After sending his reply, Lucien returned to his usual routine as if nothing extraordinary had happened.
Classes passed quietly.
Students whispered.
Professors observed.
Lucien listened, learned, and moved on.
Lunch in the Great Hall
By lunchtime, Ron was still bragging.
"…and then Harry caught the Snitch like this—"
Lucien sighed softly from the Hufflepuff table.
"…Still at it," he muttered.
He took his seat as Susan and Akeno arrived with plates already prepared for him.
"Here," Akeno said gently, setting his food down.
Susan added, a bit shy, "Y-You skipped breakfast again…"
Lucien smiled warmly.
"Thank you," he said sincerely.
Akeno smiled back.
Susan blushed bright red.
Across the table, Tonks grinned mischievously.
"Oh? Being spoiled again, Lucien?"
Lucien leaned closer, voice low.
"My dear princess," he said smoothly,
"you look cute and adorable when you blush."
Tonks froze.
Her hair shifted color instantly.
Her heart started racing.
"…Y-You—!"
She punched him lightly.
Lucien caught her hand without looking.
Under the table, his fingers intertwined with hers.
Tonks sucked in a breath.
Warm.
Steady.
She didn't pull away.
Instead, she scooted closer, still holding his hand under the table, and calmly began eating with her free hand as if nothing was happening.
No one noticed.
But Tonks did.
And deep down, she knew—
By the end of this year, she would confess.
France – The Flamels Receive the Reply
High above the French countryside, Dragonite descended gently into the Flamels' garden.
Perenelle was the first to notice.
"Oh!" she exclaimed.
"A dragon!"
Nicolas stepped outside just as Dragonite landed, carefully lowering her satchel.
"…How polite," Nicolas said, impressed.
Perenelle immediately approached, smiling brightly.
"You must be tired," she said warmly, offering a bowl of specially prepared dragon food.
Dragonite's eyes lit up.
She ate happily.
Then, without hesitation—
She hugged Perenelle.
Perenelle gasped in delight.
"Oh my—how adorable!"
She hugged Dragonite right back.
"I already love you," she declared firmly.
Nicolas laughed quietly.
Nicolas Reads Lucien's Reply
Once Dragonite took off again, Nicolas opened the letter.
He read it slowly.
Then nodded.
Then smiled.
Not the smile of a master.
But the smile of someone who had found a kindred mind.
"…Honest," Nicolas murmured.
"Careful. Humble."
Perenelle peeked over his shoulder.
"He's precious," she said immediately.
"We are keeping him."
Nicolas chuckled.
"He is not a possession, my dear."
Perenelle waved a hand dismissively.
"Details."
Nicolas folded the letter carefully.
"Yes," he said softly.
"I will teach him."
And far away in Hogwarts, Lucien continued eating calmly—
unaware that he had just been unofficially claimed by a legendary alchemist and his wife.