Chapter 313: A New Goal (Part 2)
Draco had already decided on his next destination.
This small fishing village happened to be very close to a place Salazar Slytherin had once mentioned.
An island...
Hidden somewhere nearby.
An island that concealed part of Salazar's legacy.
---
"You mentioned Horcruxes..."
Salazar had once said thoughtfully,
"That reminds me of a manuscript written by someone who knew them better than almost anyone."
"The foul Herpo?"
Draco had asked tentatively.
---
The conversation had taken place years ago.
During the summer after their third year.
Inside the ancestral home of the House of Black at Grimmauld Place.
---
"That's right."
"He was an ancient Greek Dark wizard."
"You could even call him the creator of the Horcrux."
"The Basilisk I left within the Chamber of Secrets was raised according to methods recorded in his writings."
Salazar answered without the slightest hesitation.
He showed no embarrassment discussing either the Chamber of Secrets...
Or the Basilisk he had raised beneath Hogwarts.
"I nearly died because of that Basilisk."
Draco raised an eyebrow.
Since the topic had already come up...
He couldn't resist complaining.
Even now...
The memory remained vivid.
"We were lucky to survive."
"Impossible."
Salazar answered confidently.
"It would never attack without reason."
"I ordered it not to."
"The Basilisk was only one of the safeguards I prepared to protect pure-blood wizards."
Draco remained calm.
"Centuries have passed."
"Your pet was left alone for far too long."
"It probably forgot your commands ages ago."
"The moment someone who could speak Parseltongue appeared..."
"It eagerly abandoned your restrictions."
He continued,
"Tom Riddle attempted to murder a classmate while still a student."
"And succeeded."
His meaning was obvious.
Riddle had murdered Myrtle Warren.
Framed Hagrid.
Escaped suspicion himself.
And even received an award for special services to the school.
"Besides..."
"Isn't he your descendant?"
"The Basilisk probably sensed your bloodline."
"That's why it obeyed him."
Salazar suddenly looked rather awkward.
After all...
There was nothing glorious about a descendant like Voldemort.
Worse still...
Draco's reasoning sounded entirely plausible.
"Heh..."
The old man laughed dryly.
Then deliberately changed the subject.
"Herpo lived in ancient Greece."
"After discovering his manuscript..."
"I actually learned Ancient Greek myself in order to translate it."
"It took considerable effort."
"But I eventually succeeded."
He shrugged.
"Unfortunately..."
"It proved mostly useless."
"At least to me."
"I've never been particularly interested in that sort of Dark Magic."
"I only skimmed through it."
"There were no earth-shattering secrets."
"Still..."
"It may help you."
"You're planning to destroy Horcruxes, aren't you?"
"As for me..."
"I'm not particularly interested in dealing with them."
"If I could..."
"I'd simply tell you everything."
"But what remains here is only a fragment of my memories."
"I'm not even truly myself anymore."
He fell silent for a moment.
"Therefore..."
"You'll have to retrieve it yourself."
"I left it..."
"Let's see..."
"Somewhere in the waters near Germany."
The old wizard frowned thoughtfully, trying to remember.
---
In his later years...
Salazar had traveled across nearly all of Europe.
Britain.
France.
Germany.
He had left traces almost everywhere.
Draco naturally concluded...
If Salazar had hidden something...
There would undoubtedly be a test protecting it.
And it would almost certainly be dangerous.
Research concerning Horcruxes...
Could never be left where anyone might obtain it.
If the other Hogwarts founders had hidden similar legacies...
Godric Gryffindor would probably test courage.
Rowena Ravenclaw would undoubtedly test wisdom.
Helga Hufflepuff...
Even if someone failed...
Would almost certainly ensure they survived.
She might even reward them anyway.
But Salazar Slytherin...
The most cunning of the four...
No one could predict what traps he might have prepared.
Salazar himself claimed he no longer remembered.
He insisted that the fragment inside Draco's mind was incomplete.
Not even a true reflection of his own personality.
Draco remained skeptical.
Every conversation they had shared had felt perfectly natural.
Perhaps...
Even now...
The old man had been testing him.
After all...
Nothing came freely.
Especially not from Salazar Slytherin.
---
The sea was exceptionally calm that morning.
A gentle breeze drifted across the water.
Fishing boats gradually sailed away from the harbor.
Soon disappearing beyond the horizon.
At the dock...
One sturdy little boat waited quietly.
Draco stood upon a dark reef nearby.
Watching the retreating tide wash gently over the rocks.
White foam spread quietly across the black stone.
"Where are you going?"
A familiar voice suddenly sounded behind him.
"So..."
"You're abandoning me after all?"
"I thought you promised otherwise."
Fleur stood there.
Looking directly at him.
She watched him...
As though afraid he might disappear the moment she looked away.
"There are things..."
"I need to do alone."
Draco answered quietly.
"And I think..."
"It's time for us to part ways."
"Your family must be worried."
"And you've only just recovered."
Fleur said nothing.
Her deep blue eyes simply stared at him stubbornly.
"My fever is gone."
She emphasized every word.
"If you don't believe me..."
"Feel it yourself."
Without hesitation...
She reached out and caught his hand.
Trying to place it against her forehead.
Draco quietly avoided the gesture.
"That isn't the issue."
"You've already risked enough by following me."
"Dumbledore entrusted you with this mission."
"You fulfilled it."
"Your task is over."
Fleur immediately replied,
"Then this has nothing to do with any mission."
"This..."
"Is my own decision."
The salty sea breeze brushed gently across them.
The air felt cool.
Yet the silent confrontation between them burned hotter than ever.
Neither was willing to give in.
Neither stepped back.
Draco hesitated.
For only a moment.
Then...
He tightened his grip around his wand.
I'm sorry...
"Obliviate."
He cast the Memory Charm without warning.
The spell flew so quickly it was almost impossible to notice.
Using the same method once again...
Erasing her memories remained the safest option.
Cruel though it seemed...
It was necessary.
For her future.
A brilliant flash of light streaked forward—
But before it could reach Fleur...
Another burst of light suddenly intercepted it.
The Memory Charm shattered in midair.
Its scattered fragments dissolved silently beneath the morning sun.