Chapter 18
At Lupin Cottage, another new year's eve party was underway, as Sirius Black was trying to have a serious conversation.
"Okay pup we need to talk." He announced.
"Who are you and what have you done with my godfather?" Harry Potter asked, narrowing his eyes at him.
Despite a rocky start, the conversation eventually got underway. Harry remained silent the whole time, eventually he took out some parchment and a quill to take notes and write down his questions.
"Any questions?" Remus finally asked, smirking at Harry.
"He planned to pin the whole thing on Tom Riddle didn't he? The diary?"
Sirius and Remus exchanged a glance.
"Well, it was really Tom's diary from his Hogwarts years originally.
When we asked, we learned Tom lost it during his last year, but wasn't really worried as there were a lot of privacy spells on it.
We're not sure what exactly Dumbledore did to it to transform into something able to release the Basilik and try to kill you.
However, the young Tom you talked to, was very much like Tom at that age, likely based on what he wrote then. I'm guessing he also wrote some things in parseltongue, hence the ability to open the Chamber and control the Basilik."
"Why would Dumbledore use Tom Riddle as a scapegoat?"
"Tom is the Heir of Slytherin, which Dumbledore knew about, likely from the first meeting at the orphanage. He was very popular at Hogwarts, and started already to recruit his peers for the Knights of Walpurgis.
We don't know exactly why Dumbledore chose him, we can guess he needed a public enemy once he dealt with Grindelwald, and Tom was from a very dark family, but as an orphan he didn't have the backing of said family."
"You've been dropping hints about this, haven't you? Since the end of Summer. Why tell me the whole thing now?" Harry asked.
"Because we finally found a way to get rid of the visions you have. We've been looking into how James and Lily died and finally found what happened to you that night.
Also, you've mastered enough occlumensy to keep what you've learned to yourself." Remus replied.
"Tomorrow afternoon, we'll go to Riddle Manor and get rid of the magic in your scar pup." Sirius finished.
Once everyone was at Riddle Manor, with some awkward introductions and a very tight hug between Hermione and Harry, the adults started to get the ritual room ready.
"What is going to happen?" Harry asked the room at large.
Tom smiled sadly at him, before replying "You need to die. Dumbledore placed a Horcrux in you after he killed your parents. We're not sure if he knew what he did or what his exact plans were.
A Horcrux is a small piece of soul, placed inside an object to make sure the person can never truly die.
Dumbledore has been using the connection made to manipulate you regarding Voldemort since, but also to manipulate your emotions.
Horcruxes are a vile form of magic, and although Dumbledore is very much capable of it, I do believe it was an accident and he likely assumes the connection is based on something else."
"Die?" Harry said quietly.
Hermione reached for him and took his hands in hers, "Just for a couple of minutes Harry, to kill the piece of soul."
Harry nodded and laid down in the middle of the ritual circle. Severus handed him a potion, that Harry drank in one go after a small hesitation.
Tom, Sirius, Remus and Severus took cardinal positions around him and started chanting.
Harry's heart stopped, and his body was still. They continued chanting until a scream could be heard and dark smoke started rising directly from the lightning bolt scar.
Hermione had tears silently running down her cheeks, she watched as they continued chanting louder and louder for a couple of minutes until the smoke was finally banished.
Severus immediately went to Harry and forced another potion down his throat, massaging it to ensure he would drink it.
Everyone was silent, waiting for Harry to wake up.
Finally, Harry opened his eyes and looked around, "I had the weirdest dream."
