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Chapter 678: Even Life!
Harry and Darren fell into the Pensieve again.
It was the same office as Slughorn's last memory.
This time Tom was asking Professor Mellors about his retirement.
Slughorn praised him.
"You little rascal, you'd fit perfectly in the Ministry of Magic!"
"I don't have a background. I probably wouldn't get far there—and I'm not pure-blood."
Voldemort's words made the surrounding students laugh.
Slughorn laughed as well.
"Nonsense! With ability like yours, you must come from a wizarding family—don't worry!"
After that, there was more casual conversation.
Finally, at the very end,
Tom stayed behind.
He asked about Horcruxes.
"I couldn't find much description in Hogwarts books, but wizards like you obviously seem to understand…"
Slughorn hesitated.
"Well… a Horcrux is an object that contains part of a person's soul."
"But I don't quite understand how that works."
"It means splitting the soul and hiding a part of it inside an object.
That way, even if your body is destroyed, you cannot truly die—because a piece of your soul still remains on earth."
Slughorn shuddered.
"Very few people would want such an existence.
That kind of life is worse than death."
"Then… how does one split the soul?"
"By killing.
Murder rips the soul apart, and some dark wizards take advantage of that, using a spell to hide the fragment in an object, thus creating a Horcrux."
"So that spell…"
"Don't ask me. I don't know—and even if I did, I wouldn't tell you.
Do I look like a murderer?"
Slughorn breathed heavily.
Voldemort quickly hid the greed in his eyes.
"Sorry, Professor. I was only curious."
"Of course. Many wizards are curious about the darker side of magic."
"Yes… purely for academic reasons—would one fragment be enough?
In the wizarding world, seven is considered a magical number… so what about splitting it into seven pieces?"
"What?
Killing one person isn't enough for you? You want to kill seven?"
Slughorn shouted in horror.
He clearly regretted entering the discussion.
He muttered nervously,
"This is only academic speculation, right?"
"Of course. I would never do such a thing."
Voldemort smiled.
But the joy on his face twisted his features,
making him look strangely hideous.
Darren stared at Voldemort for a long moment.
Finally he reached a conclusion.
Handsome people really shouldn't smile like that.
It ruined everything.
Dumbledore and Harry had no idea what he was thinking.
They returned to reality.
Dumbledore sat back in his chair.
He looked at the thoughtful Darren.
"So, Darren, what clues can you draw from this?"
"The first clue is obvious—
Voldemort created a Horcrux.
I think the diary we encountered in second year was one of them."
Dumbledore nodded.
"Correct.
At that time I already knew Voldemort had made at least one Horcrux.
That diary was destroyed by your Fiendfyre."
Harry became excited.
"Does that mean Voldemort can be killed?"
"No, Harry. Haven't you understood yet?
Never mind—Darren, you explain."
Dumbledore clearly had little hope left for Harry's reasoning.
Darren nodded obediently.
"Second point—
Voldemort's soul was likely divided into seven parts.
He said himself that seven is a magical number."
Dumbledore nodded approvingly.
But Harry barely noticed.
"Seven pieces of soul!
They could be hidden anywhere in the world!"
Harry shouted.
"Very good, Harry, you finally said something useful.
But I must correct you—
there are seven parts in total, including the main soul in his body.
So there should be six Horcruxes."
Harry didn't care about the correction.
"How can we possibly find them all?"
"If even a diary could be one, then it could be anything—
a quill, a teacup, a piece of parchment—"
"Stop, Harry," Dumbledore interrupted.
"You're describing random rubbish.
From everything you've seen, haven't you noticed?
Voldemort chooses objects with meaning."
Dumbledore held up the blackened ring.
"This was one.
It took me great effort to destroy the soul inside, but now it is clean."
Darren continued.
"Likely candidates remain—
Slytherin's locket,
Hufflepuff's cup,
perhaps something of Ravenclaw.
And finally… that snake.
Your connection to it may not be coincidence."
"Brilliant analysis, Darren," Dumbledore said warmly.
"It took me years to reach the same conclusions."
Darren did not smile.
He looked suddenly pale.
"So what is inside my brother… and me…
is it a piece of soul?"
Dumbledore froze.
Harry hurriedly protested.
"That's impossible! That would make me a Horcrux!"
Then his face went blank.
Dumbledore's expression was filled with pain.
"Yes, Harry.
You are one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.
I have hidden this truth for a long time."
"If I live, he won't die…"
Harry whispered mechanically.
Dumbledore shook his head.
"No. Remember the prophecy—
neither can live while the other survives."
"But that means I'll be the one who dies first!"
Harry shouted.
Then Darren spoke softly.
"Forget it, brother.
You don't need to know this yet.
Headmaster, please make him forget."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
"Darren—"
"Brother, listen to me.
I will handle everything."
Dumbledore raised his wand.
"Obliviate."
Harry's eyes went blank.
Darren watched him, eyes red.
"Headmaster… can your method keep my brother alive?"
"It is dangerous, but it is the only path.
If it succeeds, Harry will be free of the Horcrux and Voldemort can be destroyed."
"Then I beg you—
let him live.
Use any method.
If you need anything from me, just say it."
"Even if it costs your life?"
"Yes.
Even if it costs my life—my soul."
[Ding, Father +100]
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