บท 159: An Offer
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Harry's heart skipped a beat at the revelation. Nicolas Flamel, the very alchemist he had learned about during his adventures at Hogwarts. His fingers instinctively brushed against the wand in his sleeve, though he refrained from drawing it.
Petunia, unaware of the man's significant identity, approached with a courteous smile. "Hello, sir. May I help you?" she asked, her voice carrying the polite, reserved tone she reserved for strangers.
The man returned her smile with one of his own, his eyes then shifting to Harry with an intent gaze. "Indeed, I am here to see Mr. Potter," he said, his voice rich with an ageless wisdom that seemed to resonate in the air around them.
Harry managed a smile as he steadied his emotions behind a mental shield, "How may I assist you, sir?" His heart raced when Flamel laughed gently, revealing his awareness of Harry's recognition. "You already know who I am, don't you? How intriguing. Well, I believe you have something that belongs to me."
Harry's pulse quickened. A few days ago, he had indeed taken the Philosopher's Stone from its enchanted protection, but he was certain not even Dumbledore knew of his action. 'Is he trying to catch me out?' Harry pondered as he replied, "I'm not sure what you're referring to, sir. I'm afraid I don't know you."
Flamel's smile remained unchanged, if anything, it grew more knowing. "Ah, but I came here with another purpose in mind, Mr. Potter. That item is of no consequence to me now. However, I am here to offer you an internship, should you be interested." As he spoke, Flamel effortlessly conjured an envelope from thin air, a gesture eerily reminiscent of Harry's own method when accessing his inventory. Catching the brief spark in Flamel's eyes, Harry contained his surprise and accepted the envelope.
Petunia, meanwhile, noticed the apparent importance of their visitor and, not realizing Harry's slight discomfort, offered, "Ah, please forgive my manners. Would you care to join us for tea?" Recognizing the significance of their guest in the wizarding world, yet oblivious to Harry's inner turmoil, she maintained her hospitable demeanor.
Flamel turned, his smile warm yet declining the offer. "I'm afraid I must decline, as I have prior engagements. But thank you, you are very kind." Petunia, ever the gracious host, responded, "Well, you're welcome anytime." With a final nod, Flamel disappeared with a soft pop, leaving Harry and Petunia alone.
Harry stood there, envelope in hand, bewildered by the turn of events. "Well, that was... unexpected," he muttered under his breath, careful to keep his voice low enough so only Nigel could hear.
Nigel's tone was more subdued than ever, but Harry was too occupied to notice it, "Unexpected? I believe it is more than that. What's next, Master Harry? A tea party with Merlin?"
Opening the door, Harry was greeted by a sense of familiarity and comfort of the house, but his mind was too busy to think anything else.
Misty greeted Harry at the doorway, her eyes gleaming with unmistakable joy. "Master Potter, Misty has greatly missed your presence!" she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement.
"I missed you too, Misty," Harry replied, his smile genuine as he leaned down to hug her. In that moment, Crookshanks sauntered over, rubbing against his legs with a soft purr that seemed to speak volumes of his own form of affection. "And you as well, Crookshanks," Harry chuckled, offering a gentle stroke to the cat's back, eliciting a louder purr of contentment.
Climbing the stairs to his room, Harry released Hedwig from her cage, watching as she stretched her wings with a sense of relief. "Finally, freedom," Hedwig hooted, her tone carrying a mixture of relief and annoyance as she settled onto her familiar perch.
Harry winced slightly, empathizing with her disdain for confinement. "I'm sorry, girl. I didn't have a choice but to keep you caged up for the journey," he explained, his apology sincere.
Hedwig's bright eyes softened as she looked at Harry, and though she didn't speak further, her quiet hoot seemed to convey her understanding and forgiveness.
As he started to unpack, Crookshanks hopped onto his bed with an air of importance. Harry closed the door and turned to the cat, asking, "Any problem?" In response, Crookshanks said, "A few suspicious people, but nothing major." Harry had discovered over Christmas that Crookshanks wasn't just an ordinary cat; he was part Kneazle, possessing a level of intelligence similar to that of a young child, and capable of understanding and communicating with Harry thanks to his omni-tongue ability.
However, Crookshanks's report caused Harry to frown. Being part Kneazle meant Crookshanks had a natural talent for detecting untrustworthy individuals. The fact that neither he nor Misty had been aware of Flamel waiting outside, combined with Crookshanks's mention of other suspicious people, raised Harry's concerns.
"I see," Harry mused aloud, pondering the implications. "We'll need to keep an eye out then. Thanks, Crookshanks."
The cat merely nodded, his tail flicking slightly, before jumping off the bed and sauntering out of the room.
Harry held the envelope given by Nicolas Flamel, yet he did not tear it open, nor did he send it to his inventory. In that moment, realization dawned upon him. "The stone had a tracking spell." It seemed obvious in hindsight; neither Flamel nor Dumbledore would allow the Philosopher's Stone to simply vanish. Harry had considered this possibility but had been overly confident. He thought once he placed it into his inventory, it would be undetectable. While he was right about the inventory shielding the stone from tracking spells, it also inadvertently revealed to Flamel or Dumbledore that the thief had a means to sever such spells.
Harry overlooked this because he had been overly confident that Dumbledore wouldn't pinpoint him as the culprit for the theft of the Philosopher's Stone. However, if Nicolas Flamel was so certain it was Harry who took it, could it mean he knew about the inventory system? The manner in which Flamel had produced the envelope was remarkably similar to Harry's method of retrieving items from his own inventory. Staring at the envelope, Harry realized it probably had a tracking spell on it. Placing it into his inventory would alert Flamel to his unique method of item storage, confirming Harry's possession of the stone. Yet, not doing so left Harry in a dilemma, as Flamel seemed convinced of Harry's involvement regardless.
"Why are you so silent, Nigel?" Harry inquired in his mind, seeking the counsel he had come to rely on.
Nigel's response was delayed, as if he too was pondering the situation. "I was just admiring the intricate web of intrigue you've woven around yourself. It's rather like a soap opera, isn't it? 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' – coming soon to a theatre near you."
Harry couldn't help but smirk at Nigel's attempt to lighten the mood. "It's not a web I intentionally wove," he defended. "But now that I'm caught in it, I need to figure a way out. Any brilliant ideas?"
Nigel, always ready with a quip, suggested, "Well, you could always try returning the stone with a polite note: 'Found this lying around. Thought you might miss it.' I'm sure that would clear everything up."
Despite the situation, Harry chuckled. "And maybe sign it 'Your friendly neighborhood Potter'?"
"Exactly! See, you're getting the hang of this." Nigel's tone shifted, becoming slightly more serious. "But in all honesty, Master Harry, this is a delicate matter. Flamel wouldn't have approached you without good reason. This internship offer – it's an olive branch, but also a test."
Harry nodded to himself, understanding Nigel's point. "A test to see my reaction, or perhaps to gauge my intentions."
"Indeed. And let's not forget the potential learning opportunity. Flamel is, after all, the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone. The knowledge he possesses could be invaluable," Nigel added.
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