Chapter 70

"Come, come," Nicolas said, clapping his hands together once. All the dishes disappeared as if they had never existed. "It's time for our next lesson. Today we'll be learning how combining more than three of the Three Essential Principles and Four Classical Elements can interact with each other. Definitely not something you'll want to miss."

"Alright," Harry, looking visibly excited by his next lesson, ignored his teacher's eccentric behavior and stood up. This was one of the lessons he had been waiting for.

"And you, young one, will be coming with me," Perennelle told Selene after her husbands joyful chattering was finished. "I'm going into Paris again today to do some shopping and felt I could use some company while walking amongst the masses."

"Of course," Selene stood up, grinning. "I always enjoy seeing more of Paris. I don't get out of the coven compound very often."

"I would imagine so." Perennelle turned to look at Nicolas and Harry. "We will see you two after your lesson." She gave them both a look of warning, causing the two to gulp. "I expect you will not stay in that lab for more than a few hours, yes?"

"Of course, dear. Of course," Nicolas reassured his wife, earning him a quick peck on the lips. Harry tried not to gag. He never understood why people had to show such public displays of affection. He completely ignored the fact that they were at their house and not in a public setting. "Come along, Harry. Come along. Time to begin our next lesson."

"Very well." Harry turned to Selene. "I'll see you later, Selene."

"Of course," Selene smiled at him. "I look forward seeing you again in a few hours, amore."

XoX

Harry felt his bones crack as he stretched in his seat. The lesson Nicolas had given him was a very long one, having easily spanned well over the allotted 'few hours' of time Perennelle gave them. Despite having been in the alchemy lab for over five hours talking alchemy, Nicolas was still only have way through his lecture.

"We'll have to pick this back up again tomorrow," Nicholas told him, frowning a bit. He looked almost as disappointed about the lesson coming to an end as Harry was. Then again, this man lived and breathed alchemy so it was probably just him not liking the idea of not being able to discuss his lifes passion for as long as he liked before the misses came down and began growing feathers again. "If you're going to work on another transmutation circle, don't try combining more than three elements right now. As good as you are, I have yet to teach you everything you'll need to know to do the more complicated transmutations."

"Understood, I will be a bit more prudent when drawing up my circles," Harry said, standing up for the first time in five hours, wincing as he did so. Maybe stopping for today was a good idea after all. His bottom was actually feeling a little numb. "Master Flamel?"

"Hmm?"

"I was wondering if I could borrow the time turner for a day?"

"What's this? Borrow my time turner," Nicolas Flamel frowned at his apprentice. "Time is not something that should be trifled with, my young apprentice. You know that. Using the time turner more than once a day could cause problems that I would rather not deal with. I have no talent when it comes to space/time magics, and would rather not have to deal with a tear in the fabrics of time and space."

"I know, and I'll be careful, but I really need to borrow it," Harry pressed. When he saw that Flamel still did not look convinced, he added. "And it's just for one day."

Nicolas Flamel raised an eyebrow.

"And what do you need to use it for?"

"Ah, well," Harry took a breath. "You see, July 31st is coming up and, well, it's my birthday."

"I am well aware of that," Flamel replied dryly. "In fact, I do not think there is a single witch or wizard in western Europe who does not know that."

Harry flushed a bit, but continued on regardless.

"Normally, this wouldn't be much of an issue, but I find myself in a small... bind," he said carefully. "You see, for the past five years I have always spent my birthdays with Lisa Crawft, my muggle friend. I was going to do that this year as well, but I got a letter from the Dowager Longbottom, inviting me to celebrate a joint birthday party for myself and Neville, who also happens to have a birthday on the same month as I do." Harry was silent for a moment, then added. "And one does not refuse an invitation from the Dowager Longbottom."

Harry had heard stories of Neville's Gran. The woman was supposedly a hard case, a woman who could cause people to run away screaming with a mere look. She was also the leader of one of the few neutral parties who took a firmer stance in politics.

Because of this, Harry especially did not want to turn down an invitation from her and make it seem like his friendship with Neville and, just as importantly, that the Longbottom-Potter alliance meant nothing to him. He had to go.

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