Days at Hogwarts

Chapter 29 The Story of Nicolas Flamel

Loren never imagined that just five minutes ago he was at Hogwarts, and now he was walking the streets of Devonshire. It had just rained, and there was a damp smell in the air.

In the morning, Professor McGonagall found Loren in the library and took him to see Dumbledore. Loren thought that the matter of Peter Pettigrew had been resolved, but in the blink of an eye, Dumbledore brought him here.

"Nicole wants to see you." Dumbledore took a deep, pleasant breath, enjoying the weather.

Loren, of course, knew who Nico was, the Nico that Dumbledore was referring to: "Nico Flamel? Why do you want to see me?"

"He doesn't want his legacy to remain sealed away for too long."

"When he met you in Hampshire, he knew you would be going to Hogwarts, so he asked me to take a good look at what kind of kid you were."

"He said that if I think it's appropriate, I'll take you there. But if you're not suitable, you'll have to explore the mysteries of those two books on your own," Dumbledore explained as he led Loren forward.

"So he really sold me those two books?"

Loren understood that Dumbledore already knew that the "Hibritical Explanation" and the "Book of Abraham" were in his possession, but he was still unsure whether the person he had encountered in the small town was Nicolas Flamel.

If so, why would Nicolas Flamel go to that remote town specifically to set up a bookstall and sell books to Loren at a price that Loren could just afford?

"Why not ask him yourself later?" Dumbledore seemed to sense that Loren had more than one question in his mind, and his words were pointed.

"Then why now?" Without any prior notice, Nico suddenly wanted to see him, and Loren couldn't believe that Dumbledore wasn't involved.

"Of course, not just now, Loren."

"You've already proven yourself since you told me about Banban, but you've brought me even more surprises since then."

"Be willing to entrust and trust, have a yearning for knowledge, cherish friendship, and most importantly, have love in your heart."

"These are all precious qualities."

After what happened with Tom, Dumbledore became more cautious and attentive to the inner thoughts of his students. Dispelling darkness and guiding towards light—this is what a qualified headmaster should do.

Loren pursed his lips. It was supposed to be a surveillance investigation, but the way he put it made it sound so serious.

The person behind that mirror last night was definitely Dumbledore, brimming with magic, almost blinding Loren. He probably heard that Loren saw a relative in the Mirror of Erised, which is why he made up his mind.

"Although he can be a little mischievous at times," Dumbledore added, as the two stopped in front of a small courtyard. He walked over and rang the doorbell.

There's no magic here, just like the other Muggle houses on the street. There's a green lawn in the courtyard, and the windows are spotless.

An elderly woman opened the door. Dumbledore stepped forward and gently kissed her cheek: "Long time no see, Perenel."

The woman nodded and gave Loren, who was standing behind Dumbledore, a gentle smile: "Come in quickly." She stepped aside to welcome the two of them inside.

Walking through the courtyard and into the house, the living room contained a typical Muggle family sofa, color TV, and refrigerator.

The white-haired bookseller that Loren had met before was sitting on the sofa watching television, an opera was playing.

The old man looked up at Loren, a gentle smile on his face: "I told you we'd meet again!"

Perenaar gestured for the two to sit down, brewed some black tea, and then went to the inner room.

Dumbledore sat quietly to the side, seemingly oblivious to all of this, watching the opera playing on television with great interest.

"Hello, sir." Looking into those eyes, Loren had a lot to ask, but he didn't know where to begin.

Nico noticed Loren's confusion but didn't mention it, continuing to speak on her own: "I'm going to tell a long story, some of which you may have already heard..."

In 14th-century Europe, the Black Death was raging. Nicolas Flamel graduated from Beauxbatons and, guided by a mysterious figure in a dream, obtained the Book of Abraham. He spent decades studying it but gained almost nothing. Later, with the help of a Hebrew scholar, he understood the contents of the book.

"The Book of Abraham is shrouded in a severe curse; anyone who peeks at it, except for the high priest and the scribe, will die. I thought that by reciting it, I could evade this curse—such a thought is incredibly arrogant!"

"I hope you remember this lesson and don't leak the contents of the book, lest you bring disaster upon others..."

After the Hebrew scholar's death, Nicolas Flamel, by chance, created the Philosopher's Stone. Although incomplete, it was already capable of turning lead into gold and concocting elixirs of immortality.

"It's just immortality; my body is still aging normally, and my bones can break if I'm not careful." At this point, the old man laughed heartily, as if it were something amusing.

Seven hundred years is long enough; he has lived long enough. Nicolas plans to wait a while longer, make arrangements for his affairs, and then return to France with his wife to rest in peace.

Before this, Nico wanted to pass on his knowledge. His centuries of exploration extended far beyond the forging of the Philosopher's Stone; he had made significant contributions in many other areas.

"You know, anyone can become a scholar given enough time."

Nicol compiled his alchemical discoveries, other knowledge, travelogues, and autobiography over the past few centuries into a book called "The Complete Explanation of Hieroglyphs".

The original plan was to place this book in Beauxbatons' library, hoping that someone would eventually discover it and continue exploring along the existing path. As for the cursed book, fate will take its course.

This plan continued until a year ago, when Nico dreamed again of the mysterious man from six hundred years ago, who told him to go to Hampshire and deliver the book to a 10-year-old child.

Nico felt this was fate's arrangement, and he randomly chose a small town. He sold books like a peddler, intending to entrust the two books to the lucky person to explore on their own, since having the Philosopher's Stone meant there would be no shortage of time.

Not long after I sat down, before I had even finished my coffee, I ran into Loren.

"Just like six hundred years ago, Loren also did some copying work, as if it were fate." Nico's tone suddenly rose, sounding very excited.

After selling the book, Nico didn't relax. Loren was too young; he wasn't sure if Loren could actually walk to where he stopped.

Nico didn't want others to end up like him, going through all that trouble only to produce a half-finished product; that would be such a waste. It could even be worse, since looking back on his own process of forging the Philosopher's Stone, it was full of luck and couldn't be replicated.

"You know, old men always overthink things and are indecisive," Nico chuckled. "The last time he did something a little out of line was decades ago."

Finally, he asked Dumbledore if Loren was a suitable candidate to bring him over, promising to give the lucky boy a little help.

As he spoke, Nicolas Flamel pulled a picture card from his pocket, which looked like a chocolate frog picture card: "Take this back and stick it on the cover of 'A Comprehensive Explanation of Hieroglyphs.' It will save you some trouble."

Loren reached out and took it. It was a portrait of Nicole when he was young, with his eyes closed and not moving.

"We are not master and apprentice, and we have no obligations to each other. It is just a small help from a pioneer to a follower."

"If you appreciate this small help, please look after Beauxbatons for me."

Finally, remember this: the key to forging the Philosopher's Stone is to redeem a desperate soul!

(End of this chapter)