Early the next morning, Solim and Elrond prepared to leave for Little Hangleton with a collection of items from Gilvez.
Deli deliberately got up early, planning to intercept Elrond just as he was about to use the Portkey. His idea was either to wait for the Portkey's cooldown inside the manor or to force them outside so they could use Apparition. He had thought everything through, but he didn't expect Elrond and Solim to leave the manor without using the Portkey at all.
"Aren't they planning to go back to Selwyn Castle directly?" Deli wondered from a hidden corner. "This will disrupt the plan. I should inform the Rich family first. It seems this time they won't be able to catch them—they're already gone."
Although Deli wanted to eliminate Elrond and Solim, he would not allow anyone to set up an ambush outside the manor. Doing so would inevitably alert Gilvez.
The trouble that Elrond had anticipated didn't appear, and no one seemed interested in uncovering the secret of the potion. Upon reaching Little Hangleton, Solim voiced his doubts.
"Fool, it's just in case," Elrond said impatiently. "Of course it's best not to be noticed. And I'm sure you haven't realized the little trick that nephew of Gilvez played."
Solim was perplexed. He knew the two men had bad intentions. He could guess that they wanted to prevent Flaiger from becoming a wizard—because once Flaiger became a wizard, the head of the Orvis family would have no leverage over Deli.
Even in this matter, some "accidents" could be arranged, which Solim could foresee. But what did it matter to him if that kid, Flaiger, died or not? That was Gilvez's problem.
"Usually he seems smart, but why is he so stupid in critical moments?" Elrond grumbled. "When we left just now, that kid was staring at us. He probably reported to the Rich family and prepared an ambush. And of course, it's mainly your fault."
Solim had already eliminated his heir; it wasn't surprising that there would be no retaliation. Usually, hiding in Hogwarts, they didn't face much danger in Dumbledore's territory. But this time, Solim was neither in Hogwarts nor hiding in Selwyn Castle. Naturally, such a good opportunity would not be wasted.
Hearing this, Solim felt a twinge of anxiety. No matter how talented he was, an eleven-year-old could not handle adult wizards. And with Elrond by his side, they couldn't hope to hide from others. If they were caught, it would be over for both of them.
"What should we do then?" Solim asked, uneasy. Despite his experience in black-glove duels, sneak attacks, and ambushes in Sigule, children's tricks could not compare to a true battle with adult wizards.
Solim was talented and knew many spells, but confronting adult wizards? He might only last four or five rounds, and that against an ordinary adult wizard. The Rich family, however, were far from ordinary. Perhaps the wizards they sent would be even more formidable.
"Look at you! Don't worry. They won't catch us," Elrond said dismissively. His confidence, whether heartless or genuine, left Solim uneasy.
Unlike the newly repaired main road, the dirt road they followed remained winding, full of potholes, rocks, and overgrown vegetation. Bushes and hedges had become dense and wild, covering the road in places. It had been nearly a hundred years, yet this stretch seemed untouched by time, stagnant and ancient.
After passing through thick, old trees, Solim finally saw the Gaunt family's old house.
The Gaunts' home was unmistakable—it was a dilapidated ruin. Moss-covered walls held up the main structure with stubborn tenacity. Roof tiles had fallen off, leaving exposed, rotting rafters. Doors and windows were gone, leaving dark holes, while dense nettles and wild plants had overtaken the property. Inside, the sound of insects crawling through decayed wood echoed faintly.
"It's pretty good here," Elrond noted, "away from Muggles, and you don't have to worry about triggering any expulsion spells."
Solim followed obediently into the house. He noticed many holes in the doorframe, some with remnants of daggers—evidence of Morfin Gaunt's childhood games. Morfin, like the other Gaunts, had the Parseltongue gift from Slytherin blood. He loved playing with snakes but rarely cherished them, often nailing them to doorframes to frighten others once bored.
Inside the Gaunt house, Elrond showed a side of himself Solim had never seen before. His wand shone brightly in his right hand, illuminating the dim room. Solim could now see Elrond's serious expression clearly.
"Over there," Elrond motioned toward a drawer, "there's only the faintest trace of magic in the room."
Solim could smell only damp wood and decay. A dilapidated wooden cabinet, caked with grime, dominated the space. Elrond pointed his wand at one drawer, and it slowly slid open with a harsh creak after decades of disuse. Inside lay a ring.
Both Solim and Elrond recognized it immediately—the resurrection stone ring of the Gaunt family. Famously known during Marvolo Gaunt's time and earlier, this ring had been the family's primary source of income. The resurrection stone could summon the consciousness or soul of the dead, provided one knew how to wield it correctly. Some wizards even rented it from the Gaunts when needed.
Elrond examined the ring intently. Then he raised his wand and muttered incantations that Solim didn't understand. A black mist emerged from the ring, forming a human face that opened its mouth in a silent scream. Satisfied, Elrond polymorphed a stick into a small box and carefully placed the ring inside.
"You're done! Let's go back quickly—I can't wait!" Elrond said excitedly.
"That's it?" Solim asked in disbelief. "That counts as getting it?"
"Of course not! There's an instant-death curse attached, targeting both body and soul. Even a great wizard, if they wore it, wouldn't survive more than a few days unless protected. It's not easy to lift this curse."
"Should someone else carry it then?"
Elrond glanced at Solim. "Yes. Have someone wear it, and the curse becomes useless—it's a one-time use. Riddle's enchantments are strong, but manageable."
After speaking, Elrond waved his wand sharply, shaking the room slightly.
"Okay, I've cleared our traces. Let's go back." He shook out a gray key tied to a chain, securing it to his wrist. "Hold on to me!"
Solim and Elrond returned to Selwyn Castle safely via the Portkey. Elrond didn't speak and hurried to the basement with the box, his agility surpassing Solim's despite the latter being young and trained.
At the door, Solim saw his sister Sylna staring curiously.
"What's wrong with Grandpa?" she asked. "The one who shouted just now ran in."
"Uh…" Solim didn't tell her about the resurrection stone. "I'm a little busy. Don't come in, okay?"
Elrond was completely absorbed in his work, muttering incantations at the Resurrection Stone and jotting notes on parchment. Solim sat quietly nearby, watching. He was mainly concerned that Elrond might be tempted to wear the ring himself. He didn't know why Elrond hadn't removed the curse before starting his research, but he wasn't about to interrupt someone in such a state. If Elrond showed any signs of wanting to wear it, Solim would intervene.
Time passed. Sirna eventually brought a plate of food. Solim didn't notice the meal at first, entirely absorbed in watching Elrond. They ate quietly, careful not to disturb him.
Later, Elrond finally noticed their presence.
"Have you eaten?" he asked irritably. "Why didn't you call me?"
Solim and Sirna exchanged glances. Sirna said lightly, "Brother should handle scolding him."
"You were too involved, so we didn't call you," Solim added quickly, eager to change the subject.
Elrond ignored them, speaking excitedly about his discovery. He was so absorbed he didn't even guide Sirna away from the workbench. Solim decided not to interfere. He reasoned that Sirna, as a younger sister, would eventually learn about such things. She wasn't talkative, so it didn't matter if she observed now.
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