Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Philosopher's Stone (点金石); also called the Magic Stone and Elixir of Life 122 |
| Type | Alchemical stone 112 122 |
| Creator | Nicolas Flamel 112 122 |
| Appearance | Red stone containing magical power and vigorous life force 154 |
History
Jess Gaunt funded Nicolas Flamel's research after meeting him in 1378. Flamel succeeded in creating the Stone by April 1382 and offered to share it with Jess and the Gaunt family. Jess declined, believing its promise of immortality would harm his family's mission, and entrusted Flamel with safeguarding the Stone and its creation method 122.
Flamel and his wife, Perenelle, drank a potion made from the Stone without carefully testing it. Their lifespans were greatly extended, but they lost the ability to have children. The Stone slowed their aging rather than stopping it, leaving both physically frail after more than six centuries 166.
The Stone was later hidden beneath a guarded trapdoor at Hogwarts, where Voldemort sought to steal it 75 96 112. During their confrontation, Luke Gaunt activated it to defend himself and Harry Potter. Luke subsequently claimed that the Stone had broken, but Perenelle identified the supposed Stone powder presented to her as something else 152 158 167.
Properties and Limits
- Transmutation — Can turn material into gold; Flamel used it to turn mercury into gold 112.
- Life extension — A potion made from the Stone greatly extends life, but does not halt aging or prevent bodily decline 112 166.
- Magical power — When Luke activated it, magic surged through his body. He used that power to turn a stone wall into gold and block Voldemort's spell 152.
- Durability — Luke believed the Stone was practically indestructible while its internal magic remained unexhausted; he said there was no genuine powder left from breaking it 163.
- Difficult creation — Luke acquired Flamel's annotated creation blueprint, but possessing the method did not give him the alchemical ability to reproduce the Stone 167 442.
Associated People
- Nicolas Flamel — Created the Stone and used it with Perenelle to extend their lives 112 166.
- Perenelle Flamel — Shared its life-extending effects and recognized that the powder presented to her was not from the Stone 166 167.
- Jess Gaunt — Financed Flamel's research, declined the finished Stone, and entrusted it to Flamel's care 122.
- Luke Gaunt — Activated the Stone against Voldemort and later obtained its creation blueprint 152 167.
- Gibson — Sought Stone powder as a material for forging a magic sword; the powder supplied for his work was counterfeit 163 166.
- Voldemort — Sought to steal the Stone and confronted Luke while Luke held it 75 152.