Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

“I…”

Hearing this, Charlie pondered, lowered his head, and fell into deep thought.

Nicolas Flamel was not in a hurry either, continuing to pick up the teacup, savoring the taste sip by sip.

Time passed slowly in the silent atmosphere between the two.

After an unknown period, the tea in the cup was empty, and he refilled it with the teapot, reminding,

“The tea seems to be getting cold… Charlie, what have you decided?”

Charlie was pulled out of his thoughts. He looked into Nicolas Flamel's eyes, revealing a smile as usual.

After briefly reorganizing his words, he took a deep breath and said:

“In my opinion, the standard for distinguishing whether something is a tool or a living being is emotion and intelligence.”

“Intelligence allows them to think and choose their own situation and future, while emotion gives them the ability to experience joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, and self-judgment.”

“A creature with intelligence is destined to be impossible to completely enslave. It's like you plant a seed, but then try your best to suppress it when it sprouts. However, the power of life cannot be suppressed. It's like a seedling can break through the hard bricks above and sprout new buds, and so is the race of house-elves.”

Nicolas Flamel's expression did not change in the slightest, but in his deep gaze, if you looked closely, you could find a few glimmers of light faintly emerging.

He interlaced his fingers and nodded quietly.

“I have never heard of any related arguments before.” Nicolas Flamel said, “Please continue your understanding, and I will listen attentively.”

Charlie nodded.

“I think you also understand that the house-elf race is born as powerful magical creatures comparable to Aurors. Although now, we can continue to enslave them through the magic remaining in their blood, treating them as worthless tools. But if one day in the future, generations of evolved elves gradually break free from this magic, then what will happen to them? Will they continue to be slaves of wizards, or…”

Speaking of this, Charlie deliberately paused, not continuing to speak, but the meaning he wanted to express was already self-evident.

Charlie picked up his half-cold daisy tea and drank it in large gulps as his Adam's apple bobbed up and down. Only after finishing the entire cup did he let out a long breath and continue,

“In ancient Eastern civilization, there is a wise saying that goes, “It is better to dredge than to block.” If translated into English, the general meaning is that instead of the strong rebound caused by violent suppression, it is better to use the correct method to dredge it, so that it can naturally integrate with the original things.”

“I think, for house-elves, what they need is not suppression, but dredging, allowing them to enter society in a peaceful way.”

After saying all of this, Charlie was finally able to meet Nicolas Flamel's deep eyes.

He spoke the final remarks without being humble or arrogant.

“If you ask me how I view the issue of house-elves, this is my view.”

Quietly listening to Charlie Black's words, from beginning to end, Nicolas Flamel's mind had been constantly thinking along with the other party's train of thought. Finally, when Charlie finished this last sentence, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

Immediately, in Charlie's gaze, he stood up again and nodded to this young man who was only thirty years old, less than one-twentieth of his age.

“You are right.”

After saying this, he seemed to have made some decision in his heart, turned around, and walked straight into the depths of the second floor of the stone building without looking back.

Leaving Charlie alone, holding the porcelain cup in his hand, looking at the other party's back in a daze, it was not appropriate to stand up for a while, and it was not appropriate to continue sitting there.

Only after a moment did Nicolas Flamel finally turn his head and call out to Charlie, who was still sitting on the sofa: “Come on, follow me, Charlie.”

“Okay, Master Flamel!”

Only then did Charlie breathe a sigh of relief and quickly responded. He got up, put the cup back on the coffee table, and then hurriedly chased after the direction where Nicolas Flamel had just left.

The two passed through a corridor full of many portraits and stopped in front of a door.

“Actually, I have been looking forward to your arrival these past few days, Charlie.”

Nicolas Flamel stretched out his hand and slowly grasped the exquisite spherical handle on the door, which had almost no idea how many years of history it had, but he was not in a hurry to open it for a while, but stopped at the door and talked to Charlie.

Although he didn't understand where Nicolas Flamel was going to take him, facing the other party's words at this moment, he couldn't help but suppress the curiosity in his heart and asked with a smile,

“Is it because I will return your Philosopher's Stone?”

“No…” Nicolas Flamel shook his head, turned around, and reached out to gently tap his forehead. Then, in the other party's elusive eyes, he said softly, “It's because of you yourself, or rather, the knowledge and wisdom in your mind.”

“Wisdom and wisdom…” Charlie's expression revealed a hint of inexplicability. He blinked his eyes, thought for a moment, and shook his head.

“But… I don't understand, you are the best alchemist in the world. At the same time, he is also a top-notch potions master, philosopher, and historian… If it comes to so-called wisdom and knowledge, I think compared to your rich reserves, even ten Charlie Blacks may not be able to reach it.”

“Times are changing, child…” Nicolas Flamel's eyes brought a bit of melancholy, as if he was reminiscing about the long life he had experienced over the years and countless departed former friends. After a daze for about a few seconds, he continued,

“Albus told me that you are the smartest of the young people he has ever seen… I just confirmed it, and he certainly didn't exaggerate.”

He looked at the young man in front of him with relief, like a wise elder, reached out his hand, and gently brushed it over Charlie's head, the strength was gentle, but it also allowed people to calmly put down everything they thought in their hearts.

“Just now, if your answer had not satisfied me, I think I would have owed you a favor and let you leave…”

Charlie's heart moved slightly, his eyes widened a bit, and he looked at Nicolas Flamel in front of him.

He continued,

“And now, I will ask you to give me help. And as a reward, I will transfer the Philosopher's Stone, along with the glory that is enough for the world to remember, to you.”

Finally—as soon as these words came out, Charlie's breathing stagnated, and his pupils suddenly shrank to the size of pinholes.

With a “boom!” sound, in his mind, it was as if something exploded because of this.