This was his skill closest to LV6. Since Charisma leveled up almost entirely passively, Will's Charisma had been rising rapidly all along.
Charisma was an ability that required people to feel positively toward him, and Voldemort having these Death Eaters spread Will's name might, in a sense, prove very useful—he had originally planned to work through Dumbledore's connections when the need arose later.
Now, though, it seemed his Professor Riddle had inadvertently taken care of that for him.
Will closed the panel, left Diagon Alley, and emerged in the courtyard of the Leaky Cauldron. The pub, which should have been bustling with people, was practically deserted.
A stooped, toothless man with a deeply wrinkled face appeared before Will, carrying a lantern. This was another Tom, a relative of Hannah Abbott, that perennial fixture. In fact, Tom's full name was Thomas, so he ought to be called "Thomas"; Tom was merely a shortened form.
(As for Tom's actual relationship with Hannah, it is hard to pin down. I couldn't find it on Wikipedia or the Harry Potter website. Elsewhere, some say Tom was Hannah's maternal grandfather, while others say he was her uncle on either her father's or her mother's side. If any readers know the definitive answer, please let this foolish author know. Many thanks.)
The dim yellow light illuminated Will's face and silver eyes. "Child, what are you doing out so late instead of going home?"
"Sir, I was just about to head home. Has something happened?"
"Nothing, child, nothing. You'd best hurry home. Don't let your family worry." Though Tom looked a little frightening, he was actually a very decent wizard.
Will headed toward the exit of the Leaky Cauldron. A short, stout man in striped robes was pacing anxiously. Will recognized him—it was Fudge.
Fudge saw Will