บท 64: A Breakthrough in the Shadows

Raja strode confidently through the dim hallways of Hogwarts late one evening, making his way toward Dumbledore's office. The massive discovery he'd made regarding the containment and destruction of Horcruxes couldn't wait another day. His long hours studying runes, alchemy, and soul magic had finally borne fruit. He had devised a method to extract and seal fragments of a soul without alerting the main soul, Voldemort himself. Dumbledore needed to hear this.

The enchanted gargoyle sprang aside at Raja's whispered command, and he took the spiral staircase two steps at a time. Inside the office, Dumbledore greeted him with a curious twinkle in his eye, a faint trace of excitement underlying his calm demeanor.

"Professor Dumbledore," Raja began, diving right into his findings, "I've developed a method to extract a Horcrux and seal it into a different object, all without alerting the main soul. The notes I've compiled contain the complete process, from containment to final sealing. The beauty of this method is that it leaves no trace, no psychic signature that could alert Voldemort."

Dumbledore's interest sharpened, and he gestured for Raja to join him at his desk. Together, they spread out Raja's meticulously prepared notes. Dumbledore's eyes skimmed over the complex alchemical formulas, the intricate runes, and Raja's scribbled notations in the margins.

"Astonishing work, Raja," he murmured, eyebrows raised. "This is indeed a remarkable breakthrough. If this works, it would change everything—our entire approach to eradicating Voldemort's soul fragments could be safer, more precise."

Raja nodded, the faintest smile on his lips. "There's no guarantee yet, Professor. We'll need to test the method. And... I believe I know just the object we should start with." He paused, looking directly at Dumbledore, whose smile widened knowingly.

Dumbledore nodded. "The ring." His tone was laced with the weight of understanding. "Yes, indeed. I recently confirmed its location—Marvolo Gaunt's ring. It's in a concealed vault, tied to the legacy of Voldemort's bloodline."

Raja felt a chill of both excitement and trepidation at the mention of the cursed ring. It was an ideal starting point. "It's a perfect specimen to test this process, Professor. The ring is deeply embedded with dark magic, and if we succeed, we'll have a proven method for the rest."

Dumbledore agreed, and within days, he left Hogwarts on a dangerous journey to recover the ring. Raja kept himself occupied with preparations for the ritual, reviewing every detail of his notes repeatedly, making sure he understood each rune and mantra. When he wasn't preparing, he was studying Harry's condition, seeking any hint of dark energy linked to the soul fragment Voldemort had left within him.

Days later, Dumbledore returned, pale and exhausted, but his eyes gleamed with victory as he showed Raja the ring—a heavy, blackened band set with a large, cracked gemstone. Raja sensed its power at once, a dark, lingering energy that seemed to pulse from the ring, pressing against his own magical senses.

"The Room of Requirement, Professor," Raja suggested. "It's the safest place for an experiment like this."

Together, they made their way to the Room of Requirement, which reshaped itself into a vast chamber, its walls inscribed with ancient runes that glowed faintly. Raja's eyes glinted as he activated his Divine Sight, ensuring the room was protected from any spiritual intrusion. Every wall was inscribed with protective mantras and sealing runes, warding the area against potential backlashes from the Horcrux.

Raja placed the ring on a small pedestal in the center of the room. He retrieved his alchemically-enhanced device—a sensitive instrument that could detect and record the unique frequency of Voldemort's soul fragment within the ring. By capturing this frequency, he could attune the device to recognize similar energy signatures and locate other Horcruxes.

With Dumbledore watching intently, Raja activated the device. Its surface glowed, emitting a soft hum as it resonated with the soul frequency of the Horcrux. After a moment, it gave a confirming beep, indicating a successful recording.

"It's contained," Raja said softly. "We now have Voldemort's soul signature on record."

Dumbledore nodded, visibly impressed. "Remarkable, Raja. I daresay this device could lead us to the remaining Horcruxes without alerting Voldemort. But now, the question remains—how shall we destroy it?"

Raja considered this, eyeing the ring with caution. "I thought of using magic to obliterate it, but there's too great a risk. The power backlash could harm you or anyone nearby. But there's another way."

Raja glanced at the Sorting Hat, an idea sparking. "If you don't mind, Professor, could you bring the Sorting Hat here?"

Dumbledore's brows shot up in surprise, but he nodded, summoning the hat to his hand. As he held it, Raja reached forward, and with a firm tug, he withdrew the legendary Sword of Gryffindor from within its depths.

The hat let out a chuckle, its voice resonant with humor. "Well, well, young Raja, it seems you've decided to be a hero, rather than the dark hand behind the curtain."

Raja smirked, raising the sword. "Only when necessary, Hat."

Dumbledore, watching with astonishment, was about to comment when Raja turned his attention to the ring. Gripping the Sword of Gryffindor tightly, he raised it over the Horcrux. The sword gleamed, laced with a silvery glow. It had absorbed the venom of the Basilisk that Harry had killed in the Chamber of Secrets, making it deadly to all dark magic.

With a powerful swing, Raja struck the ring. The gemstone shattered with a loud crack, and a swirling dark mist emerged, writhing and screaming as it was pulled into the surrounding runes. The protective circle around the ring glowed brighter as the dark energy was trapped within, unable to escape.

The air was filled with the faint chanting of mantras Raja had inscribed across the walls, purifying the dark magic. The mist convulsed, shuddering as it was gradually stripped of its malevolence, leaving behind only a whisper of energy before it dissipated entirely. Raja kept his Divine Sight active, watching the mist until it vanished without a trace.

He exhaled a sigh of relief, nodding to Dumbledore. "It's done. The soul fragment has been purified and destroyed."

Dumbledore placed a hand on his shoulder, his voice filled with gratitude and pride. "You have done something extraordinary today, Raja. Together, we have achieved what many thought impossible. This is a victory not just for us, but for the entire wizarding world."

The sense of relief was palpable. They gathered the remaining shards of the ring and carefully removed all evidence of their ritual. There was no trace of the dark energy left in the room, and Raja deactivated the runes with satisfaction.

Later that evening, Raja and Dumbledore quietly visited Gryffindor Tower, where Harry was sound asleep. They checked him over, scanning for any sign of dark magic lingering in his scar. But Harry was at peace, his breathing calm, and his dreams undisturbed. It was the first time in months that he hadn't been plagued by nightmares.

Raja and Dumbledore exchanged relieved smiles. Their experiment had worked, and they had managed to destroy a Horcrux without causing any disturbance to Voldemort. It was a significant victory, one that gave them hope for the battles yet to come.

From that day onward, Dumbledore and Raja formed a silent pact. They would continue to hunt down the remaining Horcruxes, each step bringing them closer to weakening Voldemort's hold on the world. Raja would work quietly behind the scenes, using his newfound device to track down the dark fragments, while Dumbledore would gather intelligence and clues, searching for the hidden pieces of Voldemort's soul.

The Order Meeting

A week later, Dumbledore called an urgent meeting of the Order of the Phoenix. They gathered at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, filled with curiosity and anticipation. When Dumbledore announced the results of their experiment, the Order members were stunned into silence.

Sirius, sitting beside Raja, gave him a hard clap on the back. "You're a genius, Raja! Not only did you help Harry, but you've also dealt a blow to Voldemort himself!"

Remus Lupin nodded, admiration in his eyes. "It's incredible to think we finally have a way to contain and destroy Horcruxes without alerting Voldemort. This is something no one thought possible."

Molly Weasley, though still cautious, managed a small smile. "You're giving us hope, Raja. If we can truly destroy all of these... fragments, maybe we can bring an end to this darkness."

Dumbledore explained their findings in detail, describing how Raja's device could detect the unique frequency of Voldemort's soul pieces, making it possible to identify other Horcruxes. The Order members listened in awe, realizing the significance of their new weapon.

Kingsley Shacklebolt leaned forward, his voice steady and determined. "With this method, we have a chance of crippling Voldemort permanently. It's a dangerous path, but it's one worth taking."

Dumbledore nodded. "Indeed, Kingsley. However, I must caution you all—our work must remain secret. If Voldemort suspects we are targeting his Horcruxes, he will take measures to protect them, and he will know we are closer to his defeat."

The members of the Order agreed solemnly, their faces set with determination. They knew the risks, but the possibility of a future free from Voldemort's shadow was worth any cost.