Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

“Nicolas Flamel?”

Listening to Headmaster Dumbledore's words and looking at the Philosopher's Stone placed before him, Charlie couldn't help but feel a slight chill. His originally relaxed expression began to turn serious.

He first savored the name in his mouth, then fell into thought.

Silence filled the office. Dumbledore was not in a hurry, wearing the same leisurely smile as before, his eyelids drooping as he continued to savor the candy in his drawer.

Time passed slowly in the peaceful atmosphere. Only a few awakened portraits were whispering, becoming the only sounds in the room at the moment.

“Look… the Black family's boy has come here again…”

“Hmph… it’s probably the most shameful thing in his life, to be your descendant.”

“Weasel's hide! What do you mean?!”

… … … … … … … …

After a long while, Charlie stopped his thoughts, looked at Headmaster Dumbledore, and broke the silence.

“Why would you want me to go?” As he spoke, Charlie spread his hands and sincerely said,

“After all, I've never been to France, and the days near the New Year after Christmas are also the peak season for the candy factory. I'm afraid…”

He organized his words, trying to make his refusal sound more tactful, but before he could say the words he had prepared, Dumbledore interrupted him.

“It's Nicolas Flamel. He wants to meet you.”

Satisfied after eating the last candy in his hand, Dumbledore clapped his hands contentedly, then looked up at Charlie again, and said abruptly.

“What?”

Charlie was first stunned, then couldn't help but laugh.

“Are you saying that the legendary alchemist wants to meet me?”

Dumbledore didn't speak, but calmly nodded, indicating that it was as he said.

Charlie waved his hand with a smile, assuming that the headmaster was joking with him. He shrugged helplessly and continued,

“Don't joke, Headmaster… As far as I know, Master Flamel has been refusing visitors for more than a decade.”

As he spoke, Charlie paused, carefully examining Dumbledore's face. Seeing that the other party was still the same as usual, with a smiling appearance that showed no change, he had no choice but to continue,

“Although, I admit that in terms of business or candy talent, the name Charlie Black represents unparalleled skill, but it seems that I don't have the qualifications to make him an exception. After all, he is an alchemist, not a candy master… right?”

Dumbledore's elbow rested on the table, his fingers interlaced, quietly listening to Charlie's monologue. His white beard, eyebrows, and hair remained motionless, reflecting the gentle light, as if he were the light itself.

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The two headmasters who had been fighting with each other above their heads also stopped tacitly, looking down, curiously and gossipingly exploring the information in their conversation.

“Nicolas Flamel, is that old guy still alive?”

“Hmm… it's unbelievable. I heard that old guy once held my grandfather.”

… … … … …

Only after Charlie finished speaking did Dumbledore finally open his mouth and slowly explain,

“Not long ago, I had a letter exchange with him. In the letter, I mentioned the alchemical item you made, and unexpectedly, he was very interested in your design and whimsy…”

Hearing this, Charlie's expression finally changed. Even his sitting posture became more serious, and he looked at Headmaster Dumbledore with a slightly strange gaze, not speaking, but continuing to listen to the other party.

“Letting you send the Philosopher's Stone back this time is not actually my intention.” Dumbledore said, his tranquil and unwavering eyes looking deeply at Charlie in front of him. “It was Nicolas Flamel who personally requested it.”

“Furthermore, he actually sent you a small gift, hoping I could give it to you.”

“A small gift?”

Charlie was even more surprised. For a moment, he didn't know what to say. After all, an alchemist with a legendary status like Nicolas Flamel should not have any intersection with him, a candy merchant, but unexpectedly, now, through Headmaster Dumbledore's wonderful connection, they were linked together.

It's really… unexpected.

Just as he was still slightly dazed by this, Dumbledore had already taken the small gift sent by Nicolas Flamel to the desk and placed it side by side with the Philosopher's Stone, placing them in front of him.

It was a monolithic, spherical object cast from mithril. On its surface were countless exquisitely arranged, obscure, and complex mysterious characters. It was cool to the touch. Charlie picked it up and brought it closer to his eyes, pursing his lips and carefully observing every detail of it, and then couldn't help but gasp.

Isn't this the "magic world version of a hand grenade" that he and Peng Peng and others had painstakingly researched in the factory?! Not only that, but compared to the products in his factory, this one in front of him was several levels higher in terms of material craftsmanship and the priority sequence of the arranged magic symbols.

“This… … … …”

Charlie gently pinched its outer shell with a few slender fingers and kept turning it, carefully observing every detail and every corner of it, and the more he looked at it, the more shocked he became. This alchemical item, which was smaller than the palm of his hand, could not be faulted in the slightest, even with his extremely critical standards. In his heart, there was only one evaluation that could match it—perfect!

After looking at it incredulously over and over again for a long time, Charlie finally dejectedly admitted that the alchemical item in front of him was probably in its most perfect state in every aspect. Any more would be too much, any less would be lacking, and everything was comfortably within the so-called "just right" range…

“You…” Charlie raised his head again, looking at Headmaster Dumbledore with a rather suspicious gaze, and asked, “What exactly did you say to Nicolas Flamel back then?”

Seemingly having not seen Charlie Black, his most outstanding student, show such a deflated expression for a long time, Dumbledore, with a playful heart, was in a great mood for a moment, and couldn't help but laugh loudly with a face full of red light.

“Hahahaha hahahaha… … … …”

After laughing for a while, he finally wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and made a strange expression, answering,

“I just casually mentioned that it was round and could release powerful power in an instant… Other than that, there's nothing else.”

Okay… At this moment, Charlie Black, who had always been a genius who crushed his peers, had to admit that this feeling of being crushed by a big shot was not very pleasant.