've been thinking about some things that are too bright."

Daphne looked at Jane with worship and hidden fervor in her eyes.

Her efforts had paid off! Jane was actually initiating conversation! This was incredibly rare!

She must have something to ask of her...

This was her chance to prove herself!

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

She asked eagerly.

What was "too bright"?

Were the Muggle students too bright?

Gryffindors too bright?

Did they need to be eliminated?

She wouldn't disappoint her!

But Jane just sighed, closed her book, and pressed her temples:

"The sunlight's been too bright lately, making it hard to see things clearly."

This unexpected response left Daphne looking bewildered.

But she quickly recovered:

"Perhaps you need sunglasses? I have many fashionable ones!"

She quickly pulled open a drawer at her vanity, taking out a large wooden box containing five or six pairs of sunglasses, along with pearl earrings, gold bracelets, and other accessories filling the entire box.

She offered the whole box to Jane.

This must be Jane's way of testing her loyalty!

If she hesitated to offer everything, it would show insufficient devotion!

"I have some necklaces and earrings too... you can try them all."

But Jane just shook her head, selecting only a pair of red-framed sunglasses before returning the box.

"Thanks... the sun's too bright lately, you should wear them too."

Daphne froze.

What was she implying?

Her mind raced faster than it ever had in class.

No interest in jewelry, but specifically chose red-framed sunglasses... mentioned brightness twice...

Sunglasses... red frames... black lenses... black and red blocking the view... like flowing blood... bright scenes...

Suddenly it clicked!

Jane must be planning a bloodbath in the castle, purging all the Muggle-borns!

And she, Daphne Greengrass, was the only one who knew this secret!

Plus, sunglasses symbolized not seeing, covering eyes...

Jane was hinting that she must keep this secret!

"I understand, I, Daphne Greengrass, will be your most loyal companion!" she declared excitedly.

Though unsure what Daphne had understood, Jane nodded anyway.

Her roommate was quite nice, lending sunglasses so readily!

The bathroom contained the Chamber's entrance, and she certainly didn't want to end up in a staring contest with the Basilisk!

She had to think about her personal safety!