Chapter 819 - 820

"Is this a new vestige?" Evan asked curiously.

"It's the Sun vestige, said to be left behind by Ramesses II," Bill explained. "Do you know about Ramesses II?"

"Well, he's the most renowned pharaoh in Egyptian history, a legendary figure who played a crucial role in Egypt's prosperity," Hermione quickly added. "I've come across a lot of information about him in various books. He conquered many countries..."

"Yes, this great pharaoh accomplished remarkable feats. Currently, over 50% of the existing temples and vestiges in Egypt are related to him. We've been trying to uncover the secrets he left behind," Bill continued. "Recently, an explorer's team discovered the Sun vestige in the ruins of Bayle Ramesses, a city northeast of Cairo. Inside, there's important information about this pharaoh. Gringotts has taken charge of it, but many wizards are flocking to Egypt, eager to explore that vestige."

"Bayle Ramesses?" Evan repeated.

"Yes, it's an ancient Egyptian city built by Ramesses II, often referred to as Ramesses's hometown," Bill explained. "It was discovered 20 years ago, and excavation work has been ongoing. We've found valuable temples within."

"Why do these wizards want to enter the Sun vestige? What are they searching for?" Hermione inquired.

"They might be taking a risk, hoping to find something valuable. It's a common phenomenon in the Egyptian magical community," Bill replied. "Every time a new vestige is discovered, it attracts opportunists looking to make a quick profit. Money is their main motivation."

"Doesn't the Egyptian Ministry of Magic oversee this? Don't they regulate who enters these vestiges?" Hermione asked.

"It's different from us. The Egyptian Ministry of Magic doesn't oppose these activities, nor do they have the capacity to regulate them. Egypt has an overwhelming number of vestiges, with over a thousand already unearthed," Bill explained, shrugging. "The Ministry's resources are limited, and they can't provide adequate protection. Robbers often run rampant, which is why we cooperate with Gringotts. As long as you register with the Egyptian Ministry of Magic as a legitimate explorer, you can excavate the vestiges. However, anything you discover must be turned over to the country, and the Ministry provides compensation. Smuggling is strictly prohibited, and if caught, it's a serious offense."

"Being an explorer sounds interesting," Evan remarked.

"In reality, it's quite dangerous. Many wizards who enter these vestiges lack the training to deal with curses, and they often lack the necessary equipment. People die every year. But if you do find something valuable, the rewards can be substantial... much like this situation," Bill said, looking around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. He leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "This is secret information, though. I shouldn't be telling you this."

"Secret information?" Both Evan and Hermione leaned in.

"Yes," Bill whispered, "I've learned from a colleague that, according to reliable historical records, the Sun vestige is said to contain a long-lost ancient Egyptian soul book called the 'Book of the Living,' which holds the secret to eternal life."

"The 'Book of the Living' and eternal life!" Hermione became visibly excited, her interest piqued.

Evan sighed. "Eternal life... Can't these powerful ancient masters aim for something higher?"

He knew all too well how enticing the prospect of eternal life was to wizards. If word got out, many would be eager, if not obsessed, with obtaining it.

"In my opinion, this might not be real. There's no guarantee that the vestige contains the 'Book of the Living,' or if it does, that the book possesses the incredible power it's rumored to have. After all, if Ramesses II had such a book, why did he die?" Evan questioned.

"Who knows? Perhaps he wanted to explore the world of the dead, or maybe he sought a different form of existence because the book had limitations," Bill speculated. "Evan, don't underestimate Egyptian magic. Wait until I take you to the Pyramids and those tomb chambers in a few days. You'll see that ancient Egyptian magic is mysterious and possesses unique powers."

Evan nodded hesitantly. He knew what the "Book of the Living" meant. It was akin to the "Book of Abraham" he possessed—a legendary magical artifact. It was said to contain the secrets of immortality and the ability to unravel all curses, harnessing the power of the sun. This book had made Ramesses II one of the greatest pharaohs in history.

Its counterpart, the "Book of the Dead," could bring the dead back to life. Although it lacked the allure of the "Book of the Living," the "Book of the Dead" was filled with incantations and ancient magic, engraved on the walls of tomb chambers, sealed within coffins, or inscribed on the walls of fine stone halls. Though incomplete, later generations of wizards had improved upon it, leading to the development of dark magic capable of controlling souls, a branch of magic shrouded in malevolence.

These magics offered the potential to bring the dead back to life, but at an enormous cost. Evan had never heard of anyone succeeding in these endeavors. Even if they did, the control over souls and the curse's strength made it a terrifying prospect.

"If you're interested, I can arrange for you to visit the Sun vestige in a few days, but you'll need to apply to become explorers first. We can arrange transportation to the entrance of the vestige. Remember, keep this matter a secret," Bill advised.

"Mr. Weasley, about the accommodations..." at that moment, a Goblin behind the counter reminded them.

"Right, the accommodations," Bill said. "When will your two friends arrive?"

"Gabrielle will be here tomorrow morning," Hermione replied. "She agreed on the time when she left Hogwarts."

"Merlin's beard! Due to the Sun vestige, many wizards have flocked to Cairo recently, and finding new accommodations will be a challenge. Safety and comfort may be compromised," Bill said, turning to the Goblins with a somewhat awkward expression. "Is there any way we can work this out? Perhaps two rooms?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Weasley, but we don't have any available rooms," the Goblin replied firmly. After scrutinizing Evan and Hermione for a moment, the Goblin made a suggestion. "Allow me to speak candidly. Your friend seems to be a child. Our rooms are quite spacious, and using them for single occupancy is wasteful. If you don't mind, I suggest the two of you share a room with your friend."

"Two or three people in one room?" Evan and Hermione both looked up at the Goblin behind the counter.

Evan didn't mind sharing a room with others, but he wasn't sure about Hermione, Gabrielle, or Fleur's preferences. On the surface, it sounded like a good opportunity to strengthen their bond by living together for a month. He looked at the front, where a blushing Hermione stood, resembling an angel, and thought of Fleur...

Evan quickly shook his head, realizing that rooming with Fleur would lead to complications. She was too open, and he couldn't be certain of her intentions toward him, especially since he was still just a child.

Gabrielle was also out of the question. She was only nine years old, a child herself.

The only sensible choice was for him and Hermione to share a room, which would make handling any situation in the evening more convenient.

"That suggestion actually sounds good," Bill chimed in. "Given this place used to be a Pharaoh's palace, the rooms are quite spacious. When my parents visited, they shared a room, and the same went for Fred and George, Ron and Percy. If the two who are coming are girls..."

"Okay, let's have Gabrielle and Fleur stay together, and I'll be with Evan," Hermione said, determinedly. "Evan can stay with me."

Evan blinked in surprise. Wasn't it supposed to be the other way around? Shouldn't he be sharing a room with Fleur and Gabrielle while Hermione stayed with him? He had no complaints, though.

"What are you thinking?" Hermione turned to him, as if she had just realized something.

"Nothing," Evan quickly replied, hesitating for a moment before speaking softly to Hermione. "Actually, I'd prefer to stay with you."

Hearing these words, Hermione's face turned red, and she bit her lip gently. She hadn't expected Evan to be so bold, essentially reversing the traditional roles of male and female partners. She remembered that Evan had confirmed their relationship as a couple after the Yule Ball, but after he left for Sicily, she hadn't quite adjusted to this change in status. She was torn and didn't know how to respond to Evan's request. She neither accepted nor rejected it.

This was unusual for Hermione, who was usually confident and decisive. Evan understood that, given Hermione's personality and emotional experience, her hesitation likely meant that it was time to take the relationship to the next level. However, with Bill and the Goblins around, he didn't feel comfortable pushing the issue.

"I have an extra room that's not in use right now. Evan can stay there. I'll take you to your rooms. You'll both like it here," Bill interrupted, taking a golden gemstone from the Goblin's hand. He led Evan and Hermione deeper into the inn through a winding corridor outside. "This is a key stone. Egypt is the birthplace of alchemy, and as magic knowledge was rediscovered over time, many alchemical techniques were incorporated into everyday life. This is one of them. It's much safer than ordinary locks, thanks to alchemical processing."

Evan accepted the key stone from Bill, noticing the magical rune engraved on the gem. It was truly remarkable; using alchemical methods to transform a simple gem into something with mysterious properties would baffle most wizards who didn't understand alchemy. But for Evan, given his current level of knowledge, analyzing the magic rune on the key was a matter of minutes. He began to study it.

"Evan, look over there!" Hermione's voice broke his concentration.

Evan raised his head and saw a massive outdoor swimming pool beyond the winding corridor. The pool area featured large natural stones with lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl inlays, extending to the edge of the pool. Two Sphinx statues at the far end sprayed water into the pool, adorned with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and designs. As he continued to gaze, everything seemed to turn a radiant golden hue, bathed in the warm light of the setting sun.

Under the setting sun's afterglow, the giant Pyramids in the distance seemed to merge with the descending sun, creating a breathtaking and awe-inspiring view.

"It's truly beautiful," Hermione said, taking Evan's hand in her own.

"Yes, it's one of the greatest wonders humanity has created on this Earth," Evan agreed.

"You should see the Pyramids twice, once at sunrise and now at sunset," Bill suggested, gazing at the distant Pyramids. "It's quite enchanting, isn't it? When I graduated, I saw this scene in a Gringotts brochure, and I instantly fell in love with it. That's when I decided to become a Curse-Breaker in Egypt. My mother had hoped I'd join the Ministry of Magic."

Bill had excelled academically at school and held positions like Prefect and Head Boy, but he was a more rebellious version of Percy. Despite his academic success, he had a natural disdain for tradition, somewhat akin to Sirius. This made him ill-suited for the Ministry of Magic and its customs. Curse-Breaking was a career that better suited his disposition, with its thrilling and unpredictable challenges.

In the Weasley family, all of the children were exceptionally talented. Unfortunately, there were too many of them, and as time went on, Mrs. Weasley became less able to keep tabs on all of them.

Evan, Hermione, and Bill continued to gaze at the distant Pyramids, which were now bathed in the fading light of the setting sun.

"Since your friends are coming, I suggest we plan to visit the Pyramids the day after tomorrow, in the morning. I'll arrange for flying carpets to take us up for an aerial view, followed by a camel ride with some Muggles for a few photos. After that, we'll explore the inside of the Pyramids. Does that sound good to you?" Bill asked.

"No problem," Evan replied. "At 10:00 a.m., I can meet you. In the morning, we can visit the Egyptian Museum, which will help you get familiar with Egyptian culture and history. Then in the afternoon..."

"Bill, I'm not here for pure sightseeing this time," Evan interrupted. "Before I meet with you, I want to see the Emerald Tablet."

"The Emerald Tablet? That's quite challenging," Bill admitted, looking somewhat embarrassed. "You're not likely to see the real one. The Emerald Tablet is a legendary magical object, considered top-secret."

"I have recommendation letters from Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel," Evan said. "With their recommendations, I should have a chance, right?"

"Thanks to their recommendations, you have a shot. Otherwise, it would be impossible to get near the Emerald Tablet," Bill explained. "This legendary magical object is jointly guarded by the Egyptian Ministry of Magic and Gringotts. I'll help you apply for access, and they might grant it due to Dumbledore and Flamel's influence. But it could take a while..."

[Continued...]