INTERLUDE VIII
Tom had been annoyed when Agarwal sent General Cushing a distress signal, and he'd been intent on displaying his indignation at being summoned when he saw him next. However, when he arrived at the industrial park, he had to admit that the summons had been warranted.
Agarwal had located Dolohov's hideout. As Tom expected, Dolohov had sheltered away with the sect of Witch-Hunters he'd taken on as his comrades. This wasn't all that interesting, as a sorcerer of Agarwal's skill should have been more than able to handle them, even with their numbers.
No, what was interesting was that he wasn't the only sorcerer attacking the Witch-Hunters' base of operations.
As much as Tom might have liked to simply sit and observe Harry's progress as a duellist, he decided to take advantage of the confusion instead. He snuck inside the warehouse, leaving his old student in the care of Agarwal.
He found the location of Dolohov's written research with no trouble at all and quickly removed all traces of the work his former Acolyte had completed for him over the years. Someone savvy, such as Akingbade or Dumbledore, might be able to understand the experiments that were detailed here and how they related to himself and his knights. Tom refused to make things so easy for them.
He turned to leave before pausing in the doorway, sensing that all the other inhabitants of the industrial park were too busy to make their way to his location, so he quickly turned back. Tom made sure to help himself to anything he deemed interesting in Dolohov's files.
After all, it was better off with him than left to gather dust in the Aurors' evidence lockup. He might actually put it to good use.
Tom's fingers traced the files that were based on the premise he'd first recruited Dolohov on. While it was disappointing that he simply couldn't turn the billions of Muggles in the world into sources of Mana for himself (and a select few of his followers if he felt generous) what his former Acolyte had discovered instead was almost equally useful.
After all, the majority of witches and wizards made poor use of the gift that nature had bestowed upon them, so what did it matter if he took their magic for his own? They were just as expendable as the Muggles in his mind.
Leaving the room for good this time with the research shrunken and stored away within his robes, he waved his wand behind him to vanish all trace of his presence. He wasn't entirely sure what Master Flamel had been teaching his latest apprentice, but he didn't want anyone to know he'd ever been here, so he took precautions just in case.
After all, no one knew better than he to never underestimate a Potter.
Author's Note:
I was meant to finish these chapters two weeks ago, but this summer kind of got away from me. Worse was how difficult the multi-pov battle was to write and the constant adjusting of power levels.
As he is right now, Harry is just a step below Agarwal (a lieutenant of an Acolyte) power-wise and won due to trickery and taking advantage of a good opportunity. Dolohov needed to be injured and still healing from his fight against Alexandra Solace for the Cadets plus Felicia to stand on an equal level.
Dolohov was the weakest of the Twelve Acolytes and I want to get to the point where Harry can 1v1 them and come out on top. By the end of this story, the only enemy who gives him serious trouble will be Voldemort, but it'll take a while to get there.
Harry's character arc, from selfish boy to hero had its biggest change last chapter. He only cared about himself, then himself and his friends and guardians (after his "vision" and reading his parents' letters) but now he's taken on Solace's creed and intends to live by it. Everything he does now, he'll be thinking about his duty as an Auror. His days of putting himself first are behind him.