Chapter 87:
After the potions delivery, Harry continued with his plan. However an idea struck him and he wandered up to the third floor.
Clearing his throat in front of an empty frame, Harry called out cautiously, "Headmaster Black?"
Standing for almost a minute, Harry thought he had failed when suddenly Phineas Black appeared in his portrait.
The painting looked at Harry and blinked in surprise. "You summoned me, Harrison?" he asked.
"Yes, I thought you may be able to help me with something," Harry said.
"Oh? What is it?" the painting asked, interested in the young boy in front of him. As a painting he couldn't feel magic any longer, but he could still recognise a powerful wizard when he saw one and oh, this boy. He was powerful and he had barely scratched the surface of his own potential.
"I want to know more about Soul magic," Harry said bluntly.
Phineas let himself gape before he laughed. "No, no you don't," he said after his chuckles died down. "I understand the pull of Dark magic, but that is a branch which will do you no good."
Harry sighed. "I know that, that's why I want to learn more. I have—" he cut himself off before pulling out his wand. He went through the motions of putting up a privacy and secrecy ward around himself and the painting, as well as a detection ward to warn him if Sirius or Remus approached.
Phineas watched in fascination as the boy wordlessly threw up wards some adults would have struggled with. He felt the secrecy charm take effect on him and wondered what the boy was about to tell him.
"I have a soulmate," Harry admitted. "A soul mate who dabbled in Soul magic, horcruxes, and is now scattered."