"Master, my master!" Peter Pettigrew's voice was filled with a mix of fear and reverence as he stumbled upon the deformed figure of Voldemort. His initial incoherent babbling ceased when Voldemort, despite his weakened state, managed to heal him. Together, they left the cabin, only to encounter an unexpected intruder—a blind witch who had stumbled into their hideout. Voldemort quickly realized she had been hit by a potent Memory Charm. After reversing the spell, he delved into her mind with Legilimency and discovered that his followers were still out there, plotting and waiting. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Voldemort, his old adversary Barty Crouch had already infiltrated his sanctuary at Silver Hand Manor, though Voldemort waited in vain for any of his loyal followers to appear.
A week had elapsed since the chaos of the World Cup, and John had not returned home. His belongings were already settled in Silverhand Manor. With the new school year on the horizon, Kim Ledisley was preparing to return to Ilvermorny. Before his departure, John appointed him as an assistant in the American branch, entrusting him to work alongside Nagini. "I'm leaving. See you next year," Kim said, a hint of melancholy in his voice. Heinrich, ever stoic, responded with a curt, "Get lost." Kim's grin was his last goodbye before he vanished through the portkey.
The Triwizard Tournament meant Heinrich was exempt from returning to Durmstrang. John spent his remaining days focused on crafting Philosopher's Stones, achieving his fourth creation on the dawn of the school year.
The journey to King's Cross Station was quiet, with Tang Mi driving and John lost in thought in the back seat, the Daily Prophet in his hands. He couldn't help but chuckle at the article praising Barty Crouch's handling of the World Cup incident, and the mention of "Johnny Silverhand" as a hero who single-handedly quelled the riot. The article speculated on John's power, comparing him to Dumbledore, a notion John found flattering yet inaccurate. He considered himself far from Dumbledore's level, attributing his success to ancient magic and his artifacts rather than raw power.
Upon arriving at King's Cross, John dismissed Tang Mi and made his way to platform nine and three-quarters alone. Finding a quiet compartment on the Hogwarts Express, he settled in for the journey, letting his thoughts wander to the upcoming Triwizard Tournament and the inevitable return of Voldemort. John knew he couldn't prevent Voldemort's resurgence, but he was determined to weaken his forces as much as possible. He understood that Voldemort and Dumbledore were of a similar caliber, and while Voldemort might not match Dumbledore's current strength, he was still a formidable opponent. As the train began its journey, John's resolve hardened; he would do whatever it took to protect those he cared about from the looming threat. Dumbledore's confrontation with Voldemort was a battle not just of magic, but of time itself. Dumbledore, despite his wisdom and power, was over a century old, facing the wear of time. Voldemort, in contrast, was in his sixties, a period often considered the peak of a wizard's magical strength. The disparity between the two was stark: a weary phoenix against a viper at its prime. If only Dumbledore were younger, Voldemort might not have been as formidable a threat. John, lost in thought and absentmindedly fiddling with a ring, pondered over Voldemort's Horcruxes. As someone who had traveled through time, his memory of the plot was fragmented, yet certain elements remained clear—Snape's undying love and sacrifice, the quest for the Deathly Hallows, the adventures of the protagonist group, and the crucial Horcruxes. Without destroying these Horcruxes, defeating Voldemort would be a futile endeavor.
From what John could recall, apart from Nagini, the Horcruxes were tied to the relics of Hogwarts' four founders. However, only the sword of Gryffindor was not used as a Horcrux. The other three founders' relics were, and John vaguely remembered that Slytherin's locket was hidden in a cave. The exact location of this cave eluded him—it was either near the orphanage where Tom Riddle grew up or close to Voldemort's father's residence. "If only there was a device that could detect Horcruxes," John mused before being interrupted by the carriage door swinging open.
"Daphne!" John greeted, noticing her attempt to maintain her composure and elegance as she sat beside him. The brief moment of privacy was soon disrupted by Draco Malfoy's entrance, whose presence immediately tensed the atmosphere. Daphne's glare could have ignited a fire, causing Malfoy to reconsider his stay. However, before he could act, Goyle barged in with an armful of snacks, unwittingly blocking Malfoy's exit. The tension in the air was palpable, even if Goyle remained oblivious to it.
The carriage door seemed to have a life of its own, swinging open yet again to admit Crabbe, who excitedly announced a sighting of Harry Potter. Malfoy, Goyle, and Crabbe quickly vacated the carriage, leaving behind a trail of Malfoy's boastful remarks about possibly attending Durmstrang. Daphne, seizing the moment of solitude, was about to speak when the door interrupted her once more.
This time, Heinrich entered. John, half-joking, remarked, "I thought you'd return to Durmstrang to confirm." Heinrich's response was flat, expressing a disdain for Igor Karkaroff, Durmstrang's headmaster, whom he described as cowardly and unworthy of respect. Heinrich's contempt wasn't reserved for Karkaroff alone; he had little regard for his uncle, a man who betrayed his comrades for freedom.
Daphne, intrigued by Heinrich's rare openness about his family, inquired further. Heinrich, with a detached demeanor, shared that his grandfather had been a follower of Grindelwald and had died for the cause, leaving behind a legacy of ambition and talent within a diminished family. His uncle, despite his potential, had chosen a path of betrayal, a decision Heinrich found repugnant.
This conversation peeled back layers of Heinrich's character, revealing the complexities of his heritage and the disdain he held for those who lacked courage and loyalty. After being vanquished by Voldemort, he chose to align himself with the Dark Lord, becoming a Death Eater. From that moment, he severed ties with his family, only to return upon Voldemort's defeat. Edgar admired those who pledged loyalty to the powerful, viewing them as the right hand of strength, for they were willing to devote themselves entirely to someone they believed in. He didn't scorn his uncle; rather, he pitied him for his misplaced allegiance.
As their conversation about family matters drew to a close, the rain outside intensified, pounding against the windows of the Hogwarts Express. The train began to decelerate, approaching Hogsmeade station amidst a backdrop of a stormy sky. Lightning illuminated the scene, revealing Hagrid's towering presence on the platform, a sight as reliable as the seasons. He caught sight of John and greeted him with a wave, a gesture that felt like a warm welcome back to a world apart from the one they had just been discussing.
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Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge