Chapter 406

“Then, did you discover… Ravenclaw’s diadem?”

Dumbledore spoke casually, then his expression gradually grew solemn.

“I detected residual dark magic within it, so I destroyed it.”

Wizard Sean did not conceal it.

He had forgotten parts of the Horcrux; perhaps Headmaster Dumbledore could clarify them for him.

“Only residual dark magic?”

Dumbledore asked, then smiled faintly.

“You understand—you’ve always been clever—but this is the burden we must bear.”

“I reveal to you a portion of my secrets, hoping you will stay farther from danger—farther still.”

“If you’re willing to listen to an old man’s rambling, have some tea—I hope this time the sweetness is just right.”

His face bore an expression more serious than ever before.

Wizard Sean took a sip—it was still cloyingly sweet.

“I must emphasize again: a young mind may bring interesting changes…”

“But young people should focus on fulfilling their potential.”

Dumbledore added.

Then he pulled out the Pensieve.

Perhaps only the two of them, wizards, used the Pensieve this way in all of Hogwarts.

After all, people always found the Pensieve dangerous—it held immense power over memory and thought.

Whether the memory’s owner or another person—the danger lay precisely here—they could enter those memories and walk within them.

Unavoidably, those with secrets, ashamed of their past, eager to preserve their privacy, all kept their distance from devices like the Pensieve.

“Do you remember what I said last time?”

Dumbledore asked.

“Tom Riddle liked collecting mementos—he favored objects with strong magic and historical significance.”

Wizard Sean replied.

“Oh Hehe —yes, call him Tom Riddle.”

“Tom Riddle. His pride, his sense of superiority, his determination to claim a staggering place in magical history—all these compelled him to carefully choose his Horcruxes and favor items worthy of such honor.”

Dumbledore always took satisfaction in a wizard’s intelligence.

Especially when that young wizard was named Wizard Sean Green.

“It seems you’re not surprised by Horcruxes?”

Dumbledore asked suddenly.

Wizard Sean fell silent for a moment.

“A harmless little joke. I know some people never feel confused about the future.”

Dumbledore said meaningfully,

“Well, later… we found Tom Riddle’s diary.”

“Oh, though I never saw the Riddle that emerged from the diary, Harry described to me a phenomenon I’d never witnessed.”

“Could a mere memory have its own actions and thoughts? Could a mere memory drain the life from the girl who held it?”

“No—the diary contained something far more evil… a fragment of soul. I am nearly certain: that diary was a Horcrux.”

“But this raised even more questions. What intrigued and shocked me most was that the diary had been used both as a protective object and as a weapon.”

“So you suspect Tom Riddle had more than one Horcrux.”

Wizard Sean naturally continued the topic.

“No better answer.”

Dumbledore nodded in praise.

“Then, since Tom wanted his diary to be passed to or take root in some future Hogwarts student, he was remarkably careless with the precious fragment of soul inside.”

“The purpose of a Horcrux is to safely preserve a part of one’s soul—not to leave it lying on someone else’s path, risking destruction—yet that is precisely what happened:

That fragment of soul no longer exists—you saw it.”

“Tom’s negligence toward this Horcrux fills me with deep foreboding. It suggests he has likely already created—or plans to create—more Horcruxes, so losing one would not be so dangerous. I do not wish to believe it, but no other explanation makes sense.”

Wizard Sean knew Headmaster Dumbledore was wise—he had deduced much from just a single diary.

So Headmaster Dumbledore had likely uncovered many clues…

His plan needed to accelerate—he must resolve the Slytherin locket before summer break and hurry to the Gaunt shack.

Wizard Sean thought this, stealing a careful glance at Dumbledore’s hand—making the Headmaster’s smile even more meaningful.

“You know, over the years I’ve gone to great lengths to learn about Voldemort’s past life—traveled far, traced his footsteps.”

“But I believe the work I’ve done pales beside yours.”

Dumbledore smiled.

“You exaggerate.”

Wizard Sean said.

“I must tell you this: don’t always seek the most correct answer to others’ problems—if you do, what’s the difference from constantly taking exams?”

Dumbledore said kindly.

“I’ve only done a few… insignificant things.”

Wizard Sean said.

“Alright, alright.”

Dumbledore said, resigned.

“Then, let me continue from where we left off—

Finding evidence of young Riddle was already difficult; finding someone who remembers adult Voldemort is nearly impossible.”

“In fact, I suspect that, aside from himself, no living soul could recount in detail his life after leaving Hogwarts. So I have some memories to share with you.”

Dumbledore gestured toward a small, shimmering crystal vial beside the Pensieve,

“Afterward, I will be delighted to hear the opinions of a young mind.”

Wizard Sean knew this was what he had been waiting for.

He knew the Slytherin locket was hidden in a cave—and that the cave was a fake. But from this, he could deduce another person:

Regulus Arcturus Black.

That is:

R.A.B.

And through the fake locket, Wizard Sean could enlist a house-elf—Kreacher—to help find the real locket…

But the problem was: Wizard Sean did not know where the cave was.

Now it seemed Headmaster Dumbledore had already discovered it.

“I hope you’re not tired of sneaking into others’ memories—it’s quite peculiar. This,”

Dumbledore introduced,

“comes from a very old house-elf named Hao Qi.”

“Before you view Hao Qi’s testimony, I must briefly explain how Voldemort left Hogwarts.”

“You may have guessed—he graduated seventh year with top marks in every subject.”

“His classmates were already considering their post-graduation careers. Almost everyone believed Tom Riddle would achieve astonishing things—he was a prefect, a top student, and had received special honors from the school.”

“I know several professors, including Professor Slughorn, advised him to join the Ministry and even offered to introduce him—but he refused them all. Later, the staff learned he had taken a position at Borgin and Burkes.”