"No need." Dumbledore walked into the auditorium, "Those with ill intentions cannot see the door of the estate, even if someone tries to lead them."
"Oh, right." Just then, he paused his steps, "Last time you..."
"I suddenly remembered I left something in the greenhouse, see you later, Professor." Kael quickly said.
By the time Dumbledore turned to look, he had already sprinted out of the auditorium into the hallway, not much slower than Apparition.
...
In the hallway, Conna watched Kael run back with a cheerful smile and asked, "So, have you decided to go to Nicolas Flamel's estate this Christmas holiday?"
"Yes, it's perfect timing. At least I won't have to attend any Christmas balls." Kael nodded, then said, "Let's head back to the common room first. The auditorium isn't safe right now; we'll come back later."
With Dumbledore there, the auditorium was probably the safest place, at least for others.
However, Conna didn't expose Kael and just followed him forward.
As they reached the corridor where the kitchen was located, she seemed conflicted, apparently waiting for Kael to say something, but Kael remained silent.
After hesitating for a long time, she finally couldn't help but ask, "Who are you going with?"
"Who am I going with?"
"I mean for this Christmas," Conna whispered, "Didn't you ask Headmaster Dumbledore if you could bring someone?"
"Oh, that." Kael said, "Cedric..."
Conna's expression quickly turned to disappointment, but the next moment, Kael changed his tone:
"...Yesterday, he sent me a letter inviting me to visit him over the Christmas holiday, but now it seems I have to decline.
"Also, you'd better go find Professor Snape to cancel detention; we're leaving first thing in the morning."
"Leaving... us?" Conna seemed not to have caught on yet.
"Of course it's us. I can't possibly take Cedric, right..." Kael said with a smile, "Don't you want to see Nicolas's estate? I can assure you, it's really interesting."
Conna's expression shifted again as she nodded and happily ran towards Snape's office.
Kael wasn't worried that Snape would refuse... unless his brain was eaten by a Swooping Evil, he wouldn't refuse letting Conna visit Nicolas Flamel's home.
Meanwhile, Kael wasn't planning to return to the common room either; he turned a corner and headed upstairs.
He went to Slughorn's office and used the excuse of preparing to meet Nicolas Flamel the next day to opt out of that day's event.
...
"What? Did you just say you're visiting whose home?"
Hearing Kael's words, Slughorn, who had been calm, suddenly stood up excitedly and said, "The famous alchemist who lived over six hundred years, Nicolas Flamel?"
"If there isn't a second alchemist named Nicolas Flamel, then I think so..." Kael nodded.
For an instant, he could even see Slughorn shaking with excitement, his eyes turning red.
It's no wonder...
That's Nicolas Flamel; he dreamed of meeting him, even if just from afar, without needing to speak.
But unfortunately, that wish had never come true.
Now suddenly hearing that Kael could visit his estate, how could Slughorn not be excited.
"Oh, can you take me with you?" He blurted out.
"Sorry, Professor." Kael shook his head, "I'm invited, and I can't make that decision."
"Ah, right, that makes sense."
Slughorn looked a bit embarrassed, seemingly surprised he said such an inappropriate thing.
"You misunderstood..." he stammered, "What I meant was, hmm... send my regards to Mr. Flamel."
"I will." Kael said, "Then Professor, if there's nothing else, I'll head back. There's still a lot to prepare."
"Of course, no problem." Slughorn hurriedly said, "That's indeed the most important thing; even a day in advance isn't enough to prepare. Alright, go on back."
Kael nodded and turned to leave the office.
In the hallway, Conna was already waiting there.
"How did it go?"
"Did you go to see Slughorn?"
The two almost simultaneously asked each other,
"Yes." Kael answered first, "I won't need to attend the Christmas ball later, how about you?"
"Professor Snape agreed," Conna said happily. "Though he seemed a bit reluctant, he still agreed, and even prepared a gift for Mr. Flamel."
Saying that, Conna took out a bottle, not much different in size from a Felix Felici bottle, but it contained a golden-red substance.
"What's this?" Kael asked curiously.
"Phoenix Potion," Conna recalled. "Professor Snape said it's brewed from the ashes left by a Phoenix Nirvana and took a full two years to make."
Two years?
Kael smacked his lips; even Felix Felici only took about half a year, yet this thing took two years?
Though he'd never heard of such a potion, just from its brewing time and materials, he knew it had to be something good.
But quickly Kael realized, he seemed... perhaps... hadn't prepared a Christmas gift for Nicolas.
Just like in previous times, not only did he not prepare gifts, but he also added to Nicolas's workload quite a bit.