An Unexpected Answer

Dumbledore had carefully observed Belvina and concluded that she resembled someone he knew.

But that night—though Dumbledore didn’t know exactly what happened—Belvina became very vulnerable afterward, quite unlike the person he remembered.

Even if Voldemort's reputation still stands, this shouldn't be the case, making one wonder if Belvina has a twin sister who looks exactly like her.

That was of course impossible. Dumbledore could only suspect that something was wrong with Belvina, perhaps she had suffered a major blow and was no longer able to recover.

Therefore, Dumbledore presented the phoenix feather as a gift, using it as a metaphor to express his hope that the young witch could overcome her gloom, rise from the ashes, and regain her strength.

It now appears that Belvina has rediscovered herself and found the root of the problem.

That's right, Dumbledore hadn't yet connected the issue to Voldemort, much less considered that Belvina's fundamental problem stemmed from a fragment of Voldemort's soul.

"Professor, are you familiar with Horcruxes?"

As she asked the question, Belvina flipped through the book quickly, soon reaching the page on Horcruxes.

Dumbledore nodded first, then shook his head. He said, "I know about Horcruxes. It's an extremely evil form of magic, but my knowledge of it is very limited."

Belvina first turned the book over and pushed it over, then said with certainty, "I think that Voldemort didn't die that night in Godric's Hollow, and now he can coexist with Quirrell. Both of these things are because of Horcruxes. Voldemort may very well have made Horcruxes."

The book "Demystifying Black Magic" contains very detailed information about Horcruxes. People with high magical power can create Horcruxes independently based on the book's descriptions, provided they are willing to tear their own souls apart.

"Magic is great and mysterious, even Horcruxes, though they are extremely evil," Dumbledore said slowly. "To gain immortality by murdering others is a very evil practice."

Dumbledore, with his eyes closed, rhythmically tapped the pages with his long fingers. He continued, "Belvina, I'd like to hear your opinion first."

He really knew about Horcruxes! That was the first thing Belvina thought of. Dumbledore had been convinced for so many years that Voldemort was not dead. Did he think of Horcruxes a long time ago?

Belvina hesitated for a few seconds and said, "Professor, it's hard to believe, but I just happened to see Voldemort's Horcrux. It was in Black's old house. It was a locket, and I even wore it close to my body for a while when I was a child."

As expected, Dumbledore was initially surprised, but then nodded in relief.

The Black family were staunch supporters of Voldemort, and several family members joined his great cause. It's not impossible that Voldemort entrusted his Horcruxes to the Black family for safekeeping.

If Voldemort was able to entrust such a crucial Horcrux to the Black family, it would mean that he likely created multiple Horcruxes, with the locket being just one of them.

"I think that thing had a subtle effect on me, because I had no recollection of that locket before," Belvina continued. "The Horcrux's effects only became apparent when I met Voldemort."

Telling the first lie is easy, but covering it up with countless others is necessary. Therefore, Belvina chose to tell the truth; concealing something is much easier than simply lying.

Dumbledore opened his eyes, his long fingers stopping tapping the pages of the book, and there was an indescribable meaning in his bright blue eyes.

"To figure out why my memories were incomplete, I went home, found the locket, and destroyed it," Belvina said calmly. "The Fiendfyre spell was the only thing I could think of at the time."

"Dark magic is fascinating and dangerous. It is powerful, and Voldemort possesses magic that I will never have," Dumbledore suddenly said.

"That's because you disdain using dark magic," Belvina said, still true to her original intentions. "After returning to school, I searched the forbidden book section by instinct for dark magic that matched the locket, and eventually found this book."

After listening to Belvina's account, Dumbledore slowly stood up, the headmaster with one hand on his hip and the other on the back of his high-backed chair.

He said, "After that night in Godric's Hollow, I thought about many possibilities. I always believed that Voldemort used some special method to make himself immortal, and Horcruxes were just one of the ways I imagined."

Dumbledore continued, "Break your soul in two, leaving one part behind and hiding the other in some object outside your body. As long as that hidden part of your soul is safe, Voldemort will avoid death. He can only be defeated, not killed."

Although Dumbledore still seemed the same as before—wise, kind, and understanding—he wasn't as nonchalant as he appeared. Belvina's experience proved that Horcruxes were real, no longer just speculation.

This is terrible news, the worst possible news. Nobody knows how many Horcruxes Voldemort made. Until that unknown number of Horcruxes are completely destroyed, Voldemort is invincible.

At the same time, this is also very good news, as it can change the current passive waiting situation and allow us to actively search for Voldemort's Horcruxes, reducing their number as much as possible before darkness falls.

"Professor, Voldemort likely has more than one Horcrux. We have to prepare for the worst," Belvina said. "Damn it, I should have brought the locket with me, but I already gave it to the house-elf."

Dumbledore waved his hand dismissively and said, "It's alright. I don't think you'd mind if I visited you in the summer?"

As he spoke, Dumbledore walked down the steps and stood next to Phoenix Fawkes, but Fawkes on the shelf ignored him.

When Dumbledore reached out his hand, Fawkes pecked at him with his sharp beak.

"Fox holds grudges," Dumbledore said with a smile.

Belvina followed Fawkes to his side and asked, "Is it true that whenever Dumbledore needs help, the phoenix comes to him?"

Dumbledore shook his head sadly.

“Not every time, Belvina,” Dumbledore said. “At least that’s the case as far as I know.”

A moment of silence fell over the office. Dumbledore was thinking about his painful past, while Belvina was contemplating whether to back down, maintain the status quo, or take a more proactive approach.

Belvina didn't want to get involved in this mess, but when she returned to Hogwarts, she was inevitably drawn in. By the time she realized what was happening, she had already been swept far away by the swift current.

Most importantly, Regulus stole Voldemort's Horcruxes, and Belvina destroyed them. The siblings, separated for many years, both stood on the opposite side of Voldemort.

Just as Belvina was gazing at the phoenix in a daze, Dumbledore suddenly broke the silence.

He said, "I have a sister, Ariana. When Ariana needed help the most, the phoenix didn't appear."

Belvina stood behind him, unable to see his facial expression, but she imagined he must be sad, even though his tone was devoid of any emotion.

"I lost two brothers," Belvina said. "Our relationship wasn't like that of siblings at all, but I'm still saddened by their loss."

At this moment, the principal's office became a scene of misery competition.

Dumbledore's sister died, and Belvina's brother died; Dumbledore's father died in Azkaban, and Belvina's brother was sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban; Dumbledore turned against his own brother, and Belvina's relationship with her brother wasn't much better.

So, Belvina and Dumbledore are really evenly matched.

"Enough of that. May I ask how the Horcruxes came into the possession of the Black family?" Dumbledore asked.

"Stolen," Belvina blurted out. "It's hard to believe, but the Horcruxes were indeed stolen. RAB was the thief who stole Voldemort's Horcruxes."

Many names flashed through Dumbledore's mind in an instant: Rosalind Bangs, Rupert Brookstanton, and so on. Then he realized that these names were all wrong answers.

“Regulus Arcturus Black, a Death Eater, was also my brother,” Belvina said. “He didn’t disappear; he died and still lies in the cold lake.”

Dumbledore turned around abruptly; the correct answer was indeed somewhat unbelievable.

He looked at Belvina, as if trying to glean something from the young witch, but ultimately looked away.

After a moment, Dumbledore slowly said, "Is there anything I can do for him?"

"No need, Professor. I, as his sister, will personally get his things back for him, whatever they may be."

Belvina's tone was casual and calm, just as it always had been.