"Speaking of travel, I actually came to find you this time because there's something important." Tierra's expression suddenly turned serious. After a pause, he took an exquisite ring from his pocket. The ring looked ordinary, its entire surface a dull gold color, but upon closer inspection, intricate protective spells and runes of magical wards were engraved upon it.
Set into the ring was an extremely tiny, dark-red gemstone.
"I want you to wear this ring, Harry." Tierra handed the ring to Harry, his voice grave and solemn.
"It can strengthen your resistance to mental probing, especially probing from Voldemort," Tierra said in a low voice.
Harry took the ring and examined it carefully.
"What happened?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"Could it be Voldemort...?"
"He's hidden himself somehow." Tierra frowned, speaking viciously. "We've temporarily lost track of him."
"What?" Hermione cried out in astonishment. "He can hide right under your nose?"
"He borrowed the power of a Great Old One." Tierra continued to frown. "Very cunning, but very clever. If I want to keep tracking him, I'll inevitably have to deal with that Great Old One, but that would bring me enormous trouble as well. Sigh."
"That's why I came to you first," Tierra said. "First, ensure Harry's safety. Then I'll slowly dig Voldemort out, bit by bit."
"Heh. Earth is only this big. He can't run away." Tierra curled his lips in a cold sneer.
Hermione looked at the deeply worried Tierra, sensing the urgency of the situation.
"If there's anything we can do to help, Tierra, you must tell us," she said firmly, without the slightest fear in her eyes.
"Thank you, Hermione, but what matters most now is for you to put on this ring, Harry." Seeing that Harry was still holding the ring flat in his palm, Tierra's