The wheelchair-bound warrior is speedrunning Hogwarts.

Hermione had to gently push her three times to prevent her from falling headfirst onto the parchment.

After lunch, her two friends forced her back to bed to rest.

"No reading, no research, go to sleep." Harley stood in front of the bed with her arms crossed, her tone unusually firm.

Hermione even took away all the books and notes from her bedside table.

Perhaps the effects of the medication hadn't worn off, or perhaps the fatigue of the past few days was finally taking its toll, but she actually fell into a deep sleep and didn't dream until evening.

When she woke up, the afterglow of the setting sun had already bathed the dormitory in a warm golden light. She felt much lighter, and the discomfort in her throat had mostly subsided.

Harley and Hermione are not here; they must have gone to the Great Hall for dinner.

She sat up, and Knox immediately jumped down from the windowsill, placing a thick letter in his mouth beside her.

"Harley and I are bringing you dinner from the Great Hall. Don't get up early!" — Hermione

Following this was a line clearly added by Harley: "Seconded! You're finished if you run off! —Harley"

Vera couldn't help but chuckle softly, the anxiety she felt from the research setback quietly dissipating.

She put the letter away, her gaze inadvertently sweeping towards the hidden compartment of the wheelchair.

The diary lay there quietly.

Last night's nightmare and Tom's increasingly urgent whispers resurfaced in my mind.

Tom Riddell's patience had clearly run out, as evidenced by the cold consciousness that tried to invade her dreams last night.

Although Hogwarts' blessing blocked it, what about next time? And the time after that?

Horcruxes can corrupt anything, and Ron, a seventh-year student in the original story, is a good example of this.

Moreover, catching a cold is really unpleasant, and she doesn't want to experience it a second time for the same reason.

Well then... let's give it a try.

But before that, she had to stay in bed and wait for Hermione Harry to come back.

……

Another day passed, and Vera was almost fully recovered.

Although her recovery was relatively slow compared to other students who had the flu.

After that, Hach, still worried, took her to the school hospital, where Mrs. Pomfrey examined her personally before the commotion caused by this minor illness finally came to an end.

She was also freed and was able to re-enter the Room of Requirement.

Vera took the black diary from the hidden compartment of her wheelchair and placed it on the table. She took a deep breath, touched the wall with her fingertips, and reconnected with the castle.

The warm and immense power of Hogwarts enveloped her, like the strongest armor.

Then, she opened her diary.

“Tom,” she wrote, “I’ve thought about the secret room, and I want to give it a try.”

Almost instantly, Tom's handwriting appeared, brimming with barely suppressed excitement: "A wise decision, Miss Sail! You won't regret it."

Vera's fingers tightened slightly as she continued writing, "But I am not a Slytherin heir, nor do I understand Parsley."

“That’s not an absolute limitation.” Tom’s handwriting carried a seductive quality. “I can teach you, guide you… as long as we trust each other enough.”

Trust? Vera almost sneered.

She suppressed her emotions and wrote, following his words, "What do I need to do?"

“First, you need to open your mind,” Tom’s handwriting became deep and dark, “accept my guidance…let me show you what great power is.”

Vera's heart was pounding as she gripped the quill pen tightly in her hand.

To open one's heart to Tom means to relinquish all control over oneself.

This is the most direct temptation, and also the most dangerous trap.

Vera closed her eyes, feeling the silent blessing of Hogwarts enveloping her consciousness like a warm barrier.

She deliberately slowed her breathing, letting her fingertips touch the cold pages, as if she were truly hesitating and struggling.

Then, she slowly wrote: "What...what should I do?"

The diary's magic trembled with excitement, and a cold, viscous magic flowed up her fingertips, attempting to climb upwards like tentacles.

But the instant it touched her skin, the invisible golden barrier glowed slightly, quietly shutting out all prying and erosion.

In that instant, she maintained the illusion of being mentally open, while Tom's ever-expanding magic guided her toward the mental anchor point that had been prepared beforehand.

The mental anchor she painstakingly built last year has been slightly modified by Vera during her recent illness.

She didn't just create a realistic scene; she also put another version of herself into it.

A half-real, half-fake Vera Black, carrying a portion of her own memories and sharing the same cautious and taciturn personality, but with most of her other memories and experiences being purely fictional.

At this moment, the anchor point and the fake Vera inside became an elaborately woven lure, a seemingly fragile and vulnerable spiritual entity to cling to.

The cold, magical tentacles sensed the presence of the fake Vera and immediately began to greedily coil around her, attempting to penetrate deeper into the open crevice.

Tom's handwriting, brimming with barely suppressed excitement, read: "Very good...that's it...don't resist...let me show you the real thing..."

Just as his consciousness tried to go further, Vera raised her eyebrows and suddenly activated the blessing of Hogwarts. The barrier instantly shone with inner radiance, changing from gentle protection to sharp repulsion!

"Well!"

It was as if one could hear a faint, startled groan emanating from the depths of the soul.

The handwriting in the diary suddenly distorted for a moment, and the cold magical tendrils retracted sharply as if burned.

Vera could even feel the temperature of the diary in her hand drop a few degrees, as if the contents inside had been shaken by the sudden counterattack.

She quickly picked up her pen, her handwriting conveying just the right amount of panic and confusion: "What was that just now? I felt... like something was trying to crawl into my brain!"

A perfect performance, revealing a Hufflepuff who is frightened, instinctively protecting himself, and completely unaware of the truth before the diary.

Tom fell into a brief silence at the other end of the diary.

After a long while, his handwriting reappeared: "It's just a normal resonance reaction, Miss Sail, you're too nervous."

His tone was as gentle as ever, but he carried a sense of unease and disbelief that he tried to conceal but could not completely hide.

“Really?” Vera wrote, feigning shock. “But the feeling was terrifying…like my brain was being swallowed up…Tom, are you sure it’s safe?”

She portrayed the victim's unease and suspicion so vividly that she was not doubted at all.

“…Of course it’s safe.” Tom’s handwriting slowed down considerably, as if he were carefully choosing his words. “But exploring secrets always requires trust in your companions.”

Perhaps... we can continue another day, when you're better prepared.

The bait has been thrown out, and although the fish are startled, they have clearly not given up completely.

He needs time to assess the accident and also time to recover the strength he had expended due to that resistance.

And that's exactly what Vera wanted.

“Okay,” she wrote obediently. “I think I need to prepare a little more. Let’s stop here for today.”

Vera closed her diary and let out a long, silent sigh of relief, feeling a chill run down her back.

The exchange just now, though brief, was extremely mentally taxing.

Tom Riddle is probably still writing in his diary, bewildered by what just happened.

He was both suspicious of whether the counterattack was intentional and reluctant to give up on her, the new host who seemed to be on the verge of being his, and who could provide him with magic and a body.

This uncertainty will make him more anxious, and may also cause him to reveal more flaws in the next contact in order to achieve his goal as soon as possible.

"First published on 705u.com - Book Club"

But in any case, Vera's test was successful.

She has confirmed that Tom, as a Horcrux, is also unable to distinguish between the mental anchor and the true mind.

She can then use the anchor point and the fake Vera inside as cover to extract information, while her true self continues to be protected by the blessing of Hogwarts.

In this way, there will be no chance of anything going wrong.

Chapter Ten: Hermione's Assist

After confirming that the mental anchor was indeed useful, Vera's dealings with Tom Riddle finally entered a new phase.

Less than two days later, Vera finally chose to let go, allowing Tom to enter the anchor point and manipulate the fake Vera as if she were the real her.

However, what frustrated Tom was that the Hufflepuff in front of him was far too sluggish.

When he offered to take her to the secret room to see what was inside, she hesitated repeatedly, insisting on clarifying every detail before setting off.

"There are indeed Slytherin's legacies in the Chamber of Secrets, but it is more meaningful for you to discover their specific appearance and the trials they present."

Once inside the anchor point, Tom could now speak directly with her.

After repeated attempts, his tone inevitably became anxious: "Miss Sail, too much foresight will only diminish the joy and challenge of exploration."

Fake Vera kept her head down, still maintaining her caution: "But I need to make sure I'm safe, Tom. You said there's a guardian there, and I can't go without knowing about it."

At least tell me, what form does it take? How big is it? How do I deal with it? Can it be controlled simply by 'Spathic Speech'? Or is some other incantation required?"

Tom remained silent for a moment in front of her.

Unfortunately, he had only just entered the mind of this Hufflepuff and couldn't fully control what she did yet; he could only guide her with words.

Faced with her rapid-fire, detailed, and almost timid questioning, a barely perceptible hint of impatience flashed across Tom Riddle's handsome face.

Vera could even guess from his micro-expressions how anxiously the soul inside him was weighing its options—

He wanted to lure her into a trap with the treasure, but he didn't dare reveal too much at once lest he scare away this seemingly cautious and timid "Hufflepuff".

But soon, Tom suppressed his impatience, and the corners of his lips curled back into that flawless, deceptively gentle smile.

“I understand your caution, Miss Sail.” His voice was deliberately deep and magnetic. “Then I will tell you: the Guardian is a great creation left behind by Salazar Slytherin, a basilisk.”

The fake Vera gasped at just the right moment, her face drained of color, and her eyes instantly filled with genuine fear: "A snake monster? That kind of... monster whose gaze can kill?"

“There is no need to be afraid.” Tom smiled slightly, his voice becoming even gentler. “It is indeed a dangerous creation, but it is also the most loyal protector.”

He leaned slightly forward, as if sharing a crucial secret: "It's not just about the parsnip language, but more importantly, the resonance in our blood and the suppression of our will."

Salazar Slytherin entrusted it with the mission of protection, while also leaving the authority to wield it to its true successor.

“Will...suppression?” Fake Vera murmured, her fear still lingering in her eyes, but replaced by a hint of curiosity.

“That’s right.” Tom’s eyes gleamed with a fanatical light. “You need to command it with your will, not beg it. Fear brings destruction, while firm control wins obedience!”

What kind of chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) is this?

Vera herself, who was controlling the fake Vera, was speechless and complaining in her mind.

“Like this—” Tom’s voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable authority, as he uttered a series of hissing, chilling parsephones!

Even though she was prepared, Vera's real body still felt a chill creep up her spine when she heard the cold, eerie sound through the fake Vera's senses.

The fake Vera instinctively took a step back, her face drained of color, her body trembling slightly, and her eyes filled with instinctive fear.

Tom watched her reaction with satisfaction, stopped speaking in Parsley, and his voice softened again: "See, it only responds to this language and the will that matches it."

But as long as you are with me, Miss Sail, I will guide you and protect you; you will be safe.

The fake Vera looked at him, still shaken, her lips trembling slightly: "But...it's said that looking into its eyes can kill..."

“Ah, the deadly gaze.” Tom’s tone became lighter, and he looked as if he were talking about the weather. “But it’s not insurmountable.”

We can prepare a mirror, or more simply—avoid looking directly into its eyes. As long as your will is strong enough and your commands are clear enough, it will not harm you.

Fake Vera blinked a few times and said weakly, "What if I can't help but open my eyes? I mean... is there a safer way?"

A crack suddenly appeared on Tom's perfect mask. He took a deep breath, seemingly trying his best to maintain his patience: "A safer way... of course there is."

For example, we could try offering live animals as sacrifices to satisfy its ferocity and make it easier to appease, or perhaps…”

He paused, looking at the timid expression on the fake Vera's face, his heart pounding a few times before continuing, "Or find a wandering soul and fix its spirit in front of you!"

I understand. It's just like the case of one of the students who was petrified in the original story.

As long as you block your eyes with a spiritual object, you'll just be petrified... well, at least you can guarantee you won't die.

Vera seemed to be deep in thought, while the fake Vera nodded as if she understood, her face still filled with hesitation and fear.

"It still sounds complicated...and dangerous. Tom, could we...start with something simple? Like, just take a look at the entrance from a distance?"

Tom Riddle's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. He hadn't gone to all this trouble just to take a cowardly Hufflepuff to a tourist attraction!