Kael focused on the smaller parchment, specifically on the complex pattern near Birdman’s signature.
That was the previously agreed-upon Magic Contract, which would turn gold upon activation, but for now, it remained dim.
However, that’s normal. When he went to the reserve, Hogwarts was about to start, and now it’s early August, still some time away from ninety-eight years.
Yet Kael wasn’t in a hurry; he carefully packed it into the box.
And there’s that sponsorship certificate. After ninety-eight years of accumulation, even if the returns are low, it should at least break even. It means he got a legitimate Dragon Raising Certificate without spending a single Galleon, and might even have earned something.
After all, now the Fire Dragon Reserve has more than ten dragons.
But Kael wasn’t in a hurry to exchange it, preferring to wait for the Magic Contract to take effect to save an extra trip.
First, he needed to find Dumbledore, and he was eager to return to the United Kingdom.
Kael hadn’t forgotten that during his time at Godric’s Hollow, he met Voldemort, which was his greatest crisis.
The timing of this return was too coincidental, and he had to go back to take a look.
Yet how to return posed a difficulty for Kael.
Back in 1899, it was better; Apparition and Portkeys could be used freely. Unlike now, the Ministry of Magic regulates it strictly, and only reported Portkeys can be used, making travel inconvenient.
Should he continue using the owl to transport himself?
Kael shook his head… not feasible, there’s not enough time.
If he used an owl, it would take at least a day or two to reach the United Kingdom, by which time it would be too late.
If nothing else, he should use a Portkey.
Kael gritted his teeth; he knew some people in the Ministry of Magic, and at worst, pay a fine. What he lacked least was Galleons.
He casually picked up a branch and was about to make a Portkey when a flash of fiery red appeared before him again.
It was Fawkes, returning once more, alighting on Kael’s shoulder.
“You…”
Before Kael could speak, a dizzying rush enveloped him from all sides.
When next he opened his eyes, he saw Nicolas’s elderly, wrinkled face.
“Welcome back,” Nicolas said with a grin. “Albus thought you might have some things to take with you, so he had Fawkes delay picking you up.”
Dumbledore?
Kael, rubbing his dizzy head, looked around.
This was Nicolas’s manor in Devon. Dumbledore lay on a nearby sofa, looking much better than before.
A table beside him held an empty bottle, suggesting Nicolas had prepared a Magic Potion.
To allow Dumbledore to recover from such extreme weakness quickly, this Magical Potion was rare, something only prepared in advance.
With that in mind, Kael was even more certain about his speculation.
“You must have known all along, that I would rescue Professor Dumbledore and return at this time,” Kael inquired immediately.
“Sort of,” Nicolas replied.
“Because of the prophecy?”
“Prophecy?” Nicolas hesitated a moment, then shook his head. “Of course not. Prophecies aren’t as miraculous as you think; most of the time, they’re vague and unclear.
“I knew this because I’ve seen you.”
“Huh?” Kael was puzzled. Nicolas had seen him, wasn’t that normal?
“Not now, back in 1899,” Nicolas explained. “At the time, you were with a little girl washing your face at the Magic Fountain in Beauxbatons.”
“You saw me?” Kael was startled.
When he and Arianna were at Beauxbatons, they didn’t see Nicolas Flamel nearby. Otherwise, he’d never have shown himself.
“Yes, I saw you,” Nicolas chuckled, “but it wasn’t until today that I recalled that memory, realizing it might be Dumbledore who ran into trouble in the past.
“But by then, Dumbledore had already used the Time Turner, and it was too late to warn him. All I could do was prepare in advance the Magic Potion he might need.”
“And Fawkes…?”
“That was me,” Dumbledore sat up from the sofa, regaining his lost memories after returning to the correct time.
“A phoenix appears whenever Dumbledore needs it most. At that time, I truly needed assistance.”