Earth, Sokovia.
A spaceship hovered silently high in the air, activating its cloaking system and blending into the surrounding sky.
Hermione stood on the bridge, closed her eyes, and sensed the Diary Horcrux's location and condition.
The location she sensed pointed to the small, war-ravaged Eastern European city below.
Hermione vanished from the spaceship in an instant.
A moment later, she appeared silently near an abandoned church in Sokovia. Suppressing every trace of her presence, she looked inside.
The church's dome was damaged. Sunlight spilled through the remnants of stained glass, illuminating three figures.
A middle-aged woman in purple robes floated in midair, her loose hair resembling a broom.
Dense purple magical energy surged around her, crashing like waves against a young man on the ground.
It was Tom.
Black mist swirled around him as he stubbornly resisted the purple energy's encroachment. The mist collided with the purple light, producing a sizzling sound.
Behind Tom stood a slender young woman in a red leather jacket, her face filled with terror and helplessness.
She clutched Tom's arm, trembling slightly as she stared at the purple-robed woman in fear.
"Give up, young man," the purple-robed woman said. "Your resistance is pointless. You're no match for me. Hand over the girl behind you, and I can let you leave."
At those words, the woman in red tightened her grip on Tom's arm.
She didn't understand. She was just an ordinary girl, so why had this terrifying woman come after her out of nowhere and tried to take her away?
"Please, don't hand me over to this madwoman..." The beautiful woman in red trembled.
Tom didn't turn around. He merely patted her arm gently, reassuring her.
"Don't be afraid." His voice was utterly calm. With a mocking look, he gazed at the purple-robed woman