Hermione had been noticing some strange patterns over the past few weeks. Certain subtle things didn't add up, and her sharp mind couldn't let them go unnoticed. Professor Snape, for one, had been acting more secretive than usual, and there were whispers of something hidden deep within the school. The clues kept piling up—talk of a legendary stone that granted immortality, overheard conversations between teachers, and even Toji's subtle remarks. She knew something was going on.
One evening, sitting in the Slytherin common room with Daphne and Toji, she leaned forward, her brow furrowed in thought.
"I've been thinking," she said, her voice low but firm. "There's something odd about that third-floor corridor. Dumbledore said it's off-limits, but why? And then there's the Philosopher's Stone…"
Toji raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his face. "You've been digging into the Flamel mystery, haven't you?"
Hermione huffed. "Of course I have. Nicolas Flamel created the Philosopher's Stone, and it's said to grant immortality. I've read everything I could find, but there's not much in the Hogwarts library. And Snape… I think he's after it."
Daphne, who had been silent up to this point, spoke up. "Snape's always up to something, but that doesn't mean he's behind this. Still, I wouldn't put it past him to be involved. The Stone is too valuable, and if someone like Snape wants it…"
"Then we'll stop him," Toji interrupted, leaning back in his chair with an air of confidence. "But first, we need to figure out how to get past all the protections Dumbledore's put in place."
Hermione bit her lip. "There has to be more information. I couldn't find anything on the Flamels in the library, but… wait. Toji, didn't you say your family has access to rare magical knowledge?"
Toji's grin widened. "Not just rare, Hermione. Legendary. And I have just the thing for this." He pulled a dusty, ancient-looking book from his bag. "I found a spell—a time clone spell. It lets me send future versions of myself to study under specific masters. If anyone knows more about the Philosopher's Stone, it would be the Flamels themselves. And this spell will let me learn directly from them."
Hermione's eyes widened. "You're not serious…"
"Oh, I am," Toji replied, his voice smooth and confident. "The Flamels live in France. This spell will create a copy of me and send it to their last known location. While we plan our next move, I'll be studying with them. By the time my time clone returns, I'll have everything we need to understand the Stone—and more."
Daphne raised an eyebrow. "Is that even safe?"
Toji laughed. "Safe enough. Plus, it's not like I'll be doing this for long. Time passes differently for the clones. I'll gather their knowledge in no time."
With a quick incantation, Toji's clone vanished, sent off to France to find the legendary Flamels. The trio then shifted focus to their research on how to access the third-floor corridor and what lay beneath the trapdoor.
Meanwhile, in France…
Toji's clone stepped into a quaint French village, his senses immediately alert. The clone had appeared right outside a small, ancient-looking house, its windows glowing warmly in the twilight. He knocked, and soon, the door creaked open to reveal Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel, their faces etched with age but their eyes sharp and curious.
"Well, well," Nicolas murmured, his voice old but filled with vitality. "You've come quite a long way, haven't you, young one?"
The Flamels, while old, were welcoming and immediately intrigued by Toji's determination and purpose. After a brief conversation, they agreed to teach him—everything. Their vast knowledge of alchemy, immortality, and ancient magical practices would be passed on to him in a short period, thanks to the peculiar effects of time on the clone. Over the course of weeks, Toji learned how to harness the magical properties of the Stone, secrets of alchemical transmutations, and knowledge of powerful rituals long forgotten by the rest of the world.
As Toji spent his time with the Flamels, he found himself respecting them more than he had anticipated. They were more than just powerful immortals; they were wise, full of centuries of stories and experiences. Even in their final moments, as their lives began to fade, the Flamels were content, happy to have shared their legacy with someone who would put their knowledge to good use.
Sitting beside them as they passed, Toji whispered softly, "Rest well. You've earned it."
With their passing, Toji collected every note, every book, and every piece of their knowledge, sealing it in a two-way dimensional pocket connected to his original self. Once his time ran out, everything the clone had learned would be transferred to Toji back at Hogwarts.
Back at Hogwarts…
The night of the "Don't Let Snape Get the Stone" operation arrived sooner than they had expected. Armed with all the knowledge they had gathered, Toji, Hermione, and Daphne quietly slipped out of the Slytherin dormitory. Clad in their cloaks, they navigated the dark corridors with ease, avoiding prefects and teachers with practiced stealth.
Their destination: the third-floor corridor.
They had made plans, scouted the area, and now it was time to act. Toji led the way, his senses sharp as they approached the forbidden door. Hermione and Daphne were right behind him, their nerves on edge but their resolve unshaken.
They reached the heavy wooden door that led to the trapdoor and paused. Hermione whispered, "We're sure about this?"
Daphne nodded, though her face betrayed a hint of uncertainty. "It's now or never."
Toji grinned, his eyes flashing with excitement. "Let's see what's behind the door, shall we?"
With a quick spell, he unlocked the door, and the trio slipped inside, their hearts pounding in anticipation. They knew the real danger was just beginning, but they were ready. Whatever lay beyond the trapdoor, they would face it—together.
As they prepared to descend, Toji could feel the connection with his time clone growing stronger. Soon, all the knowledge the Flamels had given him would be his.
And with it, they would be unstoppable.
France—Final Moments of the Time Clone
As the clone's time drew to a close, Toji packed the last of the Flamels' research into the two-way dimensional pocket which is linked to himself throghout Time so his creator gets all he got ASAP. He stood at the doorway of the Flamels' now-quiet home, looking out into the distance.
"Well," he said, smiling to himself, "that was worth it."
With a final glance at the peaceful countryside, the time clone faded, his consciousness returning to the original.
The Forbidden Trapdoor
Back at Hogwarts, the three friends stood at the edge of the trapdoor, peering down into the darkness below.
"This is it," Hermione whispered.
Toji felt a surge of power flow into him as the knowledge from his time clone transferred over. His grin widened. "Let's go see what's down there."
With that, they jumped into the unknown, ready for whatever awaited them beneath the castle.