Will's Considerations

Will soon began recounting Nicolas Flamel's story: "Nicolas Flamel, the legendary alchemist, was born in the fourteenth century, yet he's still alive today.

"He is extraordinarily gifted, with world-class skill in alchemy. He graduated from Beauxbatons and is also a specially appointed professor there. He is a close friend of Professor Dumbledore, and together they have made many tremendous contributions to alchemy. Some call him the greatest alchemist in history because he created the Philosopher's Stone."

Disbelief spread across the young wizards' faces, and they couldn't help asking questions.

"My goodness, the fourteenth century? How is that possible?"

"Is he immortal?"

"What is the Philosopher's Stone?"

They spoke over one another, none of them able to hide their shock.

"The Philosopher's Stone answers all your questions. It is a wondrous substance with astonishing powers. Ancient alchemy involved the creation of the Philosopher's Stone, a wondrous substance with astonishing powers. The Philosopher's Stone can turn any metal into pure gold. It can also produce the Elixir of Life, which makes whoever drinks it live forever.

"There have been many reports of the Philosopher's Stone over the centuries, but the only one currently in existence belongs to Nicolas Flamel. All of this is recorded in Masterpieces of Ancient Alchemy."

But Will knew that the Elixir of Life had to be taken continuously to grant immortality. Anyone who stopped taking it would eventually die. However, when that book was written, Nicolas Flamel and his wife had both been alive and well, leading the vast majority of the wizarding world to believe that drinking the Elixir of Life once would let them live forever.

"My goodness, a stone that can make gold!" Ron's voice was full of envy.

"And it can make you immortal," Harry added.

"No wonder Snape wants to..." Ron stopped halfway through, suddenly realizing he had said too much, and clapped a hand over his mouth.

"What about Snape?" Sylvia asked, giving Ron a look.

"He... ah, nothing. He confiscated my book." Harry had just started to explain when he felt Ron jab him in the back.

Neville and Hermione looked at Ron and Harry, only to see Ron pulling faces and signaling at them.

Will saw every one of their little gestures, but paid them no mind. Instead, he took Sylvia by the arm. "If there's nothing else, we'll be going. Come on, Sylvia. Didn't you say you were hungry? If we're late, there won't be any dinner left."

Sylvia was about to say that she had already eaten her fill when Will suddenly squeezed her arm. She caught on at once and changed her answer. "That's right, I'm starving. Let's hurry, Will."

Once the two of them had left, Harry asked Ron in confusion, "Why wouldn't you let me tell Will? Ron, he's not like the other Slytherins. Besides, if it weren't for Will, we still wouldn't know who Nicolas Flamel was, let alone that Snape was after the Philosopher's Stone."

"Harry, they're Slytherins! If they know Snape is going to steal the Philosopher's Stone, Snape might find out. Honestly, think about it! Remember what Snape said in class the other day: 'Oh, Pot~ter! Weasley, if you keep making up stories about a professor in class, I'll give you a taste of Veritaserum.' What if he gives Berens and that Lestrange Veritaserum?"

This time, the others thought Ron had a point. Only Hermione frowned, feeling that something about Will's reaction had been off. Both of them had smelled of smoke, and Sylvia had mentioned that she and Will sometimes had dates by the lake and grilled fish.

Was she really hungry?

Meanwhile, Sylvia tugged at Will's clothes. "Why wouldn't you let me ask him? Weasley was acting so strangely."

"They didn't want us to know, so why make things awkward for ourselves? Besides, I'm not interested in other people's secrets."

Sylvia readily believed Will's explanation. He wasn't someone who took a keen interest in other people's private affairs. In fact, she had already realized that Will hated trouble. What he liked best was reading at his leisure.

"Would you like to spend some time in the Room of Requirement? I had it create a very comfortable reading room."

"Of course!" Sylvia walked ahead of Will with a cheerful smile, completely oblivious to the change in his expression.

Why hadn't Will wanted to learn their "secret"? Naturally, he had his own considerations.

With Dumbledore watching every step of this effort to nurture the Chosen One, should I know too much? Should I get too involved?

Dumbledore had already taken notice of him. Getting deeply entangled in the plan to nurture the Chosen One would do him no good. With the experience panel at his disposal, what Will needed was time to develop, not to get mixed up in a pile of affairs that offered him no benefit whatsoever...