Chapter 11
He stared down at the files laid out on the coffee table.
“So Voldemort isn’t even a pure blood? I wonder what his followers would do if they found that out.” Pandora said, grabbing Tom Riddle's file to look through it.
“I’m curious as to what they’d say if they found out he’s from the Gaunt family. They lost respect years ago to the point they didn’t even go to Hogwarts anymore.” Regulus said, looking over Pandora’s shoulder to see Tom Riddle’s file.
“Hey wait a second, started Hogwarts in 1937? He went to school with my parents.” Regulus looked to Pandora and saw her grin.
“Maybe Kreacher can ask your mother about him!” Pandora said looking excited.
“Not a bad idea, Kreacher!” There was a pop signaling Kreachers arrival.
“Yes Master Regulus?” Keacher said fidgeting with his hands.
“I need you to go ask Mother about a boy named Tom Riddle.” Regulus said, making sure he said his words kindly.
“May Kreacher ask why?” Kreacher hesitated afraid of being hurt for his question while he also seemed confused by this order.
“Tom Riddle is Voldemort's real name. He went to school at the same time as Mother and Father, she may remember something.” He said.
Kreacher nodded and apparated away to go ask his Mother.
“Mistress?” Kreacher was hesitant to ask but Master Regulus gave an order so he must follow through.
Walburga Black hummed in acknowledgement but did not turn her head from the window.
“Kreacher was wondering if Mistress knew a Tom Riddle?” Walburga’s face shifted into an angry expression which made Kreacher cower.
“That Riddle boy, even after all these years he is infuriating. Always trying to fit himself in with Pure Bloods when he’s nothing but a Halfblood. Always having something to say and parading around like he’s some gift from Merlin. He even tried to ask me out when I was in 5th year. Like I was going to date anyone with foul Muggle blood. He tried to mentor Orion too, like he would listen to someone like him. Always going on about his ring like it was the most important thing to him. Threatening anyone who touched it. It was such a simple plain ring. No one even wanted such an ugly thing.” Walburga sneered.
Kreacher bowed his head. “Kreacher is sorry for bringing him up.” Walburga didn’t answer, just kept her head towards the window now glaring out it. Kreacher stayed an extra minute to see if she had anything else to say before apparating back to Master Regulus to tell him what she said.
Regulus gave Kreacher his full attention when he got back. “Well what did she say?”
“Mistress spoke very negatively about Tom Riddle. She said he was always trying to befriend Pure Bloods. She had personal problems with him too.” Kreacher said, bowing his head.
“What problems?” Regulus said, trying to figure out what problem she could have had.
“Tom Riddle wanted to be with Mistress.” Regulus couldn’t help the laugh that came out.
“He really thought he’d have a chance with Mother when he’s a Halfblood?” Regulus asked, looking amused and even more so when Kreacher nodded.
“He really is an idiot.” Pandora said while still giggling about Tom thinking he had a chance.
“He wanted to be a mentor to Master as well.” Regulus laughed harder.
After Regulus calmed down a few minutes later he asked, “Anything else?”
“Mistress mentioned a ring he was protective of.” Kreacher said which made Regulus paused.
“A ring?” Kreacher nodded “Mistress said he would threaten people over it.” He turned to Pandora.
“Didn’t the Gaunt have a family ring?” Pandora looked toward the ceiling in thought.
“Well they must have, every Pureblood family does.” She said looking back at Regulus.
“But where would it be?” Regulus’ nose scrunched up.
“I’m not sure but I know a place to start looking.” Pandora did not look as excited about this.
They stood staring at the rundown shack.
“This is where they lived?” Regulus stared in disgust.
“They did lose their respect and money.” Pandora said covering her nose to avoid the smell of mold and decay. “Do we really have to go in there?” She asked, looking disgusted at the shack.
“If we want to find out what happened to that ring, yes.” He rolled his shoulders, putting on a brave face and entered the shack.
“It smelled even worse inside!” Regulus called out to Pandora.
“I think I'll look around outside!” And she walked as far as the shack as possible. Regulus rolled his eyes and paused. He felt the darkness. The horrid feeling of a horcrux. He called out, “Pandora there's a horcrux here!” She came back toward the door. “You think it's the ring?” Pandora asked from a few feet from the door.
“It must be.” Regulus said walking further into the shack when he foot goes through the floor causing him to fall. “Oh fuck!”
“Regulus! Are you okay?!” Pandora said, rushing into the shack to help him up. He turned and glared at the hole now in the floor.
“Let's just hurry up and find the ring before we get tetanus.” Regulus grumbled.
“Good plan.” Pandora helped brush off the dust that was on his pants. They search the shack more carefully after that. Every creak and shift made them fearful they would fall through the floor. There was a loud creak where Pandora stepped and the floor gave way. She let out a slight shriek as she fell. Regulus rushed over to help her out of the floor and checked to make sure she didn’t have any scratches on her legs.
“Okay?” Regulus asked as seeing no scratches or cuts on her legs. “Yeah, just startled.” He nodded and gave her a quick hug and turned to see there was a box in the hole Pandora made. Carefully so he doesn’t fall he reached into the hole and pulled the box out. Opening it there is laid a single ring with darkness pouring out of it.
“We found it!” He said grinning as he shut the box and put it in his bag.
“We can leave!” Regulus turned to her, “You’re more excited to leave than you are about finding the horcrux.”
“Can you blame me?”
“No, let's get the hell out of here.” She laughed and they quickly left that disgusting shack.
Together they sat on the couch in Regulus’ home staring at all the horcruxes laid out on the coffee table.
“What if there is more?’ Regulus asked, looking over to Pandora.
“We’ve exhausted all our avenues. If there are more we don’t know how to find them.” Pandora bit her lip as if even though she said the words she didn’t believe them.
“Well then all we need to do now is figure out how to destroy them. Only problem is no books I’ve found say how to destroy them, none even state how to make them.” Regulus said, running a hand down his face in frustration.
“We’ll just have to keep looking. Voldemort found a way to make them so can we. That will be our starting point.” She said, looking determined.
“It’d help if we knew what horcrux was made first.” Regulus looked dejected.
“Well he wore the ring throughout his time at Hogwarts. Maybe that was the first.” Regulus shook his head. “What 17 year old man has a diary? I sure didn’t,” Regulus said, picking up the diary and flipped through the blank pages.
“Well he didn’t write in it. Maybe it was something he got when he was younger and never used.” Pandora took the diary from Regulus’ hands.
“Unless it is charmed like the map? What would someone like Tom even use as a password?” Regulus bit his thumb nail trying to come up with an idea of a password.
“Tom?” Pandora asked.
“I refuse to call him by that stupid anagram.” Regulus said, turning his nose up at the thought.
“Fair enough. Maybe it's just blank,” Pandora said, flipping through it herself even though they both knew nothing would change.
“We could write in it? That would show if it's charmed.” Regulus said, getting up to go grab ink and quill from the library on the second floor. When he got back he set the ink on the coffee table and dipped his quill into the ink and wrote out on the page.
This is stupid.
They watched as the words did nothing.
“Well guess it's not char-” Pandora began to say.
“Look!” Regulus interrupted her. They watched as the words faded and seemed to sink into the pages. New words formed in its place.
What’s stupid?
“This is weird right?” Regulus said, staring at the words.
“Super weird.” Pandora said as they stared at the page. Regulus grabbed the quill and wrote on the page again.
Who are you?
They watched the words disappear and new words appear in their place.
I am Tom Riddle, who are you?
Regulus was very creeped out by the book. What enchant could be placed on it to cause it? He couldn’t think of any. Was this just how the horcrux works? One thing he was certain of is that he did not want to tell this book his name.
He wrote down Edgar Oscars, how old are you?
“A fake name?” Pandora asked.
“I am not telling the sentient diary my real name Dora,” He deadpanned. He focused back onto the book when the number 17 appeared.
“What 17 year old has a diary?” Regulus said as the numbers disappeared.
“Oh will you drop that?” Pandora asked exacerbated.
“No I will not, Tom Riddle is a huge loser.” Regulus said. He wrote down Do you wear a ring?
Yes, it's from my family.
Regulus deadpanned, “Really? Had no idea of that.” Pandora rolled her eyes saying, “Can you not be sarcastic for 2 minutes?” Regulus just grinned at her.
If it's a family ring, is it charmed?
No.
Regulus shut the book closed.
“The diary has to be the first horcrux.” Regulus said dropping the diary among the other horcruxes.
“How do you know? What if it's the ring? The diary could be lying.” Pandora picked up the ring.
“Because that means he would have to wear the ring after turning it into a horcruxes and according to the few pieces of information I’ve been able to find doing so would affect personalities and poison the user. Everyone would have noticed a change. Plus everyone would feel the dark magic surrounding it” Regulus said, taking the ring from her and putting it back on the table.
“That's why I hide them in the wall in the basement instead of in the rest of the house.” Pandora nodded saying, “That makes sense. But if the diary was the first that means he would have had to make it at Hogwarts right? He was only 17.”
“Why would Hogwarts have a book on horcruxes, much less how to make them?” Regulus said feeling baffled.
“Well it's not like Hogwarts is all about safety, remember that one Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who turned out to be a vampire and tried to drink blood from multiple students he gave detention to?” Pandora said standing up to go put the horcruxes back in their hiding spot.
“Fair point, I’ll go find books from the Hogwarts restricted section.” Regulus walked towards the coat hanger to grab the cloak and grabbed the map from the side table.
“Uh if you think we’re going without me you’re an idiot.” Pandora said, putting the horcruxes down and walking over.
“I need you here to research anything that may be able to destroy them. Plus do you want to be squeezed under this thing again?” Regulus asked.
“Fine, but be careful, please?” Regulus kissed her forehead. “I promise.” He apparated away to just outside Hogwarts.
He stared up at the castle taking a deep breath and putting the cloak over his head and holding the map in his hand. He focused on his magic. “I solemnly swear I am up to no good.” Thankfully without his wand his wandless magic has gotten much better and it took less effort to do simple spells.
He stared at the map waiting till no prefects or teachers were making their rounds and quickly opened the door to enter the school. He made quick work walking through the school avoiding people when he could and standing as close to the wall as possible when he couldn’t avoid someone on the map. He finally made it to the library and snuck into the restricted section.
Finally graduated Hogwarts and I’m still sneaking into the restricted section. Absolutely ridiculous.
He slipped the cloak off his head making sure to check the map every once and a while to be sure no one would find him and started looking, careful to avoid certain books he learned the hard way not to open. He found a lantern and had to try a few times before he was able to light the candle in it. Having the light helped his search. He avoided any books that didn’t have any dark type magic in the title, only looking at ones that did. He was beginning to worry he’d have to backtrack to the books he avoided when he saw the word horcrux. Quickly he scanned the page before stuffing the book into his bag and flipped through the books in the same area hoping to find more. He didn’t find much else and continued looking further down the shelf. He came across a few more and after scanning the 3rd book he found he finally saw something that might be of value.
He read quietly to himself, “To destroy a horcrux you have to put it beyond magical repair.” He glared at the book.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Regulus grumbled.
“Who's there!” Regulus swore and yanked the cloak over his head and pressed his back against the bookshelf.
“I know you're there! I heard ya!” Argus Filch’s voice carried through the room. Regulus realized too late he forgot to grab the map and whisper quickly. “Mischief managed.” He sighed in relief seeing the map fade into a blank paper.
I am so sorry Sirius. I hope he won’t be too mad. He thought to himself as he watched Filch take the map before running off yelling for the student to come out and show themselves.
When he got back home he flipped through the book a fourth time even though he knew the words would not change. His leg started to bounce up and down the more he thought. He couldn’t ask Pandora since she had business with her boyfriend Xenophilius. He couldn’t ask Kreacher either since he was taking care of Mother right now. His only options were to figure it out himself or wait for one of them to come back and bounce ideas back and forth.
Beyond magical repair. So magic won’t be able to fix it. Magic can fix just about everything.
An idea occurred to him. What if he didn’t use magic.