With a sharp crack, the group Apparated to Agra Fort.
Standing before an ancient Mauryan pillar, Anand lightly touched the intricate carvings with his wand. Under the curious gazes of Cassandra and the others, the patterns shimmered faintly where the wand made contact. The entrance to the Indian Ministry of Magic materialized, a space enhanced by an Undetectable Extension Charm, appearing vastly larger than its exterior suggested. Like its British counterpart, the entrance was accessed via an elevator-like structure.
...
While waiting for the elevator to descend, Anand addressed the matter most on Tom's mind: the individual the Indian Ministry suspected of instigating the recent "storm."
"Professor Tom Riddle, I believe you have already gleaned some information about this 'storm' through other channels."
Tom neither confirmed nor denied this, his gaze unwavering on Anand.
Understanding Tom's unspoken command, Anand cut to the chase. "Our Ministry suspects one individual, and we've been tracking his movements. He seems to have been approaching Hallownest, and we estimate his arrival coincided with the onset of the 'Storm'. His name is Kavi... Kavi Sharma."
Anand spoke the name with a hint of reminiscence. "I worked with him briefly about thirty years ago. He was insightful, capable, but unfortunately, too insightful..."
"Back then?"
Severus Snape stroked his chin thoughtfully. "He resigned? Or was he dismissed? And for what reason?"
"No, he was dismissed."
"..."
Anand offered a wry smile. "As I said, he was 'too insightful'."
"What sort of insights could he have possessed?"
Cassandra's tone was laced with disdain. "Did he aspire to rule the world?"
Hearing this, more than one person surreptitiously glanced at Tom Riddle.
"..."
Tom Riddle frowned. "Why are you staring at me? I harbor no such ambitions."
Indeed. You didn't; otherwise, you would have already succeeded.
Although, one might argue that success and the current situation are not so different.
"Ahem... He crossed a line with the Ministry of Magic. Kavi became excessively fixated on dangerous, forbidden spells, displaying a complete lack of restraint."
Anand swiftly steered the conversation. "He was expelled for uncovering an extremely dangerous, unknown spell at the source of a branch of the Ganges River. Unable to control it, he caused considerable harm to the surrounding Muggle population."
This sounded increasingly like...
"Ancient magic?"
Nagini frowned slightly, well aware of the perils of ancient magic. After all, she knew someone intimately familiar with its power.
"I cannot confirm if it was ancient magic, but it was exceedingly dangerous. When we located Kavi, he had already been corrupted by the magic, which had caused his own magic to become unstable."
Anand's mind flashed back to the horrific scene he had witnessed, his voice trembling slightly. "He slaughtered over a hundred Muggle villagers."
"Oh? In a single day?"
"..."
Seeing the familiar, speculative expressions directed at him, Tom Riddle's face darkened. The others promptly averted their gazes.
"In short, given Kavi's personality and abilities, he is the most likely candidate in India to have purloined the Garuda Feather from Hallownest," Anand continued. "Moreover, his movements and timing align perfectly."
A sharp "ding" echoed through the chamber. The elevator had arrived.
Anand quickly stepped forward to lead the way. "Professor Tom Riddle, and everyone, please follow me."
...
In the brightly lit corridor, the curry-tinged accents of the surrounding "English" prompted Malfoy to draw closer to Harry Potter. "Scarhead, do you believe this fellow Kavi truly knows Ancient Magic?"
"How could he?"
Harry Potter averted his gaze from the Ministry of Magic staff, a diverse mix of individuals in suits and traditional Indian attire.
"The man clearly couldn't control it. Besides..." Harry Potter shrugged. "Learning Ancient Magic requires specific conditions. You see that Cassandra hasn't mastered it yet, have you?"
Immediately after speaking, Harry Potter felt a sudden chill, realizing Cassandra's beautiful green eyes were fixed on him with unnerving calm.
"..."
Malfoy, with a distinct lack of sympathy, edged away from Harry Potter. "Sorry, Scarhead, I can't save you this time. Don't worry, I'll ensure you a seat from now on."
"Malfoy, you..."
"Heh, Mr. Potter isn't wrong."
Anand interjected, attempting to rescue Harry Potter, but also voicing his own thoughts. "Kavi's body was corrupted by that magic thirty years ago. Frankly, if he hadn't resurfaced so abruptly, I would have presumed him dead."
"But even if he's not dead, his body is certainly on the verge of collapse."
Anand, leading the way down the corridor, paused. "To be entangled with something that dangerous is a death sentence, even for a skilled wizard. Perhaps he stole the Garuda Feather in a desperate attempt to save himself."
"But he used the relic to unleash a massive and exceedingly dangerous storm," Severus Snape reminded him from the side.
"Indeed… and logically speaking, Kavi shouldn't be able to wield relics."
Anand frowned. "I wonder how he accomplished it."
Tom Riddle listened to their conversation, his gaze fixed on their destination directly ahead—the Department of Magical Accidents and Disasters, a division of the Indian Ministry of Magic.
"Regardless, wielding relics is no easy feat, particularly with his limited time."
Anand dismissed the thought, pushing open a door and ushering everyone inside. "Kavi poses no threat now."
The room was a labyrinth of corridors and cubicles, with records of magical accident management, dangerous magical creature distribution, and magical disasters prominently displayed on the walls. Ministry of Magic staff hurried about, their hands constantly in motion. Anand noticed this, attributing it to the lingering effects of the "storm."
He refrained from disturbing the staff's work, guiding the group to a larger cubicle deeper within the department.
---
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