Chapter nine here. Enjoy. I guess some of you have questions regarding how the Riddle Diary—a Horcrux— got destroyed when it was not exposed to a Dementor to kill the soul within it. Well, this chapter has the answer. Read on and don't forget to submit reviews.

CHAPTER NINE

THE SCAR

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were now very busy with their schedules and homework to notice the beautiful day that was present. They just sat their on that Saturday morning, doing school work along with the other seventh years. It was, of course, their NEWT year so they had expected this load of work. Harry couldn't concentrate though, as he read his Transfiguration essay to proofread it. The fact that he could possibly be a Horcrux has been defeating any sort of concentration he was exerting to finish his schoolwork.

During lunch time, Harry, Ron, and Hermione went down the Great Hall bringing piles of books and rolls of parchment. They did not want to stop doing their homework in hopes of finishing early. As they spooned Chinese Dumplings into their mouths, they read their Defense Against the Dark Arts book intently. While they read, someone tapped their backs. As they turned back to see who was tapping on their shoulders, they heard McGonagall's crisp voice talk to them, her fingers still tapping onto their backs.

"You three, meet me later after lunch in my office," said McGonagall sternly. "Understand?"

"Yes professor," replied Hermione while the other two just nodded.

McGonagall walked away briskly with her emerald robes fluttering by. When she was out of earshot, Hermione asked "Why are we being called?"

"I guess…," said Ron as he bit down his spring roll. "It's Order business."

"Yeah, that's what I thought"

"But hey, do you think it's a good idea to tell her about…" said Harry reluctantly.

"About what?" asked Hermione as he rolled her finished essay and plunged it in her bag.

"About the Horcrux and me being one?" finished Harry, eyeing the surrounding to make sure no one heard what he just said.

"I guess so. I mean the Order has go to know, Harry," said Hermione comfortingly, sensing Harry's feelings about this topic. "I mean they won't try and kill you for being a Horcrux."

"Well actually, I've been having thoughts about that. I mean if a part of Voldemort's soul is in me, I guess in the end, the Order has to destroy me, too, to destroy the soul in me and make Voldemort mortal again," answered Harry solemnly.

"Don't be silly," said Hermione and after that, she just kept quiet as to not bring up the topic of Harry's involvement with the Horcruxes for it made him uncomfortable.

After finishing their meals, they stood up and slung their bags on their shoulders. They then trooped out towards the Grand Staircase and went up to the floor of the Headmistress's Office. Once they were there, they went atop the Gargoyle that served entrance to the office. Once they arrived by the door of McGonagall's office, they knocked. They were admitted instantly inside as the Headmistress opened the door.

"Sit," said McGonagall as she went behind her mahogany table and sat down. The three Gryffindors then walked towards three fuchsia colored couches standing in front of McGonagall's table and sat down. The office, as Harry looked around, seemed different. The usual portraits of passed Headmasters were still there but the wall have been painted a deeper shade of golden brown. The windows were now bigger, reaching from ceiling to floor, giving a spectacular view of the Black Lake. There was now a red embroidered rug underneath the table and chairs and floating candles, similar to the ones in the Great Hall, were levitating near the ceiling. More shelves were places behind them, all filled with books and scrolls that looked centuries old.

"So," started McGonagall. "I am here to tell you that Severus is very ill and well, just for precaution, I am asking you to tell me if there are any questions or information you know about Voldemort and his Horcruxes that we can clarify with Severus. If he is to die, then we must take full advantage of this moment that he is still alive and make clear everything we need to ask regarding this battle with the Dark Lord."

Hermione was taken aback by these words. "So you think he is going to die?" she said shakily.

"I don't know, Ms. Granger. But as I said, this is only for precaution. We must make do with the time we have. So, do you three have anything to share?"

Hermione looked at Harry as he looked at McGonagall, finding the words to explain what he was thinking. Finally, he started to talk.

"Professor, I think I know something about the Horcruxes. Professor Lupin was trying to help me with something and then it struck me that I can be one of the Horcruxes."

McGonagall's eyes opened wide and her nose flared. "How did you come up with this conclusion?" she said in slight alarm.

"Well, you know how the Dementors affect me so?"

"Well, everyone feels that coldness from a Dementor. It's in their nature."

"Yes but notice how Dementors concentrate on me particularly. They usually single me out."

"Well, then what are you saying?"

"Maybe I have another soul within me. Voldemort's. Dementors respond to the presence of souls and so, since I may have a part of Voldemort's soul, the Dementors single me out."

"What more proof do you have?" said McGonagall, now her feelings of alarm more profound. "Is this your only basis in claiming that you are a Horcrux?"

"Well, no. According to Professor Dumbledore, Horcruxes can be living things, like Nagini. And he also said that one of the Horcruxes is something of Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. I am a Gryffindor. And also, the way he tells me that Voldemort transferred some of himself to me and because of that, I can speak Parseltoungue and have Voldemort's wand. I mean all of these things can be manifestations of Voldemort's soul in me."

McGonagall finally understood. She looked alarmed and placed her head on her hand, completely lost with what to do. She looked out of the window and looked at the Black Lake with its glassy surface. She then stood up and walked towards the portraits of the Headmasters. She suddenly spoke to them.

"Professor Dumbledore…" she said and suddenly, Dumbledore was in his portrait. "Just a question, can a person be a Horcrux?"

"Certainly, Minerva," said Dumbledore in his picture frame. "Horcruxes can be living things. What Harry has just said can be partially correct."

"What do you mean partially?"

"Well, what he said can be plausible but if it was completely true, it would not match the prophecy's contents."

"What do you mean?" asked Harry, now beside McGonagall and facing Dumbledore.

"The prophecy states that 'one cannot live while the other survives.' If you intend on killing yourself to destroy part of Voldemort's soul and in turn, kill him, it will not be consistent with the prophecy. It clearly states that 'one will kill the other', not 'one will kill himself to kill the other.'"

Hermione smiled a bit and Ron did, too. The thought that Harry didn't need to die was comforting.

"Then how do I destroy Voldemort's soul within me?" said Harry.

"It is not within you, Harry," said Dumbledore, his eyes piercing and shiny. "It is something on you but not in you. Your mother's sacrifice made sure of this."

Harry got it. He now understood. It was his scar. When Voldemort transferred his soul unto Harry, Lily's sacrifice hindered the soul from totally residing in Harry's body and instead, was just able to sit on one spot of his head—the scar.

The next day, Harry, Ron, and Hermione set out to visit Snape in St. Mungo's. They left the Great Hall and traveled to Hogsmeade Station. By then, they just apparated towards St. Mungo's. They arrived by the receptionist's desk and asked where Snape's ward was.

"It's just along the corridor, in the Martha Marshbank ward," said the receptionist Healer kindly. The three then went down the corridor, which was lined with portraits of famous Healers, and after they have passed a few doors, they reached the Martha Marshbank ward. They opened the door and went in.

Snape was lying on his back and facing the window when Harry and his friends came in. He was wearing a white robe and was bandaged in his chest. He looked miserable, his hair as lank and greasy as ever.

"Professor," said Harry softly as they approached Snape's bed.

Snape turned around and looked at Harry, Ron, and Hermione and for the first time, his eyes were not full of gloating and evil but instead, of loss. By the looks of things, Snape knew his time to live was short.

"Oh," said Snape weakly. "Minerva said you three would be coming."

"Yes," said Hermione. "Erm, how are you holding up?"

"I'm terrible. I don't feel too good. I knew this day would come though… working as a spy within the Death Eaters for the Order."

"Umm, we just wanted to ask if one of our theories about the Horcruxes is possible," said Hermione.

"And this theory is?"

"Can my scar be a Hocrux?" asked Harry, interrupting Hermione from speaking. "Professor Dumbledore thinks so."

"Yes, it can be. Horcruxes can be anything, anything at all."

"So how do I get rid of it?"

"You destroy the Soul within a Horcrux. Usually Dementors can detect these things."

"You mean to say that I need to stand in front of a Dementor to get the Dark Lord's soul destroyed?"

"No. That would be stupid. I meant that you should expose the scar to a Dementor. Just the scar, not you."

Things were starting to get clearer again for Harry. For the first time in months, things are getting better. However, one question suddenly erupted from his mind.

"Professor, another question," asked Harry. "How did Tom's diary get destroyed when it wasn't exposed to a Dementor to suck out and destroy the soul within it?"

"It's because," explained Snape. "When you destroyed the diary years ago, the Voldemort's soul within it wasn't just a soul anymore. It was taking form of a man, not just a soul with no body. If you remember, Ginny's life was being taken by Tom in order for him to be alive and so, as he was almost alive, he was not purely soul anymore and can be killed. The diary which served as the anchor or the soul's body just before Ginny's life was completely transferred to Tom was then destroyed, killing Tom."

"Oh, I get it," said Harry dismissively. The answers he got this day satisfied his longing for information. Things were making sense and because of this, he found a new energy within him, a drive to destroy Voldemort once and for all. He knew what he had to do and he will do it.

That night, Harry went to the men's bathroom alone. He locked the door and stood in front of the mirror. In his right had lay a pocket knife. He raised the blade up and let it touch his forehead. The cold steel was smooth against his scar. He then bit his lip and slowly dug the knife deep within his flesh in attempts to slice of the scar—the true Horcrux.

END OF CHAPTER NINE