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85. Plague
🕑 Added 2025-04-21 04:50:34 +0000 UTC"The occasion is …" Severus took out the bag that had been sitting on the floor by his feet during the meal. He got up and reaching into the bag, he brought out the Ravenclaw Diadem and set in on the table beside Filius and then set the Hufflepuff Cup on the table next to Pomona. They both gasped. The diadem sparkled brilliantly in the light and the cup shone, casting a reflection on the wall. He took out Salazar's ring and locket and set them beside his plate.
"Rowena's diadem. I thought it was lost forever!" Filius squeaked. "Wherever did you find it?"
"And the last I knew Helga's cup was in the hands of Hepzibah Smith and she refused to return it to Hogwarts."
"I believe she also had Salazar's locket," Severus remarked. He launched into the story starting with the horcrux in Harry's scar and ending with the African warlock who had performed the ritual to cleanse the heirlooms of their horcruxes.
"To think it's been hidden in Hogwarts all these years," Filius said with a shake of his head.
"This revelation is certainly one for the books," Pomona added. "I'm so grateful that you were able to find another way of getting rid of evil so these didn't have to be destroyed."
"I do not know what you plan to do with your heirlooms, but I am going to display mine in a case that I will place under Salazar's portrait. I think he will be very pleased to see them."
"Very good idea, Severus and I will charm all the cases to be unbreakable and the locks will be charmed so they can't be opened. That way nobody else will be able to steal the artifacts with the intent of selling them or for any personal use."
"So this means if You-Know-Who does come back again, he can be defeated permanently?" Minerva asked. "Or could he make another horcrux?"
"I really don't believe he could perform the ritual required as he is now," Lucius said. "It is complex ritual to tear your soul. Not to mention it requires a murder first and he has to do it himself for the ritual to work."
Severus nodded. "I do not think we need worry about him returning at all. To return he would first need a corporal body to get here again and he has already found out possessing someone does not work well."
"There are dark rituals for reforming a body for him, are there not?" Poppy asked, looking at Remus.
"I've heard there are, but they're probably only in the darkest of the dark art books and unless You-Know-Who is able to procure one and I doubt that's even possible as most of them have been destroyed or I believe there are some in the Auror office, but there kept under heavy guard spells and it not something they advertise either."
"Some families such as the Lestranges, Mulcibers and Averys that are loyal to the Dark Lord had such books in their libraries at one time, but I believe they were "borrowed" by You-Know-Who, or seized and destroyed by the Aurors after they were imprisoned," Lucius recalled.
"I believe the Experimental Potions Department at St. Mungo's possesses some too," Severus remarked. "So their Potions Research Department can research and invent potions to treat them."
"In other words, they're not in a place that just anybody can walk into, steal from or even look through them?" Filius asked.
"Correct," Severus said.
"That means we can enjoy our lives without living in daily fear," Lily said. "I don't recall ever having a time when we could since I was made aware that I was a witch." She smiled at Severus.
"Well, I think this deserves a toast," Harry said as he stood up with his glass of pumpkin juice raised. Everybody stood up and raised their glasses. "To my dad for inventing a potion that cured Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom and to mum, Aunt Cissa, Uncle Luc, and all my friends for finding all the horcruxes and making You-Know-Who's return impossible. To life!"
Everybody clicked glasses and then took a sip of their wine. Harry and Draco took a sip of their pumpkin juice.
"Nice toast, Harry," Severus said complimenting him.
"Thanks, Dad."
The next day, there was a glass case in the Ravenclaw common room that displayed the Rowena's diadem. There was a permanent light cast on it so it sparkled brilliantly. All the Ravenclaws stared at it in wonder.
The Hufflepuff Cup was in a glass case under the portrait of Helga Hufflepuff in the common room. She was extremely pleased that her cup had been found and it was back in Hufflepuff House where it belonged.
Severus placed his case directly underneath the portrait of Salazar Slytherin that dominated the common room. He had cast both unbreakable charms and anti-theft charms on the case. Nobody would be able to break the glass even if they hit it using a log or a sledge hammer. "Thank you for recovering them, Professor." Salazar's portrait spoke suddenly.
"You are welcome," Severus replied.
Page ~*~*~*~*~* Break
Lily had decided that she was going to confront Petunia finally on Saturday morning. Severus had already decided he was going to go with her, but first he had something else he needed to do first. On Friday afternoon he made his way to the seventh floor and gave the Gargoyle the password, "Raspberry Tootsies." The Gargoyle immediately moved aside and Severus stepped on to the stairs which began to move upwards. He got off at the top and knocked on the heavy oak door of Dumbledore's office. The door opened and Severus went in.
"Severus, what may I do for you?" Albus asked looking up.
Severus tossed the now cleansed diary on the desk in front of Dumbledore. "I thought you might like to see that."
"What…" Dumbledore gasped as he opened the diary and saw the faint signature of T.M. Riddle on the first page. "Where did you get this?"
