The Heir Who Made a Choice! / When Things Go Awry, Something's Afoot...

Given his past friendship with Albus Dumbledore, if he were determined to destroy the Sorcerer's Stone, then Dumbledore would be the best candidate!

This is why, in the original novel, * The Sorcerer's Stone *, Nicolas Flamel stores the Sorcerer's Stone in Dumbledore's safe.

At the end of the movie, Dumbledore mentions that the Sorcerer's Stone has been destroyed. Although it is not explicitly stated who destroyed it, Harry believes it was Dumbledore, not Nicolas Flamel, who did it himself.

"Yes, I originally intended to ask Dumbledore; I've had that plan for decades." Nicolas Flamel nodded with a smile, but then looked intently at Harry.

"But after I met you and the little Prophet, I completely changed my mind."

Chapter 729 The Successor Who Makes the Choice!

Perhaps, Nicolas Flamel's life can truly be described as both his rise and his Sorcerer's Stone, all stemming from the Sorcerer's Stone.

He is undoubtedly a recognized legendary figure. When people mention him, they often call him 'great' and praise him as an extraordinary alchemist.

However, of all his achievements, only the Sorcerer's Stone has been consistently talked about.

After news of his 'death' spread, renowned alchemists and powerful cardinals dug up Nicolas Flamel's grave and ransacked his home, all they wanted was that one stone.

The legends surrounding him are mostly about his immense wealth and immortality, and all his works are often forcibly linked to the Sorcerer's Stone.

A large group of people pretended to understand the works, but when they discovered that the works were not only obscure and difficult to understand, but also did not mention the 'Sorcerer's Stone' at all, they all abandoned them without question.

Little did people know that those works were the true treasures that Nicolas Flamel wanted to leave to posterity.

For example, his own compiled manuscript, "The Book of Hieroglyphs," not only records many symbols and alchemical diagrams commonly used in ancient alchemy, but also translates a large number of ancient hieroglyphs... whose history is even thousands of years older than that of the Runes!

For example, in "Nicolas Flamel's Phoenixes," Nicolas Flamel depicts many lifelike phoenixes, while also incorporating various analyses and conjectures, explaining in detail the unique connection between fire and life force... Even though Harry did not master the power of fire, he could still intuitively feel that thriving power.

However, in this era where elemental magic has vanished and ancient alchemy has completely declined, Nicolas Flamel's things are destined not to attract attention.

People have always only ever paid attention to the Sorcerer's Stone.

By possessing the Sorcerer's Stone, one could gain endless wealth, life, and the ability to create anything at will. Isn't that infinitely more exhilarating than painstakingly studying those obscure symbols and texts?

From this perspective, Nicolas Flamel is undoubtedly a tragic figure.

He was originally chosen by a certain will to be a pioneer who needed to fulfill the duties of a priest, but by a twist of fate, he opened the door to ancient alchemy.

After realizing that ancient alchemy was his true pursuit as a wizard, he had a profound realization and no longer wanted to be a pioneer; he only hoped to pass on this art.

However, the result of this choice was that he was no longer a pioneer, but he was also bound by that will and unable to become the expected successor.

In the end, he could only become a spectator, an observer.

Over the course of more than six hundred years, Nicolas Flamel witnessed endless disasters, wars, and plagues. He saw the rise of later sages such as Nostradamus and Paracelsus, and experienced the rampage of heretical organizations such as Beelzebub's Skull. He also watched with detachment how the Church changed its methods and gradually eroded the original beliefs of wizards.

Europe embarked on a magnificent Renaissance, but ancient alchemy had absolutely no hope of revival!

Until Sir Isaac Newton, the last wise man in human history, uttered his famous quote—"My life has been nothing but proof of God's existence" —Nicolas Flamel finally discovered with sorrow...

Ancient alchemy is probably dead.

But things can take unexpected turns. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Nicolas Flamel met Dumbledore... a wizard whom he could entrust with his final affairs.

Although, like other wizards of his time, he lacked the ability to study ancient alchemy, his perspective was different from that of ordinary people.

This made Nicolas Flamel feel that even if the other party could not pass on his knowledge, at least he could suppress his greed and help destroy the Sorcerer's Stone that had already exhausted him and Perenelle.

However, shortly thereafter, Newt Scamander, sent to Paris by Dumbledore, brought a twist of fate that Flamel couple never expected.

Without a doubt, in Nicolas Flamel's view, meeting Harry and Luna Lovegood was an absolute stroke of luck that suddenly befell him in his otherwise uninteresting life.

Like ashes that have only a little warmth left, when a gentle breeze inadvertently swirls around them, it quietly reignites the flickering flames, wanting to burn again.

Even when their last ounce of heat is exhausted, they will ignite a new flame that can continue to be passed down.

"You know, doctor... I've had this feeling ever since I first met you... you're so much like me."

A glimmer of light suddenly appeared in Nicolas Flamel's cloudy eyes, as if he held the deepest expectations for Harry.

"You and I are both chosen and bound by some kind of will, unable to break free, and forced to move forward along a predetermined path. In fact, we've even involved other people along the way. I met Perenelle, you had your little Prophet, and now we have Hermione."

"But you and I are different, because you have always tried to fight against this fate, unlike me, who in the end could only drift along with the tide. Perenelle and I are genuinely happy for your achievements today. Therefore, we feel... perhaps it's time for us to let go completely."

"Teacher..." Harry's voice was a little hoarse, and he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Just as I feared, the Flamel couple were clearly trying to settle their affairs...

"Doctor, you've always been a very special child, often even more insightful than adults, so I don't want to beat around the bush with you anymore." Nicolas Flamel looked at Harry earnestly and asked solemnly, "I want to know... if I were to entrust the Sorcerer's Stone entirely to you, what are your plans for it?"

Harry fell silent for a moment; he had actually been thinking about this question recently.

And the other person was also eagerly awaiting his answer.

"You don't need to be too nervous. We just want to hear your thoughts." Seeing that Harry didn't speak, Perenelle comforted him kindly. "You are the child that Nicolas Flamel and I have always believed in. Whatever choice you make, we will fully support you."

"If that's the case..." Harry pondered for a moment, then said softly, "I admit that the appearance of the Sorcerer's Stone undoubtedly accelerated the demise of ancient alchemy, but it shouldn't be defined as the culprit. The Sorcerer's Stone is just a stone; the real reason for the demise of ancient alchemy was actually the annihilation of Elemental Power."

"I know what you're worried about, but if I had to choose... I wouldn't destroy the Sorcerer's Stone!"

With a firm tone, Harry made his choice, not only for the Flamel couple, but also for the other person in his mind.

"The source of the Sorcerer's Stone's energy, and those things considered tragic—they have already happened and cannot be changed; there's no point in dwelling on them."

"So I won't destroy the Sorcerer's Stone, and I might continue to use it, but at the same time... I will absolutely never set foot on the pilgrimage path you made me walk before!"

Chapter 730 Something's Wrong, There Must Be a Suspicious Twist

They could choose to destroy the Sorcerer's Stone, demonstrating their unwavering resolve to fight against this mystical force that undermined the foundations of ancient alchemy and eroded the wizarding faith.

Alternatively, one could choose to leave behind the Sorcerer's Stone, inheriting Nicolas Flamel's mantle while also following in his footsteps, constantly recharging the Sorcerer's Stone through pilgrimages, and ultimately yielding to the will's demands to become a new generation of priests.

Harry doesn't want to choose either of these paths!

Why can everything only have two paths, positive or negative?

They say one thought can lead to heaven or hell, that you can become an angel or a demon... but angels and demons have never been human beings.

So after all these days, and after fully understanding the complicated story of Nicolas Flamel and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry decided... to make a choice that is truly human!

He knew what everyone was worried about: that if the Sorcerer's Stone was preserved, Harry might succumb to temptation and inevitably become the next 'pioneer'.

To be honest, this really sounds like how wizards view Dark Magic.

Dark Magic is inherently evil, and it cannot be used because it corrupts the mind, making wizards increasingly dark and twisted...

Harry had heard these words more than once or twice.

But ultimately, isn't this just a matter of lacking willpower?

Of course, wizards would never admit to having a weak will; they would only believe that it was all the fault of Dark Magic. In order to find excuses for themselves, they would even ban the method of actively controlling emotions that Andros had developed, treating it as heresy.

Doesn't this behavior sound exactly like those parents who blame their children's poor grades on video games?

The Sorcerer's Stone is a similar case. The real original sin is not the stone itself, but the wizards who coveted Sorcerer's Stone, their laziness and greed!

Therefore, Harry would not intentionally destroy the Sorcerer's Stone; he would even carry it with him at all times until its energy was completely depleted.

Of course, he also had some other selfish motives.

He wanted to keep the Sorcerer's Stone forever, and from now on, he would try to avoid using it for alchemy, so that its energy could be preserved for as long as possible...

"Hmm... Doctor, I must say, this decision is somewhat unexpected." Nicolas Flamel paused for a moment, but quickly recovered. "However, upon reflection, it is indeed the choice you would have made."

"Yes, he's thought it over for so long, he definitely won't just make a simple choice between two options," Perenelle added with a gentle smile. "Nicolas Flamel, Harry has always been a very opinionated boy, he might even see things more clearly than we do, so we don't need to worry too much..."

"Actually, it's not quite like what you said, Madam..." Harry's tone suddenly became somewhat low, and his face showed obvious sadness... and a hint of pleading.

"In some ways... such as facing death, I can't be as magnanimous as the headmaster. So even if you two directly asked me to destroy the Sorcerer's Stone, I simply couldn't do it..."

"This..." The Flamel couple were both stunned. They hadn't expected... or rather, they hadn't expected Harry to say such a thing at this moment.

And the tender affection on his face—that was something Harry, with his strong personality and sharp edges, would almost never show normally...

The Flamel couple carefully examined the boy before them, and only then did they truly realize how much this seemingly strong and independent child longed for family affection.

Harry lost his parents shortly after birth and suffered abuse from relatives from a young age. He finally received love from a pair of adoptive parents, but for safety reasons, they had to be sent far away in Europe.

There are indeed many people of his generation around him now, but whether it's Sirius, Snape, or the Scamander, they can never play the role of family or elders; in the end, they can only be Harry's companions and friends.

Therefore, the only true elders left in Harry's life are the Flamel couple.

He longed for them to stay with him forever, the longer the better, until they watched him, Hermione, and Luna Lovegood grow up, and even then, he didn't want them to leave...

The atmosphere in the room became somewhat somber for a moment, but just as the Flamel couple looked at Harry with heartache, he quickly composed himself and returned to his usual calm and composure.

"Teacher... I think we should leave the matter of the Sorcerer's Stone here." Harry made a serious promise to Nicolas Flamel. "I don't know if I can do it, but I'll do my best."

"Yes, Doctor, you can definitely do it." Nicolas Flamel replied with a confident smile, "Perenelle and I will always believe in that."

"Thank you, and thank you, Madam!" Harry smiled gratefully, then smoothly changed the subject, "Also... I was wondering, have you finished processing the memories of those two children?"

"It's all taken care of. I've stored their memories in a special crystal ball; it's right there."

Nicolas Flamel nodded and pointed to a corner of the room, where a crystal ball much larger than normal was displayed on a shelf.

"Then I'll take the crystal ball back first... Teacher, Teacher's wife, thank you so much for this time... and for everything!" Harry went to the corner to retrieve the crystal ball, expressed his sincere gratitude again, and then respectfully took his leave.

"Nicolas Flamel... Doctor, could he have already figured it out?" Perenelle asked softly after Harry left.

"That's probably true," Nicolas Flamel nodded. "With his shrewd mind, he would certainly be suspicious if we suddenly brought up the Sorcerer's Stone with him."

"But... what will he do after he learns that 'truth'?" Perenelle seemed somewhat worried. "Nicolas Flamel, I'm worried about him..."

"Ha, Perenelle, didn't you just say there was no need to worry about the doctor? Why are you getting anxious now?" Nicolas Flamel interrupted his wife with a laugh, reassuring her, "Whatever the doctor wants to do, we just need to fully support him!"

Now, the Flamel couple are no longer worried.

People are reciprocal. Harry always treated Flamel couple with the respect and deference due to disciples, while Flamel couple, who had wandered together for over six hundred years without leaving any children, also treated Harry as their own son.

Therefore, the Flamel couple decided to trust their child and believe that Harry would handle everything well.

And they truly knew Harry inside and out, because Harry was now starting to have all sorts of doubts about the crystal ball!

The teacher and his wife were perfectly fine until they suddenly asked him to go to Armenia to explore the pilgrimage route. This was definitely not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Furthermore, considering everything he had seen and heard along the way, as well as the obvious entrustment that sounded like a final farewell, Harry was absolutely certain that something had already happened to his teacher and his wife before he decided to go to Armenia.

In the recent period, the only thing that could cause trouble was the memory of those two boys that the teacher helped to deal with!

There was a guy who looked a lot like him, and another guy who looked a lot like Draco Malfoy...

Alright, let's see what these two guys are up to!

Chapter 731 Inexplicable, Time Travel

Outrageous!!

Holy crap!!!

After Harry began examining the information recorded in the crystal ball, his mind was instantly filled with beautiful China language, and he was practically cursing incoherently.

Harry took these two uninvited guests very seriously. He even invited almost all his friends and family to watch the crystal ball movie, hoping to gather as much information as possible through collective wisdom.

But after only half of the image in the crystal ball had played, Harry, with a dark expression, chased everyone except Hermione and Luna Lovegood out of the room.

There's no way around it, this memory is absolutely a dark chapter in Harry's life!

First, there are these two uninvited guests... no, these two are actually just a pair of brain-dead brats!

That blond guy is Astoria Greengrass's child, and he's even married to Draco Malfoy!

Well... okay, this isn't actually that shocking, considering they're both from the Pure-blood Family. If it weren't for us messing things up, they might actually have gotten together.

Besides, Will should be the one in a real hurry about this. If he doesn't want the girl he's with to slip away, he really needs to act quickly.

What Harry really wanted to complain about was the name of the other child who looked a lot like him...

Albus Severus Potter, that was the boy's name; he was said to have an older brother James Sirius Potter; and a younger sister named Lily Luna Lovegood Potter...

Wait... aren't the names of these three siblings a bit too tacky?

Harry was 100% certain that even a third-rate, low-budget fanfiction author wouldn't give their offspring such a casual name!