The pursuit of immortality is a timeless endeavor, and the Sorcerer's Stone, with its near-immortal granting powers, is no exception. "If I had the Sorcerer's Stone, it would significantly aid my alchemical endeavors," John mused. Though the Stone was more legend than reality, its mention sparked an idea in John's mind about delving deeper into alchemy to hasten his mastery of "Fairy Casting."
"Perhaps the restricted section of the library holds some clues," John thought, casting an illusion spell on himself for camouflage. He left the Room of Requirement, making his way to the library's fifth floor. To avoid detection, he consulted the Marauder's Map and noticed Harry Potter leaving Gryffindor Tower, presumably for a nocturnal adventure, possibly with a similar destination in mind.
Upon reaching the restricted section, John found the door mysteriously ajar but saw no sign of Harry. It dawned on him that Harry must be using his Invisibility Cloak. Curious, John slipped in before the door swung shut.
Inside, he observed Harry, now visible, scanning the bookshelves with a lantern in hand, searching for information on Nicolas Flamel. The tension was palpable, with Harry so focused that he seemed to hear whispers emanating from the books themselves.
Harry's search led him to a large, ominous book bound in black and silver. Without hesitation, he pulled it from the shelf. "Stop!" John's warning came too late. Startled by the shout, Harry opened the book, unleashing a blood-curdling scream that filled the room. The scream persisted even after Harry slammed the book shut, causing him to panic and inadvertently knock over his lantern in his haste to escape.
As Harry fled, the commotion attracted the attention of Argus Filch, the caretaker, who arrived with a menacing glare. Harry, now under his invisibility cloak, narrowly evaded Filch's grasp and darted away, disoriented in the darkness.
Eventually, Harry found refuge in a room hidden behind a suit of armor, just as Snape and Filch approached. Holding his breath, Harry waited until their footsteps faded before removing his cloak, believing himself to be safe.
However, the tranquility was short-lived. The door creaked open, yet no one appeared to enter. A sense of dread washed over Harry, his skin crawling with fear. Suddenly, he felt a touch on his shoulder and stifled a scream, only to recognize the voice that whispered, "Shh, you'll get us points deducted for doing this."
"John?" Harry turned to find John materializing as if from thin air. John, slightly amused by the chaos, lamented the unnecessary attention their library escapade had drawn from Snape.
Harry, still reeling from the shock, bombarded John with questions about the invisibility and the mysterious voice. John, feeling a bit overwhelmed, suggested, "Why don't we explore this room first? I haven't been here yet."
Eager to shift focus from the night's earlier frights, Harry agreed, and the two set off to uncover the secrets of the mysterious room, unaware of the magical discoveries that awaited them. As Harry began to take in his surroundings, he realized they had stumbled upon what appeared to be an abandoned classroom. Desks and chairs were haphazardly stacked against the walls, casting ominous shadows in the dim light. An overturned wastebasket added to the disarray. However, it was the object on the wall opposite them that caught their attention—a mirror. It was no ordinary mirror. Towering almost to the ceiling, its grandeur was accentuated by an ornate golden frame resting on claw-shaped feet. At the top, an inscription read, "Eris Stella Uhru Aitubi Kafru Aition Voorhees," a phrase that seemed to hold a mysterious allure.
Driven by his Gryffindor bravery, Harry approached the mirror without hesitation. But as he stood before it, his excitement quickly turned to fear. "What's wrong?" John asked, moving closer out of concern. Harry's breath became shallow, his face draining of color. "There are people in the mirror, at least a dozen, all standing behind me," he whispered, a mix of awe and fear in his voice.
John, taken aback, leaned in for a closer look. At first glance, he saw nothing unusual. But then, the reflection shifted, revealing a scene of John himself, surrounded by tables laden with heavenly delicacies. He blinked in disbelief, only to find his mirror image now indulging in the feast. More strikingly, his reflection donned a magnificent wizard's robe, appeared to be in his twenties, held a wand symbolizing power, and wore the prestigious Order of Merlin First Class Medal. The realization dawned on him. "The Mirror of Erised?" he murmured, recalling the tales of a mirror that showed the deepest desires of one's heart. But why was it here now, rather than at the end of their journey as he remembered?
Harry, meanwhile, was captivated by the sight of a kind-eyed woman and a man with black hair and glasses—his parents, he believed. Not just them, but other relatives too, all sharing Harry's distinctive green eyes. It was a vision of the family he longed for, so real that he reached out, hoping to somehow step through the mirror and join them.
Seeing Harry so entranced, John gently pulled him away. "We should leave before Filch or anyone else comes back," he advised. Though reluctant, Harry agreed. As he draped the invisibility cloak over himself, John declined the offer to share it. "I don't need it," he said with a mysterious smile, then vanished from sight with a simple wave of his wand.
"John, are you still there?" Harry asked, startled.
"Of course," came the reply, right in front of him. Harry reached out, accidentally poking John in the eye, which earned a light reprimand.
Before they left the room, John paused to glance back at the mirror. For a moment, he thought he saw a silver-haired old man, but the figure vanished as quickly as it had appeared. "Dumbledore?" he wondered aloud, piecing together that the headmaster must have placed the mirror here. This reassured him that Harry was not in any immediate danger.
After parting ways with Harry, John ventured into the restricted section of the library, where he discovered an ancient tome titled "Supreme Alchemy." However, the content proved too complex, reminding him that foundational knowledge was essential before delving into advanced magic. Deciding to take things step by step, he placed the book under his pillow and consulted the Marauder's Map, noticing Professor Quirrell wandering outside Hogwarts.
John contemplated following Quirrell, curious about his activities. Yet, he quickly dismissed the idea, recognizing the vast gap in magical power between them and the potential danger, especially if his identity were discovered. With these thoughts, John decided to focus on his own path, acknowledging that the Christmas holidays were not yet over and there was much more to learn and explore. During this time, John made several trips to the library, fervently gathering a multitude of books on basic alchemy. He was determined to expand his knowledge in the field, yet he knew that what he had learned so far was insufficient. Amidst his research, he stumbled upon a fascinating record in a tome dedicated to ancient alchemy. It was about Nicolas Flamel, heralded as the sole creator of the Philosopher's Stone. This discovery set John's mind ablaze with thoughts. He recalled that in Harry Potter's first year, the Sorcerer's Stone, as it was also known, played a crucial role. This artifact, John realized, could significantly expedite his mastery of advanced alchemy.
"The Philosopher's Stone..." he murmured, tracing his fingers over the text. The notion of immortality briefly tantalized him, only to be swiftly dismissed. He understood all too well the grave drawbacks of eternal life. Not only would it sap away one's emotions, but it would also render the body exceedingly fragile. To John, enduring such a fate was far worse than death itself.
"Perhaps I should discuss this with Harry," he pondered. Lately, Harry and his friends seemed on the verge of abandoning their efforts. John believed that sharing his findings might rekindle their determination.
_________
If you are tired of reading I also have this converted to an audio novel on my youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge