IF Line: The Beginning of Destruction

Professor McGonagall, clutching The Daily Prophet, hurried to Dumbledore's office.

"Chocolate Frog."

Professor McGonagall used the password to open the Headmaster's office door. "Snape? Lily? What are you two doing here?"

"They've come to reminisce with this old man. Is there something you need, Professor McGonagall?" Dumbledore asked.

"I think you should see this." Professor McGonagall spread The Daily Prophet on the table. "Voldemort has already taken over Gringotts. The only safe haven left is Hogwarts."

The headline on The Daily Prophet clearly stated that the great Voldemort had driven out the stubborn goblins from Gringotts.

"After Voldemort took control of the Ministry of Magic, he slandered you extensively, and many wizards have sided with him. Now he controls Gringotts as well. The situation is not optimistic," Professor McGonagall said.

"We don't have much time. How is Harry?" Dumbledore turned to Snape and asked.

"He has now destroyed Slytherin's locket, Hufflepuff's cup, and Ravenclaw's diadem. If we include the diary that Horatio modified, we have destroyed four Horcruxes now," Snape replied. However, upon mentioning Horatio, Snape and Dumbledore fell into silence.

"Perhaps you really shouldn't have stopped him," Snape said.

"I regret it too. If I could have protected them, perhaps Horatio would be fighting alongside us now," Dumbledore said in a low voice.

"Why didn't you protect it in your third year? Fight alongside Horatio? If you hadn't fallen out with Horatio then, Harry wouldn't be facing this fate now," Snape shouted at Dumbledore, comforting a weeping Lily.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't afford to fall out with Fudge at the time, so I let them take it," Dumbledore said, lowering his head in silence for a moment. "How is Ariana?"

"How dare you mention Ariana! Even though you let Horatio lose it forever for your so-called greater good, he still helped you resurrect Ariana. But how did you repay him? Did you stop him from getting revenge when that wretched woman broke its wings in his fifth year?" Snape yelled hysterically. "I truly feel it wasn't worth it for Horatio. He gave so much, only to be destroyed by the Headmaster he trusted the most."

The perspective shifted to Harry. By this time, he had shed his childishness, growing from a boy into a young man.

Harry, holding Tom Riddle's diary, followed its guidance to find the Gaunt family's ring and destroyed it with the Sword of Gryffindor.

"Now only Nagini and I are left," Harry said. He opened the diary; the ring-shaped icon inside had disappeared.

"Harry, are you really ready?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"Yes, I've grown a lot these past few years. Speaking of which, I have to thank Horatio." Harry mentioned Horatio and then fell silent.

"Hermione, have you contacted Horatio?" Harry finally asked.

Hermione shook her head. "We were all against him at the time."

Hermione recalled the look of disappointment and despair in Horatio's eyes the last time she saw him, and a bitter taste always welled up in her heart.

Suddenly, the sky seemed to be dyed red with blood. Huge black holes appeared in the sky, and terrifying monsters roared from within, charging towards the ground and mercilessly hunting the people below.

A giant, stag beetle-like monster descended from a black hole onto the ground. It was pitch black, with yellow luminous organs, and let out a roar of "Zetton!!!" Its claws gathered a massive fireball and blasted it towards London, instantly melting the city with terrifying heat.

[Congratulations to the Host for destroying 100 worlds and nurturing Hyper Zetton to maturity. Mission complete. Rewards are now being issued...]

Horatio ignored the system voice in his mind and coldly gazed at the world where his dream began and which had brought him despair.

"I'm back..."

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