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Pushing the door open, Josephine discreetly peeks inside, her eyes falling upon Helena, who stands there. She quietly enters and gently closes the door behind her.
"Hello," Josephine speaks, making her voice gentle.
"Josephine," Helena greets her with a light smile. "How was your holiday break?"
Josie shrugs slightly, her face showing signs of healing, yet a scab still remains on her cheek.
Helena motions toward one of the chairs, silently inviting Josie to sit, and she obliges.
"I saw you leaving Dumbledore's office," Helena's statement holds a question.
Josephine is carefully searching for the most delicate way to reveal her intentions regarding her involvement with Tom.
Leaning forward in her chair, Josie says, "I need to share a few things with you. But I'd appreciate it if you could hold off on getting upset until after I've explained."
Helena moves closer and nods in agreement.
And so, Josie begins her explanation.
"During the holiday break, I had a falling out with my family. The main revelation was that they told me I am adopted. I left home and stayed with some friends. During that time, I met someone," she locks eyes with Helena. "I met Tom Riddle."
She notices Helena flinch slightly at the name.
"He offered me a position as his spy. Initially, I hesitated, but the more I thought about it, the clearer it became that neither Dumbledore nor Tom are entirely trustworthy. I felt betrayed by my family, so I said yes," Josie takes a deep breath. "Before you react, please know that I have a plan—a plan to uncover things that I can use against Tom Riddle to my advantage."
Helena seems to relax slightly at this revelation.
The information is a lot, so Josie allows Helena some time to process it.
"As long as you understand that you should never trust him, Josephine, you are free to pursue your course of action. I just hope you prioritize your safety," Helena says with a concerned tone.
Josie nods. "I know I can't trust him. That's why I must find something to hold over him."
Helena gives her a cautious look, appearing uneasy but determined.
"Have you heard of the lost diadem of Ravenclaw?" she asks.
Josie furrows her brows. Of course, she has heard of it. "Yes."
"During Tom Riddle's time at Hogwarts, he manipulated me into revealing its location after I stole it," Helena admits, shifting to face Josephine more directly.
"Why would he want it?" Josie inquires.
"I didn't know the reason until after he took it," Helena replies, moving closer to Josie.
"To create a horcrux," Helena reveals.
Josephine's body tenses, and she leans back in her chair, her breath catching sharply. Tom Riddle used the lost diadem for a horcrux? The implications are staggering. Splitting one's soul... it must have a profound effect on him.
"He didn't stop at one, though. He made five," Helena continues.
"What?" Josephine can't help but blurt out her thoughts aloud. Five horcruxes? She absentmindedly picks at her nails, struggling to fathom what could drive someone to create so many.
It would help keep him alive. But too much of a weakness to have near all the time. And too much of a weakness to have them spread out.
Helena fixes her gaze on Josephine, her expression somber.
"One of them is still here at Hogwarts," she discloses.
Josie's head snaps up, her eyes filled with determination. One of Tom's horcruxes is within the walls of Hogwarts. If she can locate it, that will be a potent weapon to hold over him, especially if she can uncover the whereabouts of the others.
"Where is it?" Josie inquires eagerly.
"In the Room of Requirement, somewhere," Helena replies, her voice trailing off.
Josie contemplates the possibilities. "Do you think if I find it, we could somehow destroy it?"
Helena smiles at her, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "I believe we can find multiple ways to destroy it."
And so, they begin to formulate a plan. They knew the location of one horcrux, and though it might take time to locate it in the ever-changing Room of Requirement, Josie is committed to searching every day.
The only other task on Josie's agenda is to gather more information about the remaining horcruxes.
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