Chapter 104: Unbreakable Vow
Nicolas shook his head and said,
"Let me reintroduce myself. I am Nicolas Flamel, also known as Nico Flamel. According to the traditions of the Ravenclaw heirs, you may call me Senior."
Phineas nodded and said,
"I'm Phineas Black. Just call me Phineas, Senior."
Nicolas nodded, turned slightly and said,
"Very well, let's not stand here talking. Come inside. You'll have to forgive an old man for tiring easily these days."
Dumbledore and Phineas followed Nicolas into the house's main hall.
"Perenelle is resting, so I won't offer you tea. Now, why have you come to see me?"
Dumbledore said,
"We've come hoping you might serve as witness for an Unbreakable Vow between us."
Nicolas paused, studying both men carefully before nodding.
"Very well. Shall we begin now?"
Dumbledore looked to Phineas questioningly. Phineas nodded and said,
"Yes, but we should establish the terms first."
Dumbledore agreed,
"Naturally."
Phineas began,
"First condition: I will not aid the Dark Lord. I believe this is what you require, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore nodded,
"And your terms?"
Phineas smiled,
"In exchange, until the Dark Lord is truly dead, neither you nor your Order of the Phoenix may act against me. No spells may be cast upon me without my consent—except for healing or beneficial charms."
Dumbledore nodded,
"Agreed."
Nicolas summarized,
"So first: Phineas cannot assist the Dark Lord, and in turn Albus cannot move against Phineas."
Phineas continued,
"Second condition: I will provide you with the Dark Lord's Horcruxes. Each Horcrux will be exchanged for a favor—either assistance or an item of equivalent value."
Dumbledore considered this before responding,
"Accepted, provided these favors don't exceed the Horcrux's value and cause no harm to the wizarding world."
Phineas nodded.
Nicolas repeated,
"Second term: For every Horcrux Phineas provides, Dumbledore will grant requests of proportional value that don't endanger our world."
Phineas added his final condition,
"Third: Before the Dark Lord's final defeat, Professor Dumbledore must teach me any magical knowledge I wish to learn."
Dumbledore frowned,
"I'll agree, but I reserve the right to determine if certain knowledge should be shared."
Phineas shook his head,
"Then let me propose this: You may evaluate the knowledge I request, but I'll have three absolute requests. Regardless of the subject, if I invoke one of these three, you must teach me—with the guarantee that I'll master it. In return, I swear never to resurrect the Dark Lord."
Dumbledore remained silent, still frowning.
Nicolas mediated,
"A compromise: Dumbledore must honor three teaching requests before the Dark Lord falls, with no restrictions on content. Does that satisfy both parties?"
Dumbledore's frown remained as he countered,
"If two of the three subjects prove unacceptable to me, I'd prefer to exchange them for three favors instead. Would that suffice?"
Phineas considered this,
"You mean I'd declare the three subjects beforehand, and if you refuse any, you'd grant an additional favor instead?"
Dumbledore nodded,
"Precisely."
Phineas shook his head,
"That doesn't serve my purpose—I can't predict what knowledge I'll need. Here's my counter: I won't request soul magic or Dark Arts, and you can't refuse any other three subjects I name."
After a moment's thought, Dumbledore agreed,
"Accepted. Three teachings guaranteed, excluding soul magic and Dark Arts."
Nicolas smiled approvingly and retrieved a wand from the coffee table's holder.
"Then let us begin. Join hands."
Dumbledore and Phineas stood and clasped hands.
Nicolas raised his wand to their joined hands and began the ritual:
"Phineas Black, do you swear never to serve Lord Voldemort, in exchange for Albus Dumbledore's vow never to harm you?"
"I swear."
"Albus Dumbledore, do you swear never to attack Phineas Black, in exchange for his service never being given to Voldemort?"
"I swear."
"Phineas Black, do you swear to provide Albus Dumbledore with Voldemort's Horcruxes?"
"I swear."
"Albus Dumbledore, do you swear to grant Phineas Black one request—not harmful to our world—for every Horcrux he provides?"
"I swear."
"Phineas Black, do you swear never to resurrect Voldemort?"
"I swear."
"Albus Dumbledore, do you swear to teach Phineas Black three magical subjects—excluding soul magic and Dark Arts—with guaranteed mastery?"
"I swear."
Nicolas nodded,
"Very well."
A rush of magic erupted from his wand, weaving golden chains around their clasped hands before fading into faint pink scars.
Nicolas explained,
"The marks will fade within a day. So long as you keep your vows, the chains won't reappear. But remember—breaking them means death."
Dumbledore nodded gravely—this wasn't his first Unbreakable Vow.
For Phineas, however, this was new. He committed every warning to memory.
"Now," Nicolas said as they sat again, "what interests you, Phineas?"
Phineas hesitated, then asked,
"Senior Nicolas, if I may—you attended Beauxbatons, yet became a Ravenclaw heir. How did this come to pass?"