Chapter 16: Setting up the Stage
Toji strode into his private study, a grand and lavish room filled with tall bookshelves that stretched to the ceiling, each one packed with ancient tomes and scrolls. The soft glow of enchanted candles illuminated the luxurious space, casting long shadows on the dark wooden walls. At the center of the room stood a long, polished table made of ebony, its surface gleaming in the light. A luxurious chair, high-backed and adorned with silver and emerald accents, awaited him at the head of the table.
He walked to his seat, the sound of his footsteps muffled by the thick, ornate rug beneath him. The chair embraced him as he sat down, the soft leather molding to his form. His eyes scanned the room for a moment, appreciating the calm and the power that came with it.
With a snap of his fingers, five house-elves materialized before him, bowing low, their ears twitching in anticipation. They wore tailored green tunics, embroidered with the Potter family crest—a subtle reminder of the legacy Toji was determined to shape in his image.
"Listen carefully," Toji began, his voice calm but commanding. "I have several tasks that need attending, and each of you will carry them out with the utmost precision."
He gestured to the first elf, a slight figure with bright, eager eyes. "You, Rinn, will enter me in the Advanced Potioneers' Contest. I want my name to be on the roster for every major potion competition out there, especially the one hosted in Paris later this year."
Rinn's ears perked up, nodding quickly. "Yes, Master Potter, it will be done!"
Turning to the second elf, who had a more serious demeanor, Toji continued, "Wixby, your job is to track down every single book published about me—the Boy Who Lived, the Chosen One—all that nonsense. Get the copyrights for all of them. I don't care what it takes, but I want full control over how my story is told."
Wixby bowed low, her eyes determined. "Consider it done, Master Potter."
The third elf, a bit taller and sturdier than the others, waited attentively. Toji glanced at him and said, "Kreel, I want you to enter me in the most prestigious wizard dueling competition in the world. The more elite, the better. I need to test myself against the best wizards out there."
Kreel gave a confident nod, his chest puffing up slightly. "It will be my pleasure, Master Potter."
Next, Toji's gaze fell on the fourth elf, who had an air of quiet efficiency about her. "Sylphie, your task is more delicate. I need you to procure rare resources—artifacts, rare ingredients, hidden knowledge. Anything that's valuable for advanced magical rituals, particularly ones tied to ancient bloodlines and power."
Sylphie's eyes glimmered with understanding. "I will search every corner of the wizarding world, Master."
Finally, Toji turned to the last elf, a seasoned servant with more years of experience than the others combined. "Durm, your mission is the most dangerous. I need you to travel to the Gaunt house. There, you'll find a ring—an old family heirloom. The Gaunt family ring is cursed, so whatever you do, don't touch it directly. Use magic, gloves, anything—but bring it back here intact."
Durm, though unfazed by the danger, bowed even lower than the others. "I will not fail you, Master Potter."
With the tasks assigned, the elves vanished one by one, leaving Toji alone in the room. The silence that followed was comforting. He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled in front of him as he considered his next move.
His mind wandered to the vast collection of ancient knowledge in his possession. There were wizards of old, long forgotten by most of the magical world, whose exploits had shaped the history of magic itself. Toji had no illusions about the power these figures wielded. Some had been revered as heroes, others reviled as villains, but all of them had accomplished great things, terrible maybe but nonetheless great.
Toji, however, wasn't interested in the moralistic views of good and evil. To him, both sides had valuable knowledge—knowledge that could make him greater than either. He pulled a nearby tome from the shelf, a book about the infamous Dark Wizard Herpo the Foul, the creator of the first Horcrux and master of dark creatures. Herpo's understanding of ancient magic intrigued Toji. While Voldemort had famously drawn from similar sources, Toji believed there were far more untapped veins of power in magic's past.
But British magic, powerful as it was, had its limits. There were other forms of magic around the world, used by cultures and even deities whose abilities far surpassed those of traditional wizards. In Africa, there were legends of sorcerers who could manipulate time itself. In South America, stories of shamans who wielded the power of nature on a scale unimaginable. And in ancient Greece, whispers of the gods of magic, whose very existence challenged the boundaries of what wizards considered possible.
"Gods and goddesses of magic," Toji muttered, a grin forming on his face. "That's where the real power is."
He would need to travel—soon. His journey at Hogwarts had only just begun, but the world was filled with magical secrets beyond its walls. He would learn it all—he would master it all. And when he returned to Hogwarts, he would be more than a student. He would be unstoppable.
But there was one more pressing matter. His thoughts drifted back to the whispers of an ancient creature lurking in the Chamber of Secrets—a Basilisk, if the legends were true. A snake of immense power that had the ability to kill with a single glance. It was rumored to be under the control of the true Heir of Slytherin, a title some suspected belonged to him.
Toji smirked. If he was going to face such a creature, he'd need to sharpen his skills. He had already trained extensively in martial combat and magic, but fighting a snake like that required something more.
"Snake-fighting it is," he said to himself with a chuckle. "Time to prepare for year two."
There was much to do—contests to win, books to control, duels to dominate, and magical resources to acquire. The Gaunt family ring, with its dark curse and hidden power, would soon be in his possession. And in time, he would claim the Resurrection Stone as well, completing his collection of the Deathly Hallows.
With the world at his fingertips, Toji sat back, satisfied with his plans. The summer stretched before him, full of opportunities to gain more power, more knowledge, and more influence. He was well on his way to becoming greater than anyone had ever imagined.
And when he returned to Hogwarts, there wouldn't be a soul who could stand in his way.