17: Chapter 16: Me?
Fake the Elixir of Life?
17: Chapter 16: Me?
Fake the Elixir of Life?
Under Hagrid’s urging, Harry climbed aboard the Knight Bus.
He stood in the doorway, waving hard at Thorne and Hagrid.
The door slammed shut.
With a low, rumbling roar, the triple-decker bus vanished back into the mist, as if it had never been there at all.
Thorne watched it disappear and couldn’t help feeling a little envious.
That thing was way more convenient than a stag beetle.
No wonder the old stag beetle back in Hallownest had hated trams so much.
Thorne pulled his gaze away and turned to Hagrid, only to find the half-giant quietly wiping at the corner of his eye.
Thorne stepped closer.
He started to reach out to pat the big man’s shoulder, then realized the height difference and redirected the motion to Hagrid’s elbow instead.
“You alright?” “Relax.
You’ll see him again in a month.” Hagrid sniffled and shook his head.
“I-I’m fine.” “It’s just… he’s such a good kid.” His voice was rough.
“I don’t even want to think about what he’s been through all these years.” Thorne opened his mouth, but nothing useful came out.
In the end he just gave Hagrid’s arm another gentle pat and stood beside him, sharing the silence.
After a few minutes of quiet crying, Hagrid took a deep breath and wiped his face with one massive hand.
“Alright… alright.
Time to head back.” Thorne nodded.
“Yeah.
How are we getting there?
Floo?” Hagrid blew his nose, then actually laughed.
“No need.
I already got us transport.
It’s parked in that little alley over there.” Thorne followed him over, took one look, and his eyes went wide.
“Merlin’s spark plugs… that thing is ridiculous.” “Pretty impressive, right?” Hagrid grinned proudly.
He walked straight up to the enormous motorcycle sitting in the alley and dropped his massive frame onto the seat.
The bike was already huge, but next to Hagrid it somehow looked almost dainty.
Thorne’s mouth twitched.
“Uh… Hagrid, it’s cool and all, but if we ride that thing all the way to Hogwarts, we’re not getting there until term starts.” “Don’t worry.” Hagrid waved a hand like it was nothing.
“I’ve modified it.
We’ll be there tonight.” Thorne scratched his head.
He still wasn’t entirely convinced, but he didn’t have much choice except to trust the man.
He was just about to climb into the sidecar when he suddenly straightened up like he’d remembered something.
“Sorry, I need to hit the bathroom real quick.” Before Hagrid could answer, Thorne had already spun around and sprinted back into the Leaky Cauldron.
He was gone for a while.
When he finally came jogging back, looking slightly embarrassed, he said, “Sorry.
Bad stomach.” Hagrid snorted.
“Took you long enough.
I was starting to think the toilet flushed you away.” He laughed.
“Hold on tight!” Thorne rolled his eyes.
Truth was, he’d been trying to push the exploration progress while he was in there.
He’d nearly torn the plumbing apart in the process, but he’d managed to hit the threshold.
His eyes flicked to the system panel.
[Ding!] [Current Special Environment exploration has reached 60%.
Reward: Spell Fragment ×1 has been issued.] [Current Fragments Held: 1] [Current Special Environment: Diagon Alley (60.1%)] — Late that same night.
Hogwarts Castle.
Soul Magic Professor’s quarters.
The door was shoved open hard.
Thorne came stumbling in with a runny nose, rubbing his arms, face twisted in misery.
He tossed the dragon fang onto the bed and slammed the door behind him.
“Goddamn it… Britain’s latitude is way too high.
It’s summer and it’s still this cold?” He shivered and muttered nonstop, trying to curl in on himself.
“Damn it, this is all Hagrid’s fault… That thing flies way too fast.
London to the Scottish Highlands in that little time, and the wind goes straight into your bones.” Still grumbling, he hurried over to the fireplace, already reaching for the matches.
“Incendio.” A calm, warm voice spoke from the doorway.
A stream of fire curved neatly around Thorne and lit the logs perfectly.
Warmth flooded the room at once.
Thorne froze, then turned around.
An old bee stood in the doorway holding a thick blanket, wearing a gentle, knowing smile.
“If you’d like,” Dumbledore said kindly, “I can have the house-elves draw you a hot bath.” — Ten minutes later.
Thorne sat bundled in the blanket beside the roaring fire, feeling like he’d been rebooted.
He and Dumbledore chatted on and off.
Thorne had politely declined the hot bath.
He wasn’t mentally prepared to bathe in front of another man, even if that man was an old bee.
Thorne briefly explained the dragon fang purchase.
Dumbledore just smiled mysteriously.
“It’s fine.
How the funds are used is your business.” Thorne let out a quiet breath of relief.
Then he got serious and started explaining how important bone nails were for soul acquisition, what their future applications could be, and how maybe every young wizard should eventually carry one.
That was when Dumbledore reached into his robes and pulled out a small box.
“Speaking of souls,” he said, voice meaningful, “there’s something I’d like you to take a look at.” Thorne raised an eyebrow.
Anything the headmaster brought out this seriously probably wasn’t ordinary.
Dumbledore slowly opened the box.
A pure white pill, smooth as jade, sat quietly inside.
“Do you recognize what this is?” Thorne frowned and studied the pill for a long moment before answering uncertainly.
“It… does feel somewhat related to souls.” Dumbledore nodded.
“Do you think you could create a replica of it using soul magic?” Thorne lifted his eyebrows.
“That depends on its exact properties.” Appreciation deepened in Dumbledore’s eyes.
His tone grew more serious.
“This is the Elixir of Life.” A short silence.
“…Oh.” “…Oh?
Eric, that reaction makes me feel like I was being unnecessarily dramatic just now.” “Uh… right.” Thorne scratched his head.
After everything he’d seen in Hallownest—including gods falling—he wasn’t exactly impressed by immortality claims.
Plenty of supposedly powerful beings had just gone to sleep forever during the big catastrophe.
This whole “eternal life” thing felt kind of… basic.
But looking at Dumbledore’s face, Thorne took a deep breath and immediately switched to full dramatic mode.
“Ah!!!
Merlin’s beard!
This is actually the legendary Elixir of Life?!
How could someone like me possibly replicate it?!” “Headmaster, you’re going to be the death of me~” Dumbledore’s eyes narrowed slightly.
His voice was calm but carried weight.
“Professor Thorne… you wouldn’t want Professor McGonagall finding out you’ve been spending funds without her approval, would you?” “Ehh—Headmaster!
Headmaster!” Thorne switched tracks instantly.
“Let’s talk business.
I was just joking earlier.” “If I actually tried to replicate it, the effect definitely wouldn’t be true immortality.” Dumbledore smiled.
“That’s exactly what I want.”