Not the Best

"Terrifying... I'm an old man..."

Slughorn stood there, mumbling weakly for quite some time. His bright green velvet house robe was now soaked through with sweat, clinging tightly to his skin.

"Severus," Slughorn said feebly, "I can't answer your question. We need to see the Headmaster."

"The Headmaster is back?" Snape asked curiously. "I haven't seen a trace of him these past few days."

"He returned this afternoon," Slughorn said, trembling as he put on his coat. "Come on, let's go to his office now."

"Why is it always you?" The Stone Monster outside the Headmaster's office eyed Snape askance and grunted disdainfully.

"Couldn't be helped." Snape glared back at the stone beast.

"Oh, couldn't be helped, was it?" the Stone Monster said in its shrill voice. "That's why I'm here too, isn't it?"

"—Sour Blast Candies." Slughorn had no patience for their nonsense at the moment and rudely cut off Snape and the Stone Monster.

The Stone Monster let out a few strange squeals, then grudgingly slid aside, revealing the Spiral Staircase behind it.

"Albus, sorry to disturb you." Slughorn led Snape into the circular office.

"Good midnight, Professor." Snape poked only his head out from behind Slughorn's broad body and said with a grin.

"Oh, Horace, it's all right." Dumbledore wore a gentle smile. "On such a cool and pleasant night, what earth-shattering thing has Severus done this time?"

"It truly is earth-shattering, Professor." Snape suddenly jumped out from behind Old Sluggy and said indignantly, "Prejudice in people's hearts is a mountain. Let me help you blow that mountain apart."

At the word "blow," Dumbledore's mouth twitched involuntarily. His eyes darted toward the door as though checking whether any other "dangerous elements" had followed them in.

"Stop talking nonsense, Severus," Slughorn said irritably. "Silencing Charm—"

"He said he found a Horcrux in the castle, Albus."

"A Horcrux?" Dumbledore's expression instantly turned grave.

Then he raised his Wand and pointed it out the window.

Snape heard something whistling through the air outside, rushing toward them at high speed.

Several faded, black leather-bound tomes flew in through the open window from the pitch-black night sky. They stopped abruptly in midair and hovered beside Dumbledore.

Dumbledore lightly tapped the books a few times with his Wand. Then, with a creak, the door of a black cabinet behind Snape opened. The heavy books whooshed inside, and the cabinet door slammed shut.

"My apologies," Dumbledore said softly. "That was an oversight on my part. Have you read those books, Severus?"

"I have," Snape said. "They were in the Library. The Library is a place for reading books, isn't it?"

"How did you get in? I don't imagine any professor would be willing to sign your note." Dumbledore asked.

Snape couldn't help letting out a quiet laugh. Unless he was a brainless fool, like Gilderoy Lockhart years from now.

Dumbledore and Slughorn were both bewildered by his inexplicable laughter and looked at him with puzzled expressions.

"No note, Professor," Snape hurriedly explained. "I sneaked in using the Disillusionment Charm."

"You know, I had a piece of Parchment in my hands some time ago." As Snape spoke, he deliberately—or perhaps casually—glanced toward Dumbledore's desk. The Marauder's Map was lying quietly in a drawer at that very moment. "During that time, I often wandered around the school grounds."

"Young people..." Dumbledore shook his head, then turned his gaze to Slughorn. "Horace, Severus came to ask you about Horcruxes?"

"Yes... Albus... He asked me questions about Horcruxes..." Slughorn's voice trembled slightly. "I feel uneasy... because... because many years ago, someone asked me nearly the same questions..."

"Someone else asked you." Dumbledore's tone remained calm as he reassured him. "It's nothing, Horace. Some gifted young Wizards occasionally take an interest in the other side of magic. That is perfectly normal. So long as they have not made an irreparable mistake, there is still time—"

"No—" Slughorn grew somewhat agitated and roughly interrupted Dumbledore. "Don't you understand, Albus? He found a Horcrux in the castle, right here at Hogwarts."

"Relax, Horace." Dumbledore drew his Wand and gave it a gentle wave. A grimy wine bottle and three glass cups appeared in the air.

The bottle tipped itself over and filled each cup with a honey-gold liquid. The cups then floated toward each person in the room.

"Have some. It will calm you down," Dumbledore said. "Madam Rosmerta's finest Oak-Ripened Honeywine."

As he spoke, he raised his cup toward Slughorn and Snape.

Slughorn snatched up his own glass and took a small sip.

Snape tasted his as well, but he found it less delicious than the bottle he had drunk at the Three Broomsticks.

So it was not the best.

"I may have made a mistake... Albus..." Slughorn gripped the stem of his glass tightly. "I feel ashamed... More than thirty years ago, someone also asked me about Horcruxes... I think I may have caused someone great harm that day..."

"Oh, who asked you?" Dumbledore pressed.

"I'm sure you remember him too..." Slughorn murmured softly. "Tom Riddle, that outstanding young man..."

"So it was him." Dumbledore gave Snape a meaningful look. "Of course I remember him. A student as exceptional as he was is someone I could never forget in my lifetime.

"So what did Tom ask you?"

"He asked me..." Slughorn hesitated for a long while, as if he had made an enormous decision before finally speaking slowly. "He asked me... whether a soul could only be split once... whether splitting it into more pieces would be better... just as Severus asked me today..."

Dumbledore set his empty cup on the desk, rose, and walked over to Slughorn. He reached out and gently patted his shoulder, comforting him.

"It's all right, Horace. I believe you merely let slip a little secret magical theory. Anyone can make mistakes.

"However, I wonder whether you could show us that memory? Perhaps there is still something we can do."