The Price of Immortality Is a Heavy One / Everyone Needs a Special Way of Addressing Them

"Mr. Scamander, isn't that a bit too harsh? Harry already has enough to do at school, can't he take a break during the holidays? And all you powerful wizards are still here, why do you have to keep making things difficult for Harry?!"

Theseus's words immediately ignited Hermione's anger; in fact, she had been holding back for a long time.

From the time she met Harry until now, the hardships and offenses Harry has suffered are countless.

Moreover, Hermione was personally involved in a large part of this.

From last year to this year, Harry twice risked his life to ensure the safety of the entire school, and Hermione witnessed it both times. How could she not feel heartache?

Sometimes she really wanted to ask, why should Harry's entire childhood, and perhaps even his future, be ruined just because of Voldemort's existence?

Because of the existence of an enemy who could return at any time, countless eyes were focused on Harry, and the owners of these eyes were all renowned figures, holding significant positions in the Wizarding World!

So... why don't they go and fight it themselves?

Despite their immense strength and glorious pasts, these people all unanimously chose to push Harry out in the end!

They demanded that Harry confront that terrible enemy; he couldn't relax for a moment, and now he couldn't even enjoy a simple summer vacation!

Because this is Harry's responsibility?

Or is it simply because of that Prophecy that blocked both ends back then...?

Sometimes, compared to other emotions, love can indeed make people blind and selfish.

Especially for someone like Hermione, whose relationship with Harry has evolved beyond familial affection, this selfishness in her heart might become even stronger.

Before the two established their new relationship, Hermione always thought that no matter what happened, she would face it with Harry.

Her thoughts haven't changed to this day, but now she hopes even more that Harry will be safe and sound, and preferably never have to take any more risks!

"Hermione, Mr. Scamander was just relaying someone else's words. We shouldn't complain to him." Harry gently pressed Hermione's hand, trying to calm her down. "Besides, he's right. Voldemort is a destiny that only I can end personally; I can't let anyone else do it. Moreover, what I'll be facing in the future... might not just be Voldemort."

Harry had already guessed some of the clues when they were at Scamander family last year.

Newt and Tina were hiding something from him, and it was clearly unrelated to Voldemort. Therefore, their all-out training of him, ostensibly to deal with Voldemort, was actually a precautionary measure for a more distant crisis.

Theseus probably didn't know these things, otherwise he wouldn't have kept talking about Voldemort.

But Harry felt that the person behind him who wanted to see him must know something.

"Indeed, your mind is much clearer than that of the average child." Theseus seemed very pleased with Harry's realization. "Now I'm beginning to understand why Newt values you so much."

"Mr. Scamander, I must first apologize on Hermione's behalf." Harry bowed sincerely to Theseus. "As for your invitation, I think I can accept, but I need to settle my parents first."

"My mother and I have already discussed this," Mr. Granger suddenly said. "Harry, you stay here with Hermione. We'll take Dobby home first."

"That's right, we've pretty much seen all of Paris anyway, and Dad and I have to go back to run the clinic," Mrs. Granger added, offering words of comfort. "But Harry, you absolutely must take good care of Hermione!"

The Mr. and Mrs. Granger clearly understood Harry's predicament, so they kindly chose not to trouble the child.

As for leaving Hermione here... it's obvious they're going to give Harry special treatment, Mr. and Mrs. Granger certainly wouldn't neglect their daughter.

"I will!"

Since his parents had already put it this way, Harry had no choice but to solemnly make a promise.

He turned to Theseus again and asked earnestly, "Mr. Theseus, who exactly wants to see me?"

"Nicolas Flamel."

"Who are you talking about?!"*2

The name Theseus uttered caused Harry and Hermione to freeze in place.

Chapter 242 The Price of Immortality is Heavy

Nicolas Flamel — Harry would certainly be familiar with this name, after all, the Sorcerer's Stone that didn't exist during his first year was something he created.

But... shouldn't he be living a secluded life with his wife in Devon, Britain?

"After the Wizarding War, the Flamel couple did indeed travel to Britain, but they never stayed permanently." Theseus offered a rather baffling explanation to Harry's question. "As for that book in the school library... I can only say that many books in the library were written by Britain wizards themselves. The truth is, the Flamel couple are both so old, why would they want to live in seclusion in another country?"

"What you said makes a lot of sense."

Theseus's words reaffirmed a fact for Harry: the histories written by these wizards, especially those involving dates, were basically fabricated based on conjecture and had no credibility whatsoever.

However, there's nothing that can be done about it. After all, most wizards these days are just a bunch of idiots. They probably struggle with even basic math problems, let alone historical biographies. It's a miracle they can even make them up, so we shouldn't expect them to be accurate.

In short, Theseus hastily concluded the Granger family's trip to Paris with just one meal. After the Mr. and Mrs. Granger Dobby back to London, he took the remaining Harry and Hermione and headed to Nicolas Flamel's residence in Paris.

In front of an unassuming little door in Paris neighborhood, Theseus took out his wand and knocked on the door with a peculiar rhythm.

Click~

The door lock clicked, and then the door automatically opened a crack.

"This is a special magic lock. As long as you tap the corresponding code with your wand, the door will open automatically," Theseus explained as they entered. "The Flamel couple no longer associate with anyone, so those who know the code are all old acquaintances, and there's no need to specifically ask them to open the door."

He led Hach and his companion through a simple entrance hall, and then a reception room decorated entirely in a medieval style came into view.

The living room walls were covered with tapestries and framed pictures, depicting various figures and strange symbols. Harry glanced at them and noticed that some were Study of Ancient Runes he and Hermione would be learning next year, while many others were completely incomprehensible.

The room seemed to be divided into different areas according to different functions. Some corners were piled with bottles and jars of all sizes, while others were filled with various tools. Looking through a small door, Harry even discovered a separate forge.

It is said that Nicolas Flamel was an alchemist...

At this moment, Harry had already formed a formula in his mind: 'Alchemy = Archaeology + Chemistry + Pharmaceuticals + Forging'.

In one corner of the room, Ha and his companion saw an old man dressed in a gray-white robe.

The old man's back looked haggard, and he appeared very thin, as if he might fall over if blown by the wind.

He was currently busy looking at a crystal ball in front of him. The smoke inside the crystal ball kept changing, as if it were foreshadowing some kind of omen.

He seemed completely unaware of the three people behind him.

"Nicolas Flamel... Nicolas Flamel! I brought him here!!"

Theseus cast an Amplifying Charm on himself, which made all the glass jars in the room vibrate and hum, before the old man looked up in surprise and slowly turned around.

This allowed Harry and Hermione to see his appearance clearly.

It was a pale, wrinkled face, so thin that the contours of its cheekbones were clearly visible, completely devoid of any color.

His eyebrows were almost completely gone, and his eyes looked quite cloudy; Harry couldn't even tell if his gaze was focused.

Upon seeing the other person's condition, Harry couldn't help but frown subconsciously.

Could this old man, clearly on his deathbed, be the legendary Nicolas Flamel?

If he really lived to be nearly seven hundred years old, then using the Sorcerer's Stone to achieve immortality would probably not be a good thing for him and his wife.

"You... it really was you!"

When Nicolas Flamel saw Harry's serious expression, his previously dim eyes suddenly lit up, and he excitedly staggered towards Harry.

"This serious demeanor, just like when we first met, there's no mistake. You really are, the doctor..."

Nicolas Flamel tentatively reached out his hand to Harry, but instead of uttering Harry's name, he used a strange appellation.

"Mr. Flamel, hello." Out of politeness, Harry quickly shook the hand. "Also, may I ask who the 'Doctor' is...?"

Click~

After a soft cracking sound, Harry's expression froze.

It looks like he just squeezed Nicolas Flamel's hand so hard it fractured...

Please, this old man's osteoporosis is way beyond its late stage!

From Harry's professional perspective, given Nicolas Flamel's current physical condition, even a sneeze could cause him to fall apart.

"Harry, you need to use the Amplifying Charm to talk to him. Nicolas Flamel is almost completely deaf." Seeing Harry's flustered expression, Theseus quickly explained, "Also, don't worry about his hand bones. Nicolas Flamel has long lost all sense of pain. He often breaks his bones because he exerts too much force, but he doesn't realize it, so every night before he goes to sleep, he casts a Mending Charm on his entire body."

"How... how could this be?" Hermione was also shocked. "Isn't he the greatest alchemist in the world? Why is his health so poor?"

"This is the price of immortality," Theseus sighed. "The Flamel couple certainly lived a very long time, but whether such a long life was a blessing or a curse, only they themselves know."

"Your name is Harry, right? Good... anyway, it's good that you're here." Nicolas Flamel shook Harry's hand with relief, then suddenly turned halfway around and called out, "Come out quickly, Perenelle! Doctor... no, I mean Harry's here!!"

To be able to cast Amplifying Charm Wandless Magic as naturally as a conversation, Nicolas Flamel truly lived up to his reputation as a powerful wizard who had lived for nearly seven hundred years, his mastery of spells was unparalleled.

However, his physical condition is indeed worrying. Just that shout must have accidentally broken several of his bones again.

"He's here... is it him?!"

An aged yet excited female voice drifted from the inner room, and soon after, an elderly woman in a similar state to Nicolas Flamel slowly emerged from the room.

She must be Perenelle Nicolas Flamel's wife, who took the Elixir of Life with Nicolas Flamel.

Beside her, a blonde girl was carefully supporting her, and upon seeing this person, Harry and Hermione both stood there dumbfounded in confusion.

"Luna Lovegood?"

"How did you get here?!"

The girl who helped Perenelle out was none other than their classmate from Hogwarts, Luna Lovegood Lovegood!

Chapter 243 Everyone Needs a Special Address

"So your name is Harry... that's great!"

After a greeting, Perenelle, supported by Luna Lovegood, slowly approached Harry and gave him a warm hug. "I'm so happy to see you and the lovely little Prophet again!"

"Hello..." Harry's hand remained hesitantly suspended in the air, not because he needed to act like a gentleman to an old lady, but because he was worried that he might accidentally break her.

Furthermore, he was quite curious about the blonde junior. "Excuse me, why is Luna Lovegood here?"

"You mean the little Prophet? She was also invited as a guest, just like you~"

"I was kidnapped."

Perenelle responded with a kind smile, but Luna Lovegood, standing beside her, bluntly contradicted her. "An old lady who looks to be in her nineties insisted on bringing me here... I still think she was Wrackspurt; there might be something wrong here."

Luna Lovegood extended an index finger and circled it around her temple; the meaning couldn't be clearer.

"Grandma, isn't that..." Harry frowned slightly, a figure suddenly appearing in his mind.

"No doubt about it, it's Tina," Theseus chimed in helplessly. "During the war, her and my brother Newt's behavior started to become abnormal. I wanted to straighten them out, but then I came straight to France after the war, which led to decades of indulgence. Now they're completely beyond redemption."

"Uh..." For some reason, when Harry saw Theseus's expression, so reminiscent of his painful past, he suddenly felt a little guilty.

"But why would Mrs. Scamander bring Luna Lovegood here out of the blue?"

Although Hermione knew who the kidnapper was, she was completely baffled and felt slightly uneasy.

After the trip, Harry could have enjoyed some time alone with his parents during the summer vacation while they were at work, but instead, he was mysteriously brought to Nicolas Flamel's place.

Meeting the greatest alchemist in history and receiving some guidance from him would normally be a wonderful thing, but if Luna Lovegood were also there, things would be a different story.

Moreover, she not only arrived earlier than him, but also seemed to be closer to the Flamel couple.

In this situation, Hermione didn't know whether to complain about Luna Lovegood's persistent presence or blame Tina for causing trouble.

Hmm... it's obvious that Hermione doesn't know that there's a type of person in this world called a "shipping fan."

And the woman she knew, Tina Scamander, was definitely a troublemaker who loved to stir up trouble.

On a side note, Hermione should really be thankful that Hare, Luna, and Tina are still young; otherwise, Tina's actions wouldn't have been limited to simply kidnapping Luna Lovegood.

"Tina was actually worried about me and Perenelle, and hoped that we could reunite with the doctor and the little Prophet before we completely gave up on life."

To hear everything, Nicolas Flamel had put on something like a hearing aid, and seeing Harry and Luna Lovegood seemed to excite him so much that the wrinkles on his face trembled.

He slowly extended both hands, completely ignoring the cracking sound at his knuckles, and grasped Harry and Luna Lovegood's wrists with all his might.

"Anyway, it's good that you're here. It's really wonderful that both of you could come..."

"Uh... now that I've brought the person here, I think I'll take my leave." Theseus glanced hesitantly at the five people in the room, each with a different expression, and realizing they probably didn't have time to pay attention to him, he decisively turned and left.

However, before leaving, he couldn't help but glance back at Harry, who was also being held back by the Flamel couple.

It was obvious that his brother Newt and his Flamel couple had kept something from him.

Judging from the attitude of the Flamel couple and how they referred to Harry and another girl, it's clear that Nicolas Flamel's initial intention to personally teach Harry was not simply out of admiration for his talent.

"Hmph, I feel pretty redundant now. I should have just gone back to London with my parents."