Old friends
She knew as soon as Severus had told her about the stone that she would be paying a visit to the Flamels. Walking towards their cottage she looked around appreciating the English countryside around her. The couple had decided in their old age to retire and live a peaceful life together honing their craft as long as they could. Next to their home was also a little garden producing almost everything they could need. Arriving at their door she gently knocked waiting patiently for one of them to open the door, she could have barged in but this way it was more polite. Soon she heard slow footsteps approaching then someone opened it slightly looking out and visibly relaxing when he saw just who was at his doorstep.
“Come in, come in,” he spoke with a big grin on his face. “Nelle just made some tea come let me get you a cup,” he said happily.
This made her smile a little only they would be glad seeing her uninvited. Stepping inside the smell of books and herbs was what greeted her. She saw plenty of new projects around as Nicolas was ushering her towards the kitchen where no doubt was his wife Perenelle.
“You know Nicolas there aren’t many people that would invite me into their home this easily.” she chuckled.
“Well, that is their loss.” joined in Perenelle.
Looking at the couple they both looked good for being over six hundred years old. Both of them seemed like they were in their early forties with healthy complexions.
“So, what brought you here?” asked the man after they had settled down around the tiny kitchen table. “Is it about the stone?” came his question soon.
“Yes. Yes, it is,” she confirmed. “Now before I start, I know we agree that if the stone should ever get into the wrong hands bad things would come. I know you want to protect it too as it is your masterpiece, but I have to ask. Why Hogwarts?”
“Actually, Albus was the one that came to me about it,” he admitted. “At first he just wanted to borrow it to study its properties and that was when the break-in happened, so he offered to keep it safe until we decide how to go on from this.”
“Still don’t you think it is suspicious of him to ask for it and then someone tries to steal it?”
“Suspicious or not the safety of the stone is our number one priority and even if he somehow knew of the break-in beforehand this arrangement is still lightyears better than the alternative of it being stolen by one of the dark lord's sympathizers.”
“Hogwarts is not impenetrable, and you know that. The thief if desperate enough could even try to break in there too.”
“I have my full confidence in Albus’s abilities. Even Gringotts wasn’t safe enough we had to do something, and this was our best chance at keeping it safe.”
“I know that but if things were this dire you could have called for me too. I would have come sooner to help you take care of things.”
“We did not want to bother you with things like this.”
“It is no bother really as it is of importance to me too.” she tried to reassure the couple. “After all this time I thought it would be clear to you both that I care about your wellbeing despite how unlikely that seems. Okay?”
“After all this time we know that.” smiled at her Perenelle kindly.
“Good. So, if you decide about the stone's fate you should not hesitate to tell me no matter what you do. But I would strongly urge you to find something better than a school of curious magically capable children to hide it.”
“I know you want the best for us, but our decision is final for now at least.”
“Very well, but my offer still stands if you ever change your minds about it. Now how about you tell me what you two have been up to invention-wise as I am seeing a lot of new pieces around here.” and they did just that. She remained in their company well after sunset. Perenelle even managed to convince her to stay for dinner and she did spending the evening with the couple reminiscing about the old times. A few bottles of good wine to keep them company.
“You remember when we first met?” came Nicolas’s jovial question. They were starting to become a little tipsy from the amount of wine they had consumed by that point.
“How could I forget you were scared out of your mind when you learned just whom you were having tea with,” said Rae laughing at his question.
“That is not how I remember it.” he retorted.
“Really then how do you remember it?”
“Well...”
Their first time meeting happened in the late fifteenth century. She heard about the couple during her time wandering the continent. With everything she had gathered about them, curiosity got the better of her. After all, she should know about those who had succeeded in making the one and only Philosopher’s Stone. Looking over them they seemed like ordinary people at first glance not ones who had perfected the way to immortality in their lifetime. Later in the week, she had decided to approach them with the intention of learning what their intentions were for their now longer lifespans. At first, she had spotted Perenelle at the town market buying vegetables from an ordinary person, which was when she decided to approach her.
“What a beautiful day it is today,” she said to start their conversation.
“Indeed, it is,” she replied suspicious of the stranger standing next to her.
“I am new around this part of the country. Can you help me with something?” she asked.
“That depends. What exactly would it entail.”
“You know finding rocks and such,” she spoke as they had walked away from the crowd.
“I don’t understand.”
“You know Mrs. Flamel I have heard some very interesting things about you and your husband, and I couldn’t help myself I had to check out how much of it was true.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about I think you have the wrong person as we are perfectly ordinary people me and my husband that is.” she tried to lie, badly.
“Now you know that is not the truth. So how about we have a little chat, and I will be on my way?”
“Okay follow me, this way.” she gestured towards the path to the mountain through the forest. As soon as they were out of the villager’s sight the woman turned on her heel and with a fluid motion sent the first curse towards the stranger, barely missing her. Rapidly firing more and more, she could only watch the other woman slowly and calmly step away from each of them without a problem.
“Listen I have no bad intentions towards you guys if I had we would not be talking,” she said but got no answer back just more spell flung her way.
When she saw her spells were useless in this situation she decided to flee, quickly spinning around her heel she disapparated on the spot. With a sigh of relief, she arrived at their home running inside to alert her husband what was going on.
“Nic where are you? We have to go now!” she yelled running inside.
“What is wrong my dear?” he asked emerging from his laboratory.
“They found us again.”
“That’s not good. How many?”
“Just one woman but who knows how many will come.”
“Then we cannot let her get away with the knowledge of our whereabouts.”
During this, she was still standing where the other woman had left her frustrated. She sighed this just complicated things a bit, but it will be fine in the end. Following the magical traces the other had left behind in her hastily made escape she found herself in front of a small house. Raising a fist to knock she felt the tendrils of the wards trying to wrap around her but with a flick of her wrist she dissolved them into nothingness. Just as she had expected no one rushed there to invite her inside so she did that herself. Seeing their shocked faces at her simply walking inside without a problem made her smile.
“Now that we all had gathered how about some tea and chat?” she asked instantly making herself at home.
“Now listen here it is two against one, so you better leave and never come back.” said the man pointing his wand at her.
She said nothing to this and with a smooth motion of her hands she conjured up a tea set that itself was starting to prepare hot drinks for them.
“Honestly I am just curious about you no bad intentions really,” she said while pouring herself a cup. “So how about we have a little chat, and I will be on my merry way? If I had wanted to harm you, I would have already done it.”
The couple albeit reluctantly sat down eyeing the tea suspiciously.
“So, what do you want from us then?” asked the man.
“Well, I wanted to meet the two who managed the impossible task of achieving immortality. You see I had to check out just what kind of people were you. Young at least in my books, a prodigal couple living far away from the towns and abstaining from the glory and fame a discovery like this could bring.”
“You seem to know of us well but still haven’t told us who you are,” he said.
“My, my how rude of me. Look into my eyes and see for yourself whom you are having tea with.” she offered and he against his better judgment did.
“No, it can’t be.” he stuttered trying to distance himself from the thing that had been sitting across the table from him.
“Nic what is wrong who is she?” asked his wife.
“Get away from us,” he yelled standing up so quick his chair was overturned by the force of it.
“Darling calm down.” tried Perenelle again but without any luck.
“You don’t understand she is...”
“Death” she finished it for him seeing as couldn’t.
“Did you come to collect us? To punish us for evading you?” asked the woman trembling.
“Oh, for goodness sake no! How many times do I have to that my only intentions are to check you out for myself and then let you be. For your information, no one can evade me forever.”
“And did you find everything to your liking?” asked the woman still worried and scared.
“You need not be afraid everything is as it should be I found what I had come for. You have nothing to worry about when it concerns me.”
“Thank you for that ma’am.”
“You’re welcome. Until next time then,” she said standing up and vanishing in the blink of an eye. The couple stared at the spot where their visitor stood just mere moments ago. Thinking about her parting words of coming back later. Throughout the next centuries, she had indeed stopped by for some tea and chat, by his third or fourth visit they could not remember exactly they spoke to each other like old friends.
The silence was broken by Nicolas who suddenly spoke up.
“Right.” he said “Those were some times.” he reminisced.
“Indeed, they were.” she agreed.
They all had laughed at his antics and the remainder of the night was spent pleasantly chatting. When she finally left their home, it was already too late for her to visit Severus at the school so she decided things could wait until the next day.
As soon as the school day was over, she headed there. Finding him after arriving was easy as he was already in his living area. He did not notice her presence at first, so she decided to just observe him for a few seconds. From his movements, she already knew he would be stressed from the day. She gently knocked on the wall to alert him of her presence.
“How long have you been standing there?” he asked immediately turning to her.
“Not too long don’t worry about it. How was the sorting?”
“Surprisingly uneventful the boy got into his parent's old house.”
“That’s good then.” she smiled.
“Yes, it is. Will you be spending the night?”
“I could if you let me.”
With her staying things did not seem so bad for him and as he fell asleep, he tried to think only about the positive things in his life.