"Did you have a good Christmas, Albus?"

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

"No, Perenal, I think it's good to stay in school and spend the holidays with everyone. Dumbledore looked around, didn't see his old friend, and asked, "Where's Nicol?"

"He's in his study, talking to Albert in a two-way mirror. A kind smile appeared on Perenal's face, "Nicol is happy every time he talks to Albert, he is indeed a learned and intelligent child. ”

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

He walked through the hall and appeared in front of the study door, where Nicol was sitting at his desk, chatting with Albert in the two-way mirror.

"Oh, Albus, you're here!"

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

"What were you talking about?" Dumbledore asked, "It's rare to see you smile so happily. ”

"Well, Albert told me something about Hogwarts. Nicol had just finished talking to Albert and followed Dumbledore out of the study.

"What's going on at school?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, "what's going on, I'm curious what makes you so happy." ”

"Albert said that Professor Quirrell in your school, most likely controlled by the Imperius Charm, wanders around the corridors of the restricted area on the fourth floor whenever he has free time, seemingly looking for an opportunity to steal the Philosopher's Stone you kept in the school. Nicol sat down on the couch and talked to Dumbledore about the small talk he had with Albert.

"Oh, Professor Quirrell!"

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows slightly, of course he knew that Professor Quirrell was suspicious, but he really didn't expect Professor Quirrell to be easily seen through by the students.

"You told him about the Philosopher's Stone?" Dumbledore asked.

"Nope. Nicol shook his head, "I asked him how he knew about the Philosopher's Stone, and he said that the last time Harry Potter had stumbled into the restricted area corridor, he had asked him about me for some reason. Nicol didn't mean to hide it, and told Dumbledore what he knew, "This matter is connected to what you put in the school, it is not difficult to guess the truth of the facts, and he even thinks that the philosopher's stone is fake." ”

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

"It's really powerful, it's just that Professor Quirrell of yours ......" Nicol picked up Perenar's freshly brewed black tea, sipped and shook his head with a smile.

"I've heard that Professor Quirrell is so annoyed by Albert's questions that he doesn't want to see him anymore. "Perenal thought it was funny.

"Looks like you're ready to choose him as your successor?" said Dumbledore, adding two sugar cubes to his tea.

Nicol was really interested in Albert, otherwise how could he have told him about these things?

"It's always good to find someone to inherit my knowledge, and it's a shame if that part of it is lost for no apparent reason. Nicol sighed.

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

"Are you ready to give up the Philosopher's Stone?" Dumbledore was slightly surprised, he had actually discussed with Nicol about giving up the Philosopher's Stone.

Nicol said at the time that the timing was wrong.

"I've discussed with Nicol that it's not bad to die slowly like a normal person. Perenal reached out and took Nicol's hand, they didn't have any fear of death, the two of them had lived too long, their bodies were no longer young under the corrosion of time, and living too long also made them feel tired, and they couldn't even support each other through this long time without the mutual dependence of both sides.

"It was like finally being able to go to bed after a long day. Dumbledore sighed softly, he was no longer young after a century of life, and the long life also made him tired, but he couldn't stop to rest, and there were things he needed to complete.

"Albus, you're not as old as we are. Nicol smiled and said, "It's a little too early for you to feel this now." ”

"Albus, maybe it's time for you to think about retiring from school and starting to enjoy your blessings. Perenal said.

"The timing doesn't allow. Dumbledore shook his head.

"Oh, I can probably guess why. Nicol nodded, "Still, you should leave this to the young man, and the savior you have chosen is a good one." ”

"Harry still needs time. Dumbledore shook his head, "I need to take some of the pressure off him while he's still alive, not everyone is as good as Mr. Anderson." ”

Regarding the question of the crown, Dumbledore felt that Albert must have speculated, maybe he didn't know about Horcruxes, but he certainly had something to think about that way.

"He's really good. "It was a very confident and likable kid, and I heard that he had invented a card game that was meant to be given to us as Christmas presents, but unfortunately his owl couldn't be delivered." ”

The Lemay couple saw Albert more as their grandson.

"I do know this, Mr. Anderson mentioned it a long time ago. Dumbledore heard Perenella mention it, and after recalling it, he said, "The Christmas gift he gave me this year was a pair of woollen socks. ”

"What a sweet child, isn't it. Perenal laughs, "You finally don't have to worry about receiving another bunch of books this year." ”

"Albert is in a similar situation to you, though, and he says he's received a bunch of books this year. Nicol suddenly remembered something and said with a smile.

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

"Not exactly, I feel like the time has come. Nicol said, "We have lived too long, we have experienced most of the things in the world, and death is an exception, and as you said, death is just another great adventure." ”

For Nicol and his wife, after having the Philosopher's Stone, no matter how much wealth they want to have and how long they want to live, they can get their wish, and they don't have much to remember in this world.

The appearance of Voldemort and Albert completes the last two pieces of the puzzle and makes Nicol finally make up some kind of determination.

Of course, it is not that Nicol and Perenal are ready to die immediately, they plan to store some elixir of immortality, and then let themselves slowly meet the final death like ordinary people.

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