HP meets at Hogwarts

Chapter 168 Horcrux

Chapter 160 Eight Horcruxes

Harry fell back to the office floor, Dumbledore was already sitting behind the desk, Scull sat on an armchair stroking his chin thoughtfully, Harry found another armchair and sat down, waiting for Dumbledore Open your mouth.

"I have been waiting for this evidence for a long time," said Dumbledore finally. "It confirms my speculation, proves me right, and tells me that the road ahead is still long..."

"Harry," said Dumbledore, "I trust you understand the significance of that conversation. At your age, Tom Riddle is trying to figure out how to make him immortal forever."

"So you think he succeeded, sir?" Harry asked. "He made a Horcrux? So he didn't die after attacking me? Did he have a Horcrux hidden somewhere? A little piece of his soul is safe." ?”

"A small piece . . . or more," said Dumbledore. "You heard what Voldemort said: what he particularly wanted to know from Slughorn was what would happen if a wizard made multiple Horcruxes, and if a wizard What would be the consequences of killing multiple times in order to avoid death, splitting his soul multiple times, and storing it in separate Horcruxes. No book could give him this knowledge. As far as I know - and I think Voldemort knew too —no wizard has ever split his soul into more than two pieces."

Dumbledore paused, collecting his thoughts, and said, "Four years ago, I obtained evidence that Voldemort split his soul."

"Where is it?" Harry asked, "How do you know?"

"You gave it to me, Harry," said Dumbledore. "The diary, Riddle's diary, the one that showed how to reopen the Chamber of Secrets."

"I don't understand, sir."

"Oh, although I didn't see Riddle appearing from the diary, what you described to me is a phenomenon I have never seen before. Just a memory, can it have its own actions and thoughts? Just a memory, can it be Draining the life of the girl who got it? No, there's something far more sinister in that diary...a piece of soul. I'm almost sure that diary is a Horcrux. But that raises more questions .What intrigues and shocks me the most is that the diary was used both as a shield and as a weapon."

"I still don't understand," said Harry.

"It functions as a horcrux—in other words, the piece of soul hidden within is safe, and does function to help its owner avoid death. But Riddle no doubt hopes that someone will read that diary, that he that piece of his soul to attach to someone else in order to unleash the Slytherin monster."

"Well, he didn't want his hard work to go to waste," said Harry. "He wanted people to know he was the heir of Slytherin, because he wasn't entitled to it at the time."

"True," said Dumbledore, nodding, "but did it ever occur to you, Harry, that if he wanted the diary to be passed on to or rooted in some future Hogwarts student, he would be very concerned about the precious soul inside Fragments are very careless. As Professor Slughorn said, the purpose of Horcruxes is to keep a part of your soul safely sealed away, not to be thrown into someone else's way and risk being wiped out-this is actually It happened: that piece of soul no longer exists, you see it."

"Voldemort's carelessness with this Horcrux strikes me with great foreboding. It means he's probably already made - or planning to make more Horcruxes, so losing one wouldn't be so dangerous. I don't want to believe that , but no other explanation seems to make sense."

"Two years later, you told me that on the night of Voldemort's resurrection, he said the most sobering words to the Death Eaters: "I, on the road to immortality, have gone farther than anyone else. ' You tell me that's what he said: 'Further than anyone else.' The Death Eaters don't know, but I think I know what it means. He's referring to his Horcruxes, multiple Horcruxes, Harry ...I don't believe this is something any other wizard has ever experienced. But all the signs fit together: Voldemort seems to have become less and less human over the years, and I think that metamorphosis can only be explained by the damage to his soul beyond what we would call general evil..."

"He killed himself to keep himself alive?" said Harry. "If he wanted to live so badly, why didn't he build a Philosopher's Stone, or steal one?"

"We know that he did exactly that five years ago. But I think there are several reasons why the Philosopher's Stone was less appealing to Voldemort than Horcruxes."

"The elixir does prolong life, but it must be drunk often, forever, to remain immortal. Then Voldemort would be completely dependent on the elixir. If the elixir ran out or became contaminated, or the Philosopher's Stone was stolen, he would be like Everyone else dies. Voldemort likes to go it alone, remember? I'm sure he would have found dependence intolerable, even on an elixir of life. Of course, to get out of the horrible half-dead state he was in after attacking you, he would Drink it, but that's only to regain the body. Afterwards, I believe he still intends to continue to rely on his Horcrux: he needs nothing more than to regain a human body. He is immortal...or more than any People are closer to immortality."

"But now, Harry, with this crucial memory you've secured for us, we're closer than anyone to the secret of how to kill Voldemort. Harry, you heard him say: 'Wouldn't it be a few more pieces? Better, it makes you stronger... Isn't seven the most magical number...' Yes, I think dividing the soul into seven pieces appealed to Voldemort."

"He made seven Horcruxes?" Harry asked in horror, and the portraits on the wall let out voices of shock and indignation, "but they could be anywhere in the world - hidden - buried or invisible - "

"I'm glad you can see the extent of the problem," said Dumbledore calmly, "but first, Harry, it's not seven Horcruxes, it's six. The seventh part of the soul, however broken, is still in his In the resurrected body, it was this part of him that had existed in ghostly form during his years of exile, without which he would not have himself. This seventh part of the soul would be the last thing anyone who wanted to kill Voldemort had to attack — the one inside him."

"But those six Horcruxes," Harry said impatiently, "how can we find them?"

"You forgot...you already destroyed one, and I destroyed another."

"You destroyed one?" Harry asked hastily.

"Yes," said Dumbledore, holding up his charred hand, "that ring, Harry, Marvolo's ring. There is a terrible spell on it. If it hadn't been—forgive my immodestness— —I might not have lived to tell this story if it hadn't been for my great ability and Professor Snape's timely assistance after I returned to Hogwarts seriously injured. But, a withered hand for one-seventh of Voldemort's Souls don't seem too expensive. Rings aren't Horcruxes anymore."

"But how did you find it?"

Dumbledore paused, and then said, "You know, I have tried to understand Voldemort's past life for many years, and I have traveled many places to find his traces. I found this ring hidden in the ruins of Gaunt's house. It seems that Voldemort put him Once a piece of his soul was hidden in it, he didn't want to wear it anymore. He hid it in the hut where his ancestors lived (Morfin was taken to Azkaban, of course), and protected it with many powerful magics. It. But Voldemort did not expect that I would one day visit this ruin, and be on the lookout for hidden traces of magic."

"However, let's not celebrate too soon. You destroy the diary, I destroy the ring, and if the guess about the seven souls is correct, there are four more Horcruxes."

"They could be anything?" said Harry, leaning forward in his chair. "Could be old tin cans, or, empty medicine bottles...?"

"You were thinking of Portkeys, Harry, ordinary objects that are easily overlooked. But would Voldemort keep his own precious soul in old tin cans or empty medicine bottles? You forgot what I told you, Voldemort loved to collect memorabilia, he loved magically powerful and historically significant items. His pride, his sense of superiority, his determination to claim an amazing place in magical history all made me think Voldemort would have handpicked his Horcruxes, prefer items worthy of this honor."

"The diary is not that special."

"You said it yourself that the diary would prove he was the heir of Slytherin, and I'm sure Voldemort thought it meant a lot."

"And what about the other Horcruxes?" Harry asked. "Do you know what they are, sir?"

"I can only speculate," said Dumbledore. "For the reasons already stated, I believe that Voldemort has a preference for objects of nobility in themselves. I have therefore scoured Voldemort's past to see if I could find any instances of such objects disappearing around him. trace."

"Gold locket!" cried Harry. "Hufflepuff cup!"

"Yeah," Dumbledore smiled, as if pleased that Harry had hit the point right away, "I'll bet they're the third and fourth Horcruxes. The other two are a little harder—"

"The Ravenclaw and Gryffindor relics?" interrupted Harry. "You say Hogwarts has special meaning for Voldemort."

Dumbledore nodded, "Ravenclaw's relic is very likely, but I am sure that the only known relic in Gryffindor is safe."

Dumbledore pointed with a blackened hand to the wall behind him, where lay a ruby-encrusted sword in a glass case.

"Do you think that's the real reason he wanted to go back to Hogwarts, sir?" said Harry, "to find the other founder's relics?"

"That's exactly what I guessed. But unfortunately it didn't help us much, because he was kicked out before he could search the campus, at least I believe so. I can only deduce that he failed to collect the four founders. Ambition for human relics. He must have had two, maybe found three—”

"Even if he got the Ravenclaw or the Gryffindor thing, that's a sixth Horcrux," Harry said, wringing his fingers, "unless he got both?"

"I don't think so," said Dumbledore, "I think I know what the sixth Horcrux is. If I tell you frankly, I've been paying attention to that snake—Nagini's behavior for some time. what would you say."

"Snake?" Harry was surprised, "Can animals be used as Horcruxes?"

"Not advisable, because it's very risky to entrust part of your soul to a moving, thinking thing of its own. But, if I'm right, Voldemort needed at least one more when he entered your parents' house to kill you." Horcruxes, he has not yet reached his goal of making six."

"He seems to be using particularly important murders to make Horcruxes, and you are certainly such a target. He believes that if he kills you, he will eliminate the danger that the prophecy suggests. He believes that this will make him invincible. I think he He must be planning to use your death as his last Horcrux."

"He failed, we know. But a few years later he killed an old Muggle man with a Nagini, and maybe that's when he thought of turning the snake into his last Horcrux. It It can highlight Slytherin's parentage and add to Voldemort's mystery. I think it may be his favorite thing. He undoubtedly likes to carry it around, and seems to have an unusual power over it, which is even in snakes. It is also rare in Lao accent."

"So, the diary is ruined, the ring is ruined, the cup, locket and snake are still there, and you think there's a Horcrux that might be a Ravenclaw or Gryffindor relic?"

"Very good, a concise and accurate summary, yes." Dumbledore nodded approvingly.

"So... are you still looking for them, sir? Is that what you left school to do?"

"Yeah, I've been looking for a long time. But I think... I'm close to finding another one. Something."

"If you find it," said Harry quickly, "can I go with you and help destroy it?"

Dumbledore looked at Harry very seriously for a moment, then said, "I suppose so."

"I can?" said Harry, taken aback.

"Oh, yes," said Dumbledore, smiling slightly, "I think you've earned that right."

Harry's face brightened for a moment, and then an important question occurred to him.

"Will Voldemort know when a Horcrux is destroyed, sir? Can he feel it?"

"Very interesting question, Harry. But I don't think so. Because Voldemort is so guilty now, and these important parts of him have been separated for so long, I believe he feels less than we do. Perhaps at the end of his life, he Only when he felt the loss... Like when the diary was destroyed, he didn't notice it, and he asked it from Lucius Malfoy later. I heard that when Voldemort found out that the diary was destroyed and lost all magic power, once A fit of rage, very scary."

"But I thought he asked Lucius Malfoy to smuggle it into Hogwarts."

"Yes, that was years ago, when Voldemort was sure he could make multiple Horcruxes. But Lucius still had to wait for Voldemort's permission to act, which he didn't because Voldemort disappeared shortly after entrusting the diary. He No doubt that Lucius was afraid to do anything with the Horcruxes other than guarding them carefully. But he was relying too much on Lucius' fear of its owner - who had been missing for years and was believed to be dead by Lucius. Of course, Lucius didn't know what that diary actually was. I think Voldemort would just tell him that the diary had been cleverly enchanted to reopen the Chamber of Secrets. If Lucius knew he was holding a piece of his master's Soul, must have respected it more - but the fact is that he carried out the old plan for his own purposes: to place the diary on Arthur Weasley's daughter. He hoped to discredit Arthur and put me Get rid of Hogwarts, and at the same time get rid of a very troublesome physical evidence. Ah, poor Lucius... out of selfishness, throwing away Horcruxes and offending Voldemort, and losing like that at the Ministry of Magic last year, if he At this moment, I am secretly glad that I can live in Azkaban, and I will not be surprised."

Harry sat there thinking for a while, and asked, "If all the Horcruxes are destroyed, can Voldemort be killed?"

"I think so," said Dumbledore, "without the Horcruxes, Voldemort would be a mortal man with a broken soul. But don't forget that although his soul is broken beyond repair, his brain and magic are still intact. Even if there is no Horcruxes, killing a wizard like Voldemort still requires extraordinary abilities and skills."

"But I don't have supernatural abilities and abilities." Harry blurted out.

"You have," said Dumbledore firmly, "you have powers that Voldemort never had. You have—"

"I know!" Harry said impatiently, "I have love!" He managed to avoid adding: "What a big deal!"

"Yes, Harry, you have love," said Dumbledore, who seemed to understand the words under Harry's tongue. "It's quite remarkable to think of what you've been through. You're too young to know how much you are. Special, Harry."

"So the prophecy says I have 'powers unknown to the Dark Lord', which means - love?" Harry asked, feeling a little disappointed.

"Yes—it is love," said Dumbledore, "but never forget, Harry, that the meaning of the prophecy was only made by Voldemort. I told you this at the end of last year. Voldemort sees you as the most dangerous person to him." —and in doing so he makes you the most dangerous man he can be!"

"But it's one thing—"

"It's not the same thing!" Dumbledore said impatiently.Pointing at Harry with a withered finger, he said, "You take that prophecy too seriously!"

"But," stammered Harry, "you said that prophecy meant—"

"If Voldemort had never heard of that prophecy, would it still have been fulfilled? Would it still have meaning? Of course not! Do you think every prophecy in the Hall of Prophecy has been fulfilled?"

"But," Harry was confused, "but last year, you said one of us was going to kill the other—"

"Harry, Harry, it was only because Voldemort made a big mistake and he acted according to Professor Trelawney's prophecy! If Voldemort didn't kill your father, would it make you have a strong desire for revenge? Of course No! If he hadn't forced your mother to die for you, would he have given you his impenetrable magical protection? Of course not! Harry. Can't you see? Voldemort himself made his worst enemy, Just like tyrants all over the world! Do you know how tyrants are afraid of oppressed people? They all know that one day, one of the many victims will rise up and fight back! Voldemort is the same. He is always looking for the one who will fight back The person he challenged acted immediately after hearing the prophecy, and as a result, he not only personally selected the person who was most likely to get rid of him, but also gave him a particularly deadly weapon!"

"But--"

"You must understand this!" Dumbledore stood up and strode up and down the room, his shining robes whistling behind him.

"While trying to kill you, Voldemort personally selected this remarkable man sitting in front of me and provided him with tools! You can see Voldemort's thoughts, ambitions, and even understand the snake when he gave orders. Speaking language, he has only himself to blame. But, Harry, although you can see into Voldemort's world-you know, this is the ability of any Death Eater who would kill for it, but you have never accepted it. The allure of the dark arts, never showed the slightest desire to follow Voldemort, not for a second!"

"Of course not!" said Harry angrily. "He killed my parents!"

"In short, it is your love that protects you!" Dumbledore said loudly, "Only this kind of protection can resist the temptation of power like Voldemort! Although you have experienced so many temptations and so many pains, you Still pure in heart, just like you were when you were 11 years old. When you looked in the mirror that showed your heart's desire, all you saw was how to defeat Voldemort, but not immortality and wealth. Harry, do you know Well, there aren't many wizards in the world who can see what you see in the mirror? Voldemort should have known what he was dealing with then, but he didn't!"

"But he knows now. You've penetrated Voldemort's mind without damage, and he can't do without excruciating pain when he tries to attach himself to you, and he's found that out in the Ministry. But I don't think he understands that." Why, Harry. He was so busy destroying his own soul that he never had time to understand the unrivaled power of a pure and sound soul."

"But, sir," said Harry, trying not to seem argumentative, "it's all the same, isn't it? I've got to try to kill him, or—"

"Must?" said Dumbledore. "Of course you must! But not because of the prophecy! It's because of yourself, and you won't be at ease if you don't! We all know that! Imagine if you'd never heard That prophecy! What would you think of Voldemort? Think!"

Watching Dumbledore pacing up and down in front of him, Harry became thoughtful.He thought of his mother, his father and Sirius, of Cedric, of Voldemort's crimes.A flame rose from his chest and burned to the mouth of his throat.

"I want to get rid of him," said Harry softly, "I want to do it."

"Of course you will!" cried Dumbledore. "You see, the prophecy didn't say what you had to do! But the prophecy made Voldemort believe that you were his match... In other words, you have the right to choose your own path, have Ignore that prophecy! But Voldemort will still be haunted by it, and he'll keep hunting you down...so it's inevitable—"

"One of us will kill the other," said Harry, "yes."

He finally understood what Dumbledore was trying to tell him, that there was a difference between being dragged into the arena to face a fight to the death and walking in with your head held high.

"I understand a little bit now," Scull said after Harry closed the door, playing with a gold Galleon, "why different people evaluate you so differently."

A wise and calm expression replaced the previous excited expression, and Dumbledore sat down behind the table, "I want to hear your evaluation?"

Scull shook his head, and said a little confused, "It was a collaborator at first, but now I don't know—" sighed, "It looks more like helping each other?"

Dumbledore smiled, "I prefer to help each other."

"Okay, let's help each other." Scull nodded and stood up, teased Fox as he passed by, pushed the door and went out.