The Last Horcrux/Read The Fragmented Soul
The Fragmented Soul
This book was written in 1852, by an un-named author. Given the subject matter, you can understand why the author chose to remain nameless.
The book talks about the act of killing, with weapons, one’s bare hands, with magic, and with the unforgivable curse Avada Kedavra. This curse had been declared unforgivable in 1717, but at the time of writing, it was considered acceptable to use it on animals and magical beasts, such as Dragons, Hippogryphs, Spiders and the like. The author of the book utilised this to conduct a number of magical experiments, using the unforgivable curse to kill many animals and beasts and observing the effects.
One passage in particular stands out, and was underlined by a previous reader:
''“The body is matter, but matter imbued with life and spirit. Destroying the matter, or the life of the body will separate it from the spirit, resulting in death. This we all know, and it is true whether the body be killed by the sword, or by hanging, or by the bare hands of another.
The Killing Curse is different. On incanting the words AVADA KEDAVRA, the magic user severs the link between the body and the spirit, casting the spirit into the afterlife whilst leaving the body unharmed. The curse attacks the prime anchor between the body and the soul. This I have observed. By casting the spell in the Astral Plane, I have seen the silver cord that links the soul to the body be severed irreparably.”
At this point you pause. Didn’t the author say they had only used the spell on animals? What manner of animal or beast can enter the Astral Realm? This is something you have only known incredibly talented Seers or Oneiromancers to be able to do. Did the author lie and slay one of these magic users to discover this? The author continues:
“The killing curse does not directly damage to soul of the victim, but it does damage the soul of the caster, if successful. Furthermore, one can see that the Killing Curse attacks the soul’s prime anchor to the body, by virtue of the fact that magical animated Guardians, such as Gargoyles and Golems are immune to the curse, as they lack souls. This I have also verified experimentally. Such animated guardians can be readily ended by the destruction of their body, but are immune to the Killing Curse.”
You immediately realise that this means the Lestrange Family Guardian Statue will be immune to the unforgivable curse.
The second section of the book refers to the effect on the soul of the murderer. The author explains that only deliberate and intentional killing damages the soul of another. People who have accidentally killed, or tried and failed to save the lives of others do not appear to have soul damage. The author explains:
The act of killing, when intentional, tears a piece of the murderers soul asunder. One can observe this by means of the following:
Firstly, the incantation Revelio Anima, or Revelio Animus, in the case of a female. This spell will reveal something of the spirit, if the spirit is torn, damaged, or fragmented as is the case with murderers. Care must be taken, as some Dark Wizards have been known to utilise Obscura Anima/Animus as a means of hiding their spirit, so as to conceal their crimes. Thus, by this means can one readily observe the effect of murder on the murderer’s soul in muggles, but not on all wizards and witches. If one suspects soul obfuscation has been utilised, the incantations Revelio Magicae, Revelio Obscura, and Finite Incantatem Obscura Anima/Animus may be required to detect and end such concealment. One Dark Wizard I encountered had gone so far as to conceal his gender, such that my spirit obfuscation counter was targeted incorrectly, aiming for a masculine Anima rather than a feminine Animus.
Secondly, one can detect soul fragmentation by the use of a Prime Pattern Mirror. I managed to obtain of these rare and ancient devices, and visited a Muggle prison in London, so as to use it without a magical confrontation. Posing as a doctor, I was able to observe the effects of soul fragmentation on several convicted murderers, and in particular on those who had killed once, twice, or several times. In the Pattern Mirror one can indirectly observe the effects of soul fragmentation on the Quintessence from which the soul is woven. Thus, soul fragmentation can in a very real way be considered a form of Pattern Corruption. The level of fragmentation is proportionate to the number of murders and perhaps also to the level of malice and hatred in the killers heart. Thus a man who had poisoned his business partner showed less fragmentation than a man who had stabbed a man to death in a brawl. Of the soul of a man who had murdered several prostitutes, there was little left for me to observe; a few twisted strands, clinging on to life.
There are some who argue that the damaged soul causes the murder, rather than the murder damaging the soul. This I have disproven. The only way this was possible was to invite a muggle into the cell of a murderer, and observe the killing in the pattern mirror. I can confirm that it is the act of murder that fragments the soul, and not the other way around.
The third means by which one can observe the pattern corruption of soul fragmentation is to commit the act of murder in the Astral Plane. From this vantage point, one can observe one’s soul being fragmented. This I have also observed, by committing the act myself. For this, use of the Killing Curse was required, as physical means are impossible in that realm, although I would hypothesise that the means make no difference, it is the intention. To be clear, there was no fragmentation of my soul prior to the act of murder, the act itself caused fragmentation, and afterwards there was permanent pattern corruption.
The killing of unintelligent animals and beasts does not fragment the soul, although animals and beasts do themselves have a proto-soul, as can be readily observed. The killing of intelligent non-humans does cause further soul fragmentation, as I have verified experimentally. Of noble magical beasts, the slaying of creatures of purity and virtue does cause soul fragmentation. Thus, the killing of a Unicorn does indeed damage the soul of the killer. This I have also verified for myself. This knowledge is important for those who would seek to drink the blood of the Unicorn to extend their mortal lifetime.
You pause for a moment. The author of the book was truly determined to seek the facts of pattern corruption, and stopped at nothing to find out this forbidden knowledge. You read ahead to see if the book has anything to say on Horcruxes.
On the creation of Horcruxes, I know a little. Firstly, in order to place a fragment of one’s soul into an object, one’s soul must be severed. Thus, one must either be a murderer already, or commit the act of murder to sever a fragment. I utilised both of these methods in an attempt to create a Horcrux, but in both cases I was unsuccessful. I am unsure as to the location of the lost fragments of my own soul as I write this passage.
I was able, after a long and difficult journey, to locate a Horcrux, in the form of an Egyptian Sarcophagus, as was the fashion for Pharaohs of old who did not feel ready to pass into the Realm of Set. By use of Revelio Anima/Animus, and observation in the Pattern Mirror, one can readily observe the soul fragments in the object, even if the object itself is apparently non-magical.
On the subject of Soul Possession, I only know what I have read, as I have not encountered a Possessor or Vessel, and was not able to perform these feats for myself. Again, the use of Revelio Anima/Animus, or a Pattern Mirror should be able to detect a possessing soul fragment as well as the vessel’s soul. There is no such thing as an “Empty Vessel” so far as I believe, as there must be a soul in the body in order for it to live. Thus, the possessor must share a body with the vessel’s soul. All of this is hypothetical of course, given that I was unable to verify it experimentally.
The author ends the book by offering proof of his observations:
There will be those who will doubt my words, saying that an anonymous author might lie, for wealth or some anonymous notoriety. To these people I ask, why would I care about such things? If I had wanted notoriety, I would reveal my name, and if I had wanted wealth, all I would have needed to do was to sell the Pattern Mirror and I could have retired early as a wealthy man. There will be those who want further proof, of course, and to these minds I am more sympathetic. I have therefore placed memories of my experiments into a Pensieve, which will be revealed to the magical world upon my death.
There, the book ends. To your knowledge, no such Pensieve was ever located, or if it was, it was kept an incredibly guarded secret by the damned Ministry of Magic. The secrets that such a kind could hold!
Still, you have learned much from this book. Killing animals won’t damage one’s soul. Every murder does. Avada Kedavra or strangulation make no difference. Soul fragments can be detected by Revelio Anima in your case, or Revelio Animus for a witch’s soul. Pattern mirrors are rare, but your soul would be naked in the Astral Plane.
You point your wand at yourself and incant “Obscura Anima” hiding your soul fragment from those who would seek to see it. You wonder if the Lestrange Guardian Statue will now be able to detect it?
You wonder what has happened to your soul. You know that in your timeline you had several Horcruxes, but you also committed many murders without creating Horcruxes. Perhaps your soul was strong enough to do what other men would shrink from? In any case, you appear to be fine, although you do wonder what a Pattern Mirror might show you if you found one.
- As you can read this book at any time, click back to return yourself to the choice that brought you here.