Chapter 77.1- Doom Days

“What if I say no?” I asked instantly. He tilted his head at me.

“I would wonder what I have asked you to get such an answer”

“Are we going to keep dancing around it? Telling me about the Stone, making me kill Russo when you so clearly could have done it yourself, telling me all this now. You want me to be your apprentice” I said.

“And like I said, I wonder what I would have asked to get such an answer. Because the question I am asking only has one answer, Mr. Potter” He said, sounding so confident that part of me wanted to refuse him just because.

“No one ever says no to becoming an apprentice to the legendary Nicholas Flamel?” I asked with my most acerbic tone, trying to fit in as much sarcasm in my voice as I could.

“No. No one ever does. That is because no matter how special, all my apprentices but one have come to me rather than the other way around”

“And I should feel special because I am the second?”

“You should feel special because I am even speaking to you in the first place. Mr Potter, I don’t think you can even begin to understand just who and what I am. My wife and I have lived for millennia. We saw the fall of Rome as well as its peak. We saw the formation of Britain, the discovery of the Americas, the Dark Continent, everything. We have forgotten more about magic than you will ever be able to even dream of learning. With the knowledge in my fingertips, I could solve every problem that has ever plagued your fledgling existence. I am Nicholas Flamel. The Immortal. I was here at the birth and I will be here after the death. To refuse to learn at my feet would be foolishness of the highest order. Men ten times your better have, and will kill for the whisper of the chance at the offer you so carelessly question.” He said, and while I felt he was doing quite a bit of grandstanding, who was I to judge. It wasn’t like I was well known for my humility.

“Fair enough. Well, I didn’t say no. Just asked what would happen if I did” I said, trying to diffuse some of the tension.

“Indeed” He said, and then the tome in his lap closed itself before flying into a trunk up to the side.

“You should be packing Nicholas, must I remind of the smallest things a dozen times—“ I heard her voice before I saw her as her steps sounded down the hallway. Nicholas for his part just winked at me before she rounded the corner and I got a good look at her. A damn good look. I closed my eyes and covered them with my hands for good measure.