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Chapter 1269: How to Defeat Voldemort
Chapter 1269: How to Defeat Voldemort
There was no other choice.
After all, their current knowledge about the whereabouts of the remaining two Horcruxes was still based on speculation and conjecture.
As for the crucial task of destroying the Horcruxes, it was almost an impossible mission for Harry at this point.
His enemy was the infamous Dark Lord, and he was just Potter, Harry Potter.
Moreover, how could Voldemort ever let others easily discover his fatal weakness?
Harry had thought about it more than once; he might need years, or even longer, to search for the Horcruxes, and he had to be prepared for the possibility that he might never find them in his lifetime.
Just thinking about that terrible scenario made Harry feel anxious and fearful.
He couldn't imagine what Britain would look like under Voldemort's control, and how they would struggle to survive while being hunted by Death Eaters and Voldemort himself.
If the situation dragged on, could he even keep going?
Would Ron and Hermione be willing to continue the search with him?
What if they grew tired of that life? What if, in the end, he was left alone in his quest for the Horcruxes? Harry dared not imagine such a scenario.
Although he had made up his mind to use whatever time he had left to destroy Voldemort, he wasn't sure if he could stay resolute.
One year, two years, or even longer.
Could he persevere? Harry didn't know.
While Albert had mentioned that the Second Wizarding War wouldn't last too long, Harry had no confidence in finding the Horcruxes within a short period.
"Don't worry, Harry. The situation won't get any worse than it is now."
Noticing the change in Harry's expression, Hermione gently reassured him, "Even if we really can't find those two Horcruxes, Albert will surely provide assistance. So, there's no need to worry. Just go for it!"
"I know what to do."
Harry nodded slightly to Ron and Hermione. He was well aware that overthinking would only hinder him.
"It would be great if Anderson could help us directly."
Ron felt that with Albert's help, they might be able to resolve Voldemort's Horcrux problem within a year, seal him back into his coffin, nail the lid shut, and ensure he never resurrected again.
"Stop daydreaming," Hermione said, amused by Ron's childish idea.
If Albert could find the Horcruxes, there would be no need for them to worry at all. He would have destroyed them already and dealt with the mysterious man as well.
"I didn't mean—" Ron tried to argue, but Harry interrupted him.
"I know what you mean, but Albert has his own matters to attend to. It's impossible for him to take us along to search for the Horcruxes, and he's too conspicuous. It would be too easy for Voldemort to notice him." Harry didn't expect Albert to take them along on the Horcrux hunt. He knew they were the most suitable candidates because they had little to no presence and were unlikely to attract Voldemort's special attention.
In fact, Harry knew that Albert had been providing them with assistance all along.
"What about the current headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix and the heirloom that Dumbledore left us?" Hermione reminded them, "Many people just subconsciously ignore it."
Ron opened his mouth slightly, unable to refute her statement.
"What do you think Dumbledore hid in the Golden Snitch for me?" Harry quickly changed the subject to spare Ron from embarrassment.
After saying this, he took out the Golden Snitch that Dumbledore had left him from the lizard-skin pouch.
"I remember Albert saying that opening the Golden Snitch wouldn't be of any significance to you at this point." Hermione took the Golden Snitch from Harry, examined it carefully, and then passed it to Ron.
"Maybe it's some kind of secret weapon to be used against the mysterious man at a critical moment." Ron took the Golden Snitch from Hermione, shook it, and hearing no sound, returned it to Harry.
Harry took the Golden Snitch from Ron and fiddled with it thoughtfully. Given its small size, it probably couldn't hold anything substantial.
"But Ron's right, maybe it's a secret weapon meant for me." Harry was well aware that even with the Horcruxes destroyed, someone would still have to face Voldemort and kill him.
Ordinarily, going up against Voldemort in a duel would be suicidal, but there might be exceptional circumstances.
"Definitely not," Hermione interjected. "I can't imagine any small object helping you kill the mysterious man." She suggested, "If you really want to know, why don't you just ask Albert directly? That would be quicker and save you the trouble of racking your brains over this."
Harry didn't respond, but instead asked abruptly, "Do you remember what you told me about the Golden Snitch being able to recognize the first person who touches it with their hand?"
"Yes," Hermione nodded. "The Snitch wasn't touched by bare skin before it was released, not even by its maker. They all wore gloves to prevent any disputes during the Snitch-catching process."
"What did Dumbledore hide inside the Golden Snitch for me?" Harry pressed, sensing that he was onto something.
Hermine took out a notebook from her bag, flipped to a particular page, and read aloud, "'I bequeath to Harry James Potter the Golden Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, to remind him of the rewards of perseverance and agility.'"
"My first Quidditch match?" Harry repeated softly, then trailed off.
"You almost swallowed the Snitch back then!" Ron finished excitedly.
"Right," Harry continued, "but the first thing that touched the Snitch wasn't my hand..." He brought the Golden Snitch close to his mouth and kissed it gently, but still, there was no reaction.
Harry felt a surge of frustration, disappointment, and dejection.
"Wait, Harry, look! There's something written on the Snitch!" Hermione exclaimed in delight.
"What!"
Harry and Ron immediately leaned in closer, and to their surprise, they saw words etched on the smooth surface of the Snitch—words in Dumbledore's handwriting: "Open at the close."
"Open at the close... Open at the close?" Harry repeated, turning to Hermione and Ron. "Any idea what that means?"
Both shook their heads, looking perplexed.
"What a bunch of nasty characters, always playing riddles with people," Harry grumbled.
"Maybe this is what Albert meant when he said the timing wasn't right yet!" Hermione suggested, thinking that perhaps it wasn't that Albert didn't want to tell them, but that the time wasn't appropriate.
"If the timing is right, how am I supposed to figure out how to open it?" Harry complained. "Do you think Albert will tell me how to do it?"
"Maybe, probably..."
Hermione and Ron exchanged glances, both equally annoyed by the enigmatic nature of their situation.
"Well, I believe there's a purpose to everything Dumbledore left for us," Harry said as he picked up the copy of "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" from the table. Turning to Hermione, he asked, "Have you finished translating 'The Tale of the Three Brothers'? Are there any differences from the other versions we've heard?"
"There are some slight differences, but the content is more or less the same."
Recently, the trio had collected several versions of "The Tale of the Three Brothers."
"I remember Albert saying..."
"That story is true."
"What do you think Dumbledore was trying to tell us through 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard'?" Harry looked at Hermione and Ron, unfamiliar with wizarding fairy tales. "Fill me in, maybe we can figure out the real reason Dumbledore left us that book."
(End of Chapter)
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