Chapter 28: A Chain of Suspicions (Patreon)

Inside the Room of Requirement...

Shane sat atop a massive wooden crate, Ravenclaw's Diadem in his hands as he examined it from every possible angle.

Before long, however, he realized that aside from being exquisitely crafted, the diadem didn't seem particularly special. Even when he channeled magic into it, nothing happened.

After spending quite some time getting nowhere, he simply placed the diadem on his head.

Legend claimed it enhanced the wearer's intelligence.

He wanted to see whether the legend was true.

At first...

Nothing happened.

But only moments later, a surge of violent emotions suddenly welled up from the depths of his heart.

Along with them came countless negative memories.

His near-hysterical state when he first arrived in Earth Land.

The first time he had killed someone.

The massacre he carried out after witnessing the Dark Guilds' inhuman atrocities.

The overwhelming rage he felt upon hearing that everyone on Tenrou Island had disappeared.

One after another, the darkest emotions buried deep within him surfaced and rapidly intensified, steadily eroding his reason.

The sudden change startled Shane so much that he immediately tore the diadem off his head.

"Damn you, Voldemort."

"You'd better wait."

He was certain that what had just happened was the work of the fragment of Voldemort's soul sealed within the Horcrux.

It seemed that anyone unaware of a Horcrux's true nature could gradually lose themselves if they remained in prolonged contact with one.

Slowly...

They would fall into darkness.

He had to find a way to destroy Voldemort's soul without damaging the diadem itself.

Thinking back to the original story, Shane remembered two methods capable of destroying a Horcrux.

The first...

Basilisk venom.

The second...

Fiendfyre.

Fiendfyre was immediately out of the question.

It wasn't ordinary fire. If he remembered correctly, it would most likely melt the diadem along with everything else.

As for Basilisk venom...

He could simply head to Hogwarts' dungeons, blast through the floor, enter the Chamber of Secrets, and find the basilisk.

A snake that enormous certainly possessed enough venom to completely immerse the diadem.

Even so, Shane wasn't willing to gamble.

He had no idea whether basilisk venom would damage the diadem itself.

Unless he had absolutely no other choice, he refused to take that risk.

If the relic were destroyed...

He'd regret it for the rest of his life.

After thinking it over, Shane decided to put the diadem away for now and gather more information before taking any action.

Still...

Voldemort's soul fragment had forced him to relive many unpleasant memories.

That debt had to be repaid.

Simply killing Quirrell wouldn't satisfy him.

Besides, he'd already promised Dumbledore not to interfere with Quirrell.

A promise was a promise.

After a moment's thought...

A grin slowly spread across Shane's face.

He had just come up with a much better idea.

One that would utterly destroy Voldemort's dignity.

Meanwhile...

Soaked from head to toe, Harry and Ron finally arrived outside Hagrid's hut.

The little wooden cabin stood at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

The first things they noticed were the enormous crossbow hanging beside the front door and a pair of rubber boots as large as buckets.

Removing his glasses to wipe away the rainwater, Harry knocked on the door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A few moments later...

The door creaked open slightly.

"Who's there?" Hagrid's voice called from inside.

"It's me, Hagrid! Harry!"

Hagrid immediately poked his head outside.

The moment he saw the two drenched boys, he hurriedly waved them in.

"Blimey! Get in here, quick!"

Shivering from the cold, Harry and Ron hurried inside.

The ceiling of Hagrid's hut was hung with smoked turkeys and pheasants.

A copper kettle sat over the fire, boiling vigorously as steam rhythmically rattled the lid.

Against one wall stood an enormous bed covered with surprisingly clean bedding that looked oddly out of place in the rustic cabin.

"Take off those wet clothes and warm yourselves by the fire."

Hagrid placed two small stools beside the hearth.

"What brings you here in weather like this? Something important?"

Britain was entering the transition between autumn and winter.

The temperature was well below twenty degrees Celsius, and after being soaked through, both boys were trembling uncontrollably.

"Hagrid... today..."

As they warmed themselves by the fire, Harry explained everything that had happened after Shane asked for his help.

"No."

"That's impossible."

The moment Hagrid heard Harry suggest that Shane might somehow be connected to Voldemort, he shook his head firmly.

"Shane couldn't possibly have anything to do with him."

"He's not that kind of person."

"He cleared a patch of land beside the Forbidden Forest, not far from my hut, and asked me to look after the things he planted there."

"He even gave me that brand-new blanket."

Hagrid pointed toward the bed.

"So he absolutely can't have anything to do with... You-Know-Who."

"It's impossible."

"But Hagrid..."

Harry remained unconvinced.

"Then how do you explain my scar?"

"When I got close to that diadem, it hurt worse than it ever has before."

"I've never felt anything like it."

"..."

For a moment, Hagrid had no answer.

Eventually, he sighed.

"Alright."

"I'll speak to Professor Dumbledore about this."

"But before that..."

"You have to promise me."

"What you told me today must never be repeated to anyone else."

"Understand?"

"And you too, young Weasley."

Hagrid turned his serious gaze toward Ron.

The two boys exchanged a glance before nodding.

"We understand."

"Good."

"I'll walk you back to the castle."

"I don't exactly have clothes your size."

"And while I'm there, I'll go see Professor Dumbledore."

With that, Hagrid rummaged through a pile of miscellaneous items until he found his enormous umbrella.

It was more than large enough to keep both Harry and Ron dry.

After escorting the boys safely back to Hogwarts, Hagrid made his way anxiously toward the stone gargoyle guarding the Headmaster's office.

"What was the password again..."

He scratched his head thoughtfully.

"'Fizzing Whizzbees'... 'Peanut Brittle'... 'Pear Drops'..."

After trying over a dozen passwords...

The gargoyle finally moved aside when he said,

"'Jelly Slugs.'"

Hagrid climbed the winding staircase and opened the oak door to the Headmaster's office.

Inside, Dumbledore stood beside Fawkes' golden perch, feeding his phoenix.

Hearing the door open, the Headmaster slowly turned around.

"Good afternoon, Professor Dumbledore."

"Oh, hello, Hagrid."

Dumbledore smiled warmly.

"Would you like some jelly?"

He gestured toward the plate on his desk.

Several Jelly Slugs wriggled happily across a copper tray, leaving sticky trails of sugary slime behind them.

"Er... no thank you."

Hagrid politely declined.

Even if they were candy, they still looked revolting.

He much preferred rock cakes.

Especially with a little meat in them.

That was a trick Shane had taught him.

"Professor Dumbledore... it's about Harry..."

Hagrid faithfully repeated everything Harry had told him.

By the time he finished, Dumbledore's usual twinkle had vanished.

His expression had become completely unreadable.

Hagrid wasn't capable of lying.

And Harry inventing such a story was even less likely.

If everything Harry had said was true...

Then what exactly was Shane trying to accomplish?

And what connection did that diadem have to Voldemort?

As Dumbledore sank into thought...

The person who could answer those questions suddenly arrived.

Without warning, a figure appeared out of thin air in the middle of the office.

"Professor Dumbledore!"

"I'm borrowing your hat!"

Shane's cheerful voice echoed through the room.

Dumbledore let out a long, weary sigh.

Meanwhile, Hagrid nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Oh?"

"Hagrid, you're here too?"

Shane greeted the giant with a grin.

"Mr. Dolea..."

"If possible, please use the front door next time."

"I'm getting rather old for these surprises."

Dumbledore rubbed his temples helplessly.

"Professor, that's selling yourself short."

"If the Great White Wizard could actually be scared to death, people might as well believe I'm the Emperor of China."

Shane joked.

"But that's beside the point."

"Professor, could you lend me the Sorting Hat?"

"The Sorting Hat?"

Dumbledore looked puzzled.

"What do you need it for?"

"I need to ask it something."

Shane reached into his robes and pulled out Ravenclaw's Diadem.

"I found this."

"The Sorting Hat has been around for centuries."

"If anyone knows something about it, it will."

"...That's..."

Dumbledore focused on the object in Shane's hand.

"...Ravenclaw's Diadem?"

His normally composed expression showed genuine astonishment.

"Where did you find it?"

"That can wait."

"This is one of Voldemort's Horcruxes."

"I want to destroy the soul fragment inside without damaging the diadem."

"A Horcrux?!"

"Voldemort?!"

Dumbledore and Hagrid exclaimed simultaneously.

"Ahem."

Dumbledore cleared his throat before turning to Hagrid.

"Hagrid."

"You may head back now."

"I understand everything concerning the matter you reported."

"Oh... right, Professor."

Looking rather awkward, Hagrid scratched his stomach.

"Then I'll leave you to it."

With heavy footsteps, he quietly departed.

Once the office door closed, Dumbledore looked directly at Shane.

"You sought out Harry because of the diadem?"

"Hm?"

Shane tilted his head in confusion.

For a moment, he couldn't understand how Dumbledore knew that.

Then he glanced toward the door Hagrid had just exited through.

Realization dawned instantly.

"Oh..."

"Harry went to see Hagrid, didn't he?"

"I must say, Mr. Dolea..."

Dumbledore smiled faintly.

"You truly possess the extraordinary intellect worthy of a Ravenclaw."

His words were as good as confirmation.

"So tell me, Mr. Dolea..."

"If you knew Harry was capable of finding Ravenclaw's Diadem..."

"Does that also mean..."

"...you know Harry himself is one of Voldemort's Horcruxes?"