MTLNOVEL Chapter 178: Charlie, Why Are You Here?
"That room!" David declared, glancing at the card in his hand before pointing toward the yard between the two houses.
"Where?" Jason asked, regaining his composure as he carefully examined the direction David indicated.
The spot David pointed to appeared empty—a simple stretch of lawn.
Oh, right. They can't see it…
"Hold the card," David instructed, handing it to them. Once they grasped it, he muttered a spell. "Now do you see it?"
Jason nodded. "I see it now. It really is a safe house—not just any ordinary place."
"Of course. There aren't many in the world who could locate this room without this card," David said, stepping across the street toward the house.
These safe houses had been established by Newt and Dumbledore—perhaps a tradition dating back to the time of Grindelwald.
As David pushed the door open, a cloud of gray dust erupted, forcing him to take a step back. With a flick of his wand, he summoned a fresh breeze, sweeping the dust away. Once the air settled, he pushed the door open again, revealing a pristine interior.
"Come in," he gestured.
Jason stepped inside, scanning the surroundings curiously. "The decor here is quite modern," he observed, noting the fireplace, chandeliers, a telephone on the desk, and various electrical appliances. "Feels like a Muggle home."
"That's because it was one. The original owner moved out, and my grandfather bought it, transforming it into a safe house," David explained, throwing himself lazily onto the sofa.
Jason explored the space a little longer before settling down beside him. "Alright, but you still haven't told me why we're wanted."
"Just you, actually. I'm not wanted," David replied casually, eyes closed as he rested his head against the sofa. "The image of Allen I've been using—if anyone is wanted, it's him. What Allen does has nothing to do with me, David."
"Why, though?" Jason pressed.
Without opening his eyes, David relayed the entire story.
Jason remained silent for a moment after hearing it, then tentatively suggested, "Why don't we just go directly to the Ministry of Magic? Or are the roads blocked?"
Anna, who had been listening intently, turned to look at David, who suddenly sat up, eyes widening as he stared at the swaying crystal chandelier.
Right!
Why didn't we just go straight to the Ministry of Magic?
David had always dealt with them—paid enough fines to be practically on a first-name basis. Surely, they'd be reasonable.
Had he just been too caught up in trying to look cool?
"Did I say something wrong?" Jason asked cautiously.
David sighed, sitting up properly. "No, you're not wrong. I did consider going to the Ministry of Magic, but I noticed their people stationed along the main routes. I figured if we tried, we'd just lead them right to us."
Anna nodded, finding the reasoning plausible. After all, she was new to London and barely knew her way around, much less the Ministry's movements. Jason had been unconscious the entire time—he certainly wasn't aware of any of this.
Fooling them successfully, David decided to shift the subject. "What do you guys want to eat? I'll go buy it later."
"I'll go," Anna offered, feeling embarrassed that David was doing everything.
David quickly waved her off. "It's not safe for you two to go out right now."
Realizing her mistake, Anna smiled sheepishly and listed a few dishes. "I'll cook once you bring everything back."
"Alright, I won't be long." David stood, heading toward a cabinet in the corner. Inside, he found some paper money—Newt had ensured that each safe house contained both wizarding and Muggle currency for emergencies.
Just as he reached the door, he hesitated, then transformed his appearance into that of Charlie Weasley.
Taller. More secure.
Navigating through several streets, David finally spotted a large supermarket across the road, bustling with people. Just as he prepared to cross, a screeching sound caught his attention.
A magically enhanced vehicle came to a halt before him. The back door opened, and a familiar voice called out in surprise, "Charlie, why are you here?"
Of all the coincidences…
David's expression stiffened as he turned to face Mr. Weasley.
"What's the matter?" Mr. Weasley asked, frowning slightly.
"Nothing…" David forced a grin, scratching his head in what he hoped was a convincing imitation of Charlie's usual demeanor. "Just been a while since I saw you."
Mr. Weasley beamed, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "What are you doing here? When did you return?"
"Mission work," David answered smoothly. "I just dropped by to see if a friend of mine was home—he was raised by Muggles."
Mr. Weasley merely nodded, showing no disdain for the idea, unlike some pure-blood wizards. However, another wizard in the car scoffed at David's words.
"If you have time, you should visit home. It's been a while," Mr. Weasley suggested.
"I will," David promised. "What are you all up to?"
"Ah, almost forgot!" Mr. Weasley turned and pulled a stack of papers from the backseat. "Have you seen these people nearby?"
David glanced at the wanted posters—Jason, Anna, Allen, and an old man's face stared back at him.
So they'd managed to extract images from Muggle memories…
"Seen them?" Mr. Weasley pressed.
David shook his head. "No, not around here."
"Alright, then. Give me a hug before I head off." Mr. Weasley opened his arms.
David leaned in, only for Mr. Weasley to whisper in his ear, "Take your friends and leave. The Ministry is after them, and there's no official reason for it."
David froze. Mr. Weasley had recognized Jason and Anna from their past visits to the dragon farm. He must have deliberately come on this mission to warn them.
By the time David gathered his thoughts, Mr. Weasley had already let go, offered him a quiet wink, and climbed back into the car.
"Let's go check elsewhere," he told the driver.
The car roared away.
Mr. Weasley is a good man.
David hurried to the supermarket, bought the groceries, and rushed home.
Pushing the door open, he transformed back into himself. "I'm back."
Anna took the bag from his hands, nudging him toward the living room. "Go rest—I'll handle this."
David collapsed onto the sofa across from Jason. "Feeling better?"
"Almost." Jason yawned. "Just need a good night's sleep."
David nodded. "We should leave for Devonshire tomorrow. The Ministry's still looking for you, and this place isn't safe for long."
Jason blinked. "Devon?"
"My grandfather has a friend there—he might be able to help us."
With a plan set, they ate, talked, and then retired for the night. Tomorrow, they'd be on the move once again.
The next afternoon, the sun finally broke through the clouds, casting a scorching heat onto the concrete streets below.
"Are you ready?" David asked, adjusting the strap of his bag.
"All set. Let's go," Anna confirmed, stepping forward.
Jason and Anna had both donned black robes—simple, nondescript attire that blended well in the magical world. Many wizards wore them while traveling, though David suspected it had more to do with avoiding the Ministry of Magic's ever-growing list of wanted individuals.
"Then let's move," David said.
Without further delay, the three of them mounted their broomsticks and soared into the sky, heading toward Devonshire.
"Are we there yet?" Jason asked, lifting his hood and squinting at the endless rolling green hills below.
"Almost," David replied, his gaze locked ahead. "We just need to descend here."
As they landed, David rummaged through his leather bag and pulled out a tiny, metallic figurine. The little silver man, no bigger than his finger, stood upright on his palm, stretching its limbs before letting out a high-pitched chuckle.
Anna leaned in, intrigued. "What's that?"
"The key to the door," David said simply.
Powerful wizards had many ways of concealing their homes, and this was one of them.
Following the direction indicated by the tiny figure, they made their way toward a bubbling stream.
"Here we are," David announced.
The little man on his palm suddenly raised a glowing blue finger, drawing shimmering symbols in the air. Slowly, before their eyes, a small courtyard materialized out of thin air.
As they approached the low wooden gate, David spoke softly, "Hello, may we enter?"
Immediately, the two wooden doors detached from the fence, reshaping themselves into miniature wooden figures.
"Oh, it's him again. How boring!" one of them grumbled.
"Yeah, we've been waiting for so long to surprise someone," the other pouted.
Jason and Anna stared, wide-eyed.
David smirked. The first time he had visited, he had made the mistake of leaning on the gate, only to have the wooden figures suddenly transform and startle him. He wouldn't fall for it again.
"Is Mr. Nicolas Flamel home?" he asked.
The tiny wooden figures dropped their exaggerated expressions and nodded. "The master is inside. He said guests may enter freely, though he can't come out to greet you. Apologies for the inconvenience."
David felt a slight unease settle in his chest. He knew that last year, Dumbledore had destroyed the Philosopher's Stone. The loss must have taken a toll on Nicolas Flamel.
Wasting no time, they crossed the path leading to the house. The door was left slightly ajar. David knocked softly, waiting for a response.
After a few moments, a faint voice drifted through.
"Please, come in."
Inside, the house had a warm, cozy atmosphere. To the right, an elderly couple sat together on a plush sofa, each engrossed in a thick book. Their white hair glowed under the dim light, and they leaned comfortably against each other, a picture of timeless companionship.
David stepped forward and greeted them respectfully. "Mr. Flamel, Madam."
Nicolas looked up, his eyes clouded with age but still holding a spark of wisdom. He set his book aside and leaned slightly forward. "Oh, forgive me. Who might you be?"
David lowered his head in respect. "David Scamander, sir. Newt's grandson. I used to visit when I was a child."
Nicolas tilted his head, searching his memory, then suddenly smiled. "Ah! The little fellow who wanted to be a Transformer!"
David flushed slightly as Perenelle, Nicolas' wife, chuckled softly.
He had almost forgotten about that. The last time he had visited with Newt, he had been fascinated by the moving figurines and had asked Nicolas if he could build him a Transformer. But the legendary alchemist had never seen a cartoon before, and after David's enthusiastic explanation, he had simply said, "I'll see what I can do."
David quickly cleared his throat. "I wanted to check in on you, sir. To see how you're doing."
Nicolas raised a skeptical brow. "Lying to an old man, are we?"
David hesitated.
"Come now, out with it," Nicolas said gently. "I may not be in the best shape, but I can still lend a hand."
David sighed and relayed everything—Newt's possible capture, the mention of France, and their growing uncertainty about what to do next.
Nicolas was silent for a moment, deep in thought. Then, as he tried to stand, his body wavered slightly.
David quickly stepped forward, gripping his arm to steady him.
His touch met nothing but fragile bone beneath the old wizard's robes.
"The cost of using the Philosopher's Stone," Nicolas murmured with a knowing smile. "Living too long has its consequences."
David swallowed hard. He had known that losing the Stone would affect Nicolas, but seeing the toll it had taken on him was sobering.
Slowly, Nicolas led them toward the corner of the room, where a large crystal ball rested atop an ornate pedestal.
"Help me sit," he instructed.
David obliged, guiding him into a chair. Nicolas lifted his frail hands and gently caressed the crystal's surface.
Almost instantly, white mist swirled within the glass orb, twisting and turning like a living thing.
Then, gradually, an image began to take shape.
Newt Scamander's figure emerged—hazy at first, but slowly becoming clearer.
David's breath caught in his throat.
They had found him.