Maximus opened his eyes and found himself in a strange place. He was on an old, worn-out bus, surrounded by children. However, when he tried to move, he realized he had no control over his body. He could only observe through the eyes of a child, looking out the window with the certainty that he was in someone else's mind. The noise of voices and childish laughter filled the air, and when he caught his reflection in the window, he instantly knew who he was seeing: Tom Riddle, as a child. Though he had never seen him in real life, a deep intuition assured him it was him.
After what felt like a couple of hours, the bus stopped at a cliff near a forest with a distant beach.
"Children, off the bus, we've arrived," said the driver in a tired voice, handing out small paper bags to each child. The bags contained two sandwiches and a bottle of milk. It was evident that all the children, including Tom, were orphans, and Máximos thought these outings must not have been frequent.
"Remember to return before nightfall. I'll be in that restaurant over there," the driver said, pointing to a pub next to the bus. "If you need anything, come find me."
In those times, it seemed children had a freedom that would have been unthinkable in other eras. Tom started walking toward the edge of the cliffs, muttering inaudible words and ignoring most of the children, who had already scattered to explore. However, Máximos noticed two kids watching him warily, as if they distrusted him.
Young Tom continued until he found a path leading down to a hidden cave at the base of the cliffs. Darkness loomed at the entrance, and when he touched the cave's rough wall, Máximos felt a chill down his spine. The cave vibrated, and an eerie silence descended as a dark energy concentrated at a single point. Suddenly, a black shadow surged toward him, engulfing him like a whirlwind and hurling him to the ground.
Maximus woke with a start, breathing heavily, and found himself face-to-face with the lifeless body of the Auror he had brought with him. "Corpse?" he thought. The Auror's eyes, now two deep black orbs, stared at him with unsettling obedience. He had been reborn as an Inferius, and although Maximus recognized him, he noticed that his intelligence was basic, limited to following simple orders.
"Follow me," he commanded, and the new Inferius stumbled along behind him to the surface.
As they walked, he pondered what he had just experienced. It wasn't a dream; it was a memory... of Voldemort's. The vision of the cave, of that darkness condensed into a sphere, and of the oppressive dark energy still haunted him.
Still reeling from that memory, he looked for Rachel and the rest of the group.
"Rachel," he called firmly. "This new one is your responsibility. Teach him what you've learned."
Rachel nodded, observing the new member with interest.
"What's your name?" she asked the figure.
"Wallace," replied the Auror with an unexpectedly sharp and hollow voice.
Even though his intelligence was limited, Máximos sensed Wallace was somewhat more aware of his surroundings, possibly due to the recentness of his transformation. He noticed an improvement in his movements, and although Wallace had only just "woken up," his obedience skills seemed to be developing quickly.
After leaving Wallace in Rachel's care, Maximus glanced outside and saw that night was falling once more. It was the right time to go out.
Carefully, he made his way to Knockturn Alley, avoiding using Regulus's wand to stay unnoticed. When he arrived, he moved through the shadows until he finally saw the sign for Borgin & Burkes, dirty and faded, with a faint light filtering through the window. No one was around, so he entered with a determined stride.
The interior was dark and cluttered with objects filled with an oppressive energy. Every shelf held artifacts that seemed to ooze secrets and dangers. Some emitted an aura that repelled him, but others, for some reason, sparked intense curiosity. Among them, a plate with a silver edge glowed slightly, catching his attention.
"It seems you're interested in one of the shop's most fascinating pieces," a raspy voice spoke behind him.
He turned and saw an old man with a sly grin, a vendor clearly ready to take advantage of the opportunity.
"How much?" Máximos asked bluntly.
"For you, 100 Galleons."
"Five Galleons."
The old man scoffed, but after tense negotiation, Máximos managed to get the plate for 10 Galleons. He sensed that, somehow, this object had a purpose for him, though he didn't yet know what it was.
He remembered he needed a wand not tied to its original owner.
"Do you have any used wands?" he asked.
The man eyed him suspiciously but decided not to ask questions.
"Let me see."
The old man disappeared for a moment into the back room and returned with a box full of wands. Máximos carefully inspected them, trying several until he found two with which he felt a slight connection. Though his affinity wasn't the same as with Regulus's wand, at least he could use these without raising suspicion. He handed over his remaining 10 Galleons and, satisfied, began his journey back.
Passing by the pub again, he noticed the bartender had returned to the counter and greeted him with a disinterested grunt, which Máximos returned with a slight nod before leaving.
what do you think guys, should I open a discord so you can tell me your ideas more easily?.
How was the flashback? there will be a few more to know everithing!
Tell me your thoughts
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