The crackling flames in the fireplace illuminated the slightly tired yet excited faces of the four young men.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione had just returned from a perilous journey through the Forbidden Zone, and their physical exhaustion seemed to be replaced by their inner excitement.
The air was filled with the faint scent of toasted bread and old books; this familiar aroma always brings a sense of warmth.
"It's absolutely incredible!" Ron exclaimed, waving his arms, his freckles seeming to become even more pronounced with excitement, his voice trembling slightly.
"Did you see the ghost face in that book? It looked like it was about to jump out of the book, I felt like it was going to swallow me whole!" He hugged his arms, as if he could still feel the chills he had felt at the time.
Harry nodded in agreement, gently touching the lightning bolt scar on his forehead, as if he could still feel the terrifying fear he had felt back then.
His green eyes gleamed with lingering fear. "Yes, thankfully Moen reacted quickly, otherwise we would definitely have been caught by Filch."
Harry paused for a moment, then said somewhat reluctantly, "But why haven't we found any clues about Nicolas Flamel after searching for so long?" His eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes.
Hermione sat on the sofa, clutching a quill pen tightly in her hand, her gaze fixed on the flickering flames in the fireplace, seemingly deep in thought.
Her long hair fell over her shoulders, making her figure appear somewhat slender.
She said with slight dissatisfaction, "Perhaps it's because we're looking in the wrong way? Or perhaps the information about Nicolas Flamel is hidden in an even more concealed place?" Her fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, revealing her inner irritation.
She turned to look at Moen, hoping to get some clues from him.
Moen sat quietly in the armchair by the fireplace, rubbing his temples as if he were tired, and said calmly, "When I was in the forbidden book section just now, I think I saw a book that mentioned that Nicolas Flamel was somehow related to... the Philosopher's Stone."
He paused, as if trying to recall something, his brow furrowing slightly.
"The situation was too urgent at the time. I only glanced at it out of the corner of my eye and didn't see it very carefully, so I don't remember the specific details very clearly." He deliberately slowed down his tone and pretended to think to ensure that his words sounded true and reliable.
"The Philosopher's Stone?" Harry, Ron, and Hermione's attention was immediately drawn to the words "Philosopher's Stone," their eyes filled with surprise and curiosity.
Harry even jumped up from the sofa, asking eagerly, "What is the Philosopher's Stone? And what does it have to do with Nicolas Flamel?" His voice was clearly anxious, as if he desperately wanted to know the answer.
Moen shook his head, feigning confusion. "I'm not quite sure either. I just read in a book that it mentioned Nicolas Flamel and the Philosopher's Stone, and something about immortality." He described it as if recalling something, hoping to better guide the plot.
"Immortality?" Ron's eyes lit up instantly, like two tiny light bulbs, and his cheeks flushed slightly with excitement. "Could that stone really grant immortality? That's so cool!"
He leaned forward slightly, seemingly already fantasizing about his life after gaining the ability to live forever.
Hermione's expression turned serious, and the excitement on her face gradually faded, replaced by a hint of solemnity and vigilance.
She frowned, and said thoughtfully, "Immortality... How is that possible? Is it really true?" Deep down, she still seemed unable to believe such an extraordinary thing, and her scientific spirit made her skeptical of the claim.
She remembered once flipping through a book called "The Chronicles of Magical Legends," a book that told various magical legends and histories. She would often read it in her spare time as a pastime.
She immediately pulled out the thick red book from her bag. The cover was already a bit worn, and the spine had several large characters embossed in gold lettering: "The Chronicles of Magical Legends".
She quickly flipped through the pages, her fingers darting across the lines of text, trying to find a description of the Philosopher's Stone.
As she flipped through the pages, she murmured, "I remember reading this book before when I was just relaxing. It seemed to mention the Philosopher's Stone..." Her voice trailed off, as if she were completely absorbed in the world of the book.
Finally, her finger stopped on a certain page, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she put the book on the table, excitedly saying, "Found it! It's here! 'The Philosopher's Stone, also known as the Philosopher's Stone, is said to be able to turn any metal into pure gold and can also create the elixir of immortality.'"
She pointed to the words in the book and read them aloud clearly, her tone a mixture of excitement and seriousness. "The book says that the Philosopher's Stone is the ultimate achievement of alchemy, and only a very few people can master this alchemy. Nicolas Flamel was one of them."
Harry and Ron listened attentively to Hermione's explanation, both of them amazed by the magical power of the Philosopher's Stone.
"There really is such a thing!" Ron exclaimed again, seemingly filled with longing for the magic of immortality, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"This is just too amazing." Harry was incredulous, his brows furrowed, as if he still couldn't believe it was real. He subconsciously touched the scar on his forehead, as if he had thought of something.
Moen smiled inwardly as he watched the three excited individuals; he knew his guidance had worked. He pondered how to steer the plot forward next.
"Then what we saw in the forbidden section before…" Harry looked up, his thoughts becoming clearer, "Could that three-headed dog be guarding the Philosopher's Stone? It must have been placed there by Dumbledore to prevent anyone from stealing it."
His tone became more certain, and his thoughts became exceptionally clear.
Hermione agreed with Harry's speculation. She put down her book, her expression turning serious. She nodded and said, "It's very possible that Dumbledore did this to protect the Philosopher's Stone. That's a dangerous thing."
"But why not hide it in a safer place?" Ron asked, a puzzled look on his face. "Why put it on the third floor, and guarded by such a ferocious monster?" He scratched the back of his head, unable to figure out the reason.
"Perhaps Dumbledore wants to test us," Ron said, scratching his head and trying to sound casual. "After all, only those who pass the test deserve the Philosopher's Stone." His tone was light, trying to ease the tense atmosphere, but it made him seem somewhat unreliable.
"Ron, stop joking." Hermione glanced at him helplessly, her tone tinged with exasperation. "The Philosopher's Stone is a very dangerous thing; we shouldn't even think about getting it." She didn't take Ron's words seriously.
"Yes, Hermione is right." Moen nodded, feigning a yawn, a hint of weariness in his eyes. He said softly, "It's getting late, we have class tomorrow, everyone should get some rest." His tone softened, trying to calm everyone down and end the discussion.
Although Harry and Ron were still enjoying themselves, they were starting to feel tired, so they got up and prepared to return to their respective dormitories.
Hermione nodded, picked up the book "The Chronicles of Magical Legends," carefully put it back in her bag, and then got up to go back to her dormitory.
Before she left, she glanced at Moen, her eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and gratitude.
As Moen watched Hermione, Harry, and Ron walk into the dormitory, a slight smile appeared on his lips, and a glint of light flashed in his silver-white eyes.
He thought to himself, "The Philosopher's Stone, Nicolas Flamel, Cerberus... these clues have finally surfaced. It seems it's time to prepare for the next step of the plan; after all, time is running out.