Chapter 258: The Most Unique Horcrux
Kyle held his quill and stared at the diary for a long time, hesitating to open it.
The diary was Voldemort's first Horcrux, and in many ways, it was the most unique. Unlike other Horcruxes, the soul fragment in this diary had an unprecedented ability—it could, under the right conditions, resurrect itself independently, drawing life force from others to manifest a physical body out of nothing. This method of resurrection was beyond anything Voldemort had managed, even during his years in Albania. If he'd had this ability, he would have drained Quirrell last year and bypassed the need for the Philosopher's Stone altogether.
If Voldemort's soul were like a piece of toast, the fragment he'd placed in the diary was the largest slice—perhaps even cut in half due to his inexperience with soul-splitting at the time. This explained why Riddle in the diary possessed such complete memories, a full personality, and the capacity for conversation. Other than being unable to cast Charms, this Riddle was indistinguishable from Voldemort as a student.
This level of completeness...perhaps it was the "correct" way to create a Horcrux.
Kyle's curiosity began to stir. If he managed to resurrect Riddle, what kind of relationship might unfold between Riddle and Voldemort? Cooperation or a deadly rivalry? Kyle suspected the latter. Perhaps they would work together temporarily, deal with Dumbledore and Harry, and only then confront each other over who had the right to call themselves Voldemort. But in the end, it was unlikely they could coexist. A proud person like Voldemort would never allow a duplicate of himself to exist, even if that duplicate shared his soul.
Kyle snapped back to reality, realizing he'd been sitting in front of the diary for over an hour. He shook his head, set down his quill, and tried to refocus.
As a student, Tom Riddle had undoubtedly been remarkable: intelligent, skilled at gaining others' trust, adept at masking his true nature, and possessing sharp powers of observation and insight. Dumbledore had once said he was one of the brightest students he'd ever encountered—a statement originally meant for Riddle, long before there was a final "one" to compare him to.
If Kyle was going to engage with Riddle, he would need to be cautious and avoid any visible weaknesses. He needed to weave a "mantle" to win Riddle's trust and lull him into a false sense of security.
Kyle took out the enchanted box Nicolas Flamel had given him and placed the diary inside. Then, he rummaged through a suitcase at the bottom of his bed and pulled out a thick, parchment-bound book. Inked on the cover in cursive was the title: The Mysteries of Fear.