After visiting the Wool's Orphanage, it was already afternoon.
However, the trio did not head home but went directly to the cave mentioned in the souls' memories.
Since they had never been to the cave before, they had to physically travel there rather than using Apparition.
To save time, Alaric transformed into a dragon and flew the two girls to the vicinity of the cave.
This was the first time Fleur had seen Alaric's Animagus form, and she immediately recalled Hermione's performance in the first task of the Triwizard Tournament.
Being as clever as she was, Fleur quickly guessed the truth from Hermione—Hermione also knew how to transform into a dragon.
Fleur was extremely envious and spent the flight flirting and coaxing Alaric.
Eventually, he agreed to help her master such a technique when the time was right.
...
When they arrived near the cave, it was already evening.
After Alaric landed, the girls eagerly jumped down.
Even with magical protection, flying on a dragon's back for a long time was not a pleasant experience.
Here, they could smell the sea and hear the roaring waves.
Alaric looked out at the moonlit sea and the starry night sky, a cold breeze rustling through his hair.
Their landing spot was a high, black rock jutting out of the sea, with waves crashing and foaming beneath them.
Turning to look back, a cliff loomed, its steep rock face descending into darkness.
"What do you think?" Alaric asked.
His tone made it sound like he was assessing whether this was a good picnic spot.
"How could they have brought the orphans here?" Fleur asked, unable to imagine a less comfortable tourist spot.
"Oh, that's Muggle tourism," Hermione explained.
"The seaside is a popular tourist spot for Muggles. For a poor orphanage, the beach is enough to let the orphans breathe the sea air and see the waves.
However, the actual tourist spot is probably in the village halfway up those cliffs."
"Hermione is right," Alaric added.
"I believe they took the orphans there, but I think only Voldemort and the children he tormented have been to this place.
After all, Muggles can't climb this large rock unless they are particularly skilled at rock climbing; boats can't approach the cliffs because the surrounding waters are too dangerous.
I can imagine how Voldemort climbed up here—magic is definitely more effective than ropes.
He probably brought the two children along. I think he could have done it alone, don't you?"
Fleur glanced back at the cliff, shivering.
Alaric guided the girls to the edge of the rock, where many uneven crevices led down to large boulders partially exposed to the sea below.
Climbing down from here was very dangerous.
Hermione used a Levitation Charm, and the three of them floated gently down to the boulders.
The rocks below were slick from the seawater.
The girls felt the cold, salty spray on their faces.
"Lumos!"
Fleur was the first to land on the boulder closest to the cliff face and crouched down to cast a spell.
Tiny golden lights twinkled on the dark sea surface a few feet below her.
The sheer rock face beside her was illuminated as well.
"Do you see it?" Fleur asked softly, raising her wand higher.
Under the light, Hermione soon spotted a crack in the cliff, with the dark sea swirling inside.
She lightly tapped her wand, sending a red light arcing through the dark water, eventually hitting the edge of the crack and staying there.
The red light illuminated the crack's perimeter and marked it for them.
Hermione nodded to Fleur.
"Do you mind getting wet?"
"Not at all," Fleur replied.
The three of them cast Bubble-Head Charms on themselves and then entered the water one by one.
Alaric was the first to slide gently into the sea from the boulder, swimming towards the dark crack in the rock.
He kept his wand in his mouth and used a perfect frog kick.
The girls changed into their bikinis boldly and followed him.
The sea water was freezing cold.
Through the bubbles, the girls seemed to smell the sharp saltiness and seaweed. They followed Alaric towards the red light.
Soon, the crack became a dark passage.
Hermione noticed that it would likely be filled with seawater during high tide.
The walls of the passage, covered in sticky mud, were only three feet wide.
Under the red light, they glistened with a tar-like shine.
Further in, the passage turned left and extended to the deepest part of the cliff.
The girls continued to follow Alaric, their numb fingers brushing against the rough, damp rocks.
Finally, they saw Alaric stand up from the water ahead.
The two girls swam to him and discovered stairs leading to a large cavern.
They climbed the stairs with difficulty, finally emerging from the water.
The surrounding air was silent and cold, causing them to shiver uncontrollably.
There, Alaric had already conjured a campfire with his wand, illuminating the cavern.
In the bright firelight, the girls saw Alaric's black hair and water droplets sparkling.
His well-defined muscles were fully visible beneath the water droplets.
Although Hermione had seen and touched them before, she, like Fleur, was captivated by his perfect physique, her face flushed.
It was hard to imagine that a wizard who lived by magic could have such impressive muscles.
Only when they saw Alaric's intense eyes fixed on them in the firelight did the girls reluctantly turn away.
They suddenly realized they were also only in swimsuits, just like him.
Aside from Fleur's perfectly curved figure, even Hermione, who was still quite young, had a pretty adorable physique.
In such an atmosphere, if not for knowing that a Horcrux might be hidden in the cave, they might have engaged in more intimate interactions.
A cold wind blew, making the two girls shiver, and bringing them back to their senses.
The three of them turned their backs to each other, dried themselves with magic, and silently put on their clothes.
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