A gentle breeze swept across the sparkling expanse of the Atlantic, where several fishing boats bobbed along the swells, cutting through the waves in search of their daily catch.
"Hey! Erik! Over there—look!"
The dark-haired boy shoved his binoculars into his friend's hands, barely restraining his excitement. Erik, grumbling as he hauled in an empty net, shot him an irritated glare.
"Don't waste my time, Lukas—there's barely a catch today as it is."
"No, seriously, just look through these!"
Erik rolled his eyes but humored him, raising the binoculars. Through the lenses, the horizon stretched wide and empty, the only movement a few distant seabirds circling overhead.
"What? You dragged me over here to bird-watch?"
"Huh? No, I saw it—huge white whale, beautiful, right there!"
"Whale, my foot! We're near the German coast. You'd see ghosts before whales out here. Get to work." Erik shoved the binoculars back at Lukas and cuffed him lightly on the head as he passed.
Lukas rubbed his head, pouting. "But there was one…"
Far beyond their sight, hidden beneath layers of magic, a massive white whale, over ten meters long, glided across the water's surface with supernatural speed and grace.
On the whale's back, the shimmering light of Kai Adler's Disillusionment Charm faded as he dropped the spell. With practiced ease, he retrieved a handful of mealworms from his pocket and offered them to Luna—the tiny, violet-winged bird perched contentedly on his shoulder.
"Up you go. Let me know if anyone gets too close."
Chirp chirp!
Luna responded brightly, snatching a mealworm before taking flight, circling high above their heads.
Kai reinforced the protective enchantments around them, double-checking the magical barrier against wind and cold before consulting his nautical chart and GPS. Their current pace would have them reaching the Egyptian coast within five days—slower than an airplane, but far swifter than any traditional ship.
At the prow of the enormous whale, Hermione sat with her arms wide, her curly hair billowing wildly in the sea breeze. Her face was radiant with excitement, eyes gleaming as she let the salty wind wash over her.
After a while, she crawled back toward Kai, laughing breathlessly. He reached out, smoothing her wind-tangled curls with an indulgent smile.
"Enjoying yourself?"
"Absolutely!" Hermione beamed, her eyes reflecting the endless sky. "It's my first time seeing the sea properly—this far out, right in the middle of it… It's incredible."
From beneath them came a deep, melodic whale song—low and resonant—as if the Patronus itself shared her joy.
"You're having fun too, aren't you?" Hermione patted the glowing mist rolling off the whale's sleek body. Though she spoke to the Patronus, her eyes flicked toward Kai, observant as ever.
A Patronus is a reflection of a Wizard's innermost self.
Outwardly, Kai presented himself as calm, composed, and impeccably polite—always perfectly poised. But Hermione knew better. She had seen beneath the surface, to the sharp, calculating mind, the carefully hidden layers of ambition, restraint, and dangerous control.
And right now, the whale's shimmering form betrayed something else—a joy Kai rarely showed others.
Kai, lounging back on the whale's broad back, stretched his arms behind his head, watching clouds drift lazily overhead.
"Yeah, I'm happy too," he admitted softly. His hand played with a strand of Hermione's hair, twirling it between his fingers. "First time seeing the sea… and I'm with you."
Hermione scrunched her nose at him, eyes narrowing playfully.
"Shameless."
She stared at him for a long moment, then turned, letting him toy with her hair as she pulled a book from her bag.
"This weather's perfect for reading."
But her eyes lingered on the pages without focus.
Back at the port in Berlin, she'd noticed it—the Patronus whale was smaller than usual. Normally, Kai's Patronus was over thirty meters long, vast and imposing. But today, it was barely half that size.
There had been no reason for him to hide his strength, especially not in front of Uncle Leon. Kai wasn't one to act needlessly modest. When he made a move, he made it count.
There was only one explanation: his excess Black Magic was being funneled toward suppressing the Obscurus…
Hermione's chest tightened.
After the werewolf incident, Kai hadn't hesitated to unleash Fiendfyre, blending it with the Obscurus to obliterate their enemies. But ever since they'd visited the Magician Association, his use of Black Magic had been carefully restrained.
It was obvious—the search for his family had failed, and now Kai was deliberately locking down the Obscurus again.
A knot of guilt settled in Hermione's stomach. Maybe her insistence on avoiding flights—the motion sickness, the discomfort—had been selfish…
Kai's voice interrupted her spiraling thoughts.
"Studying's not a bad idea," he remarked casually. "I'm practicing Black Magic, aren't I? Don't forget—we're bound by a Soul Oath."
Hermione's lips curved into a soft smile.
His meaning was clear: he wasn't pushing himself for appearances or pride—he had his own plans. And because of their bond, neither of them could afford recklessness.
With just one exchanged glance, they understood each other.
Time slipped by as the whale carried them swiftly across the open Atlantic, a mere speck in the vast blue expanse. High overhead, Luna circled, keeping vigilant watch. If another ship approached, she'd chirp in warning, and Kai would cast the Disillusionment Charm again.
Chirp chirp!
Luna swooped low, pointing her tiny wing toward the horizon—a vessel nearby.
Kai gauged his magical reserves. The Patronus' maintenance drained little energy, but constant protective charms, wind wards, and navigation spells had depleted nearly half of his Black Magic.
"Time for a break."
With a flick of his wand, Kai retrieved a compact enchanted satchel and unfurled a large cloth bundle. It inflated rapidly into a sturdy inflatable raft, bobbing gently on the water's surface.
The Patronus whale submerged, dissolving into mist, its energy retreating into Kai's wand.
To the outside world, they now looked like two shipwrecked travelers adrift at sea. But the raft had been fortified with layers of advanced magic—the Unbreakable Charm, Water-Repelling Enchantments, Cushioning Wards, and a host of defensive barriers made the vessel deceptively secure.
Kai even conjured a small tent, enlarged within by Undetectable Extension Charms, providing a cozy two-bedroom space complete with basic comforts.
This had been his backup plan all along. The raft alone could have carried them safely to Egypt—but the Patronus was faster, and he needed the practice.
The raft glided forward, propelled by Kai's magic at speedboat velocity.
Soon, a large ship came into view on the shimmering sea ahead.
Kai's eyes narrowed. A familiar magical aura clung to that vessel—the same he'd sensed earlier that morning.
Meanwhile, in a dusty phone booth at the Cairo airport, a shadowed figure struggled with the rotary dial, muttering under his breath.
"Muggle contraptions…"
Finally, a crackling voice answered on the other end.
"Are you certain the target's destination is Egypt?"
"Confirmed," the voice replied. "The target's companion is the Weasley family's son. They recently won the Galleon prize—whole family's in Egypt for holiday. The target is en route using Muggle means. Wait for them at the airport."
"Understood."
The figure hung up awkwardly, still muttering about Muggle absurdities, before stepping out of the booth, his gaze locking coldly onto the terminal entrance.
Hidden beneath his black robe, his hand drifted to his wand, fingers tightening.
The moment the target arrived, he would strike.
Impatience gnawed at him as a warm gust swept through the crowded streets.
So slow…
His eyes burned with singular focus—the hunt was only beginning.