Chapter 241: Maxime and the Silver-Haired Girl
Kyle, who had been studying the golden symbols on the ceiling, turned toward the voices and noticed two others in the hall, chatting comfortably. The one who had just spoken was McPhail, whom he recognized from the Order of Merlin ceremony at Hogwarts. Beside him sat a strikingly tall witch—though "tall" hardly seemed adequate. Even while seated, she was at least two or three meters in height, making McPhail, himself a tall man, look almost childlike by comparison.
Kyle had only met one person of similar stature: Hagrid. This witch was about the same height but had a very different presence. Unlike Hagrid's rugged appearance, she had a striking, handsome face, with deep-set dark eyes, a sharp nose, and hair swept back into a neat, glossy bun at the nape of her neck. She wore a splendid peacock-blue satin robe adorned with opulent opals around her neck and on her thick fingers, giving her an elegant, almost regal aura.
As Kyle looked on, she handed two Galleons to McPhail—though in her enormous hand, the coins looked no bigger than soybeans.
"Fleur doesn't quite grasp the value of the Philosopher's Stone fragments," she said in a low, smooth voice. "And solving the clues is also a show of wisdom."
McPhail chuckled without argument, pocketing the two Galleons with a smug smile.
"Don't mind her, child. Olympe means no harm," said a gentle voice beside Kyle. He turned to see an elderly man with a kind smile and flowing white hair. "In fact, we all know that your choice was the right one. After being used as a Portkey, the magic within the fragment will completely dissipate, and it will eventually turn into nothing more than an ordinary stone."
The elderly man's attire was quite unorthodox compared to the others. He wore a vibrant light blue floral shirt, bright orange beach shorts, and large brown sunglasses shaped like clam shells. The only thing missing was a water pistol.
"Mr. Nicolas Flamel," Kyle said, quickly realizing who he was speaking to.
"Oh, I'm glad you recognized me," Flamel replied with a warm smile, extending his hand. "Just call me Nicolas. Everyone does; it makes me feel so much younger."