Tina rushed to Rock's side and gripped his hand tightly, her voice slightly anxious.
"Rock, Professor Dumbledore has something he wants you to do."
"This isn't a game, so Grandma wants you to think carefully. And don't worry — if you don't want to do it, you can say no."
Newt stood off to the side, equally worried. If he could, he would rather Rock not agree to any of this.
Huh?
Rock turned toward Dumbledore. He'd been completely absorbed in his interface just moments ago.
He honestly had no idea what everyone had been talking about while he was distracted — but judging by Newt's and Tina's expressions…
Dumbledore had accepted the Philosopher's Stone from Newt, his expression unchanged. Only after Tina finished speaking did he bend down a little so he was at eye level with Rock.
"Rock Theseus Scamander, would you be willing to temporarily safeguard this…"
"A little thing that's kind of… dangerous to hold but incredibly precious?" Rock finished for him gently.
"And when the time comes — when you think it should be moved somewhere safer — I'll give it back to you?"
All the adults held their breath. Newt reached out to ruffle Rock's hair, signaling he only needed to reply.
Let him safeguard it?
Rock's mind went blank for a second. Wasn't the Stone supposed to be taken from Gringotts when Hagrid brought Harry there? Why was Dumbledore retrieving it personally… and bringing it to him?
Temporary safekeeping, returning it when necessary…
What was this, some kind of trial?
Rock's thoughts spun rapidly as he tried to recall details from the original story — details that were now blurry with time.
Come to think of it…
Before Dumbledore modified the Mirror of Erised into the Stone's final protective layer, the Philosopher's Stone had never publicly appeared anywhere.
And between those events?
Nobody knew where Dumbledore kept it.
So now… Dumbledore wanted Rock to serve as an unexpected, completely neutral "vault" that no one would ever think of?
Rock looked at Newt — his grandfather, Dumbledore's most loyal ally.
Choosing the grandson of Newt Scamander… wasn't actually surprising.
Under everyone's gaze, Rock turned back to Dumbledore's deep blue eyes — eyes that seemed to see through everything.
His own gaze, surprisingly calm, lost the softness of a child and gained a clarity well beyond his age.
"Professor… if I take this, it means I'll have to face people who come looking for it. And danger. Right?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Dumbledore's face before he nodded with a warm smile.
"Very perceptive, my dear boy."
"Anything precious attracts those who seek it… but it also gives you the chance to learn how to repel such threats."
Rock's question earned him Dumbledore's respect — enough for the professor to converse with him as an equal.
"So then… how exactly do you want me to keep it? Should I hide it somewhere no one could ever find? Or…"
He lifted the small pouch.
"Should I treat it like an ordinary pebble and just keep it in my pocket?"
The adults around him — Theseus and Tina especially — stared at Rock.
This was not how a child talked.
Beside Queenie, Jacob chuckled softly.
There it is, the reason he liked Rock so much.
The kid could be mature like a little grown-up sometimes.
As a Muggle, Jacob often found it easier to talk to Rock — the boy acted more like a normal kid from the non-magical world than a wizarding child.
Dumbledore's smile deepened, as if Rock had just posed a wonderfully entertaining riddle.
"A brilliant question! I believe… the best hiding place is often the one that seems completely ordinary."
"How you keep it safe is up to you. For now, you are its rightful keeper."
He placed the pouch back into Rock's hands.
Rock looked down at it.
Good — Dumbledore didn't notice he had already analyzed the Stone through his interface.
Long live the all-purpose system panel!
As Rock stared at the pouch in silence, Dumbledore continued:
"If you accept this task… then at the end of your first school year, I'll grant you one wish."
…Huh?!
There were bonuses like that?
Rock froze.
That was a promise from the most powerful wizard alive!
He forced down his excitement and turned to Newt and Tina, his tone soft and reassuring.
"Grandpa, Grandma… don't worry."
"I know what this is. And I know what it means."
Then he looked back to Dumbledore and held out his left hand.
"So this is our agreement, right, Professor Dumbledore?"
A spark of admiration flashed in Dumbledore's eyes as he shook Rock's hand.
"Then we have an understanding."
"And finally… once more, Rock — happy birthday. And thank you for helping an old man solve a difficult problem."
"Thank you, sir." Rock bowed politely.
Dumbledore straightened, nodded to the still-shell-shocked adults, and with a wave of his hand—
Crack.
He disappeared, Apparating away.
Everyone's eyes immediately returned to Rock.
Tina reached out and rubbed his hair anxiously, her voice trembling with fear and resolve.
"Rock, this is too dangerous. We can't accept this. We'll return it right now—"
"Grandma, I know it'll attract trouble."
Rock held her cool hand gently, his voice soft.
"But I'm a Scamander. I'm Grandpa's and Theseus's family."
"At the very least… I can't run away from it."
He truly felt sorry for Tina — she genuinely feared for him, purely out of love.
But the Stone?
It was useful to him. Extremely useful.
He couldn't give up this opportunity.
The risk and reward were aligned — he had to try.
Tina froze. The calm maturity on Rock's face — so unlike a child — startled her, even if she couldn't deny it.
Newt stepped forward, crouched down, and gently pulled Tina into his arms.
"Tina… let's trust him. Trust is the strongest magic of all."
Newt had already accepted it.
Rock couldn't stay under their wings forever.
Their grandson needed to learn to carry his own life.
"Our job now," Theseus said, tapping his cane against the ground, "is to make sure the road Rock chooses is as safe as possible."
"That means I'll set up a more advanced, double-layered concealment and protection spell."
It was the best he could do — making sure Rock wouldn't be easily harmed.
Rock waved his hand quickly.
"No need, Uncle Theseus — I think I've got an even better idea."
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