The Socket Spirit's escape haunted Dumbledore's waking hours.
He tossed and turned, sleep eluding him.
He couldn't fathom how the imposters they'd captured, each claiming to be Voldemort, were all decoys.
But… why?
Dumbledore was perplexed. Logically, the bald Voldemort (remnant soul) couldn't have simply slipped through their fingers.
He wasn't the Tom Riddle/Voldemort they knew, the one they'd faced before.
He wasn't powerful enough… unless he'd stumbled upon some unforeseen advantage?
Though the possibility was remote, Dumbledore felt a knot of unease tighten in his stomach.
Tom Riddle/Voldemort had assured him he would handle it, but still…
Unable to remain in bed any longer, Dumbledore rose.
Click.
The warm glow of a lamp illuminated Dumbledore's study.
The furnishings mirrored his Headmaster's Office, albeit with a touch less grandeur. A wooden perch stood beside the desk, but Fawkes, who usually slept soundly there, was conspicuously absent.
Dumbledore wasn't concerned. A fully grown phoenix was no easy prey, and even Dumbledore himself would struggle to capture Fawkes against his will.
After all, a phoenix's Apparition was virtually untraceable.
He imagined Fawkes was out exploring, perhaps visiting Tom's Thunderbird. Fawkes was fond of the creature's presence, but alas, Fawkes was male; otherwise, he might have played matchmaker. He wasn't even sure the Thunderbird would be interested in Fawkes.
The Thunderbird was, after all, a magnificent beast, its bloodline even stronger than its close relative, the phoenix, and its magic of terrifying magnitude.
Gellert Grindelwald had recently complained, lamenting that he was a nobody, that even Tom's pet bird could best him, and that he'd be thoroughly trounced in a sparring match if he wasn't careful.
The memory caused Dumbledore's mustache to twitch. He secretly wished Gellert Grindelwald could meet Tom's pet snake… perhaps he should arrange a visit for Gellert Grindelwald to see Tom's menagerie, though he wondered about the diet of the world-devouring snake.
Feeling slightly better, Dumbledore settled into his chair, idly opening a drawer beside him. It overflowed with an assortment of sweets, all freshly acquired from Honeydukes.
Dumbledore ate candy voraciously, never stopping once he started.
And Tom Riddle/Voldemort often purchased his confectionery from him, making him one of Honeydukes' most loyal patrons.
Chewing on the candy, the sugary rush sharpened his thoughts.
Behind his half-moon spectacles, his keen eyes scanned the window, as if attempting to locate the escaped madman lurking in the shadows.
"Al?"
A familiar voice echoed in his ear. Turning towards the sound, he saw Gellert Grindelwald, clad in pajamas, leaning against the door with a yawn, still bleary-eyed with sleep.
Though Gellert Grindelwald could function without sleep for extended periods, he had grown to enjoy the luxury since departing Nurmengard.
"Still fretting over that fellow?"
Gellert Grindelwald casually pulled up a chair and sat beside Dumbledore.
Dumbledore sighed, anxiety clouding his eyes. "That Tom Riddle/Voldemort is far too dangerous now. We have no knowledge of when he will return, or… how he will return."
Recalling the appearance of the Lanlock dragon, that feeling of helplessness was one Dumbledore hadn't experienced in decades, not until meeting Tom Riddle/Voldemort.
Gellert Grindelwald nonchalantly unwrapped a sweet, popped it into his mouth, and frowned slightly. "Too sweet!"
"Didn't Tom Riddle/Voldemort say he would handle it?"
The younger wizard rarely took initiative, so Gellert Grindelwald felt there was no cause for alarm. The most problematic individual was addressing the issue; what was there to worry about?
They merely needed to determine his successor as headmaster, and then discuss their next destination.
"No, Al, we cannot allow him to operate unsupervised."
Dumbledore's brow remained furrowed. "I know Tom Riddle/Voldemort. He won't bother pursuing another version of himself unless it becomes necessary."
"..."
Gellert Grindelwald remained silent, acknowledging the truth in Albus's statement.
Dumbledore turned to Gellert Grindelwald, a hint of anticipation in his gaze. "Gellert, do you have any insight into how he escaped?"
However, to Dumbledore's disappointment, Gellert Grindelwald merely shook his head slightly. "I can see nothing, it's all a blur."
Dumbledore's spirits sank slightly.
But Gellert Grindelwald reassured him, "Don't fret, Tom Riddle/Voldemort will undoubtedly resolve it."
There was something he omitted from Dumbledore: the type of prophetic outcome where nothing could be seen, such as the Socket Spirit's escape, had only occurred with Tom Riddle/Voldemort before.
So it was apparent that this was Tom's design.
Although he didn't have any insights into what the kid was planning, Gellert Grindelwald was impatient to see what he would devise, which was why he elected not to tell Dumbledore.
"…"
Dumbledore maintained his silence. He was about to speak when a burst of flames ignited beside him.
It was Fawkes.
And he held a newspaper in his beak.
Dumbledore curiously accepted the Daily Prophet.
The first thing he saw caused Dumbledore to freeze.
The headline blared: [A Dark Lord's Sinister Scheme: Dangerous Monster on the Loose!]
The accompanying image was of a bald, noseless lunatic.
It was the Socket Spirit, and beneath it was a bounty of 50 million Galleons! Dead or alive!
"That Tom Riddle/Voldemort… he has placed a bounty on another version of himself?"
Gellert Grindelwald, who had drawn closer, wore an amused expression.
Because the Daily Prophet's headline unequivocally stated that this escaped "monster" was a malevolent thought that the Dark Lord had magically separated himself from.
What Tom Riddle/Voldemort had orchestrated with the Ministry of Magic both reassured the wizarding world, demonstrating that he was merely a normal, powerful wizard, posing no threat, and directly explained the emergence of the Socket Spirit and issued a warrant for its capture.
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