Disclaimer: I in no way own Harry Potter, nor the characters within this series. While I would like to claim that I am making money off of my humble writings, alas I have not yet gotten that far. Woe is me.

February 8, 1987

After much research and what seems like endless testing, I believe I have found a method that will enable me to remove Orion's soul fragment and place it in another object. I found a reference to the method in the Black vault. I think this is the first time that I have ever been thankful to my family's Dark background. Orion is aware of what I have been doing, and while he has some fear, he understands what must be done. I will not have that evil parasite stay attached to my son any longer than necessary. I only wish that I had found it much sooner. Luckily, it is weaker than the piece in the locket, though I suspect if Harry had been forced to remain with his muggle relatives, the situation would have been much more dire, and the fragment far more difficult to remove.

On a happier note, the boy's Occulmancy has continued to progress at a steady pace which assists in keeping the foreign elements contained.

March 2, 1987

I was able to successfully remove the soul fragment from Orion with no harmful side effects noted aside from the scar itself splitting open. Luckily, anticipating this I had scar cream on hand to close and reduce scaring. Hopefully if we can't completely remove the scar, it will at least become unnoticeable. I know that Orion despises the costume make-up used to hide it when we go to the Alley. After some rest for both of us, on a whim I conjured a snake. It seems that Orion will continue to be a Parselmouth. He knows that he will need to hide the ability, but honestly, I'd rather he talk to snakes than have a piece of the Dark Lord's soul attached to him. I also did some minimal diagnostics testing. Orion's core seems changed somehow. Like a shadow has been removed. It also seems to have increased significantly. Could the soul fragment have been suppressing Orion's magic? I will continue to monitor him to be certain there was no lasting effects.

Does it make me a bad person that I was relieved when I discovered Orion was still a Parselmouth? I didn't mean to, but my mind went immediately to the research possibilities. If, as I believe, the Dark Lord used parsel magic to create the Mark, when he is older, could Orion use the same to remove it? It is something to think on.

April 19, 1987

Despite the fact that Orion has been going to muggle school for 2 years, it seems like I have only now had any time to continue with my research on the Horcruxes. I Know the Dark Lord made more than one, as evidenced by the two in my possession, but it is my belief that he has as many soul pieces as seven, including the shade himself. I have found a spell of like calling to like and modified it to mark the places they appear on a map. As Orion is already home from school for the day, I shall wait for the morrow to test the spell. I need to get a map of Europe anyway.

April 20, 1987

I did the spell. I counted seven, possibly eight fragments. One more than I had estimated, though I don't believe the Dark Lord counts himself as a fragment. Two are here with me, one I have narrowed down to a place called Little Hangleton, the fourth in what seems to be Gringotts, though with the wards around Diagon Alley it is impossible to say, the fifth is in the area of Hogwarts I believe, a sixth is in what I believe is Malfoy Manor, despite the Unplottable wards they have in place, and the seventh, and maybe an eighth is in Romania. If this is the case, one part is the shade itself, and he is keeping the other with him. I couldn't pinpoint an exact location, the spell has burned nearly the whole section of Romania. If the fourth is in Gringotts, I can guess who's vault contains it. I wonder what the Goblins will say when I begin the paperwork to take over the Lestrange vault. It will be nothing less than a hassle, I'm certain.

I will have to wait to retrieve the piece in Muggle area, I don't want to leave Orion alone, and it's too dangerous to take him with me. Lucius and Hogwarts will have to wait. I am patient, I have time, the Mark has yet to begin burning.

September 3, 1987

Harry Apparated today! I expected accidental magic, but this, this is amazing. It was a powerful bit of magic for someone so young. The reason he found it necessary is unfortunate. Children bullying; muggles and wizards are no different in that regard. I spoke with Orion's Headmaster to lodge the complaint, but there was no damage and no evidence. I could only tell Orion to be careful and to let his teachers know if someone is picking on him. I swear though, if they even think about coming near him while I'm around, I will make Sirius and James at their worst seem like pussycats!

I think I should begin some control exercises with Orion though, as powerful as he is, I don't want him to seriously injure someone because they scared him. They'll be added to his Occulmancy practice every night before he goes to bed. Merlin help me if he uses what I teach him to play pranks on me! I can almost hear Sirius telling him to give me hell…