The morning sun spilled across Privet Drive, painting the mundane in hues of gold. Birdsong filled the air, a lively contrast to the dull suburban quiet. Inside number four, Harry Potter jolted awake, a rare smile already playing on his lips. Today was the day; Egypt awaited!
The trip had been an unexpected boon, a stroke of ridiculous luck stemming from Tom's errand in Diagon Alley. While selecting a suitable creature to "gift" to Peter Pettigrew, Tom had been ensnared by a garish "buy-three-get-one-free" promotion. As if that weren't enough, his substantial purchase qualified him for a store lottery. Amidst a glittering array of prizes, Tom had initially coveted a Thunderbird and snake egg, only to win the grand prize: an all-expenses-paid, seven-day excursion to Egypt.
Tom himself held little enthusiasm for the venture. What if I accidentally run into myself somewhere in Egypt again? However, Tom Riddle never turned down an opportunity to "take advantage," and so the trip was greenlit, with Cassandra and others added to the itinerary.
Downstairs, Harry was a whirlwind of uncharacteristic energy. He greeted the Dursleys with an unsettling cheer, "Good morning, Uncle! You look beautiful today, Aunt! Oh, Dudley, you've gotten even fatter!" The Dursleys, still wary from their last encounter with Tom, offered only uneasy silence in response.
Bursting through the front door, Harry vigilantly scanned the road. Minutes ticked by. Then, a honking blur of purple heralded the arrival of the Knight Bus.
"Welcome aboard the Knight Bus. I'm your conductor for today—Stan Shunpike," the conductor announced, raising an eyebrow. "Wot are you waitin' for, mate? Get on! The bloke you're waitin' for's already aboard."
Harry clambered on, excitement bubbling. "Thank you, Mr. Shunpike."
Stan, struggling with Harry's trunk, muttered, "Treatin' us like a bleed'n private car, makin' us lug 'eavy baggage..."
Harry spotted his destination: Tom sat at the back, flanked by Nagini, Cassandra, and, surprisingly, Malfoy.
"Oi! Scarface! What're you gawping at?" Malfoy crowed, patting the seat beside him. "Come on, then!"
Harry eagerly joined them, and with a nod from Stan, the bus lurched into motion.
"Right then, Ernie!" Stan shouted.
A shrunken head hanging near the driver yelled, "Floor it, Ernie! This is gonna be a bumpy ride, hahaha!"
As they sped towards Diagon Alley, Tom turned to Harry and Malfoy, a strange glint in his eyes. "A question, gentlemen: pink or blue; which do you prefer?"
They exchanged puzzled glances, then instinctively chorused, "Blue."
Tom feigned disappointment. "No, no. One of you must select pink."
Harry hastily volunteered, "Then I'll take pink."
"Heh… since that is settled, I shall hesitate no longer." A mysterious smile played on Tom's lips. "You two, as loyal operatives within my Death Eater ranks, have proven your worth. I, Tom Riddle, have witnessed your dedication. Therefore, I shall now bestow upon you… supreme power!"
Cassandra, seated beside Tom, bit back a retort. She reluctantly conceded that Harry and Malfoy had contributed more significantly to the Death Eaters' activities. Though who asked him to give out power boosts like they're candy?
Nagini, coiled serenely on Tom's other side, seemed indifferent, unconcerned about magic unless it came directly from Tom himself.
Harry and Malfoy, meanwhile, beamed with anticipation, their expressions bordering on idiotic.
All this boasting was worth it, Tom mused, pleased with their reaction.
With a flourish, Tom produced two gaudy objects. He presented the blue one to Malfoy and the pink one to Harry. "These are magical artifacts, far surpassing the power of your wands. Simply wield them, shout 'Demacia!', and they will unleash untold might."
Malfoy caressed the butterfly-shaped Combat Transformation Case. "Such exquisite craftsmanship! Befitting my Malfoy lineage."
Harry clutched the pink butterfly with feverish intensity. "I can feel the potent magic surging within!" Pink may not be the most masculine color, but a pocket dimension for such power outweighs it.
Tom reveled in their elation. As for whether they would discard the Combat Transformation Case upon discovering its true nature... Once they experience the benefits of melee combat, there is no going back.
Arriving at the Leaky Cauldron, Tom and his entourage disembarked. The Knight Bus, as if eager to escape, sped off with a resounding "whoosh."
They passed through the Leaky Cauldron into Diagon Alley. There, in a quiet corner, two elderly wizards were engrossed in a game of wizarding chess. Harry recognized them as the facilitators of their Portkey.
Egypt, here they come!
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