Chapter 492: Contract Magic
The headmaster's office was so quiet that the faintest sound would have been deafening. Dumbledore studied Kyle, hesitant, holding back his words several times. Initially, he'd assumed Kyle planned to use the Basilisk to destroy the locket, so he hadn't pressed the issue. But after hearing from Newt that Kyle hadn't visited the Basilisk during the holidays—and from Kyle's own words indicating that the locket remained intact—Dumbledore realized there was more to the story.
With a light tap of his fingers on the desk, he finally broke the silence. "You've certainly given me a difficult puzzle, Kyle. Can you assure me that this... item won't affect you?"
"I can, Professor," Kyle said firmly. "The Slytherin Pendant is unique. As long as it remains unopened, it's completely harmless, even if someone wears it around their neck."
At the mention of the name "Slytherin Pendant," Dumbledore's mouth twitched slightly. Kyle had handed over the original diary Horcrux without any reluctance, even passing it off to Lucius Malfoy without a second thought. But this locket... Kyle guarded it closely, even avoiding showing it to Dumbledore. Dumbledore knew exactly why: the locket held a distinct historical prestige, as revered as the Gryffindor sword.
After a moment's pause, Dumbledore sighed. "Very well. I can allow it, but I must insist you destroy it as soon as possible. And remember, Kyle, no treasure—no matter how precious—retains its worth once tainted by dark magic. It's not worth risking your life for."
"I understand," Kyle replied with a smile. In truth, he had no intention of using the locket before Voldemort's Horcruxes were all destroyed. Like the Diadem, the locket was locked safely away.
But then, a thought struck him, and he glanced at Dumbledore. "Professor, how about we set a contract magic?"
Dumbledore looked at him with curiosity. "A contract magic?"
"It's a type of binding spell," Kyle explained. "For example, if I ever get the notion to use a Horcrux, the magic would prevent me from acting on it. I think you're familiar with this kind of spell."