Chapter 26
Bill and Charlie settled in comfortably, going over the book Harry brought. Charlie spent more time reading about dark magic and thought, like Remus, that the horcrux was something he could see Voldemort trying.
Killing was something Voldemort did very easily without much consideration. It would be different, Harry reckoned, if Voldemort had a conscience.
"You know," said Bill, looking over the book carefully. "Our Uncles Fabian and Gideon were really smart; this research looked sound. I cannot believe Dumbledore rejected it out of hand."
Charlie agreed.
"Your uncles?" Harry asked.
Bill nodded. "Fabian and Gideon Prewett. They were our mum's brothers and they were killed by Voldemort before your parents died. They were very clever. Mum believes they were betrayed by someone they knew." He shrugged. "Voldemort hated blood traitors."
"Blood traitors?" Harry asked. "What are they?"
"Pure bloods who challenged Voldemort. Voldemort thought that witches and wizards who were half bloods were somehow inferior to pure bloods; he also hated muggles and wanted to dominate them. You wouldn't believe how many thought the same way."
"That's horrible," Harry said. He thought for a moment. "It'd be easy, though, wouldn't it? Muggles are especially gullible. And they sometimes try to destroy things they don't understand." He nodded absently. "For the greater good."
Harry had an odd smile on his face, but when he looked up he saw that everyone in the room was staring at him, and he quickly changed his expression. "Sorry, I was just thinking it would be a way to protect them and us."
Bill looked at Remus and Charlie. Remus shook his head quietly. Charlie was still mulling over what Harry had said.
"So," said Charlie. "What now? Ginny said something about a battle today. Is that still on? I'm anxious to fight."
Harry had almost forgotten about that. "I have no idea. Maybe it won't be today, but the day is coming and it's coming soon. I reckon Voldemort and I will meet here at Hogwarts and then all hell's going to break loose." He shrugged. "That's just the way I see it. And he'll be with his army of, uh, death eaters and the winner takes all."
Charlie and Bill laughed. "And how are you supposed to do battle with You-know-who?" Bill asked.
"No idea," Harry shrugged. "I don't think I'm ready now, but all of you know a lot and I have a lot to learn. I figure you can teach me."
Charlie spoke up. "Let's just say for the sake of argument that Voldemort was able to make a horcrux. What would happen if you killed him, what would happen if a piece of his soul was lying around somewhere? What then?"
Remus spoke up, "Well, the horcrux would have to be destroyed, wouldn't it? It may return to his body."
"How?" Charlie asked. "Some of his most trusted followers would have it in their possession and when he needed it?" Charlie's voice trailed off making his last thought a question.
Sirius, who had been sitting in the corner listening to all of them, finally spoke up. "I see now why Dumbledore thought the idea was impossible." Sirius blew out the breath he'd been holding. He raked his fingers through his messy hair.
Remus smiled patiently at him. Sirius wasn't much of a thinker; he was a re-acter. He was surprised that Sirius rejected the whole horcrux idea, too. Didn't his brother Regulus talk about Voldemort creating something that would make him immortal?
"What was that thing that Regulus used to talk about?" Lupin asked suddenly.
Sirius sniffed. "I stopped listening to my dear brother after he became a death eater. God rest his tortured soul."
"He talked about something," Remus pointed at the book, "Voldemort tried and he was becoming immortal."
Sirius stretched his arms lazily over his head. "No idea. I do know he was becoming less human before he disappeared."
"Could it be because he was losing his soul?" Bill asked, picking up what Remus was saying.
"Ah," said Remus. "And what if he created more than one horcrux? He looked less human because he was losing little pieces of his soul. How many people did Voldemort kill himself?"
"We know of at least two," Sirius said sadly.
"But before he killed my parents," Harry said, "he must have killed at least one person."
"What makes you say that?" Bill asked.
"Well, he disappeared after he tried to kill me, right? I mean, he didn't just leave the country, he vanished. I think whatever it was would have killed him outright but all of him wasn't there. It may have been only a small part of his soul somewhere else, hidden away."
Sirius shook his head, interrupting Harry. "I don't think…"
"Listen to me," Harry insisted. "After all I've read so far about what happened that night, I think maybe there was a protective spell around me. I know it sounds crazy, but listen. There was obviously something in place protecting me. You can't deny that, right?"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"I can't explain it, but let's say it's true. I have a protective spell that was meant to bounce off me back to the person who tried to hex me. If it was the killing curse, which I'm pretty sure it was, then the curse should have bounced off me back to Voldemort and he should have died," Harry said.
"Okay," said Charlie.
"Anyone else would have died, or should have. But not Voldemort…" Harry said.
"Because a part of his soul was packed neatly away somewhere," Remus finished. "It didn't kill him, but it was powerful enough to almost kill him. Maybe he was able to put some of his soul back and he had to wait to become stronger. Harry, what did he do to you last year? You said he regained his human form, yes?"
"There was some kind of ritual where someone took some of my blood and it was somehow combined with some other stuff. I know I should have paid more attention, but they were torturing me. It was hard to concentrate, but I do know that his human form came out," Harry looked around and his face became very pale.
"What else happened, Harry?" Remus asked. "What do you remember?"
Harry closed his eyes. "After he, uh, became a, uh, man, all these people fell to their knees and kind of worshipped him like he was a god or something. I was scared and thought that he'd kill me then, but he didn't. He looked at me; he was scary looking and he smiled. I reckon it was a smile, it's hard to tell. He kind of held out his arms and called me by my name, like he was happy to see me. He said I should join him. The people who were there kind of got upset and one of them said that I was the one who would kill him. That made him mad and he struck the man down. That scared me even worse.
"He said I was a part of him now and he was a part of me. I have no idea what it meant, but sometimes, you know, it feels like he's possessing me. It got worse after that night."
"Okay," Bill said. "Let's say that Dumbledore was wrong about the whole horcrux theory, and let's say he created more than one and they are still out there somewhere…"
Harry nodded. "If the horcruxes were destroyed leaving no soul except maybe one he restored when he came back, and he recaptured it…"
"Then," Remus continued, "Voldemort can be killed."
"But not if there are any horcruxes left."
"So," said Harry. "The horcruxes have to be destroyed before I fight him." He blew out a breath. "If I fight him now, I can't kill him."
"I believe you're right, Harry. You're not ready now. We have to find the horcruxes and then we'll be ready to fight."
"I just wonder where we begin." Harry said looking around the room.
"No idea," they said.