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A few days away from home.
A change of face.
Yet upon returning, he was still a young boy.
Ian's eyelashes were brushed by the gilded glow of candlelight. When he opened his eyes, Nicolas Flamel's peculiar, figurine-like globe was slowly turning on the bookshelf.
The air carried the distinctive scent of parchment scrolls mingled with a whiff of sulfur and metal, the unique smell that defined the office of the Hogwarts alchemy professor.
Dumbledore's deep eyes, behind his half-moon spectacles, were fixed on Ian. His expression was tense as if he were confirming that the boy was safe and sound.
Intricate silver embroidery adorned his robes, and he held an ancient wand in his hand, its tip still faintly shimmering with light. Surely, the magic that had guided Ian back must have come from this mighty wizard.
Nicolas Flamel stood nearby, looking tired, but his eyes glimmered with relief. He held an ancient book, its pages yellowed and frayed at the edges.
Perhaps this was the tome the alchemy professor had used to find a way to retrieve Ian.
"Hogwarts!"
Ian carefully took in his surroundings.
Other than Professor Flamel and Headmaster Dumbledore, no one else was in the office. His gaze finally settled on an oil painting hanging on the wall.
The painting depicted him and Herpo, stirred unease in the young wizard's heart.
"Thanks to Merlin's favor, we've finally brought you back," Nicolas Flamel said with a breath of relief, absently stroking the book's worn pages as though in gratitude.
Masters of alchemy had always carried a ritual-like reverence for knowledge. Beside him, Dumbledore inclined his head, that familiar gentle smile radiating a calming strength once again.
"Merlin probably isn't too keen on favoring me," Ian answered with a chuckle to his alchemy professor.
"Oh?"
Nicolas Flamel seemed to understand at once.
"So your experiences truly were remarkable," He murmured, unable to hide his wonder. He had clearly guessed that Ian had encountered Merlin.
"Welcome home, Ian." Dumbledore stepped forward and embraced him warmly. His voice was full of concern, and his gaze lingered on Ian.
Then, his eyes narrowed slightly as though he had perceived something. A flicker of deep emotion passed through his fathomless eyes.
"I can tell you've undergone a truly extraordinary journey."
It was obvious he meant more than Ian's mere meeting with Merlin. The greatest white wizard of the century had keenly discerned the legendary stature that Ian now carried within him.
"Indeed, quite a lot has happened." Ian sighed as memories of all that had transpired flashed through his mind. Thoughts surged back like a tide to that short yet unforgettable stretch of experience.
Steadying his emotions, he looked again at the distinguished old headmaster before him. "You've changed as well. Could it be that I've been gone for a long time?"
It was a natural doubt; Ian could clearly sense that the Dumbledore standing before him now bore the same kind of legendary stature that he himself carried.
This was especially evident a moment ago when the old wand in the headmaster's hand pulsed faintly with undissipated magic.
That was no small matter.
No wonder Ian worried he might have been gone much longer than he realized.
"You're fortunate. In truth, only a few days have passed since your disappearance." Dumbledore offered reassurance with a gentle smile, glancing down at the old wand in his hand.
"As for my own change... well, I couldn't just let a younger student surpass me so easily." His tone was half-joking, as though it were a casual jest.
However, Nicolas Flamel revealed the truth: "To find a way to bring you back quickly, Albus had to abandon his original plan and advance in rank faster."
"After all, retrieving you from over two thousand years ago is far more difficult than simply opening a time channel." The Alchemy Master's voice carried deep emotion.
Ian grew thoughtful, casting a grateful glance at his old headmaster. He certainly understood what Nicolas Flamel was really saying:
Albus Dumbledore had given up better opportunities just to save him.
Sensing Ian's gaze, Dumbledore chuckled lightly. "This level of achievement has already far exceeded my original hopes. There's no need for you to feel burdened by it."
Ian opened his mouth, yet found no words to respond.
"Ah, it was careless of me to charge ahead without thinking it through." Ian admitted regretfully, though it wasn't entirely his fault for being so rash.
At that time, Riddle had left him no chance to think.
Besides,
The Sorting Hat itself had once said he was fit for Gryffindor.
"This was not your fault. We all know Tom is not an easy opponent. He deceived Nicolas and tricked me as well."
"We all underestimated him. Perhaps it's because we've grown too used to facing Voldemort that even I had forgotten that he was once a frighteningly gifted young wizard."
Albus Dumbledore's voice was gentle as he offered comfort to the young wizard.
"Indeed, Voldemort the clumsy, Tom the cunning." Ian agreed wholeheartedly with Dumbledore's assessment. He, too, had been misled by the flawed perception of Voldemort.
Everyone said Voldemort only liked to bite the biggest fruit.
But few remembered that the young Tom was brilliant and bold. If not for the deadly dangers of the ancient era, Riddle's scheme would have been extraordinary.
"By the way, I need to ask you something."
At that moment, Nicolas Flamel finally seemed unable to suppress his curiosity. "When we tried to reach you the first time, do you know why the connection suddenly cut off and why we could no longer sense you through the great clock?"
That was the very reason Albus Dumbledore had hurried to ascend into the Legendary Rank. The great clock should have acted as a beacon, guiding Ian's return via crossover.
They had lost all contact with Ian, which is why Dumbledore and Flamel had to search for the era in which he might have fallen.
"When I came back, there were three of us returning together. I believe that overloaded the summoning's power." Ian took a deep breath and relayed Riddle's earlier judgment.
That was indeed the likeliest explanation.
"I see." Nicolas Flamel nodded in sudden realization. A flash of understanding appeared in his eyes, he clearly agreed that this circumstance could have interfered with Ian's return.
However,
Upon hearing ian's answer, Dumbledore seemed to realize something. He froze for a moment, then his eyes narrowed as he noticed how often the boy kept glancing toward the wall.
"Mr. Malfoy...wasn't saved?" The old headmaster asked abruptly. It was clear that he and Nicolas Flamel had already investigated Ian's encounter that night.
Ian sighed.
"Malfoy's condition isn't too bad. Though he suffered accidents and disasters, Riddle was close to curing him. But both he and Riddle were left behind with me in Merlin's era."
"This return was too sudden. I had no time to make any preparations." Ian understood why the process had been rushed. Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel must have wanted to bring him back as quickly as possible.
"Riddle...has been resurrected, then." Nicolas Flamel's voice carried astonishment. His brow was furrowed and his eyes flickered with complex emotion.
Clearly, Flamel had already pieced together the gist of what had happened, as evidenced by Ian's words and the mention of three returnees. After all, he and Dumbledore were two of the sharpest minds of their time.
Of course.
It was clear that Dumbledore had realized this earlier. When he heard Ian's response, the old headmaster showed no surprise, only a calm nod.
(To Be Continued…)