85. Happy Flamel Lestrange 

Happy hadn't planned for anything before going to Flamel to study under him. The old man was more than six hundred years old, so he let the man decide what to teach him. Though he wanted to learn about herbology and runes greatly, Flamel was a renowned alchemist, so he wasn't against learning that either.

"I never knew Basilisk meat would taste this good," Flamel muttered while sitting in front of the fireplace and savoring the nicely cooked snake meat. "Almost makes me want to raise a few Basilisk to eat."

Happy nodded. Indeed, the snake tasted too good for some reason. It was nearly flawless, the texture was so smooth, but there wasn't too much fat, and yet it was soft and chewy as if he was eating marshmallows. On top of that, its flavor was also different, slightly bitter, but the aftertaste was somehow sweet.

"I'd have done it too, if it wasn't banned by the Ministry." Happy added, finishing his meal. "What will you teach me now, old man? I only got this winter holiday."

"What's your target? Perhaps I can help you. If it is to brew potions for curing more diseases, then I'm afraid you should try meeting Slughorn instead." Flamel advised him. "But if it's anything else, especially with alchemy, then I can teach you almost everything."

Happy hummed. "I… I want to learn herbology from you, Mr. Flamel. I'm trying to make a new kind of grain that can grow even in dry and hot soil with minimal water levels, something that can give us much more yield—at the same time, I want to learn about Runes, as I have conceptualized an idea, and want to try it."

"And alchemy?" Flamel asked.

Happy shrugged. "I suppose I will have to learn alchemy if I want to make any changes to the plants. It's the study of chemicals, transformation, and combination through magical means, isn't it?"

"And much more. I can teach you how to transmute gold. I can teach you how to make diamonds—I can teach you how to make the Philosopher's Stone… not that you should."

Happy gulped. 'I'm afraid, even if he teaches me half of the process to make the stone, I'll eventually end up making the complete thing thanks to my luck.'

"I don't see wealth like that, Sir. Unless I get it through a fair exchange, it's cheating… in the true sense." Happy said, not being ignorant, that what he was doing with Room of Requirement was also cheating in a way.

Flamel smiled brilliantly. "That is what I expected from you, Happy. Tell me, would you like to inherit my legacy? Carry the Flamel name?"

"..."

Happy had expected it since Dumbledore had hinted at it before. He tried to weigh his options. 'If I deny him, Flamel's name will be forever gone, and his legacy lost. If I take his name, then… will my name be more respected among the purebloods? At the same time, others may see me in a different light, and not just with the hateful history of what the Lestrange's name was infamous for.'

"If I agree, what will I have to do? I don't want to spend years here and study everything from you. I have dreams to fulfill and things to do outside—a world to fee… I mean, world to travel." Happy asked him.

"Haha, I know what you're doing, Happy. I don't know how, but you are feeding the world. You think I wouldn't investigate everything about you before offering you my legacy?" Flamel softly said, sounding more wise and old than ever before. "I've contemplated a lot, and after you made your Blood Malediction cure free for all, it was the last nail in my decision. All you have to do is inherit my wealth, my property and of course—my research.

"Even if I want to, I can't teach you everything, Happy. It is a study that spans hundreds of years. But, slowly, I hope you can explore them and use my research for better things."

"I don't want your money." Happy said seriously.

"We know that, dear." Just then, Flamel's wife came to the room, looking old, like a zombie, but the warmth of a grandma was apparent in her aura. Perenelle sat beside Happy and softly brushed his head. "We know you don't care about wealth, and we know where you are using your wealth. So take our money, and use it for the good of wizards and muggles alike—that would be the greatest honor for us."

Happy felt their words were a bit strange as if they were their last. "Y-You two… You still have years to live, Mr. and Mrs. Flamel… why are you talking like that?"

Nicolas Flamel sighed. "We can live for almost a decade at this pace, but ever since we stopped taking the elixir, our bodies are rapidly aging. We have started to feel pain and a decline in motor skills... soon we'll be bedridden and in pain. Perenelle and I don't wish for such an end, so we'll be taking our last breath on New Year's Eve… In our sleep… Voluntarily."

Happy felt a heaviness in his heart. But he couldn't argue with them as he had been there. To rest on a bed, constantly in pain, waiting for death—that wasn't a feeling he'd wish for even his enemies, except Voldemort.

"Will you tell anyone else?"

"No, just you. Since you will, perhaps, be our inheritor and, according to the family registry… our son. You can then inform the French Ministry." Perenelle said. "But worry not, I have spoken with their Minister for Magic; she knows."

Happy had no idea he'd become a part of something so depressing and tragic. But he stayed strong.

"Then, please teach me, Mr. Flamel. I will try my best to respect your legacy." Happy indirectly told them his acceptance.

The old couple smiled and got up at the same time. First was Perenelle, she snapped her finger to form an apron on herself. "I believe tonight deserves a celebration, dears. While you two study, I'll cook a brilliant meal."

"Indeed." Nicolas agreed. "Come, Happy. We'll start with alchemy, and from it, we shall branch into other subjects, for alchemy connects all!"

Happy, his eyes slightly moist, and his smile unwavering bobbed his head vigorously. "Understood…"

He liked Mr. and Mrs. Flamel, as they had never treated him badly. Even when they met for the first time, there was no prejudice, just kindness.

'They're good people.' Happy feet and his will to honor their legacy were full of determination. Perhaps, before Koko, a gigantic statue of the Flamel couple needed to be erected.

…

A few days passed, and Happy remained with the Flamels, learning everything from them. Heck, Prenelle even taught Happy a few long-lost recipes of French cuisine. It was very tasty, and he wrote it all down.

As for the studies with Nicolas, they were very tiring. They stayed up for days and nights using potions. Happy learned Alchemy first and then tried to integrate it with herbology, and at the same time, ancient runes were a part of alchemy studies, so he did that as well. But, from time to time, he had to learn some charms and potions, too—in short, alchemy was one hell of a subject that needed a lot of foundational knowledge.

Still, thanks to his luck, he never found trouble making potions, or anything that could be influenced by his luck. Flamel was constantly elated to see his genius, while Happy looked forward to making more Rooms of Requirement.

However, Happy had to go to the United States on the twentieth of December as the next phase of the Africa plan needed to be implemented. After receiving the intelligence from Lord Greengrass and Rambo's reports, they were able to formulate who to target and what to steal.

Sadly, they needed more people for the job, so Happy asked Rambo to find some people if he could. And surprisingly, the seasoned veteran said he had a few friends from his days in the war. Unfortunately, Happy wanted a few more wizards on the team, but it was hard to get them, especially to make them loyal without an unforgivable vow.

Even then, he changed his clothes and arrived at the designated new training warehouse Chris had bought for the team to meet, rest, or practice. Each of them had a private room for resting, and even a garage for them to fix their cars or 'tools'.

"This is the place?" Happy looked at the big warehouse in Brooklyn. It was decently hidden, and not eye-catching. But it was certainly much different inside.

Chris also arrived in a nice suit and combed hair. The man was very rich now, but he remained loyal to Happy because the job not only paid well but also provided a sense of fulfillment through the changes they were bringing. It was the perfect job.

"Yes, Mr. Lestrange, Rambo gave me this location. He said he has gathered a team of fifteen highly trained men and a few women—most of them were retired and doing normal jobs, or even struggling." Chris briefed Happy about the team as they walked into the first password-locked door.

Beep!

Once they entered the first door, a second lock required Chris to scan his eye. Only then did the steel door open with a loud sound.

"This way." Chris led him inside.

As they entered, they gawked at the warehouse. It looked like a huge modern apartment or something like that. There were televisions, a basketball court, couches, a bar, gun racks, cars parked and being fixed. Some men sat smoking. While others lounged lazily on the couch. A few men were exercising with dumbbells.

However, Happy recognized too many familiar faces among them. 'What the… Arnold? Jet Lee? Terry Crews? Jason Statham?'

"Gather around!" Just then, Rambo appeared, slightly different than before. He wore army cargo pants, a tight vest, and a beret on his head. "The boss is here."

Quickly, the entire group of fifteen men gathered around Rambo, on his side or behind him. They were all tall or imposing; some were smiling.

"The boss brought his kid?" The man Happy recognized as Arnold from his world asked.

"..."

Rambo shook his head. "That 'kid' IS our boss!"

"Hello, everyone." Happy greeted them awkwardly. "Have you named your unit?"

Happy asked because he had a hunch.

Rambo gave a brief nod, "We're called The Expendables."

"..."

'I knew it!'