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'What else? Did they make any other Horcruxes in school?' Hermione asks
'No, it is because it was too dangerous. I kept a close eye on the devious two. Until they graduated....' Dumbledore trailed off
'Sir, what happened after they graduated?' Harry says
'Well Headmaster Armando Dippet retired, and I become headmaster. But Tom came back to apply to be a Professor here....sadly, because of my suspicions, I declined his offer even if Dippet had already told him that he could have the position' Dumbledore leant back in his chair
'Did any of the other teachers have suspicions?' Hermione perked
'No. They were good at covering it up. The two were mysterious. Nothing like I've seen, I hear Professor Slughorn is very happy with you, Harry. But you have to get more answers from him. Like that memory.' Dumbledore sighed
'I want you to ask Slughorn more questions, subtly though. He doesn't like recalling those years. That's why he left, he was ashamed' Dumbledore looked down
'What happened to Tom and Venus after Hogwarts?' Ron ate some leftover chicken in Dumbledore's office
'Well, I believe Tom and her got married, Tom went on to work at a dodgy shop as you know, Borgin and Burkes. Venus went on to become one of the most powerful witches in the Ministry, she was deputy head of the Minister himself. She succeeded very well.' Dumbledore chuckled
'H-how did he get other Horcruxes? They must mean something? Even if we don't know what they are, do you know how he came across these objects?' Harry interjected
'Now Tom was close with Slughorn, he told Horace everything. I have no clue...only Slughorn knows that one.' Dumbledore replies
'But won't he refuse to tell?' Hermione looked at Harry
'Might do. But you need to get him alone when he is feeling most vulnerable.' Dumbledore dismissed the three
'I'm going to Slughorn's now' Harry sped up his walking departing from Hermione and Ron.
He entered his office to see Slughorn preparing some things.
'Oh hello Harry!' He said cheerfully
'Hi sir, I was wanting to know about when you last taught here.' Harry came forward
'I don't speak of that time.' He didn't catch Harry's eye
'Sir, how did Tom Riddle come across the other Horcruxes? How did Venus Ravenclaw help him?' Harry blurted out
'Uh-I, I don't know what you're talking about' he laughed nervously
'Tell me the truth, I know you were close to the two' Harry looked sternly at Slughorn
'No I can't, I can't Harry.' Slughorn looked down
'Please sir, it's the only way I can beat him.' Harry came closer to a horror stricken Slughorn
'S-shortly after the two graduated, yes they did marry...' Slughorn bowed his head
'Did you attend?' Harry asks
'I got an invitation, but yes...I did go.' He didn't look up
'What happened after they got married?' Harry was determined to find out
'Venus went on the become Deputy Minister. Tom worked at Borgin and Burkes, I believe he came across an object from the possession of Hepzibah Smith, heir to Hufflepuff. He didn't tell me what it was....all I know, is that Venus...and Tom went to retrieve some other object from Albania.' Slughorn exclaims as Harry nodded
'Did. Did he kill Hepzibah Smith?' Harry looks at his trembling hands
'Sadly yes, he made a Horcrux out of her. He and Venus were a charming duo.' He smiled sadly
'Thank you, thank you sir' Harry said running out and found Hermione in the library,
'Hey Hermione, have you read about Hepzibah Smith?' Harry pants
'In a matter of fact I have. She was the heir to—
'Hufflepuff. Did it say anything else?' Harry looks at her desperately
'She was rich, also an avid collector of magical antiques. Her two most prized objects were Salazar Slytherins locket and Helga Hufflepuff's cup. Nobody knew what happened to the two antiques.' Hermione looked up from her book
'Do you think that could be a Horcrux?' Harry sat next to her
'Possibly. But I doubt it, who would want to make a Horcrux out if that?' Hermione scoffed
'Thank mione, I'll be right back' Harry jumped before walking swiftly to Dumbledore's office
'Dumbledore! Dumbledore! I know something'
'Go on' Dumbledore said with eager
'Hepzibah Smith, Slughorn told me that Tom took possession of something from Hepzibah Smith, heir to Hufflepuff. Hermione then told me her two most prized possessions were Salazar Slytherin's locket and Helga Hufflepuff's cup.' Harry said at his desk
'Well, it could be. But I have a memory from Hokey, the elf that served Madam Smith. Do you want to see?' He asked going to the pensive
'Gladly, sir' they both walked over to the pensive.
Dumbledore took a vial and poured it into the pensive
Harry dipped his head in.
Tom Riddle was sitting opposite Hepizbah Smith in a room in her mansion. Hepzibah looked alarmed. Tom sat in front of her.
'How's Venus? She doing okay?' Hepizbah asked smiling
'Well. She is doing well. She is pregnant, due at the end of December.' Tom clenched his jaw
'Oh that's lovely! Tell her I send my best!' She clapped her hands
'Let's get down to business, Hepzibah.' He looked forward
'Can you keep a secret, Tom? Will you promise you won't tell Mr Burke I've got it? He'd never let me rest if he knew I'd shown it to you, and I'm not selling, not to Burke, not to anyone!' Hepzibah looked around whispering
Hepzibah showed Tom the Slytherin locket and the Hufflepuff cup. Tom stroked the two fragile objects observing them.
'Your secret will remain safe. But I want something in return to keep your secret' Tom smirked as Hokey the house elf brought in tea.
'Name your price, Tom' she smiled
'I want the cup. I will keep it safe, from Borgin. Then I will keep your promise, I will keep it a secret' he looked at the golden cup
'Oh..but I don't want to give this away. This is a family heirloom, I can't give it away, Tom' she said sadly holding it to her chest
Tom looked aggravated, he saw hokey by the door watching the two.
'Do you want your little secret to be out?' He looked at her
'N-no but—
'Give the cup to me. Hand it over' he put his arm out
'No! I can't! I can't betray Hufflepuff! Tom, anything but the locket and the cup!' She stared at the man
'No. That is my price and I keep to it. Don't make me do the unspeakable,Hepzibah' he threatened
'Tom, what happened to the charming man? You know farewell I can't give this away!' She shouted
'Well. Fine by you. I will be leaving' he got up patting his suit down and went to leave
'Thank you for understanding' she praised
He stood at the doorframe, next to Hokey. He got his wand out, and Hepzibah saw it
'What are you doing, Tom?' She asked sweetly
A smirk came into his face.
'If I can't have that cup, you leave me no other choice.' His back was turned towards her, he chuckled darkly
'Tom, what are you-
'Avada Kedavra' he incarnated as he turned around firing the green killing curse right at the oblong woman. She fell to the floor, dropping the cup and the locket.
He came closer and picked up the cup and looked at it. It started speaking Parseltongue, he had made it...the third Horcrux. He then stole the Locket.
He smirked at the dead woman. He turned to Hokey who stood terrified, Hokey was old. And couldn't remember even the slightest of things, so Tom didn't have to worry. He left swiftly.
Harry came out of the Pensive.
'I had gotten that memory just before Hokey died.' Dumbledore face darkened
'Did he not get caught?' Harry looked at him
'No. Hokey told the Ministry he put poison in her tea. I didn't find Tom had done it until long after Hokey died.' He sighed
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Hiii I hoped you liked this! More chapter to come!!
—-MINKSSS