"Truly remarkable magic," Dumbledore praised sincerely.
Such large-scale plant cultivation... no, this land had been "killed" by Voldemort. By rights, it shouldn't have shown life for a hundred years. He had revived this land.
This was something even Pomona couldn't accomplish.
Magic circulating in the present world couldn't achieve this. Undoubtedly a miracle from Avalon.
Sterling picked up the necklace, now broken in two. Without Terry's timely Shield Charm, Maleficent's fail-safe would probably be rampaging through the forest right now.
"Professor Dumbledore, can this necklace be repaired?"
"Silver enchanted with Protego? Not difficult. But Sterling, wouldn't repairing it yourself feel more rewarding?"
Dumbledore's alchemy expertise was considerable. In his view, this necklace's technical content was quite ordinary.
But some things' value didn't depend on materials or technique.
"Learn alchemy? But I haven't seen alchemy books in the library..."
"That's because Pince has put away the alchemy books. They're too precious; many are copy-resistant originals. Madam Pince fears thoughtless children might damage them."
Dumbledore plucked a flower and transfigured it into a signed note.
"Take my signature to get books from Pince. I recall the last people asking for my signature were those mischievous Weasley twins. They stayed quiet for weeks afterward."
"Before that was many years ago... Hogwarts indeed can't match France's Beauxbatons in alchemy, though we have the most ancient texts."
Dumbledore shrugged regretfully. Nicolas used this as an excuse to repeatedly ask him to share some ancient texts with Beauxbatons, as if they could digest them.
Just Nicolas's donations to Beauxbatons over the years were enough to train their next master alchemist.
Adding Hogwarts' ancient texts too... did he want to create another record of surpassing wizardly limits through alchemy?
Sterling bid farewell to the birds and jogged to Dumbledore's side, carefully taking the signature.
He'd long coveted alchemy... No choice. He didn't dare learn Avalonian alchemy because Vivian taught it.
Her alchemy was more... explosive than Potions.
The first time she taught Sterling Transfiguration, she caused a terrifying explosion that nearly blew through Maleficent's dragon-form wings...
When Sterling found Vivian the next day, her right wing looked crumpled from rough handling.
"Professor Dumbledore, don't you want to ask me anything?"
Sterling was puzzled. From start to finish, Dumbledore hadn't asked about his miraculous magic. He'd already draughted how to be as honest as possible without revealing Avalon's truth.
"I understand everyone has secrets. I've always respected children's privacy. And I know you're a good child. That's enough."
Dumbledore smiled kindly.
If Voldemort hadn't fled, he'd probably jump out for another fight, infuriated by Dumbledore.
Wasn't this the same person who'd nearly investigated what color underwear he preferred at the orphanage?
"Alright, Professor... You can't catch Voldemort either?"
"You can call him Tom, Sterling. He cursed his own name. Not severely, just so when he has a body, he can sense your location if you say his name."
"Otherwise I wouldn't allow that name to circulate."
"As for Tom... Indeed, in fleeing, he may have reached supreme mastery."
Dumbledore laughed somewhat contemptuously.
"During his rampage, I pushed him to death's edge repeatedly. But he walked further down death's path than anyone. Time and again, he looked back from death's boundary. Later he learnt to run."
"Professor Dumbledore, perhaps I could..."
"Prophecy? No, Sterling. Don't actively use prophecy to target Tom. You can target his servants, even Quirrell, whom he directly possessed, but not him personally."
Sterling was startled. He didn't remember confessing his prophetic magic to Dumbledore.
"Sterling, this long lifetime has given me a little... insignificant, old man's experience."
Thinking carefully about everything Sterling had done. Without prophetic help, how could he have come to the forest early to prepare battlegrounds or go straight to Voldemort's location?
Dumbledore had met prophets before. Grindelwald's prophecies might not have been as detailed, but in confident action, they were remarkably similar.
His gaze toward Sterling carried a hint of nostalgia.
"He seems favoured by a predecessor who walked too far down the path beyond wizardly limits... Those who actively divine him suffer backlash, showing effects like being hit by the Killing Curse."
"Only passively received, revelation-like prophecies can connect to Tom without harm."
I see... Sterling abandoned his idea of monitoring Voldemort every morning.
"Professor, I saw Harry fighting a Dark wizard before; it should be this year."
"I'll strengthen Harry's protection. But don't worry too much. Harry bears magic his mother left. Tom's malicious curses can't take effect on him."
Seeing Sterling wanted to ask more, Dumbledore summoned flames, from which flew a beautiful phoenix.
"The sun's almost rising... Let's return to the castle. Good sleep helps physical development. I don't think you'd want to be the shortest in your little organisation?"
Sterling wasn't frightened by Dumbledore's words. He wasn't a primary student believing everything, but it was indeed late.
"Let's go back then, Professor. I'll ask more questions when there's time."
"Always welcome. I've been enjoying Bertie Bott's beans lately."
The phoenix became fiery robes covering Sterling and Dumbledore, completely comfortable, even warmly pleasant.
When flames faded, Sterling stood before Ravenclaw Tower's door knocker.
Now this was good legendary magic... comfortable, better than Apparition; safe, better than Floo travel.
Sterling wanted to ask how to learn this, but looking around, Dumbledore had transported elsewhere.
Well, no rush.
Sterling approached the knocker, which posed its familiar question:
"How does one escape death?"
"By being forever remembered."
Sterling answered without hesitation. The knocker quietly opened.
Entering the common room, Sterling was startled by candlelight in the library area. This late, even the most studious Ravenclaws wouldn't be in public areas, right?
At least take books to their dormitories?
His confusion ended quickly. Hearing the main door open, Terry emerged from the bookshelves carrying a small lamp, yawning sleepily.
"You're back quite late. Fooling Hermione and the others took considerable effort... Don't know if Prefect Robert noticed, but at least he didn't say anything."
"At least I won't get lectured by Hermione."
"Not necessarily. Padma might figure it out thinking in the dormitory. You know she's been borrowing Muggle psychology books from Hermione lately."
"Don't laugh. If Hermione lectures me, you won't escape some as my false witness."
"Then I hope Padma didn't notice."
Neither mentioned the necklace and ring.
The sun showed a corner on the horizon, rosy light streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows, gilding Sterling and Terry in gold-red.
"Haha, those who don't know might think we're Gryffindors." Terry laughed, patting Sterling's shoulder.
"Whatever happened, we can still watch the sunrise together. That's pretty good."
"I'm going to sleep. Hope I won't have dark circles when I wake up."
"Good night... no, good morning. You definitely won't have dark circles. Don't worry."
Sterling parted with him at the dormitory door. Lying in bed, Sterling wrote a line:
"Terry has no dark circles."