"Yeah, it had the ghost haunting it called Tom Riddle - oh!" Harry gasped dramatically. He bit back a grin, impressed by his acting and cunning. It was working! Dumbledore was being useful! "That was one of them, wasn't it?"
"Indeed so, Harry. I could not confirm at the time, as sadly the book was destroyed but I suspected it. I - " Dumbledore paused again. Harry almost looked up as the pause shifted into an awkward length. The crinkling of the cellophane treat echoed across the room.
Dumbledore continued in his normal tone. "I discovered that Voldemort was not yet dead, however. And so I doubted myself. Because, for as little knowledge as there is about horcruxes, one of the few things one may find easily is the warning to not be overzealous. To only create the one vessel or risk sanity and a complete loss of identity and personality.
Harry, please look at me. How did you know he'd created more than one?"
"W-what?" Harry did not dare lift his eyes.
"You said "that was one of them" just now. After, presumably, finding out that Voldemort had created any just moments prior to that."
A lemon candy was crushed in Harry's palm, sending droplets of sticky, sweet candy across the floor. He hoped that gave Dumbledore an ant problem.
"Like you said, sir. Voldemort isn't dead. It's a logical deduction." Harry said softly. "Why else would we be discussing them? Why else would I be receiving this training?"
Dumbledore did not respond, and it took all of Harry's willpower to not sneak a peak at the man's face. The old man sighed, heavy and slow, an exhausted release and he slapped his hand against his forehead.
"Harry. You must understand why I am concerned. Horcruxes are one of the most esoteric branches of necromancy. I highly doubt even the Black Library would contain tomes that did more than hint at the subject. Any such books would have been outlawed over a century ago, and exist in such small numbers that I have not been able to uncover where Voldemort himself would have accessed a copy to learn the ritual.
Why do you know more than you're supposed to?"
He considered, for a brief moment, if he should throw the shadows to grab mama, drag her in here with him before Dumbledore could murder him. Or would he then murder both of them? And what would happen if mama murdered Dumbledore? They'd have to flee the country, surely. He would have to forfeit the tournament, lose his magic.
His palms shook as he moved in the direction of his pocket where his wand was kept hidden.
An excuse, he could formulate an excuse. Even though words fell out of his head, leaving him empty and panicked.
"Ok, ok. Mama also recognized what the diary was when I told her about it. Then we found another one - there was one in Sirius' house, his brother had it."
"You have found another!"
"Yeah. I honestly don't know much. They both said that they would handle it and that I shouldn't worry about it."
"And have you any clue how Professor Adams came to learn about horcruxes?"
"Um, I get the impression that her family is worse than the Blacks, but I'm not sure. She never mentioned them until after they found the one in Sirius' house, and she just told me they were evil and keeping Voldemort alive."
"I see. Have you seen this horcrux? Do you know what form it takes?"
Harry shook his head.
"No sir, they didn't want me anywhere near it."
"Very well." Dumbledore stroked his beard as he thought over Harry's excuse. "I am disappointed that you three felt the need to lie to me, Harry. Surely you understand that we are on the same side in this."
"Sirius is really mad with how you handled the last war," Harry said. He sure hoped Sirius and mama did not mind that he was throwing them under the bus. He wasn't lying exactly, he was just trying to ensure he stayed the innocent kid in Dumbledore's eyes. The Headmaster wouldn't easily be able to hurt Sirius or mama. "I don't think they distrust you, sir. I think they were just trying to keep it a complete secret. And with all due respect, you're very cagey yourself, Headmaster. You've barely told me anything about these lesson's purpose. Were you ever going to explain the horcruxes to me outright?"
Dumbledore did not look impressed at his complaints.
"I had hoped to keep you out of the direct fire, my boy, for as long as I could. These are not subjects appropriate for a child."
.....
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