[217] Brightest Since Tom

The Headmaster's office was deathly silent.

Hall chuckled softly. "I was right."

Dumbledore reached for his glasses but stopped. "I've always known you're bright. The brightest since Tom."

Tom knew about Horcruxes and created seven. Hall knew about Horcruxes, destroyed them, and guessed Hogwarts' secret.

Hall felt a wave of disorientation. A Horcrux — the Sorting Hat was a Horcrux. Who would believe that? It was openly displayed under every student's nose.

"I suppose that's what they mean by the safest place is the most dangerous," Hall murmured.

Dumbledore smiled faintly. He walked to the cabinet and quietly gazed at the sleeping hat. "Creating a Horcrux requires a heinous act that splits the wizard's soul. A part of the soul is extracted and placed into an object. However damaged the wizard becomes, they are not completely dead — a part remains in the world."

Hall listened. "You want to ask my thoughts on creating Horcruxes?"

Dumbledore remained silent.

Hall shrugged. But before condemning Horcruxes, something caught his interest. "The soul should remain intact, right?"

He switched topics. "Headmaster, have you ever heard of a different concept of the soul — one where a person's soul has multiple parts? Lose any one, and a person is incomplete."

Dumbledore showed curiosity. "I've never heard of that."

"During my eleven years as a Squib, I studied foreign methods," Hall said. "St Mungo's couldn't help, so I looked elsewhere. I considered going to America to find Native shamans. In the process, I learned some foreign concepts."

It made sense, and Dumbledore had no reason to suspect.

"Following that way of thinking, Voldemort's approach is quite interesting." Hall chuckled. "Not right — but the clash of ideas is fascinating. His method is like someone who had the right idea but took the wrong path."

Dumbledore pondered, then gave up. "I'll have to study these concepts. But that's not what I want to discuss."

He sighed, looking deeply at Hall. He'd revealed the truth about Horcruxes to see if Hall would be tempted. Hall being a Weasley reassured Dumbledore — every Weasley was a loyal Gryffindor friend. But too many unexpected things had happened to Hall. Intelligent. Resourceful. So unlike a typical Weasley.

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Could Hall become the next Tom? Great power breeds ambition. The urge to pursue immortality. Dumbledore wanted to test him.

The test failed. And Hall had instilled some very interesting concepts in him.

Dumbledore sighed sincerely. "Tom didn't read enough books back then. If he could have broadened his horizons like you, perhaps none of this would have happened."

Armando Dippet's portrait coughed violently.

He never imagined someone would say Tom Riddle went mad because he hadn't read enough books.

The irony was too much.

Dumbledore smiled but didn't mention Voldemort again. He turned the topic to the Sorting Hat.

"Although most wizards who use Horcruxes are dark wizards, there are always one or two exceptions," Dumbledore said, winking his blue eyes at Hall.

Hall considered this.

"So you mean the Sorting Hat was an accident?"

"Haha, I knew you were clever," Dumbledore laughed. "But the Sorting Hat is different from ordinary Horcruxes."

Hall thought for a moment. "The Sorting Hat can see a young wizard's deepest memories and assign them a house... that's more like Legilimency?"

"Wizards can use magic, but a fragment of a soul shouldn't have that ability."

Hall paused. A natural Legilimens might be able to do that. But the Sorting Hat probably didn't even need to be worn on the head to do it.

"The Sorting Hat must have been made using alchemy."

Dumbledore sighed. "I knew it."

Giving Hall the loose ends was no different from revealing the whole truth.

"Yes, that's right, just like you said." Dumbledore quietly gazed at Hall. "So I believe you can keep it a secret?"

Hall tapped the Sorting Hat twice through the glass. "Of course. You know how to keep my mouth shut."

Dumbledore's eyes narrowed.

"Hall, I know you're a good boy."

Hall nodded. "Yes! You're right! So—"

Hall held out his hand.

The headmasters in the portraits stared. What was this kid up to?

Dumbledore tried to stare Hall down.

Hall drawled, "When I came in just now, I saw you writing—"

A bag of Galleons was placed in Hall's palm.

"Thank you, Headmaster, I'll keep my mouth shut." Hall withdrew his hand quickly.

The headmasters gaped. They'd learned something new today.

Hall pocketed the hush money and recalled why he had come. "The Sorting Hat — a Horcrux of Gryffindor."

Dumbledore smiled. Everything understood without words.

Hall sighed. He knew it. With the other three founders leaving behind representatives, Gryffindor couldn't have left nothing at all.

"Can I talk to him?" Hall used "he" instead of "it" as a sign of respect.

"The Sorting Hat only wakes at a fixed time," Dumbledore said. "The first day of school each year."

"I mainly wanted to ask if the Sorting Hat knows anything about Slytherin."

Dumbledore understood. Hall had found Slytherin's Chamber. He was studying the array there.

Just then, the Sorting Hat's pointed tip began to sway. "Hoo — I — seem —"

The Sorting Hat drawled, half-asleep. "I heard a — familiar name —!"

"Hello, Mr Sorting Hat," Hall greeted politely. "Do you know anything about Salazar Slytherin's disappearance?"

The Sorting Hat was now fully awake.

"Are you taking advantage of the fact that the hat can't move, so it can't be startled?!"

The Sorting Hat roared furiously at Hall. "I was startled by that name!"

"Hahaha! Slytherin! Not that Slytherin! Oh! And then that Slytherin again—!"

It began to sing in its off-key voice.

"Slytherin, oh Slytherin—"