Time Was Running Out for Gavin

Dumbledore's hand jerked when he heard the words "Philosopher's Stone." The full-sugar coffee sloshed against the rim of his cup and nearly spilled onto the parchment on his desk.

He looked down and steadied the cup, moving quickly, as though nothing had happened. But when he looked up again, his eyes had changed.

"What?" He adjusted his glasses. "Mr. Gu, I'm getting old. My hearing isn't what it used to be."

"I knew it!" Headmaster Black shrieked, slapping the desk inside his portrait. "There's something wrong with that boy!"

"Be quiet, Black. I want to hear the rest."

The portrait of a former Hufflepuff headmistress immediately silenced Headmaster Black. She wanted to hear more.

"Cordelia," Gavin said. "Or rather, she needs the Philosopher's Stone."

Dumbledore's fingers went still. "What do you mean?"

"I think the Philosopher's Stone can cure the Obscurus."

The office fell silent.

This time, even the portraits said nothing.

Dumbledore watched him without replying, as if waiting to see whether he would take it back. Gavin didn't. He sat there calmly and even pushed his overly sweet Lemonade a little farther away.

"Do you know what you're saying?" Dumbledore finally asked.

"Yes," Gavin said. "And this isn't a spur-of-the-moment idea."

"You think the Philosopher's Stone can cure an Obscurus? I'm sorry, but I've never heard of anything like that. Can you explain?"

"That's right. Based on my research so far, I think the Philosopher's Stone could help. And Headmaster, don't you find the very existence of a stone that can create gold and the Elixir of Life a little unreasonable?"

Dumbledore said nothing.

He had agreed with Nicolas that they would destroy the Philosopher's Stone once this was over. A clean end that would leave certain people no hope of obtaining it.

But in the Dungeon, Gavin's