Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures

So, it was highly possible that Voldemort had split his soul again to create a new Horcrux.

After all, he didn’t know of Harry’s existence, and in his view, including this split, he had only created seven Horcruxes: the ring, the diary, the locket, the cup, the diadem, the spell, and the statue.

As for why he chose to use a spell to create a Horcrux, instead of a magical item with a special historical background like the others, there could be many reasons. Perhaps Voldemort wanted to try something new, or perhaps he saw something irresistible but couldn’t obtain it.

Or perhaps the magical item he coveted was too special, too powerful, its magic too immense to be turned into a Horcrux.

Or perhaps it already contained a soul!

Lining up all these possibilities, Evan thought again of Gryffindor’s Philosopher’s Stone.

When it came to his speculation about why Voldemort had used a spell to create a Horcrux, this Stone matched every condition.

Imagine Voldemort in his student days seeing this powerful Philosopher’s Stone in the Centaur Temple in the Forbidden Forest.

It was a test left there by Gryffindor. This Philosopher’s Stone not only possessed a unique historical background sufficient to pique Voldemort’s interest, but also powerful magic — all things Voldemort desperately wanted. However, the centaurs’ tight guard and Gryffindor’s soul within the stone made it impossible for Voldemort to obtain it. Therefore, he imbued the stone with a spell and a curse, the magic within the Stone ensuring the spell and the curse would persist.

Voldemort’s actions were hindered by only one obstacle: Gryffindor’s soul within the stone.

If he had truly done this, Gryffindor would certainly have known, but he neither stopped Voldemort nor told Evan anything.

Gryffindor’s not stopping him didn’t mean Voldemort hadn’t done it.

Evan remembered that when his consciousness had left the illusion, Gryffindor had told him the real test was only beginning. Immediately after obtaining the Stone, Evan was cursed by Voldemort, believing this to be the test Gryffindor had spoken of. He only broke the curse after finding another Philosopher’s Stone.

However, if the curse at that time wasn’t the entirety of Voldemort’s magic, then the test Gryffindor had spoken of was not over.

The real test wasn’t the curse, but Voldemort’s Horcrux magic.

And then there was Professor Trelawney’s prophecy — everything matched the events at the Temple of the Moon perfectly, except for the latter half of the prophecy, a true prophecy. If the first half had come true, there was no reason the second half shouldn’t.

“Harry, did the Dark Lord mention where that Horcrux is?” Evan asked.

“He did, but,” Harry shook his head, “it seems to be on someone, but I don’t know who.”

On someone?!

Those present the night Evan had obtained the Philosopher’s Stone, besides himself and the centaurs, included Sirius, Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

Could Voldemort’s Horcrux be among them?! That would be truly disastrous!

“Any other details, Harry? Like whether that person is male or female? Or a Death Eater?” Hermione asked, trying to prompt him.

“I don’t know, but the person’s identity surprised the Dark Lord! Yes, surprised. He didn’t expect that Horcrux to be on that person,” Harry recalled, then thought of the scene he had witnessed earlier, the scene that had frightened him. He hesitated for a moment, then decided it was best to speak up. “Remember? I entered his mind before he found out the Golden Cup had been stolen. He was interrogating someone, and the Horcrux seemed to be on that person.”

“So, you saw that person? The one who surprised Voldemort?” Evan asked softly. Who could it be?!

It couldn’t be a Death Eater, nor could it be someone from the Order of the Phoenix, but someone Voldemort would never have considered.

The Philosopher’s Stone, the Horcrux, the magic itself, the centaurs, Sirius, Harry, Hermione, Ron… all of them … the ones Voldemort had never expected—

“I told you, it was dark, I couldn’t see anything.” Harry paused, then continued, “But … could it be —”

“Who?”

Harry was silent for a long time before slowly saying, “I don’t know. I thought of something just now, but it slipped away.”

In truth, he had wanted to say Ron. But the thought was too horrifying — completely impossible.

It couldn’t be Ron. It couldn’t be Ron, Harry repeated to himself silently.

“All right then,” said Evan slowly, dragging out the words as he thought about who might be carrying this newly revealed Horcrux. “A new Horcrux — one made from a spell. That’s bad news. But we’ll find clues, we always do. Aside from that, did you see anything else, Harry?”

“Yeah!” Harry said painfully, his scar throbbing again. “I saw the Dark Witch again. She told him she’d found the incantation, and he couldn’t wait to go through that door in the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic and complete that terrible spell that would grant him immense power and true immortality.”

“Become an evil god, you mean!” Evan scoffed. “Power and immortality — nonsense. It’s just a more terrifying curse, one that will turn him into a monster.”

But even if Voldemort didn’t go that far, he was already no longer human!

“We have to act immediately,” Harry suddenly said, a flash of inspiration striking him as he finally remembered something he had overlooked.

“What are you talking about, Harry? We’re already taking action. We’ve got the cup and the deed. If we can decipher the information on them, we can find the house-elves’ homeland and Herpo’s lair,” Hermione exclaimed in surprise. “This is a crucial clue about the key to Hufflepuff and Slytherin’s secret treasure.”

“Yes, that’s our most important task right now!” Evan nodded.

“No, that’s not what I mean. We have to act right now!” Harry said firmly. “I know where that person is, the one with the Dark Lord’s Horcrux. He’s currently imprisoned in the dungeons beneath Malfoy Manor. We have to go there, find him, and destroy that Horcrux.”

Harry’s tone grew increasingly urgent. He had to get to Malfoy Manor to confirm if the captured person was Ron!

If so, he had to rescue him.

If not, they still needed to destroy the newly discovered Horcrux.

Next destination: Malfoy Manor, the Death Eaters’ stronghold!