don't. you're the doctor, aren't you? i don't believe you. i hear mrs. cole talking, her and the rest of the staff. they want me looked at. they think i'm different. i'm not mad. yes. i can make things move -- without touching them. i can make animals do what i want without training them. i can make bad things happen to people who are mean to me. i can make them hurt. if i want. who are you? prove it. i like having things that belonged to other people. it makes me feel . close to them. i can speak to snakes too. they find me. whisper things. is that normal. for someone like me? sir, is it true that professor merrythought is retiring? slughorn chuckles, wags a sugar-encrusted finger at riddle. intuition. i know a secret shortcut or two. yes, sir. i couldn't think of anyone else to go to. the other professors, well, they're not like you. they might. misunderstand. i was in the library the other night, in the restricted section, and i read something rather odd, about a bit of rare magic, and i thought perhaps you could illuminate me. sir, is it true that professor merrythought is retiring? intuition. i know a secret shortcut or two. yes, sir. i couldn't think of anyone else to go to. the other professors, well, they're not like you. they might. misunderstand. i was in the library the other night, in the restricted section, and i read something rather odd, about a bit of rare magic and i thought perhaps you could illuminate me. it's called, as i understand it. a horcrux. horcrux. i came across the term while reading and i didn't fully understand it. yes, sir. which is why i came to you. i mean no disrespect to the rest of the staff, but i thought if anyone could tell me. it would be you. yes, i thought it might be something like that. but i don't understand how that works, sir. protected? how does one split his soul, sir? murder. out of curiosity, sir -- can you only split your soul once? for instance, isn't seven the most powerfully magical number -- of course, sir. and i promise i'll not speak of our conversation. it'll be our little secret.