Marvolo let go of Merope's arm.
Merope, like a discarded rag doll, stumbled back to her corner, curling up in the shadow by the window.
She gasped for air, clutching her head, her dry, long hair hanging like a curtain, hiding her face.
Seeing that she was alright, Ogden once again faced off intensely with Marvolo. He was resolute, insisting that Morfin face the judgment of the law:
"Morfin is to appear in court on September fourteenth, to answer the charge of using magic in front of a Muggle, causing said Muggle injury and distress—"
Just as he was speaking, the tinkling of bells, the clip-clop of hooves, and cheerful laughter drifted in from outside the window, interrupting Ogden.
Merope suddenly looked up, her face shockingly pale, her eyes filled with terror and a mix of complex emotions.
"Oh, what an eyesore!" A pleasant female voice clearly carried in through the open window, as if the girl speaking were standing right inside the room with them. "Tom, can't your father just tear down that dilapidated shack?"
"That's not ours," a young man's voice patiently explained. "The land on the other side of the valley is all ours, but that little shack belongs to an old vagrant named Gaunt and his children—"
The girl's clear laughter echoed into the room again, and the tinkling of bells and clip-clop of hooves grew louder.
"Tom," the girl's curious voice rang out again, much closer this time, suggesting they had arrived near the house. "Am I seeing things—is there a dead snake nailed to that door?"
"Yeah, you're not seeing things," the man's voice affirmed. "Must be old Gaunt's son, I told you before, that kid's not quite right in the head. Never mind it, my dear Cecilia."
Snape, curious, walked to the filthy wooden door, disdainfully passing right through the closed door and out.
On the path, two fine horses were turning around, preparing to head back to the main road.
On a sleek, dark bay horse sat a handsome young man with black hair, his eyes and features the spitting image of a young Voldemort; beside him, a beautiful girl on a grey horse rode alongside.
The two chatted and laughed the whole way.
The tinkling of bells and clip-clop of hooves began to fade, slowly moving away.
As Snape was about to return inside, a furious roar in Parseltongue erupted from within the old house, full of anger and humiliation, shouted by Marvolo.
"My daughter—a pure-blood descendant of Salazar Slytherin—actually fell for a filthy, low-class Muggle—you hateful little Squib, you disgusting little good-for-nothing!"
Immediately after, a piercing scream cut through the air. Ogden, clutching his head with his arms, rushed out of the house in a panic, and Dumbledore slowly followed behind him.
Ogden, like a startled rabbit, bolted up the dirt road, then frantically turned onto the main road, crashing into the dark bay horse.
Tom and Cecilia burst into laughter at Ogden's disheveled appearance and strange attire.
Amidst the clear laughter, Dumbledore walked to Snape's side, gently patting him, signaling it was time to go back.
He took Snape's arm, carrying him through the clear summer sky, flying higher and higher into the darkness, gently landing on the carpet of the Headmaster's office.
By this time, twilight had draped the sky like a thin veil, and leaden grey clouds drifted over the grounds.
Dumbledore waved his wand, and several night lamps lit up, their soft glow dispelling the gloom in the room.
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"What happened next," he said, walking behind his desk and sitting down, "Tiberius told me that Ogden returned to the old Gaunt house with reinforcements, subdued Marvolo and Morfin, and later the Wizengamot sentenced them. They were released after serving their time."
"But from what Ogden said, Morfin was apparently later imprisoned in Azkaban again for murdering the Riddles."
"So, are you planning to visit Morfin in Azkaban?" Snape asked, sitting opposite Dumbledore.
"In a while," Dumbledore sighed. "There's a lot going on with the Order of the Phoenix lately, and I haven't had a chance to introduce you to everyone yet."
"When I have time, do you want to come to Azkaban with me?"
"No thanks," Snape said. "I'm not particularly fond of that place, you go ahead. But I am quite interested in the old Gaunt house; don't leave me out when you go there."
"Alright," Dumbledore nodded, speaking slowly. "This trip's yield was even greater than I expected."
"Yes, Professor," Snape echoed. "Another potential Horcrux, isn't it?"
"Very good," Dumbledore gave him an approving look. "Although we still don't know the locations of the other three potential Horcruxes besides the diadem, having this much progress is already quite good."
"With you involved, even though it sometimes raises my blood pressure, things definitely move much faster."
"Should I get you some Muggle blood pressure medicine, Professor?" Snape said with a grin.
He still knew about Tom's diary but had no good reason to tell the Headmaster right now, so he'd save that for later.
"Professor," Snape recalled the ring with the Peverell crest. "Do you still have Potter's Invisibility Cloak?"
"You recognized that mark?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "I returned that Invisibility Cloak to James during the winter holiday."
"Yeah, what wizard hasn't heard 'The Tale of the Three Brothers'?" Snape said blandly. "I even had a copy of 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' when I was little."
"But if you returned the Invisibility Cloak to Potter, won't he just bring it back to school?"
"I told him," Dumbledore said, "that if the Invisibility Cloak was confiscated again, it wouldn't be returned to him. I think he wouldn't dare take that risk."
"So you're sure that Invisibility Cloak is—?" Snape deliberately asked.
"Even though that Invisibility Cloak is very unique, I can still see through it," Dumbledore said. "Therefore, I can't be certain that it's the legendary Cloak of Death, although it might be because my magic is too profound."
Since the purpose of this trip had been achieved, Snape bid farewell to Dumbledore to return to his warm bed.
But just as he stood up, Dumbledore called out to him.
"Severus, lately when I make a wrong turn going to the bathroom in the early morning, I haven't been able to get back into that 'Room of Requirement' with the fancy chamber pot. Do you have any idea why?"
"Oh, really?" Snape said nonchalantly. "I wouldn't know, Professor. Good night."
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