What is this I'm seeing?!
A flicker of disbelief crossed Tom's eyes as he glanced coolly at Eric, who was staring out the window, a hint of panic on his face. So Eric, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, is into this sort of thing?!
But now was not the time to dwell on it.
Watching Eric shove open the wooden door and charge out, Tom stood with deliberate calm. "Let us go and take a look. Unless something unforeseen occurs, this vessel is likely to sink."
Harry and the others were unsurprised. After all, how could the Little Mermaid save the prince if the ship did not sink?
"Just bad luck," Harry muttered, sounding helpless. "I am still not very proficient with the Bubble Head Charm."
Malfoy patted Harry's shoulder reassuringly. "Fear not, Scarhead. Should you drown, I shall carry you to the other side."
A hint of disdain flashed in Harry's eyes at this. "As if you are any better at the Bubble Head Charm than I am."
"But I can hold my breath longer than you."
...
Boom!
Boom!
Dark clouds filled the sky, thunder rumbling ominously.
Illuminated by intermittent flashes of lightning, the sea appeared an eerie, abyssal black.
Whoosh~ Whoosh~~
Giant waves, whipped up by the gale, tossed the ship to and fro, crashing against the deck.
The mast creaked ominously, making one wonder how much longer it could withstand the onslaught.
Bang!
Malfoy kicked open the door and ran out, Harry trailing behind him against the howling wind.
A quick glance around revealed Tom and the others watching the surging waves a short distance to their right.
Without hesitation, the two followed. "So? Isn't the Little Mermaid beautiful?"
His voice was barely audible, drowned out by the gale.
Luckily, the others behind them did not hear him, or they surely would have thought him quite mad.
"What is the point of this?!"
"One wrong step today and we are done for. Falling into the sea might make us shark food. Who cares about who looks good?"
However, Tom and his intrepid companions, skilled in magic, naturally did not have such worries.
"The wind is far too strong. We cannot hope to find the Little Mermaid."
Hermione shrugged helplessly.
Cassandra smoothed her wind-blown hair with one hand, then stretched the other towards Tom, a picture of helplessness. "Teacher, I can barely stand."
"..."
Harry and Malfoy exchanged speechless glances. When had Cassandra become such a practiced actress?
Even they, as wizards, would not be so easily blown over by a mere gust of wind, especially since Cassandra's magic was far superior to theirs.
But they quickly realized... the academic genius was indeed an academic genius, unlike them, who had merely been watching the spectacle in the Snow Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Tom, still gazing at the dark sea, extended his right hand, holding a suitcase, towards Cassandra without turning. "Then let us retreat inside the suitcase and take shelter. Do not attempt stoicism."
"..."
Cassandra remained silent, puzzled, and strangely annoyed.
These are clearly words of comfort, but why do they make me feel so displeased?
"No need; carrying the suitcase will help me remain upright."
Cassandra calmly took the suitcase from Tom and returned to his side.
Nagini, standing on Tom's other side, smiled politely, a slight smirk playing on her lips.
The group resumed their search for the elusive "Little Mermaid."
By now, due to the storm and the ship's violent rocking, many people had already been swept into the sea.
Though more remained, aware of the dangers outside, they had retreated to their cabins, but many figures clung to wreckage in the waves.
Therefore, Harry and the others desperately sought a lithe figure moving freely through the ocean.
But Tom was different; he was searching for a "powerful" figure.
Judging from that "tenor voice," Tom was certain his approach was correct.
"Oh no! God! What have I done wrong?!"
Eric stood outside the cabin, lying on his back, letting the rain lash his resolute face. "Am I to die here today, Eric? My people, my country, await my return!"
BOOM!!!
As if in response, a thick bolt of lightning ripped across the sky, illuminating the sea ahead of the ship!
"I understand…you are guiding me, are you not?!"
Eric was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. He walked to the front of the deck and peered at the illuminated sea. "What is that…holy crap! Reefs!"
"Turn! Turn! Turn!!!"
Eric whirled around, shouting and gesturing wildly, but the wind utterly swallowed his voice.
Inside the cabin.
"What is that fellow doing?"
"I know not; he seems quite mad."
The wooden window was slammed shut.
"..."
Eric's eyes glazed over slightly, but a sudden, violent lurch jolted him back to his senses.
He knew…they had struck something.
They had struck a reef, tearing a large hole in the hull!
The ship was taking on water! It was sinking!
BOOM!!!
Another bolt of lightning flashed across the sky.
"..."
Eric looked up again, and the lightning seemed to say, You are welcome, child; I shall give you another ride.
"..."
I truly am…grateful… (he gritted his teeth)…
The ship sank.
...
Harry and the others leapt into the sea, each using the Bubble Head Charm to protect their heads and provide breathable air.
Looking at their robes, thankfully, as wizarding garments, while they were not fireproof, they were waterproof, so one did not experience that uncomfortable, clinging sensation.
And since the fabric would not become wet, it would not become transparent, which was Harry's greatest relief; he was not eager for young Harry to experience the outside world.
He glanced around; everyone else was there too, but…
"Sir, your Bubble Head Charm… is it not a bit… expansive?"
Harry's lips twitched. Although he understood—after all, his master was immeasurably powerful—he could not help but feel a pang of envy.
Tom's Bubble Head Charm had created a bubble around himself, completely enclosing him with plenty of room to spare.
"Oh? You mean this?"
Tom calmly explained, "This is not referred to as a Bubble Head Charm; it is a Water-Repellent Charm."
"Water-Repellent Charm?"
Hermione was puzzled. "I have never encountered it in my books. That is peculiar. Have I not studied sufficiently?"
Tom patiently explained, "It is not in the books because those who wrote them are ignorant of it. That does not mean that I am."
"..."
Harry and the others remained silent; they were accustomed to it.
Tom simply created a spell; what was so astonishing about that?
---