Dumbledore's Request

Kyle does indeed have a small bottle of ashes left after the phoenix's rebirth, a gift from Fawkes when he was in third grade.

However, that thing was a top-tier material, and he certainly wouldn't use it until he had accumulated enough experience, so the bottle of ash was always kept at the very back of the box.

"May I ask why?" Kyle curiously, then added, "Of course, but if it needs to be kept secret, then forget it."

"Oh, that's only right, after all, they all belong to you."

Nicolas glanced at Dumbledore, and only after receiving an affirmative answer did he continue, "Remember the Time-Turner in the Chamber of Secrets?"

"Of course." Kyle nodded.

It was because of that Time-Turner that he met the Hogwarts Founders, so he naturally wouldn't forget it.

"Yes, I fixed it." Nicolas said calmly, his words like a thunderclap.

"That Time-Turner, is it fixed?" Kyle instinctively looked at Dumbledore.

He had never seen Dumbledore like this before. His usually wise, deep blue eyes now held only undisguised anticipation and fear.

"It wasn't supposed to be this fast, but I received some crucial help... and that's also thanks to you, Kyle."

Nicolas blinked and said, "But now we're missing the last... and most important part, the core that provides the magic to the Time-Turner."

The amount of magic power required to travel back a hundred years is immeasurable; no existing Ancient Runes runes or symbols can solve this problem.

"Even overlaying symbols won't work?" Kyle asked instinctively.

"No." Nicolas shook his head. "Stacking up the magic-enhancing symbols to a certain number can indeed meet the activation requirements, but the subsequent magic supply cannot keep up."

"In that case, the Time-Turner will most likely... no, it will definitely break again. As a result, the user will be trapped inside forever, perhaps for fifty years, or perhaps for seventy years, unable to reach the predetermined time, and unable to return."

Kyle nodded. He knew that the user Nicolas was referring to was Dumbledore, and that the hundred years of regression were also prepared for him.

If he were merely trapped in the past, Dumbledore might not care, but being unable to reach the appointed time...

etc.

Kyle suddenly wondered what he would do if Dumbledore were thrown back sixty years... Also, would Grindelwald have recognized him back then...?

Thinking this, Kyle's lips twitched involuntarily, but he quickly suppressed it.

At this moment, Nicolas didn't notice Kyle's strangeness and continued, "So I thought of another way, the Philosopher's Stone!"

"Only the Philosopher's Stone can provide a continuous and immense supply of magical power to the Time-Turner."

"But wasn't the Philosopher's Stone destroyed?" Kyle asked, regaining his senses.

"That's true." Nicolas smiled. "But have you ever considered that I was able to forge Philosopher's Stone six hundred years ago, so why can't I now?"

"To be honest, the process of refining Philosopher's Stone is not difficult for me, but the materials needed are hard to find. And the ashes left behind after the phoenix's rebirth are the most important part of the Philosopher's Stone."

Kyle understood. Simply put, once the ash was lent out, it would never come back.

Of course, if he could ultimately exchange it for a Philosopher's Stone, he certainly wouldn't hesitate. But the question is, could he actually get the Philosopher's Stone?

Looking back at previous experiences, we can see that when he returned to the correct time in the Chamber of Secrets, the Time-Turner was completely destroyed, and even its only shell was shattered into pieces.

Although last time it was a thousand years, this time it's only a hundred years, but what if...? After all, nobody knows if this thing is a disposable product.

Well, so not only did he not get the Ravenclaw's Diadem this time, he also has to lose another good thing?

However, there was one thing Kyle couldn't understand: Nicolas had lived for over six hundred years and must have collected countless treasures; surely he hadn't included any Nirvana Ashes among them? That shouldn't be the case.

Kyle thought this, and he asked it.

"It existed before."

Nicolas sighed, "But back then I never thought I'd make a second Philosopher's Stone, so I used them all for other things... like the Dragon statue in front of my house, which is my proudest work in the last hundred years."

"Moreover, the Philosopher's Stone must be made from the ashes left behind by the natural rebirth of a phoenix," Dumbledore added from the side. "Anything obtained by trickery will be of no use whatsoever."

"Okay." Kyle nodded.

So Nicolas and Dumbledore came here today just for the ashes he had?

If I had known it would turn out like this, I should have stayed in Hogsmeade a little longer, or even spent the night there...

Despite thinking this, Kyle still opened his box and took out a tightly sealed bottle.

The bottle was only the size of a thumb, with a cork stopper and a layer of wax sealing the opening.

The bottle contained half a bottle of grayish-black powder. When you shake the bottle, you can see specks of golden-red light, like stars twinkling in the night, so beautiful that you can't take your eyes off it.

"I only have this much, do you want it all?" Kyle asked.

He really hoped that Nicolas might leave him some, even just a small amount.

Unfortunately, this is not even enough.

"It's a bit little, but it's barely enough." Nicolas's words shattered Kyle's last shred of hope.

Seeing Kyle's reluctant expression, Dumbledore said somewhat apologetically, "I know this may be a very difficult decision for you."

"Actually, I initially wanted to find Professor Snape, but the portion of ashes he took has already been used up. Before Fawkes' next rebirth, you're the only one left with a portion of ashes."

Snape used up the Ashes so quickly.

Kyle truly hadn't expected that.

Normally, shouldn't something so precious be carefully stored away and preserved? Perhaps passed down as a family heirloom to Kanna decades later, and then...

In short, Snape's behavior was a complete waste of talent!

"What a shameful waste," Kyle thought to himself.

But it's no use saying all this now.

Looking at Dumbledore's hopeful, even pleading, face, and then at the pair of blue and white wool socks he had placed on the bookshelf in his office, Kyle finally sighed and handed the bottle over.

"Then this is yours, Professor."

Dumbledore stepped forward and carefully took it, his movements as gentle as if he were receiving a handful of water.

"Nicolas and I have discussed it."

After carefully placing the bottle into a padded wooden box, he said, "We all agree that if the Philosopher's Stone is not damaged after use, then it belongs to you."

If it gets damaged... I can grant you one request, any request, even if it means transferring my entire Gringotts private treasury to you, I have no problem with it."

Kyle waved his hand. "No need for that, Professor Dumbledore."

He didn't understand what was going on lately. A few days ago, Sirius insisted on giving him a shop worth nearly 10,000 Galleon, and now Dumbledore ruthless, offering to give him the vault directly.

That's a bit of an exaggeration.

Of course, if possible, he would prefer the Philosopher's Stone.