Year One

Albus Dumbledore walked up the marble stairs of Gringotts in the early morning of July 31. The goblins guarding the gate did not stop him. Cutting through the line and earning nasty looks from the people waiting since dawn to withdraw their gold, he reached the counter.

"Good, morning." He handed over a key. I need to visit the vault to withdraw an item.

"I see. Griphook, take Mr. Dumbledore to the vault."

"If you could follow me, Dumbledore."

Dumbledore could only chuckle at the lack of respect the goblins were showing him.

"Why can not they be fanfic goblins? Then I could have been polite and they would have served as an arm to destroy anyone!"

He followed the goblins through one of the doors and got on a cart. After a nerve-wracking journey, he finally reached the vault he sought. Griphook opened it for him as he took out his wand.

A roughly packed object lay there. He opened it to find a roughly cut, blood-red stone.

"Sorry, Old friend." He held up his wand as a bright blue light flashed. The stone turned to dust.

"What have you done?" Griphook asked harshly.

"I have destroyed the route for Lord Voldemort to come back to power. Now, he must find more difficult paths to make his return."

"Are you doubting the security of Gringotts!?" An outraged Griphook snarled.

Dumbledore casually flicked his wand and Griphook's eyes glazed over. "I am afraid so."

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In an empty hotel room somewhere, a young man approached a locked room. Taking out his wand, he flicked it to open the door noiselessly.

Something was in the room. It could not be seen. But the young man shivered.

"Master, I have retrieved the philosopher's stone."

"Well done. You will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams. Now, let me see the stone." A high cold voice answered him.

Quirell took out the blood-red stone and set it on the small desk. He waited for the verdict of his master. Instead, a moment later, he heard a roar of rage.

"You fool! This is not the real stone. How incompetent are you? You can not even recognize a replica?"

"What? But master.." He never finished the sentence as immense pain assaulted him.

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Nicholas Flammel to finally rest!

Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent

In a surprising move (that some felt is long overdue), Nicholas Flammel, the noted alchemist and the only known maker of the Philosopher's stone, announced that he is finally going to rest. In a letter to Daily Prophet, he stated that the stone has been destroyed with the help of Albus Dumbledore.

Many are grieving at the announcement. "Flemmale's contributions will be remembered." Wizangamot elder Marchbark commented. But while many are grieving, others are delighted. A high-ranking ministry member commented on the condition of anonymity, "It is time to give the current generation a chance. People like Flammel and Dumbledore are cancerous. They keep control of all important institutions and never let us get a promotion. The goblin needs to be reigned in and he keeps asking us to give them equal rights and wands. I say they need to be cooked into a pie."

Albus Dumbledore set down the newspaper as he looked over to Severus Snape through his half-moon spectacles. "It appears that Rita will be Rita. I wonder if she is taking cues from old Xeno?"

Severus looked annoyed. "The stone is gone. But Quirell continues to act suspiciously. What is he hiding?"

"Stay on guard. Have someone watch him 24/7. If he makes a suspicious move, inform me immediately."

"I am surprised you destroyed the stone." Snape mused. "I was sure you would wait until a disaster has already occurred to make that decision."

"My dear Severus, I already considered it. If I keep such a stone on school grounds, Voldemort is sure to come after it. I spoke to Nicholas and he agrees. The only way to be sure is to destroy it and the right time for it as soon as possible before the Dark Lord makes his attempt. Why should we wait until he does so when we can make the same decision now?"