Chapter 254. Returning Home.
After the Flamels finished their very serious conversation, both wizards sat down to fine-tune the magical circle, which, as expected, dragged on until evening. But in the end, they finished the work, and Severus was more than satisfied with the result.
Still, before putting something like this into practice, he intended to run a simulation and double-check it himself, to be fully confident in the operation's outcome.
He trusted Nicholas's skills, of course, but when it came to Nagini, he could not afford to be reckless.
Previously, Severus had considered using runes from his own world, but after several experiments he had abandoned that idea in favor of the more stable runes of this world.
The whole problem lay in how voracious his world's runes were, because the ritual required incredible amounts of magic. Using those runes would require dozens of times more magic, and with the slightest shortage, the magical circle could destabilize, leading to horrifying consequences he could not permit.
So he had been forced to reread every available book on runology and approach the old professor for additional material after nearly every class, not to mention working through almost the entire library and studying Arithmancy alongside several other runic systems.
Only thanks to all those efforts could he now be called a master in this field, though the fact that he had been found out so easily still embarrassed him a little.
When they had finished, Perenelle insisted he sit down for a cup of tea with pie, which he simply could not refuse out of politeness. The Flamels had helped him enormously, and a little honey was nothing compared to Nagini's future.
"Madam, your apple-honey pie was incomparable. I haven't tasted anything more delicious in a long time." Having eaten the last piece and washed it down with tea, he set his fork down on the plate and thanked her, and she responded with a good-natured smile.
"I agree with the young man. You really outdid yourself today."
"I used a little sunlight honey mixed with ordinary honey, along with a special variety of apples that can only be found in the gardens at Beauxbatons…"
"But it's not just about the ingredients, is it? A potioneer's tongue and sense of smell are very hard to deceive," Severus said, intrigued, and Perenelle, with a mysterious half-smile on her lips, winked at him.
"And that is a woman's little secret."
He sighed. "A pity… I would like to try something like this more often…"
"Then visit us more often, and I'll treat you to other kinds of pies as well."
"My dear, I'll soon start getting jealous…" Nicholas looked at her with mock offense. "You don't cook for me that often."
"Once you tidy up your place and do the renovations, then we'll talk," Perenelle said coldly without even glancing at him, then looked back at Severus. "Would you like me to wrap one for you to take with you?"
"I won't refuse. I have a couple of gluttons who wouldn't mind trying your cooking," Severus replied, wanting to treat Nagini and the others to this wonder as well.
"Then I'll wrap two for you." She nodded gently to him and bustled off toward the stairs.
When the sound of her footsteps had finally faded, Flamel quickly glanced after her, then looked at Severus with complete seriousness, his earlier awkwardness vanished, a change that slightly puzzled him.
"Severus, regarding what you said before, why do you think that?"
"Which words?"
"About Arthur. You said that perhaps he was the one who wanted to kill us…" Though Flamel tried to appear completely indifferent, Severus, experienced as he was, had no trouble noticing the pain in his eyes.
"Behavior, emotions, words, gestures, gaze. I've seen people like him more than once: people who outwardly showed concern but were ready at any moment to stab you in the back," Severus drawled lazily. *Well, I also read his thoughts, and he was glad that the murder he'd organized had failed upon learning about the new elixir.* He decided to keep that last part to himself for now.
"I see. So you think so too, but I just can't bring myself to believe it…" Flamel sighed with a bitter smile. "Even though there are hundreds of years between us, I always considered him my good friend, and there were even moments when I looked up to him…"
"You have proof of his guilt, don't you? I can see it in your eyes. And I won't be like some idiots who say they understand you. In truth, I don't know what you feel, or how I would act in your place. So I won't give you any advice. Think for yourself. With your six hundred years of experience, I'm sure you'll calmly find a solution. You can share your feelings with your wife; she will definitely understand you. And if you want advice, just try to limit your contact with him, that's all. In time, the feelings will subside and you'll start thinking more rationally. And don't forget, you aren't alone. You have someone to care for, someone closer to you than a traitor like him. Think of her, and you'll find your way through this." Seeing the surprise with which Flamel stared at him, as if these words had just opened up a whole new world, Severus wondered, *Maybe I really am not a bad psychologist?*
"I…" Flamel wanted to say something but couldn't. Withdrawing into himself, he pondered Severus's words. After a few seconds, his gaze brightened again. "You're right. Sometimes I really do overthink things and forget what's most important… thank you."
"Feel free to ask." Taking a sip from his cup, Severus looked toward the stairs, where Perenelle was descending with three large boxes. She nodded to him gratefully, slowing her pace slightly to give Nicholas time to compose himself.
"Here, young man. Besides the two apple ones, there's also a cherry one."
"Thank you." Catching the pies with telekinesis, he transferred them to his pouch.
"And thank you for deciding to keep us company this evening," Perenelle replied, placing her hand on her husband's shoulder.
"And come visit us more often, even every day." Nicholas winked cheerfully at Severus again, as if nothing had happened just a minute ago.
"Won't that be too much?" his wife asked, looking at him sternly, and Flamel, smiling awkwardly, quickly averted his gaze. "But… all right." He stared at her in amazement; for the first time, Perenelle had yielded to him on something. Flamel even glanced out the window, but there seemed to be no snow, and when he pinched himself, he didn't wake up.
Watching this, Severus could barely contain his laughter, and Perenelle could barely contain hers, not knowing whether to smack him or let it go.
"Well, it's already quite late, and Nagini will be worried, so I should get going…"
"Let me see you out." Flamel rose from the table and followed him, and Perenelle joined them.
And after Severus Apparated away, the couple closed the door and returned to the table.
"Perenelle."
"What is it?" Resting her elbow on the table and propping her chin with her hand, she looked at him, puzzled, as she magically stacked the empty plates one inside another.
"I was thinking… maybe we should go somewhere?" At this, her eyes widened in shock as she stared at him, leaving Flamel thoroughly embarrassed.
"Dear, are you sure you're all right?" she fussed, leaning toward him and placing her hand on his forehead. "No fever… how strange…"
"Perenelle! I'm perfectly fine! I just thought we hadn't gone anywhere in a long time, and a change of scenery after the last one certainly wouldn't hurt us!" But instead of a coherent answer, he heard her laugh and scowled. "Perenelle!"
"Sorry, all right, all right, I'm all for it." Placing her hand over his, she looked into his eyes with a warm smile.
"Then as soon as the young man finishes the ritual, we'll go right away. We just need to decide where…"
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At the same time, in Britain, Severus watched with a mocking expression as Nagini, Eileen, the house-elves, and Lucky sampled the pies, their faces showing surprise and enjoyment.
It was especially amusing to watch Lucky, who ate very slowly with a sad expression on his little face, taking tiny bites to prolong the pleasure.
"This is delicious! Madam Flamel really has a magic touch!" Nagini hissed cheerfully, slowly savoring the wonderful apple-honey flavor.
"I agree. I recognized only your sunlight honey in it, and these apples are surprisingly sweet. What's most interesting is that the honey doesn't overpower their taste, but rather complements it and reveals it in a new light," added Eileen, who had recently taken up cooking out of boredom. Of course, creating an army of the undead was a very important task, as was absorbing death energy, but she had simply grown tired of it and wanted to do something new, something less gloomy.
Meow… Lucky looked at Severus pitifully, pointing at the remaining piece of pie.
"No more. And I did offer to take you with me, but you refused." In response, Lucky meowed sorrowfully and began eating the last piece in even smaller bites.
"Nagini," Severus called softly.
"What is it?"
"In two weeks."
"What two..." But she didn't have time to finish. She suddenly froze at the sight of his tender smile, realizing what he was saying. "Could it be…?"
"Yes." In the next moment, she darted toward him and began eagerly rubbing her snout against his cheek.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
"I haven't done anything yet." He gently patted her on the head, under the warm gaze of Eileen, who reached out and pulled back the plate with Nagini's treat, which Lucky was quietly sneaking up on like a true predator.
Lucky meowed sorrowfully again, returning to his own plate, and after a few seconds the room filled with cheerful laughter…
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