Too Far Gone (Don't Save Me Book 4)

Chapter 52: The Memory

"Y/n," Severus said as he stopped me outside my chambers the next day. "Albus has requested your presence."

"Of course." I closed the door behind me and began making my way toward Albus's office.

When I arrived he greeted me warmly and brought me to the pensieve once again.

"Harry did an excellent job retrieving this memory. You should be very proud of the boy."

"I am," I smiled.

"Now, again, I must warn you before we proceed... are you certain you wish to see this?"

"Yes, Albus. Hiding from the truth will not make it go away."

He nodded and poured the liquid into the pensieve. I stood over the basin and was plunged into the memory.

Once again I was standing in Slughorn's office as a young Tom began to speak.

"Sir, I wondered what you know about... Horcruxes?"

"Project for Defense Against the Arts, is it?" Slughorn asked, though it was clear he wasn't buying this.

"Not exactly, sir," Tom replied. "I came across the term while reading and I didn't fully understand it."

"No... well... you'd be hard-pushed to find a book at Hogwarts that'll give you details on Horcruxes, Tom, that's very dark stuff... very dark indeed."

"But you obviously know all about them, sir? I mean a wizard like you... sorry, I mean if you can't tell me, obviously... I just knew if anyone could tell me, you could... so I just thought I'd ask."

It was calculating, the way in which he spoke. Each word was carefully thought out and each expression carefully formulated in order to manipulate Slughorn and it appeared to be working.

"Well," Slughorn began. "Well, it can't hurt to give you an overview, of course... just so that you understand the term. A Horcrux is the word used for an object in which a person has concealed part of their soul."

"I don't quite understand how that works, though, sir," Tom said.

"Well, you split your soul, you see... and hide part of it in an object outside the body. Then, even if one's body is attacked or destroyed, one cannot die, for part of the soul remains earthbound and undamaged. But of course, existence in such a form..." Slughorn trailed off, trying to find the right words to say. "Few would want it, Tom, very few. Death would be preferable."

"How do you split your soul?" Tom asked, now unable to hide his excitement.

"Well... you must understand that the soul is to remain intact and whole. Splitting it is an act of violation, it is against nature."

"But how do you do it?"

"By an act of evil... the supreme act of evil. By committing murder. Killing rips the soul apart. The wizard intent upon creating a Horcrux would use the damage to his advantage: he would encase the torn portion-."

"Encase? But how?"

"There is a spell. Do not ask me! I don't know!" Slughorn shook his head. "Do I look as though I have tried it? Do I look like a killer?"

"No, sir, or course not," Tom replied. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to offend."

"Not at all, not all, not offended," Slughorn brushed it off. "It's natural to feel some curiosity about these things... Wizards of a certain caliber have always been drawn to that aspect of magic."

"Yes, sir... what I don't understand though– just out of curiosity– I mean, would one Horcrux be much use? Can you only split your soul once? Wouldn't it make it better, make you stronger, to have your soul in more pieces? I mean, for isn't, isn't seven the most powerfully magical number? Wouldn't seven-?"

"Merlin's beard, Tom!" Slughorn interrupted with a terrified yelp. "Seven! Isn't it bad enough to think of killing one person? And in any case... bad enough to divide the soul... but to rip it into seven pieces..." Slughorn looked horrified as he watched Tom curiously. "Of course... this is all hypothetical, what we're discussing, isn't it? All academic..."

"Yes, sir, of course," Tom quickly agreed.

"But all the same, Tom... keep it quiet, what I've told you– that's to say what we've discussed. People wouldn't like to think we've been chatting about Horcruxes. It's a banned subject at Hogwarts, you know... Dumbledore's particularly fierce about it."

"I won't say a word, sir," Tom promised before leaving the room.

With that the memory ended and I was pulled back into Albus's office, my breathing heavy as Albus steadied me. "It's alright," he soothed, pulling up a chair and helping me sit down.

"He did it... didn't he? He succeeded."

Albus nodded. "Not just once."

"Seven times," I realized and once again he simply nodded before walking to his desk and opening a drawer. I stood and walked over to him as he tossed Tom Riddle's diary on the desk, followed by the ring.

He lifted the ring from the desk and held it out to me. "Your grandmother's," he acknowledged.

I watched him curiously as he held the ring out to me. "What are you expecting, here, Albus?"

"Nothing, Y/n... I was simply curious is all."

"Curious about what?"

He said nothing, simply holding out the ring to me. I cautiously reached out and touched the ring but quickly pulled back as a shock spread through my fingers and I saw my father's face flash in my mind, contorted in pain. The image changed and I saw Albus slipping the ring onto his finger before quickly pulling it off as his skin darkens.

"What the hell was that?" I muttered, looking up at him.

"This kind of dark magic... it leaves traces. It's interesting that you can still feel that magic... even after it's been destroyed... just as Harry could feel it."

"What are you saying, Albus?"

"I'm not quite sure yet. It's clear you and the boy are connected with these Horcruxes but how... I cannot exactly be sure. It could simply be because you are his daughter."

"Could?"

"Let's not worry until absolutely necessary." He quickly changed the subject. "I have reason to believe I know where another Horcrux is but I will need Harry to come with me. I've promised you I would ask your permission when it pertains to Harry."

"Where is this Horcrux?"

"I believe it to be the cave Kreachur showed you."

"Are you out of your mind? Regulus died in that cave, Albus!"

"Harry will be perfectly safe, Y/n, I promise. He will not be drinking the potion. He is simply there to ensure I continue drinking it."

"I don't like this, Albus."

"I wouldn't ask if it weren't dire... It is imperative the boy accompany me."

I sighed. "If anything happens to him, Albus..."

"Nothing will," he promised and I reluctantly agreed.

I should've said no. Perhaps we could have avoided the events to come.