Crossing Place de la Bastille, William and Hermione stopped before a marble slab at the intersection of Rue Saint-Antoine and Rue Jacques Coeur.
Engraved on the marble in French were the words: "Here stood the main gate to the courtyard of the Bastille."
The gate itself was long gone, now replaced by the entrance to the Hog's Head Inn. Like Platform 9 ¾, this place was magically concealed, generally inaccessible to Muggles.
William and Hermione passed through the marble and entered a dilapidated, low-ceilinged underground pub. The surroundings were dim, resembling a prison. Its patrons were the criminals of the French wizarding world. Many of Paris's wanted witches and wizards congregated here, their faces plastered on posters across the walls.
William immediately spotted their own wanted posters: Stark and Granger, classified as extremely dangerous wizards for attacking Director Crigen of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement in Paris. Reward: 500 Galleons for information leading to their capture, 5,000 Galleons for their apprehension.
"..." When did they offend Crigen?
William stared at the 5,000 Galleon figure, his mind buzzing with possibilities... He wondered if he could turn himself in and collect the bounty. Then have Dumbledore get them out, and boom – instant profit!
It was free money just waiting to be claimed.
Hermione stared at their picture, displeased. She thought the angle was unflattering, making her hair look messy.
William consoled her, "Once we perfect the shampoo, we'll stroll back into the Ministry and make them take a new one."
Hermione doubled over with laughter.
After spending five or six minutes critiquing their wanted poster, they entered the pub proper.
Several Goblins danced on stage while a glamorous Goblin jazz singer crooned softly. Her wand emitted a stream of smoky images, illustrating the lyrics of her song.
Dumbledore would probably like this Goblin. He should suggest inviting her to Hogwarts for a performance.
As they entered the main hall, many eyes turned towards them. Dressed smartly and looking quite young, they didn't resemble Dark wizards. They felt as out of place as a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, lambs to the slaughter!
Especially William...
Several older witches stared at him with burning intensity, licking their dry lips and displaying lascivious smiles.
Young Tom was undeniably handsome, with a touch of the pretty boy about him... His looks were only a hair less appealing than William's own. Definitely on par with Cedric.
Old witches loved this type of fresh meat.
The bartender, a witch, saw the handsome young man and her eyes lit up. She immediately hurried over, looped her arm around William's, and dragged him towards the bar... She repeatedly pressed a certain astonishingly large body part against him, all the while casting suggestive glances at him with her crinkled eyes.
This woman was aggressive!
"Drinks are on me tonight," she said with a seductive smile. "And if you'd like, you can try some... unusual beverages!"
She jiggled her ample, gelatinous bosom.
William pretended not to understand, smiling. "Madam, I'm still a child. Two Butterbeers, please."
"Child..." The witch inhaled sharply, snapped her fingers, and exchanged a subtle look with a nearby house-elf. The elf scurried away.
Soon, two goblets filled with a brown liquid descended from the ceiling and landed on the bar.
William reached for a Butterbeer, swirled it, sniffed it, and then grinned. "Good drink, but with a touch of Love Potion... Hmm, quite weak... Been sitting around for a while, has it? Of course, the older it is, the stronger the effect."
The witch's face fell. She hadn't expected him to see through her so easily.
He was an expert!
Hermione gasped, glaring at the old woman! She loathed Love Potions! That's why she threw away all of William's chocolates every year. As for checking them? It was unnecessary. Better safe than sorry!
William swirled his drink again and downed it in one gulp. His eyes remained clear, completely unaffected by the Love Potion.
He said softly, "Another one, please. With ice."
This composure only made him more attractive in the woman's eyes.
"Alright, what brings you here?" she asked, propping her chin on her hands, her milky-white cleavage spilling onto the bar. "This isn't a place for wizards like you."
William glanced at the table, worried it might collapse.
"I wanted to ask you something, Madam."
"What is it?" the woman yawned.
"Where is the Circus Arcanus performing these days?"
"What do you want with the Circus Arcanus?" The woman frowned.
"To watch the show, of course," William replied as if it were obvious. Hermione nodded in agreement.
The woman glanced at Hermione, who, in Costa's guise, lifted her chin haughtily.
"They're at the Hideaway," the woman said, retrieving a flyer from behind the bar. It read: Circus Arcanus, Monsters and Freaks! See you at the Hideaway!
The Circus Arcanus was an illegal operation, forced underground, and impossible to find without such flyers.
William folded the flyer and tucked it into his pocket, smiling. "Thank you. Now, as a trade, what do I owe you? Galleons or...?"
The woman stared intently at Tom Riddle's face, licked her lips, and purred, "Now that you're here, do you really think you can just leave?"
William shook his head regretfully. "Madam, even if you desire my body, I simply can't agree!"
"And it's not because of some lame excuse like 'I'm still trying to improve myself'!" William shouted, attracting everyone's attention. "It's because I, Tom, am a bastard, a beast, a scoundrel, a parasite! So I warn you all, cherish your lives, stay away from Tom! Of course, if you're brave enough, come to America and fight me!"
"Seize him!" the witch hissed after a moment of stunned silence. "Break both his legs, leave him with one!"
Hermione grabbed a Butterbeer from the table and splashed it in the woman's face.
Five or six wizards charged towards them. William flicked his left wrist, and the ring coiled around his finger flew off. It wasn't a ring, but the Occamy!
The Occamy instantly expanded, pinning the wizards to the ground. The Niffler, dodging and weaving, took advantage of the chaos to steal wallets throughout the pub.
A heavily tattooed wizard charged forward, wand raised, a grin on his face.
William flicked his wand, and the chairs on the floor transformed into thin snakes, wrapping around the wizard's legs. Caught off guard, he crashed to the ground.
"Expelliarmus!" Hermione shouted, assisting William in taking down their opponents.
The wizard was flung backward, crashing hard against the wall.
Screams erupted in the pub. Several patrons quickly Disapparated, including the bar owner.
Five or six voices shouted from different locations – followed by a series of blinding flashes.
William channeled his magic, flicked his wand, and a white shield enveloped him and Hermione. The spells struck the shield like raindrops on glass, making a pitter-patter sound.
Leaving Hermione protected by the shield, William Apparated behind one of the wizards. Before the wizard could react, William flicked his wand like a whip, sending him flying.
"Avada Kedavra!"
William Apparated again just as a green jet of light shot past where he had been standing.
Reappearing behind a short wizard, William raised his left hand. A silver sword materialized, plunging directly into the wizard's chest. William recognized him; another "international friend" from the wanted posters.
William placed his wand against his chest and began to incant a spell. Suddenly, he aimed it at the center of the pub. A blue beam erupted, instantly obliterating the bar. Magic raged, dust billowed, and the entire building shook, sending dust and debris raining down from the cracks in the walls.
When the dust settled, all the wizards had fled.
The Occamy shrunk back down, returning to William's finger like a ring. The Niffler, having pilfered a substantial amount of Galleons, was happily stuffing them into its pouch.
Hermione walked over, holding two wands.
"Let's go. The Aurors will be here soon," she said softly.
William nodded, took Hermione's hand, and they Disapparated.
Fading into anonymity, William had just attacked a group of Dark wizards. He hoped Tom's name would become legendary in the Parisian underworld.
It would be even better if someone issued a warrant for his arrest in America... Just for funsies.