Tom needed a few days in France, so he returned to his dormitory to pack. He found Nagini had already taken care of it. Since his return to human form, Nagini had her own room next to his.
He patted Nagini's head as she sat expectantly. "Let's go. Dumbledore will be waiting."
"Doesn't he need to pack?" Nagini asked.
"That old coot? He hardly bathes, why would he need anything?" Tom retorted.
Click.
As he pushed open the door, Dumbledore's dark expression greeted him, having obviously overheard their conversation. Tom felt no shame in slandering Dumbledore.
Nor did Dumbledore seem to mind. He noticed Nagini beside Tom carrying a small brown briefcase, and a nostalgic glimmer flickered in his eyes. "Long time no see," he said.
"Long time no see, Albus." Nagini smiled politely, though Dumbledore looked considerably older than she remembered.
"The curse on the Blood-Bind Curse has been lifted…" Dumbledore sighed before turning to Tom with a hopeful look. "Interested in getting a Merlin Medal?"
"Don't even think about it. That curse is too complex to replicate. My understanding of the soul isn't deep enough. I might accidentally kill him." Tom poured cold water on Dumbledore's hopes.
Dumbledore, unsurprised, dropped the subject. "Then let's hurry, or we'll miss afternoon tea." With that, a flame erupted in the air, and Fawkes the Phoenix appeared. "Grab on."
At Dumbledore's prompting, Tom placed his right hand on Dumbledore's shoulder while Nagini released her suitcase to grab Tom's left hand. Fawkes transformed into flames, engulfing them before vanishing.
...
In bustling Diagon Alley, a sudden burst of flames drew attention. Onlookers quickly looked away upon seeing Tom.
"Looks like I'm still not very popular." Tom knew his past had been plastered across the newspapers. Everyone knew he was Voldemort. Though the papers spun it positively, readers only registered the words "Mysterious Man."
"Why? Tom is such a nice guy!" Nagini defended him.
Dumbledore, with mock offense, said, "He's like Gellert Grindelwald back in the day."
Nagini retorted, "Impossible! Tom is nothing like that wicked old man!"
"..." Wicked old man... Gellert, I'm sorry I couldn't save your reputation in your later years. Thinking of Gellert Grindelwald, Dumbledore felt a strange sadness.
"What's with the daze?" Tom asked.
"Missing your Gale, huh?" Nagini added.
Hearing Tom and Nagini's quiet conversation, a somewhat embarrassed Dumbledore quickened his pace. "Come on, before it gets dark."
Tom and Nagini exchanged a glance, then looked up at the bright sun.
Dumbledore led them to a dingy corner of Diagon Alley. A ragged beggar sat there with a broken bowl and worn-out shoe.
"Three people, thank you." Dumbledore placed three Galleons in the bowl.
So expensive? Tom thought. Why give him money? Wouldn't it be the same if I killed him?
The old beggar, oblivious to Tom's homicidal thoughts, said, "Put your hand on the key."
All three placed their right hands on the worn-out shoe. Space distorted, and they vanished.
...
France, Paris.
A loud "boom" echoed in a small alley as Tom and his companions reappeared.
They stepped out. "Where is this..." Nagini looked around, confused.
"This is Paris," Dumbledore said with a smile.
"..." Nagini looked at the unfamiliar surroundings, thought of something, and quietly moved closer to Tom.
"So? Professor, where do we go now?" Tom asked.
"Go…I'll go!" Dumbledore seemed to spot something and dashed into the road.
A little girl in a blue dress walked, looking lost. The road was busy; something bad would happen! Dumbledore scooped her up.
Tom and Nagini followed. Dumbledore found a quiet corner and set the girl down.
"Whose child is lost?" Tom and Nagini looked curiously at the girl. No more than ten years old, she had long golden hair and tearful blue eyes.
Hearing Tom's voice, the girl looked up, relieved. Tom crouched down and examined her. "This child has Veela blood." He felt a special attraction, like he felt with his apprentice, Cassandra Vole.
Nagini looked curiously at the girl.
"She must be a wizarding child, but I don't know how she ended up among the Muggles." Dumbledore smiled kindly. "Child, what's your name?"
"Gabrielle, Gabrielle Delacour." Gabrielle rubbed her eyes, wiping away her tears, and spoke her name obediently.
She spoke in French, but Dumbledore understood, as did Nagini, who had also spent time in France. Tom had a basic understanding of most languages.
Dumbledore and Nagini showed no reaction to the name, but Tom's expression changed.
"So _this_ is where this Veela half-blood is. Oh, it's you." Tom vaguely remembered this minor character from his past life reading Harry Potter. Did this actually happen in the original books?
A voice interrupted him from behind. "Give me that girl!"