*Morpheus pov*
After leaving the Ravenclaw Tower I swiftly returned to my room. I will sleep here tonight but first thing tomorrow morning I will set off again.
Although being a professor allows me to influence the next batch of capable British witches and wizards the heavy strain it puts on my freedom limits my ability to move how I wish.
Luckily, the traveling market moved to America and is setting up to open tomorrow. If they decided to wait until after the break I would have had to leave the castle during the school semester again.
The traveling market is the biggest black market in the wizarding world, even I do now know when the market was made. But, what I do know is the market has been around for hundreds of years.
The market moves around the world, and at each place, it stops invitations are sent. This signals the starting phase where people can go before the market truly opens and apply to be a vendor.
Next, the market will be fully open for one to two weeks, depending on several factors.
Whilst the market is open many rare and nearly extinct materials are readily available to buy.
Although I've lived for many years some ingredients are much too difficult for me to find on my own. The market is where I replenish and add more unique ingredients and materials to my stock.
I set out a black robe with golden sticking along the sleeves and next to it, I placed a golden and black mask that was completely flat. The mask was enchanted to allow me to see and still breathe perfectly.
Seeing my preparations were set I lay down in my bed, closing my eyes I replayed the earlier battle over and over again.
***
As the sun peaked through my windows I got up from my bed and got dressed in the clothes I specifically set out the night before.
Taking the traveling market invitation in my hand I ripped it horizontally. A deep blue fire sparked out and engulfed my body in a spiral.
Blinking my eyes I was now standing in a tent, the opening in the tent led to a wide stone path, and I could already see the numerous vendors in the distance.
As more people began to appear I started my journey.
My first stop was the exchange center to the right of the tent since there are people from all over the world here currency must be exchanged.
That way when I'm buying something the seller and I won't have to convert the currency ourselves. At the end of the day, you can easily go back and exchange for the currency you want.
I already had some universal currency left over from the previous market I attended but there is a possibility I would run out.
After exchanging my Galleons I left to truly roam the market this time.
As I walked down the stone path I swiveled my head back and forth making sure I wasn't missing anything important.
Soon I reached a stall I was actually interested in, "How much for the Horned Serpent jewels?" I asked
"Fifteen thousand each," The seller answered gruffly
He was wearing a translation pendant that allowed him to understand what I was saying. Most customers also wore them but I didn't need to.
I frowned, "These are obviously from homegrown Serpents, the jewels wouldn't be as effective as the ones from wild-horned Serpents," I said calmly
Before the seller could reply I added, "Fifty thousand for the lot,"
"Do you take me for a fool? Move along if you are going to be unreasonable," The Seller sneered
"That's fine I can just stay here and let everyone else know these aren't wild jewels," I replied with a shrug I had the time
"Sixty," He countered
"Fifty-five, you will still be making quite the profit," I said lightly
He fell silent, he watched me with narrow eyes as if he were trying to look behind my mask.
"Fine," He said begrudgingly
I left the stall fifty-five thousand short but, truly I made a great deal. These jewels can provide the ability to fly but, what I wanted them for was something entirely different.
Leaving the stall I continued to stop at a few other stalls and buy some things I needed. As my funds started to dwindle so was the list of things I needed to buy.
Finally, after hours of shopping, I was prepared to leave but, just as I turned to head back something caught my eye.
A stall that seemed grander than the others next to it was surrounded by a group of people all wearing the same type of robes and masks.
I wandered over to see what the fuss was about, leaning to the left of the crowd I finally saw the object they were bartering for.
Two things surprised me, one was that I could feel a very familiar presence within the group. In the center of the group of robed individuals was someone wearing a different mask, his mask was silver like the others but made in the image of a snake.
How could I not find the man familiar? I have his Horcrux stored away right now!
The second thing that surprised me was the object of their attention, it was a small fruit.
I recognized the fruit instantly, it was a very rare fruit called 'Tānlán de guǒshí' by the Chinese which when roughly translated means 'fruit of greed'.
This fruit has many purposes but its main legend revolves around a young talentless wizard finding this fruit and eating it. After the young wizard at the fruit supposedly he became the strongest wizard of his generation.
The legend stops there as what people don't want to be known is that the young wizard also died young. The cause was very simple, the fruit.
The fruit would forcefully open your body up to the ambient magic in the air, this caused whoever ate the fruit to feel extremely powerful.
But as time passes the ambient magic destroys your body from the inside.
"Five hundred thousand," one of the black-robed men with a silver skull mask said heatedly
"Too little! Do you know what this fruit is capable of? Do you value the potential to be the strongest wizard in the world at a mere five hundred thousand?" The seller scoffed whilst playing the fruit up
"We don't know if the legend is true or not you bloody idiot," The young man who spoke before snarled
I spoke up at this point, "Say shopkeep why are you selling this Huànjué guǒ for so much?" my voice carried discontent like I was being scammed
Tom Riddle in his snake mask turned to me and asked, "What do you mean Huànjué guǒ? Isn't this the Tānlán de guǒshí?"
I laughed loudly as if I were mocking him, "Are you blind that's obviously the Huànjué guǒ, although they look similar to the Tānlán de guǒshí, Huànjué guǒ have a small spiral pattern on the stem, that's where the name hallucination fruit comes from,"
"What nonsense are you spouting!" the seller yelled at me
Tom stared at me deeply, I could feel him trying to find my eyes to unleash a mental probe.
Finally, he looked away and said to his group, "We didn't bring enough anyway let's go,"
"My Lord are you sure this guy could be lying" one of the mask men asked while pointing at me
"Why would he lie, anyway if we bought this then we wouldn't have enough for what we need," Tom replied as he walked away
Once the group was a little away I turned to the seller and said, "I'll buy the fruit for seven hundred thousand," my voice carried a little and I could suddenly feel a great amount of rage emanating from the previous group
I turned and saw that Tom turned back around and stared at me deeply, he seemed to be trying to engrave my soul into his memories.
"Deal!" the seller said with excitement
I laughed a little and asked if he could wait for me to grab more money.
I was out.
Luckily being very old means money is hardly an issue.
***
A/N: Patre on: patreon.com/Boogie324
The first meeting with Tom was a little humorous.