Harry Potter: Archmage of Another World

Augustus inhaled the salty scent of the sea, listening to the relentless crash of the waves. He gazed out at the moonlit ocean and the starlit night sky, a chilly breeze tousling his hair. Standing atop a tall black rock jutting from the sea, he watched the waves churn below, frothing and breaking against the base of the stone. Turning to glance behind him, he saw a sheer cliff rising into the night, its face steep and shadowed. Several large boulders, remnants of past rockfalls, lay scattered below. The scene was barren and desolate, devoid of trees, grass, or sandy shores—only the vast sea and jagged rocks filled the landscape.

"What do you think?" Dumbledore asked, his tone suggesting he was inquiring about the suitability of the location for a picnic rather than anything more profound.

"It's remarkable. Facing the vast ocean every day would indeed instill extraordinary courage and determination. It's an excellent spot," Augustus replied, his silver eyes glinting with amused appreciation.

"Geniuses often share much in common," Dumbledore remarked, the inscrutable glint behind his half-moon spectacles betraying his thoughts. "But you and Tom are fundamentally different. Do you know why?"

"Oh? There are indeed many differences, but I'm eager to hear your perspective," Augustus said with a soft, knowing smile.

Dumbledore looked at him, seemingly recalling another brilliant, ambitious youth. "Love—both familial and platonic. Those two precious things, at no point in his life, did Tom ever possess."

"True," Augustus sighed lightly. "And so, here I am with you, Headmaster, rather than at the Riddle Manor. Once one has ties and moral commitments, they inevitably become entangled."

"It seems I should be grateful you have parents and friends who love you," Dumbledore said, breaking into a rare, genuine laugh.

Augustus shook his head, smiling wryly in response.

Dumbledore's face was openly appreciative. "Come, our destination lies farther ahead."

The uneven surface of the rocks provided narrow footholds leading downward to giant, sea-worn boulders scattered near the cliff base. Descending was treacherous, as the lower rocks had been polished slick by the constant battering of waves. Augustus felt the cold, briny spray of seawater around him.

"Lumos," Dumbledore muttered as he crouched on the nearest large boulder, close to the cliff face. Tiny golden lights flickered on the dark surface of the sea below, illuminating a crack in the rocky face nearby.

"Do you see it?" Dumbledore asked softly, raising his wand higher to better illuminate the jagged fissure where the dark water swirled ominously.

"Barely noticeable," Augustus said, twirling his silver wand to produce a fiery arc. The ocean's surface shimmered faintly crimson in the moonlight.

"Mind if I use a little trick?" Augustus inquired politely.

"By all means," Dumbledore replied with a slight smile and a nod.

Augustus traced a deep blue line with his wand, parting the seawater below to reveal a wide, clear path. Beneath the glimmering, icy waves, the straight path led directly to the fissure's entrance.

"Inviting you here was an inspired decision," Dumbledore said with a pleased expression. "Otherwise, though old and weary, I'd still have to indulge in a swim."

Dumbledore moved with surprising agility, sliding down from the boulder and heading toward the dark fissure in the cliff. Augustus followed silently behind.

The fissure led into a pitch-black passage, the rocky walls smeared with damp grime and narrowing to just three feet across. Illuminated by Dumbledore's wand, the walls glistened as if coated with tar. The passage twisted left, extending deeper into the heart of the cliff.

Dumbledore paused at the center of a cavern, holding his wand aloft as he turned in slow circles, examining the ceiling and walls.

"This is the place," Dumbledore finally said.

"Yes, there are traces of enchantments here," Augustus confirmed, his instincts sharp and assured.

"Young people always have a knack for noticing these things," Dumbledore murmured with mild admiration.

"This is merely the antechamber—the entrance hall," Dumbledore continued after a moment. "We need to go further inside. What stands in our way now are Tom's traps, not the natural barriers of this place."

Dumbledore approached the cavern wall, running his scorched fingers over its surface as he murmured softly in an unfamiliar tongue. He circled the cavern twice, his hands brushing against the rough walls and occasionally lingering to probe particular spots. Finally, he stopped, placing his palm flat against the wall.

Taking a step back, Dumbledore aimed his wand at the rock. A glowing outline of an arch appeared, radiating bright white light as if lit from within.

"Not a bad mechanism. Given his abilities and understanding at the time, this initial defense is somewhat commendable," Augustus observed casually, stroking his chin.

Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Small details often reveal larger truths. Attention to these is key."

Dumbledore's focus shifted back to the solid rock. He made no further magical attempts, simply standing there, scrutinizing the wall as if it held some deeply fascinating secret.

"Shame. I just praised his ingenuity, and now this next setup is disappointingly mediocre," Augustus remarked, shaking his head.

"Yes, quite underwhelming," Dumbledore replied, his tone tinged with disdain and disappointment, as though Voldemort had failed to meet his expectations. "Such a cost for such a defense—it hardly seems worthy of the magic."

"I imagine you understand the intention: to weaken intruders before they can proceed. Once again, Voldemort overlooked the fact that there are far worse things than physical harm."

"Of course. Yet, given his mindset at the time, it wasn't entirely unreasonable," Augustus said with a slight smile.

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