Chapter 11: Harry the Horcrux

Harry is in the middle of a study session when he's told Dumbledore wants him in his office. On his way there, he meets Draco Malfoy. "Hey, Potter. Whatever you did, it must be serious. Your parents are here." The Slytherin taunts.

"Are you missing the days you used to have both parents out of Azkaban?" Harry replies. Draco leaves and Harry keeps going to the Headmaster's office. Entering there, Harry is shocked that not only his parents but also Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, Sirius and Regulus Black are also there.

"Please have a seat, Harry." Dumbledore kindly offers and Harry eagerly accepts. "I presume you're wondering why you were called here."

Harry silently nods.

"Well, Regulus and Professor Snape have been studying about Horcruxes and figured out a way to transport a piece of soul from one recipient to another one." Dumbledore explains. "That way a living being won't have to die in order to cease being a Horcrux."

"Headmaster Dumbledore, I didn't know you cared so much about Nagini." Harry comments.

"I'm afraid Voldemort's pet snake is not the biggest reason to worry over avoid killing a living Horcrux." Dumbledore sadly replies.

"Are you afraid Voldemort had turned a person into a Horcrux?" Harry asks, ignoring Snape's reaction to Harry mentioning the Dark Lord's name.

"Voldemort, I think, didn't intend and doesn't even know that person was turned into a Horcrux." Dumbledore replies, looking even sadder than before.

"And you want me around to destroy the inanimate object that will become the Horcrux instead of the person?" Harry asks, wondering why Dumbledore is sharing this with him.

"There's no easy way out of this, Headmaster." Snape rudely interrupts. "Potter, when the Dark Lord tried to kill you at Godric's Hollow he accidentally and unknowingly gave you a piece of his soul."

Shocked, Harry looks around hoping to see someone about to tell him Snape was lying. However, all the saddened expressions he sees only confirm Snape's statement. "Mum. Dad. Will you really let Snape use his dark magic on me?" Harry pleadingly asks. "He's the one who told Voldemort about the prophecy."

"Unfortunately that's the best alternative to rid you of the soul fragment and letting you live." Dumbledore says.

"Do you mean there's another one?" James eagerly asks. "Whatever it is, I bet it's better than letting my son under Snivellus' care. What's it?"

"Letting Voldemort hit him with another Killing Curse." Dumbledore solemnly answers.

"On a second thought, Snivellus is not so bad." James Potter sheepishly smiles.

"I know. At least HE we can get if something goes wrong." Sirius Black comments.

"Harry, Severus and I will probably never become bosom friends after all that happened during our days as students." Remus Lupin says in a comforting tome. "But, during the year I taught here, he brew a patch of Wolfsbane Potion for me every full moon. That and the fact Dumbledore trusts him should be enough for you."

"I bet Snivellus was just afraid Dumbledore wouldn't believe the honesty of any mistake he could have made." Sirius comments.

"Black, you're not helping." Lily angrily replies. "Please, Harry. Trust Severus."

Reluctantly, Harry agrees. Dumbledore then conjures some ropes to keep him immobile. "It's a precaution." He simply explains. A precaution proven needed as Harry keeps trying to leave during the whole process. Eventually, the soul fragment is placed inside a silver object that was pressed on his scar by Sirius while Severus and Regulus performed the dark spell. Dumbledore soon picks Gryffindor sword and uses it on the object, making it no longer a Horcrux.

"Are you feeling better, Harry?" Lily asks.

"I think so, Mum." Harry answers.

"Are you free from Voldemort's soul, Prongslet?" Sirius asks.

"I don't know." Harry answers.

"There's one way to be sure." Snape comments as he produces a picture of a snake."

"What are you doing with this picture, Snape?" James asks, mistrusting the former death eater.

"Potter never could speak Parseltongue without seeing a snake or something that resembles a snake." Snape replies. "And Dumbledore believes the Dark Lord's soul fragment to be the only reason he was a Parselmouth after all."

Understanding Snape's point, Harry tries to talk to the picture in Parseltongue. "Hello."

"Plain English." Snape announces. "Harry Potter is no longer a Parselmouth."

"Yeah!!!" James and Sirius celebrate as if Harry losing this ability was itself a reason to celebrate even without the Horcrux issue.

"Severus, please call Madam Pomfrey and ask her to escort Harry Potter to the infirmary." Dumbledore asks.

"Well, if it's all we'd like to leave now." James asks.

"Actually, Headmaster, I'd like to see Professor Slughorn about a potion I'm working." Lily says, this actually being also an excuse to see old Sluggy and convince him to show the true Horcrux-related memory.

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