Days at Hogwarts

Chapter 716 also deserves some credit.

"Hordeals? No, Harry, that power is the complete opposite of Horcruxes."

"Hordeals require the guiltless murder of others to achieve the purpose of splitting the soul, and your mother sacrificed herself to cast this ancient magic. Pure and selfless love at that moment displayed an unprecedented, magical power beyond magic, and the power of protection left its mark on your blood."

"Originally, this mark would have gradually faded away, like other effects a sorcerer might have had on the world. Voldemort was completely unaware of this; he only foolishly pursued shallow power and, by chance, incorporated your blood into his body, allowing this protection to continue."

Dumbledore's tone carried a hint of respect; he not only admired the mother who sacrificed herself to protect her child, but also, as a legendary wizard, revered the power that transcended all magic.

The protection that came sixteen years ago in the name of love has had a profound impact.

It destroyed Voldemort's prime-age body in one fell swoop, leaving only a ghost with nowhere to hide and no courage to show itself. The once-powerful Death Eater group disbanded overnight after losing its leader, ending decades of turmoil in the British wizarding world.

Harry's eyes welled up with tears. Even though he'd heard it countless times, his mother's love always touched his heart. Not wanting to show weakness in front of the headmaster, he changed the subject: "If Voldemort can't kill me, and we can't kill Voldemort, what should we do next?"

"It's good to see you face death with such composure, Harry, but at your age, it's too early to think about these things." Dumbledore patted him on the shoulder. "You don't need to personally embark on the adventure to death; you just need to destroy the fragments of the soul that reside in your scars."

"How do I do it?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore didn't answer immediately, but pondered quietly, seemingly hesitant: "I've come up with a plan, but... Harry, I'm not entirely sure."

"Godric Gryffindor once said that you don't need to fill your potion bottle, plan for every eventuality, or prepare months' worth of food before embarking on a journey. If there's anything you absolutely must bring, it's your wand and your sword," Harry said calmly. This was a classic quote from the founder of the house, used to encourage people to bravely take risks.

Dumbledore's lips curled into a smile, his voice laced with amusement: "That's the excuse Gryffindor used to mock the other three founders, you know that, right?"

"Yes, and I think Gryffindor is right." Harry shrugged. "I remember you were a Gryffindor student, Headmaster. Don't worry about things that haven't happened yet, just tell me the plan."

"It's just an immature idea," Dumbledore said slowly. "The protective magic is imprinted in the blood of both you and Voldemort. Based on this, I believe his Killing Curse cannot harm you, but it can destroy the soul fragment in your forehead, so..."

"If Voldemort attacks me, will the plan succeed?"

If it weren't Dumbledore who said this, he would even suspect that he had secretly joined the Death Eaters.

Harry still had doubts, and after a moment's thought, he voiced them: "Since Voldemort is alive, I won't die, so why can't you... or someone else, someone more trustworthy, help me remove the fragments of my soul?"

"Only a few deadly spells can destroy a fragment of a soul: Fiendfyre, the Killing Curse, the basilisk's venom, and Gryffindor's sword. It doesn't really matter who does it; Voldemort would probably be more dedicated than us in carrying it out," Dumbledore explained.

"..."

It sounds weird, but it seems to make some sense.

Harry fell silent.

……

London Bridge has collapsed!

"It's collapsed! It's collapsed!"

"Throw away the key and lock it up!"

"Lock it up, lock it up!" Although he didn't choose the advanced astronomy class in sixth grade, Loren still regularly went to the tower to study astronomy until it was almost lights out before coming down. He would hum a song as he returned to his dormitory, and casually greet his few decadent roommates who were obsessed with mirrors. Learning self-discipline made him feel good, and it was foreseeable that astronomy might be a lifelong hobby for him.

"The little girl's cries were heartbreaking!"

"The cries are mournful, the cries are mournful!"

Harry, now seated, finally noticed the lyrics. He slowly turned his head and listened for a few more lines before finally asking, "Loren, why do the lyrics of this song sound...so bizarre?"

"Hmm, something does seem a bit strange."

Loren poured himself a glass of orange juice. He hadn't brushed his teeth yet, so of course he had to drink something sweet: "Hermione said it was an allusion to Henry VIII's second queen, Anne Boleyn, who was accused of adultery and incest and was ultimately executed for treason. However, I think it's a kind of black magic ritual, where a child is sealed into the foundation of a building during its construction or completion to make it more stable."

"..."

You're probably a dark wizard!

Harry frowned, feeling his mind go blank. His train of thought about Horcruxes was completely interrupted, and he couldn't make sense of it anymore.

Loren picked up the teapot and shook it. There was only half a pot of orange juice left. If he didn't drink it now, the house-elf would pour it out. So he simply sat down next to it and decided to refuse to waste food, starting with himself.

"Why aren't you at the victory party, or grinning at yourself in the mirror with Seamus? What are you doing sitting here all alone?"

"Dumbledore has come up with a plan regarding living Horcruxes..."

Living Horcruxes...the plan?

Loren sipped his sweet orange juice, vaguely guessing the plan in his mind, and Harry's words gradually confirmed his guess. He wasn't surprised; on the contrary, he was pleased. Dumbledore was able to discuss these plans with Harry personally, instead of hiding them behind his death and guiding him through his belongings, all thanks to Loren's previous efforts.

Although there was an unexpected living Horcrux, it was a bit tricky.

Loren put down his teacup and looked at the prophetic child with a strange expression: "What do you think of this plan? Don't you think it's too risky? What if something unexpected happens? You might really have to go see your parents... It sounds like good news."

"..."

Harry sighed helplessly and decided to pour himself a glass of orange juice as revenge on his roommate: "Of course I believe in Dumbledore, and I'm willing to carry out this plan. I'm just wondering where the last living Horcrux is, and I'm worried that Voldemort might come back in a decade or so."

"Another living Horcrux..."

Loren pondered for a few seconds, reasoning as he went, "Based on the analysis of previous Horcruxes, apart from the very first diary, all the Horcruxes after that are special items with irreplaceable historical significance, and also hold special meaning for him personally..."

Harry nodded.

"Voldemort has a collecting obsession and values ​​rituals. The last soul vessel he'd choose would definitely be special. Considering it's a living being, he wouldn't just pick any animal or..." Loren looked thoughtful. "...Someone?"

Upon hearing the second half of the sentence, Harry's heart skipped a few beats.

(End of this chapter)