Hogwarts, fourth floor of the castle, Tom's office.
Click.
Harry, a box clutched in his left hand, poked his head through the doorway. "Um... Tom, you wished to see me?"
Tom lowered the Daily Prophet that had been concealing his face. "Ah, Harry. Yes, come in, take a seat."
Harry stepped inside, his mind racing. Why has the Master summoned me? Is he planning another outing? If so, why not invite Malfoy and the others? Could it be... am I his sole choice this time?! Hah! I knew it! I am the favored second-in-command!
He perched on the edge of the chair in front of Tom's desk, a mixture of eagerness and nerves churning within him, awaiting Tom's explanation.
"Do you have what I asked you to bring?"
Tom picked up a cup of steaming tea, blew gently on the surface, and spoke with an air of hushed secrecy.
"Oh! The Invisibility Cloak!"
Harry placed the box on the table, his movements quick, as if any delay might jeopardize the situation. "Tom, may I leave it here?"
"..."
Tom didn't reply, merely opened the box and glanced inside.
[Item: Invisibility Cloak]
[Quality: Mythical]
[Status: Bound to a Master (Death)]
[Function 1: Invisibility (Passive). The wearer is immediately concealed from view and virtually undetectable.]
(Note: Because the Invisibility Cloak has already been bound to a master, its effect on others is reduced by 80%!)
[Effect 2: Unknown (Cannot be viewed as it is not bound to a master)]
[Effect 3: Unknown (Cannot be viewed as it is not bound to a master)]
[Evaluation: Drawn from Death itself, this is the most potent of the Three Deathly Hallows. It has been used to evade Death's grasp!]
Just as I suspected, Tom thought. There's no reason the Elder Wand should be so powerful while the Invisibility Cloak—so crucial to Death—is useless. It seems the Elder Wand is the true traitor. No binding to a master; just wield enough power, and anyone can claim mastery.
Tom pursed his lips, mentally scolding his Elder Wand. Inhaling the tea's aroma, he finally looked up at his eager second-in-command. "Harry, I shall be blunt. I require the Invisibility Cloak."
"Of course, sir! Anything to aid you."
Harry didn't hesitate. The Invisibility Cloak was useful, certainly, but not essential. "It's yours."
"..."
Tom sipped his tea, a glint of approval in his eyes. "I cannot simply accept such a gift without offering something in return. Other organizations might think I am a heartless overlord."
He set down the cup, his left hand sweeping across the desk to reveal a longsword of gleaming silver. "From this moment forth, it is yours."
The Gryffindor sword. Harry's eyes widened. As a connoisseur of close combat, he was instantly captivated. The blade's sharpness seemed to sear his eyes.
"Cool! Tom, may I truly accept it?"
Harry hefted the sword, examining it with intense curiosity.
"Once given, there is no taking it back."
Seeing Harry's delight, Tom's tone softened.
"Thank you, Tom!"
Harry's gaze remained fixed on the Gryffindor sword. "What's its name?"
"I do not know. I doubt its previous owner even bothered to name it."
Tom shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "However, it is commonly known as the Sword of Gryffindor."
"Gryffindor's... Sword?"
Harry's expression froze, then snapped back to awareness. "Wait, this is... the one?"
He stared at Tom, seeking confirmation.
Tom merely confirmed with a nod. "Indeed. It is a relic of Godric Gryffindor himself. I did not initially find it particularly useful, so I enhanced it."
"Enhanced?!"
Harry's shock was palpable.
"Remember Kavi? I thoroughly studied the ancient magical runes upon him. Replicating them was not difficult."
Tom's tone was calm, as if describing a routine task.
To Harry, it was utterly incomprehensible. "So, you're saying...?"
"Precisely. It can break spells."
Tom's smile widened, his emerald eyes reflecting Harry's amazement. "Provided your magic is strong enough, it can break any spell!"
"..."
What can I say? You... are... incredible!!!
Grasping the Gryffindor sword in both hands, Harry felt a surge of pure elation!
Trading a somewhat useful cloak for this unique weapon was the deal of a lifetime!
However…
"Tom, isn't this a bit much?" Harry asked.
"You disapprove?"
"No! I love it! It's perfect!"
Harry offered a wry smile, feeling unworthy. "But it's too valuable; I can't accept it."
"Nonsense. Consider it an exchange."
"But it was merely an Invisibility Cloak. Worth something, certainly, but common enough that even you, sir, must view as commonplace?"
Everyone knew invisibility cloaks could be purchased.
"No, Harry."
Tom did not dissemble. "That particular Invisibility Cloak is unique. Its value is no less than the Gryffindor sword you now possess. Accept it without reservation."
Hearing this, Harry hesitated, withdrawing his hand from the sword. Tom found himself both amused and exasperated.
Just take the damn sword. Is it so wrong to give it to you?
"Then... I shall accept it?"
"Now, leave. Be certain to close the door behind you."
"Heh heh..."
Harry completely ignored Tom's assertion that the Invisibility Cloak was "in no way inferior to the Gryffindor sword."
In his eyes, nothing could compare to the Gryffindor sword in his grasp, especially for a melee mage such as himself.
Besides, a true Invisibility Cloak made him truly invisible.
Bang.
Harry, grinning broadly, departed Tom's office.
Once Harry was gone, Tom turned his attention back to the "owner-bound" Invisibility Cloak.
He opened the box; it appeared to be empty.
Yet, upon closer inspection, Tom could detect a faint, almost imperceptible shimmer within the box.
Reaching out, he felt a smooth, silky fabric.
This was the Invisibility Cloak, one of the Three Deathly Hallows!
...
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