chapter :7

"James Who?" Penny asked in confusion.

"James Bond dear... yous should read Fleming's books one day." The old man from yesterday walked inside the kitchen and gave his wife a kiss in the cheek. "No luck... that goat lover refuses to answer my letters... when I get see that goat fucker again I'll..."

"Nicky! We have company!" Penny said.

"Oh right... Had a good sleep Harry?" The old man asked.

Harry nodded warily as he stared at the old man. "You're not mad at me?"

"Well irritated perhaps. But it's all right now... no harm done eh?" The old man said as he sat across his young guest.

Harry nodded, relieved. "Who are you? And why did you bring me here?"

"Nicholas Flamel, Master Alchemist." The old man said proudly, expecting the boy's face to light up in excitement.

Harry just blinked and stared at him. "What does that mean?"

Penny laughed and Nicholas asked their young guest. "What do you know of Magic Harry?"

"Nothing... I just learned I was a wizard yesterday." Harry admitted.

"Then what did you do at the Leaky Cauldron? You can't apparated or disapparate in there... unless you would destroy the wards first... and you didn't." Nicholas said as Penny brought in the plates of bacon and scrambled eggs to the table. "And that is no apparition..."

"I discovered that when I was young... and I kept on practicing it." Harry said as he stared hungrily at the food and he unconsciously licked his lips. "I called it fading."

"That's a nice name" Nicholas said.

Penny saw the young boy's face and smiled. "Go on dear... I'm sure you're hungry by now."

Harry nodded and began eating. It was delicious... newly cooked bacon was something he never tasted before. It was juicy in some parts and crunchy on the others. The three ate their breakfast in a relaxed atmosphere, with Harry telling them of his first trip to Diagon alley, minus his other adventures.

"Harry we brought you here... because of three reasons." Nicholas began as soon as he noticed that his young guest was finished eating. "First... we found you sleeping in a cot in a cupboard... No child should be treated like that."

"I got used to it." Harry said simply. While it was a bit cramped, it was the only home he ever knew and considered his cupboard as something special.

Penny and her husband exchanged sorrowful looks when they heard this.

"Second... your great grandfather was an old friend of mine..." Nicholas said. "And he would never forgive me if I just left his grandson there in that house."

"You knew my grandfather? Could you tell me more about my family?" Harry asked as he leaned forward, his face eager to hear more.

"Yes... he was good lad, very impulsive but had the heart of gold." Nicholas said, glad that Harry was eager to hear more of his story. His wife however spotted something was amiss.

"Harry, our cutlery is made silver... and has been with my me for a long time... please don't steal some." Penny said sternly.

Harry wondered how he was caught and reluctantly pulled the knife he hid in his sleeve and placed it back on the table. Nicholas stared at him for a moment and burst out laughing.

"You got me again Harry!" The old man said. "My you really are a good actor... I really fell for that one."

"Harry you do know that stealing is bad right?" Penny asked gently. "And you told me that Harry took you to your vault. The Potters were a very wealthy family... you do not have to steal anymore."

"I got used to it." The young boy said. "I've been doing it all my life... if something catches my fancy I have to get it."

"Then why don't you just buy it?" Penny asked as she reminded herself to put anti theft charms on every room in her house.

"Where's the fun in that?" Harry asked, perplexed at being asked such a question. "There's no thrill... and it's boring... so legal."

Penny and Nicholas stared at their new guest for a few moments before they burst out laughing. They never heard of such an explanation before. The boy who lived was truly a thief, and he steals because he enjoys the danger and excitement that comes along with it.

Nicholas suddenly had an idea and he smiled evilly, and Penny noticed this.

"What are you thinking this time..." Penny asked warily.

Nicholas did not answer his wife but leaned forward and looked at the young boy intently. "I have a proposition for you."

"Go on" Harry said, curious about what the old man would offer.

"I'll give you something very valuable in the magical world... you see you can't just continue with what you're doing... stealing in the muggle world and in the wizarding world is different. There are anti theft charms, wards and runes to prevent stealing in some stores... some owners hire magical creatures as security..." Nicholas said. "You see what I'm offering you is knowledge... I'll teach you what you need to know until September the first."

"And what's the catch" Harry asked.

"You see something was taken away from me without permission. Albus Dumbledore asked if he could examine the philosopher's stone I made... then he never returned it." Nicholas began.

Harry listened to the old man's story, fascinated with a stone that could grant immortal life and turn any metal into gold.