The International Potions Symposium ended in the worst possible way: a student from another country was abducted in full view of everyone. It was not just an attack on him, but a grave provocation against Egypt's Wizarding World and every attendee.
Snape's face was dark with fury. He found the head of the Egyptian Wizards' Council almost immediately and forced out each word through gritted teeth: "Find him! A child was abducted right near the Egyptian Wizards' Council! You must find him!"
The incident caused an uproar. As a major gathering for the exchange of knowledge about potions, the International Potions Symposium already drew widespread attention.
The Egyptian Wizards' Council came under enormous pressure. Security that should have been foolproof had failed spectacularly, and the missing student was from Hogwarts, with close ties to Snape, the renowned Potions Master.
Egypt's Aurors mobilized in force. Tracking spells and detection magic were used constantly as the search spread from the oasis venue across the desert.
Snape joined the search himself. He tried every tracking charm he knew, even resorting to some less-than-reputable Dark Magic detection techniques. A grim air hung about him.
Days passed without any progress.
Speculation about the abductor ran wild. Was it a remnant of some Dark Wizard faction? An organization with a grudge against the Egyptian Wizards' Council? Or was the problem inside Egypt itself?
No one knew.
After a long period of instruction, Nefertari began letting Will handle the crucial parts of the ritual. The black Soul Sand, carrying a terrifying aura, mingled with fragments of golden scarab shell...
As Will worked, Nefertari seemed to see a scene from thousands of years ago.
In the scorching Egyptian desert, a searing wind whipped sand into the sky, turning it a murky yellow.
Across the burning ground, an