Under Hermione's icy gaze, Krum took a deep look at Lia, who was protected in her arms. After a polite farewell, he turned and left.
The tense atmosphere in the library had not yet dissipated when an elegantly poised school owl silently landed on their table, extending one leg.
A parchment letter written in green ink was tied to its leg.
Hermione untied the letter and unfolded it. It was Dumbledore's handwriting, inviting her and Lia to come to the Headmasters Office immediately.
"Let's go, Lia." Hermione put away the letter, took Lia's hand, and said to Harry, "We'll be right back. Wait for us here."
Harry nodded distractedly.
The gargoyle guarding the Headmasters Office automatically swung open after Hermione spoke the password, "cockroach clusters."
They stepped onto the spiral staircase and soon arrived at the familiar oak door.
Hermione knocked on the door.
"Come in," Dumbledore's gentle voice came from inside.
They pushed the door open. The office was, as always, filled with various strange silver instruments, and the portraits of previous Principals on the walls were dozing.
But the atmosphere today was exceptionally solemn.
Dumbledore sat behind his desk, fingers intertwined, his expression serious. Fawkes, the beautiful Phoenix on his shoulder, was not as quiet as usual.
The moment Lia stepped into the room, Fawkes let out a clear, melodious cry, spread its magnificent wings, and flew down from Dumbledore's shoulder. It didn't circle but flew straight to Lia, hovering in the air.
Lia looked up, gazing at the beautiful creature emanating a warm glow.
She felt no threat at all; instead, there was a sense of closeness originating from the depths of her soul.
Fawkes lowered its noble head and affectionately nudged Lia's cheek with its warm beak, letting out joyful chirps from its throat.
Lia was stunned. She subconsciously reached out, carefully touching Fawkes's feathers, which felt like burning flames.
The feathers were warm and soft to the touch, and a pure, vast life force flowed through her fingertips, making her feel incredibly comfortable.
Dumbledore watched this scene with a complex expression. Only after Fawkes flew back to his shoulder did he speak, his voice low and serious.
"Lia, what you saw at the feast was correct."
He got straight to the point.
"The goblet of fire has been contaminated by powerful Dark Arts. That power is of the same origin as something within you."
Hermione's heart sank, and she tightened her grip on Lia's hand.
"Professor, are you saying... Lord Voldemort?"
"It's a part of Tom Riddle," Dumbledore corrected. "It's his fragmented soul—a Horcrux."
He patiently, using the simplest and most direct language, explained this darkest magic of the Wizarding World to the two girls.
Tearing one's soul apart and hiding it in objects to achieve immortality.
"The diary you destroyed in the Chamber of Secrets was his first Horcrux. Lia," Dumbledore's cerulean eyes, through his half-moon spectacles, fixed firmly on her, "at that time, you didn't truly 'kill' that diary, but rather... consumed it."
"If it were just the Horcrux, the impact wouldn't be significant, but the fragment attached to Quirrell was also eaten by you."
Lia blinked blankly. She remembered that feeling, pulling that cold, malicious soul fragment deep into her body, and then completely digesting it.
"Perhaps your special talent granted you the ability to devour and purify this dark energy," Dumbledore's voice became heavier, "but this is not without a price."
He stood up and walked over to them.
"Every Horcrux fragment you consume strengthens your power, but at the same time, you also take a step closer to Tom. His soul fragments are in your body, trying to influence you, to assimilate you."
Hermione's face turned somewhat pale. She remembered many details she had overlooked.
"Professor," she asked tremblingly, "are you saying...?"
"Parseltongue," Dumbledore said the word. "That time on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters when you scared off Malfoy and his father. Lia, have you recently, occasionally made sounds you don't understand yourself?"
Lia recalled the feeling, cold, hissing syllables uncontrollably slipping from her throat.
She didn't feel fear; instead, there was a strange calm.
This calmness itself was the most terrifying sign.
She looked at Dumbledore and slowly nodded.
Hermione gasped, gripping Lia's hand tighter.
Dumbledore looked at them, a hint of pity in his eyes.
He turned to Fawkes and said softly, "Fawkes, may I?"
The Phoenix let out a soft cry, and its longest and brightest tail feather automatically detached, floating lightly in the air.
Dumbledore caught the feather with the tip of his wand; it emitted a faint golden glow.
"Miss Granger," he looked at Hermione, "could you give me the bell on Lia's neck?"
Though puzzled, Hermione immediately began carefully untying the collar with the small silver bell around Lia's neck.
It was the first gift she had given Lia, and Lia had never taken it off.
She handed the collar to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore took the collar and placed the Phoenix tail feather on its ribbon.
With a gentle tap of his wand, the tail feather instantly transformed into a golden stream of light, perfectly merging into the black ribbon. Intricate, magnificent golden patterns emerged on the ribbon, as if inherent.
He handed the modified collar back to Hermione.
"This is Fawkes's feather," he explained, "It contains the power of life, hope, and rebirth. A Phoenix's song can strengthen courage, its tears can heal wounds, and its feathers are the crystallization of pure life force."
His gaze turned to Lia, becoming incredibly gentle.
"Wear it, Lia. It cannot eliminate the influence of the Horcrux; that has become a part of your power. But it can help you maintain your true self and suppress the darkness that doesn't belong to you when your soul is overburdened or when Tom's fragments try to invade you."
Hermione took the brand-new collar; it felt slightly warm to the touch.
She cupped Lia's small face and personally put it on her. The silver bell was newly engraved with strange gold and red patterns.
The moment the collar was put on, Lia felt a warm, pure power flow through her entire body. The coldness and brutality that occasionally arose from the depths of her soul were gently smoothed away by this warm current.
"Professor, I will look after her."
Dumbledore looked at their clasped hands, nodding with satisfaction, but a complex mix of worry still lingered deep in his eyes.
"Miss Granger, as I said before, remember, love is the most powerful magic."
He said finally, his words carrying a warning.
"But also be careful. When Lia has consumed enough fragments, her very existence will become Lord Voldemort's coordinates. She will become the target he most wants to destroy, and also most wants to possess."
Dumbledore paused, then spoke words that made Hermione's heart stop.
"Perhaps her kill ranking in Lord Voldemort's eyes is even before Harry's."
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