~Flamel's estate.
Lucifer threw himself into learning, following the reading list Nicolas had given him to re-learn alchemy from the ground up. Even though.... the first few books were the most basic introductory texts, he still read them with complete seriousness, without the slightest hint of contempt.
After just a few hours, when Flamel tested him, the old man was surprised at Lucifer's progress.
Worried that he might have skimmed over such "shallow" material without truly understanding it, Flamel's test was thorough and exhaustive, the questioning lasted a full hour.
Only then did the old alchemist conclude that Lucifer had read all ten books carefully. His perception of boy's learning ability shifted yet again, and he grew even fonder of his last apprentice. 'An obedient, intelligent student who didn't let talent breed arrogance, what teacher wouldn't like that? '
As for morals and ideology, such things meant little to someone who had lived over six centuries. Flamel didn't care what Lucifer would do with the knowledge; all that mattered was that his legacy of the Stone would endure.
.......
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. While staying at Valentine's residence, he had also visited Flamel' a couple of times, specifically when he was told to pay a visit.
'Re-learning' alchemy in a structured way under Flamel's careful guidance, Lucifer realized just how wild his previous methods had been. Tasks that should have taken three parts effort had taken him ten even fifteen, before.
Without proper technique and experience, all he had relied on was talent and brute magical force.
Not just the Philosopher's stone to make the bestest remedy particular to those witches, Lucifer had somehow gotten the man to answer a few questions of his own, several ways to improve his enchanted bracelets, saving on materials while enhancing their effects, tightening the bond between "artifact and owner", and making them automatically return to their wielder without even a conscious summons if knocked away.
He could even integrate multiple defensive spells, such as Shield Charm and cushioning enchantments.
But he made only a few of these before stopping. Why give the Ministry such good gear? If he didn't hold back for future upgrades, how would he keep making money... or control an "arms market" to counter the Ministry? Besides, they were his possible future's investment and 'way to slack off after Hogwarts!'
"I'll have two chilled soups and two garlic breadsticks."
At the long table, Lucifer finally set aside his book after holding that posture for over an hour meditating, stretching his stiff muscles.
He didn't have to wait long before a small trolley glided into the library. There was no house-elf pushing, it moved entirely on its own.
The trolley stopped, plates and bowls on top sprouted legs, obediently walking over to arrange themselves neatly before him. Yes, Nicolas Flamel really was 'his level' of eccentric...
Not just in his vacation villa, but throughout the massive palace, most objects were alchemical creations. Lucifer wore a new ring on his hand, Flamel's "master control."
With it, he could summon meals from the kitchen, have washroom prepare a bath, set opera house to queue music, tell tea room to steep strong tea, order laundry, prepare ingredients---all remotely with a thought. After finishing his late brunch, he found Flamel in Sunroom, basking in the light.
The Sunroom was a chamber walled entirely in enchanted glass, capable of showing different landscapes. Today it displayed a sunset over endless wheat fields, looking remarkably like a scene from 'magical virtual reality!'
"This is my latest work. Please take a look." Lucifer placed his newest 'anti-disarming' bracelet on the side table. Flamel picked it up, examining it closely, then put on a pair of magnifying spectacles to study the magical engravings within.
Five minutes later, the old man gave a small nod, clearly pleased with Lucifer's recent progress, "Compared to a few days ago, the difference is like heaven and earth...."
Nicolas Flamel wasn't mocking him---he meant it. In the outside world, Lucifer's current level really would place him among the elite, standing at very tip of the pyramid.
But just how far was the tip of the pyramid.
In alchemy... Nicolas was the 'sky.'
"Don't always compare yourself to me," Flamel said casually, "When I was twelve, I was worse than useless compared to you. And how long have you even been studying? Reaching my level is only a matter of time and of how much effort you're willing to invest..."
Lucifer was a true polygamy supporter, and curse of that was figuring out how to divide one's talents. Dumbledore had faced the same problem in his youth, eventually pouring most of his gifts into... traditional magic rather than potions or alchemy, something Nicolas still regretted to this day.
His potential was even more outrageous than Dumbledore's back then. He didn't even have to specialize fully to have a real shot at catching up to Nicolas in Philosopher's Stone brewing, and tinkering with magical objects to move on their own.
'As for surpassing me?' To be honest, even Nicolas himself couldn't see what lay beyond his current mastery... so he couldn't imagine how Lucifer might exceed it.
"You can put the bracelet research aside," Nicolas advised. "Digging deeper will only reveal it to be an ordinary object.... Try broadening your horizons. If you need materials we don't have here, tell Parker--he'll get them for you."
Not wishing to disturb the old man's rest, Lucifer turned and left the sunroom. Back in his bedroom, he swapped his clothes for a sharp three-piece suit and added a bow tie before leaving the manor.
He wasn't dressed up for a date, he was meeting a walking "Dead man" who would be arriving today.
xxxxxx
Back at Nicolas Flamel's manor, Lucifer finally received the magical notebook he'd been eyeing for a long time and began studying it.
Nicolas had used this very notebook to communicate with Eulalie Hicks across the ocean, one of the few real time long distance communication methods in Wizarding world.
But it wasn't without flaws. Nicolas had first intended to contact Dumbledore, but when he couldn't find him, he'd reluctantly turned to Hicks.
After two days of research, Lucifer finally understood how it worked.
Each page was essentially a magical frame. When a contact stepped into the designated spot, they would appear in the frame like a "living portrait." If Nicolas opened his notebook, he too would appear in the other person's frame, allowing them to converse as though standing 'face-to-face' in a painting.
But if the person wasn't standing in their frame, there was no way to reach them. When Lucifer asked Nicolas for details of its creation, he realized the flaws were significant.
The materials alone were extravagant, Nicolas was wealthy beyond measure and had never once considered 'cost!'
More importantly, the system was limited: Nicolas's notebook was the "main unit," and the other frames were "secondary units."
The main unit could contact any secondary and vice versa, but secondary could not contact each other. Still, the magical signal, conversion process inspired Lucifer greatly.
Nicolas, upon hearing his ideas, even offered suggestions, giving several valuable insights. However, what truly downpoured his mood was that it's creation was based on years of time requirement for the magic to properly subdue and showcase it's principle in contacting others.
Lucifer considered making the device in Hell itself, leaving it there, but Flamel's notebook needed this very world sentient magic to be absorbed for more than a decade.
xxxxxxx
As August drew to a close, Lucifer settled into a steady routine: two and a half days of making contracts in the 'fallen' Europe, and remaining half-day spent taking Darcy out to relax.
They couldn't travel far, but together they explored nearly every corner of Paris's magical district.
He even visited France's equivalent of Diagon Alley---'Montmartre Hidden Square'---a bustling, expansive marketplace nearly twice the size of it, with dazzling shops and magical goods of every kind.
It was then he truly realized.
"Merlin's beard, Britain really was a backwater."
Without Dumbledore holding up the country's reputation, it would have long since slipped into being a second-rate magical nation.
Time flew. Before he knew it, August was ending and Hogwarts term was just days away. On his last day in France, Lucifer arrived at the Valentine home, gifts in hand.
Darcy's mood was subdued, and her cute sister Alex's was no better. Both knew he would be leaving soon, and neither was happy about it.
"It's not like we can't stay in touch after I'm gone. No need to be so gloomy."
The older girl countered, "Writing letters is a 'hassle'. It takes two or three days to get a reply---it's far too slow!'"
Alexandra bobbed her head vigorously.
"Exactly! And I still don't know how to write a lot of words. I always have to ask big sister for help."
"Then you'd better start learning," Lucifer said, tapping the little girl's forehead, "When I was a kid, I already knew English, French, and German."
"It's all big sister's fault!" Alex declared, entirely serious, "She stole all my cleverness. That's why I'm this slow."
Both Lucifer and Darcy couldn't help but laugh. So, according to naughty Valentine, the sisters' combined intelligence was fixed---if their mother had another child, would that one be doomed to drooling and babbling?
The little one's innocent words scattered the heavy mood of parting. Lucifer then placed his gifts before Darcy and Alexandra.
"What's this?" The former asked curiously.
A green-covered notebook lay before her, its cover marked with a chat bubble emblem containing a 'tiny phone'. "This," Lucifer said with a mysterious smile, "is something you can call... WhatsApp."
"WhatsApp?"
Darcy repeated the name, puzzled. She still couldn't figure out what it meant. Alex, however, was already curious enough to flip open the notebook.
The first page was a form. It asked for basic information: nickname, gender, age, date of birth, and residential address. In the upper-right corner, there was a rectangular box, obviously meant for a photo.
Alexandra could understand the form just fine. Her little head bobbed as she scanned it. Finally, she found a quill on the side and picked it up, earnestly filling in each field. When she was done, she looked up at him expectantly.
"Big brother, take my picture!"
"No need to go through all that trouble," Lucifer smiled and tapped her cheek lightly with his wand, then tapped the notebook.
In an instant, adorable face of the young girl appeared in photo box, perfectly framed.
"Would you like help too?" Lucifer turned to Miss Valentine. Blushing slightly, the older girl nodded. She hadn't quite caught what spell he had used.
Once both sisters had completed their entries, a strange linear text appeared at the bottom of first page. The girls blinked, confused, then looked up at Lucifer together.
They still had no idea how this thing called "WhatsApp" was supposed to be used. "Don't be impatient," Lucifer chided with a mischievous glint in his eye, "There's one last step. I call it... 'Link-up."
"Link-up?" Darcy's cheeks flushed an even deeper red. Alex didn't think twice, however. She scrambled up onto Lucifer's lap and pressed her cheek affectionately against his with a playful, "You mean like 'Hook-up?!!"
"Hooking up with big brother! fufu!~"
"That's not the kind of Link-up I meant..." Lucifer chuckled, though he clearly enjoyed the gesture. He gave her a little nuzzle in return before gently setting her back down.
Then, he picked up his notebook and aligned it with Alexandra's. As the two notebooks touched, they emitted a soft glow that shimmered for just a moment before fading away.
Darcy, who had been anxiously overthinking what Lucifer had meant, finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
So that's not what he meant...
It wasn't that she wasn't 'willing--on the contrary---but with Alexandra still here, she couldn't possibly set a bad example. At the very least, it had to be when "no one else" was around!
Lucifer opened both notebooks. On the second page of his own, Alex's profile picture had appeared. With a light tap, it flipped automatically to third page. He picked up a quill and wrote:
"Alexandra aka 'Annabelle' is the most adorable girl in the world."
At that moment, the girl's notebook glowed-specifically, Lucifer's profile picture shimmered on her screen. Darcy had a hunch about what was happening and quickly turned to the third page.
Sure enough, his message appeared on Alex's notebook in the exact same handwriting.
"It really works!" Miss Valentine purred, her face glowing with excitement. She picked up both notebooks and inspected them from every angle, "Lucifer, does this mean even if you go back to Britain, it will still work?"
"Not just Britain," he said with confidence, "Even if I go to Mariana's Trench next time, there won't be any problems."
He had a good reason to be certain. The method he'd used to transfer messages was based on the "Spatial Magic" and communication logbook created by Nicolas Flamel himself.
Distance 'posed no obstacle!'
....Alexandra (whose name would be drafted as Annabelle in Beauxbatons) was overjoyed as well--not just because of the magic, but because Lucifer had written that she was the most adorable girl in the world. Gleefully, she picked up her quill and scribbled:
"Lucifer is the tallest and best big brother in whole world!"
The identical handwriting appeared instantly on Lucifer's notebook. The two messages aligned automatically on the page, one per side, each followed by a miniature profile picture of the sender. It was very clear who had written what.
"With this," he grinned at Darcy, "no more worrying about the cost or hassle of sending messages, right?"
Her cheeks turned an even brighter shade of red. She grabbed both his hands in hers, her voice trembling with excitement, "L-Lucifer, do you realize what you've done? You've changed the world! With this WhatsApp notebook, owl-post will become history! Owls will only be used for 'parcel delivery!"
Lucifer smiled softly and gently intertwined his fingers with hers, "Of course I realize it. But this is still just a prototype made by my own spells. While it's already practical, there are still plenty of flaws... First, I won't be making more of these, proper ones needed years to be alchemised."
"Second off, cost. Just to make two of these notebooks, I had to use quite a lot of a friend's rare materials. It requires... incredibly stable magical storage and display enchantments. Otherwise, the messages would show up garbled or distorted...."
"Third, labor. How many of these can I make by myself in a day? Even if I wanted to teach someone else, very few people here would be able to learn the process."
Darcy's excitement reduced down a little. She understood. This was why so many magical artifacts couldn't be mass-produced. It was virtually impossible to industrialize such things.
Even with alchemy, every magical engraving contained a wizard's personal understanding of magic.
"No... This 'WhatsApp notebook' is too precious." She stared at the device, suddenly feeling like it was burning hot in her hands, "We should just use owl-post.... This kind of treasure should be reserved for people who are more... 'important to you."
"For ordinary chat, time isn't that big of an issue."
"What are you talking about?" Lucifer was taken aback by her response, "The entire reason I created the WhatsApp notebook was to stay in touch with you and Alex. If you don't want it anymore, then where am I supposed to find another pair of 'half-Veela sisters'?"
"You're awful, big brother!"
Alexandra's mood flipped instantly. One moment she had declared Lucifer the best brother in the world; the next, her pout could've hung a kettle. Her tiny lips were pressed out so far they were practically trembling.
The older Valentine felt a complicated wave of 'emotions--touched', but also annoyed. She gave him a sharp pinch on the arm. (Knowing very quite well another pair of Veela sisters - The Delacours...)
Even had lost count of how many times she had done this recently. This infuriating boy... always had a way of stirring up her emotions. One moment she liked him so much it hurt; the next, he had her fuming with rage.
"Okay, okay! I surrender!" Lucifer yelped playfully, "When I get back, I'll invent a spell or potion that blocks ticklishness.... How can someone as perfect as me have a 'weakness' like that? If you really don't want the notebook," he added with a grin, "let Alex keep one. I'll message her every day. You and I... we can chat once every 'three days'."
"Who said I don't want it anymore?" Darcy huffed. She picked up her notebook, ready to press it against Lucifer's to finalize the link. But he moved faster, lifting his own notebook just out of reach.
"What are you doing?" she asked, confused.
Lucifer raised an eyebrow, grinning like a devil, "Alex already did Link-up, remember? You, as her big sister, aren't thinking of cutting corners, are you?"
Darcy instantly understood what he meant. Her face flushed hot as fire-part embarrassment, part fury. But seeing his playful expression and knowing he wouldn't give up unless she gave in, she bit her lower lip and finally relented.
She gently embraced Lucifer, rubbing her cheek against his like a kitten.
"'Link-up' complete."
That, of course, was Alexandra's cue to pounce. The little girl playfully covered her eyes with her hands, but the gap between her fingers was wide enough for her big eyes to peek through completely.
"Big sister is being naughty~"
"Alexandra!"
"Ahh! Big brother, help! Sister's about to transform!"
"If you keep spouting nonsense," Darcy retorted, "we're half-bloods, we don't 'transform! You have been hanging out too much with Gabrielle."
As laughter echoed through the Valentine household, Hermione spat a mouthful of dirty water she had poured to rinse her mouth after spending last five brushing.
She felt she was in a bad mood for no good reason, "It must be that arsehole, trying to cheat on me...."
xxxxxx
A couple of days later, Lucifer had received another video call from Hermione about Harry getting into some legal trouble with the Ministry, but he didn't figure anything would come about it.
Harry was a famous Wizard, the Ministry wouldn't do anything.
.....Lucifer also received his book list which was as expected, included Grade 2 materials, but he had already made the purchase up to fourth, in their first year. Even learned many advanced spells with Hermione, during Professor Binn's trash lectures.
It's just one thing he found this weird man from last year's Daily prophet, named Gilderoy Lockhart, he directly changed all the Defense against the Dark Arts, second year books, very perverted.
'Break with a Banshee,
Gadding with Ghouls,
Holidays with Hags?
Travels with Trolls,
Voyages with Vampires,
Wanderings with Werewolves,
Year with the Yeti----?!~'
And the contents.... 'was he writing isekai'd self-incarnated fantasy novels?'
Not up to par.....
Hermione also ridiculed him for two hours straight, making Lucifer just feel quite bored, first he thought, maybe it's just one or two books?
Only, now Lucifer didn't know if should he even bother to purchase them? Knowing her outbursts, she'll most likely create a riot, if he did.
The only class text he didn't replace was the standard required reading for the grade: 'The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2' by Miranda Goshawk.
But with DADA's position open with Quirrell's demise, Lockhart even might be the new Professor.
"..." Lucifer, this shit just turned even worse, he decided right instant, for making sure Hermione didn't curse this new Professor, and got expelled.
It seems like another useless wizard had shown up again, he would have liked to cough blood on the spot, if that was even possible.
She also mentioned visiting Diagon Alley, on the coming Wednesday.
Which was great because Lucifer hadn't seen Hermione, well in a first level experience, since the end of.... It was already two months or he just missed her touch....
But he wasn't ready to accept this fact one bit, he didn't miss Hermione's bone-crushing hugs at all. Besides he didn't even dare to tell her about his Summer homework which he made changes later on.
'Hey, at least I am a couple of inches taller now!' Indeed, Lucifer noticed his body getting much stronger than last year, unrivalled destructive force just coursing through his veins.
xxxxxx
Wednesday,
Lucifer was aimlessly walking around the Diagon Alley. It was mid-Morning and Hermione didn't say when she'd be arriving at Diagon Alley, just that it would be Wednesday morning.
"Lucifer!"
"Hermione? Ah, long time no see."
"Lucifer, it's me, how was your holiday?" The girl looked over as though, she didn't even recognize the voice, as did Harry and the Weasley's, only when she saw her caller's face....
"Lucifer!" Hermione directly ran over, with her legs, moving as fast as they could, and stopped in front of him, "I-Is it alright if I hug you? I remember that every other time I did last year at Hogwarts, you tensed up, so I thought I'd ask this tim---"
"Of course, Hermione," Lucifer cut her mid-off, but it was everything she needed to hear and wrapped her arms possessively around him in an instant, with Lucifer doing the same.
It took her slightly.....
"I really missed touching you while you were away, even after using that Christmas present!"
"I just can't wait to be back at Hogwarts, learning new things!"
"Also, you were so secretive visiting past America, I thought you were being 'fishy..."
"Is this just my illusion, or your voice really get deeper? I couldn't even separate it from the mir----"
She just didn't seem to be closing her mouth, even talking to who knows at this point, not giving Lucifer a single chance to respond.
So many damn questions?!
"...Hey, hey don't forget to breathe, okay?!"
"Right, I was just asking, whether you learned anything useful from 'Nicolas Flamel, if not...."
Hermione's eyes turned very cold, deliberately pausing while staring at this trouble maker Lucifer's face, from above, even though she had to turn her nose, upwards to get a perfect look, 'When did he become this huge?!' She felt quite inferior now.
"Wow, now that I see it, Lucifer, you've gotten so pale... Merlin, you are beautiful... 'Mmmph, smell nice too, I mean it..."
Whatever quiet tension lingered in the air was shattered by her unfiltered exclamation. The silly, sweet girl blinking in awe, as her lips hovered over his bobbling apple at Lucifer's neck.... "Hehe..." 'Chuu~!'
She gave it a feather kiss without even notice, then sucking that particular spot for a second while she was at it, before snapping out.
Lucifer made her favourite groaning noise, when pink tongue was involved over the entire greeting, but quite used to and familiar with her handsy nature.
Especially from 'night onwards', when he told her the Story of Eden, the night she couldn't sleep cause her brain wasn't turning off.
After sneaking in the bed, she'd gotten quite a thrill under her parents nose, and her bed time sleepy visits became a casual norm.
Through the two-way mirror Hermione hadn't seen him properly, but now seeing his skin up close, her jaw dropped in pure envy.
Even under the afternoon sky, Lucifer's complexion seemed to glow faintly. He was radiant. And unfairly enough, it made Hermione feel as though he, not she, was the prettier one.
"These days I haven't gone out into the sun," Lucifer explained lightly, ruffling her soft hair. He dared not mention the real reason, knowing this girl, she might try to call down lightning on herself just to 'keep up.'
Hermione's eyes darted mischievously, as she stated with conviction, "Then this month, I'm not leaving the castle at all."
"Alright, alright," Lucifer chuckled, humoring her, "Whatever you say. Come on, let's get moving."
He led her toward the Wizarding bank, laughing and exchanging soft words with Hermione along the way.
Lucifer had promised her that once he returned from France, he would spend those days before the term began with her. But here he was, showing up only on the day before leaving for Hogwarts.
He knew he was in the wrong. He hadn't kept his word.
But Hermione wasn't truly angry. She didn't want a fight, she wanted to see if he would acknowledge it, coax her just a little. Once he does, she will relent, letting him off the hook.
Some girls demanded endlessly once they knew they were in the right.
They pressed and pressed until the boy yielded completely. But Hermione was different. She was clever. Even her little sulks had reason behind them, carefully measured. With her rational, science-trained mind, she understood just how precious Lucifer's time with Nicolas Flamel had been.
How could she begrudge him that?
"W-what's with the face?"
After Hermione's expression became quite scary, Lucifer directly spilled the beans, it's just her face was even much weirder now, tried best not to laugh at her.
"A seven year old?! Have you lost your marbles? No, maybe wait, it's just like an idiotic sister, right? That's not a big issue, it's not that she can 'marry you' or something... but still...." Hermione said, her tone was quite dismayed, even frowning those cheeks of hers, something still didn't sit right.
"I'm sorry, Hermione..." Lucifer didn't know, why she just turned sad all together?
"Don't be, I heard from Mum, good boys such as you... like older girls who are both cute and dignified mature," She smiled gently while nodding her face up and down, removing that incident from her mind....
"Okay... did you say my voice got deeper?"
"Yeah, It was quite normal in the mirror...."
"I wonder why that is..."
"Even became more commanding, just like I saw in the dream..."
"Pervert..."
"Hey! Do you want to be smacked again?!"
1 Extra Chapter - 150 Power Stone's!
___________
Author's Note
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