"The potion! Mr. Lockhart!" Jim wailed, tears streaming down his face. "The memory-wiping potion!"
He had entertained thoughts of running, but he wasn't foolish. He was well aware he couldn't outrun genuine wizards.
Lockhart patted Jim's shoulder, a gesture of reassurance. He quite liked the young man. "It's alright, Jim. I'll only erase your memories of magic."
But Jim remained inconsolable. He had finally glimpsed the real magical world, and the prospect of having that erased was unbearable!
"Mr. Lockhart…" Jim still clung to a sliver of hope. "Isn't there any other way?"
"I'm sorry, those are the rules."
In truth, Lockhart knew that if Tom Riddle or Nagini intervened, these Ministry of Magic regulations could be tossed aside. However, Lockhart was unwilling to bother Tom Riddle. He was, after all, merely a subordinate. If Tom Riddle found him irritating, he'd be in serious trouble.
"…"
Jim's face was a mask of despair, devoid of hope.
Lockhart sighed, but his hands didn't falter.
"Perhaps…we could keep him and see how it goes."
Lockhart froze at the sound of the voice, turning to see Tom Riddle descending in a Thestral-drawn carriage accompanied by a three-wheeled motorcycle.
Once again, the villagers, already grappling with damaged houses, had their attention drawn to the magical spectacle.
A few of the younger ones couldn't resist the urge to approach and inquire about what they were seeing. But before they could get close, their eyes glazed over, and they turned back, their curiosity forgotten.
"Mr. Riddle!" Jim wasn't stupid; he had noticed that everyone, including Lockhart, deferred to Tom Riddle. Now that Tom Riddle had spoken, did it mean…he still had a chance?
"Sir, what do you mean?"
Lockhart was also taken aback. Not that he underestimated Jim, but what use could a Muggle be to Tom Riddle? However, he certainly wouldn't question Tom Riddle's judgment.
"Ask the boy. If he's willing, make him an unofficial member of the Death Eaters. He can stay by your side from now on." With that, Tom Riddle went to inform Cassandra Volle and the others to pack up and prepare for departure.
Jim, standing there, looked elated. "Mr. Lockhart, what are Death Eaters? Is that our wizarding organization? It sounds a bit ominous…but I'm in! When can I go on a mission?!"
"…"
Lockhart sighed wearily. "Kid, I'll explain later, but for now, let's get going."
...
"Is this a wizard's carriage?!" Jim circled the Thestrals. "Pegasus! Black Pegasus! They look a bit fierce…but so cool!"
"Kid!" Lockhart urged. "Don't waste the master's time, or I'll slap you!"
"Okay!" Jim then turned to Tom Riddle, who was boarding the carriage. "I'll obey the boss's every command!"
Harry Potter and the others eyed their new Muggle colleague with curiosity. Although they had met him before, Jim's excited demeanor still felt novel. Harry chuckled, remembering his own excitement when he first entered the wizarding world.
The interior of the carriage was enhanced with a Seamless Extension Charm, making it appear much larger on the inside than it did on the outside. Jim didn't know what a Seamless Extension Charm was, but that didn't stop him from marveling at the wonder of magic.
"Am I imagining things? This is too…"
"Shut up."
"Yes, boss!"
Seeing Jim finally quiet down, Tom Riddle turned to Nagini beside him. "Is there a place to rest nearby?"
Nagini pondered for a moment. "There seems to be an inn up ahead. The owner is a vampire. Inns like that usually cater to those not welcomed elsewhere, such as bounty hunters or werewolves."
"An inn? Let's check it out."
...
The carriage fell silent.
Excited, Jim surveyed his surroundings, his lips pressed tightly together, as if afraid Tom Riddle would toss him out of this "magical world."
"Speak."
"Ha~, boss, I will tell you."
"Hmm."
Jim pondered, his voice quieter than before, "Um, boss, what kind of organization are we?"
Hearing this, Tom Riddle, who had been resting on Nagini's lap, turned his head, a smirk playing on his lips as he looked at Jim. "Have you ever played games?"
"Our games?" Jim was unsure what games wizards played. "Yes."
"I am the Demon King, and you are the Demon King's underlings, understand?"
"…"
Jim's expression was blank. "Huh?"
Then he reacted, about to exclaim, but quickly lowered his voice. "So, are there heroes or something in this magical world?" He glanced out of the carriage, then made a throat-slitting gesture. "Should we kill them?"
"…"
This kid has potential.
Tom Riddle chuckled, then glanced at Harry Potter. "Maybe before, but now the hero is the Dark Lord's man. This is a world ruled by the Dark Lord—a bad ending, understand?"
"Oh, I see." Jim grinned sheepishly. "So the Dark Lord Mr. Lockhart was talking about earlier is…"
"It's me."
Upon receiving confirmation, Jim's eyes lit up again. He'd thought he was simply following an ordinary wizard, but his boss was so powerful!
He calmed himself and quickly asked his most pressing question. "Then, boss, can I become a wizard too… I mean, can I learn magic?"
"No." Tom Riddle dashed his enthusiasm without hesitation.
"Huh?" Jim was slightly dejected. "Why…"
"Magic is innate." Tom Riddle rose from Nagini's lap. "Every wizard who can learn magic receives an acceptance letter from the nearest magic school when they are 11 years old, delivered by owl. You didn't receive one, understand?"
"Isn't it possible…" Jim still struggled. "What if my owl got lost?"
"But you're still alive." Tom Riddle looked at him with a mischievous grin.
"Boss, what does that matter?"
"If you were a normal wizard over the age of 11 and hadn't learned magic to control the magic within you, you'd probably already be dead."
"…"
Looking at Jim's astonished expression, Tom Riddle thought the kid was quite entertaining.
What Tom Riddle said was true, but he actually could enable someone to learn magic later in life. But Jim was a spur-of-the-moment decision to take on a Muggle follower, and Jim hadn't reached the point where Tom Riddle would take that step.
---