After realizing that Fred and George were just joking, Kael then handed Ladon over to them.
Ladon, however, still seemed uneasy, hovering in midair, watching them warily.
"Hey, we were really just joking." Fred said awkwardly.
But Ladon acted as if it hadn't heard.
"Who told you to say those things in front of an owl." Kael said, "But it has agreed to help you deliver things."
"What does it need to eat daily, Owl Nuts?" George asked.
Errol does not need to eat owlet grub and nuts, and if needed, they would have to go to Diagon Alley to buy some.
"No need to feed it, it will find food for itself." Kael instructed, "Just give it some clean water each time it returns from a delivery."
"I think it's better to buy some…" Fred smiled wryly, "as a peace offering."
"That's fine too." Kael chuckled.
Saying in front of the owl that it should follow another owl around, no wonder Ladon was so cautious around them.
Not to mention Ladon, even Errol would ignore them for a few days.
...
"By the way, when are you coming back?"
Fred glanced nostalgically at Kael's attic.
"This week, Mom caught us twice while we were making Skiving Snackboxes… it was a disaster."
"I can't say for sure." Kael thought for a moment, "Maybe one or two days, I'm just visiting this time, so it shouldn't be too long."
"That's good, we have a lot of new ideas we want to try out…"
"Mom definitely wouldn't allow it at home."
...
After sending Fred and George off, Kael prepared to go back and continue having breakfast.
As soon as he stepped through the door, he noticed someone new in the living room whom he hadn't seen before.
And he actually knew this person.
"Professor Dumbledore?"
Kael instinctively asked, "When did you arrive?"
"Just now, while you were chatting with Mr. Weasleys."
Dumbledore said with a smile, "Chris wanted to call you, but I thought it was better to let you finish, as what we have to do isn't urgent."
"Sorry, Professor, I didn't notice." Kael walked in, "So, are you here to pick me up?"
"I would love to take on that task, but due to some other trivial matters, I can't leave here just yet."
Kael nodded, not asking further.
He knew Dumbledore wasn't here just for a friendly chat, so he simply waited calmly.
Kael sat beside him, half-jokingly saying, "It's not because of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, is it?"
"I must say, you are really clever."
Dumbledore sighed, "Finding a suitable professor is too difficult; I have to spend a lot of time on it every year.
These days I visited some old friends, but almost none were home, and the few who were didn't open the door for me.
Honestly, it's been quite frustrating."
"This is only temporary, Albus."
Chris said with a smile, "When you go there again in September, it won't be like this, would you like a cup of tea?"
He poured a cup of tea for Dumbledore, and Kael handed over the jar of sugar cubes from the side.
After drinking the tea, Dumbledore's mood noticeably lightened.
"Still, it hasn't been entirely fruitless these past days, Dugald recommended someone to me, and the person seems quite interested in the position."
"Oh?" Kael raised an eyebrow.
"This time, it's definitely not a Dark Wizard, I assure you." Dumbledore emphasized, "He is quite renowned in the Magic Realm, and like you, is a recipient of the Merlin Medal."
"I never doubted your judgment." Kael said, pretending to be serious, "So, do we have a new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor?"
"Not quite yet." Dumbledore considered, "The candidate has requested quite a number of new textbooks, and they're rather pricey. I'm still hesitating, wondering if someone else would take the job."
"If not…"
"Then it'll have to be him."
Dumbledore, having finished his tea, glanced out the window.
"Oh, it's about time." He smiled and said, "You might be staying there for quite a while this time, are you prepared?"
"Of course, Professor." Kael patted his Transfiguration Lizard Skin Bag.
Newt's case was given to Dumbledore when he left school, and now it just holds some ordinary items of a similar size.
It also had the Undetectable Extension Charm placed on it, making it small yet sufficient for packing luggage.
"Will Fawkes be sending me over?" Kael asked.
"That's one way." Dumbledore shook his head, "But I think you may not enjoy traveling by phoenix. To be honest, it's a bit too rough for most wizards, even I haven't fully gotten used to it."
"We have a better choice."
Saying this, Dumbledore took out a red fragment of stone and placed it on the table.
"A Philosopher's Stone?"
"It's a Magic Stone Fragment, Kael." Dumbledore explained, "The Philosopher's Stone has been destroyed, and it no longer possesses any magical properties.
However, we found another use for its fragments… a Portkey."
"Astonishing, a Portkey made from the Stone's fragments is incredibly stable, making it a great choice for long-distance travel."
Kael's eyes twitched.
Using a Magic Stone Fragment as a Portkey… it's like using gold coins to skip stones across water.
Tsk, nothing less expected from someone who's lived over six hundred years; what a luxury.
Dumbledore glanced out the window again.
"Are you ready, Kael… you know how to use a Portkey, right?"
Kael nodded, reaching out to grasp the Magic Stone Fragment on the table.
A cold sensation spread from the palm of his hand.
"Oh, and this."
At that moment, Dumbledore seemed to remember something and slipped an envelope into Kael's pocket.
"Open it after you've arrived in France…"
That's all Kael heard before he knew nothing more.
He felt as though someone had pushed him hard from behind, and then he was airborne.
In the blink of an eye, Kael vanished from the living room, flying like the wind, unable to see anything clearly ahead.
It was Kael's first time using a Portkey, and unlike Disillusionment, it felt like being pulled forward at an incredible speed, in a way that was hard to fathom.
Though not the most comfortable, it was far easier to endure than the washing machine-like experience of Disillusionment, without that lingering dizziness.
Uncertain how long had passed, Kael suddenly felt a lightness in his body before hitting the ground with a thud.