The Headmaster's Office
"Care for a sweet to settle your nerves? You've certainly had an eventful night, haven't you?"
Dumbledore smiled at Lucian, conjuring several plates of candy and treats with a wave of his hand, immediately popping a soft milk toffee into his own mouth.
Lucian took a sip of the honey-and-lemon water in his cup. Slaying the Basilisk, confronting Tom Riddle, triggering the Slytherin legacy, and saving Hagrid…
I've been quite busy, he thought. Some sugar is definitely in order.
Lucian bypassed the plate of Cockroach Clusters and grabbed a creamy Peppermint Toad.
The sweetness exploded on his taste buds, giving him a real sense of relaxation and satisfaction. No wonder the old Headmaster loved sweets so much; a sugar rush after a busy time was truly soothing.
"A Merlin Award, no less! I was hoping to surprise you, but I suppose that's off the table now," Dumbledore said, setting down his teacup and looking at Lucian with an amused twinkle in his eye.
"Headmaster, do you think Mr. Malfoy's suggestion is actually feasible?"
In truth, when Lucius suggested the Order of Merlin, First Class, Lucian was quite surprised that he was the one to propose it.
However, upon further reflection, Lucian figured the suggestion was a kind of "peace offering."
From Lucius's perspective, he wasn't sure if Lucian knew the true origin of the diary, but to be safe, any goodwill he could gain was worth it.
But the First Class Order of Merlin was uncertain even for Lucian. Dumbledore's tone suggested he was already set to receive the Second Class Order of Merlin.
From the standpoint of boosting his reputation, receiving the Order of Merlin at his age, whether First or Second Class, would be sensational enough.
This was different from the impact his Transfiguration thesis had within academic circles; the Order of Merlin was a major event that would resonate throughout the entire wizarding world.
Not just in Britain, but throughout Europe, the Order of Merlin carried immense prestige, and it would cause a stir globally.
Once he gained that fame, the sales and revenue from his magical products would skyrocket, significantly speeding up the repayment of his Emerald Tablet installment loan.
"Actually, Lucian, the concerns and obstacles related to your Second Class Order of Merlin application have already been resolved, and your contribution tonight completely meets the requirements for a First Class Award…"
Dumbledore went on to explain the criteria for the First Class Order of Merlin, which Lucian was aware of, but Dumbledore, as the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, provided a clearer perspective.
Dumbledore continued, "The Second Class Order of Merlin was already settled and was supposed to be presented to you before the Christmas holidays. However, since we are now reapplying for the First Class, it will likely be postponed until next term. But with the foundation already laid, the process will be much quicker this time, perhaps early next term."
Lucian replied, "Good things are worth waiting for, Headmaster."
Seeing Lucian handle such a high honor with such composure, Dumbledore found him remarkably steady. Normally, a student should be bouncing off the walls with excitement—after all, this would make him the youngest recipient of the Order of Merlin in history, and for the highest level award!
"Headmaster, so, about this diary?"
Lucian's gaze shifted to the old diary resting beside Dumbledore's hand.
Dumbledore looked down at the diary, a complex light shining behind his half-moon spectacles.
"Tom…"
"By the way, Lucian, you mentioned that when you triggered the Slytherin legacy, was Tom ultimately dealt with by means of a safeguard left behind by the Founder?"
Lucian nodded. Salazar had instructed him to relay the events to the current Headmaster of Hogwarts after passing on his legacy.
With a sigh, Dumbledore found it rather "ironic" that Slytherin's most brilliant student had ultimately been rejected by Slytherin himself.
Dumbledore opened the diary's cover, revealing the yellowed parchment inside.
As if sensing that someone was handling the diary, a line of script slowly appeared on the page:
"Lucian, you won. I am willing to disclose all the knowledge I possess…"
Perhaps because its life force had been completely stripped away, the script appeared very slowly.
Dumbledore pondered for a moment, then gripped his hand. A white quill appeared between his fingers, and he began to write in the diary:
"Hello, Tom. It's been a long time. I never thought I would see your younger self again."
As the ink disappeared, Dumbledore's magic permeated the diary.
Sensing this aura, the diary instantly suppressed the already extremely weakened flicker of its soul.
After several minutes of "playing dead," Tom seemed to accept the reality that prolonging the standoff was useless.
A line of script slowly emerged, the usually elegant and beautiful handwriting now somewhat messy:
"Dumbledore!"
Dumbledore continued writing:
"It is I. It is hard to imagine that you were only in your sixth year when you made this diary. You were so extraordinary then—the most brilliant student Hogwarts has ever known."
Yes, Dumbledore thought. "Then." Now, Hogwarts has a student even more exceptional than Tom.
Dumbledore looked up and saw Lucian quietly sipping his honey-water, about to pick up a Fizzing Whizbee.
This time, the diary took longer to reply:
"Whether or not I am brilliant is not for you to judge."
After that, the diary showed no further sign of life.
So, Dumbledore pulled out the Elder Wand. Its segmented surface flashed with a magical glimmer, slowly seeping into the diary.
"Headmaster, the Head of Slytherin mentioned a term: Horcrux. Is that what this diary is?"
As soon as Lucian spoke those words, the flow of magic Dumbledore was sending faltered momentarily.
"A Horcrux!"
Several gasps instantly echoed from the portraits of former Headmasters that had been seemingly asleep.
"A Horcrux? A student, so young, created a Horcrux?!"
The former Headmistress, Sharon, who hailed from Ravenclaw and wore spectacles, furrowed her fine brows tightly. Her eyes were filled with shock and outrage.
Sharon was an expert in counter-curses against Dark Magic, and she knew exactly how evil a Horcrux was. How could a mere boy commit such a heinous crime!
"A Horcrux? What's so important about that? What's all the noise about so late at night?"
A sharp voice rang out, and the figure of Phineas Nigellus, with his small mustache, lazily materialized in his frame.
In fact, most of the Headmasters were unfamiliar with the concept of a Horcrux. It was a subject rarely known even within the realm of Dark Magic, appearing only in fragments in some ancient texts.
But Phineas's attitude was irritating, and soon a stern-faced, burly man charged into his portrait frame and clamped his arm around Phineas's neck from behind, effectively silencing him.
Once Morgan, the former Headmaster from Gryffindor, had choked Phineas into unconsciousness, Sharon began to explain:
"A Horcrux is a Dark Magic object. A wizard splits his soul through evil acts, such as murder, and seals the fragment within an object. As long as the Horcrux remains intact, the wizard who created it achieves immortality…"
As Sharon explained, the faces of the Headmasters changed. They hadn't imagined that a student would dare to create something so wicked!
When Sharon finished describing the function and creation of a Horcrux, the portraits in the Headmaster's Office fell into a collective silence.
"I was wrong. I was so wrong. How could he…"
The speaker was Armando Dippet, Dumbledore's predecessor, who had witnessed Tom Riddle's school years.
Armando was an extremely elderly man, already over three hundred years old when he served as Headmaster of Hogwarts.
Armando's face was now pale, his eyes unfocused. Not only had he failed to see Tom's true nature back then, but he had actually admired him greatly—a mistake he couldn't overlook.
If it hadn't been for the persistent counsel of Dumbledore, who was a professor at the time, Armando might not have refused Tom's application for a teaching post after graduation. That would have led to an even greater disaster…
Faced with Armando's self-reproach, Dumbledore offered comfort:
"Armando, that is all in the past. We have Tom's Horcrux now, and we can stop him from committing further evil."
"Evil deeds… Albus, the Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago—Tom was the one who stopped the crisis, but could this whole affair have been his plan? Did I wrongly accuse that boy, Rubeus Hagrid?!"
Lucian was a little surprised to hear Armando immediately recall Hagrid after all these years.
Lucian remembered reading in Hogwarts: A History that Armando was described as a Headmaster with great decisiveness and a strong sense of responsibility, who handled many incidents with conviction and seriousness.
"Don't worry, Armando. I will ensure that Hagrid's name is cleared."
Dumbledore reassured Armando once more.
Lucian listened quietly. Hagrid would finally have his innocence proven, allowing him to use magic openly and no longer needing to hide his wand in that pink umbrella.
"The important thing is the Horcrux. We must find a way to destroy it! Sharon, do you know how to destroy a Horcrux?"
It was Morgan who asked, having returned to his portrait frame, his voice grave.
Sharon rubbed her temples, then thought for a moment before saying:
"Horcruxes are protected by powerful Dark Magic. Ordinary methods cannot completely destroy them. To destroy a Horcrux, the destructive force must be incredibly strong—strong enough that the Horcrux cannot use Dark Magic to repair itself…"
"The essence of a Horcrux is that fragment of soul. For methods that target the soul, the most effective is likely the Killing Curse—or perhaps a curse with unique properties, like the Fiendfyre spell…"
After Sharon finished speaking, Lucian added:
"During the fight, I accidentally dripped Basilisk venom onto the diary. At the time, Tom's soul-form seemed to suffer greatly and became extremely unstable."
As he spoke, Lucian pulled a small vial containing Basilisk venom from his pocket.
He then drew the Sword of Gryffindor and the Sorting Hat, placing them together on the desk.
"The Sword of Gryffindor!"
Morgan in his portrait instantly recognized the silver longsword, his eyes lighting up with excitement. This was a treasure left by the Founder of Gryffindor, said to only be drawn by those who possess true Gryffindor qualities when it is needed!
"Young man, you should have been in Gryffindor…"
Morgan was cut off by an irritating, sarcastic voice:
"You foolish lion, is this the time to talk about such things when we are discussing the serious matter of a Horcrux?"
Phineas Nigellus, who had just woken up after being choked unconscious by Morgan, rubbed his neck. He mocked Morgan's rashness, seemingly unafraid that Morgan might rush over to beat him up again.
Managing to suppress the urge to rush over and wrestle Phineas, Morgan fixed his fervent gaze on the Sword of Gryffindor.
He had only seen this artifact repeatedly mentioned in historical texts; today was a real eye-opener.
Dumbledore did not pick up the vial of Basilisk venom. Instead, he first grasped the Sword of Gryffindor.
"Lucian, did you happen to touch the Basilisk venom with this sword?"
Lucian nodded, guessing that Dumbledore was thinking of the Sword of Gryffindor's unique properties.
Sure enough, Dumbledore lightly drew the sword across the diary. A white flash passed, and a gash instantly appeared on the diary's surface. A faint black smoke drifted out, accompanied by faint wails and shrieks.
"The Sword of Gryffindor has absorbed the Basilisk venom!"
Morgan was thrilled and explained:
"The sword was forged by Goblins, and the blades they forge can absorb anything that makes them stronger!"
"Quick, Albus! Use the sword to destroy the soul in the diary! Slice him to pieces, quickly!"
Many of the Headmasters agreed with Morgan, believing the Horcrux should be destroyed immediately.
But Dumbledore did not act right away. After a moment of consideration, he said:
"This is a complete Horcrux. I might be able to use it to locate Voldemort's main body. After all, a soul fragment must have a connection to the original soul."
Dumbledore knew that Voldemort was still lurking somewhere, but the world was vast, and searching for a person—a disembodied soul—was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Having a Horcrux would make the search much easier.
Dumbledore believed this was the greatest "surprise" Lucian had brought him tonight!
The Horcrux was certainly Voldemort's ultimate secret for survival. Knowing his opponent's secret weapon sooner meant Dumbledore could formulate a plan much earlier.
"Headmaster, I have a question: Can a wizard only create one Horcrux?"
Hearing Lucian's question, the joy in Dumbledore's eyes—the joy of having caught Voldemort's trail—gradually subsided. Pondering and gravity replaced it.
The portraits, which had been murmuring softly, also fell silent for a moment.
They found Lucian's question hard to believe, yet they couldn't help but feel suspicion rise.
According to Sharon, the process of creating a Horcrux was excruciating—the pain of tearing one's own soul!
Moreover, splitting the soul could lead to a drastic change in character, making the person unrecognizable. That thought alone was terrifying.
Could anyone truly be driven to such a point of madness?
To achieve life, to achieve immortality—could one go this far?
But what if? Tom dared to create a Horcrux as a mere student. He could no longer be judged by the standards of a normal person!
Lucian felt his "hint" had been well-placed. This would ensure Dumbledore realized that Voldemort likely had multiple Horcruxes and would start the search plan sooner.
Dealing with the menace of Voldemort earlier would prevent future tragedies and keep the wizarding world from descending into chaos.
Lucian preferred to study in peace and didn't want to be disturbed by so-called evil forces.
The Death Eaters could spend the rest of their miserable lives in Azkaban, and Voldemort could "generously depart" after his Horcruxes were destroyed.