Harry's reunion with his friends took place beside a desolate, weed-choked well in the middle of nowhere. It appeared to be nothing more than an abandoned ruin: crumbling structures huddled around a dried-up well, with no other sign of civilization in sight. The only visitors one might expect were wild animals, or perhaps those with... specific needs.
However, for wizards, this place was far from ordinary. It was a hidden nexus point, the location of a clandestine Portkey.
"Still not here? They're so slow." Malfoy, looking bored, squatted down and began to idly poke at some insects, periodically glancing back at Tom Riddle, who was seated near the well.
Tom Riddle was, as usual, engrossed in his collection of fairy tales, though Malfoy couldn't shake the feeling that his master wasn't truly reading.
Cassandra, finally embracing her age advantage, seemed determined to snuggle up beside Tom Riddle and read along, only to be intercepted by Nagini, who hissed, "You are practically an adult now, Cassandra."
Clearly unwilling to be outmaneuvered by a snake, Cassandra promptly retrieved the "token of affection" Tom Riddle had gifted her and marched off to provoke Nagini into a duel.
Watching the intermittent flashes of light in the distance, Malfoy couldn't help but marvel at Cassandra's increasing power. She was now capable of holding her own against Professor Nagini!
What Malfoy didn't know was that Cassandra had recently acquired a powerful wand that was perfectly suited to her abilities. Her constant use of the "token of affection" to bait Nagini during their duels had created a strange equilibrium between them. Otherwise, Cassandra's current strength was still somewhat inferior to Nagini's.
After about ten minutes of fighting, the rest of their party began to arrive. Mr. Lovegood was the first to appear, much to Malfoy's surprise. He had his daughter in tow and was apparently planning to stop by Hermione Granger's to bring Hermione along.
They had arrived even faster than Sirius Black, who was not only stronger but only had Harry with him! As Sirius Black sauntered into view, casually guiding Harry along, Malfoy shot him a disgruntled look. Harry, out of respect for Sirius, might not have noticed, but Draco Malfoy saw it immediately: Sirius was doing this on purpose!
He probably assumed that Voldemort wouldn't "wait for anyone," so being "late" would allow him to keep Harry by his side, ensuring a pleasant summer for the both of them!
And as for his drinking buddy, Frederick Volle? Sirius only ever seemed to acknowledge Harry!
Meeting Malfoy's gaze, the already irritated Sirius glared back without hesitation!
Harry, his godson, promptly abandoned him, running to Malfoy's side.
Spotting the smug look on the blond-haired brat's face, Sirius Black felt like he'd been stabbed through the heart.
Reluctantly, he called out, "Harry, I suppose I will be going now."
"Okay, okay! Go on!"
"..."
Couldn't he offer some kind of gesture? Like a hug or something?
Undaunted, Sirius shouted again, "I'm really going back!"
"Go back now!"
"I'm really, really going back!"
"Ugh, Godfather, you're so annoying."
"..."
Volle, I miss you.
Forcing a wan smile, Sirius Black said, "Well, Harry, remember to take care of yourself."
"It's okay, just go back without worry." Harry, who had been interjecting occasionally in Malfoy's conversation, turned and waved goodbye to Sirius.
For a fleeting moment, Sirius Black thought he saw James Potter. It was as if he had suddenly become James's father, and his previously gloomy mood instantly lifted.
This time, it wasn't a forced grin; he genuinely wanted to laugh. "H... Harry, remember to listen to Tom Riddle when you're out..."
"Hmm?"
Severus Snape shot Sirius Black an ugly glare.
Sirius Black glared back before looking at Harry. "Harry, remember to listen to the Dark Lord!"
With that, Sirius Black departed. He was going to drown his sorrows with Volle until he passed out.
...
Hermione Granger, chatting with Luna Lovegood, watched Sirius Black leave. Looking around, she didn't see the people she was looking for and asked Tom Riddle, who had closed his book, "Sir, where are Cassandra and Professor Nagini?"
"They're over there studying magic," Tom Riddle answered calmly.
"Is that so?" Hermione Granger's eyes lit up. She loved studying magic. "Then I'll go join them."
"No, do not go. You would never win against them." Tom Riddle gestured to Snape. "Call them over; we are departing."
Snape, now Tom Riddle's "number one henchman" (in his own mind), immediately strode towards the dimly lit area in the distance. "Hey! You two..."
Boom!
A moment later, Snape, singed by a stray spell, returned with Cassandra and Nagini, his face as dark as thunder.
Despite the prolonged fight, Cassandra and Nagini showed no visible injuries, and even their clothes were immaculate. Clearly, neither of them had been truly enraged; any minor injuries were trivial for a wizard, easily healed with a simple potion.
Upon returning, Nagini immediately approached Tom Riddle, subtly – and not so subtly – demanding a "token of affection."
Tom Riddle, of course, would not refuse, though he currently had nothing suitable on hand. After all, Tom Riddle was not a fool lacking emotional intelligence. Gifts weren't necessarily better the more expensive they were; they needed to be thoughtful and considerate—they needed to have the "thought behind them."
To be frank, Tom Riddle had originally intended to cut off the basilisk's horn and craft a wand for Nagini. After all, to prevent them from fighting again, a similar and equally valuable gift would be the most logical choice.
Unfortunately, his basilisk was rather disappointing. After living for so many years, it hadn't even reached the level of a legendary wizard—what a waste of its long lifespan!
However, Tom Riddle had a solution. For the basilisk, in its current debilitated state, an incomplete spirit was merely a snack.
He would simply feed Voldemort's remnant soul to the basilisk.
Now there's another reason to kill him.
[Voldemort's remnant soul:] (...)
If the exceedingly cowardly Voldemort's remnant soul knew this, it would probably prefer to drink the sex-changing tonic and seduce Tom Riddle rather than die from basilisk digestive juices.
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