Nicolas, who had been lamenting his life for a while, did not dwell on that story forever.
As we were both individuals who could be said to have reached the level of masters in our respective fields, our conversation inevitably led to an academic exchange.
"So, the core of ancient magic is, after all, primal emotions..."
"Can the definition of 'primal' be limited to just emotion? Can't the attributes of nature, like coldness and heat, also be considered primal..."
"In the first place, when do you think ancient magic was passed down from? Not all magic from ancient Greece is called ancient magic..."
"Ancient magic, in the first place, cannot be precisely defined as a single category..."
"The differences between alchemy and potion-making are countless..."
The passion of our academic exchange was such that even Madam Perenelle, who had been listening for an hour or two, gave up and went inside.
Indeed, Nicolas's perspective gave me great inspiration. I was able to share a part of the view seen by one who had achieved greatness in the field of alchemy.
After talking for a long time, Nicolas suddenly said with a bitter smile.
"Dear me, it's such a shame that you disappeared ninety years ago. You're the first person I've met since Albus who I can talk to so well. It would have been fun to have done some research with you."
At those words, I asked with a sense of doubt.
"There's still a lot of time left, so why don't we start now?"
"Oh, Aisen. Unfortunately, I do not have much time left."
I blinked and asked back.
"...Not much time left? What do you mean? You can achieve immortality with the Philosopher's Stone, can't you?"
Nicolas answered with a gentle smile.
"Ah, yes. The Philosopher's Stone. My life's masterpiece. So much so that I haven't been able to make anything better than it for five hundred years."
Nicolas stroked his skin, which was so white it could be described as translucent, and continued.
"Aisen, our magical knowledge may be equal, but the experience I've gained from living for six hundred years is far greater."
"...Well, of course."
"Immortality. It sounds wonderful in words, but a wizard of your caliber would know, wouldn't you? That death is not something to be avoided."
It is a journey one must embark on someday. As he said this, Nicolas's expression was somewhat dreamy.
Of course, he was right, but I couldn't help but have a question.
"Of course, but why now? Can't you at least postpone death as much as you want?"
Nicolas, who had let out a small laugh, stood up and looked out the window.
"Aisen, look at that."
I looked out the window Nicolas was pointing at. There, the splendid night view of Paris was spread out.
The neon signs, shining from here and there, brightly lit up the dark night, and the headlights of the passing cars created curves of light.
Nicolas, watching it, was clearly detached from it all.
"Aisen, the times have changed. It is time for a relic of the past like me to step down from the stage."
Then he looked at me, grinned, and said.
"Ah, come to think of it, you're a wizard who has experienced rejuvenation, aren't you? Then you should know even better. The cursed blessing of living in a different time from others."
I was suddenly reminded of a passage from the letter Nicolas had sent me.
In any case, please enjoy the youth you have regained with joy. As a pioneer in that field, I can say that living younger than your age is not always a happy thing, but nevertheless, we always find joy in our lives.
I said in a slightly subdued voice.
"Even so, isn't there a joy that can be found by being alive?"
"Ah, of course. Of course. To live is a blessing in itself... but, there are times when all of it becomes tiring and boring."
The great old man, who had lived for over six hundred years, smiled gently.
"Sometimes, I just miss the things that have left so much. At times like that, I find myself wanting to find a new joy in a place other than life. Yes... for example, in the journey of death."
Was it because of the weight of the time he was unfolding so calmly, or was it because of the alcohol going down my throat?
As if possessed, I unconsciously gave voice to the temptation in my heart.
A temptation I had hidden from everyone, even from myself.
"Nicolas. Then... what if, what if you could find that longing without dying?"
Three years ago, my inner world that the Dementor had shown me.
And a little while ago, my desire that the Mirror of Erised had shown me.
What I had seen in them was the image of myself, holding a large clock.
A very large clock. A pure white clock that seemed to contain the entire universe.
Seeing my expression, Nicolas laughed as if surprised.
"Oh, dear. You've seen the Mirror of Erised!"
This time, it was my turn to be surprised.
"No, how did you know?"
"What, didn't Albus tell you?"
Nicolas laughed heartily and said.
"The place where Albus hid the Philosopher's Stone is inside that mirror! He was so proud of himself, saying it was a brilliant scheme!"
For a moment, my head rang with a shock as if I had been hit hard. Albus, that bastard, he tricked me.
Finding it quite amusing, Nicolas laughed for a long time and said.
"Ah, the Mirror of Erised. That mirror always plants temptation in us."
Nicolas's eyes sparkled. His blue eyes shone like crystals.
"Aisen, you asked me earlier, didn't you? What I would do if I could find my longing without dying. The answer is simple!"
"...What is it?"
"A wizard must always be as pure as a child. Haha!"
With a childlike tone, the 664-year-old man gave a cryptic answer.
I was suddenly reminded of the young child who had simply seen his own reflection in the Mirror of Erised, and I let out a small smile.
"That's an answer I quite like."
"Well then, Mr. Nicolas, we'll see you next time."
"Yes, goodbye Harry. Aisen, you write to me from time to time, too!"
"Stay healthy."
A day later. Nicolas saw us off at his front door.
There were no special farewells. Just a normal parting, promising to meet again. That was all.
The morning of the day after Christmas, December 26th, it was snowing.
Hah.
Harry, who was watching the breath that came out as he breathed, said.
"The Christmas holidays are still left, what should we do?"
After thinking for a moment, I was suddenly reminded of the heroic tale Nicolas had told.
I let out a playful laugh and said.
"Want to go see Grindelwald?"
Harry also laughed and said.
"That legendary Dark Wizard? Haha, you're kidding."
But as I continued to smile without answering, the smile slowly faded from Harry's face.
"...You are kidding, right?"
"Who knows... for now, maybe?"
I was curious about that Protego Diabolica fellow, so I did want to go and see him soon.
If you know the incantation, you can roughly imagine the form of the magic, but the idea of using a defensive spell so offensively was quite fresh.
Well, that's a story for another time.
Anyway, what should we do for the rest of Christmas?
Seeing me thinking, Harry hesitated and said.
"Um, if we have nothing to do anyway, how about we go back to Hogwarts before the holidays are over?"
"Go back to school right away? Why?"
"It's just that, I want to spend Christmas with Deek, Ardeura, and Hedwig in the Room of Requirement. They're family too!"
I grinned at his commendable thoughtfulness and said.
"Alright, then since we're in Paris, let's buy some presents for them and go back quickly. Shall we go right now?"
"...Uh, go right now?"
"Yeah. You want to see them quickly, don't you?"
"...Um, but wouldn't they understand if we did some sightseeing in Paris before we go?"
Harry seemed to be dizzy, with the two desires of thinking about his friends who would be waiting and the desire to tour Paris clashing.
I placed a hand on Harry's back and said.
"Alright, then let's spend today sightseeing in Paris to our heart's content and go back to Hogwarts tomorrow."
Dark Wizards, the Mirror of Erised, the Philosopher's Stone.
We could afford to not think about anything for a day and just play to our heart's content, couldn't we?
In conclusion, we played too much.
I had thought that I had completely adapted to the 20th century Muggle world, but the three months at Hogwarts seemed to have been enough to roll back my mentality.
Magic would manifest so naturally that I would enter a restricted area without thinking, or I would be about to take out my wand without thinking and then hastily put it away.
I would even be holding things with a levitation charm without realizing it.
We managed to get by somehow, but if we had made a mistake, the French Aurors might have been dispatched.
This is all because of the alcohol I drank at Nicolas's house. The intoxication must still be left in this young body.
Otherwise, there's no way a pro at Muggle society like me would make such mistakes.
In any case, after our trip to Paris, we packed the things, food, and souvenirs we had bought into our travel backpacks and headed back to Britain.
...This time too, using an illegal Portkey.
With the sensation of our navels being pulled, we were back in Britain.
Once we were back in Britain, we could get to Hogwarts via Apparition.
There was the problem of landing a little higher in the air than our target, perhaps because I was still a little tipsy, but it wasn't a big problem.
Hogwarts, quiet with most of the students having left.
Harry and I went up the empty stairs and headed for the Room of Requirement.
"Deek, we're back!"
"Master! You're back early!"
Kee-roo-rook!
KRAAA!
Two animals and one house-elf welcomed us.
We unpacked our luggage and asked.
"Was everything alright while we were gone?"
"Of course, Master. Deek kept a firm watch, and he must have given up, as he's just staying quietly as a rat."
"Right, if you were managing it, I'm sure it's fine. Ah, this is a Christmas present."
With those words, I handed Deek a kitchen set. Deek was impressed by the new, shiningly polished kitchen tools.
I had actually wanted to give him clothes as a present, but as you know, you can't give clothes to a house-elf.
"Goodness! Master, Deek must be the happiest house-elf!"
"I'm glad you're happy."
For Ardeura, I had specially made jerky from the foie gras I had gotten in Paris.
I had wondered if it was possible to make jerky from fatty foie gras, but there was nothing that couldn't be done with magic.
Kee-roo-rook! Chir-rup!
Ardeura, who was chewing on the jerky, flapped her wings and cried.
Roughly translated, it meant that it was the most delicious thing after the Kraken jerky.
"Hedwig, a present! How do you like it?"
And finally, the present for Hedwig was a dragon scale polish that Harry had prepared himself, but I had my doubts as to whether Hedwig could use it on her own. In any case, it was a relief that she seemed to like it.
After a simple exchange of souvenirs and presents, we celebrated Christmas in a small way, eating the cakes and pies we had brought from the kitchen.
It wasn't very fancy, but a simple and charming Christmas isn't bad either.
This, too, must be a way of finding small joys. We smiled and enjoyed our own party.
...But I feel like I've forgotten something. It must be my imagination.
London, Number 12, Grimmauld Place, Black Manor.
A handsome man with a ghostly pale complexion was sitting on the floor, giggling to himself.
"...Christmas presents, they'll be here soon, right? Harry didn't forget about me, did he?"
Kreacher looked at Sirius, who was exuding a gloomy aura in his disappointment, with a pathetic expression and said.
"There is no way Master Aisen and Master Harry would bother with the likes of you, Master."
"Shut up, Kreacher."
Thump! Thump!
Headmaster Black, who was looking down at the scene from his portrait, sighed.
"...I'll have to send a word through Albus."
Today, too, the Black family manor was peaceful.