Anima Concordia

Chapter IV

"Tell me, Harry, what do you know of Horcruxes?" Voldemort murmured almost seductively.

"Come again?" Harry almost did a double-take there. "Horror-what?"

"Potter, did you wash your ears just now?" Voldemort growled annoyed. "Or is it purposeful - twisting my words the funny way? Because I want to remind you, it is very serious issue. Live or die situation. And that's not me who could be dying, I want to remind you."

Harry shook his head.

"It's the first time I am hearing this word."

Voldemort looked like he wanted to roll his eyes at that. He sighed exasperated.

"It is highly advanced and the Darkest magic of them all - the Horcruxes. It's banned, of course. Almost forgotten, too. In simple terms, the Horcrux is the piece of one's soul, enclosed in an object for safe keeping, ensuring the immortality of the owner of that soul. Even if one's body is destroyed, his soul lives on in that object and serves as a means for resurrection, should the owner of the soul cease to exist."

Harry frowned pensively.

"What this has to do with - ?"

"To split one's soul in order to create a Horcrux one should perform a special ritual, but the main point is to kill, as killing splits one's soul anyway."

"I still don't understand -"

"You are my Horcrux, Harry."

"Wha-what?!"

"Fifteen years ago I've killed your parents. I'm afraid, this kill allowed me to involuntarily, accidentally create a Horcrux out of you. The ritual demands one to be on the edge, life-wise. To be almost dead. That night my own Killing Curse rebounded off of your mother's shield, almost killing me. If not for you -"

"It's rubbish! It can't be! I am not an object!"

"Is it the only reason for your denial? I can assure you living beings are perfectly fit to be Horcruxes as well. This can be proved by both you and my snake familiar, Nagini, as she is yet another Horcrux."

"Another? How many did you make?"

"In your own words, that's none of your business, Harry," Voldemort smirked in satisfaction.

"Are you sure it is safe to tell me about your snake being this Horror- Horcrux?"

Voldemort snorted.

"You don't seriously think I will let you go, now that you are here and I know what are you to me?"

Harry shrugged.

"Never hurts to try. So, what's now? You're going to wrap me up in cotton and hold to your chest, so that I won't shatter, thus ruining your soul-piece?"

Voldemort scowled.

"I should punish you for your cheek," he muttered darkly.

But Harry thought, that he'd hit the bull eye there, rightly guessing the Dark Lord's plan for himself.

"I don't think I'll agree to this, you know. I don't fancy being treated like a piece of furniture again, thank you very much!" Harry narrowed his eyes. "And I am not into this "let's kill all the muggles and mudbloods" stuff either, so don't bother dragging me into your ranks as well."

"Who said anything about 'dragging you into my ranks'?" Voldemort raised an eyebrow. "And nobody asked what you 'fancy' here, Potter, it is not a matter of choice."