Nicolas Flamel's Funeral

Time returned to the day Horatio left the orphanage.

Although his resolute departure from the orphanage was cool, his search for a place to stay was quite pathetic.

He had no choice but to stay in a guest room on the second floor of the Leaky Cauldron, complaining about London's hotels: "What kind of nonsense is this, minors need a guardian to check in? Where am I supposed to find a guardian?"

In truth, as a person with Dragon Country roots, Horatio deeply desired a home of his own. To that end, he inquired with the pub owner, Tom, about any suitable houses for sale.

Unfortunately, no wizards were willing to part with their homes recently, so Horatio had to make do with a cramped stay at the Leaky Cauldron. If Wayne Stark knew that the distinguished Young Master Horatio was living in a dingy, run-down pub, he would likely be flabbergasted.

The very day after Horatio obtained Harry's indenture, an owl smashed through his room's window, delivering a letter to him.

The letter was an invitation from Dumbledore, asking him to stay somewhere for a while, and included an address: Ottery St Catchpole.

Though puzzled, Horatio packed his bags and set off on Nut.

Arriving in a forest on the outskirts of Ottery St Catchpole, Dumbledore was already waiting.

Horatio followed Dumbledore deeper into the woods, arriving before a two-story wooden house. Pushing open the door, Horatio saw someone he never expected.

"Teacher Nicolas, why are you here?" Horatio exclaimed in surprise, finding Nicolas Flamel and Perenelle sitting on the sofa in the living room, seemingly having waited for a long time.

"Just came to see you, little one, and to give you one last lesson." Nicolas Flamel shakily stood up and approached Horatio, patting his head.

Upon hearing the words "last lesson," Horatio seemed to realize something and quickly said, "Teacher Nicolas, I still have the Philosopher's Stone here. You can use it to brew the Elixir of Life." He then took the Philosopher's Stone from his pocket and offered it to Nicolas Flamel.

Nicolas Flamel gently pushed Horatio's hand back, shaking his head and saying, "Do you know this house? Perenelle and I built it over two hundred years ago. No matter how many renovations it undergoes, it's still over 200 years old. Its only purpose now is to burn itself down and become the foundation for a new house. That is legacy."

"I've been searching for an heir. It wasn't until Dumbledore brought you to me last time that I knew it was time for me to leave." Nicolas Flamel looked at Horatio kindly. "Don't be sad for me. The Horatio I know is a mischievous rascal who is happy and lawless every day."

Horatio turned away with dissatisfaction. "Who's sad for you? My eyes are just a little uncomfortable."

In the days that followed, Nicolas Flamel taught Horatio all his life's knowledge, including human transfiguration, which he had previously refused to teach.

As Horatio's alchemy skills steadily improved, Nicolas Flamel's health declined.

A month later, Fleur and Madam Maxime also arrived. By this time, Mr. and Mrs. Nicolas Flamel were bedridden. More and more people came, including Mr. and Mrs. Newt Scamander, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kowalski, and so on.

One day, Nicolas Flamel called Horatio to his bedside and said, "Child, I won't advise you to be a kind and upright person. What I want to tell you is to follow your heart and do what you believe is right." Then, in the presence of many friends and family, he handed Horatio a ring and a key.

He then closed his eyes and passed away forever with his wife, Perenelle. All the women present wept uncontrollably.

Horatio did not cry. He told everyone that he had decided to bury Mr. and Mrs. Nicolas Flamel in the public cemetery near Beauxbatons Academy in the Pyrenees Mountains in southern France, in the place he loved most in his life, the place where they first met. He would depart the next morning.

That evening, Dumbledore emerged from the wooden house and found Horatio sitting on the roof, staring at the moon. Dumbledore quietly approached Horatio and sat with him in silence.

After a long while, Horatio asked, "Professor, why do you think some people, who could clearly live on, can still face death so calmly?"

"Child, death is just another great adventure. The more you fear death, the more terrible things will happen."

"I don't understand."

"You will understand later."

"Where do you think Teacher Nicolas and Mrs. Nicolas Flamel went? Is it another world?"

"I don't know, child, but it must be a wonderful journey."

After speaking, Dumbledore stood up, patted Horatio's head, and said, "Child, get some rest. We have to hold your teacher's funeral tomorrow." He then turned and left the rooftop.

"Professor, you can't die. I still have your indenture. Even if you die, I'll resurrect you and make you continue working for me." Horatio's voice echoed from the rooftop.

Dumbledore stopped. "Child, everyone will die one day. You can't..."

"At least you have to see me grow up."

Dumbledore was silent for a moment, then replied with a smile, "Alright, I promise you."

The next day, Horatio collected Nicolas Flamel's remains and, along with everyone else, Apparated to a cemetery near Beauxbatons Academy.

He buried Mr. and Mrs. Nicolas Flamel under a ginkgo tree and used alchemy to create a tombstone inscribed with: "Nicolas Flamel, the greatest alchemist of this century, and his wife, Perenelle Flamel."

After completing everything, he stood before his assembled friends and family, lowering his head to look at the tombstone.

His back resembled a kite with a broken string, liable to fly away at any moment. Fleur, seeing this, stopped crying and quietly walked to his side, taking his hand.

As warmth spread from his palm, Horatio saw two souls emerge from the grave.

One was gentlemanly and handsome, the other young and beautiful, just as they were when they first met in their youth.

They waved at Horatio, took each other's hands, and slowly walked away into the distance.

Seeing this, Horatio raised his wand and pointed it at the sky. A faint fluorescence emanated from the tip, like a beacon of blessing at a farewell.

Everyone present followed Horatio's gesture, offering their final blessings to Nicolas Flamel.

After the funeral, Horatio handed the key to Madam Maxime, keeping Nicolas Flamel's ring for himself. Madam Maxime expressed her gratitude.

After bidding farewell to Fleur and the others, he returned to Devon with Dumbledore.

Looking at the place where Horatio had left, Fleur said firmly to Madam Maxime, "Headmistress, I'm going to find him after I graduate."

Madam Maxime said nothing, only nodding.

Fleur recalled what Perenelle had told her that day: "If you ever meet someone you'd rush towards like a moth to a flame, then wear this ring and pursue him with determination."

Fleur took out a ring, identical to Nicolas Flamel's, from her coat pocket and put it on resolutely.