"Alohomora!"
In a storage hold on the cruise ship's lower deck, Jerry discreetly unlocked the door. It swung slowly open with a faint click. He slipped lightly between the stacked cargo and shadows, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's, missing nothing. Soon, his eyes settled on an unremarkable wooden crate.
The crate looked shabby and ordinary, but the damp soil scattered beneath it gave off an uncanny aura, like a darkness creeping through the night. It stood in stark contrast to the tidy surroundings of the hold, looking conspicuously out of place and putting him on his guard.
Sure enough, as Jerry drew closer, the creature inside seemed to sense danger. The crate suddenly began to shake violently, trembling with a low growl. Then a deafening boom echoed through the hold as the crate burst apart, spraying damp soil in every direction like a fountain.
Amid the flying dust, a figure sprang from the crate and landed firmly on the floor.
The sinister man wore a dark, eerie expression, his smile radiating menace. The wound Jerry's Sectumsempra had left on his chest the day before was still seeping blood, but he seemed unconcerned.
He lightly wiped the blood from his chest, then raised his hand to his mouth and licked it. His eyes were greedy and feverish as he stared at Jerry like a delicious piece of prey. "I never thought you'd track me here. But that's all right. Once I drink your blood, my wounds will heal completely!"
"There's something I don't understand," Jerry said, his brow furrowed in confusion. "You're so young. Why choose a path of corruption like this?" His words seemed to strike a raw nerve, sending the sinister man into an instant rage.
"You think I wanted this?" the sinister man roared, his voice