The old man panted for a while after speaking a few words, and a slight humming sound came from his nose.

"You don't look very well, but you still come to join in the fun?" Felix cast an admiring glance at him.

"I live nearby, otherwise I wouldn't come, I can't stand the torture of Apparition."

The old man waved his hand, and his arm made a crisp "click" sound.

Felix suddenly felt a little sour, he grinned, and subconsciously stretched his arms.

There was a noise in the distance, and an irritable wizard launched fireworks into the hotel, and his behavior attracted a lot of imitation.

Both of them showed interested expressions.

"It's very interesting, isn't it?" The old man said happily.

"Indeed, I like the pattern of that thunderbird." Felix said, "I guess he may be from the Thunderbird Academy in Ilvermorny."

The old man's eyes followed the firework that looked very much like an eagle, and he said with some emotion: "I have rarely been out in the outside world in recent years, but now I want to go out and see more."

"There are always a lot of new things outside."

The old man agreed at first, then shook his head and said: "Although people are different, what happens is always similar."

Felix said: "Really? I think that everything I experience is unique."

The old man laughed heartily twice, "The youthful vigor unique to young people-used to defining the world with their own eyes. But I am old, and I prefer to use various rules as a link to embed myself into a position in the world."

"Rules?"

"In fact, they are some self-restraint principles. After experiencing some people and some things, you tell yourself what you can or cannot do, and then strictly abide by them. It's a bit like signing a magic contract, but the object is your future self."

"What's the point of this?" Felix asked.

"I'm not sure." The old man replied, "But at least it keeps me in a good mood."

"By limiting myself?"

"This is the philosophy of survival I have gained through my long life." The old man said.

Felix did not agree with this approach. He hated being restricted and constrained, especially self-limitation.

The old man trembled and searched his pockets. After about half a minute, he finally found a copper pocket watch.

"Click." The pocket watch popped open, with a dial on one side and a photo on the other.

The photo showed a young couple.

The old man murmured, "Her name is Perenelle, my wife. We met when we were studying at Beauxbatons. She is a good girl, three years older than me. I still remember the scene when I first saw her. In a sea of ​​flowers, I saw her at a glance..."

Felix blinked, "It can be seen that your marriage is very happy."

"Yes, yes..." His voice was barely audible.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The fireworks activity in the distance had been stopped by the Ministry of Magic staff.

"Do you think they will come to a conclusion?" Felix changed the subject.

"To be honest, I think it's difficult. I've dealt with these people... The American magic community has suffered a lot from the Statute of Secrecy and will not compromise easily." The old man said, "They are very stubborn in this regard."

Felix said optimistically, "There will always be someone who will force them to change their minds. If not this time, there will be next time. Their opponents are still young."

"That makes sense. These little guys have a natural advantage."

...

"I'm leaving."

After a while, the old man said, and before leaving, he gave Felix a small gift.

"Is this... a spyglass?"

"Yes, it's a very interesting little thing. I've sent out a lot of gifts these days. It may be related to my limited time." The old man said with a smile. "

There are ways for wizards to live longer. I know a witch who should be one hundred and twenty or thirty years old, and she is still very strong." Felix comforted the old man.

He was referring to Professor Griselda Marchbank of the Wizard Examination Bureau, who had supervised Dumbledore's NEWTs exams.

The old man smiled, "Maybe not for me... It's nice to chat with you, Felix Hep."

"You know me?" Felix looked at him in surprise.

"Ha, a friend of mine recommended your book, it's very interesting, the magic world needs a pair of eyes looking out."

The old man waved his hand and left tremblingly.

...

Felix returned to the hotel. The originally shabby auditorium and the burn marks had all disappeared, and the hotel was intact, as if the attack had not happened at all.

He saw a Muggle research expert staring at the statue in front of the hotel in a trance - its head had been smashed before.

Felix was not embarrassed by the staff and successfully found the French Auror Maxwell - he was like a door god at the moment, guarding outside the auditorium, and there were three other French Aurors performing their duties with him.

"Are they still talking inside?"

"It should be said that they are still arguing." Maxwell said.

"It's quite quiet."

"Wait a minute," he said very experiencedly, "Three, two, one, here we come!"

An exaggerated roar came from the auditorium, "Marcus! As the chairman of the American Magic Congress, shouldn't you be responsible for the actions of your subordinates! Look at the bad things you have done! I am ashamed of you!"

"See, am I right?" Maxwell gave Felix a delighted look. "I love the minister to death. He has been scolding that American for half an hour."

Felix looked at him speechlessly.

After joking, Maxwell talked about business, "The meeting was cancelled. Everyone else in the hotel was notified to leave. This will be used as a temporary meeting place to discuss a series of current troubles."

"Does that mean I have to pack up and leave?"

"No, no, it's your colleague. She left first and asked me to tell you." He blinked, "Lucky guy, you have gained the friendship of both the French and American magic circles. Although the latter is useless... but at least, no one can drive you away. You can even ask to listen to the entire negotiation process."

Felix guessed that Celeste definitely didn't tell him that he snooped into her memory, but even if he did, it wouldn't hurt him, he had too many reasons to defend himself.

On the surface, he was the hero who stopped the attack and prevented things from sliding into an irreversible direction. He also saved the life of a student who was studying at Ilvermorny. From this perspective, everyone from the President of the Magical Congress of the United States to the Headmaster of Ilvermorny should be grateful to him. The

same was true for the French Ministry of Magic. Felix was originally one of the unlucky people who were invited to the meeting but unfortunately attacked, but he turned the tide with his own strength. He really couldn't ask for more.

"Forget it." Felix refused outright. He was not interested in it. It was very chaotic inside, and he felt a little sympathetic to Dumbledore.

"What about those students?"

"They are being watched by two professors from Ilvermorny."

...

Felix didn't want to stay any longer. If he had to wait until the specific results came out, it would be a long time, and maybe the whole summer vacation might not be over. He was going to go back to his room to get his things and leave. He still had a lot of things to do at Hogwarts.

But just as he was cleaning the room, he suddenly thought of something.

"What is it?"

He recalled quickly, and today's experience started from 'this moment' and went backwards, from the conversation with Maxwell, to the Muggle research expert in front of the statue, to the encounter with an interesting old man...

"Perenal, I seem to have seen this name somewhere."

Felix thought, "No, that's not the point. The name is very common, but I feel something strange."

He lay on the bed and looked at the ceiling. The scene of the conversation with the old man kept playing in the thinking room.

After a while, he suddenly sat up and said in an uncertain tone: "Niccolò Flamel?"