Fishing Without Bait

"I actually know quite a lot of things, like building and decorating. Seriously, if your little hut ever needs rebuilding, feel free to come find me. Trust my skills." Kayson patted the dust off Hagrid's coat as he spoke.

"I will, I will." Hagrid re-buttoned all the fastenings on his coat. As for why he'd come to Knockturn Alley—clearly not a good place—Kayson didn't ask.

The world wasn't black and white; just because someone came to a place like this didn't make them a bad person, and Kayson didn't have that kind of curiosity.

More importantly, he believed Hagrid was a good man, incapable of doing anything beastly or harmful.

"So now, back to Hogwarts?" Kayson asked Hagrid again.

"Our business is done, but there's still Harry's."

The three of them talked as they made their way to the Leaky Cauldron. Hagrid rented a room there, staying until September 1st, when school started.

"I don't think you'd want to go back to your so-called aunt's house, so please stay here. When the time comes, just head to this address, board the Hogwarts Express, and you'll get to Hogwarts, alright?" Hagrid said, handing Harry a map and the train ticket for the Hogwarts Express.

"I will, don't worry about me."

Harry nodded.

"Mm-hmm, you can have all three meals at Old Tom's—his cooking's good. Diagon Alley works too, and as long as you stay out of Knockturn Alley, you'll be safe. Oh, and I left a surprise for you with Old Tom—go check it out." Hagrid added.

"Got it."

"One last thing..." Hagrid looked up and glanced around, making sure no one was watching them, before lowering his voice: "The wall in the courtyard has been fixed. I'm going to tell you how to get into Diagon Alley properly now. In the corner of the courtyard, there's a trash can. Count three bricks up, then two bricks in, and tap three times with your wand. Got it all..."

After saying this, Hagrid gave Kayson a pointed look.

"OK, OK." Kayson shrugged.

"Mm-hmm, you're leaving now?" Harry asked.

"Sorry, there's work at Hogwarts."

"Alright then, see you at school."

"Mm-hmm, see you at school."

After saying goodbye to Harry, the two tossed Old Tom two silver Sickles, grabbed a pinch of Floo Powder each—Kayson remembered reading about how to use it in a book.

They threw it into the fireplace flames, and as the fire turned green, Kayson spoke: "Hogwarts Alchemy Professor's Office."

The first thing he did back in the office was change into dry pajamas. The clothes he'd taken off went into the laundry basket in the corner; the House-elf would quietly take them, wash them, and return them.

"A whole night and a day, I'm exhausted." He flopped straight onto the bed and closed his eyes.

The House-elf quietly placed sleep-inducing aromatherapy on his bedside table and took away the dirty clothes.

He slept straight through until the next morning. Kayson sat up in bed, took a quick shower, dressed neatly, and opened his office door comfortably—only to run into Dumbledore, who was out for a stroll.

"Oh, Kayson, how was your adventure yesterday?" Dumbledore asked with some curiosity.

"Does that count as an adventure?"

"Why wouldn't it? Life is constantly doing things you've never done before. That process, we can call an adventure." Dumbledore explained.

[From Dumbledore: Satisfaction +10]

[From Dumbledore: Favorability +10]

[From Dumbledore: Trust +10]

"Maybe. It was wonderful, but there were also unpleasant parts. I killed three people." Kayson shrugged.

"Three Dark Wizards, I know. I wanted to ask you and Hagrid for the details yesterday, but you were asleep, so I didn't wake you." Dumbledore nodded.

"Mm-hmm... I thought you'd be angry."

"Good people shouldn't be hurt for being good. Do I seem that rigid?"

Kayson looked Dumbledore up and down.

"At least you look very old."

"Well, of course. In any case, I don't blame you. If they chose to use Dark Magic for evil, they should have known this day would come." Dumbledore smiled.

"Honestly, you're really a good headmaster. I thought you'd be one of those... non-killing types."

"That would be too foolish... Did you see the boy? Harry Potter?"

Kayson nodded: "A pretty pitiful kid. Hagrid said his family vault is quite wealthy, and you were the one guarding it before. Why didn't you give his aunt and uncle some child support? That would've made his life a lot better."

"I'm sorry. An old man may live long enough, but he's not a perfect person. That was my oversight." Dumbledore smiled.

"Alright... I settled the child support for you."

"Thank you. Later, write a report and submit it to the Board of Governors—they'll reimburse you."

"Uh, that's not necessary."

The two chatted as they walked to the door of Dumbledore's office.

"I've been meaning to ask—at your age, climbing such high stairs every day, doesn't that cause problems?" Kayson followed Dumbledore up the stairs, not forgetting to tease.

"That's the secret to my good health."

"Alright." Kayson shrugged. Once they entered the office, Dumbledore sat down in his desk chair, reached into his pocket, pulled out a small cloth pouch, and placed it on the desk.

Kayson, sitting across from him, curiously took it and pulled out an irregular red stone from inside.

"This is the Philosopher's Stone made by my old friend Nicolas Flamel. It's called the Sorcerer's Stone, the pinnacle of alchemy," Dumbledore explained.

"Sorry, but you're talking to a brick wall," Kayson curled his lip and complained.

"Because what you can do is far more powerful than this Philosopher's Stone. In any case, Nicolas Flamel and his wife are ready to embrace death, so they gave this stone to me. Of course, it's also because a rat hiding in the shadows has its eye on this thing, so they conveniently asked me to keep it safe."

"So what are you planning to do?" Kayson asked.

"Can you make a replica for me? It needs to be genuine magical material, with roughly the same magical fluctuations. I want to use it as bait, but I don't actually want the fish to eat the hook, so I came to you for help."

Kayson looked at the blood-red Sorcerer's Stone in his hand and smacked his lips...

"Not hard."