〃One way to find out； isn't there？〃 said Harry。
The Horcrux was still swinging from Ron's hand。 The locket was twitching slightly。 Harry knew that the thing inside it was agitated again。 It had sensed the presence of the sword and had tried to kill Harry rather than let him possess it。 Now was not the time for long discussions； now was the moment to destroy once and for all。 Harry looked around； holding Hermione's wand high； and saw the place： a flattish rock lying in the shadow of a sycamore tree。
〃e here。〃 he said and he led the way； brushed snow from the rock's surface； and held out his hand for the Horcrux。 When Ron offered the sword； however； Harry shook his head。
〃No you should do it。〃
〃Me？〃 said Ron； looking shocked。 〃Why？〃
〃Because you got the sword out of the pool。 I think it's supposed to be you。〃
He was not being kind or generous。 As certainly as he had known that the doe was benign； he knew that Ron had to be the one to wield the sword。 Dumbledore had at least taught Harry something about certain kinds of magic； of the incalculable power of certain acts。
〃I'm going to open it；〃 said Harry； 〃and you will stab it。 Straightaway okay？ Because whatever's in there will put up a fight。 The bit of Riddle in the Diary tried to kill me。〃
〃How are you going to open it？〃 asked Ron。 He looked terrified
〃I'm going to ask it to open； using Parseltongue；〃 said Harry。 The answer came so readily to his lips that thought that he had always known it deep down： Perhaps it had taken his recent encounter with Nagini to make him realize it。 He looked at the serpentine iSi； inlaid with glittering green stones： It was easy to visualize it as a miniscule snake； curled upon the cold rock。
〃No！〃 said Ron。 〃Don't open it！ I'm serious！〃
〃Why not？〃 asked Harry。 〃Let's get rid of the damn thing； it's been months a150a150〃
〃I can't； Harry； I'm serious a150a150 you do it a150a150〃
〃But why？〃
〃Because that thing's bad for me！〃 said Ron； backing away from the locket on the rock。 〃I can't handle it！ I'm not making excuses； for what I was like； but it affects me worse than it affects you and Hermione； it made me think stuff a150a150 stuff that I was thinking anyway； but it made everything worse。 I can't explain it； and then I'd take it off and I'd get my head straight again； and then I'd have to put the effing thing back on a150a150 I can't do it Harry！〃
He had backed away； the sword dragging at his side； shaking his head。
〃You can do it；〃 said Harry； 〃you can！ You've just got the sword； I know it's supposed to be you who uses it。 Please just get rid of it Ron。〃
The sound of his name seemed to act like a stimulant。 Ron swallowed； then still breathing hard through his long nose； moved back toward the rock。
〃Tell me when；〃 he croaked。
〃On three；〃 said Harry； looking back down at the locket and narrowing his eyes； concentrating on the letter iSi； imagining a serpent； while the contents of the locket rattled like a trapped cockroach。 It would have been easy to pity it； except that the cut around Harry's neck still burned。
〃One 。 。 。 two 。 。 。 three 。 。 。iopeni。〃
The last word came as a hiss and a snarl and the golden doors of the locket swung wide open with a little click。
Behind both of the glass windows within blinked a living eye； dark and handsome as Tom Riddle's eyes had been before he turned them scarlet and slit…pupiled
〃Stab；〃 said Harry； holding the locket steady on the rock。
Ron raised the sword in his shaking hands： The point dangled over the frantically swiveling eyes； and Harry gripped the locket tightly； bracing himself； already imagining blood pouring from the empty windows。
Then a voice hissed from out the Horcrux。
〃iI have seen your heart； and it is mine。i〃
〃Don't listen to it！〃 Harry said harshly。 〃Stab it！〃
〃iI have seen your dreams； Ronald Weasley； and I have seen your fears。 All you desire is possible； but all that you dread is also possible。。。。〃i
〃Stab！〃 shouted Harry； his voice echoed off the surrounding trees； the sword point trembled； and Ron gazed down into Riddle's eyes。
〃iLeast loved； always； by the mother who craved a daughter 。 。 。 Least loved； now； by the girl who prefers your friend 。 。 。 Second best； always； eternally overshadowed 。 。 。〃i
〃Ron； stab it now！〃 Harry bellowed： He could feel the locket quivering in the grip and was scared of what was ing。 Ron raised the sword still higher； and as he did so； Riddle's eyes gleamed scarlet。
Out of the locket's two windows； out of the eyes； there bloomed like two grotesque bubbles； the heads of Harry and Hermione； weirdly distorted。
Ron yelled in shock and backed away as the figures blossomed out of the locket； first chests； then waists； then legs； until they stood in the locket； side by side like trees with a mon root； swaying over Ron and the real Harry； who had snatched his fingers away from the locket as it burned； suddenly； white…hot。
〃Ron！〃 he shouted； but the Riddle…Harry was now speaking with Voldemort's voice and Ron was gazing； mesmerized； into its face。
〃iWhy return？ We were better without you； happier without you； glad of your absence。。。。 We laughed at your stupidity； your cowardice； your presumptiona150a150i〃
〃iPresumption！i〃 echoed the Riddle…Hermione； who was more beautiful and yet more terrible than the real Hermione： She swayed； cackling； before Ron； who looked horrified； yet transfixed； the sword hanging pointlessly at his side。 〃iWho could look at you； who would ever look at you； beside Harry Potter？ What have you ever done； pared with the Chosen One？ What are you； pared with the Boy Who Lived？i〃
〃Ron； stab it； STAB IT！〃 Harry yelled； but Ron did not move。 His eyes were wide； and the Riddle…Harry and the Riddle…Hermione were reflected in them； their hair swirling like flames； their eyes shining red； their voices lifted in an evil duet。
〃iYour mother confessed；i〃 sneered Riddle…Harry； while Riddle…Hermione jeered； 〃ithat she would have preferred me as a son； would be glad to exchange。。。i〃
〃iWho wouldn't prefer him； what woman would take you； you are nothing； nothing； nothing to him；i〃 crooned Riddle…Hermione； and she stretched like a snake and entwined herself around Riddle…Harry； wrapping him in a close embrace： Their lips met。
On the ground in front of them； Ron's face filled with anguish。 he raised the sword high； his arms shaking。
〃Do it； Ron！〃 Harry yelled。
Ron looked toward him； and Harry thought he saw a trace of scarlet in his eyes。
〃Ron a150a150？〃
The sword flashed； plunged： Harry threw himself out of the way； there as a clang of metal and a long； drawn…out scream。 Harry whirled around； slipping in the snow； wand held ready to defend himself； but there was nothing to fight。
The monstrous versions of himself and Hermione were gone： There was only Ron； standing there with the sword held slackly in his hand； looking down at the shattered remains of the locket on the flat rock。
Slowly； Harry walked back to him； hardly knowing what to say or do。 Ron was breathing heavily： His eyes were no longer red at all； but their normal blue： they were also wet。
Harry stooped； pretending he had not seen； and picked up the broken Horcrux。 Ron had pierced the glass in both windows： Riddle's eyes