novel-bin Chapter 34: Using Horcruxes to Solve Horcruxes?
Chapter 34: Using Horcruxes to Solve Horcruxes?
"Such a miraculous talent actually exists?"
Dumbledore was astonished by Dudley's answer and tried to use his vast knowledge to interpret the cause of this talent:
"Dali, perhaps one of your ancestors was skilled in alchemy, or even more likely, one of your ancestors was skilled in human transmutation, an ancient alchemy that is considered taboo and has been lost."
Just as a born Legilimency master must have ancestors skilled in mental magic, a born Disguise Magus must have ancestors skilled in Transfiguration.
However, given that you possess such a powerful talent, you shouldn't be a Muggle!
"Who knows?" Dudley shrugged, neither confirming nor denying Dumbledore's speculation. "Ask the next question!"
"Um... okay."
Unexpectedly calm, Dumbledore had thought Dudley would be interested in the topic he was talking about, but he was met with a cold shoulder.
He had no choice but to continue asking questions according to his original line of thought:
"Dali, how did you know that Hagrid was going to retrieve the Philosopher's Stone for me, and how did you prepare this ruby as a replacement beforehand?"
As Dumbledore asked the question, he took out a dark red gem with a candy-like color from his pocket.
It was the very same one that Dudley had secretly swapped into Hagrid's jacket pocket.
Upon hearing Dumbledore ask this question, Dudley inwardly cursed, realizing it was the biggest flaw he had left in yesterday's operation.
It was a fake Philosopher's Stone. Since it couldn't destroy Voldemort's main spirit, Voldemort took it and went back only to be disappointed!
You old man with white hair and a white beard, why did you have to use that 'all curses will end' thing to intercept it?
Now I have to rack my brains to explain!
Dali was internally complaining and thinking about how to answer.
He doesn't intend to lie, but of course, he won't tell the absolute truth either.
"It's an innate premonition I've had; I can know some things about what might happen in the future. Of course, not everything, and it's not necessarily accurate."
"Dali, you're a born prophet?! Your ancestors even..."
Dumbledore was surprised once again; he had been surprised more times in the past two days than in the previous ten years.
"Alright, I know what you're going to say! Not a single word of it is something I want to hear."
Dudley abruptly interrupted Dumbledore's pointless association, "Please get this straight, I meant I'm amazing, what's with you praising my ancestors? They can't hear me!"
Dumbledore: "Uh..."
"Ask the next question! Or are you done asking?" Dudley urged.
"...No! I have a few more questions." Dumbledore forced himself to stop his speechless state and continued to ask, "So, in the Gringotts vault, you warned Hagrid beforehand because you knew Voldemort was nearby?"
"No, not at all. I've already talked to Harry about this, let him tell you!"
Dudley took a break and turned to Harry, asking him to explain to Dumbledore the forehead scar, the remaining fragment of his soul, and the matter of sensing Voldemort's soul.
Without hesitation, Harry began to describe it in concise language.
Dumbledore listened intently, but the more he listened, the more wrinkles appeared on his brow. By the time he finished listening, a dark cloud had settled over his heart.
"It's a Horcrux! Voldemort has actually learned and used this extremely evil dark magic! No wonder he became so powerful, no wonder he was so difficult to destroy!"
Dumbledore suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in Dudley's bedroom, showing no trace of composure.
"If the fragment of soul in Harry's forehead scar was created by Voldemort unintentionally, then he must have already created other Horcruxes, or even more than one!"
Given Voldemort's madness, this was almost certain!
Dumbledore was mostly explaining, and half talking to himself.
"Please calm down, Mr. Dumbledore," Dudley reassured him. "Even if you walk back and forth a hundred times, Voldemort's Horcruxes won't come to you and destroy themselves."
"I'm sorry, kids, I lost my composure."
Dumbledore stopped in his tracks. He didn't want to do this either, but Horcruxes, a form of dark magic, were far too difficult to deal with.
"What is a Horcrux?" Harry asked hastily as Dumbledore sat back down.
Dumbledore's expression was complicated: "Harry, that's a kind of evil dark magic that requires murder to be performed."
By using murder, a heinous and inhumane act, as a ritual, one splits their own soul and stores the severed portion of their soul in an object, creating a Horcrux.
In this way, even if the wizard's physical body dies and his main soul is extinguished, he can be reborn through the Horcrux, achieving immortality.
Dumbledore explained in a very serious tone, and after describing the function of the Horcruxes, to prevent Dudley and Harry from going astray, he also solemnly stated their drawbacks:
"Never attempt this kind of dark magic. It's cruel, and splitting one's soul is an extremely unwise act! A fragmented soul will drastically alter one's personality and impair one's senses..."
Just as Dumbledore was earnestly offering his warning, Dudley had a sudden inspiration and excitedly suggested:
"The fragment of Voldemort's soul is said to be in the scar on Harry's forehead, but in fact, it is already connected to Harry's soul."
Could we have Harry learn this dark magic too, kill one of Voldemort's accomplices, perform the ritual, and then separate and destroy the fragments of Voldemort's soul?
Dumbledore's eyes widened upon hearing this, his surprise bordering on horror:
"Put away your horrible thoughts, Dudley! How could you... how could you teach Harry to kill?!"
Dudley's face turned cold: "Stop with those ridiculous acts of kindness you keep popping up, Dumbledore! You led Harry and Voldemort to Hogwarts, weren't you hoping Harry would kill Voldemort and rid the wizarding world of a great scourge?"
What, you can guide Harry to kill people, but you can't stand it when I bring it up in public?
Harry and I are determined to avenge Aunt Lily and Uncle James. We'll kill our enemies sooner or later, and while we're killing them, why not make use of their trash?
Or do you have a foolproof method to help Harry separate the fragments of Voldemort's soul?
"No, Dudley! You're oversimplifying things! Creating Horcruxes is extremely evil dark magic; it separates the caster's soul. Harry can't separate Voldemort's soul fragments using this method!"
Doing this will only destroy Harry's own soul!
Dumbledore explained in a very stern and urgent tone, and it was clear that he was truly afraid.
"If the risk is too great and the feasibility is insufficient, then let's put it aside."
Dudley regained his composure. He wouldn't have risked Harry right away anyway, and even if he were to use this method, he would have tested it on two subjects first.
Dumbledore let out a long sigh of relief. He had figured it out: Dudley might be a good person, but he was definitely not a normal good person.
However, they do need a safe way to remove the Voldemort soul fragment from Harry's body.
This was difficult, and one of the reasons why Dumbledore's heart was filled with gloom.