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Chapter 852: Return
Chapter 852: Return
Even though he had experienced it once before, Kyle still felt uncomfortable as the Time-Turner began to operate, as if all sound disappeared, leaving only a buzzing in his ears and a blur of colors before his eyes. He could barely make out the figure of Dumbledore beside him and the Time-Turner in his hand.
As the needle turned, the red light on it gradually faded, indicating that the Philosopher's Stone's magic was being rapidly depleted.
And perhaps due to the addition of another person, the rate of consumption seemed much faster than when Kyle had last used it.
Kyle didn't know if the stone would be completely drained before they returned to the correct time, nor what would happen if it did.
They might appear randomly in some year or end up a century back again, but neither outcome was desirable.
After an indeterminate amount of time, the surroundings began to gradually come into focus.
Kyle could clearly see buildings springing up at incredible speeds, completed in the blink of an eye, and saplings growing into towering trees at an unfathomable rate.
Everything around them seemed to be moving ten times, if not more, faster than normal.
Kyle knew that they were nearing the end of their temporal journey.
Finally, the magic stone within the Time-Turner went completely dark, the red light vanishing, and the world returned to its regular pace.
The buzzing in his ears was replaced by a cacophony of raucous singing. The melody was indiscernible, and the only variation came from the pitch of the voices, devoid of any skill and driven solely by emotion.
"Is this... a bar?" Kyle surveyed his surroundings.
Seated at the worn bar counter were burly individuals with sun-kissed skin. One of them was the source of the singing Kyle had heard, and each held a large mug in their hand while the air was heavy with the scent of strong liquor.
Kyle felt as though he had been here before.
Oh, that's right—the Hog's Head. He remembered the fiery dragon emblem above the counter... the one near the dragon reserve that Charlie had brought him to during their last visit to Romania.
Just as he had previously appeared in the Hogwarts Headmaster's office, the Time-Turner only altered time, not location.
Since they had departed from Romania, it made sense that they would return to the same place.
However, Kyle was surprised to find that the distinctive beech tree he remembered was right next to the Hog's Head.
What was odd, though, was that no one around them seemed to have noticed their appearance, not until Dumbledore, in his weakened state, accidentally knocked over a bottle of alcohol on the adjacent table.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing!"
The group at the table, startled by the sudden appearance of two strangers, angrily stood up, rolling up their sleeves, ready to teach the clumsy duo a lesson.
But as they recognized the identity of the person who had knocked over their drink, their arms quickly retreated.
"Oh, Professor Dumbledore, can't believe I'm seeing you here."
Kyle's expression relaxed slightly.
The fact that these people knew Dumbledore and didn't seem fazed by his appearance indicated that they had indeed returned to the correct time, and the concerns he had didn't come to pass.
However, it was not yet time to relax, as Dumbledore's current state was far from ideal—his body swayed unsteadily, and he looked like he might collapse at any moment.
And with the loud outburst, more and more people were turning their attention towards them.
The Hog's Head, being the closest bar to the dragon reserve, attracted a diverse crowd—tourists, dragon keepers, and those with questionable intentions.
Given Dumbledore's fragile state, one couldn't guarantee that some of these individuals might not get any ideas.
While Dumbledore's previous reputation made such a possibility unlikely, it wasn't entirely impossible. Those who dabbled in dark magic often had a screw or two loose, and it was better to be cautious in such situations.
As Kyle pondered an excuse to distract these people, a bright flash of light suddenly appeared in the bar.
A phoenix dove from mid-air, grabbing Dumbledore by the shoulder, and then, in another flash of light, disappeared from where they stood.
This turn of events left not only the onlookers but also Kyle bewildered.
What... just happened?
Was that... Fawkes?
Under normal circumstances, it would undoubtedly be Fawkes, as there was only one known phoenix in the magical world at present.
But hadn't Fawkes sacrificed himself to provide the necessary material to repair the Philosopher's Stone? Surely he couldn't have grown to this size in such a short time.
And most importantly... even if Fawkes had come to fetch them, why take only Dumbledore and leave him behind?
Kyle was a bit speechless.
He did feel a bit slighted by Fawkes's apparent favoritism, but only a bit.
Given Dumbledore's current state, it made sense that he would be the priority, and Kyle was perfectly capable of handling himself, and some matters were simply easier to deal with on his own.
After a while, Fawkes still showed no signs of returning.
Dumbledore's brief appearance at the Oak Barrel pub had caused quite a stir, with people speculating about his purpose for being there and his unusual state.
Some had noticed that Dumbledore seemed weak and appeared to be severely injured.
They wondered who could have possibly hurt the greatest white wizard, perhaps the legendary Dark Lord?
Due to the distance, the Death Eaters' influence had not reached Romania, and most people here had only heard rumors of a formidable Dark Lord wreaking havoc in Britain.
However, no one knew the specifics of what this Dark Lord had done or what he looked like.
As for Kyle, who was standing next to Dumbledore, people didn't seem to associate the two, assuming he was merely a bystander who happened to be there.
Kyle was pleased with this and naturally didn't offer any explanations. He casually sat down on an empty stool next to the bar, ordering a brandy for one galleon.
The prices matched his expectations.
However, as he paid, Kyle couldn't help but reminisce about a hundred years ago when one galleon could buy drinks for the entire bar, whereas now it barely covered a single drink.
The disparity was somewhat hard to accept.
Kyle took a sip of his brandy, listening with half an ear to the conversations around him, gathering useful information, and occasionally chiming in.
In places like this, where tourists were common, it was normal for strangers to strike up conversations. While it might annoy some to be interrupted, no one found it strange.
Moreover, Kyle was generous, always ordering a brandy for whoever he was talking to, so everyone was happy to oblige.
Soon, Kyle had gathered all the information he needed.
It was now certain that he had truly returned, albeit a bit earlier than expected.
It was still only August, which explained why Fawkes could take Dumbledore away—he hadn't undergone his rebirth yet.
Additionally, if Kyle recalled correctly, today was also the day Dumbledore used the Time-Turner.
Was this a coincidence?
Kyle didn't think so.
The Philosopher's Stone inside the Time-Turner had been repaired by Nicolas, and he was the one who knew best how much magic it contained. Choosing to send them back to August might have been a way to fill in the gap from Dumbledore's previous disappearance.
Even the timing of the phoenix's appearance earlier was intriguing. One might explain it by suggesting a connection between Fawkes and Dumbledore, but Kyle felt that everything had been orchestrated by someone.
Was it Dumbledore?
It was possible. As Voldemort's arch-nemesis, it seemed out of character for him to abandon Hogwarts and travel back a hundred years, knowing that the Elder Wand had been stolen, and risking his own disappearance.
The reason Kyle hadn't suspected this before was because Dumbledore had mentioned that Voldemort had been severely injured during the theft of the Elder Wand and would need to recuperate, allowing the wizarding world to enjoy a period of peace.
Indeed, after the incident at the Valley of Gordric, Voldemort and his Death Eaters had kept a low profile, even avoiding conflicts with the Ministry of Magic whenever possible.
The entire wizarding world seemed to have returned to the state it was in two years ago—a seemingly peaceful facade hiding underlying tensions.
However, considering it now, it was possible that Dumbledore had known he would be able to return and had planned everything in advance.
Alternatively, it could have been Nicolas Flamel. Kyle recalled the oversized crystal ball in his estate.
Perhaps Fawkes had taken Dumbledore to his estate in Devon.
Kyle's fingers tapped lightly on the table.
Soon, he felt his robe being tugged gently.
Sniffing, Sniff climbed up along the robe and called out to Kyle twice.
"I know," Kyle nodded, standing up and leaving the pub.
Outside was the closest gathering place to the dragon reserve, just as bustling as the last time he was here. In addition to the permanent shops, there were many peddlers on the roadside, discreetly offering their "special goods" to passersby from cloth bags.
"A whole dragon heart, still warm. Want one?"
"Dragon-hide coat, made from Hungarian Tree Bees..."
"Dragon blood, half the price, just a pint left."
Kyle ignored them all.
To be blunt, if their goods were genuine, the dragon keepers would have already tracked them down. In places like this, selling fakes was safer than selling the real deal.
Kyle found a quiet spot and made sure no one was around before taking Sniff out.
"Where is it?"
Sniff reached into the pocket on his chest and rummaged around before pulling out two pieces of parchment, one large and one small.
The reason Kyle had lingered in the Oak Barrel pub earlier was not only to gather information but also to let Sniff search for these items.
Even the timeframe of ninety-eight years was not arbitrary; it had been exactly ninety-eight years since 1899.
Kyle excitedly took the parchment from Sniff's hand.
Although they were protected by a magical contract, the parchments were still permeated with the scent of soil after nearly a century, and their color had changed. Fortunately, the writing on them remained clear and legible.
Kyle focused on the smaller piece of parchment, specifically on a complex pattern near Burdock's signature.
That was the magic contract they had agreed upon, and when it took effect, the pattern would turn golden. However, the pattern was still dull, indicating that it had not yet been activated.
But that was normal. By the time he had left for the reserve, Hogwarts was about to start a new term, and now it was only early August, so there was still some time before the ninety-eight years were up.
Nevertheless, Kyle was not worried. He carefully stored the parchments away in his trunk.
As for the sponsorship certificate, after accumulating interest for ninety-eight years, even with minimal returns, it should have broken even by now. In other words, he had essentially obtained a legal dragon-keeping permit for free and might have even made a profit.
After all, the Fire Dragon Reserve was now home to far more than just ten dragons.
However, Kyle was in no rush to redeem the certificate. He planned to wait until the magic contract took effect before doing so, saving himself an extra trip.
For now, his priority was to find Dumbledore and return to Britain as soon as possible.
Kyle had not forgotten that he had encountered Voldemort in Godric's Hollow, which had been the most significant crisis he had faced.
The timing of his return was too coincidental, and he had to go back and check on the situation.
However, figuring out how to get back to Britain presented a challenge for Kyle.
It would have been much easier in 1899, when he could have used Apparition or a Portkey without any restrictions. Now, the Ministry of Magic had tightened their regulations, and he could only use registered Portkeys, which were inconvenient.
Or should he continue using owls to transport himself? Kyle shook his head. No, there wasn't enough time for that.
If he relied on owls, it would take at least a day or two to reach Britain, and by then, everything would have already concluded.
As a last resort, he could use a Portkey.
Kyle bit his lip. He did have some acquaintances in the Ministry of Magic, and at worst, he could pay a fine. After all, he certainly wasn't lacking in galleons these days.
As he picked up a twig to start crafting a Portkey, a flash of fiery red appeared before him once more.
It was Fawkes, returning again, and it perched on Kyle's shoulder.
"You..."
Before Kyle could finish his sentence, a dizzying sensation overwhelmed him from all directions.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself face to face with Nicolas's aged face, wrinkled with age.
"Welcome back," Nicolas said with a smile. "Albus mentioned that you might have some things to retrieve, so he thought it would be better if Fawkes came back for you a little later."
Dumbledore?
Kyle rubbed his forehead, dazed, and looked around.
He was at Nicolas's estate in Devon, and Dumbledore was lying on a sofa not far away, looking much better than before.
There was an empty bottle on the table next to him, indicating that Nicolas had prepared a potion for him.
It must have been a rare potion to alleviate Dumbledore's extremely weak state in a short period, and it could only have been prepared in advance.
Thinking of this, Kyle became even more certain of his speculation.
"Did you know beforehand that I would go to rescue Professor Dumbledore and return at this time?" Kyle asked directly.
"Yes, more or less," Nicolas replied.
"Because of the prophecy?"
"Prophecy?" Nicolas was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head. "Not exactly. Prophecies aren't as magical as you might think. Most of the time, they are vague and unclear.
"The reason I knew about this is that I have seen you before."
"Me?" Kyle was puzzled. It wasn't unusual for Nicolas to have seen him.
"Not the present you, but you back in 1899," Nicolas explained. "Back then, you and a little girl were washing your faces in the magical fountain at Beauxbatons."
"You saw me?" Kyle was startled.
He and Ariana had been careful not to be seen by anyone when they were at Beauxbatons, so he was surprised that Nicolas had witnessed them.
"Yes, I saw you," Nicolas said with a smile. "But it was only today that I remembered this memory, and I realized that Albus might have encountered a problem in the past.
"However, by the time I realized this, Albus had already used the Time-Turner, and it was too late for me to warn him. All I could do was prepare the potion that he might need."
"And Fawkes..."
"Was me," Dumbledore said, sitting up on the sofa. Now that he had returned to the correct time, his lost memories had returned.
"A phoenix will appear whenever a Dumbledore needs it the most, and at that time, I was in dire need of help."
...
(End of Chapter)
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