Chapter 406: Slytherin's Locket
"So... did you happen to discover... Ravenclaw's Diadem?"
Dumbledore spoke the words casually, yet his expression gradually grew heavy with a solemn gravity.
"I found traces of a lingering Dark Arts corruption within it, Professor. So, I destroyed it."
Sean offered no concealment. Regarding the matter of a Horcrux, there were certain details he had forgotten over time; perhaps the Headmaster could provide the missing pieces of the puzzle.
"Merely 'Dark Arts residue'?"
Dumbledore let out a soft, knowing chuckle. "You understand more than you let on, Sean. You were always a brilliant boy. But these are burdens that men of my age should be the ones to carry.
"I shall reveal a portion of these secrets to you, in the hope that it will encourage you to stay far away from the danger. Further than you have already ventured. If you are willing to listen to an old man's ramblings, then have some tea. I believe the sweetness is moderated this time."
His face was set in a look of unprecedented seriousness. Sean took a sip; it was still sweet enough to make his teeth ache.
"I must emphasize again: a young person's mind can bring about fascinating changes in the world... but a young person should first focus on realizing their own potential," Dumbledore added.
He then produced the Pensieve. In all of Hogwarts, they were perhaps the only two wizards who utilized the artifact in such a manner. Most people viewed the Pensieve with a healthy amount of dread; it possessed a terrifying power over memory and thought. The danger lay in the fact that the owner—or anyone else—could enter the memories and walk among them. Inevitably, those with secrets, those ashamed of their past, or those desperate for privacy avoided the basin at all costs.
"Do you remember what I told you last time?" Dumbledore asked.
"That Tom Riddle liked to collect trophies. He favored objects of historical significance and great magical power," Sean replied.
"Oh, ho ho... yes. Let us call him Tom Riddle. His pride, his sense of superiority, and his determination to carve out a staggering place for himself in magical history—these traits demanded that he choose his Horcruxes with care. He favored items worthy of the honor."
Dumbledore always seemed satisfied by a student's intellect, especially when that student was Sean Green.
"You don't seem particularly surprised by the concept of a Horcrux?" Dumbledore asked suddenly.
Sean went silent for a moment.
"A harmless bit of curiosity on my part. I know some people simply refuse to be bewildered by the future," Dumbledore said meaningfully.
"Well, later... we found Tom Riddle's diary. Although I never saw the memory-shade that manifested from the pages, Harry's description of the phenomenon was like nothing I had ever encountered. A mere memory, possessing its own agency and thoughts? A mere memory, capable of draining the very life from the girl who held it?
"No. There was something far more depraved inside that book... a fragment of a soul. I am almost certain the diary was a Horcrux. But this revelation only raised further questions. What interested and shocked me most was that the diary had been used as both a safeguard and a weapon."
"So, you suspect Tom Riddle created more than one?" Sean noted, guiding the topic forward.
"A perfect deduction," Dumbledore said with an approving nod.
"If Tom intended for the diary to be passed on to a future Hogwarts student, he was remarkably careless with a precious fragment of his soul. The purpose of a Horcrux is to store a piece of the soul safely, not to throw it into the path of others where it risks destruction—which is exactly what happened. That piece of his soul is gone; you saw it yourself.
"Lord Voldemort's recklessness with that Horcrux fills me with a great deal of foreboding. It suggests he had already created—or planned to create—multiple Horcruxes, so that losing one wouldn't leave him vulnerable. I am loath to believe it, but no other explanation fits the facts."
Sean knew Dumbledore was a man of peerless wisdom. He had deduced a vast amount of information from a single diary. If that were the case, the Headmaster had likely already uncovered numerous other leads.
Sean realized his own plan needed to accelerate. He had to deal with Slytherin's Locket before the summer and find his way to the Gaunt Shack as soon as possible. As he sat there, he stole a glance at Dumbledore's hand, which made the Headmaster's smile turn even more enigmatic.
"I have spent years attempting to map Voldemort's past, traveling to many places and seeking out the traces of his journey," Dumbledore said with a smile. "But I suspect my efforts have been far less effective than yours."
"You flatter me, Professor," Sean said.
"Let me tell you something, child. Do not always seek to provide the 'perfect' answer to another man's questions. If you do, how is life any different from a constant examination?" Dumbledore added with a grandfatherly warmth.
"I've only done... a very small part," Sean replied.
"Very well, very well," Dumbledore sighed.
"Let us continue. Finding evidence of young Riddle was difficult enough; finding those who remember the adult Voldemort is nearly impossible. In fact, I doubt anyone but the man himself can give a detailed account of his life after leaving Hogwarts. Therefore, I have a few specific memories to share with you. Afterward, I should be very pleased to hear the thoughts of a younger mind."
Dumbledore pointed to a small, shimmering crystal phial sitting beside the Pensieve. This was what Sean had been waiting for.
He knew Slytherin's Locket was hidden in a seaside cave, and he knew the one currently in the cave was a fake. But through that knowledge, he could deduce the existence of another player: Regulus Arcturus Black.
R.A.B.
Through the fake locket, Sean could potentially use a house-elf—Kreacher—to find the real one. But the problem remained: Sean didn't know the location of the cave. Now, it appeared Dumbledore had already found it.
"I hope you aren't growing tired of diving into the minds of others. It is a singular experience," Dumbledore said. "This one comes from a very old house-elf named Hokey.
"Before we view her testimony, I must explain the circumstances of Voldemort's departure from Hogwarts. As you may have guessed, he reached his seventh year with 'Outstanding' marks in every subject. His peers assumed he was destined for a brilliant career; he was a Prefect, a top student, and held a Special Award for Services to the School.
"Several teachers, including Professor Slughorn, offered to secure him a position at the Ministry, yet he rejected them all. To the faculty's shock, word eventually reached the school that he had taken a job as a shop assistant at Borgin and Burkes."
[End of Chapter 406]
☆☆☆
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
☆☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you