Neal seeks immortality?

August 11th, 1995; One day before Harry's trial.

Avery Mansion, Tagues village;

Neal was practicing another spell. This time, he was in an empty habitat in the magical suitcase.

As for why he didn't do that earlier and traveled all the way to Greenland, risking a feud with the ministry and all, it is because he was worried about the damage the spell will cause to the habitat.

According to the notes given by Newt, if he trains in the suitcase and his magic gets out of control, it might not only destroy the habitat and affect the other habitats but even the creatures might be hurt in the process.

And seeing his magic power is far higher than an average adult wizard, Neal was worried that he will damage the things he holds dear. The creatures inside the habitat weren't his slaves or some weapons that he would like to use and throw. They were the same as his family.

It is why he bothered to travel thousands of kilometers away back then.

For simplest curses, he wouldn't need to do the same. Not to mention, he would like to stay low until the hearing at the International Council of wizards' meeting, in the last week of August.

But, to have great concentration on mastering the spells, Neal would have to be alone and cannot look after Draco.

Hence, he left his friend under the care of Patricia.

Ever since she proved her loyalty by walking through the ring of fire, Neal began to trust her, although not with his secrets.

And seeing Neal's actions lately, Patricia's loyalty to Avery House only rose further and she decided to wholeheartedly serve them. As a result, she began to train Draco while giving Neal time for himself.

Back to the present, Neal was in the middle of mastering a windy spell while still using the unmastered Acacia wand.

"Ventus" (VEN-tuss)

A jet a strong spiraling wind was shot from the tip of his wand and struck the wooden puppet. In the next second, it was broken into dozens of pieces upon being hit by the spell.

"Ugh, it's too strong…" Neal shook his head while letting out a deep sigh. "I need to focus on toning it down or else, I might kill a student if I use it in a duel."

As he sat down and took a rest for a while, he remembered something and quickly took out an object from his pocket and looked at it.

It was a locket of heavy gold with a serpentine S in glittering green stone inlay on the front.

"Ancestor, is there really no other way to destroy the Horcrux and leave this treasure undamaged?" he asked. It wasn't the first time he asked this question during the past four days but still, he couldn't help but ask again.

A familiar voice replied to him in his head, "It's not possible as far as I know. The soul of that child has latched onto this object and become one with it. You cannot separate them."

"But, it is really a pity to destroy this though. It's your famed treasure." Neal was reluctant on handing over their heirloom to Dumbledore, later on, as promised.

Salazar Slytherin replied, "Well, if you are able to live until old age, I'm sure that all the artifacts you possessed will be more legendary than even our names."

"What should I do about the fame when I won't be alive to hear those praises?" Neal scoffed in response. He added, "It's not like I can live forever unlike I make Horcruxes or philosopher's stone… Hmm???"

All of a sudden, something suddenly clicked in his mind and Neal sprung up on his feet. "Philosopher's stone…"

"What is it, kid?" asked Salazar Slytherin's spirit.

Neal's eyes lit up in excitement as he replied, "Ancestor, I can turn a matchstick into silver, gold, diamond, and all other gems I have known about. But, I know nothing about the philosopher's stone.

It might have been destroyed but the creator would have the knowledge. If I gain a certain understanding of the stone, perhaps, I would be able to create it without the need for alchemy. Is it really possible?"

Salazar Slytherin stayed silent for a few seconds before slowly responding with a question, "Do you seek immortality?"

"Isn't it better to live for a long time instead of wandering like a ghost or stay as a spirit in that so-called spirit realm for several millennia just to reincarnate again without any memories?" Neal indirectly poked fun at his ancestor who has yet to go through the reincarnation cycle.

Before Salazar Slytherin responded to his taunt, Neal further added, "But, just living forever isn't important. I need to live healthily and look young too. I don't think the elixir of life potion generated from the philosopher's stone would be able to do that, considering the picture of Nicholas Flamel from 1945's global wizarding war I have seen from an article last year.

Perhaps, if I could learn under him, I might be able to gain some insights about concocting something like an anti-aging potion to make me look young forever and a panacea to get rid of all the incurable diseases I might get.

The energy potion Professor Snape has created will be able to keep me healthy and if we research it further, we might be able to find a solution to prolong its effects from 15 minutes to let's say 15 years?

I know what you want to say. I might be getting far ahead of myself but thinking of the possibilities will not hurt, right?"

There was silence from Salazar Slytherin for a couple of minutes. Neal called him out a few times, but assuming that his ancestor's spirit has gone to the spirit realm once again, he resumed his practice.

Once he mastered the spell, Neal didn't continue with another spell but instead, he left the suitcase and made his way to meet his grandfather.

He went to Oakley to ask his help in order to locate Nicholas Flamel but didn't expect him to look quite serious with an envelope in his hand.

"What happened, grandfather?" asked Neal.

Oakley looked at his grandson and questioned him in response, "Are you friends with Harry Potter?"

"Eh?" Neal was taken aback at first. But, then, he answered truthfully, "Can't say that he is a trusted friend but he isn't an enemy too. Let's say that he is more like an acquaintance. Why?"

Raising the envelope, Oakley said, "Well, he wrote a letter for you. Actually, he was also facing a trial because of underage magic. But, I thought that you don't want to acquaint yourself with Potter. So, I never told you about it before."

"Trial? When and what happened?"