Chapter 575: The Secret
Chapter 575: The Secret
"I'm curious why Voldemort chose this method to achieve immortality. Liam once told me that this method has many flaws", Harry said after Professor Dumbledore informed everyone that Voldemort had more than one Horcrux.
"Other methods?" Dumbledore glanced at Liam and Hermione before continuing. "But those other methods didn't meet his requirements."
Dumbledore straightened up and explained, "You see, Voldemort was actually raised in the Muggle world. Despite his claim to be Slytherin's heir, he didn't receive much from his clan. Therefore, his sources of knowledge were very scattered—some from classroom lectures and tutoring, some from his classmates through various means, and some from self-study in the School Library. As a result, Voldemort wasn't as knowledgeable during his student days as he became later."
At this point, Liam and the others were captivated by Dumbledore's words. The Headmaster waved his wand, conjuring a cup of hot tea, took a sip, and continued, "So, for the student Voldemort, the only way to escape death was to create a Horcrux. He wasn't unaware of the potential problems, but he believed himself to be Slytherin's descendant, the chosen one. He thought he wouldn't fall into the same issues as those who had created Horcruxes before him."
"Moreover, Voldemort was a person who lacked security. He couldn't allow his life to be dependent on something fragile. For example, if he used the Philosopher's Stone, he would need to drink the Elixir of Life continuously. What if the Philosopher's Stone was damaged or the Elixir of Life was tampered with? Voldemort needed the most flexible path to immortality."
"There seem to be only a few methods for wizards to achieve immortality", Liam thought after hearing Dumbledore's words. The method he now possessed came from other worlds, and the method Hermione had was a result of Liam combining knowledge from other worlds with methods from their own world in an unexpected situation. In short, the Harry Potter world had very few paths to immortality.
While Liam was reflecting, Dumbledore began to summarize. "Now that we have this crucial memory, we are closer than anyone to uncovering the secret of how to defeat Voldemort. You heard him say: 'Wouldn't it be better to split it into more pieces, to make you stronger... isn't seven the most magically powerful number?' Yes, I believe splitting his soul into seven pieces was very appealing to Voldemort."
"Seven Horcruxes?" Harry's face turned very grim, and several Portraits on the wall expressed shock and outrage. "That means they could be anywhere in the world—hidden, buried, or invisible—"
"It's not that bad", Dumbledore said with a smile. "Firstly, Harry, it's not seven Horcruxes, but six. The seventh part of his soul, regardless of its state, is still in his body, newly created by Dark Magic. For years, this part of his soul existed in a ghost-like form, which you encountered in your first year. Without it, he would be nothing. This seventh part of his soul will be the final target for anyone who wants to kill Voldemort—the piece within him."
"But he still has six Horcruxes", Harry asked anxiously. "How do we find them?"
"Actually, we have already destroyed the majority of the Horcruxes", Dumbledore said, opening a drawer on his desk and pulling out several golden boxes. "However, I believe it would be best if you and I make an Unbreakable Vow. There is a mysterious connection between you and Voldemort, and we cannot let him know about our efforts to destroy the Horcruxes."
"Of course, your considerations are indeed thorough", Harry extended his hand and clasped Dumbledore's. "I hope the unfortunate event from my fifth year doesn't happen again."
Soon, in Liam's presence, Professor Dumbledore and Harry made an Unbreakable Vow to ensure that Harry wouldn't reveal what he had seen today, especially not to Voldemort, who could potentially read his mind.
"Alright, this is our progress so far", Dumbledore said after the Unbreakable Vow was completed. He opened the golden boxes one by one. "After the destruction of Voldemort's first Horcrux, I realized he had created more than one. So, I began my search. Fortunately, as his former teacher and lifelong enemy, I have always tried to understand Voldemort's past. I traveled many places and followed his trail. Eventually, I found some clues. The ring you see here is the second Horcrux I discovered—"
Dumbledore then introduced the Pendant Box, the Crown, and the Golden Cup. However, during his explanations, he was somewhat evasive about the origins of the Horcruxes, glossing over Liam's contributions in finding and destroying them.
"So, we just need to find the last Horcrux, right?" Harry glanced at the five Horcruxes on the table, his tone lightening. "But what could this last Horcrux be? If it's something like an old newspaper, an empty tin can, or a worn-out boot, I think it will be quite hard to find."
"No, no, no, you're thinking of a Portkey, Harry. A Portkey needs to be an ordinary object that can easily be overlooked to avoid accidental activation. Voldemort's Horcruxes are certainly not like that", Dumbledore said earnestly. "From what I know, he always believed he had noble blood and was superior to others. His pride, his sense of superiority, and his determination to secure a remarkable place in the History of Magic would never allow him to place his soul in insignificant objects. He would choose something he believes is worthy of his noble soul as a container. You can see this tendency in the Horcruxes I have already destroyed."
"The relics of Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff—do you think Voldemort's last Horcrux could be a relic of Gryffindor?" Harry asked, looking at the items in the open boxes on the table.
"I doubt it. As far as I know, Gryffindor's only remaining relic is safely preserved in Hogwarts Castle, even in this very office", Dumbledore replied, standing up and retrieving the Sorting Hat from a nearby stand. He then pulled out a sword studded with rubies. "Gryffindor's Sword. Any true Gryffindor can draw this sword from the hat."
"So, what do you think Voldemort's last Horcrux is?" Harry, after a moment of thought, gave up and asked Dumbledore directly.
"I have considered many possibilities, but I have a vague theory now", Dumbledore said. "I believe I know what the sixth Horcrux is. If I tell you honestly, I have been observing the snake—Nagini—for some time. I wonder what you will say about that."
"A snake?" Harry looked surprised. "Can a living creature be an Horcrux? Liam told me that historically, Horcruxes have been magical items. Using a living being as an Horcrux is a very risky move."
"Liam is correct", Dumbledore glanced at Liam. "It is very risky to entrust a part of your soul to a living, thinking creature. Based on my speculation, Voldemort intended to create his last Horcrux when he went to your house to kill you. From his previous behavior, the murder victims he chose for his Horcruxes were always very special to him. You were certainly such a target. He believed that by killing you, he would eliminate the danger foretold by the prophecy. He thought this would make him invincible. I believe he intended to use your death to create his last Horcrux."
"We all know he failed. However, a few years ago, when he returned, he had Nagini kill a Muggle old man. It was then that he likely decided to turn the snake into his last Horcrux. The snake is a symbol of Slytherin, and this particular snake is exceptionally powerful. Additionally, his control over the snake is also extraordinary."
"So, if we kill the snake, we can remove Voldemort's so-called immortality and defeat him completely?" Harry asked, excitedly.
"Very well said, a concise and accurate summary. That is the situation we are in", Dumbledore nodded approvingly. "Without his Horcruxes, Voldemort is a damaged soul, but do not forget that despite his soul being irreparably damaged, his mind and magic power remain intact. Even without Horcruxes, killing a Wizard like Voldemort will still require extraordinary skill and ability."
"But I believe I can defeat him", Harry said, clenching his fist.
"Then I wish you success in achieving that. It's late now, Harry. You can go back and rest. Liam, you and Hermione stay behind. I need to discuss some recent developments in the creation of alchemical devices with you."
(End of Chapter)
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