Chapter 97 Disagreement
"Hissa-ya (It seems that the sense of control behind the scenes has made me arrogant)." After Della exposed this relationship, Maggie calmed down. He used his snake tail to sweep the small mirror on the table to his front and started playing with it. "Hai-sa-si (And your growth speed is beyond imagination)."
"That sounds interesting, but I feel that, apart from those secrets, you don't seem to know anything more than me," Della did not urge Maggie, but patiently followed Maggie's words, "I can probably feel that you and I are in a similar state of confusion about ourselves."
"Haixi-Asa (Albotu once made some small changes to me, so that even if I can remember the past, I can't get a glimpse of the principles behind alchemy. After all, in Clingreton, I am just a snake)."
"It sounds like you're more than just a snake now?" Della was more aware of the change in Maggie's aura. Compared to his assistant role most of the time before, he was more of an independent individual now.
"Sa-hi-sa (maybe when I wrote your name)," Maggie threw away the end mirror and gently pressed the Clinggreton family crest on the page. He looked down, as if staring at the family tree beside him, "Hai-sa (You were supposed to take your mother's last name, Schiller)."
"Whether it's Schiller, Dorotheus, or even Clingretton, they are all better choices than Riddle." Della's eyes also fell on the unusual family tree.
"Hiss-ha-sia (Bronte was never a talented wizard. The first time, he failed to protect his wife and children from the Death Eaters. The second time, he died under a random spell cast by Voldemort)." Maggie said this, as if sighing about something, "Hai-ha-ya-sa (Even with hundreds of years of alchemical knowledge, all he has is external force. Once he encounters real power, it's too late to do anything)."
"You mean, they were just unlucky enough to run into Death Eaters twice? Even Bronte fled before she could use those objects?" Della's eyes flashed.
"Sa-hi (Too kind, don't attribute weakness to bad luck, Della)." Maggie's snake mouth opened wider again, and he made a soft humming sound that sounded like a sneer, "Haisa-hi (As a person who is also immersed in his own world, the cruel and powerful Abotu is much better than this lonely and self-pitying person)."
There was a strong sense of heaviness in Maggie's words. Just this one sentence was enough to weigh down Della's heart with two dark figures. One of them was holding a scepter, sitting high on the throne, frowning and scolding majestically; while the other one also frowned, but his brows were filled with sorrow. He only looked at the sky, not caring at all that he was sitting on a sinking ship.
Where would Maggie be? Was he a servant beneath the throne, or the culprit behind the breach? Or was he an onlooker from afar who held the same perspective as himself?
"Haishisa-Hai (the last name Schiller is actually a good one, much better than Clinggreton and Dorothea. Doreen is a very good person)." Maggie started talking again. The topic seemed to have gone off track by him, but the more it went on, the more patiently Della listened. She knew that this was Maggie's confession about the past.
As to whether it was out of emotion or for some other purpose, Della had no intention of caring about it. She didn't want to appear aggressive at this time. Besides, Maggie's attitude also showed that he would definitely answer her doubts.
"Hissar-Hai (But think about it, Doreen loves her family and her husband deeply. If this happens, even Schiller will be tied to that family, that is, the past. I don't like this)."
But why aren't you happy?
Della thought so in her heart and did not ask. She just looked at Maggie quietly.
"Haisi-Asa-Haisi (I did pass by the cemetery and chose a last name in a few quick glances, but when I looked at you, those options were shattered and my body wrote down Riddle's last name before I thought)." Maggie's body suddenly raised up and he leaned towards Della.
"Me?" Della raised her eyebrows.
"Hai-Xi (Take a closer look at this inescapable family tree, Della)." Maggie moved aside before approaching Della. Della followed his instructions and observed again. The little snake continued to instruct, "Hai-Xiasa (Don't ignore the more obvious things because of the name and year)."
Something more obvious?
Della's eyes sank as she looked down at the simple family tree. Soon, she saw the difference between herself and the others in the portrait, except that a few extra thin black lines were drawn on her hair.
In black and white portraits, blank spaces represent light colors, while filled spaces represent dark colors.
"My hair?" Della's eyes turned to Maggie.
"Sa-ha-sa (of all your family members I've ever met, they all have brilliant blonde hair and light blue-green eyes)." Maggie's voice dropped, and the pupils in her yellow eyes slowly stood up, "He-asa-ha-sa (and before Voldemort accidentally met Bronte, you also had brilliant blonde hair and a pair of light blue-green eyes)."
It seems that Maggie wants me to continue my research on alchemy.
Before digesting this shocking news, Della first analyzed Maggie's purpose and then applied this information to herself.
Then she remembered the reason Maggie had said that Bronte Clingretton changed her name to Bronte Dorothea - to humiliate her father.
Did Maggie also put such emotions into her "Riddle"?
Della didn't know, but she didn't want to ask. After all, it was not something to worry about.
Della doesn't need to choose between a momentary infatuation and more than ten years of sincere care.
"Sa-ya (You don't seem surprised)." Seeing Della's unchanged expression, Maggie tilted her head.
"Just like you know I won't give up alchemy so easily." Della smiled at him and spoke in a very casual tone, as if they were discussing some unimportant topic. "This is not a bargaining chip that can be put in front of you, Maggie."
"You have been the one talking since the beginning. I think I can now express my opinion. First of all, I believe in the family story you told." Della still had that smile on her face and spoke in a gentle tone, "Because I know that Voldemort does not need a child."
"You saw it in Myrtle's memories. He and I look a lot like each other, and even our styles of doing things are very similar, not to mention this unusual magical talent. No matter how you look at it, I look like another Tom Riddle."
"But more importantly, it's his age," Della said, her eyes narrowed. "He was the male student council president in 1944, so he would have been 65 last year, but he doesn't look that age-appropriate. I mean, he doesn't look like a man who has experienced age and can foresee death. That kind of ambition is different from ordinary ambition."
"The best explanation for this phenomenon is that he knows his own 'immortality', and an immortal egoist does not need offspring in the bloodline because he himself is the continuation."
"Then his offspring had better be smart enough to become a medal of excellence that he can use to comment on. Being similar to him is the highest award."
Della had guessed this a long time ago. If it was not a direct blood inheritance, it could only be that Voldemort's expectations gave her extraordinary talent and intelligence through alchemy.
"Haiha-xi (Not only your growth, but also your perception makes me look at you in a new light)." Maggie understood the meaning of Della's words and stopped her from continuing.
Maggie thought that he should have understood the girl's intentions earlier, for example, when Della asked Clint Graydon about his long-term business plans.
"Si-Asa-Si (Now, I can answer your question, I think this can also explain some other things)," Maggie coiled up and only raised a snake head to Della, "Hasa-Si (I have to declare that I am not Voldemort, I am indeed Clint Graydon's snake, but when he cast the killing curse on me - you know I am immune to most spells, and when I was knocked unconscious, I briefly connected to his soul that was shattered by killing)."
"..." Della frowned. To be honest, she felt betrayed, but instead of getting angry, she analyzed Maggie's behavior rationally. "So, you never appeared in front of Quirrell last year because you felt Voldemort?"
"I think you were not sure at that time whether Voldemort could sense your presence. Also, from what you said, it seems that a lot of his soul is missing? Well, this can explain his madness." Della continued.
"Hai-ya (You are too calm, Della)." Maggie still kept her hair tied up neatly, and his clear yellow eyes flashed.
"I am angry. Analysis is just my way of calming down. And I think," Della's frown slowly relaxed, and the pressure that had been wrapped around her just now also slowly dissipated, "We all know what to say to what kind of person and when. The starting point of this negotiation is that I am sure you will not hurt me, Maggie."
"There will only be differences between us, not a breakup." Della expressed her attitude.
At this time, Maggie understood Della's other intention of throwing out a large number of chips. She didn't want to reduce her trust in him because of lies.
Poor gaming, excellent negotiation.
This also allowed Maggie to see the tolerance and bottom line that Della had revealed first, and he immediately adjusted his next conversation.
"Ya-Haisi (regardless of what happened in the first grade, I want you to get in touch with alchemy. I want to become a human with your help)." The tension in Maggie faded, and he lowered his snake head slightly.
"As who?" Della asked pointedly.
"Hay-S (at least not Voldemort)," Maggie spit out the bright red snake tongue, and her yellow eyes flashed at this moment, "Sahai-Ya (but I do want to revive him, I think this will be our disagreement)."
"Want to resurrect him? You could have done it in half a year." Della narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Ha-Hah-Hah-Siya (That was not a good time for both you and me, Della. This was just a temporary disagreement. Ultimately, I also hope that Voldemort will leave this world without a single piece left)."
Maggie emphasized her tone in some places, and it sounded like she was gritting her teeth. Della and Maggie looked at each other, and there was no ripple in their black and yellow eyes. They both knew how to hide their emotions. Finally, Della sighed softly:
"It seems that you are unwilling to reveal more to me, perhaps because you have said enough, although I have only obtained part of the answer, and even have more questions. In any case, I am very happy that our ultimate goal is the same, at least it will not reach the point of breaking up. But as you said, that is where our differences lie, I will not give in, I will do my best to prevent Voldemort's resurrection."
Just like before, she respected secrets, even if it was a secret drenched in darkness, a darkness she had already embarked on.
"In that case, let's make some agreements and put these things on the table. Of course, it's just a verbal agreement," Della extended her arm to Maggie and spoke after the little snake wrapped around her.
"First, our research into alchemy will not be hindered. You can still guide me."
"Hiss- (I wish for it)."
"Second, regarding the disagreement, there is no doubt that we will hinder each other, but there should be a certain limit to the extent. I think I should make my bottom line clear first and not actively hurt the people in this school, Maggie."
"Hai-xi-ha (This is a very tolerant bottom line. Believe me, I have no intention of touching it. What I want is to be the same as before)."
"The third point is about asking questions. I am still a little hesitant about this. Although we are no longer inseparable, we still have the habit of talking. What should we do? Should we ignore each other's questions?"
"Hissa-s-Hissa (I will answer, because silence is sometimes a truer answer than words, but you must be careful, I can't guarantee what kind of inducement those words will contain)." As she said this, Maggie's pupils slowly stood up again.
"That's a very good move. I think I should do the same. Maybe pretending to be silent is also a good idea? Then let's do this for the third point." After saying that, Della rubbed Maggie's slippery snake body with her cheek as usual. After that, she did not put Maggie down, but picked up the glasses beside her and brought them to her.
"Ha-sa (What else are you going to do)?" asked Maggie.
"Hissa-Hya (I am very satisfied with this work, but I cannot submit it to Dumbledore because I am too satisfied with it)." Della spoke the snake language again. She tapped her wand lightly, and the glasses disassembled at once. "Sas-Sassi (For you, I will deliberately not get an O grade)."
Hearing Della's joking tone, Maggie spit out his tongue, slid down from the girl's hand, swam to the side and focused on watching her movements, "Hissa-ya (That will be at the E level, too good is not a good thing)."
"Ha-Sashi (You don't deal with Dumbledore often. He is a genius and geniuses are not easy to fool)." Della's hands moved deftly and steadily. The previous carving practice had produced great results. She could feel that her hands were not shaking as much as they did at the beginning.
It was already late at night. In this small room with the curtains drawn, the lamp on Della's desk was the only source of light. The brightness of the lamp was just right, but it could not illuminate every corner of the room. It infinitely lengthened the figures of Della and Maggie.
Their shadows fell on the table, were engraved on the ground, and finally disappeared into the darkness.