New Allies & Enemies [3]

Dumbledore continued. "The procedure can begin immediately, now that we have the cup secured."

"What about the vault security alert?" Marquas asked, turning to Regulus. "Will our goblin contact face suspicion?"

"Unlikely," Regulus replied. "Nagrok's involvement was carefully compartmentalized, his role ended once we gained initial access. The only problem was that some goblins saw us, but not our true faces."

"And our agreement with him?"

"Already arranged," Regulus confirmed. "A modified version of the formula will be delivered through our established dead drop within forty-eight hours. Valuable enough to satisfy our arrangement without compromising S. Prince Labs' commercial advantage."

Marquas nodded with satisfaction. Even amid the chaos of their operation, the practical details remained managed with typical Slytherin efficiency.

"The more pressing concern," McGonagall interjected, "is how quickly Voldemort will realize his Horcrux is missing. Dragon or no dragon, a breach of the Lestrange vault will eventually be discovered."

"Which is why immediate destruction is essential," Dumbledore agreed. "Once the soul fragment is eliminated, the connection to Voldemort is severed. He may sense its destruction, but will no longer be able to trace its location."

"And the real cup?" Moody asked. "Historically significant artifact, after all. Shame to destroy Hufflepuff's relic along with the dark magic."

"An interesting point," Dumbledore mused. "In previous cases, the container remained intact after the Horcrux was destroyed, though damaged. Perhaps with sufficient care during the destruction process..."

"I have a suggestion," Marquas offered. "My experimental work with magical containment fields might allow us to focus the Fiendfyre specifically on the soul fragment while minimizing damage to the cup itself. Not guaranteed, but worth attempting."

Decision made, they prepared to transport the secured Horcrux to Dumbledore's containment facility, a carefully warded chamber beneath an unplottable property owned by the Order. Marquas and Dumbledore would handle the actual destruction, while McGonagall and Moody established additional security perimeters in case the process attracted unwanted attention.

As they made final preparations, Regulus drew Marquas aside for a private word.

"A dragon," he repeated, shaking his head with a mixture of disbelief and admiration. "When you commit to 'distraction,' you certainly don't do things halfway."

"Adaptation to circumstances," Marquas shrugged. "Though I admit, riding a dragon out of Gringotts wasn't in our original operational flowchart."

"Well, it worked," Regulus acknowledged. "And created enough chaos that no one's looking for specific vault thieves. But it also means we need to accelerate our timeline for the remaining Horcruxes. Tonight's events will eventually reach Voldemort, raising his suspicions."

"Agreed," Marquas nodded grimly. "The diary becomes our priority target once the cup is destroyed. Any progress on locating it?"

"Possibly," Regulus replied, lowering his voice further. "Kreacher has been monitoring conversations at Malfoy Manor during their gatherings. The Dark Lord apparently entrusted Lucius with a 'precious artifact' for safekeeping, described only as an old book of particular significance."

Marquas felt a surge of excitement. "That matches what we suspect, Riddle's diary, containing his younger self's memories and soul fragment. If it's at Malfoy Manor..."

"Then we have our next target," Regulus finished. "Though infiltrating Malfoy Manor presents different challenges than Gringotts. Lucius has significantly enhanced security since becoming Voldemort's lieutenant."

"We'll develop an approach," Marquas assured him. "Preferably one that doesn't involve releasing any more magical creatures as distractions."

Regulus grinned. "No promises. Our 'Reasonably Handsome Rebellion' is developing quite the flair for dramatic operations."

Before Marquas could deliver his customary retort about the ridiculous name, Dumbledore called them to begin the transportation sequence. The conversation would have to continue later, after they destroyed their third Horcrux and took another critical step toward rendering Voldemort mortal.

••••

The Horcrux destruction proceeded more smoothly than their Gringotts heist, though not without its tense moments. Marquas's specialized containment field successfully focused the Fiendfyre's destructive power on the dark magic while preserving much of the cup's physical structure, though it emerged blackened and partially melted, it remained recognizably Hufflepuff's artifact.

More importantly, the soul fragment was eliminated with a characteristic shriek of otherworldly agony that confirmed complete destruction. Another piece of Voldemort's fractured soul consigned to oblivion.

"Four down," Dumbledore observed as they secured the damaged cup in a warded container for eventual restoration and safekeeping. "The locket, the diadem, the ring and now the cup. "

"Don't celebrate yet," Moody growled, his magical eye swiveling constantly as if expecting attack even within their secure facility. "The remaining targets will only be more difficult now that he's likely to suspect something. And that's assuming he hasn't created additional Horcruxes we don't know about."

It was a sobering thought, one that had occurred to Marquas as well. The original books had confirmed six Horcruxes plus the soul fragment in Voldemort's body, but this altered timeline might have changed his actions or accelerated his plans.

"We proceed with what we know," McGonagall stated practically. "And remain vigilant for any indication of additional horrors."

As they concluded the operation and prepared to return to their respective positions, maintaining the appearance of normal routines being crucial to their cover, Dumbledore held Marquas back for a private word.

"Your innovative approach to containing the Fiendfyre saved a priceless historical artifact," the Headmaster observed. "Much like your treatment for my cursed hand preserved function that would otherwise have been lost. These are not small achievements, Severus."

"Practical applications of theoretical principles," Marquas demurred, uncomfortable with direct praise. "The experimental work was already in progress for other purposes."

"Nevertheless," Dumbledore persisted, "you continue to demonstrate capabilities that exceed my expectations and I considered my expectations of you quite high to begin with."

There was something probing in his gaze as he added, "One might almost think you possess knowledge or perspectives unavailable to the rest of us."

Without warning, Dumbledore's wand flicked upward. "Legilimens!"

A silvery tendril of magic shot toward Marquas, aiming to pierce through the veil of his thoughts.

Marquas's reaction was instantaneous. His wand slashed through the air as he spun sideways. "Protego Mentis!" The shield erupted between them, a shimmering blue barrier that scattered Dumbledore's spell into fragments of light.

"You dare?" Marquas hissed, his knuckles white around his wand. "You would violate our agreement by intruding into my affairs?" His free hand moved in a complex pattern, strengthening his mental defenses. "Occlumens Totalum!"

Dumbledore lowered his wand, but his gaze remained steady. "The circumstances have changed, Severus," Dumbledore said gravely. "You're in serious trouble. The Sorting Hat has warned me that you're somehow connected with the Veil of Death."

The accusation hung in the air between them. Marquas lowered his wand slowly, his expression shifting from anger to concern. Despite his indignation, he knew Dumbledore was a respected Headmaster of Hogwarts. If he had reached the point of attempting to breach his mental thoughts, the situation must truly be alarming.

"Do you care to tell me in detail?" Marquas asked, his voice carefully measured. "By lowering your wand."

Dumbledore nodded in agreement, slowly tucking his wand into the folds of his robes. He began to speak of the Sorting Hat's warning, mysterious whispers from veil of death, and most disturbing of all, mentions of Herpo the Foul.

Each word from Dumbledore astonished Marquas more. Though he wasn't aware of everything in the wizarding world, the name Herpo the Foul sent a chill through him that he couldn't explain. The ancient dark wizard's reputation preceded him, even across the boundaries of Marquas's knowledge.

"I need to " Marquas didn't finish his sentence. He couldn't afford to spend any more time with Dumbledore, not with this revelation hanging in the air. Without another word, he turned sharply and strode away, his footsteps echoing against the stone floor as he headed urgently toward his office.

Dumbledore watched him go, his blue eyes following Marquas's retreating figure. The abrupt departure only deepened his suspicions, leaving him alone in the corridor with more questions than answers about the wizard who now hurried away from him.

When Marquas reached his office, he sealed the door with a series of complex charms. "Colloportus Maxima. Muffliato. Protego Totalum." The spells layered one upon another, ensuring complete privacy. Only then did he sink into his chair, his mind reeling.

Herpo the Foul. The name echoed in his thoughts like a mocking whisper.

"Why is that name appearing now?" he muttered, pacing the length of his office. "It wasn't in the original timeline, not connected to me, not connected to Snape."

He moved to a concealed Pensieve in the corner of his office and extracted silvery threads of memory from his temple with his wand. One by one, he reviewed the events of the previous months, searching for clues, for patterns he might have missed.

Hours later, a chilling realization began to crystallize in his mind.

"What if..." he whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "What if my transmigration occurred through the Veil of Death itself?"

The theory was both terrifying and elegant in its simplicity. He had died on Earth, his soul crossing some unfathomable boundary( moved from land of death towards living world through veil of death), and somehow, whether by cosmic accident or design, he had torn the Veil between worlds and possessed the body of Severus Snape.

"Was it because I was obsessed with this character?" He ran his fingers through his hair, recalling his former life where Harry Potter had been nothing but fiction, where Severus Snape had been a character he had analyzed endlessly, perhaps even identified with.

"How naive I was," Marquas murmured bitterly. "I thought I could simply destroy Voldemort using my knowledge of Horcruxes and character weaknesses, and that would be the end of it."

He conjured a glass of firewhisky with a flick of his wand and took a deep swallow, letting the burning sensation ground him in the present reality.

"Herpo the Foul is not just connected to this, he may be the cause and effect of my very transmigration."

The room seemed to darken around him as the implications settled in. The wizard world operated on principles of magical balance, fundamental laws that couldn't be circumvented without consequences. His very presence was disrupting that balance, creating ripples across the tapestry of fate.

"Thank Merlin for my instincts," he breathed, feeling a small measure of relief. "At least I've only edited the timeline through subtle manipulations, not completely altering the destiny of multiple characters."

But the question remained: what if he had done more? What if he had hunted all the Horcruxes himself alone? What if he had protected Regulus Black with his own plan, rather than allowing events to unfold naturally with only minor adjustments?

"A greater paradox might have formed," he concluded, his voice barely audible. "It might have hunted me, might still hunt me."

He looked down at his hands, Snape's hands, yet now his own, and clenched them into fists.

"Whatever this is, it's clearly a warning." Marquas rose from his seat, determination hardening his features. "Every step forward must be calculated, every interference measured. The Veil of Death is not to be trifled with, and neither is the balance of this world."

He moved to the window, gazing out at the sprawling grounds of Hogwarts. The castle had stood for centuries, weathering dark wizards and magical wars. It would continue to stand, but his role in its future, and the future of the wizarding world, would need to be more careful than ever before.