Mister Nicolas Flamel

**Nicolas Flamel** (c. ***1326***–c. 1992) was a ***French*** wizard and famed ***alchemist*** who was the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary substance with incredible powers. He was a close friend and partner with former Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. He owed his considerable age to the Elixir of Life, which was produced from the Stone, along with his wife ***Perenelle***. He was well over six hundred years old as of 1992, being one of the ***oldest wizards*** in history.

## Physical description

### Gender

Male

Flamel was briefly mentioned on ***Albus Dumbledore's Chocolate Frog Card***.

## Biography

### Early life Template:C

Nicolas was born in the early ***14th century***. In his youth, Nicolas attended ***Beauxbatons Academy of Magic*** in the ***Pyrenees*** Mountains of ***France***, and it was there that he met ***Perenelle***, his future wife. It is said that he later funded both the academy's chateau and grounds, and a ***fountain*** on the grounds was named after the couple.

### Gaining immortality Template:C

Flamel became a noted alchemist of considerable talent. At some point, he created the Philosopher's Stone, an item of immense magical power. With the Stone, he created the Elixir of Life, a ***potion*** that made the drinker functionally immortal as long as it was regularly ingested. He and Perenelle regularly used the potion after that time.

Although it is clear that he used the Elixir to greatly extend his life, it is not specified whether he used the Stone's powers to make himself wealthy, as the Stone is also capable of turning any metal into gold.

Nicolas was implied to have been in personal combat, but had become inactive in this field by the ***1720s***. In 1762, he was spotted at an opera house in Paris.

In the ***1890s***, Nicolas first came into contact with the brilliant teenager Albus Dumbledore.

### Gellert Grindelwald's revolution Template:C

Template:Dialogue a-b
When Albus Dumbledore began to take action to stop ***Gellert Grindelwald***, Nicolas Flamel, as his friend, decided to help him in this, and agreed to let him use his ***home*** as a safehouse for any potential allies should the situation require it, and gave him a ***card*** leading to the home. Albus gave Newton Scamander the card as Albus was unable to participate in the fight.

Once they had arrived safely at the Flamel House, which was by then well protected by various Protective enchantments, Scamander was able to remove the ***Water dragon parasite*** from Kama's eye. Soon after, while Yusuf recovered from the procedure. Newt and Tina travelled to the ***French Ministry of Magic*** to retrieve the ***Lestrange family tree box***.

Flamel stood behind a just awoke and hungry ***Jacob Kowalski*** which he thought was a ghost, to which he replied that he was an alchemist and therefore he was immortal. Kowalski quipped that he did not look more than 375 years old and attempted to shake his hand. Because of Nicolas' frail state due to his extremely advanced age, Jacob's firm grip hurt him and he screamed from the pain. Jacob apologised, but Nicolas was okay.

### Death Template:C

> To one as young as you, I'm sure it seems incredible, but to Nicolas and Perenelle, it really is like going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the well-organised mind, death is but the next great adventure.
>
> Albus Dumbledore about Nicolas Flamel's death, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

By the 1990s, Nicolas had moved to ***Great Britain*** with his wife and enjoyed a quiet life in ***Devon***. However, the danger of the Stone's existence was brought to light when Voldemort, with the help of Hogwarts Professor Quirinus Quirrell, was nearly successful in stealing it.

Voldemort, disembodied after his initial attempt to kill Harry Potter backfired, intended to use the Elixir to restore himself to physical form. Fortunately, his plan was barely thwarted by the efforts of three children: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.

After consulting with Dumbledore, Flamel agreed that the stone should be destroyed. Though they had enough Elixir to set their affairs in order, it was expected that they would die shortly thereafter as their supply ran out. When Dumbledore informed Harry of this, the young wizard initially took the news to be terrible. However, Dumbledore assured him that, for them, it would be like "going to bed after a very, very long day", implying that when Nicolas and his wife passed on, their deaths would be dignified and peaceful.

At the time of his death, Flamel was over 665 years old.

## Personality and traits

In spite of his advanced age, Nicolas was happy to do what he could to help put an end to the Dark wizard ***Gellert Grindelwald***'s seemingly unstoppable rise to power, and agreed to let his home be used as a safehouse for those who opposed him. Although he appeared to have had some doubts about his own abilities, Nicolas nevertheless proved himself to be a very brave and selfless individual, as he arrived to help Newt Scamander and the latter's allies to fight Grindelwald at the ***Lestrange Mausoleum*** when called upon to do so by ***Eulalie Hicks***; though he had not been entirely certain that he was up to the task. Because of his lifetime of achievements, it is likely that he was simply concerned that his advanced age had dulled his abilities.

Although he arrived too late to help fight Grindelwald himself, Nicolas nevertheless displayed great courage both by his timely arrival, and by his help in containing the incredibly powerful, rampant ***black fire*** their foe conjured, and was, as such, instrumental to the efforts to save ***Paris*** from it. Despite making efforts to stop his Philosopher's Stone falling into the wrong hands, by the age of 690, he ultimately viewed death as "but the next great adventure" much like his friend Albus Dumbledore. Hence, after Lord Voldemort very nearly succeeded in capturing his Philosopher's Stone, Nicolas willingly had it destroyed, having collected enough Elixir of Life to set his and his wife's affairs in order.

Flamel was also well known for his love of ***opera***.

## Magical abilities and skills

> The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers.
>
> Flamel accomplished what no other alchemist had, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

 File:Alchemycard.jpg
Belying his frail exterior, Nicolas Flamel was a very powerful and accomplished wizard. Rich in learning and experience, testaments to Nicolas' considerable abilities were his proficiency in ***alchemy***, held to be some of the most difficult magic known to wizardkind, and Nicolas helping to save the city of ***Paris*** from the rampant, destructive black fire unleashed by ***Gellert Grindelwald***, the most powerful Dark wizard of the early ***20th century***.

* **Alchemy**: Nicolas Flamel was perhaps the greatest alchemist the world had ever seen, being the only known person to successfully create a Philosopher's Stone, the ultimate goal of alchemy. With this, Flamel was able to render himself and his wife Perenelle immortal for centuries, until he chose to destroy the stone of his own volition in 1992.
* **Potions**: Flamel was also an exceptionally gifted ***potioneer***, as by using his alchemical knowledge of the properties of the Philosopher's Stone, he created the Elixir of Life, an incredible potion to make the drinker immortal. The effects of this potion were so extraordinary that by drinking it, he managed to remain alive and well for hundreds of years.
* **Defence Against the Dark Arts**: Although the exact extent of his skills is uncertain, it is evident that Nicolas Flamel had extensive knowledge of the Dark Arts and was extremely adept at defending himself from them, as he instantly recognised and knew how to stop the incredibly dangerous and volatile fire conjured by Gellert Grindelwald, and, along with Newt and Theseus Scamander, Tina Goldstein, and Yusuf Kama, successfully contained it by means of a combined powerful General Counter-Spell, thus effectively preventing the destruction of Paris. Nicolas' home was also described by Dumbledore as being heavily warded by various powerful protective enchantments after he turned his home into a safehouse for Dumbledore's friends and allies, showing he was very proficient in the casting of them. Furthermore, Nicolas Flamel claimed that he had not "seen action" in about two hundred years, suggesting that prior to 1927, he used to be both an active and highly accomplished duellist. Despite his long absence from using martial magic, however, and initial doubt that he would be of any help in fighting Gellert Grindelwald, Ilvermorny professor Eulalie Hicks had great faith in his defensive abilities, and urged him to go to the Lestrange family Mausoleum to save Newt and his friends, which he did with great success, showing his impressive talents in this field.
* **Divination**: Nicolas Flamel apparently had some ability in Divination, as he could gaze into crystal balls and see events unfold elsewhere, such as when he saw Credence Barebone, Nagini, and the upcoming Gellert Grindelwald rally at the Lestrange family Mausoleum.
* **Wandless** and **Non-verbal magic**: Nicolas Flamel proved capable of using both wandless and nonverbal magic, both of which is advanced and highly difficult to perform even individually, yet Nicolas used both simultaneously when he unlocked the padlock on his phoenix-embossed book by simply touching it.
* **Immortality**: Having drunk the Elixir of Life on a continuous basis, Nicolas remained alive for over 600 years. However, while this extended his lifespan, his body continued to age, leading to a frail and ancient appearance. His life became completely reliant on the Elixir and the Stone used to brew it. Once he agreed to destroy the Stone and depleted the potion, Nicolas died.
* **Social networking**: Due to having lived over 600 years thanks to the Philosopher's Stone's Elixir of Life, Nicolas Flamel has a vast network of international contacts in the whole Wizarding world, communicating with them via his phoenix-embossed book. Notable among his contacts were Albus Dumbledore of Hogwarts, and Eulalie Hicks of Ilvermorny.
* **Bilingualism**: Nicolas Flamel spoke his native French, as well as fluent English, with only a slight accent in the latter.

## Possessions

 File:9b63ac9f5e3b41dbbd2d23242eb91cc3 Original.jpg
 File:Pholosophers-Stone PM.jpg
* **Wand**: Nicolas owned a wand of an unknown length, wood and core material.
* **Philosopher's Stone**: Nicolas created the legendary and mystical Philosopher's Stone, an incredibly powerful magical object that granted him and his wife a greatly extended lifespan through the power of Immortality.
* **Elixir of Life**: Being the creator of the Philosopher's Stone, Flamel was able to brew the Elixir of Life, a legendary and unique potion that granted the power of immortality to the drinker, which kept him and his wife alive for centuries.
* **Crystal ball**: Nicolas owned a ***crystal ball*** that could be used to see into the future.
* **Phoenix-embossed book**: Nicolas owned a book that he used to magically communicate with other wizards and witches throughout the Wizarding world, such as Albus Dumbledore and ***Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry*** professor ***Eulalie Hicks***.
* **Chalice**: Nicolas owned a chalice that he was believed to have drunk from when practising alchemy. The ***Beauxbatons*** student ***Aurélie Dumont*** sought this chalice in the hopes it could make her a great Alchemist and believed it was hidden at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

## Relationships

### Perenelle Flamel

***Perenelle Flamel*** was the wife of Nicolas Flamel. Nicolas Flamel shared the Elixir of Life with Perenelle, making them both functionally immortal until the Stone was destroyed in 1992. They lived happily together for the over 600 years that they were together.

### Albus Dumbledore

> Well, Nicolas and I have had a little chat, and agreed it's all for the best.
>
> Albus Dumbledore and Flamel's agreement to destroy the stone, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

 File:Albus Dumbledore before presenting the Goblet of Fire.jpg
Albus Dumbledore was a close friend to Nicolas. During the Global wizarding war, Flamel let him use his home as a safe house for allies that opposed the Dark wizard ***Gellert Grindelwald***, and helped protect ***Paris*** from certain destruction at the hands of said revolutionary leader alongside ***Newt Scamander***, ***Theseus Scamander***, ***Tina Goldstein*** and ***Yusuf Kama***. The faith and trust he had in Dumbledore was evident, and highlighted by his allowing Albus to put the Stone in Gringotts Wizarding Bank in London in 1991 to prevent Lord Voldemort from stealing it. It was also Albus who moved the stone to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for further protection later the same year.

## Etymology

* *Nicolas* is the French form of the Greek name *Nikolaos* meaning "victory of the people".
* The name *Flamel* means in Old French "flame". Such meaning can be associated to Flamel's work as an alchemist.

## Behind the scenes

Template:Quoteurl

* Template:Wplink was a real French scribe believed in legend to have been an alchemist who created the Philosopher's Stone. He was born about ***1330*** and died in ***1418***. There is no proof that the historical Flamel and his wife Template:W achieved immortality, though a few have claimed to have seen him throughout the centuries, or that he was even involved in alchemy at all. According to the legend, another of Flamel's goals was to turn ordinary lead into pure gold. However, while the Flamels had a reputation as generous benefactors, Nicolas's will did not indicate the fantastic wealth later ascribed to him. Historically that wealth was generally derived from Nicolas's businesses and Perenelle's inheritance from two previous husbands.
* The legend of Flamel as an immortal alchemist probably dates to 17th century. The reference to Flamel marks one of the few occasions in which a real person has been referenced as a character in the Potter books.
* In Template:PS, Flamel's first name is spelled as Nicholas, adding an 'h' in the subtitles and in the book Hermione Granger reads.
* Also in the film, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger discover the link to Nicolas Flamel and the stone through a book, rather than Albus Dumbledore's ***Chocolate Frog Card***. In a deleted scene you see them discovering the connection through a chocolate frog card, but this was switched when edited.
* *Nicolas Flamel* is the title of chapter 13 in Template:PS.
* In a deleted first draft of Template:PS, Harry says that Nicolas Flamel was spotted in a Parisian ***opera house*** in ***1762***. Whether this is ***canon*** is unknown.
* Nicolas was the first known Beauxbatons student introduced in the series, though the fact that he attended Beauxbatons was only revealed on Pottermore.
* Nicolas Flamel appeared in the ***second film*** of the ***Fantastic Beasts series***, portrayed by ***Brontis Jodorowsky***.
* The pronunciation of Flamel's first name varies by canon source. While the 's' is articulated in the *Harry Potter* films, in Template:COG, Nicolas himself uses the French pronunciation with a silent 's'.

### Author's comments

***J. K. Rowling*** related that several months into the writing of Template:PS, she had a highly detailed and exceptionally vivid dream about Flamel, which was like "*a renaissance painting come to life*". Flamel was leading her around his cluttered laboratory, which was bathed in golden light, and showing exactly how to make the Stone.

## Appearances

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* Template:PS Template:Mention Template:1st Mention
* Template:DH Template:Mention
* Template:COG
* Template:COG
* Template:TCG Template:1st
* Template:PM
* Template:WW
* Template:HM Template:FWC
* Template:WU Template:Mention
* Template:PAS Template:Mention
* Template:MA Template:Mention

## Notes and references

Template:Reflist

1. ↑ Template:PS - "Mr Flamel, who celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Perenelle (six hundred and fifty-eight)." Note the book being quoted is described to be old in 1992, so she and her husband are in fact older. In an early draft of the book, Harry read in Alchemy: Ancient Art and Science that Nicolas was born in the 1300s
2. ↑ Rowling stated on her website shortly before the publication of Template:HBP that Nicolas had died by the start of the book, which makes their date of deaths between 1992 when the stone was destroyed and 1996 which is when the sixth book starts.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Template:WW
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Template:PS
5. ↑ Template:COG
6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `DHF`
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 Template:PS
8. ↑ In 1927, Nicolas claimed that he had not "seen action" in about 200 years. 200 years before the 1920s is the 1720s, to say it is a rough approximation.
9. ↑ "*Very early page of Philosopher's Stone*", by ***J. K. Rowling*** Template:See image
10. ↑ Template:DH
11. ↑ Template:COG
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Template:COG
13. ↑ Template:PS - "Mr Flamel, who celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Perenelle (six hundred and fifty-eight)."
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Template:COG
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Template:PS
16. ↑ Template:HM
17. ↑ "*Very early page of Philosopher's Stone*", by ***J. K. Rowling*** - Template:See image
18. ↑ Pottermore: Nicolas Flamel Cast
19. ↑ Template:WW