Philosopher's Stone

> "*The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The Stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal.*"
> ― A Hogwarts library book[source]
>
>

The **Philosopher's Stone** was a legendary alchemical substance with magical properties. This ruby-red stone could be used to create the Elixir of Life, which made the drinker immortal, as well as transform any metal into pure gold. The only known Stone to have ever existed was created by the famed alchemist Nicolas Flamel. During 1991–1992 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Lord Voldemort made attempts to steal the Stone for his own purposes. The final and almost successful attempt broke out in a skirmish for possession of the Stone. Voldemort was foiled by eleven year old Harry Potter and his return to power was delayed.

## History

### Creation

The only known Philosopher's Stone to have ever existed was created by the famed alchemist, Nicolas Flamel, sometime in the 14th century or later. Flamel used the Elixir of Life exuded from the stone to extend his and his wife Perenelle's lifespan for over six centuries.

Critics of the Deathly Hallows claimed that Beedle the Bard was inspired to create the life-restoring Resurrection Stone from the life-extending Philosopher's Stone.

While living in Paris in 1927, Flamel kept the Philosopher's Stone on the shelf of a drawer, where it could be seen when he met Jacob Kowalski.

During Gilderoy Lockhart's studentship at Hogwarts, he would rant to anyone who would bother to listen about planning to achieve many impressive feats, one of which is to create a Philosopher's Stone before graduation; of course, he never did so.

### Protecting the Stone

> "*I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected.*"
> ― Professor McGonagall regarding the stone's safety[source]
>
>

In 1991, the Philosopher's Stone became the target of the Dark Wizard Lord Voldemort in his quest for the Elixir of Life in order to create a new body for his mangled soul after his failed attack on Godric's Hollow, though it is unknown how Voldemort learned of the stone. Voldemort used a human host, Quirinus Quirrell, to seek it out at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where it was being held. The stone was originally stored at Gringotts Wizarding Bank in Vault 713. However, possibly suspecting a threat, Albus Dumbledore had Rubeus Hagrid retrieve the stone the very morning of an attempted robbery.

After that, the Stone was placed in a special chamber and guarded by seven enchantments and creatures, provided by the professors at Hogwarts: Professor Sprout's web of Devil's Snare; Winged Keys, charmed by Filius Flitwick; a life-size board of Wizard's Chess, transfigured and animated by Professor McGonagall; Professor Quirrell's mountain troll; Professor Snape's Potion riddle; and the Mirror of Erised, placed there by Albus Dumbledore. Rubeus Hagrid's massive three-headed dog, Fluffy, guarded the trap door through which the chamber lay. In order to keep them safe from Fluffy and the other obstacles, Dumbledore forbade the third-floor corridor to all students.<

Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger suspected that the stone would be stolen. In overhearing out-of-context conversations, they believed the thief would be Hogwarts Potions Master Severus Snape.

Harry felt compelled to protect the stone and he and his friends, using intellectual power and heroism far exceeding their years, fought past the obstacles, until finally Harry was forced to face Quirinus Quirrell and Lord Voldemort himself. In the final showdown, Quirrell lost his life, and Lord Voldemort lost his meagre hold on the physical world once again.

After securing the stone, Albus Dumbledore and Flamel discussed its future, and agreed that it was best to destroy it. Flamel ensured he had enough remaining elixir to set his affairs in order before he and his wife would ultimately die, a fate with which they were quite content. According to Dumbledore, their deaths would be like "*going to bed after a very, very long day*", after living for over 660 years.

### Aftermath

> "*The Stone was not such a wonderful thing. As much money and life as you wanted, the two things most human beings would choose above all. The trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them.*"
> ― Albus Dumbledore regarding the true nature of the Philosopher's Stone[source]
>
>

After his failure, Voldemort correctly deduced that Dumbledore would destroy the stone to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands again. Voldemort had then given up on the stone and waited for another method to regenerate his body. He only wanted the stone to create a body for himself, and nothing more, as being dependent on the Elixir and Stone for his immortality was for him unacceptable.

When Dumbledore's Army met for the first time in the Hog's Head Inn in 1995, Neville Longbottom referred to it incorrectly as the "Philological Stone" when discussing Harry's past achievements.

## Nature

The Stone could turn any metal into pure gold, and produced the Elixir of Life, which granted immortality.

The Stone was variously described as red and white in the many old texts in which it appeared. These colours were important in most accounts of alchemy, and were often interpreted as having symbolic meaning.

According to a page in *Advanced Potion-Making*, "*the Philosopher's Stone was believed to mystically amplify the user's knowledge of alchemy so much that anything was attainable*."