"The Dark Mark? A Death Eater!?" Gladwin took one look, and his expression changed.
At that moment, the Dark Mark on the inside of the dark wizard's arm was a blurry, pale red.
But its shape still made it unmistakable: it was a Death Eater's Dark Mark.
Back when Voldemort was still "alive," the mark had been dark.
After Harry Potter "killed" Voldemort, it had faded to a blurry, pale red.
As an Auror, Gladwin knew that well.
It meant the man who had attacked the young wizard was not merely a dark wizard. He was one of Voldemort's followers who had slipped through the net.
It also meant Isaac had taken down a Death Eater all by himself.
"Professor Dumbledore, this is urgent!
We need to take him back to the Auror Office immediately. As for Isaac..."
Dumbledore took the hint. "Leave Isaac to me. I'll protect him from here on."
Gladwin did not hesitate. He and his subordinates took the Death Eater and left.
If the Ministry of Magic was wary of Voldemort, it kept a constant eye on Death Eaters.
They were a source of instability in the British Wizarding World.
Of course, "Death Eater" here meant whatever the Ministry of Magic said it meant. Wealthy, influential wizards from pure-blood families could have run with Voldemort,
but if they paid enough, they could still claim they had been under the Imperius Curse and get away with it.
Those without money or connections who had joined the Death Eaters, on the other hand, became pariahs everyone wanted caught.
When the Ministry of Magic caught a Death Eater like that, it came down hard.
If it did not make examples of a few unlucky souls, why would those wizards from pure-blood families willingly hand over their money?
This unlucky man was about to become the Auror Office's standout case of the year.
Who said the Auror Office never did any work? Hadn't they just caught a Death Eater who had used an Unforgivable Curse?
There were only three Unforgivable Curses, and this man had used one and a half of them in a single go.
Gladwin hurried off with his big case, while Isaac turned to Dumbledore.
"So, are you staying here, Professor Dumbledore?" Isaac saw no problem with it.
Grindelwald had prepared this villa for Dumbledore in the first place.
If Isaac could talk Dumbledore into moving in, Grindelwald might even leave him his entire estate.
Unfortunately, Dumbledore would not be talked into it.
"Isaac, pack your things. It may be time for you to start your life at Hogwarts early."
"Really? Works for me." Isaac did not mind arriving early. Besides, he was eager to get into the Hogwarts library.
Knowledge was expensive in the Wizarding World. Isaac could put books from Flourish and Blotts on Dumbledore's tab,
but he could not take that too far.
If the Hogwarts library had the books he needed, why waste the money?
"Oh, right. If we just leave, what happens to Anthony?"
If one Death Eater could find Isaac's home, more might come knocking later.
Isaac could leave, but the old butler Anthony had taken good care of him over the years.
Anthony had handled all his meals, clothing, and daily needs.
What if another Death Eater showed up while Isaac was away?
Death Eaters were like terrorists, utterly devoid of humanity.
Torturing Muggles to death was practically a hobby of theirs.
"Don't worry. Before we leave, I'll place a spell here.
If an unwelcome visitor comes, I'll know at once." Dumbledore was pleased that Isaac cared about another person.
In that respect, Isaac was doing far better than either Grindelwald or Dumbledore himself.
For the Greater Good... Dumbledore had been the one to come up with that slogan in the first place.
"Good."
After explaining things to Anthony, Isaac went outside to meet Dumbledore.
Dumbledore took two pieces of Isaac's luggage, then held out a hand.
"Hold on, Isaac!"
It was the familiar sensation of Apparition. A moment later, Dumbledore and Isaac appeared atop the Astronomy Tower at Hogwarts.
"Krik."
At Dumbledore's soft call, an elderly House-elf who looked rather crumpled suddenly appeared.
"At your service, Professor Dumbledore." Krik bowed solemnly to Dumbledore, then waited for the Hogwarts Headmaster's instructions.
"Mr. Isaac Waldore needs to return to school early for certain reasons. Please arrange somewhere for him to stay until the other students arrive."
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore." Krik bowed again, then waved a hand and lifted all of Isaac's luggage into the air.
"Please follow me, Mr. Waldore."
"Go on, Isaac. Get a good night's rest. Whatever else there is, we can discuss it tomorrow."
Isaac nodded and followed Krik into Hogwarts.
Before long, Krik brought Isaac to a door with no nameplate.
Beyond it was a suite.
"Mr. Waldore, this is the seventh floor of Professor Tower. These rooms are for the professors who teach at Hogwarts.
You may stay here until term begins. If you need anything, just call for me."
Krik entered the suite first, and Isaac's luggage sorted itself into place.
His clothes went into the wardrobe, and his books onto the shelves.
"We clean the professors' suites every day and change the bedding daily.
I'll bring your dinner to the door shortly. Is there anything you don't eat, Mr. Waldore?"
"I don't eat celery or cilantro."
"Very well. I hope you have pleasant dreams tonight." Krik bowed to Isaac again, then left by Apparition.
Once Krik was gone, Isaac kicked off his shoes and flung himself onto the suite's sofa.
The suite was about ninety square meters, with a bedroom, a study, a living room, and a bathroom.
One bedroom, one study, one living room, and one bathroom.
Only now, sunk into the soft sofa, did Isaac finally have a moment to himself.
He also had the energy to think over everything that had happened that day.
There was little to say about running into the Granger family in Diagon Alley. Mr. and Mrs. Granger were genuinely good people.
But the Death Eater who had tried to abduct Isaac on the way home? Isaac did not understand why the man had dared target him when Voldemort was so weak.
Those rats should have stayed hidden in the sewers. Instead, they had come out onto the streets.
And why had the Death Eaters singled him out?
His surname was Waldore, not Potter.
The Aurors would surely interrogate the Death Eater they had taken away around the clock. They might even use Legilimency and Veritaserum.
Isaac only needed to wait one night. By tomorrow, he could probably learn from Dumbledore why the Death Eaters were after him.
But that did not stop Isaac from putting another mark against Tom.