Harry nodded, looking completely unperturbed at Draco's outburst. "Of course. They have been more than helpful, and we were trying to determine if we could figure out any more information about the ritual Voldemort created and possible results. Perenelle is probably the foremost expert in the world."
Harry paused there and looked as if a thought had just occurred to him. "Oh… wait. Unless you've become an expert in magical artifacts and rituals while you were dead… or in the last week."
Draco frowned and shook his head. "What? Of course not."
Harry shrugged, "Then yeah. Gonna consult the woman with hundreds of years of experience in rituals." He turned his attention back to the letter.
Draco frowned but had no rebuttal, so he turned his attention back to the letter as well.
The impact of a ghost on this sort of ritual is a complete unknown. The desires of ghost tend to all be about returning to life, so I have no doubt that was probably his first desire. He could have been included as a tag along in your trip. The interesting thing you mentioned was the sound you say this former ghost described of the screaming he heard of Voldemort. Unfortunately that could mean any number of things.
In some of my more esoteric collections I did find research that mightapply to at least some of the results of this ritual. You say your new ally is in his body on this world, and that he has the memories of both souls. That dovetails with something a researcher theorized about nearly 11 centuries ago. However as it was never possible to be tested, it was nothing more than an academic theory and a postulate rather than anything firm or based on any experimentation. Your oathbound's soul showed up in this world, where there already existed his soul. It existed within his body, since he was still alive this world. The free floating soul would have been pulled toward his body, and one of two things would have happened, either a fight for the host body, or based on what you've told me a melding of the souls. I would be very interested in running some tests and getting some magical readings sometime in the future.
However, I must confess I am uncertain whether this gives us any insight into the Voldemort from your world. There are too many different variables. Yes, your oathbound melded with the soul in his younger body. That could have been because he was a ghost, and an unbound soul. Or it could have been because they were the same person at one point. However you had a body when you came through the mirror and did not meld with your counterpart of this world. Either because her life experience at this point in life was too different or because inherently she is not you. You asserted that your body was restored to it's previous status. How? I am uncertain.
Further, the Voldemort from your world came through in a body that was essentially a homunculus, with a soul that was likely in tatters, into a world where his counterpart would be in a different homunculus, with soul pieces scattered far and wide.
For all we know he could have or may yet emerge in this world, just how he was. Or his soul could combine with another piece of his soul. It's entirely possible that the soul from your Voldemort combined with one of Herpo's foul creations. For all we know it could already rest completely helpless in the cup or one of his other creations. I think that makes gathering them even more imperative than previously thought.
Thank you for the warning about the letters, but it is unnecessary. Once you were out in public we expected the letters to come in. All mail is directed to a post box where it is checked for malicious magic, then transported here through more wards to check for more magic. We fully expect that there will be a minor spectacle. Nicholas is practically cackling with glee at the opportunity to meddle and cause chaos.
I will remind you to also please be careful. As we told you before you left, while the Flamel name will protect your history from nearly all investigative eyes, and give you a certain stature, it will also put a target on you for others. I know you claim to be used to it, however I am merely restating my reminder.
I hope you're giving AD absolute fits as he tries to figure you out.
~Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel~
P.S. I hope you liked the charmed parchment. It was your idea we used and applied it to paper. Instructions to replicate it enclosed.
Harry lifted his head and looked out across the lake, lost in thought for a few moments while Draco read through the end of the letter.
"Okay… I have some questions." Draco stated bluntly.
Harry shrugged a little bit and then reached up to stroke Hedwig's plumage again absently while he had a far away look in his eyes as he gazed out upon the lake. "You can always ask. I can't promise to answer. Needless to say you share nothing about this with anyone."
"What prisoner were they talking about in Azkaban?" Draco asked, glancing at the letter again, making sure he had several of his questions firmly affixed in his mind.
Harry glanced around confirming that no one was around at the moment. "Regulus Black."
Draco frowned a little bit. "Regulus is a loyal Death Eater I think… At least according to what I've heard around my father. He was from an old family and was a decent dueler. He wasn't exactly Inner Circle, though he was probably the closest thing to it. The Dark Lord trusted him. I believe." Harry shook his head. "It was a front. Or at least I believe so. He stole something very valuable from the Voldemort. I've confirmed that he did the same on this world. On our world, he was successful in his theft but he didn't survive the attempt. He is an enemy of Voldemort, but on this world he did survive."
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