Perenal smiled and welcomed the friend outside the door into the hall, "If you are willing, you can come and spend Christmas with us."
"If I can't go to Perenal, I think it would be nice to stay in school and spend the holidays with everyone." Dumbledore looked around, and when he didn't see his old friend, he asked: "Where's Nico?"
"He, in the study, is chatting with Albert using a double-sided mirror." A kind smile appeared on Perenal's face, "Nico will be very happy every time he chats with Albert. That's true.
A learned and intelligent boy."
"Well, Albert is indeed very smart." Dumbledore said noncommittally.
He walked through the hall and appeared in front of the study door. Nico was sitting at the desk, chatting with Albert in the double-sided mirror.
"Oh, Albus, you're here!"
When Nico heard footsteps, he raised his head and saw Dumbledore who had just walked into the study, greeting him with a smile.
"What were you talking about just now?" Dumbledore asked, "I've rarely seen you smile so happily."
"Well, Albert told me some things about Hogwarts school." Nico said just after finishing the conversation with Albert and following Dumbledore out of the study.
"What happened at school?" Dumbledore raised his eyebrows slightly, "What happened? I'm curious about what can make you so happy."
"Albert said that Professor Quirrell in your school is probably controlled by someone using the Imperius Curse. Every time he has free time, he will hang out in the restricted corridor on the fourth floor. He seems to be looking for opportunities to secretly steal the items you put on him.
The Philosopher's Stone in school." Nico sat down on the sofa and told Dumbledore the topic he and Albert had just chatted about.
"Oh, Professor Quirrell!"
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows slightly. Of course he knew that Professor Quirrell was suspicious, but he never thought that Professor Quirrell could be easily seen through by his students.
"Did you tell him about the Philosopher's Stone?" Dumbledore asked.
"No." Nico shook his head, "I asked him how he knew about the Philosopher's Stone. He said that Harry Potter accidentally broke into the restricted corridor last time, and then he asked him about me for some reason."
Nico didn't mean to hide anything, and told Dumbledore what he knew, "If you connect this matter with the things you put in the school, it is not difficult to guess the truth. He even felt that the magic
The stone is fake.”
"Mr. Anderson is indeed very smart." Dumbledore sighed and said, "I didn't expect that I could deduce such a result based on just this bit of information."
"It is indeed very powerful, but your Professor Quirrell..." Nico picked up the black tea Perenal had just brewed, took a sip and shook his head with a smile.
"I heard that Professor Quirrell is now so annoyed by Albert's questions that he doesn't even want to see him." Perenal found this very interesting.
"It seems that you are ready to choose him as your successor?" Dumbledore added two cubes of sugar to the black tea, stirred it and said.
Nico is indeed very interested in Albert, otherwise why would he tell him these things?
"It's always good to find someone to inherit my knowledge. It would be really regrettable if this part of the knowledge was lost for no reason." Nico said with emotion.
He has lived for hundreds of years and has met a lot of geniuses, but there are really not many people who suit his taste like Albert.
"Are you ready to give up the Philosopher's Stone?" Dumbledore was slightly surprised. He had actually discussed giving up the Philosopher's Stone with Nico.
Nico said at the time that the timing was not right.
"Nico and I have discussed it. It would be good to walk towards death slowly like ordinary people." Perenaar stretched out his hand to hold Nico's hand. They didn't have any fear of death. They have lived for too long.
Their bodies are no longer young due to the corrosion of time, and living too long also makes them feel tired. Without mutual dependence, they would not even be able to support each other through this long time.
"It's like after a long day, I can finally go to bed and rest." Dumbledore sighed softly. After living for a century, he was no longer young. The long life also made him tired, but he could not stop to rest.
There are things he needs to accomplish.
"Albus, you are not as old as us." Nico said with a smile, "It's a little too early for you to feel this now."
"Albus, maybe you should consider retiring from school and starting to live in peace and quiet," Perenal said.
"The timing doesn't allow it." Dumbledore shook his head and said.
"Oh, I can probably guess the reason." Nico nodded, "However, you should leave this matter to the young people. The savior you chose is good."
"Harry still needs time." Dumbledore shook his head and said, "I need to help him share some of the pressure while he is still alive. Not everyone is as good as Mr. Anderson."
Regarding the issue of the crown, Dumbledore felt that Albert must have made some assumptions. Maybe he didn't know about Horcruxes, but he definitely had thoughts in that direction.
"He is indeed very good," Perenal said. "He is indeed a very confident and lovable child. I heard that he invented a card game. He was originally going to give it to us as a Christmas gift. It was very interesting.
It's a pity that his owl couldn't be delivered."
The LeMays regarded Albert more as their grandson.
"I do know about this matter. Mr. Anderson mentioned it a long time ago." Dumbledore heard Perenal mention this matter and recalled it carefully. "The Christmas gift he gave me this year was a pair of woolen socks.
"
"What a considerate kid, aren't you?" Perenal said with a smile, "Finally you don't have to worry about receiving a bunch of books again this year."
"However, Albert's situation is very similar to yours. He said that he also received a bunch of books this year." Nico suddenly remembered something and said with a smile.
"It seems that the time has come." Dumbledore whispered softly, "Is it because of Mr. Anderson?"
"Not entirely, I feel the time has come." Nico said: "We have indeed lived too long and have experienced most things in the world. Death is indeed an exception. As you said, death is just another event.
Great adventure.”
For Nico and his wife, with the Philosopher's Stone, no matter how much wealth they want or how long they want to live, they can get it. In fact, they don't have much to remember in this world.
The appearance of Voldemort and Albert completed the last two pieces of the puzzle, allowing Nico to finally make some determination.
Of course, this does not mean that Nico and Perenal are planning to die immediately. They plan to store some elixirs and then let themselves slowly welcome their final death like ordinary people.