By the Sea in Wales

That afternoon, Dumbledore took the two of them to a stretch of coast in Wales.

He and Gavin had discussed it and chosen this place for the experiment.

Not Hogsmeade, not the Black Lake behind Hogwarts Castle, not a corridor in any building or any room with a roof. They needed somewhere they would not be disturbed, with enough open space to handle anything that might go wrong.

But they could not go there by Apparition. No one knew whether Cordelia could withstand another trip.

When Dumbledore offered to provide transportation, Gavin had only one request: "Something steady."

After some thought, Dumbledore dug a neatly folded Flying Carpet out of a dusty storage closet in the Headmaster's Office.

There was something oddly ceremonial about unfolding the carpet. Silver-gray geometric patterns were woven into its dark blue surface. The edges were a little worn, but the fabric was still smooth and even, like a stone slab polished bright by time.

Once all three had taken their seats, the Flying Carpet rose without a sound. It passed over the pointed towers of Hogwarts, over the dark green border of the Forbidden Forest, over the uneven ridgelines of the Scottish Highlands, and headed west. Wind brushed past their ears, carrying the faint scent of salt from far away.

Cordelia sat at the edge of the carpet, her legs dangling and swinging. The wind made a mess of her hair, but her eyes stayed bright.

She suddenly turned to Gavin. "Go on. Tell me."

She had calmed down enough to take in something new.

Gavin sat cross-legged in the middle of the carpet and took the Philosopher's Stone from his pocket, holding it in his palm.

Red light danced over his fingertips, wavering slightly in the wind stirred by their flight, like a tiny