'Hagrid, why do you not just tell us about Nicolas Flamel and Dumbledore, to save us the trouble?'
At the entrance of the Great Hall, Harry began to try and coax information from Hagrid. He hoped to learn directly from him who this mysterious Nicolas Flamel was and what, exactly, Dumbledore was hiding from him.
After all, with Hermione gone home for Christmas, Harry was quite self-aware of his and Ron's rather limited abilities when it came to checking information and doing research.
'We have read at least a hundred books, but we have not even found a hint of him. Just give us a little clue. I know I have seen his name somewhere!' Harry said, his voice earnest.
'I will not say anything,' Hagrid covered his mouth with a giant hand and said dryly. 'I promised Dumbledore. I will keep my mouth shut.'
At this moment, a silver-haired figure, swirling a wine glass, happened to pass by. He walked to the entrance courtyard corridor where the 3 of them were standing and looked at them with a flicker of curiosity.
Seeing who it was, Harry, Ron, and Hagrid were all instantly on alert.
'Good evening, Professor Dracula!' they said in unison, their voices a mixture of respect and apprehension.
'Good evening, Hagrid, and Potter and Weasley.' Dracula took a sip of the crimson liquid in his glass, nodded slightly to those present, and then asked with clear interest, 'I think I heard you discussing Nicolas Flamel?'
'Professor Dracula, do you know Nicolas Flamel?' Harry's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked Dracula, his words tumbling out in a rush. 'Hagrid said he would keep it a secret and will never tell us anything about Nicolas Flamel. But we have obviously seen this name before, we just cannot remember where!'
'Hagrid, Dumbledore really does believe that you will keep your mouth shut,' Dracula looked at Hagrid, a glint of amusement in his eyes, and said reassuringly.
Hagrid was still covering his mouth and mumbled with gratitude, 'Professor Dracula, I am so happy that you can say that.'
'Yes. It is not the bottle's fault if the cork is pulled—it is the corkscrew's fault. You do not need to be too upset even if you leak something.'
As he spoke, Dracula drained the bright red liquid in his glass. He then placed the goblet so it was suspended in the air and took out an elegant bottle of red wine from his pocket. With a slight twist of his index finger, the cork at the mouth of the bottle popped out with a satisfying pop.
Dracula refilled his glass with the crimson liquid, then raised his eyes to look at Hagrid.
At this moment, Hagrid looked at the cork that Dracula had put back into the mouth of the red wine bottle. He thought of the tight-lipped bottle and the corkscrew Dracula had just mentioned, and he could not help but begin to cry sadly.
'Professor, is it not a little inappropriate to provoke Hagrid like this…' Harry quietly moved closer to Dracula and whispered to him.
Ron, on the other hand, watched Hagrid bury his big face in a dirty handkerchief and could not help but take a step back, distancing himself from the terrifyingly unpredictable Professor Dracula.
'Do not worry, Hagrid will be strong.' Ignoring Ron's small movement, Dracula said to Harry. 'By the way, what are you looking for Nicolas Flamel for?'
'I… we…' Harry did not know how to start for a moment. What they knew about the 3-headed dog and the restricted area on the 4th floor was basically learned through the process of violating school rules. How could Harry possibly tell a professor about these things?
However, Dracula did not seem to care about the reason at all. Before Harry could explain, he asked with keen interest:
'It seems that you have already been to the restricted area in the corridor on the 4th floor. How did it feel? Could you pass the test of Hagrid's little darling in the first level?'
'What? Hagrid's "little darling"?!' Harry looked at Dracula in shock. He then turned his gaze to Hagrid, feeling that his understanding of the world had been greatly, and perhaps permanently, impacted.
Ron, who had just pulled away, could not help but let out a surprised yelp. He sneaked back to Harry's side, looking at Hagrid with inquiring, suspicious eyes.
'So Hermione was right? Is that scary big dog really guarding something under the trapdoor?' Ron asked, his voice a hushed whisper. 'The thing that Nicolas Flamel entrusted to Dumbledore to guard?'
'What do you mean by a scary big dog? That is Fluffy! He is very well-behaved and does not bite,' Hagrid said, clearly unhappy with Ron's description.
Harry and Ron stood side by side, looking at him with deep suspicion.
'Hey, what are you looking at me like that for? I am telling the truth!' Hagrid said loudly. 'And Nicolas Flamel's things have nothing to do with you. Stop looking for them. Why can you not put all your exuberant energy into your studies?'
Dracula was sipping his red wine and watching the interesting performance of Harry and his friends. He felt as if he had watched a very good show indeed.
'Professor Dracula, these little guys are too curious.' Unable to stand the entanglement of the 2 young wizards any longer, Hagrid turned his pleading gaze to Dracula. 'I do not quite understand why you wanted to tell them about Fluffy? I am really afraid that I will leak something again…'
'It is okay, Hagrid.' Dracula chuckled and raised his glass to Hagrid. 'It does not matter if you really do leak something. Everything is still within Dumbledore's plan.'
'But I am not sure if I will not delay Dumbledore's plans…' Hagrid muttered quietly, his face a mask of worry.
Looking at the hopeful gazes of Harry and Ron, Dracula thought for a moment. He placed his goblet in the air again and then took out a bronze mirror engraved with a phoenix relief from his pocket.
'You two, if you want to know who Nicolas Flamel is, then come with me.' He played with the bronze mirror, a slow smile spreading across his face. He walked towards the marble steps at the entrance of the Great Hall, the goblet containing the crimson liquid floating smoothly to his side, drifting forward as he moved.
Harry and Ron quickly followed.
'Professor Dracula, you cannot…' Hagrid still wanted to stop him, but before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by a sharp look back from Dracula.
'Do not worry, Hagrid. I know what I am doing,' Dracula said, his voice leaving no room for argument.
He smiled at Hagrid, then turned his head and disappeared around the corner of the stairs with the two little wizards.
The 3 of them walked straight into the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor's office on the 3rd floor of the castle.
Dracula sat comfortably in a soft armchair, and the wine glass floating next to him automatically settled on the desk. Harry and Ron stood awkwardly at the door, fidgeting with the corners of their robes.
'Sit wherever you like.' Dracula glanced at them and pointed to the sofa in the office with his chin.
Then he raised the bronze mirror in his hand and showed a relaxed, almost predatory, smile.
'Nicolas,' he said to the mirror, his voice smooth and clear, 'there are 2 interesting little fellows who want to know who you are. Do you want to say hello to them?'
***********
✨ 300 gems = 1 bonus chapter
✨ 500 gems = another bonus chapter
Get access to advanced chapters at my P@treon.
[email protected]/meowthtl