It fits what horcrux-Riddle shows about his personality. What exactly would be his plan we might only speculate. He might've initially wanted to frame Abraxas, get a foothold with muggleborns displeased in current situation, both at once, or maybe something else. Nothing really points to any goodwill at his part.

 

Except what Myrtle says: "He changed so much after that". I'm not sure what to make of this quote and that's why I'm not willing to let the thought that Riddle might've had honourable goals initially down entirely.
However, you're right, it is improbable.

 

And it turns out that you were right.
And I'm disappointed with this instant transformation. I'm beginning to worry about third part. Especially with rememberball around.

 

In general the last three chapters felt weaker than what he did before. This chapter here was basically a canon rehash which I found disappointing. However, there are subjects mentioned Harry and Dumbledore can have interesting conversations on. Apart from that, we're still four chapters away from the end of year two?
Given his current update length, that makes 40,000 words. Maybe the Lockhart mystery gets finally explained.

Spoiler

And while I appreciate humour in every fanfiction and I have so far liked his humour, Harry's casual attitude towards Jim apparently dying was simply unrealistic and sociopath-y. Apart from that, it completely destroyed any dramatic tension this moment could've had.

EDIT: All criticism aside, I really liked Jim's conversation with the hat.

 

I think the Lockhart Mystery will come back much later, as is there is a multitude of unresolved plot points that probably wont be even addressed in the next 4 chapters.

Harry has to find Hufflepuff's Ewer and get everybody unpetrified
There is the issue of where the Diary came from, however im more inclined to think Mrs Malfoy was the one to plant it rather than this version of her Husband.
And the attempts on Harry's life, both by Pettigrew and by Narcissa's Elf.

 

I am really disappointed with the latest chapter. Even called it. This story is fun to read but some things are really bothersome.

Spoiler

Turns out Riddle really was a nice guy. Having made a muggleborn network, he was petrifying muggleborns to frame Abraxas and purebloods in general. Myrtle was his friend and adored him, by mistake, caught the eyes of the basilisk, fell (because midstep) and died to a head injury. It seems odd to me that a petrified person could be injured this badly. I'd expect to seen more deaths if that was so.

In any case, Tom can't handle muh guilt, decides to flip a switch using occlumency and becomes a sociopath, unable to feel attachment to others so he won't feel the pain of loss and even guilt if he thinks it's his fault. Voldemort is born.

Blaming the horcruxes for his insanity would be a better approach, and this is not a good thing.

 

I'm not sure it's necessarily a bad thing, since it was pretty heavily foreshadowed in earlier chapters. Unlike the normal horcrux explanation, it explains sociopathy without actual psychosis. Also, the treatment of characters who were very flat in canon (Pettigrew, Lockhart, etc.), that I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt that Voldemort won't be as evil-because-evil as he was in canon.

 

Plus it actually makes occlumency actually seem risky and dangerous, rather than the normal -building shields around your mind version- and explains why it isn't taught widely despite the numerous advantages it gives you. Screwing with your own mind should carry consequences.
Like the story itself the writing is good enough, that I'm willing to give him the benefit of doubt. It helps, that I haven't read this explanation for Riddle's actions during the first opening of the Chamber before and it makes Tom look like the clever charismatic charmer people claimed he were, but we never saw in action.
The plan is clever without being overcomplicated (which is how many authors try to portray their character's intelligence) and was flexible enough to have a chance of working.

 

I cannot help but agree with both of you. Took some time to get used to, but why not, after all? He also made his Lockhart work.

 

His solution for Lockhart is indeed very well done. But what I liked most about this chapter was definitely his Dumbledore.

Spoiler

"To be perfectly honest, I have long thought that "for the Greater Good" were the four most dangerous words in the English language as there is almost no crime they cannot excuse when used by one who believes his cause is just."

I believe this to be spot on and it's something I've almost never seen anyone's Dumbledore say.
I'm definitely excited for his third year.

If I had to judge the second year alone (and I think we've reached a point where I can do that) the story would be 4,5/5, 1/2 point only deducted for minor things like Harry's occasionally too smart behaviour, the James-bashing that was apparent at some times and the slight stretching of the plot towards the end.
It's well written, it subverts many commonly known tropes, it has humour, the protagonist is interesting and far from perfect and, most importantly, its plot is well thought-out and thoroughly captivating.

 

So my suspicions about identity of Lockhart were right after all.

 

Indeed, you actually did even mention the metamorphmagus ability. And it turns out your red herring sense was right to tingle after all.

 

But how the hell I didn't get Lazarus White. It's so obvious in hindsight, but I didn't even pause to think about the name.

 

Ugh, This story and it's cliffhangers. But the author has done a lot to tie up things such as "Harry's too smart behavoir" with Luna's ability, hinting at why a boy who has never read any Oscar Wilde can recognize and quote him. Although it would be interesting if Luna saw some Astral creature perched on James Potter's shoulder that's sucking all the common sense out of him.

 

Alright, I'm changing my rating to a 5/5. The good parts of this story have long outweighed the bad. I've never really changed a negative opinion of a story this far into it (usually because I stop reading earlier on), but I can honestly say this goes above and beyond the average fanfiction, and manages to use cliches in creative and intelligent ways.

The early chapters are still poorly written (and Harry's interactions with Dumbledore, Jim, and James seem outright odd when his more recent interactions with them have been taken into account) and I hope that the author revises them at some point - but it's well worth the read, and has managed to keep me intrigued for a long time now.

 

Yeah, the new chapter might be just a little bit melodramatic at times (although I myself don't think so). Yes, it might be a little bit too long (although I believe its length to be entirely justified).

But damn it, this was a masterpiece. One of the very rare moments where you are glued to the screen despite knowing what's about to come.

This is perhaps the story in the "Almost Recommended" section which would deserve most to be in the library. Oh, and I'm changing my rating to 5/5. Simply to improve the average rating.

 

This last chapter was a great standalone chapter arc for Regulus. I loved it. So tragic.

 

I like the story and concept but, wbwl fics get really good in the later hogwart years. The story is really long for just the second year and I think the author is trying to incorporate to much in just Harry's second year

 

Malfoy seems to be a good guy in this, and I'm interested in what other "ambitions" Regulus might've had.

Spoiler

Ron planning to kill himself was ok after what he's been through, actually going through with it ... don't know what to think about that. I mean, he's twelve after all. Though I had to laugh at the end of the chapter.

Apart from that, not really an outstanding chapter, but it does what it's supposed to do and there are lots of interesting details in here.
Additionally, year 2 seems about to end next week or the week after.