"Nothing, Professor." Snape hurriedly put the Sorting Hat back on the shelf. "I was just looking."
"Albus," the Sorting Hat suddenly wriggled. A wide slit split open along its brim like a grinning mouth, and an indignant voice came from within. "He touched me."
Huh?!
Snape slowly formed a question mark in his mind. Does this hat even hear what it is saying?
"How is Professor Slughorn?" To keep the Sorting Hat from saying anything even more outrageous, Snape hurriedly raised his voice. "Is he all right?"
Dumbledore stepped forward and patted the Sorting Hat soothingly before saying gently:
"Horace has gone to sleep. I gave him some of Madam Pomfrey's Dreamless Sleep Potion."
"Ah, tonight really exhausted him," Snape said with a sigh. Slughorn had gone through such intense emotional turmoil tonight. At his age, it could not have been easy.
"You worked hard as well." Dumbledore looked at Snape with approval in his eyes. "You managed to learn such important information from Horace."
"But," he changed the subject, his tone turning grave, "it seems you have cast aside what I told you last time and continued investigating Voldemort's information on your own."
"That isn't fair, Professor," Snape said unhappily. "There has been no progress on your end, so am I not allowed to investigate it myself?"
"Ah, never mind," Dumbledore said helplessly. "Tonight's information is extremely important. No matter what, I must thank you, Severus."
"I'm sorry that I cannot award you points this time. This matter must remain absolutely confidential. Other than that, is there any reward you would like?"
Ah, no points, Snape grumbled inwardly. Who cares about those measly House points? Yet he put on a regretful expression. "What a pity, Professor."
"How about giving me a phoenix and making me Male Student Council President next year?"
"The latter can be considered." Dumbledore nodded, a trace of amusement flashing in his eyes. "So long as you do not go to a place like Borgin and Bork after graduation and become an ordinary shop assistant."
"Ha, ha, ha." Snape gave a dry laugh. "You really know how to joke, Professor. I would hate to waste this face of mine."
"Precisely," Dumbledore said approvingly. "Young wizards ought to cherish their looks as much as they cherish their talents."
"By the way, Severus. Do you remember the McKinnons, who were attacked by Death Eaters during the summer holiday?"
"I remember. What happened?" Snape pressed. "Were they attacked again?"
"No." Dumbledore shook his head. "But tonight's information has given me a suspicion."
After a pause, he continued.
"Ever since they were attacked, I have been pondering what was special about the McKinnons. Now it seems that if Voldemort made Horcruxes, everything makes sense."
"The McKinnons have long operated a small potion shop in Dundee. If there is anything special about them, it is that they are highly experienced in treating accidental soul damage, and they have gained a modest reputation in the Wizarding World."
"You mean Voldemort sought them out to have them treat his soul damage?"
"Yes. At present, I cannot think of a more reasonable explanation."
"Are they safe now?"
"You need not worry about that. They have temporarily closed the potion shop and gone into hiding."
Hearing this, Snape thought, I do not particularly care about their safety, but that hardly sounds reassuring. So he continued, "Who is the Fidelius Charm?"
"Oh, you actually know that spell." Dumbledore looked somewhat surprised. "I am the Fidelius Charm."
At least he isn't being muddle-headed this time, Snape thought.
"Now tell me, did you tell Horace there was a Horcrux in the castle in order to draw him out, or was it truly the case?" Dumbledore asked.
"Um..." Snape hesitated for a while before finally deciding to tell the truth. "It is true, Professor. The Horcrux is in the Room of Requirement."
"Ah, the Come and Go Room." Dumbledore sighed softly. "That is a most marvelous room."
"One morning, I took a wrong turn while going to the toilet and somehow found myself in a room I had never seen before, exquisitely furnished and filled with all manner of delicate, luxurious chamber pots."
"When I returned to investigate it carefully, I found that the room had vanished. But I guessed that it could only be entered at five-thirty in the morning, or that it only appeared during a crescent moon—or perhaps when someone looking for a toilet had an especially full bladder."
At this point, he could not help smiling. "Later, the kitchen elves told me that the room could only be entered when someone truly needed it. The elves called it the Come and Go Room, or the Room of Requirement."
"Still, Tom was foolish enough to hide a Horcrux in the Room of Requirement. You see, Severus, this is another lesson: we should not defy nature by splitting the soul."
"I agree, Professor," Snape replied. "However, I must confirm something with you first. Do you have a way to destroy a Horcrux?"
"Though I believe it will not be an easy task," Dumbledore said confidently, tilting his head slightly upward, "with my abilities—please forgive me for saying so—if even I cannot do it, then no one can."
"Overconfidence is not necessarily a good thing, sir." Snape nearly rolled his eyes. "Voldemort has taught us that as well."
"You are right. I am sorry; I should not be so complacent." Dumbledore immediately apologized sincerely. "Now, why not take me to see that Horcrux?"
"Let's go, Professor. I will be short on sleep again tonight. Can you write me an excuse note for tomorrow?" Snape said helplessly as he turned to lead the way.
"No problem," Dumbledore agreed readily.
Looking at the mountain of assorted objects before him, Dumbledore could not help sighing. "How many generations of teachers and students must have accumulated all this? Who knows how many stories are hidden here."
"—Or accidents," Snape added.
He led Dumbledore through towering walls made of clutter, past a Troll specimen and the remains of a Vanishing Cabinet, until they arrived before a tall pile of junk.
After clearing away the objects covering it, Snape saw half of his torn sleeve.
"Professor, do not look directly at the Horcrux later. It can bewitch people and make you unable to resist putting it on."
After seeing Dumbledore nod in agreement, Snape took a deep breath, tried his best not to focus his eyes, and laboriously moved the sleeve aside with magic.
"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure," Dumbledore softly read the words on the diadem. A complicated expression flashed through his eyes. "Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem."
"Professor, you—"
"Rest assured. Thank heaven for granting me extraordinary intelligence; I will not be so easily bewitched by it."
"Oh."
Please keep up with the latest chapters this week. This book did not get the first round of recommendations last week, so the numbers have been rather poor.
Those of you who are letting chapters pile up, please open the book and check the latest chapter too; just scroll to the end. New books rely heavily on follow-up reading to get recommendations, so please do not let this one die. Thank you!
Before you continue