Study Days at Hogwarts

  Chapter 422 The time has come

   "Have a nice Christmas, Albus?"

   Perenal smiled and welcomed the friends outside the door into the hall, "If you want, you can also come and spend Christmas with us."

   "Not Perenal, I think it would be nice to stay at school and spend the holidays with everyone." Dumbledore looked around and asked without seeing his old friend, "Where's Nicole?"

"He, in the study, is chatting with Albert through the double-sided mirror." Perenal showed a kind smile on his face, "Nicole will be very happy every time he chats with Albert, that is indeed A learned and clever kid."

   "Well, Albert is indeed smart." Dumbledore said noncommittally.

  He walked through the hall and appeared in front of the study door. Nicole was sitting at the desk, chatting with Albert in the double-sided mirror.

   "Oh, Albus, here you come!"

  Nico heard footsteps, and when he looked up, he saw Dumbledore who had just entered the study, and greeted him with a smile.

   "What were you talking about just now?" Dumbledore asked, "It's rare to see you smiling so happily."

   "Well, Albert told me something about Hogwarts school." Nico said when he followed Dumbledore out of the study after finishing talking with Albert.

   "What happened in school?" Dumbledore raised his eyebrows slightly, "What is it, I'm curious what can make you so happy."

"Albert said that Professor Quirrell in your school is likely to be controlled by someone using the Imperius Curse. Every time he is free, he will go to the corridor of the restricted area on the fourth floor. The Sorcerer's Stone in the school." Nico sat down on the sofa and told Dumbledore about the topic he and Albert had just chatted about.

   "Oh, Professor Quirrell!"

  Dumbledore raised his eyebrows slightly. Of course he knew that Professor Quirrell was suspicious, but he never thought that Professor Quirrell would be easily seen through by the students.

   "Did you tell him about the Philosopher's Stone?" Dumbledore asked.

"No." Nico shook his head. "I asked him how he knew about the Sorcerer's Stone. He said that last time Harry Potter accidentally broke into the restricted corridor, and then asked him about me." Nico didn't mean to hide anything, and told Dumbledore what he knew, "If this matter is connected with the things you put in school, it is not difficult to guess the truth. He even felt that the piece of magic The stone is fake."

   "Mr. Anderson is indeed very smart." Dumbledore sighed softly and said, "I didn't expect to infer such a result based on this information alone."

   "It's really powerful, but your Professor Quirrell..." Nico picked up the black tea that Perenal had just made, sipped his mouth and shook his head with a smile.

   "I heard that Professor Quirrell is so annoyed by Albert's questions that he doesn't want to see him now." Perenal thinks this is very interesting.

   "It seems that you are ready to choose him as your successor?" Dumbledore added two cubes of sugar to the black tea and said after stirring.

  Nicole really cares about Albert, otherwise, how could he talk about these things with him?

   "It is always good to find someone to inherit my knowledge. It would be a pity if this part of knowledge is lost for no reason." Nico said with emotion.

  He has lived for hundreds of years, and he has actually encountered many geniuses, but there are really not many people who suit his appetite like Albert.

   "Are you going to give up the Sorcerer's Stone?" Dumbledore was a little surprised. He had actually discussed with Nicol about giving up the Sorcerer's Stone.

   Nicole said the timing was wrong.

"I discussed it with Nico, it's not bad to die slowly like ordinary people." Perenal reached out to hold Nico's hand. They didn't have any fear of death, and the two had lived for too long. Now, the body is no longer young under the corrosion of the years, and living too long also makes them feel tired. If there is no interdependence between the two sides, they can't even support each other through this long time.

"It seems that after a long day, I can finally go to bed." Dumbledore sighed softly. He was no longer young after living for a century, and the long life also made him tired, but he still couldn't stop to rest. There are things he needs to do.

   "Albus, you are not as old as us." Nicole said with a smile, "It's too early for you to feel this now."

   "Albus, maybe you should consider retiring from school yourself and start enjoying life in peace." Perenal said.

   "The timing does not allow." Dumbledore said shaking his head.

   "Oh, I can probably guess the reason." Nico nodded and said, "However, you should leave this matter to the young people. The savior you chose is not bad."

   "Harry still needs time." Dumbledore shook his head and said, "I need to help him share some pressure while I'm still alive. Not everyone is as good as Mr. Anderson."

   Regarding the issue of the crown, Dumbledore felt that Albert must have speculated. Maybe he didn't know about the Horcrux, but he must have thought about it.

"He's really good." Perenal said, "He's really a confident and likable kid. I heard that he invented a card game. He was going to give it to us as a Christmas present. Too bad his owl couldn't come."

  The LeMays regarded Albert more as a grandson.

"I do know about this, Mr. Anderson mentioned it a long time ago." Dumbledore said after hearing Perenal mention this matter carefully, "He gave me a pair of woolen socks for Christmas this year. "

   "What a caring child, isn't it." Perenal said with a smile, "Finally you don't have to worry about receiving a bunch of books again this year."

   "However, Albert's situation is very similar to yours. He said that he also received a bunch of books this year." Nico suddenly remembered something and said with a smile.

   "It seems that the time has come." Dumbledore whispered softly, "Is it because of Mr. Anderson?"

"Not exactly, I feel the time has come." Nico said: "We have lived too long and experienced most of the things in the world. Death is indeed an exception. As you said, death is just another Great adventure."

  For Nico and his wife, with the Philosopher's Stone, no matter how much wealth and life they want, they can get what they want. In fact, they don't have many souvenirs in this world.

  The appearance of Voldemort and Albert filled the last two pieces of the puzzle, and Nico finally made up his mind.

  Of course, it doesn’t mean that Nico and Perenal are going to die immediately. They plan to store some elixir of life, and then let themselves slowly meet the final death like ordinary people.

  (end of this chapter)