"Samuel G. Picquery."
"Right, him. Handle it however you see fit."
Grindelwald inclined his head. "Leave it to me."
Outside, Hermione and Daphne had nearly finished their discussion. Tom murmured that he was heading off to rest and withdrew his consciousness from the learning space. Grindelwald did the same.
...
At the top of the high tower of Nurmengard, Grindelwald stood in the prison cell that had confined him for decades.
He suddenly smiled.
"Should I leave it intact? Perhaps Albus might need it someday."
The thought amused him, but he dismissed it quickly. Better that Dumbledore die before ever being caged here. And if that happened… perhaps Tom would summon him into the space as well.
Tom had once said he would no longer summon the souls of the living.
Grindelwald had been the final exception.
"Picquery…"
He murmured the name under his breath.
This was Tom's first task for him. It had to be executed flawlessly. Even if Tom did not reprimand him, Andros and little Ariana would certainly mock him without mercy.
But as he thought further, his mind wandered.
Picquery. North America.
The United States.
"Newt Scamander!"
A low, furious growl echoed within the narrow stone chamber.
...
At Hogwarts, Tom had no idea what the two girls had been discussing earlier. He had simply nodded along mechanically, agreeing to everything.
During dinner, the Great Hall buzzed with excited chatter about the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend. First and second year students could only listen with envy. They still had to wait two more years before visiting the all wizard village.
Tom secretly sent a message to Cho, inviting her to stargaze at the Astronomy Tower later that night.
It was the only way to balance things.
Ginny required no such effort. If necessary, a stern lecture and a light swat would restore her spirits. Penelope did not care about such details. She was immersed in potion brewing. As for Astoria, she and Tom had visited Hogsmeade countless times. There was nothing to smooth over.
Still…
When Fleur arrived next term, he suspected things would not remain so effortless.
...
Late at night, after escorting Cho back to her tower, Tom returned to his dormitory.
He had intended to rest.
But a summons from within the space interrupted him.
Rowena Ravenclaw was calling.
With a quiet sigh, Tom entered the learning space to see what she wanted.
In the garden villa, Ravenclaw had changed into a simple, elegant dress. The mere sight of her made the trip worthwhile.
She truly was considerate.
"Regarding increasing the limit of your Apparition attempts, I have an idea."
One sentence, and Tom's wandering thoughts snapped back into focus.
"I'm listening."
"Tom, what do you believe currently limits your maximum consecutive Apparitions?"
He snorted lightly. "Isn't it obvious? Mental exhaustion. My magical reserves are sufficient. I surpass Fawkes in raw power. The issue is that she recovers faster."
Ravenclaw shook her head gently.
"In truth, your total spiritual capacity is also sufficient. Your soul is exceptional. Superior even to what mine once was."
"Once?" Tom caught the word immediately.
She smiled faintly. "That is a question for another day. For now, let us return to your mental reserves."
"I have observed your duels with Fawkes and your training. Combined with the nature of the Apparition spell, I believe I have identified the true issue."
She raised a hand.
A glowing blue ring appeared in the sky above them. Golden lines descended, dividing the ring into ten equal segments.
"Let us assume this represents your total mental capacity. In its current undivided form, you can Apparate three times before your mind signals fatigue and forces a loss of focus."
"However, much of that exhaustion is indirect. I call it inefficient expenditure. For example, you study with intense concentration for fifty minutes. Objectively, you still possess reserves. Yet your body and mind begin signaling resistance, urging you to rest."
Tom's eyes sharpened.
"So if I eliminate this inefficient waste, I can increase my maximum consecutive Apparitions. And extend my focused study time as well?"
"Precisely."
With another graceful gesture, she altered the image. The blue circle fragmented further, subdivided into twenty smaller portions.
"What if," she continued, "you divide your mental strength into segments? Ten, twenty, or more. As long as each segment contains enough energy to sustain one maximum distance Apparition, you could use one portion, then seal it off once fatigued, and shift to another."
Tom stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"In theory, that allows full utilization of my total mental reserves. It sounds elegant. But how difficult is it to implement?"
Ravenclaw arched an eyebrow.
"What do you think I have been doing all this time?"
She produced a thin booklet.
"I have developed a corresponding spell framework. It includes methods for partitioning and sealing consciousness. The rapid transition technique is still under refinement, but that does not prevent you from beginning training."
She met his gaze calmly.
"You have nearly finished studying my collected works. It is time for application."
The booklet floated into Tom's hands. He flipped through it eagerly.
As expected, the spell dealt directly with memory and cognition. It was Ravenclaw's domain.
The incantations were intricate. The theoretical framework dense.
And profoundly powerful.