You're No White Wizard Either, Sister!

Tom seemed quite interested in Harry Potter, and he stopped paying attention to the Hufflepuff's Cup, continuing to ask about Harry Potter.

After all, he was a legendary wizard from decades ago.

"Who exactly is Runcorn? Can you tell me, Miss Hepzibah?" Tom asked urgently.

"Speaking of Runcorn," Hepzibah said with a chuckle, "That's a rather ancient story—he was a Goblin, and his ancestors helped several Ancient Magic build their own private vaults, where Goblin metal stored powerful Ancient Magic energy. Human wizards have always looked down on Goblin, unwilling to share magical knowledge, and even forbidding them from using Goblin. Runcorn felt this was unfair, and his goal was to find all these metals and return the magical energy to all Goblin, so Goblin would no longer suffer the enslavement of humans."

Tom frowned.

"How could he even think such a thing? It's utterly outrageous!"

In fact, Tom still felt that human wizards were far more Goblin Goblin.

"Finally... I heard this story from someone who experienced it firsthand. It's said that Mr. Potter and his several confidantes found Goblin metal. Just as they were about to use the Goblin metal for something, Runcorn suddenly appeared, shattered the Goblin metal, and merged with its power to become a dragon."

Hepzibah's expression seemed to be recalling something, or perhaps still shaken.

"Later, I heard that Mr. Potter disappeared along with the dragon, and several of his female confidantes also disappeared a few years later while searching for him."

"In short, this matter was later covered up, and apart from a few people in the know, no one knows what actually happened."

"I see..." Tom nodded as if he understood, then looked at the red crystal in his hand and asked, "And what is this, Miss Hepzibah?"

"This is the fragment left behind by Runcorn." Hepzibah's wrinkled old face almost blossomed into a smile. "At the time, I thought it contained a portion of Runcorn's power, but it turns out I was overthinking it. It's just an ordinary fragment and doesn't contain any energy."

However, Hepzibah didn't notice that Tom's eyes flashed with a fierce red light as he looked at the red crystal.

"Put it away, put it away," Hepzibah said to the House Elf Hokey. "I think it's time to let my dear Tom see the next thing."

The House Elf collected the Hufflepuff's Cup and the fragments of Runcorn, and then made a small box.

"I think you'll like this one better, Tom," she whispered. "Come closer, my dear child, and see clearly... Of course, Borgin knows I have this; I bought it from him. I dare say he'll want to take it back after I die..."

She unfastened the delicate gold clasp and opened the box, revealing a heavy, small gold pendant box lying on a deep red velvet lining.

Voldemort reached out and picked up the small locket without waiting for an invitation, holding it up to the light to examine it closely.

"That's right!" Hepzibah was clearly delighted to see Voldemort staring intently at her little golden box. "I paid a hefty price for this, but I can't miss it; I have to add it to my collection. Borgin bought it from a poor woman who probably stole it and didn't know its true value—I bet Borgin didn't pay her much, but look... how beautiful it is, isn't it? And all sorts of magic, though I'm just keeping it safe..."

Harry recognized it; it was Slytherin's locket.

Oh, so after all that, you got your hands on this pendant after Merope Gaunt sold it?

"Very well, you have met your demise in a righteous way"—of course, this was said on behalf of Voldemort.

Anyway, Harry felt that this woman named Hepzibah must have been added to Tom's Death Note at this moment.

He also noticed that Tom's eyes began to flash red without any attempt to hide it, and the knuckles of his fingers, which were gripping the chain of the small gold box, turned white.

What was that saying again?

Is it considered rude for a son to scold his mother?

Hepzibah didn't notice the red glint in Tom's eyes as she reached for the little gold box. For a moment, Harry thought Tom wouldn't let go, but it slipped from his fingers and landed on the red velvet cushion.

"Okay, Tom, darling, I hope you like it!"

She stared at his face, and Harry was stunned to see the silly grin on her face for the first time.

"Are you alright, darling?" Hepzibah asked suspiciously.

"It's alright," Tom said calmly and quietly. "I'm fine..."

Harry knew that Voldemort must be a bad guy.

Although he didn't particularly like his father Old Riddle, he still had a tiny bit of affection for his mother.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so devastated by being told "your mother doesn't love you at all."

"It must be light, right?" Hepzibah muttered, not taking it seriously, and simply told the House Elf Hokey to take back the pendant.

Harry left with Tom and returned to Hepzibah's house two days later.

He found that Hepzibah was dead; she lay on the table, her cloudy eyes devoid of any light.

Beside her lay an overturned cup.

Voldemort gave her a mocking laugh, then found Hufflepuff's Cup, Slytherin's Locket, and fragments of Runcorn.

"It's strange, isn't it?" Voldemort suddenly said, straightening up and turning to Harry. "You've been watching for so long, aren't you wondering why I took these things?"

"You're going to make Horcrux," Harry said firmly. "A proud wizard like you wouldn't stoop to using ordinary things to make Horcrux, so you chose the relics of the Four Founders, didn't you?"

"Oh yes, clever little wizard." Voldemort laughed. "I must admit, you are as clever as I was back then—to my regret, I found Hufflepuff's Cup in this foolish woman's house, as well as my mother's Slytherin's locket, and learned the whereabouts of Ravenclaw's Diadem from another foolish woman, but I still have no idea where Gryffindor's sword is hidden."

"Inside the Sorting Hat," Harry answered without hesitation. "According to some accounts, only true Gryffindor can draw the sword from the hat."

"Such a foolish premise?" Voldemort was somewhat surprised, then chuckled and said, "Thank you for providing this clue, little wizard—I'm growing to like you more and more... So, would you like to follow the great Voldemort and accomplish great things?"

"Follow you?" Harry scratched his head, thinking that Voldemort seemed to have gone a little crazy.

"Of course." Voldemort didn't see anything wrong with it. "A little wizard like you would be wasting your talent if you didn't follow me—I can help you achieve all the dreams you want."

At this point, Voldemort asked again, "By the way, I haven't asked your name yet."

"Harry," Harry said with a grin, "Harry Potter, didn't you just hear my name? I was when your dear Miss Hepzibah was introducing you to the gem that belongs to Runcorn."

Voldemort was stunned.

Voldemort's eyes widened.

Voldemort fell into doubt again.

"Are you Harry Potter?" he asked hesitantly. "I don't believe you."

"Believe it or not, Tom," Harry said with a chuckle, "But if you want to know more about the story of that gem fragment, I can tell you... Well, in exchange, tell me what you felt from this gem, how about it?"

"Deal." Voldemort nodded. "You go first—tell me about the final battle between Harry Potter and Runcorn..."

He believed Harry's words; after all, apart from such an outstanding and legendary wizard, there probably wasn't anyone skilled enough or daring enough to enter Horcrux.

"There's not much to say, basically he couldn't withstand my Charms," Harry said with a shrug. "You should know about Ancient Magic, right?"

"I know," Voldemort nodded. "I've read about Ancient Magic in some books, but I always thought it was nonsense."

"Yeah," Harry shrugged. "People without Ancient Magic talent think it's just a hoax... but it's actually quite cruel. Most people with Ancient Magic talent don't show any magical fluctuations until they're fifteen, when they finally unleash their full potential."

"I see..." Voldemort nodded as if he understood. "I understand now."

"And what about Runcorn?" Harry pressed. "What did you sense from that fragment?"

"I won't tell you, Harry." Voldemort suddenly grinned maliciously. "I know who you are, Harry — Nagini is Horcrux I created just two years ago, and I remember everything you've done to me—"

Harry suddenly realized he had miscalculated.

He forgot that Nagini was different—the other Horcrux were made by Voldemort before the First Wizarding War, while Nagini ... well, Nagini was made after his return.

In other words, this Voldemort fragment of Horcrux knows who Harry is.

But it doesn't matter.

"It's alright, Tom," Harry grinned mischievously. "What can you do if you don't tell me? I can find out myself!"

"No!" Voldemort cried out in terror.

However, there was no moon. Harry pointed at Voldemort and chanted a spell.

"Legilimency!"

A message suddenly flashed before Harry's eyes; through Voldemort's perspective, he found all the information about Runcorn.

In fact, Voldemort sensed the aura of Runcorn's remnant soul the moment he saw the Runcorn's Soul Crystal.

They look so alike, so alike!

It should be said that Harry unintentionally helped Runcorn create a Horcrux when he killed Runcorn.

Runcorn's remnant soul was attached to that soul crystal.

He reached a series of agreements with Voldemort, including an alliance between the two to fight against wizards who were at odds with them, including Harry Potter.

Although Voldemort didn't know where Harry Potter was at that time, it didn't stop him from agreeing to Runcorn's request.

In return, Runcorn transferred a portion of his Goblin magic power to Voldemort, and strengthened Voldemort's Soul Strength.

No wonder it could be divided into seven, Harry thought to himself.

After Harry finished reading Voldemort's memories, the latter sat there looking utterly hopeless, as if he had been dragged away by several Troll.

"Kill me!" Voldemort said in despair. "Stop humiliating me, Potter! Give me a quick death!"

"Looks like that won't work," Harry shrugged. "Giving you a quick death would be too lenient, considering how you just tricked me—if you had cooperated, I might have let you off this time, but it's obviously too late now, my dear Tom."

With that, Harry waved his wand, Voldemort instantly shrank into a small ball, which he held in his hand.

With a dizzying sensation, he was back on the ground, still clutching the Voldemort ball in his hand.

"How is it, Harry?" Dumbledore asked with concern. "Did you get rid of the Horcrux?"

Harry raised his hand and showed Dumbledore the Voldemort ball.

"Here," he said.

"You've worked hard," Dumbledore nodded. "From now on, Voldemort will have no Horcrux left. If we can defeat him, we can completely destroy him!"

"I need to remind you, Dumbledore," Gellert suddenly said. "If I remember correctly, there are now two Voldemort, one in America and the other lurking somewhere unknown. To be precise, you still need to eliminate both Voldemort."

Dumbledore glanced at Gellert but said nothing.

Harry picked up a specially made crystal bottle and put Voldemort's Soul Orb into it.

"I think we should make a large aquarium," Harry said, sitting in his chair. "Put Voldemort's Soul Orb in there, and maybe some sea fish or something. It might make a nice display."

Then, Voldemort's Soul Orb was seen jumping up and down inside the crystal bottle, clearly very dissatisfied.

However, even if he expressed his dissatisfaction, there was nothing he could do. After all, he was now under someone else's roof, and the situation was beyond his control. He could only keep his opinions to himself.

"I think your suggestion is good, Potter," Gellert grinned wickedly. "That's exactly what a villain like Tom Riddle should be done—"

"If I remember correctly, you're Dark Wizard too, right, Gale?" Veratia asked Gellert.

The implication was clear; it was practically a direct accusation against Gellert, saying, "You're a wicked villain too."

Gellert choked up.

He turned to look at his sister and retorted sharply.

"Don't forget you're not some White Wizard either, sister!"

(End of this chapter)