In the tranquility of his room within the pocket dimension, Harry was immersed in the final preparations for his return to Hogwarts. On his carved wooden bed, a leather trunk reinforced with expansion runes remained open.
Harry moved with a methodical calm, folding his new silk robes, those that Yuki and the elves had specifically designed for his new physique. They were no longer the baggy, second-hand clothes from Dudley; every thread of this clothing emanated the status and power he now held. He was placing his robes when a soft knock on the door interrupted his task.
"Come in," Harry said, setting a robe aside and turning toward the entrance.
The door opened to reveal Shirayuki. The elder Kitsune looked imposing; her skin had a healthy glow that resembled porcelain under the moonlight, and her tails moved behind her with a rhythmic elegance. However, her expression was unusually serious, devoid of her usual serene smile. Her golden eyes fixed directly on Harry's forehead.
"Harry, before you depart for that school of magic, there is something we must talk about," Shirayuki began, approaching with steps that made no sound on the carpet. "I have been observing you these last few weeks while my body recovered its strength, and there is something in your presence that disturbs the natural flow of your energy. I feel a stain, a malignant and parasitic presence lodged right behind that scar. It is a soul fragment that does not belong to you."
Harry tensed, dropping the garment he was holding. His heart skipped a beat. He had spent the last few weeks feverishly researching in the books of Potter Manor and consulting the System's analysis functions to understand what that burden was. He knew it was a Horcrux, an anchor for Voldemort's soul, but the methods described for its removal were almost always lethal for the vessel, and the options in the System were far beyond his budget at the moment.
"I know... it's a parasite I've carried since my parents died," Harry confessed bitterly, clenching his fists. "I've looked for ways to get rid of it, but the books say the container must be destroyed beyond all repair."
Shirayuki let out a soft sigh, almost like a breeze through cherry blossoms.
"For a Yokai priestess of my rank, that darkness is like a stain of black ink on virgin snow," she replied with a small, comforting smile. "I have recovered enough of my sacred power thanks to the peace you have provided me here. My white fire does not only burn the flesh; it purifies the very essence of the being. If you trust me and my lineage, I can tear that filth from your being without damaging your own soul."
Harry did not doubt for a single second. If anyone could achieve such a miracle outside the logic of British magic, it was her.
"Do it, Shirayuki. I don't want to carry anything belonging to that man with me. I want to be free."
Shirayuki nodded solemnly and asked him to sit on the edge of the bed. She drew so close that Harry could perceive the scent of ozone and sandalwood emanating from her magical aura. With infinite delicacy, Shirayuki raised her hand and, with the tip of her index finger, traced the outline of the lightning-shaped scar.
"It is going to hurt, Harry. But it will not be a pain of destruction; it will be the pain of iron being purified in the forge," she warned in a soft voice.
Suddenly, a blinding white flame, so pure it seemed made of starlight, erupted from the tip of her finger. The fire sank directly into Harry's forehead, passing through bone and skin as if they were water. Harry clenched his teeth and let out a muffled groan; he felt a searing heat racing through his skull, as if molten metal were being poured directly into his thoughts.
Then, the horror began to manifest. A blackish, viscous liquid started to ooze from the scar, a substance that looked like boiling oil. A foul smoke, smelling of burnt flesh and rot, filled the room as the parasite struggled not to let go of its host.
An inhuman scream, high-pitched and laden with ancient hatred, filled the air. The black substance twisted in front of Harry, suspended by Shirayuki's white fire, until for a brief and terrifying instant it formed the distorted and cadaverous face of a man without a nose, whose red eyes glowed with pure malice. Shirayuki, unfazed by the vision of the Dark Lord, generated a sphere of pure white fire in her free hand and launched it with lethal precision at the specter.
"Return to the nothingness from which you came!" she sentenced.
With one last shriek of agony, the shadow disintegrated into a rain of white sparks, leaving behind a deathly silence. Harry fell to his knees on the rug, his breath hitching and sweat soaking his face. He reached a hand to his forehead, trembling. The scar was still there, but the dull pain, the constant migraines, and that horrible sensation of being watched from within had completely vanished.
Suddenly, Harry began to laugh. First it was a whisper, and then a clean, liberating laugh that echoed in every corner of his room.
"It's incredible... simply incredible," Harry gasped, looking at Shirayuki with renewed wonder. "I've spent time torturing myself, looking for a solution in ancient tomes, fearing that my fate was to die so that he would too... and for you, Shirayuki, it was as simple as blowing out a candle."
"It was not simple, Harry; it required an iron will not to injure your core," she replied softly, extending her hand to help him stand up. "But my fire is the natural enemy of corrupted souls. Now, for the first time in thirteen years, your magic is truly yours. Feel the difference."
Harry closed his eyes and concentrated. The sensation was immediate. Before, his magic felt like a river that had to navigate around rocks and mud; now, it was an indomable torrent, pure and swift. The mental clarity he felt was absolute. This event gave him a vital lesson: no matter how powerful the System made him, he needed allies.
At that moment, a floating System window appeared before his eyes, glowing with a neon blue radiance:
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Hidden event completed! External soul fragment (Horcrux) destroyed.]
[Reward: 5,000 SC (System coins) achieved.]
[Status: Your magic flow has permanently increased by 25% after removing the parasitic interference.]