Riddle

"Us?" Slughorn hesitated, his eyes shifting back and forth between Dumbledore and Snape. "Severus is going to see it too?"

"I don't think it matters, Horace." Dumbledore nodded gently. "After all, he is the reason we are here. What do you think?"

"Oh, all right... indeed..." Slughorn muttered quietly. "Tonight's affair began because of him, and I hope he can learn a lesson from it..."

Very, very slowly, he reached into his pocket, drew out his Wand, pressed its tip to his temple, and then pulled it away.

A long, silvery thread of memory emerged from the tip. It stretched longer and longer before finally snapping, drifting around the Wand tip in glittering spirals like vapor...

Who knew how long passed before they were once again pulled from the ground by an invisible force, flying higher and higher through the darkness in weightless suspension. Together, they passed through a stretch of emptiness and finally landed steadily on the carpet before Dumbledore's desk, with the Pensieve glimmering before them.

Outside the window, it was still night.

"I think you saw it just now too, Severus." Once Slughorn had steadied himself, he slowly turned his gaze toward Snape. "Don't think I'm nagging, but I told you before—Tom disappeared not long after graduating, and no one knew what became of him afterward.

"I don't want you to end up the same way. You still have a bright future ahead of you.

"You must understand that the soul should remain whole and intact. Splitting it is an abomination; it goes against nature. So you must stay far away from that thing. It is too evil, too dangerous..."

"Thank you, sir." Snape stepped forward and gave Slughorn a deep bow. "I will remember your warning."

Although he had long been deeply familiar with this memory, Snape still greatly admired Slughorn for being willing to let him witness his former disgrace and hoping to use it as a warning.

Beneath Old Sluggy's somewhat worldly, slippery exterior lay a conscience, courage, and nobility all his own.

"Albus..." Slughorn's voice was thick with exhaustion. "I really am old... The Horcrux in the castle—have Severus take you to see it.

"As for that resignation letter from before, if it isn't too much trouble, please give it back to me..."

"Sir, you had better not leave Hogwarts." Snape hurried forward, picked up the Mead on the table, and poured Slughorn another small glass. "You are safer staying here."

"Why..." Slughorn took the glass. By now, he barely had the strength to speak loudly. "What use is there in keeping an old man like me... I can leave this country..."

Snape thought for a moment, then slowly drew his Wand from his pocket.

With a light turn of his wrist, he traced a few strokes through the air and wrote three gleaming names:

Tom Marvolo Riddle

Then he flicked his Wand again, and the letters rearranged themselves into:

I am Lord Voldemort

"This is for your own good, sir," Snape said quietly.

Slughorn's face turned even paler, his forehead covered in dense beads of sweat.

He said nothing, but terror filled his expression.

At that moment, he finally connected Voldemort with the clever, handsome Male Student Council President who had once studied at Hogwarts.

Slughorn raised a pudgy hand and pressed his trembling fingers to his mouth. For a moment, he looked like a huge, helpless infant.

"I—I—" Slughorn gave a violent shudder, yet he seemed unable to tear his terrified gaze away from those words.

"I—I gave his secret to you..." Slughorn murmured through his fingers. The fear on his face lingered for a long time. "What am I supposed to do..."

"You need rest, Horace," Dumbledore said gently. "You are too exhausted. You will feel much better after a good sleep.

"Besides, you need not worry. Everyone present will keep the secret. Isn't that right, Severus?"

Snape looked Slughorn in the eyes and nodded solemnly. "If you are still worried, I can make an Unbreakable Vow. Professor Dumbledore can serve as our witness."

"No, there's no need," Slughorn said weakly, waving his hand before letting out a heavy sigh. "That won't be necessary. Ah, it's just—I just shouldn't have had to bear so much..."

"I'll take you back, Horace." Dumbledore put on his robes, then turned to Snape. "Wait here for a moment, Severus. I'll be right back."

With that, he raised his Wand again, and the wine bottle and three glasses on the table vanished at once.

The two of them walked out past Snape and closed the door behind them.

A minute later, Snape heard the Stone Monster leap aside and then leap back into place.

With nothing else to do, he began looking around.

Although the Old Headmasters were all snoring softly in their respective portraits, Snape believed that at least a few of them were only pretending to sleep.

"Hello, Fawkes." Snape looked up and greeted the phoenix perched on a golden branch by the door.

Professor Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes, was watching Snape with two bright black eyes.

"If I run into danger in the castle and shout Dumbledore's name, will you come save me, Fawkes?" Snape asked, pointing at the shabby, crumpled Wizard's hat resting on a shelf. "Preferably with that thing in tow."

Beside the Sorting Hat, inside a glass case, rested a gleaming silver sword with large rubies set into its hilt.

Looking at the Sorting Hat, Snape had no desire whatsoever to put it on and try it. Who knew whether the ancient hat might really read something it should not? If that happened, he would probably have to destroy it.

Then again, that might not necessarily be a bad thing. Perhaps from then on, Hogwarts could finally achieve unity among all its houses.

As he thought, Snape walked around the desk and reached for the Sorting Hat on the shelf.

Staring at the Sword of Gryffindor in the case, he thrust his hand into the hat and rummaged around, hoping to feel a sword hilt. But after feeling around for quite a while, he found nothing inside.

What the hell? Am I not brave enough? This antique is far too prejudiced.

"Hey, give me a break, will you?" Snape held the Sorting Hat before him. "Even if you once belonged to Godric Gryffindor, you can't play favorites."

"What are you doing, Severus?"

At that moment, Dumbledore's voice suddenly came from behind Snape.

Thanks to Hongta Fengye Bai for the monthly ticket.