The atmosphere of the end of the school year quietly descended. The corridors of Hogwarts were filled with the restlessness and tension unique to exam season.
Ian ensured that none of the students in his Alchemy course failed the theoretical examination.
His method was simple—he forcibly implanted knowledge into those struggling students through magic.
As a result, every student passed the written exam, but the price was a week of splitting headaches.
Even so, they still thanked the professor. After all, no one wanted to fail a class at Hogwarts.
As for the practical portion—Ian did not interfere at all.
He had already provided enough guidance and materials, and had even opened his office for weekend tutoring.
If anyone still failed to brew the potion, then they either lacked talent or had not worked hard enough.
Strangely, despite interfering with the course of events in several places, Harry Potter was still sentenced to detention and sent into the Forbidden Forest at night.
This left Ian deep in thought.
"Fate... perhaps it truly does exist in this world."
He suspected that the entire world possessed a kind of Corrective Force, which would push disrupted events back onto their original trajectory.
That power was not the hand of a deity, but more like the automatic regulation of the universe's laws—preserving the story's "starting point."
So he decided to test this theory at some point in the future.
After the final exams ended, Hogwarts gradually quieted down.
With the Marauder's Map he had refined as an aid, Ian monitored the movements of Dumbledore, Quirrell, Harry, and the others.
The moment the three stepped into the Third-Floor Forbidden Corridor, he cast a type of invisibility magic more advanced than the Disillusionment Charm—the "Invisibility Spell Pattern."
The inspiration had come from the "Headless Hat" invented by the Weasley twins, which could completely erase the aura of one's existence.
He followed silently from behind, witnessing them overcome one obstacle after another.
They passed Hagrid's three-headed dog, Fluffy; crossed Professor Sprout's Devil's Snare; made their way through Flitwick's Flying Key Formation; and then faced Professor McGonagall's chessboard challenge, the troll placed by Quirrell, and Snape's headache-inducing potion riddle.
Ian did not make a sound throughout the entire process, nor did he interfere.
He merely watched in silence—as fate advanced step by step according to its ordained course.
Yet he could not help feeling a subtle sense of melancholy.
"Even I wasn't invited to design a challenge."
He thought this to himself, and even felt a trace of a professor's bitterness rising in his heart.
When the plot developed along its predetermined path and reached its conclusion, he saw from the shadows:
After confronting Quirrell, Harry collapsed, and the Philosopher's Stone slipped from his hand and rolled across the floor.
Ian reached out and gently picked up the red stone.
A violet light rose in his eyes—that was the Alchemy-exclusive "Eye of Analysis."
The patterns of a magic circle slowly revolved within his pupils.
"Just as I thought." He murmured to himself, "The Philosopher's Stone is a crystallized form of pure magic condensed to its absolute limit, using countless souls as a medium."
He closed his eyes and slowly analyzed it:
"Magic is an energy that is almost omnipotent. As long as one possesses sufficient quantities of it and enough knowledge, any miracle can be achieved."
"And this stone contains nearly infinite magic.
It can break through the limits of Elemental Transmutation and turn base metals into pure gold; it can even break the Fifth Law of Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration."
"As for the so-called 'Elixir of Life'—it merely liquefies magic, mixes it with Soul Energy, and continuously nourishes the body and soul, allowing one's lifespan to be extended indefinitely.
But—it still cannot stop aging."
He let out a soft sigh and murmured, "Using it to pursue immortality through Alchemy is truly wasteful."
"Don't you agree, Headmaster?"
The moment his voice fell, the air stirred faintly.
Dumbledore's figure appeared in the shadows, his blue eyes gleaming with scrutiny.
"How do you think this stone should be used?"
"Make full use of its value." Ian answered calmly. "This stone is a perfect energy source.
If its mechanism could be replicated, the Wizarding World would experience a true leap in civilization."
His tone gradually grew more resolute.
"Magical civilization should not remain trapped in ancient rituals and the glow of fire at the tips of wands.
With the power of this stone, we can develop magical technology—build cities powered by magic, cure every disease, and even explore the universe.
As long as wizards can control energy, they can usher in a new era."
Dumbledore's expression did not change. He merely sighed. "It does sound tempting.
But have you ever considered how many souls would be needed to bind the magic and create a stone like this?"
"It wouldn't require sacrificing living people." Ian shook his head. "We would only need to take the remnants of souls from deceased Muggles and reuse them.
Rather than letting death devour them, we might as well give their souls a new purpose."
He smiled faintly, his gentle tone carrying a cold edge of reason. "If that still makes people uneasy, then we can search for substitutes.
The key to magic is 'binding.' Souls are merely the most stable medium.
And 'emotions' can guide magic as well—intense love, hatred, and fear can all become catalysts for Alchemy."
He paused, then raised his eyes to Dumbledore.
"Use emotions to shape energy, and magic to continue civilization. That is the true meaning of the Philosopher's Stone."
Dumbledore fell silent for a moment before letting out a soft sigh.
"You are indeed clever, and dangerous. Your rationality is admirable, but you forget the price too easily."
"The price?" Ian smiled faintly. "I would call it 'Equivalent Exchange.'"
Their eyes met, and the air seemed to tighten around them.
A silent struggle spread between the two wizards.
In the end, Ian tossed the Philosopher's Stone back.
"Don't worry. I won't take it. Since I already know how to make it, there's naturally no need to take the risk."
He turned and left, offering only one casual request:
"If you have the chance, please tell Nicolas Flamel that I would very much like to discuss Alchemy with him."
Dumbledore caught the stone, his expression complicated.
He watched Ian's departing back and sighed softly—
"A variable in the course of an era has appeared."
Ian walked out of the Chamber of Secrets and let out a long breath.
At that moment, he finally realized that he still was not prepared to become Dumbledore's enemy.
If they truly fought, he might be able to win, but the price would be too high.
He needed time, and he needed power on a deeper level.
Over the past month, he had deciphered the House-elves' "instantaneous teleportation mechanism."
Their magical frequencies differed from those of humans, allowing them to pass through protective barriers.
After several experiments, he could also move short distances within certain Anti-Apparition Charm zones.
On top of that, the "Spatial Key" he had refined was nearing completion—
Once activated, it would become a gateway leading him to countless worlds.
Moonlight spilled across the stone steps, stretching his shadow far behind him.
Ian gazed at the night sky, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"The Philosopher's Stone is only the beginning."
"True Alchemy is not immortality, but the creation of civilization."
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