Will's Considerations

Will soon began telling them about Nicolas Flamel. "Nicolas Flamel was a legendary alchemist born in the fourteenth century, yet he's still alive today.

"He was brilliant, with world-class skill in Alchemy. He graduated from Beauxbatons and serves as a special professor there. He's a friend of Professor Dumbledore, and together they've made many major 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 could not help asking questions.

"Good grief, the fourteenth century? How is that possible?"

"Is he immortal?"

"What's the Philosopher's Stone?"

Their voices overlapped, none of them able to hide their shock.

"The Philosopher's Stone answers all those questions. It's a magical substance with astonishing properties. Ancient Alchemy involved creating it. The Stone can turn any metal into pure gold and produce the Elixir of Life, which keeps anyone who drinks it from dying.

"There have been reports of the Philosopher's Stone for centuries, but the only one known to exist today belongs to Nicolas Flamel. It's all recorded in Masterpieces of Ancient Alchemy."

Will knew, however, that someone had to keep drinking the Elixir of Life to remain immortal. If they stopped, they would eventually die. But when the book was written, Nicolas Flamel and his wife had both been alive and well, leading most of the Wizarding World to believe that one drink of the Elixir granted eternal life.

"Good grief, a stone that makes gold!" Ron said enviously.

"And lets you live forever," Harry added.

"No wonder Snape wants to..." Ron stopped halfway through, realizing his mistake, and clapped a hand over his mouth.

"Snape wants to what?" Sylvia asked, giving Ron a searching look.

"He... oh, nothing. He confiscated my book." Harry had barely started explaining when Ron nudged him from behind.

Neville and Hermione looked at Ron and Harry. Ron was making frantic faces at them.

Will noticed every little signal, but paid them no mind. He took Sylvia by the arm. "If there's nothing else, we'll be going. Come on, Sylvia. Weren't you hungry? If we're late, there won't be any dinner left."

Sylvia was about to say she had already eaten when Will pressed her arm. She caught on at once and changed her answer. "Right, I'm starving. Let's hurry, Will."

After the two left, Harry asked Ron in confusion, "Why wouldn't you let me tell Will? Ron, he's not like the other Slytherins. Without him, we still wouldn't know who Nicolas Flamel was, let alone that Snape is after the Philosopher's Stone."

"Harry, they're Slytherins! If they find out Snape's going to steal the Philosopher's Stone, Snape might hear about it. Good grief, think about what he said in class the other day: 'Oh, Pot-ter! Weasley! If you keep talking about professors in my class, I'll give you a taste of Veritaserum.' What if he gives Behrens and that Lestrange Veritaserum?"

This time, the others thought Ron had a point. Only Hermione frowned. Something about Will's reaction had seemed off. Both he and Sylvia had smelled of smoke, and Sylvia had said they sometimes went on dates by the Lake and grilled fish.

Was she really hungry?

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

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

Sylvia readily believed him. Will had never been one to pry into other people's affairs. In fact, she had realized he hated trouble and liked nothing better than reading in peace.

"Want to sit in the Room of Requirement for a while? I had it make a really comfortable reading room."

"Of course!" Sylvia walked ahead of Will with a grin, completely missing the change in his expression.

Why didn't Will want to know their "secret"? He had his reasons.

Dumbledore was watching this effort to train The Chosen One closely. Should Will know too much about it? Should he get too involved?

Dumbledore had already taken notice of him. Getting deeply entangled in the plan to train The Chosen One would do him no good. With his experience panel, what Will needed was time to grow stronger, not to get mixed up in a mess that offered him nothing...