"Crack!"
A house-elf Apparated with Hydrus in tow, depositing them on the misty shore of Loch Ness.
"Momo," Hydrus said, brushing dirt from her sleeve, "why did you save me?"
The house-elf stared up at her with enormous, watery eyes and answered timidly, "Young Mistress is the only heir of House Lestrange. Momo belongs to House Lestrange. Of course Momo must protect Young Mistress Hydrus."
Hydrus smiled faintly. "But I'm a Squib. My parents wouldn't acknowledge me as an heir."
Momo shook her head fiercely. "Young Mistress is not a Squib. From the moment you were born, you deliberately sent your magic into your body. Momo saw everything."
She looked up at Hydrus with naked reverence.
"At first, Momo didn't understand why Young Mistress did this. But now… now Young Mistress is almost as strong as a fire dragon. Only then did Momo understand how great a witch Young Mistress truly is."
"No one has ever done this. Never."
Hydrus' expression sharpened. "You can see my magic flow?"
Momo nodded. "It appears and disappears. But Momo can see a little."
Hydrus exhaled slowly.
House-elves really were built differently. Their magical perception far exceeded that of humans—yet such a race was bound in servitude. The injustice sat poorly with her.
"Momo," Hydrus said gently, "the Gray family has turned on me. Staying with me is dangerous. Aren't you afraid?"
Momo shrank back, ears drooping. "Momo is… scared."
Then something seemed to steel her resolve. She straightened, fists clenched.
"But Young Mistress treats Momo kindly! You even let Momo study wizard magic! Even if Momo dies, Momo will protect Young Mistress!"
True loyalty was always revealed in moments of ruin.
Hydrus smiled.
The plan had gone wrong—but gaining Momo was more than worth it.
It felt as though a cracked, barren field in her heart had suddenly given birth to a spring, clear water bubbling forth and washing away the dust.
She patted Momo's head. "Come on. Take me to the Gaunt old house."
"The Gaunt old house? Yes, Young Mistress!"
"Crack!"
They reappeared at the entrance of the Gaunt estate.
Before the age of five, Hydrus had often come here with her mother. Bellatrix would dump her in the garden and disappear for hours at a time.
So Hydrus knew this decaying manor well.
This time, however, she had only one purpose—
To reclaim her hidden treasure.
"Tch. This place is even more ruined than before."
She pushed through waist-high weeds. Moss smothered the statues and fountains, and the pathways had nearly vanished beneath rampant vegetation.
Relying on memory, Hydrus soon found three French hollies arranged in a triangular formation.
"Momo."
She pointed to the center. "Dig here."
"At once, Young Mistress!"
Momo happily summoned a tiny shovel.
With a snap of her fingers, the shovel began digging on its own.
Moments later, a metal box—about ten inches square—emerged from the soil.
Hydrus rushed forward, barely bothering to pull it free before flipping open the lid.
…Nothing.
Empty.
"Huh?"
Where were her Galleons?
Where were her jewels?
Where were her alchemical tools?
Her lovely, shiny treasures—
Gone.
"Momo," Hydrus said slowly, closing her eyes, "I might be hallucinating. Can you check for me? Shouldn't this box be full of valuables?"
Momo hesitated. "You mean the eight hundred Galleons, two necklaces, and the Garlande III enchanted pocket watch that Young Mistress buried here when you were six?"
Hydrus nodded frantically. "Yes! Exactly those!"
Momo's eyes filled with tears.
"Y-Young Mistress… you buried them here for years and never touched them. Momo thought… Momo thought you forgot them…"
Her ears flapped nervously. "Every year, young wizards lose their parents' Galleons playing treasure games, so Momo thought…"
"So Momo… put everything back in your bedroom."
Hydrus stared at her.
That was her emergency fund.
In her original plan, even if she was cast out, she was still supposed to live like a noble lady.
She inhaled.
Exhaled.
"Calm down. Calm down."
She forced a gentle tone. "Momo… tell me honestly. The treasure I hid at Uncle Rabastan's estate—"
"Momo retrieved that too."
"The Black Tea Garden—"
"Retrieved."
"Behind the apothecary, under the tree—"
"Momo retrieved that as well."
…
With each answer, Hydrus felt her soul drift further away.
Her gaze turned hollow—like a fish that had lost all dreams.
Meanwhile, Momo grew more frantic with every response until she finally broke.
"Waaah!"
She began pounding her own head with her thin arms, tears spraying everywhere.
"Bad Momo! Bad Momo! Momo ruined Young Mistress's plans! Momo is a terrible house-elf!"
What could Hydrus even say?
The little creature had only meant well.
"That's enough, Momo. I order you to stop punishing yourself."
Momo froze mid-swing, eyes brimming as she looked up.
Her bald head was already swollen with ugly bruises.
"Momo," Hydrus said calmly, "money can be replaced. We'll figure something out. The real problem is where we're sleeping tonight—and what we're eating."
Momo trembled, wiping her tears again and again, then rubbing her wet hands against a pillowcase.
Suddenly, she screamed, voice shrill with determination.
"Momo made a mistake, but Young Mistress is merciful and did not punish Momo! So Momo must make it right!"
"Your treasure is hidden in the secret compartment by your bedside! Momo will fetch it right now!"
"Momo—wait!"
Hydrus reached out instinctively.
Going back now was far too dangerous. The Grays would be tearing her room apart, searching for clues to her escape.
If Momo rushed in—
She might run straight into them.
But house-elves were terrifyingly fast.
"Crack!"
Momo vanished.
Hydrus sighed. "She really needs better discipline… this recklessness will get her killed someday."
She stayed where she was, afraid Momo wouldn't be able to find her again.
Her gaze drifted toward the ruined house.
Inside that crumbling structure lay one of Voldemort's Horcruxes—Marvolo Gaunt's ring.
A place layered with lethal protections. Any ordinary wizard would walk in and never walk out.
Hydrus scoffed softly.
The Dark Lord, for all his brilliance, had never understood what he held.
One of the three Deathly Hallows—
Reduced to a vessel.
"Crack."
Momo reappeared.
Her tiny body was bent beneath an enormous bundle.
The pillowcase was scorched black. Large patches of skin were burned raw, and what little hair she had left was completely gone.
"Momo!"
Hydrus rushed forward and caught her.
"I brought your treasure back, Young Mistress," Momo whispered weakly, forcing a smile.
"Momo! The healing charm I taught you—use it on yourself, now!"
Momo's eyes fluttered, barely staying open.
"Heal… heal as…"
The spell never finished.
She collapsed unconscious.
Hydrus' brow furrowed sharply.
Those injuries were far too severe.
"Crack!"
"Crack!"
"Crack!"
Three figures Apparated nearby.
Norcen Gray.
Stevenson Gray.
And Daniel Gray—Norcen's brother, caretaker of the Lestrange herb gardens.
Hydrus dropped low instantly.
She was positioned between the three holly trees, shielded by dense branches and shoulder-high weeds.
But—
How did they find her?
Her eyes flicked to the bundle on Momo's back.
Realization struck.
A tracking alchemical device… hidden among her personal belongings?
She almost laughed.
"Well played," Hydrus thought coldly. "Very well played, Gray family."