Chapter 58: Aftermath of the Dual.

Liam made his way to the bathroom. The room was filled with many magical items, which fascinated Liam. He didn't want the person who took care of him wait more. He also wanted to know that wizard's identity.

"Because it just isn't a movie or a book. I have met various wizards who may or may not have been mentioned." With a pinch of excitement Liam freshened up.

…

[Downstairs in the Dining Room]

The young French boy elegantly walked towards a chair and poured some juice into a glass and placed it in front of a frail old man who was reading the Daily Prophet.

"How's the boy doing? There aren't any symptoms, are there?" The frail old man asked in a breaking voice.

"No master, there aren't any symptoms that I noticed. But it seemed rather strange to see his composure considering his age. He was startled at first but quickly gained calmness unlike how a child his age would behave." The boy replied.

The frail old man fell in deep thought "That boy is surrounded by thick mist which we currently can't see through. Even though observing for such a long time I wasn't able to figure it out. The more I tried to remove the mist the thicker it got. Anyway, we should send the news of his recovery to Dumbledore."

The boy sent out an owl with a letter.

…

After a while Liam came downstairs in the dining room. He sat down in front of the frail old man. The moment Liam saw the old man, he knew who he was. A frail body which seemed it could break any moment, silver long hair and blue eyes. Liam didn't know why he was in his house, 'According to the cannon, wasn't he supposed to be dead? There were many theories suggesting that he died after these events. I can't trust my knowledge anymore things have gone way past the actual events, even demons are popping out now.'

"Good Morning!" Liam greeted the Nicolas.

"Good morning, it's the first time we have met. I am Nicolas Flamel an alchemist." Flamel said timidly in a weak voice, he was startled by the sudden entrance of Liam.

Flamel was in a lot worse state, his body gave him a notion that he wasn't alive at all. Looking at his legs which were pale as ice. Liam concluded that he had lost the ability to walk.

'My guess was right, I am in the house of the Immortal Alchemist. He did have a weak body as much as I can remember. But to have fallen to this extent. No wonder he didn't show up in the movies.'

"Hello Mr. Flamel I am Liam Gremory."

Nicolas looked at the boy and asked, "I hope you don't feel any discomfort living here. If you want anything you can just ask Lucien he would help you with everything during your stay here."

'So his name is Lucien.' Liam nodded, "Sir, can you tell me what happened? And how I came to be here."

"Dumbledore brought you here for… better care. This was a better place instead of Hogwarts as you needed special care. You had fallen unconscious and didn't wake up till now. I suppose it been a month" Flamel answered while figuring out how much time had gone by since Liam was brought here by Dumbledore, "It's been one month and four days, exact!"

Liam couldn't keep calm, "IT HAS BEEN A MONTH!!" he started panicking. He hurriedly went towards the calendar hung on the wall and checked the date. He sighed with relief as there was still time before the Christmas holidays began. Liam had promised Luke that he would come back in the Christmas holidays to the orphanage.

Flamel was troubled by such a reaction by Liam. The calm boy in front of him was not calm anymore. 'It is natural for a child his age to react such a way. After hearing such news.'

Liam started to say things in his mind out loud, "I have to go meet Luke and Mrs. Cole for Christmas and I haven't even replied to his letters for a month. I don't think Luke will forgive me for not replying to him for a month."

Flamel laughed out loud, "Don't worry about such a silly thing. I had Lucien reply to one of the letter saying that you wouldn't be able to send letters back to him because of exams."

Liam calmed down after hearing this, "Thank you! You really saved me."

"Stop worrying and eat breakfast." He pointed towards a big bowl which had porridge.

Liam looked at the foul looking porridge, he mustered up some courage and began eating.

After eating a spoonful of the porridge Liam asked, "Can you tell me now what happened?"

Nicolas started explaining the events of the past month, "You another boy and an Auror were found lying unconscious. After waking up the Auror explained what had happened he said something about there being an unknown creature which the boy was controlling and how he went about to find you there. The things he had to say about the events are currently classified information. The ministry covered up the events by saying that a magical creature had entered Hogwarts by mistake. People believed this narrative as it was something which had happened before.

As for the actual events, only you and the other Hogwarts student who was present there knows. The ministry wanted to keep you to themselves as they wanted to interrogate you but Dumbledore prevented that and made it so that I will take care of you.

The other child was taken in by the ministry. He had woken up after two days and been interrogated. He doesn't have any recollection of what happened that night. The last thing he remembered was agreeing to have a duel with you and going inside the castle." Nicolas looked at the worried expressions of Liam and said, "Worry not, you aren't suspected of anything. The Auror testified from your side you did help him fight the creature. In the investigation it was found that a certain type of dark magic was used and the user of that magic was the other boy. But he was also not blamed for anything as it was tied to a dark magic item which took control of his body and caused all this. How much of it is true only you can tell me." He looked towards Liam expecting an answer.

"Most of it was correct. Due to a disagreement we decided to solve it with a duel. As for the dark magic object, I was aware of it and was attempting to reveal that he possessed such an object. But I underestimated the situation and things ended up like this." Liam felt a sense of responsibility as he remembered his helpless self in front of that monster.

Flamel sighed, 'Even though being so young why does it seem to me that he had a lot of responsibility on his back. He reminds me of his Grandfather I just hope he doesn't strays off into darkness like his Grandfather.'

…

[Hogwart's Castle, Headmaster's office]

An owl flew inside the office carrying with him a letter which had a peculiar seal.

Dumbledore who was drinking tea noticed the owl and remarked, "It's from Nicolas." He took out the seal from the letter and burned away the letter. He chanted, "Un Amigo Soy." The seal transfigured into a small flattened plate which had just a single line written on it, "Liam woke up."

Dumbledore quickly sent Fawks to Snape's office.