HP-A New Future

I am 15 chapters ahead on my patreón, check it out if you are interested.

https://www.patréon.com/emperordragon

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Chapter 24: The Cleansing of Souls

The ritual chamber beneath Grimmauld Place was a cold, foreboding space, its ancient stone walls etched with runes that pulsed faintly in the dim light of enchanted sconces. Harry stood at the center of the room, his expression calm yet resolute. Dorea, Charlus, and Arcturus stood nearby, their faces reflecting a mixture of curiosity, apprehension, and grim determination.

Arcturus broke the silence, bringing forth a heavy satchel filled with various items. "Here's everything we've gathered," he said, his voice low. "Every piece you requested for this ritual is here."

"Thank you," Harry said simply, taking the satchel. He motioned for Dorea to assist him. Together, they began arranging the items methodically around the chamber. Bowls of powdered silver, vial of phoenix tear, candles infused with dragon blood—each element had its place, forming an intricate circle of power on the stone floor.

As the preparations neared completion, Arcturus stepped forward, holding an enchanted ruby roughly the size of a fist. It gleamed with an inner fire, the red hue dark and hypnotic. "The ruby, as promised," he said, placing it in the center of the ritual space. "Imbued with containment spells strong enough to hold a fractured soul. At least, that's what the goblins assured me."

Harry nodded. "It'll do. Now, the next part."

Reaching into his robe, Harry produced a wooden box made of aged yew, its surface covered in runes that glowed faintly with protective enchantments. Even with the Horcruxes sealed inside, an oppressive sense of wrongness emanated from the box. Charlus grimaced and took an involuntary step back.

"That's... unsettling," Dorea muttered, her sharp gaze fixed on the box.

Harry carefully set the box on the floor, kneeling beside it. "The enchantments on this box suppress the dark magic within, but once I open it, you'll feel the full weight of what we're dealing with." He glanced at the others. "Brace yourselves."

With deliberate movements, he opened the lid, and the air seemed to grow heavier. A chilling, almost palpable malevolence spilled into the room, making even the unflinching Arcturus shudder.

One by one, Harry removed the Horcruxes, setting them in a precise arrangement around the ruby:

The locket he had taken from the cave, its surface gleaming coldly.

The diadem he retrieved from Hogwarts, its brilliance marred by the dark magic it contained.

The diary from Malfoy Manor, its pages radiating an insidious allure.

The cup stolen from Gringotts, its once-pristine surface tarnished by evil.

And finally, the ring he had found in the Riddle family hut, the Resurrection Stone still intact but tainted.

Even though Harry had told them about Voldemort's Horcruxes, seeing them laid out was a different matter entirely. Charlus's fists clenched at his sides, and Dorea's expression hardened with fury.

"To create a Horcrux is to commit the ultimate atrocity," Harry said, his tone somber. "To make five is beyond comprehension. And worse, he desecrated magical artifacts of immense historical value to do so."

"It's monstrous," Dorea whispered, her voice trembling with barely restrained anger.

Arcturus's eyes were dark as he regarded the ring. "The arrogance of such an act... and the disregard for magic itself. He sees nothing sacred."

Harry nodded. "But we can undo the damage." He gestured toward the ruby. "This ritual is designed to separate the fragments of his soul from the artifacts without destroying them. The ruby acts as a containment vessel. Naturally, a soul is whole and desires to remain that way. Once I destroy the fragment in the ring, the other fragments will be drawn to the ruby. From there, I can sever their ties to the artifacts."

Arcturus studied the runes surrounding the chamber. "It's brilliant in its simplicity... but dangerous. Are you certain you're prepared for this?"

"I have to be," Harry replied.

From thin air, Harry summoned the Sword of Gryffindor. The ancient blade gleamed in the chamber's dim light, its edge already imbued with basilisk venom—a lethal combination capable of destroying Horcruxes.

He placed the ring on a pedestal within the ritual circle and raised the sword. The others watched in tense silence as Harry brought the blade down in a swift, precise strike.

A piercing scream echoed through the chamber, the sound of Voldemort's soul fragment being destroyed. The Resurrection Stone remained intact, its surface glinting faintly in the ruby's glow.

The ruby pulsed once, then twice, as if alive. The remaining fragments of Voldemort's soul were drawn toward it, invisible tendrils of dark magic connecting the ruby to the other Horcruxes.

Harry moved quickly, using the Sword of Gryffindor to sever the ties. With each cut, the oppressive aura in the room lessened, the artifacts gradually losing their malevolence.

The diary's pages turned blank. The locket's clasp snapped open. The cup's tarnish faded. The diadem regained its pure, silvery sheen.

Finally, the ruby pulsed one last time before dimming, the fractured soul pieces trapped within its depths.

Harry lowered the sword, exhaling heavily. "It's done."

Charlus and Dorea stepped closer, examining the now-cleansed artifacts. Relief and awe mingled on their faces.

"You've done something incredible today," Dorea said softly.

Harry didn't respond immediately, his gaze fixed on the ruby. "One step closer," he murmured.

Arcturus clapped a hand on Harry's shoulder. "You've not only weakened the Dark Lord but preserved invaluable pieces of magical history. That's no small feat."

Harry nodded, but his expression remained distant. For him, this was just another battle in a long war—one he wasn't sure would ever truly end.