Chapter 23: Horcruxes

Harry returns to Hogwarts as Felix Felicis fades, narrowly dodges Peeves, and rushes to Dumbledore with Slughorn’s unaltered memory. In the Pensieve, teenage Tom Riddle skillfully flatters Slughorn and presses him for information about Horcruxes. Slughorn explains that murder splits the soul and that a fragment can be encased in an object, warning that such existence is abhorrent. Riddle chillingly probes the idea of creating multiple Horcruxes, invoking seven as a powerful number.

Back in the office, Dumbledore declares the memory the missing proof for his long-held theory. He explains that Voldemort likely made multiple Horcruxes: the diary Harry destroyed and Marvolo’s ring, which Dumbledore himself found at the Gaunt shack and neutralized at great personal cost. Dumbledore reasons that Voldemort’s casual use of the diary as a weapon implies others existed, and cites Voldemort’s boast of surpassing all on the path to immortality.

Dumbledore outlines probable targets: Slytherin’s locket and Hufflepuff’s cup, with the remaining ones likely tied to Ravenclaw or Gryffindor; Gryffindor’s sword is secure at Hogwarts. He further suspects Nagini became a Horcrux after Voldemort’s return, noting Voldemort’s control over her and Slytherin symbolism. Summarizing, Dumbledore counts four remaining after the diary and ring: the locket, the cup, a founder’s relic, and Nagini.

Harry asks to help retrieve Horcruxes, and Dumbledore agrees, granting him a role in the hunt. They discuss whether Voldemort senses a Horcrux’s destruction; Dumbledore believes he does not and recounts Lucius Malfoy’s unauthorized use of the diary. Dumbledore affirms that, once all Horcruxes are gone, Voldemort can be killed—though he remains a formidable wizard.

Turning to the prophecy, Dumbledore insists it binds Harry only because Voldemort acted upon it. Voldemort’s choices forged his own enemy and gifted Harry protections and insights, yet Harry resisted the Dark Arts through love. Confronted with his true motivations, Harry recognizes he would choose to fight Voldemort regardless of the prophecy, embracing the difference between being forced into battle and entering it by choice.