Task Delivery

"Guys, I'm back~"

Adam patted Klon on the shoulder, tossed his satchel onto the long table, and sat down.

"Where did you just go? You were gone for so long."

As he spoke, Klon pushed the grilled sausage he had saved for Adam in front of him.

"I went to talk to Professor Sprout about growing plants in the dormitory."

"Growing plants... can't you just grow whatever you want?"

Their Hufflepuff common room had plenty of plants, like pothos hanging from the ceiling and cacti sitting on the tables...

"Maybe they're magical plants?"

Eugene guessed.

Adam nodded.

"That's right, so I had to ask Professor Sprout. But don't worry, it's only a dittany plant. Professor Sprout gave me a seedling. And I'll grow it by my bed, so it won't disturb anyone."

He was mainly growing dittany to practice magic and prepare for applying to Professor Sprout to grow other magical plants later.

The magic of the Flower Card and Tree Card could not be practiced out of thin air. He was currently working hard to learn the Sweet Card's magic. If all went well, he could finish it just as the dittany bloomed, then move on to learning the Flower Card's magic with the dittany.

After lunch, Adam slung his satchel over his shoulder and prepared to split off from the group again.

"Where are you going now?"

"Professor Sprout asked me to bring some things to Professor Dumbledore."

Adam was not lying. Professor Sprout had indeed asked him to deliver a bottle of Fengmilan flower nectar to Professor Dumbledore.

"Then what about your pot of soup?"

Klon swallowed.

"Don't worry. I'm just delivering something, it won't take long. Besides, we just had lunch!"

Adam waved behind him as he ran away.

"I'm off~"

Back in the dormitory, Bernard looked at Adam's four-poster bed and rubbed his chin in confusion.

"I remember Adam saying that his parents were Muggles too, right? Why has he adapted to the wizarding world so well?"

No, "adapted well" was no longer enough to describe it. He was practically like a fish in water, even more at ease than those of them who came from wizarding families.

Eugene and Uther exchanged a glance, seeing the same emotions in each other's eyes.

Klon did not think that much about it. He only wanted to know when Adam would return. He had barely eaten lunch for the sake of that pot of soup... Wait, he seemed to remember there being two tea eggs left from breakfast?

"Coconut Ice."

Adam spoke the password and entered the Headmaster's Office, where he saw Professor Dumbledore dozing behind his desk.

He looked around. The portraits of past headmasters were mostly asleep as well, while several frames stood completely empty. Those former headmasters had probably gone out to visit one another.

After thinking it over, Adam decided not to wake Professor Dumbledore. Seeing a chair opposite the desk, he took out a book, sat down, and waited while reading.

Refilling Charm... a spell that summoned liquid from a prepared container. Once he learned it, he could use the Sweet Card to create a whole barrel of cola in advance and drink from it whenever he wanted.

How to use spells to make a perfectly cooked Wellington Steak... Should he ask his dad to send over some properly bled beef to try it?

"Oh! I'm terribly sorry... I kept you waiting, didn't I?"

Professor Dumbledore opened his sleepy eyes, removed his half-moon glasses to rub them, then put them back on and looked at the student before him.

The boy had actually waited quietly until he woke up. He seemed like a gentle, patient child, and he had even been reading. He really loved studying... Huh?

"Advanced Household Spells: A More Refined Life"

Dumbledore's gaze stopped on the cover of the book, and he blinked.

"Professor Dumbledore, you're awake."

Adam calmly closed the book and put it back into his satchel. Then he took out an envelope, a small pouch, and Professor Sprout's flower nectar.

"These were entrusted to me by Nicolas Flamel, to be handed directly to you, as well as the flower nectar Professor Sprout asked me to pass along."

"Thank you very much, Adam. I have to say, you've done us a tremendous favor."

Professor Dumbledore sighed, took the three items, and set them aside before pulling out his wand.

"What would you like to eat? Coconut Ice? Lemon Drops? I personally recommend Cockroach Clusters, but many people refuse to try them because of how they look."

As Professor Dumbledore spoke, he conjured exquisite little plates across the desk, each filled with the snacks he had mentioned.

"Professor Dumbledore, aren't you going to inspect them first?"

Adam was somewhat surprised. That was the Sorcerer's Stone... and he had already checked. The Sorcerer's Stone he had helped transport was genuine.

"There's no need to rush such matters. Afternoon tea is more important."

As he spoke, Professor Dumbledore tossed a Lemon Drop into his mouth. The burst of sourness between his lips and teeth made his face scrunch up at once.

"Oh—I seem to have mixed up Acid Pops and Lemon Drops!"

With that, Professor Dumbledore hurriedly tossed a Cockroach Cluster into his mouth.

Adam drew in a sharp breath.

"Please give me a serving of Coconut Ice."

The pink Coconut Ice had a mild flavor. Its faint sweetness spread across his tongue in threads along with a refreshing chill, lifting his spirits.

"Professor Dumbledore."

After taking a few bites, Adam could not help asking.

"Why did Nicolas Flamel have me handle something so important?"

"Oh? What thing?"

Professor Dumbledore blinked, looking as though he did not understand.

"The Sorcerer's Stone, of course!"

Adam set down his Coconut Ice, looking deeply troubled.

"I saw Nicolas Flamel's name in a book... then I realized what that red stone was. It was something so important. What if I lost it?"

"Calm down, calm down... Didn't you deliver it safely into my hands? Nothing unexpected happened along the way, did it?"

Professor Dumbledore smiled and conjured a glass of pumpkin juice for Adam. Adam took it and gulped down a mouthful.

"But I'm only a young wizard. Just last month, I didn't even know magic existed in this world! What if someone discovered it..."

"They won't, Adam. Nicolas Flamel's protections for the Sorcerer's Stone are far more thorough than you imagine."

Professor Dumbledore picked up the pouch containing the Sorcerer's Stone and spoke mysteriously.

"In fact, this pouch has been placed under a Fidelius Charm."

"A Fidelius Charm?"

Adam appropriately showed a confused expression.

"It is a protective spell. You should have seen it on Nicolas Flamel's house. Unless you personally tell someone, even if you place this pouch right in front of them and have them feel over every corner of the table, they will never find that the pouch exists."

Adam looked astonished.

"That powerful... Can I learn that spell?"

"If you study hard, I believe you'll have the chance someday. But with your current level of magic, I'm afraid it's still too early for you to learn this spell."

Professor Dumbledore shook his head, then changed the subject.

"However, I will fulfill my promise and teach you the spell for making a Portkey."

As he spoke, Professor Dumbledore took out a sheet of paper—apparently the Hufflepuff first-year timetable—and studied it for a while before turning to Adam.

"I don't think taking up your weekend for lessons is a good idea. How about Wednesday afternoon? After your Charms class ends, you can stop by here on the way."

The Headmaster's Office was on the Seventh Floor. Of all his classes, only Charms, which was held on the fourth floor, was remotely along the way.

"No problem, Professor."

"Good, then it's settled... I have other matters to attend to. You may continue enjoying these treats. Remember to close the door for me when you leave The Office."

Professor Dumbledore picked up the pouch containing the Sorcerer's Stone and stood. Just as he was about to reach the door, he turned back toward Adam.

"Oh, there's one more thing I forgot to mention—please keep the matter of the Sorcerer's Stone strictly confidential, all right?"

"Of course, Professor."

Adam bit his spoon and gave an obedient little badger smile.