Chapter 9
Sacrifices
"Well…" Harry was hesitating, "there is this word I came across in one of the memories…"
"Yes?"
"It's a spell… or object, I don't know… that seems to have something to do with-with death. It's called a 'Horcrux'."
Voldemort looked at him, somewhat surprised.
"This defies probability! he said. What were the odds that in one hundred years' worth of memories, you should happen to find that one?!… Ah, well - now that you know that much, I might as well tell you now. A Horcrux is an object in which a wizard conceals part of their soul."
"What? Why would anyone do that? It's… isn't there a law of magic against that?"
"You are thinking of Adalbert Waffling's First Fundamental Law of Magic. The exact words are: Tamper with the deepest mysteries — the source of life, the essence of self — only if prepared for consequences of the most extreme and dangerous kind. Indeed it can seem ominous, but it does not outright forbid tampering with the soul, you see. It appears to, and it's enough to drive off the fools. But pay close attention to the word, and you will notice that, from a certain reading, it only urges the soul-tamperer to 'be prepared' when he performs his task."
This doesn't feel right, but… it sounds right, thought Harry. But another question was still left unanswered.
"Okay, so it's maybe not actually impossible or deadly… but, still, why do it at all? What's the point of a Horcrux?"
"Well, when part of one's soul is hidden in the object, it anchors the main part of your soul to this world, even if you should be put through things that would kill anyone else. You cannot die."
"But this is - fascinating! It'd be wonderful,… but - why isn't it common? Why does anyone die if you can make Horcruxes? There's gotta be a problem, a trapping of some kind!"
"Your suspicion is correct, boy… there is. More than one, actually. For a start, if the horcrux-maker's body is harmed very badly and he does not have time to heal himself properly, the body's organic functions will cease, and the wizard shall become an undead being known as a lich - a corpse still animated by his own spirit and still in possession of its magic. I think it is still better than dying completely, but it is still a somewhat gruesome fate, and many do not want to take the chance. And if your body is entirely destroyed, as mine was… the horcrux-maker's spirit is trapped within the horcruxes until a living man finds one of the horcruxes and willingly allows himself to be possessed by the soul. This wasted nine years of my life!"
"There has to be more than that, Harry insisted. Even then, there'd be plenty of Horcruxed wizards around. People like Lucius Malfoy would have horcruxes. People like Master Flamel would have horcruxes. And even if most people didn't have them, they'd be aware of them. It wouldn't be such a secret…"
"Well yes… there is a more visceral flaw to the Horcrux system. The sacrifice you have to make. To power this spell…you must take a human life."
"What? But!… You can't just - of all things - killing to prolong your own life? That is… that is the most… evil… thing… that's not this 'heat-of-the-moment' thing you told me about… Oh, surely you wouldn't…"
"I did, boy. I made Horcruxes. Seven, actually. Now this is probably my greatest secret - not, perhaps, the most well-kept one - but the most important. I know a few people have pieced it together. Albus knows, of course. He has always known. We were together, when he came across him, he who told us the secret. Albus had a similar reaction to yours - only moreso. I didn't have time to explain my point of view to him properly; he left and never really spoke to me again. He even kept a close watch on me… trying to stop me from committing the needed murders, I assume. Today he is probably searching the world to find and destroy my Horcruxes. He will never find them, ever. Their location itself is a secret I shall never tell anyone, not even you, my boy."
"I… you promised I could go back if I… I was starting to believe-you liar! I want to go back to Hogwarts, now!"
.
"I'm afraid I can't you let you do that. Not as long as House Ghouls are running around trying to strangle you when they were most certainly not hired by me or Quirrell. Now, I wrote a little memoir on why I think I was right in making Horcruxes; I knew I'd have such an argument at one point of eternity. I really wrote it with Albus in mind, but I think it will be fine. Here, take it. Go back to your room, and read it."