Chapter 737: The Phoenix Elixir
Chapter 737: The Phoenix Elixir
Devon.
When the Night Pegasus carriage finally came to a halt, Connor was stunned. Gazing at the mansion before them, she wondered if this was another Hogwarts. After all, whose home would have two dozen-foot-tall dragons guarding the entrance? Even the gates of Hogwarts only featured winged boars.
Kyle understood Connor's astonishment, having felt the same upon his first visit, but he had now grown accustomed to it.
"Please follow Tata closely... Mr. Buzz has been a bit temperamental lately." Their guide was once again the house-elf, Tata.
"Mr. Buzz?" Connor asked, perplexed.
Wasn't this Nicolas' estate? And who was this mysterious person who seemed to be another guest like them? The name was certainly peculiar.
"Oh, that's... Be very careful around him," Tata said, pointing towards the garden.
Connor looked curiously but saw no one there. In fact, the vast estate seemed to hold only the three of them.
"He is Mr. Buzz." Tata pointed to the lawn again.
This time, Connor noticed a lawnmower resembling an excited Corgi, buzzing loudly as it moved across the grass.
There were also self-watering pots, gloves that picked up fallen leaves, and a long-handled brush that bent itself into an incredible arc as it scurried over to their carriage and began brushing it clean.
"It's amazing," Connor whispered.
Although Kyle had told her about this place during their journey, seeing it in person was still awe-inspiring.
Connor's curiosity about Nicolas grew.
The group entered the mansion.
"Oh, you're finally here," Nicolas said, reclining in a folding chair, still clad in his eye-catching floral shirt. He waved at them cheerfully. "Take off those heavy cloaks; aren't you hot?"
Kyle realized he was feeling a bit warm, indeed.
He glanced up at the ceiling, which displayed a clear blue sky, a stark contrast to the gloomy weather outside. Occasionally, a salty breeze would blow through.
"Where are we?" Kyle asked.
"Hawaii. You know the British weather isn't very friendly to someone my age." Nicolas tapped the table beside him, and a coconut tree sprouted from the ground, its broad leaves shading him from the sun.
"What's going on?" Connor asked, bewildered. She felt she couldn't quite follow their conversation.
"The ceiling," Kyle explained, pointing upwards. "The Great Hall ceiling in Hogwarts corresponds to the outside weather, but this one is even more magical; it can show any location."
Kyle waved his wand at Connor's clothing, and her thick robe instantly transformed into a summer style.
Connor seemed dazed for a moment, only snapping out of it as Kyle led her forward. She finally focused on Nicolas.
"You're... the old wizard from Beauxbatons!" Connor stopped in her tracks, staring at Nicolas.
"Indeed, it's me," Nicolas chuckled. "What a coincidence that we meet again."
"Thank you, sir. I've been meaning to thank you, but you disappeared before I could," Connor said excitedly, tugging on Kyle's arm. "He's the one who brought me back to Hogwarts."
"That wasn't hard to guess," Kyle said. "There are many elderly wizards, but not many who would fracture with a slight touch."
"Kyle, that's a bit hurtful," Nicolas said with a frown. "It's clearly because you have too much strength."
Kyle shrugged. "If you say so."
"Wait..." Connor suddenly realized something. "You knew that the person who helped me was Mr. Nicolas all along, but you never told me?"
Kyle's gaze flickered.
Just as he was about to respond, Nicolas interjected, steering the conversation in a different direction. "Just call me Nic. No need for formality. I recall you mentioning that you had just taken the assessment for the Extraordinary Potion-Maker Association, am I right?"
"Yes, sir... I mean, Nic," Connor replied, still not quite used to addressing Nicolas by his first name.
"In that case... Tata."
The house-elf immediately scurried over.
"Take Connor to my library," Nicolas said, turning to Connor. "I remember Zygmunt Budge sending me a book he authored on potions. I think you'll find it fascinating."
"Zygmunt Budge?" Connor blurted out, her voice rising in excitement. "The master potion-maker who invented Felix Felicis?"
"He invented many different potions, but people only seem to remember the Luck Potion," Nicolas said. "I recall he left a manuscript here, but it's been so long, I've forgotten where I put it. You can ask Tata to help you find it."
Hearing about the existence of a Felix Felicis manuscript, Connor immediately forgot about Kyle's deliberate concealment of Nicolas' identity and eagerly followed Tata to the private library in the estate.
Kyle sat down beside him, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Nic, do you really have Zygmunt Budge's manuscript?"
"Of course," Nicolo boasted. "I even helped him with ideas when he was researching the Luck Potion. Adding the blood of a three-month-old unicorn was my suggestion, which solved the issue of the potion not cooling down."
Kyle clicked his tongue in realization. So, the ancient potion that had been used to soak the Horcruxes was also Nicolo's handiwork. It was no wonder then that he was also adept at potion-making.
Come to think of it, for a wizard who had lived for over six hundred years, there was hardly anything he wouldn't be able to do.
But Nicolo's achievements in alchemy were so remarkable that his other abilities were often overlooked.
Kyle emulated his relaxed posture, reclining in the chair.
Credit where credit was due, Nicolo certainly knew how to enjoy life. The warm sun was indeed soothing.
"Oh, right, there's one more thing," Nicolo said casually as he leaned back in his folding chair. "I've finished examining those Horcruxes you brought me, and you can take them away anytime."
"You're done researching them?" Kyle asked, though he wasn't surprised.
When he had met Dumbledore, he had already guessed that Nicolo's invitation was likely related to the Horcruxes.
"Why do you say that?" Nicolo raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't it obvious?" Kyle turned to look at him. "If it was just about dealing with a few Horcruxes, would it have taken so long?"
Kyle had given Nicolo three Horcruxes in total. Aside from the crown, the goblet and the locket had been here for nearly two years.
With Niccolo Flamel's capabilities, would it really take so long to deal with the soul fragments on them? ... Probably not.
"I was indeed curious about them," Nicolo admitted, "or rather, every alchemist would be irresistibly drawn to them. One must admit, the wisdom of the Four Founders is truly beyond reach... Follow me."
Nicolo stood up and walked with small, brisk steps to the nearest door.
He opened it to reveal a massive laboratory, almost as large as the Great Hall at Hogwarts, filled with all sorts of oddly shaped equipment. In the center of the room stood a huge crystal ball, about five feet tall, resting on a table.
And there, on a shelf against the wall, were the goblet and the locket, easily spotted by Kyle.
"Wait a moment," Nicolo said, placing his hand on a pillar by the door that resembled a decorative column.
As he gently turned the pillar, the entire room began to rotate.
Soon, the shelf that had been across the room was now right beside them.
Kyle gazed at the two objects, and just like with the crown, they had returned to their original state once they were no longer Horcruxes.
When he had found the goblet in Gringotts' vault, it had been so dull and dusty that even in a second-hand shop, it would have been overlooked. But now, even in the dimly lit room, it shone brilliantly, dazzling to behold.
And the locket, the colors of the gem-studded snake were no longer dull but shimmered with a lifelike luster.
"I tried to replicate these two items, but I failed each time," Nicolo confessed. "I must admit, the Four Founders' craftsmanship is beyond my reach."
"Even the goblet?" Kyle was taken aback. "I thought you said the goblet just endlessly pours out wine? That doesn't sound too difficult."
He had made a similar self-inking quill before, which could automatically refill its ink. Admittedly, it was probably much simpler than the goblet, but the principle should be the same.
If he could do it, surely Nicolo Flamel could as well.
"No, it's not that simple," Nicolo shook his head. "While I can create a similar wine goblet, I can't guarantee that the enchantments on it will remain unchanged after being corrupted by the Horcrux."
Kyle was well aware that Horcruxes altered the very essence of an object.
That was why Voldemort had chosen his Horcruxes carefully. If he had chosen a self-inking quill as a Horcrux, for instance, the quill would have lost its magic upon the removal of the soul fragment, becoming an ordinary quill.
But then again, if the Horcrux had been a self-inking quill, there probably would have been an easier solution to begin with, without needing so much effort.
"Of course," Nicolo continued, "with enough time, it's not impossible. But I don't see the point in doing so. Merely replicating it wouldn't prove anything, even if I succeeded."
He waved his hand, and the goblet and locket floated into Kyle's hands.
"Now, they are yours once more."
"Thanks," Kyle said, looking at the objects in his hands. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Nic, do you think these might carry the memories of Slytherin and Hufflepuff, just like the crown did?"
"I've wondered the same," Nicolo admitted, shaking his head. "The crown could retain a part of Rowena Ravenclaw's memory, and aside from its unique properties, there must have been a special magic involved. A complex magic that perhaps only Rowena herself could perform.
"I must say, it's a fascinating process, and if I were to spell it out for you, you'd miss out on a lot of the fun."
Kyle shrugged noncommittally.
While that was true, it presupposed that one had ample time and wasn't keeping a watchful eye on a certain headmaster.
Just as Nico had said, no alchemist could resist their allure.
And Dumbledore happened to be an alchemist and the headmaster of Hogwarts, giving him ample reason to confiscate the artifacts.
Perhaps he had been too embarrassed to do so before, or he hadn't wanted to outright steal them, but now... Kyle wasn't so sure he could count on Dumbledore to maintain the decorum befitting a headmaster in his presence.
Afterward, Nico took Kyle on a tour of his laboratory, during which Kyle took the opportunity to ask about some of the challenges he had encountered in alchemy.
By the time the two of them left the room, it was already evening.
Tata had prepared a sumptuous dinner to celebrate their guests, and Connor sat at the table, her attention riveted to a thick book and a stack of yellowing parchments.
Seated next to Connor was Perenelle, Nico's wife, a witch who was also over six hundred years old.
"Dear, you really should put that aside," Perenelle said gently. "They now belong to you as our Christmas gift, and you can look at them anytime."
"Sorry," Connor said, a little embarrassed. "I got so absorbed in reading them."
"It's understandable," Perenelle said with a smile. "I heard from Nico that young Kyle here was just like you, spending days on end in the library. You two really are a perfect match."
Connor's face reddened at the unexpected comment.
Just then, Kyle and Nico walked over.
"Perenelle..." Nico looked at the two seated at the table and asked, "I thought you'd be staying in Paris for Christmas?"
"I just went to get some hydrangea seeds and came back after I found them," Perenelle said.
"We already have nearly two thousand hydrangea pots at home. She's been obsessed with them lately," Nico whispered to Kyle.
He then walked over to the table and sat down, asking, "What were you two talking about?"
Perenelle glanced at Connor and then at Kyle, her smile widening.
"We were talking about Christmas gifts," Connor blurted out.
"Yes, that's right," Perenelle agreed without contradicting her. "Nico, I plan to give this book and those parchments to Connor as a Christmas gift. What do you think?"
"Of course, that's fine with me. I was thinking of doing the same anyway, as they're of no use to me here," Nico said.
"Thank you... thank you so much..." As the two of them turned to look at her again, Connor quickly produced a small bottle and placed it on the table. "This is the gift I brought."
"Oh?" Nico was surprised. He hadn't received a gift in a long time, mainly because owls couldn't find this place.
He hadn't paid much attention at first, but when he saw the bottle, he suddenly paused.
"Are you sure you want to give this to me?" Nico asked meaningfully.
"Yes," Connor nodded.
"Then do you know what it is?"
"The Phoenix Elixir," Connor replied.
"Indeed, some people do call it that," Nico nodded. "But what if I told you that this little bottle of potion could bring a wizard back from the dead once?"
Resurrection?
Kyle and Connor looked up simultaneously.
"Resurrection might not be the precise term. To be more accurate, it negates the Killing Curse," Nico explained. "The original purpose of this potion was to counter the Killing Curse, but its preparation is too complex, and it requires the ashes of a phoenix after its natural death, so it's almost impossible to find. I believe the last time I saw it was about three hundred years ago.
"Moreover, this potion is also highly valuable in alchemy, as any magical text or rune inscribed with it is virtually unaffected by external factors."
Kyle couldn't help but glance at the small bottle again.
He had previously thought it contained something similar to the Felix Felicis, but now he realized how far off the mark his assumption had been.
To negate the Killing Curse was as good as resurrection. In other words, anyone could be like Harry, and no sacrifice would be necessary.
"So..." Nico looked at Connor once more. "Are you truly prepared to give me this precious potion?"
To be honest, Kyle felt conflicted, but Connor nodded without the slightest hesitation.
"Yes!"
"In that case, I accept." Nico picked up the bottle. "Oh, and could you tell me who crafted this potion?"
"Severus Snape... Severus Snape crafted it," Connor said.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
