"You see, Richie," Potter turned to Grosvenor, "it all started when Draco Malfoy challenged me to a duel and then didn't show up. We ran from Filch out of the Trophy Room and accidentally ended up in the forbidden corridor on the third floor. I unlocked the door—and behind it there was a gigantic three-headed dog."
"Cerberus? There's a Cerberus in the school?!" Richard was stunned.
"Yeah," Ron confirmed. "I nearly soiled myself when I saw that monster. Massive fangs, drool dripping, growling so hard your knees start shaking—bloody terrifying!"
"Lucky it was chained up," Harry Potter added. "I noticed there was a trapdoor in the floor beneath it."
"Right," said Richie. "So I understand why the third floor corridor is off-limits—there's a rare magical creature being kept there. I also understand that Malfoy has no honour, seeing as he failed to show up for the duel. I can't say I approve of duelling, but I approve of dishonour even less. But how did you leap from that to the idea that such a treasure might be hidden in the school? That's rather absurd."
"Richie, we asked around," Harry began, "and found out that Hagrid is fond of all sorts of monsters. He's the only one who could've brought a Cerberus into the school."
"Let's assume that's true. And?!" Grosvenor arched a brow.
"Richie, remember when we went to Diagon Alley this summer?" Potter said. "That was when Gringotts was robbed—and Hagrid was the one under suspicion."
"That proves nothing," Richard replied.
"It doesn't, but—" Potter lowered his voice to a whisper, "Ron and I decided to follow Hagrid. He was talking to Professor Quirrell. The professor asked how Hagrid's dog was doing. And Hagrid said it wasn't his business—that it concerned only Dumbledore and Flamel."
"Very interesting, but I still don't see the connection to the Philosopher's Stone," Richard said sceptically.
"Richie, come on—it's obvious," Harry pressed on. "I think Hagrid stole the Philosopher's Stone from Gringotts on Professor Dumbledore's orders, hid it in the forbidden corridor, and set the Cerberus to guard it."
"Hold on," Richard couldn't hide a broad smile. "Hang on, Harry—have I got this right? The headmaster of a school of magic, a highly respected wizard, sends a 'completely inconspicuous' gamekeeper to steal the Philosopher's Stone from a bank, and then they hide such an incredible treasure in a school full of children?"
"Yes!" Harry exclaimed triumphantly.
Richard could not help himself—he burst out laughing.
"Oh, good Lord," he said. "Harry, you have an excellent sense of humour."
"It's true!" Harry replied, sounding a little offended. "Richie, I know it sounds mad, but listen. Uncle Scott found out that it was Dumbledore who left me with the Dursleys. Before you came along, they weren't receiving any money for my upkeep. And that might be because Dumbledore bewitched the people from social services!"
"Dumbledore placed you in the care of your closest relatives, Harry," Richard countered. "He didn't know Scott even existed. And the child services system is a complete shambles as it is. Your aunt and uncle, for instance, might simply have been too afraid—because you're a wizard—to apply for any benefits. Why would the headmaster steal the Philosopher's Stone?"
"He's old," Ron said. "Mum and Dad always say Dumbledore's a great wizard, but they've never said he's a good man. He defeated the Dark Lord Grindelwald in a duel, and he fought You-Know-Who. My parents fought on his side, against You-Know-Who. But who knows why it all really happened? Maybe Dumbledore only pretends to be good, and he's actually a Dark Lord, getting rid of his rivals under the guise of fighting for the right cause!"
Ron's words made Richard pause.
"Hm…" he drawled. "You know, Ron, there's a grain of sense in what you're saying. If you look at it that way… why not? I wouldn't rule it out entirely. But if that's true—and if the Philosopher's Stone really is hidden in the school…"
"We have to steal it and return it to its rightful owner!" Harry Potter declared firmly.
"Yes, but…" Ron said hesitantly. "That's Dumbledore we're talking about. What if we get expelled?"
"We still have to do it," Potter insisted.
"Gentlemen," Richard interjected, "I agree with you on the first point. As for the second, I don't. Why should we return the Philosopher's Stone to anyone, if we can use it ourselves after taking it from a villain? Wouldn't you like your parents, your brothers, your sister—or your uncle—to live long and happy lives? Wouldn't you like to live long enough yourselves to see the future of humanity?"
"But… What about Flamel?" Potter asked indignantly. "He'll die without the Philosopher's Stone."
"Harry, don't be ridiculous," Richard said, shaking his head. "If Mr Flamel managed to create one Philosopher's Stone, then he's perfectly capable of making another. I'm more than certain he has a whole stock of them hidden all over the world. Tell me—would you, in his place, really rely on a single stone when your life depends on it?
"Richie's right," Ron agreed at once, a glint of greed appearing in his eyes. "Flamel knows the recipe—what's to stop him from making more?"
The Philosopher's Stone, Richard thought. Could it truly exist? If magic could do anything, then yes!
Richard had every reason to believe that the boys' theory—absurd as it sounded at first glance—might actually prove true. After all, in the holoseries, Harry Potter somehow ended up crossing paths with the villain. And what could have drawn that villain to the school? Surely not some little boy. No, it was power, longevity, and wealth—the things one could obtain through the Philosopher's Stone. A vast amount of gold would be enough to crush any competition; after all, in war, it is usually the richer side that wins.
And who was to say the villain would need to infiltrate the castle at all? The transmigrator only dimly recalled fragments of the series' plot. It was entirely possible that the villain was the headmaster himself, and that he was keeping the Philosopher's Stone for his own purposes—or perhaps using it to lay a trap for a rival.
(End of Chapter)
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