Dumbledore received Tom's message, relayed via a basilisk Patronus, that he was going away for a while.
"That kid…"
Watching the Patronus dissipate, Grindelwald suddenly felt much improved. "He's just like you, sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. No wonder he's your student."
He had briefly entertained the thought of tricking Tom into resolving the matter himself. But considering Tom's personality, the outcome was secondary.
His biggest worry was offending the boy. Knowing Tom's vengeful nature, Grindelwald was quite sure he wouldn't even get a honeymoon with Alfred before he was pushing up daisies.
And honeymooning after death?
Perhaps death was the only escape from Tom's "revenge."
"Hmph… Tom is my most prized student."
Dumbledore was immensely pleased by Grindelwald's words, his mustache twitching as he chuckled.
"…"
Grindelwald gave Dumbledore a complicated look. I can't handle your most prized student… but I can still bully someone else you like.
Isn't there that Scamander kid?
He's another one I can't stand… I'll have to find time to rough him up.
…
While Dumbledore daydreamed about his honeymoon and Grindelwald plotted against Newt, in the dungeons beneath the castle, Severus Snape sat in his office.
Knock, knock, knock…
"Enter," Snape responded, not even bothering to look up from his potion recipe.
Click.
Cassandra pushed open the door and stepped inside, her expression as cold as ever. "Professor Snape, Tom Riddle requires you to accompany him on a long journey."
"Does he now?"
A strange flicker passed through Snape's eyes, quickly masked. "I understand."
Cassandra said nothing more, turned, and left Snape's office, closing the door behind her.
Snape was once again alone.
He rolled up his sleeve, gazing at the Dark Mark – the silver serpent entwined around the Elder Wand – and sank deep into thought.
...
Southeast England, Ramsgate Dock in Kent.
It was one of the largest docks along the south coast, boasting massive arched structures and a pier lined with sailboats.
From the harbor, one could faintly make out the white cliffs in the distance.
As evening approached, the golden afterglow washed over the sea, causing it to shimmer and sparkle as if filled with countless tiny golden fish.
The Hogwarts group arrived.
"Tom, where are the Petils?" Cassandra asked, following behind Tom, hands clasped behind her back, curiously observing the Muggle structures she saw for the first time.
"Up ahead." Tom didn't answer; instead, Nagini pointed.
Snape, trailing behind, remained silent. He didn't know why Tom had brought him along, but he knew his place and would act accordingly.
Before Lily [Potter]'s death, he had been one of the "best Death Eater" candidates.
Now, Snape watched Harry and Malfoy playing happily on the docks.
"Harry, I must admit, even without magic, Muggles are quite skilled at architecture."
Malfoy gazed at the countless sailboats with undisguised curiosity. "How are we getting there this time? By boat? Where is our boat?"
"Don't even think about it. We're definitely not using one of those."
Harry rolled his eyes. Even putting aside whether those unenchanted boats could cross the ocean to India, to avoid embarrassing the Dark Lord, they would never take such small boats.
The Petil family, who had been waiting on the dock, spotted Tom and his group.
Besides the Petil sisters, stood a middle-aged man in a suit, with light brown skin.
This must be the Petil sisters' father. But where is their mother? Perhaps she's abroad, or perhaps…
"Professor Riddle!"
Mr. Petil greeted them warmly as he approached. "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Ashok Petil."
Ashok extended his hand to Tom, apparently seeking a friendly handshake.
"…"
Tom remained unmoved, his expression indifferent, leaving Ashok feeling awkward.
But Ashok could understand. Tom was the Dark Lord, a being at the pinnacle of the world. He didn't need to fawn over anyone or engage in such trivial formalities.
He didn't need to say "Likewise, hello" to strangers and then act like he was "overwhelmed with gratitude."
Ashok understood all of this. Just as he was about to withdraw his hand and change the subject to ease the awkwardness, Tom glanced at the Patil sisters behind Ashok before finally extending his right hand to shake Ashok's. "Hello."
Nagini, noticing this, smiled slightly, knowing her Tom wouldn't "lose face for the father in front of his students."
He might have initially become a professor for amusement, but he wasn't the irresponsible Dark Lord others imagined.
It was one of the key reasons Hogwarts students like the Patil sisters became his Death Eaters.
"Ah?!"
Ashok, flattered, couldn't mask his grin. "Professor, please, come with me! I've already prepared the tickets. We can talk more once we're on board."
He led Tom in another direction on the dock, while Harry and the others followed, chatting with the Patil sisters about India.
However, Snape stood out from the rest.
Snape stared at Ashok, his expression serious. "…"
Damn it, he's the professor, and I'm not?
...
They walked to the outermost edge of the dock, a place seemingly "abandoned" due to the absence of Muggles.
But this apparent "abandonment" was merely an illusion.
As the sun set and the tide began to rise, Ashok walked to the slightly faded blue lighthouse.
He took out his wand and lightly tapped the oyster pattern engraved on the base of the lighthouse, which read: "When the tide rises, the river flows."
A bright blue light suddenly emanated from the oyster pattern, spreading throughout the entire lighthouse.
Then the lighthouse seemed to automatically open a passage large enough for several people to pass through.
The "inner world" was completely different from the desolate exterior. Through the passage, a hidden harbor was revealed, its shores bathed in dim, yellow lights, where wizards in robes moved about.
Whoosh…
The sound of a cruise ship's horn reached their ears.
"Let's go, the ship seems to have arrived."
---
There are readers who walk ahead of the story — who know what the night holds before it arrives. They found their way to Patreon. Perhaps you will too.