CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with mak-
ing the Sorcerer’s Stone, a legendary substance with as-
tonishing powers. The Stone will transform any metal
into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life,
which will make the drinker immortal.
There have been many reports of the Sorcerer’s
Stone over the centuries, but the only Stone currently
in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel, the noted
alchemist and opera lover. Mr. Flamel, who cele-
brated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last
year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife,
Perenelle (six hundred and fifty-eight).
“See?” said Hermione, when Harry and Ron had finished. “The
dog must be guarding Flamel’s Sorcerer’s Stone! I bet he asked
Dumbledore to keep it safe for him, because they’re friends and he
knew someone was after it, that’s why he wanted the Stone moved
out of Gringotts!”
“A stone that makes gold and stops you from ever dying!” said
Harry. “No wonder Snape’s after it! Anyone would want it.”
“And no wonder we couldn’t find Flamel in that Study of Recent
Developments in Wizardry,” said Ron. “He’s not exactly recent if he’s
six hundred and sixty-five, is he?”
The next morning in Defense Against the Dark Arts, while copy-
ing down different ways of treating werewolf bites, Harry and Ron
were still discussing what they’d do with a Sorcerer’s Stone if they
had one. It wasn’t until Ron said he’d buy his own Quidditch team
that Harry remembered about Snape and the coming match.
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