Using a Horcrux to Deal with a Horcrux?

"Such an incredible talent actually existed?"

Dumbledore was astonished after hearing Dudley's answer, and tried to interpret the origins of this talent with his vast knowledge.

"Dudley, perhaps one of your ancestors was skilled in Alchemy.

Or, more likely, one of them was skilled in Human Transmutation, a forbidden ancient form of Alchemy that had already been lost.

Just as a natural master of Legilimency must have an ancestor skilled in mental magic, and a natural Metamorphmagus must have an ancestor skilled in Transfiguration.

But if you could inherit such a powerful talent, then by all rights, you shouldn't be a Muggle!"

"Who knew?" Dudley spread his hands, neither confirming nor denying Dumbledore's speculation. "Ask the next question."

"Er... all right."

It was an unexpected display of composure. Dumbledore had assumed Dudley would be interested in the topic he had raised, but instead met a soft rebuff.

He could only continue with his original line of questioning.

"Dudley, how did you know that the item Hagrid was helping me retrieve was the Philosopher's Stone, and prepare this ruby in advance to replace it?"

As Dumbledore asked, he took a dark-red gemstone from his pocket, its color resembling that of a piece of candy.

It was the very gem Dudley had previously swapped into Hagrid's coat pocket.

When Dumbledore asked that question, Dudley inwardly grumbled. This had been the biggest flaw left behind by yesterday's operation.

It was a Fake Philosopher's Stone. If it couldn't destroy Voldemort's Main Soul at the time, he could have just let Voldemort take it and go home to celebrate for nothing!

But this white-haired, white-bearded old man just had to meddle and use something like 'Finite Incantatem' to intercept it.

And now, he had to rack his brains for an explanation!

Dudley grumbled endlessly in his heart as he considered his answer.

He did not intend to lie. Of course, he had no intention of telling the unvarnished truth either.

"It was an inborn premonition. I can know certain things that might happen in the future. Of course, not everything, and it isn't always accurate."

"Dudley, you're also a natural Seer?! Then among your ancestors, there must also have been..."

Dumbledore was stunned once more. Over the past two days, he had been surprised more times than in the previous ten years combined.

"Enough, I know what you're about to say! Not one word of it is something I want to hear."

Dudley directly cut off Dumbledore's meaningless speculation. "Please get this straight. I'm saying that I'm impressive. What's with you constantly praising my ancestors? They can't even hear you!"

Dumbledore said, "Er..."

"Ask the next question! Or are you finished?" Dudley urged.

"...No! I still have a few questions." Dumbledore forcibly suppressed his speechlessness and continued. "Then, when you warned Hagrid ahead of time in the Gringotts Underground Vaults, was that because you foresaw Voldemort nearby?"

"Not exactly. Harry and I talked about that. Let him tell you."

Taking the lazy route, Dudley turned to Harry and had him explain the matter of his forehead scar, the lingering Soul Fragment, and his ability to sense Voldemort's soul.

Harry did not hesitate, immediately recounting it in concise terms.

Dumbledore listened intently, but the more he heard, the deeper the wrinkles between his brows became. By the time he had heard it all, an inescapable gloom had settled over his heart.

"It's a Horcrux! Voldemort actually learned and used such an utterly evil form of Dark Magic! No wonder he became so powerful, and no wonder he was so difficult to destroy!"

Dumbledore abruptly rose and paced back and forth in Dudley's bedroom, with none of his previous composure remaining.

"If the Soul Fragment within Harry's forehead scar was created by Voldemort unintentionally, then he must have made other Horcruxes long ago—perhaps more than one!

Given Voldemort's madness, that was almost certain!"

Dumbledore spoke half in explanation, half to himself.

"Please calm down, Mr. Dumbledore," Dudley soothed. "Even if you pace back and forth a hundred more times, Voldemort's Horcruxes won't come running over to destroy themselves."

"I'm sorry, children. I lost my composure."

Dumbledore stopped pacing. He did not want to be like this either, but Dark Magic like Horcruxes was simply far too troublesome to deal with.

"What is a Horcrux?" Harry hurriedly asked after Dumbledore sat back down.

Dumbledore's expression was complicated. "Harry, it is an evil form of Dark Magic that requires murder to perform.

Through the inhumane act of murder as a ritual, one splits one's own soul and stores the severed portion within an object, creating a Horcrux.

That way, even if a wizard's body dies and their Main Soul is extinguished, they can be reborn through the Horcrux and achieve immortality."

Dumbledore explained in an exceptionally grave tone. After describing the function of Horcruxes, he solemnly explained their drawbacks as well, to prevent Dudley and Harry from going astray.

"Never attempt this Dark Magic. It is cruel, and splitting the soul is an extremely foolish act! A damaged soul will drastically alter one's temperament and weaken one's senses..."

Just as Dumbledore was earnestly issuing his warning, Dudley suddenly had an idea and made an unusually excited suggestion.

"Voldemort's Soul Fragment may be said to be inside Harry's forehead scar, but it has actually already fused with Harry's soul.

Could Harry learn this Dark Magic too? He could kill one of Voldemort's accomplices, perform the ritual, then separate and destroy Voldemort's Soul Fragment!"

Dumbledore's eyes widened, his surprise bordering on terror.

"Abandon that dreadful idea, Dudley! How could you... how could you have Harry learn to kill?!"

Dudley's expression turned cold. "Put away that ridiculous kindness that keeps popping up, Dumbledore! You brought both Harry and Voldemort to Hogwarts because you wanted Harry to kill Voldemort and eliminate a great threat to the Wizarding World, didn't you?

So it's fine when you guide Harry into killing someone, but when I say it outright, you can't stand it?

Harry and I will definitely avenge Aunt Lily and Uncle James. Sooner or later, our enemies must die. What is wrong with making use of it while killing them?

Or do you have some foolproof method to help Harry separate Voldemort's Soul Fragment?"

"No, Dudley! You're thinking about this too simply! Creating a Horcrux is an extremely evil form of Dark Magic. What is separated is the caster's own soul. Harry cannot use this method to separate Voldemort's Soul Fragment!

Doing so would only damage Harry's own soul!"

Dumbledore explained in an exceptionally stern and urgent tone. It was obvious that he was truly frightened.

"The danger is too great and the feasibility too low. Then we'll set it aside."

Dudley regained his calm. He had never intended to risk Harry right away. Even if he truly wanted to use this method, he would first find two test subjects to try it on.

Dumbledore let out a long breath. He had finally realized that Dudley might be a good person, but he was certainly not a normal good person.

Still, they did need a safe way to deal with Voldemort's Soul Fragment within Harry.

That would be difficult, and it was one of the reasons Dumbledore's heart was filled with gloom.