Chapter 50: Let the Research Begin
"So, before you left Hogwarts, how far did you guys get?" Katie asked, looking back at her sister.
"Oh, we… um… had his name… then we… looked through some books."
"In other words, Katie, they didn't get far." Kaleb spoke.
"That is it?"
"Well, Hermione didn't want to get caught, and when we asked, the teachers would just clamp their mouths shut."
"Well, there is one vital clue you now have that you didn't have before. And it is all because of me."
"And what is that Kaleb?"
"You now know Flamel is an alchemist."
"That's right Phoenix!"
"And this means what? So, I know he is an alchemist now. What good is that going to do me?"
Katie rolled her eyes. "Think about it Phoenix, we can look under alchemists and see if his name pops up."
"Okay."
"You know Phoenix; if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't get half of your researching done. Who does your research at Hogwarts?"
"Hermione. And she doesn't suspect a thing." She smirked.
Katie turned her attention back to the bookshelves. "Okay, if I was an alchemist, which book would I be in?"
"Maybe, we could ask Miss Donovan. She is the librarian." Kaleb asked.
Phoenix was about to answer until Katie interrupted, "Are you nuts! That would give Uncle Leo another person he would have to memory wipe."
"Katie, are you sure Miss Donovan has anything left for Uncle Leo to wipe?"
Katie stared at her sister for a moment. "I guess it wouldn't hurt."
"I'll go get her." Kaleb stepped outside the door, "MISS DONOVAN!"
"Geezz, Kaleb, could you get any louder? I think they couldn't hear you in Egypt." Katie asked, covering her ears.
"Don't taunt him, Katie, he just might."
"Mr. Nicolae! Use your inside voice in this school! Especially in the library!" Miss Donovan whispered in a harsh voice. She came from the double doors on the opposite side of the large, round room.
"Sorry, Miss Donovan." Kaleb quietly said.
"That is better." Miss Donovan looked around the room, noticing that they were not the only two. "Ah, and what is it that the Matthews twins are researching? There better be a reason for the bloody-murder screaming." She continued, looking straight at Phoenix.
"Why is it always me? Couldn't it be Katie that is up to something?"
"No. Katie is the good twin."
Phoenix gave Miss Donovan a scowl before she answered her question.
"Well, there is this assignment at school that I need help with. Would you know anything about Nicolas Flamel? We know he is an alchemist, but that is all I have." Phoenix asked, giving one of her best innocent looks to Miss Donovan.
"Nicolas Flamel. Well, you would want to start…." Miss Donovan walked to the opposite side of the room, "with these books. I am not sure if he would be under his name or famous alchemist. You would want to add what an alchemist is in your paper. Then you should probably look in these books…." She walked back to the other side of the room, pulling books two shelves above Katie. "These would tell you everything alchemists have tried to do and done."
Phoenix gathered the books, placing them on a table the three of them cleaned off. "Thank you, Miss Donovan. These will help a lot."
"You're welcome. Remember, if you need anything else let me know." Then Miss Donovan left in the same direction she came from.
"I told you she would be helpful to us. Librarians know every inch of the library!" Kaleb shouted, receiving a laugh from Phoenix.
"And she cut our researching down. We have what books to look through."
"But she took half of the fun." Katie pouted.
"Stop pouting. We still have researching to do. Kaleb, since you brought up that Flamel was an alchemist, you look through these books." Phoenix pushed a small stack to Kaleb, then went to Katie. "Katie, you look for any information you think is important." She pushed another small stack towards her sister.
"And what are you going to do?" Katie asked.
"Yeah, you have a smaller stack Nix."
"I'm looking up Nicolas Flamel."
"Sure."
Then the three of them went to work. Each one looked through each book, page by page.
"I think I have something about what an alchemist is." Kaleb said, then read from the book, "An Alchemist was a person versed in the art of alchemy, an ancient branch of natural philosophy that eventually evolved into chemistry and pharmacology. Alchemy flourished in the Islamic world during the Middle Ages, and then in Europe from the 13th to the 18th centuries."
"The key word is "was". Phoenix, you act like Flamel is still alive. Obviously, he is not from how passage states on alchemy." Katie said.
"But… then…. why would Hagrid not say anything?"
"What did he say exactly?" Kaleb asked.
"He said whatever Fluffy was guarding was between Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel."
"Fluffy?" Kaleb questioned.
"It's just a name of a three-headed dog no biggie."
"Three-headed dog?" Katie also questioned. "That is a big deal!"
"Can we focus, please?"
"Yeah, sounds like something big. He must have done something."
"You think?"
"Okay, let's continue."
"Oh, wait!"
"Now what, Phoenix, remember this is your project we are doing. And we are wasting time."
"No Katie, look, I found him!"
"Really?"
"What does it say?"
"Hey, settle down, you two! Let me breath."
"Sorry, Nix."
"Okay, this is what I have: He was a successful scrivener and manuscript-seller who developed a posthumous reputation as an alchemist because of his reputed work on the Philosopher's Stone. The essence of his reputation is that he succeeded at the two magical goals of alchemy - that he made the Philosopher's Stone which turns lead into gold, and that he and his wife Perenelle achieved immortality."
"Stone! That must be what Uncle Leo and Uncle Coop meant! They were talking about the Philosopher's stone!"
"Also, known as the Sorcerer's Stone. At least that is what the book says." Phoenix added.
"Immortality, Nix, that would explain why that Hagerd guy talked about Flamel like he was still alive, because he is!"
"That's Hagrid. Yeah, immortality would explain a lot."
"Forget the immortality! Guys, I found out more on that stone! I think this is why, um… Fluffy? Is protecting it."
"Let us hear it, sis!"
"It is a legendary substance, supposedly capable of turning inexpensive metals into gold; believed to be an elixir of life. One could use the stone for rejuvenation and possibly for achieving immortality. Phoenix, do you know what you are getting yourself into?"
"I told you, no!"
"Perhaps there is something or someone evil trying to get a hold of it? Know anyone? Maybe a demon trying to get his hands on it?"
Phoenix could only think of one person. 'Voldemort! But some upper level demon may want it as well. Maybe they are trying to bring back the source? Or possibly some form of the source? I don't know, but it is not good if someone is after it. '
"Yeah, I can think of one. And I have an idea on why he would want it too."
"Well…." Kaleb started before the library doors opened, revealing both Miss Donovan and Sam.
"Thank you, Miss Donovan." Sam said. Miss Donovan smiled, then took her leave.
"Girls."