Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and write purely for my own enjoyment.

Chapter 52: Horcruxes

Harry was sitting in Albus' office, thinking through what Albus told him about how Professor Snape was injured. He was astonished to learn the snarky professor was a spy! Yet he was worried about his own chances against Voldemort if someone powerful like Snape could be tortured and injured so easily. The man, despite his outward dislike of Harry, understood the boy needed to know.

"Harry?" Albus asked softly.

"Yes sir?" Harry asked.

"I think I know how you can defeat Voldemort," said Albus.

Harry's eyes widened. "Really?" he asked.

"Yes," said Albus. "Do you remember the diary from your second year that allowed the Chamber of Secrets to be opened?"

"Yes, and I still don't understand you kept it, it was covered in ink and water," Harry said.

"Because, my boy," said Albus. "I was trying to find out more about it, and I finally figured it out. The diary contained a fragment of Voldemort's soul. By murdering a person, he broke a part of his soul away from the rest and encased it in an inanimate object. That is a very dark process and creates one of the darkest artifacts know to wizard kind, a horcrux."

"I've never heard of horcruxes," Harry said.

"It is not discussed in school and I removed all books that speak of it from the restricted section. Due to the nature of the dark arts, I determined it to be a subject not suitable for students. I removed the books from the library long before I took over as headmaster. I did not destroy the books, I merely store them among my book collection, protected by a set of containment wards."

"So Voldemort somehow learned of the creation process and made one?" Harry asked.

"Yes, though I believe he made seven in total, not just one, and encased each fragment in a different object, hiding them in different places. The diary was one," said Albus.

"Why would anyone do that to themselves?" Harry asked.

"Lord Voldemort, in the way of many dark lords and evil wizards, strives for immortality and a chance to rule the world. My boy, when you took the basilisk's fang and stabbed the diary, the venom destroyed the trapped soul," said Albus. "This is why Riddle disappeared and never fully solidified."

"So now there are only six?" Harry asked.

"Yes, indeed," said Albus. "But I might have found another one. It's a ring."

Harry was silent. "So, how can we destroy it?" Harry asked.

"With the sword of Gryffindor, for goblin-made blades absorb compounds that increase their strength, like the venom from a basilisk," said Albus, beaming at Harry. "Shall I show you?"

"Yes please," Harry said.

Albus removed a chunky gold ring from the inside of a drawer and set it on his desk. Then he grabbed the sword of Gryffindor and stabbed the ring. Immediately, there was a piercing scream, then silence.

"That, right there, proves it was a horcrux," said Albus.

"So now there are five?" Harry asked. "What type of objects would he use? Where did that ring come from?"

"Yes my boy," said Albus proudly. "And I'd like to find the others sooner than later. If we want to save Professor Snape and defeat Lord Voldemort, then we must take action. I believe Voldemort selected items of importance, not everyday trinkets."

"I'll help you," Harry said. "You can count on me."

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