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Tall bookshelves towered around the room, filled with ancient tomes and scrolls, their spines adorned with intricate gold lettering. Various rare treasures and alchemical apparatus were meticulously arranged on the workbench, each item gleaming with a hint of enchantment. Beside Ian stood an enormous clock, a relic of alchemical mysteries, its hands ticking softly, echoing the secrets of time itself.
"Ian, are you alright?"
Harry Potter, visibly relieved to see Ian return, stepped forward, concern etched on his face. "You really frightened me. I just polished my glasses for a moment, and then you vanished!"
"If it weren't for this great clock that seems permanently sealed, I'd have thought you were playing a game of hide and seek with me." The Boy Who Lived still had a touch of Muggle thinking in him, his first instinct not being that Ian had been whisked away by magic.
"Did you manage to find the two professors?"
Ian cast his gaze down at his hands, feeling the absence of anything he might have brought back from the Twilight Realm. Even the dust that had clung to him before was now completely gone. It was uncertain whether this was a rule of time travel or a restriction imposed by the Room of Requirement.
"Yes, that's right. As soon as I sensed you might be in a spot of trouble, I rushed to Professor McGonagall. She took me to see Professors Flamel and Dumbledore."
"The two of them tinkered with this great clock for quite some time before they managed to bring you back… Can you tell me where exactly the clock sent you?"
Harry's curiosity was genuine; he wasn't trying to claim any credit for Ian's return.
"To a place beyond the reach of even airplanes and rockets." Ian glanced back at the imposing clock, feeling a twinge of embarrassment about his experience.
"Perhaps even Ian himself doesn't know where he ended up. It's merely a Portkey, Harry. If you'd paid more attention in your classes, you'd know that a Portkey can take many forms."
Nicolas Flamel, noticing that Ian was about to speak again, quickly interjected to steer the conversation. The esteemed alchemist clearly wished to keep the secrets of the great clock under wraps.
"Very well, I'll return to my studies, Professor." Although Harry sensed something was amiss, he chose to accept the authoritative explanation without further question.
"Excellent, your eagerness to learn is a commendable trait, much like those found in Slytherin House. I'd be delighted to tutor you in the future, but for now, let's move to the next chamber to discuss your scar."
"I was delayed earlier, which cost us precious time. I'm counting on examining your scar to write a paper that I believe will significantly benefit your future credits." Nicolas Flamel's interest in the paper seemed secondary; he primarily wanted to provide Ian and Dumbledore with a moment of privacy.
Gently guiding Harry, who was still a bit dazed and eager to check on Ian further, Nicolas Flamel led him to a wall and twisted the doorknob cleverly concealed beneath a canvas painting.
What appeared to be an ordinary oil painting door swung open at the alchemist's touch, revealing a spacious room beyond. This enchanting scene instantly captivated Harry's attention, drawing him into the mysteries that awaited within.
"Is this some kind of magic as well?"
Ian momentarily set aside his other thoughts, intrigued.
"Of course! If you're eager to learn, I'll gladly teach you. The Potters have always had a knack for alchemy… Perhaps I can even share the tale of your great-great-grandfather pilfering my sweets," Nicolas Flamel reminisced with a twinkle in his eye as he stepped into the room behind the oil painting alongside Harry Potter. He didn't forget to activate a curious enchanted quill that began to scribble notes as he turned back briefly.
Clearly,
Some thrill-seekers were aware of certain happenings and didn't want to miss out on any exciting moments. As the door concealed by the oil painting slowly closed, the quiet alchemy office was left with only two occupants.
Ian and Albus Dumbledore stood facing one another.
"Professor Dumbledore…" Ian's gaze shifted to the elderly headmaster, draped in flowing white robes. It was difficult for him to reconcile this calm and gentle elder with the cunning youth he had encountered before.
It was truly hard to imagine
'What kind of life experiences and growth could transform someone who had once been ruthless, even to himself, into such a kindly old man.'
Now Ian began to understand why so many revered Dumbledore not only for his immense power but also feared his wisdom and strategic mind.
"I'm very glad to see you again, Ian." After a long silence, Dumbledore finally spoke in a low, gravelly voice. He turned his gaze to the great clock, which was now quieting, its ticking having come to a halt.
"I truly owe you my gratitude for your mercy and kindness… for sparing me in the past timeline." His tone was laden with an indescribable emotion.
He was clearly aware of the events that had transpired between Ian and his younger self. At the same time, he recognized that Ian had refrained from employing many of the terrifying powers at his disposal.
To say nothing else,
In terms of magical mastery, Ian's talent in dark magic far eclipsed his proficiency in light magic. Moreover, Ian had devoted far more time to studying the darker arts than the more benevolent ones.
Yet in that past, spanning nearly a century, Ian hadn't cast a single dark spell. He was evidently concerned that once dark magic was unleashed, it could spiral out of control.
After all,
According to Dumbledore's understanding,
The dark magic Ian had learned and honed was all lethal; there was no middle ground, only life or death. If those means had been employed, the younger Dumbledore likely wouldn't have survived the encounter.
"Yes, I know what transpired." Meeting Ian's gaze, Dumbledore nodded firmly, offering a definitive response.
"Is this something you've always remembered?" Ian frowned, having pondered this during his time in the past timeline.
"No." Dumbledore's eyes reflected a hint of sadness as he shook his head.
"When you acted a century ago, fragmented images began flashing in my mind. It was only when you returned that I started to recover all those memories."
"I suppose it's because the past you altered needs to flow forward in time to the present; only then could these events align on my end." He provided a brief explanation of the situation, his voice steady yet tinged with the weight of understanding.
It was clear that Dumbledore was not surprised by this revelation. A subtle, indescribable emotion lingered in his voice.
(To Be Continued…)