"You’re right, Voldemort did encourage me to make a Horcrux, but he never forced me – it’s not something you can force someone to do, a person’s soul is free, and no amount of torture can change that," he began telling slowly and quietly after a few minutes of complete silence. "He did encourage me, though, he showed me how to do it. But I created a Horcrux not because of Voldemort, but because—" He stopped mid-sentence, giving her a strange look. "I made it because I needed to stay alive. I had to protect the one I care about, and I would be unable to do it if I was dead. I murdered my mother to make it. I don’t believe it can get worse than that, even for you, Granger."