Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Magic Break Can't Be Seen

Harry Potter

September 5th, 2017

Harry Potter wasn't very worldly, and he didn't pretend to be. The beauty and charm of Paris were lost on him, the press of tourists made getting anywhere a pain, and the traffic was always congested. Still, as Harry knocked on a door on one, busy Parisian street, he thought it would be a pleasant place to live, so long as you didn't mind the thousands of muggles walking by daily.

The door opened, revealing a brown-haired man with blue eyes. He looked to be about middle-aged, but there was a certain intensity in his eyes that indicated a far deeper passage of time than most possessed. But the man moved energetically, and he practically seized Harry in greeting, pulling him close to kiss his cheeks.

"Harry! Good of you to come. Please come in! Get away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy some peace and quiet," the man said.

Harry entered and found himself in a hallway that could not possibly fit inside the building it was in. It was decadent as if fortunes across generations had been used to decorate it, and touching on hundreds of years of human history. Past experience with this home, and its owner, told Harry that is was just the first of many rooms, all similarly filled.

"It's good to see you too, Nicolas," Harry said. "You're looking more fit than usual. Did you finally make another Philosopher's Stone?"

Nicolas Flamel shook his head. "No, the means are sadly beyond me now. But I have started this lovely exercise the muggles call yoga. Have you ever heard of it?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Yes. Luna convinced Ginny and me to try it. She said it would liven up our lives. Personally, I thought it was crazy until she got Ginny into those pants, you know the ones?"

"I do indeed," Nicolas said, a far off look in his eyes.

"Oi, no fantasizing about my wife," Harry said jokingly. Nicolas shot him a conspiring wink.

"I was thinking about mine," Nicolas said, gesturing to a portrait of a beautiful woman with silver hair. A somber look crossed over his face a moment later.

"I'm sorry, I know it's been hard," Harry said, patting Nicolas' back in consolation.

Perenelle Flamel had died sometime in Harry's third year without the aid of a Philosopher's Stone. Harry had met the alchemist after the end of Final Battle, surprised he was still alive, but very understanding of why he had remained hidden. Harry, after all, still dealt with his unfortunate fame every day.

Nicolas gave Harry a half-hearted smile. "I miss her every day, but not even I can reverse death. But I can look back on the good moments with fondness and even daydream about the fun bits."

Harry laughed along with the perverted old man. Over the years, he had found the ancient alchemist to be something of an uncle, a far better one than his Uncle Vernon had ever been. Nicolas had helped Harry navigate the dangerous waters of politics and popularity after the war was over. While Harry would never be comfortable in the spotlight, he would no longer shy away from it.

"How many more years do you think you have?" Harry finally asked. It was a question he knew he shouldn't ask, but he couldn't help but wonder. From what he knew, it wasn't age that killed Perenelle, but some magical affliction, possibly Dragon Pox. Harry was concerned that something similar could happen to his friend.

"Oh, I have enough for what I need to do. While the long term effects of the Elixir of Life aren't known, I do think it has a sort of lingering effect. Otherwise, my body would be naught but dust by now," Nicolas joked.

"You're already dusty," Harry joked. "So, what did you need to see me about?"

"Ah, let's sit down on the balcony and have some tea, it'll help prove my point."

The balcony Nicolas led Harry to was the one that overlooked the busy street below, charmed to provide privacy and security to the inhabitants. By the time they sat down, a House-elf had already poured their tea, vanishing away to take care of some chore. Harry added a slice of lemon to his tea and let it rest.

Harry knew that this was Nicolas' favorite spot in his home, and the reason why was quite amusing. When Nicolas first warded his home, some six hundred years ago, the Statue of Secrecy had not gone up, and magicals had lived side by side with muggles. Once the Statue went up, many muggles had remembered stories of an Immortal Alchemist who lived in Paris, on this very street.

So with the infinite wisdom of the ignorant, they chose an empty house, proclaimed it to be his residence, and immediately began to profit off of tours. Nicolas, for his part, found it immensely entertaining and would often watch them with an indulgent smile. He had, in recent years, donated to the museum in order to keep it in its original condition. It amused him something fierce.

Harry would mock him for it, but he had already fended off several buyers who had been interested in buying the Dursley's home who wished to do the same. The hero worship humans had was often quite vexing.

"So, what's on your mind?" Harry asked, taking a sip of his tea. Nicolas nodded to the street below.

"What do you see?"

A glance confirmed what Harry already knew. "Crowded streets, annoyed French people, loud tourists. You could always put up a Silencing Charm, you know."

Nicolas rolled his eyes over his teacup. "The Muggles, what are they holding?"

Harry didn't even have to glance to know the answer to that one. "Cellphones. They're a pretty common invention these days. I have one to keep in contact with my Muggle counterparts."

"Exactly!" Nicolas snapped his fingers. "And the devices are horrifying! For the longest time, we could count on the way Muggles passed along information; we could interrupt it and Obliviate knowledge of the Wizarding World from their minds! But no longer!"

"Nicolas, it's not that bad," Harry began to say.

"I know what happened in London yesterday."

Harry winced. They were still investigating exactly why Adrian Pucey decided to go on a rampage in Muggle London, but the clean up was still a mess. He had burnt down numerous buildings, killed twelve people, and injured three times that number before Muggle police officers cut him down. But worse was cleaning up the Muggles who saw magic.

The Obliviators had to go through them, one by one, erasing any evidence on their cellphones, and double-checking the messages to make sure nothing was sent or saved. They still had hundreds of devices to go through, and Harry had already received an angry message from M informing Harry that his superiors were not happy.

"Okay, I see your point. But it's not like we can stop the Muggles from using them, it's too much a part of their world," Harry said.

Nicolas bowed his head in agreement. "I know, but that's why I called you here. I need your support at the International Confederation of Wizards to support a motion."

That made Harry frown. "You know I don't like going to those meetings. I only have the damn seat because everyone sees me as Dumbledore's successor. Besides, they're utterly pointless. The last time I went, the Japanese Mugwump argued with the Spanish Mugwump for the entire meeting over hydra scales!"

Nicolas shrugged. "It might not have been important to you, but that argument led to a direct increase in profit to Japan's potion ingredient exporters. But in general, yes, I agree with you. The meetings are largely a waste of time, but some of us are going to change that."

"I'm listening," Harry said when it became clear his mentor was waiting for him to say something.

Nicolas almost rolled his eyes. "Harry, there's been a large amount of discontent over the years about the way the ICW handles things. Mishandled responses, censorship, everything. I've been approached by a few member states who are very concerned that the current ICW model isn't prepared to handle the evolving threat Muggles now present, the threat their technology presents. We need to be united if we are to survive."

Harry considered what Nicolas was saying carefully, but needed to clarify something. "The incident with Pucey was a random chance, unlikely to happen again. Is there really that much concern about the Muggles in the ICW?"

"You know we invented the concept of 'Fake News' to help Muggle governments sell the secret of magic. But with how pervasive their technology is becoming, we're in genuine danger of being exposed. And when that happens, they'll hunt us down, again," Nicolas said passionately.

Harry reluctantly agreed. He wasn't as detached from the Muggle world as most wizards, he regularly interacted with it and made sure to keep up with the times. However, he wasn't quite sure what Nicolas was requesting aid with and said as much. His mentor drew himself up, almost looking like a king with how powerfully he sat, before answering.

"We want the ICW to become something new, to become more united. A global wizarding alliance, one government, to help protect magicals and keep our world safe. We're going to present the motion at the next meeting in Egypt next week, and I would like your support."

Harry was silent as he considered Nicolas' request, watching the Muggles down below as they went about their days. From his position, he could see dozens of Muggles on their phones, talking or taking pictures, utterly ignorant of the invisible world that lived alongside their own. Harry imagined what would happen if his daughter Lily was discovered to be a witch, what would happen to her. And then he had his answer.

"I'll support your motion, Nicolas."

Nicolas Flamel gave him a wide, approving smile. "I'm very pleased to hear that. We'll do great things together, I promise."

Harry couldn't explain why, but he felt a chill go down his spine.

Magic Break Can't Be Seen

Daphne Greengrass

September 9th, 2017

Daphne had been surprised, but pleased, to find that Draco had managed to convince Astoria to follow her sister's advice. It might have been the smirk on his face, but Daphne thought that Draco assumed she was crazy, that the Riddle Coin was just that, and nothing could save Astoria. Or maybe it was just his face. She didn't quite know as it had been far too long since she had last spent time in his presence.

The next few days Daphne quietly watched as Astoria fidgeted with her Riddle Coin. It was almost like they were back at Hogwarts, studying in the privacy of their dorm rooms, or Alexander's suite. It wasn't uncommon for Daphne to find her sister lounging about the house, sometimes hanging off furniture in an unladylike manner.

But Daphne could see Astoria getting bored and frustrated with the lack of progress. As the days drifted by, Astoria spent less and less time with the coin, until finally, a day passed when she didn't pick it up at all. Daphne knew she needed to confront her sister about it.

"Astoria, how are you feeling today?" Daphne began. They were eating breakfast with Draco, who was busy reading The Daily Prophet.

"I am well," Astoria said, in a tone that indicated she was very much not well. Daphne frowned.

"Have you decided what you'll do today?" Daphne asked. The moment it left her lips, she knew it was the wrong thing to ask.

Astoria's face grew red. "I don't know, Daphne, why don't you tell me what I should do! Wait, let me guess! You want me to solve the stupid Riddle Coin!"

Deciding a blunt affirmative would only escalate Astoria's anger further, Daphne tried to mollify her. "Astoria, I'm just trying to help you."

"Well, I don't want your help! Not now! I wanted it years ago, but you were gone, Daphne, you were gone! Where have you been?" Astoria screamed, rising from the table.

Daphne sat there shocked as she processed Astoria's pain. She struggled to find words, a first for her, but when she opened her mouth to speak, Astoria rushed from the room in tears. Daphne began to rise.

"Don't," Draco ordered, putting aside his newspaper. "You'll just make it worse."

"I'm just trying to help her," Daphne whispered.

Draco nodded. "I know. And so does she. But you need to understand it from her perspective, Daphne. Astoria has spent years living under the belief that her sister, the last of her family, was missing, if not dead. And yet, here you are."

"Here I am," Daphne softly echoed.

"It's great to know you're here trying to help. It really is. But we've long since come to terms with the fact that the blood curse was going to eventually kill Astoria, no matter many potions and spells we gave her," Draco explained. He sighed. "And then there is Scorpius."

"Your son?"

"Yes. But he wasn't the only one," Draco said, anguish crossing his face. "Astoria was pregnant before him, but the blood curse activated and caused complications with her pregnancy. She lost the baby after six months, and it almost broke her. Broke us."

Daphne was horrified. She hadn't known that her sister had a miscarriage, only that the blood curse had activated soon after she left. "I'm so sorry, I-"

Draco cut her off with a raised hand. "I've known you for years, Greengrass, and while I've known you to be cold, I've never known you to be cruel. You don't need to apologize to me, but I think we both agree that you need to apologize to Astoria."

Daphne nodded, rising from the table. "I'm glad to see you care for Astoria, Draco. And, I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thank you," Draco gave a slight nod. Daphne knew him well enough to know the pink tinge across his face meant he was frustrated, angry, or cold. Daphne said nothing more as she walked into the halls of Malfoy Manor, searching for her sister.

She found Astoria standing alone in an empty room, her arms wrapped around herself for comfort. Daphne halted in the doorway, unsure of what to do, but Astoria solved that issue for her by speaking.

"This was going to be his room," she said. Daphne knew she spoke of her unborn son. "I wanted Draco to transfigure some shelves into this wall, made of tree branches and vines. And for his bed to be close to this window so he could look up at the stars at night. It was going to be-" Astoria cut herself off with a sob.

Daphne carefully approached and wrapped her arms around her sister, resting her chin on Astoria's head. "It was going to be perfect for him."

Astoria sobbed harder and clutched her sister desperately for support. "Why did he have to die, Daphne? It isn't fair! Why did the curse kill my son?"

Tears fell from the eyes of both women as they mourned for a child that never lived. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here to help you, Astoria," Daphne whispered. She clutched her sister closer and felt so relieved when Astoria held her tighter. "I'm so sorry."

"It's fine, Daphne, I wasn't fair to you either," Astoria said. Daphne shook her head.

"I should have been here for you. I left because I thought you would be fine with Draco that you would be able to build a life with him. That perhaps the curse wouldn't activate in you. When I found out it did, I went to the smartest witches and wizards I knew and begged them for a cure. And they succeeded."

Daphne sniffed. "I know it's years too late, Astoria, but please, let me help you. You're my sister, and I don't want you to die."

"I don't want to die either," Astoria whispered, her voice full of fear and despair. "Are you sure they have a cure? That they can save me?"

"Yes," Daphne desperately said, as bluntly and clearly as she could. "You just need to reach them."

The two sisters pulled apart, and with a few flicks of their wands, they restored their make-up. "I will, Daphne. I'll try harder. I never want to bury another of my sons, ever again."

Daphne blinked. "Another?"

Astoria blushed, but couldn't help hide the sad smile that crossed her face. "Yes, I did the charms this morning. I'm pregnant again, Daphne. I'm going to have another son."

"Congratulations!" Daphne said, embracing her sister once more. Realization dawned a moment later. "Draco doesn't know, does he?"

Astoria shook her head. "I haven't told him yet. I know he's been going crazy for years with concern over my health, I wasn't sure how to tell him. I even considered stopping the pregnancy..."

"No!" Daphne said, pulling away to look her sister in the eye. "No, we can save him, save you! Astoria, I promise you, there is a way to save both of you, you just need to keep trying."

"I trust you, Daphne," Astoria said. "I'll keep trying. For his sake," she rubbed her belly, "and mine."

Magic Break Can't Be Seen

Alexander Dantes

Sixteen Years Ago

Alexander leaned against a wall, eating a bowl of ramen and enjoying the hustle and bustle of Tokyo around him. A Notice-Me-Not Charm embedded on his eye patch kept any curious passerby's from noticing him, and he was left in peace and quiet.

Around his neck, Alexander's tablet warmed. He had refined it over the years, improving the communication abilities of the once book to such a degree that it could act as the magical equivalent of a phone. He tapped it with a finger, activating its audio privacy charms, and answering it with one motion.

"Is everything alright, Daphne?" Alexander asked. She was the only other person in the world with one of his tablets.

Even though the tablet still hung from his neck, Alexander could hear Daphne's reply as if she were standing next to him. "Yes, Alex. Well, no. I guess? I'm not sure."

Alexander paused in eating his ramen. "What happened? Did something happen at the wedding?"

"No, Astoria and Draco tied the knot and are off on their honeymoon. But I'm all alone at Malfoy Manor," Daphne explained.

"Ah," Alexander said. He realized Daphne must be lonely. "Once I'm done here I can pop over and keep you company. We can burn those curtains you're always talking about."

Daphne chuckled. "No, it's fine. Actually, that's why I wanted to talk with you. I think it's time I move permanently into Cape Horn. I think I'm ready."

Despite being unseen, Alexander smiled. "I'm thrilled to hear that. But are you sure? You don't want to wait for Astoria to return?"

The connection was silent for a long time, and Alexander almost double-checked to make sure it was still active when Daphne softly spoke. "I Obliviated them."

That was not what Alexander was expecting her to say. "What?"

"I Obliviated them. As far as they remember, my sister and I hid in Hogsmeade during the Final Battle, and you and I never dated past Hogwarts," Daphne explained.

"Okay, but why?" Alexander asked his bowl of ramen long forgotten.

"Because Astoria told Draco about your Philosopher's Stone," Daphne said. Alexander felt his blood run cold. "I could see how the greed filled his eyes, would fill anyone's eyes. So I Obliviated him first, and tried to convince Astoria to keep it a secret."

Alexander only had to think about that statement for a moment. "She said no, didn't she?"

"She told me she would have no secrets from her husband. That she trusted him with her life, my life. I love my sister, Alex, and I trust her, but I don't trust Draco Malfoy. And I know I'll never be able to keep a secret from her."

"So you removed it entirely from her mind," Alexander said with a frustrated sigh. "I'm so sorry to put you in this position, Daphne. This isn't what I wanted."

"I know. But our work is too important to allow something as dangerous as greed to ruin it. And if that means sacrificing my relationship with my sister, I'll do it."

"I appreciate it, Daphne, I truly do," Alexander said. "When were you thinking of moving in fully?"

"Now that our coins have been out in the world for a few months, I think I'll wait until the first applicant arrives to disappear. Hopefully, they don't take too long."

Alexander shrugged, but quickly realized Daphne couldn't see that. "Well, it's only a week until the New Year. I think it'll take a few more weeks before we get the first applicant. Possibly before Astoria and Draco get back from their honeymoon."

"Agreed. I am going to spend the next few weeks at Cape Horn in any case. I've missed you," Daphne said. Alexander could hear the vulnerability in her words and couldn't help but smile fondly.

"I've missed you too. Home just hasn't been the same without you."

"Oh? Have you finally torn open the earth to plunder its minerals?" Daphne asked, her tone mildly amused.

"You're just envious my golems are so efficient."

It had only taken Alexander a week to learn the needed enchantments from Daphne, and another week to create an improved version, utilizing runes to make more capable magical constructs. They were still remarkably limited, only able to focus on one task at a time, but Alexander had used runes to remove their weakness to fire, as well as to improve the range they could move. They were still painfully slow.

Alexander had created dozens of them before running into a snag. The golems worked tirelessly, needing no food, water, or rest, and Alexander could not dedicate every moment of his day to watching over and directing them. Instead, he settled for a simple assembly line like design, with golems mining, shaping, and storing the rocks he needed, so he could come along at the end of every day and direct them where and how to place them. It was still time-consuming work.

"Besides, we only made a small hole, and it's underwater anyway. Not even the fishes mind," Alexander continued to say. Daphne snorted.

"They don't mind the massive tower you've made underwater? Have you breached the surface with it yet?"

"No, I'm still a hundred feet away. And of course the fishes don't mind, they're just thinking about their next meal. A rock isn't going to stop them from that." A comfortable silence fell between Alexander and Daphne, each lost in their thoughts. Alexander broke it. "Hey, Daphne?"

"Yes, Alex?"

"Is your Philosopher's Stone giving you any trouble?"

"No, should it be?" Daphne asked, confused.

Alexander sighed. "I don't think so, but I don't know. The tests I've run on myself tell me that I'm as healthy, physically, and mentally, as I could possibly be. But I just don't know what's going to happen to our bodies now that we've implanted shards in our hearts."

And hadn't that hurt. Through careful testing, Alexander had determined that a Philosopher's Stone slowly lost its mass, converted into Elixir of Life, at a steady rate. A fresh source of blood, in this case his own, helped regain the lost mass at a consistent rate as well, but slightly less overall. In a thousand years, the shard in his chest would eventually vanish into nothing, used up.

The real issue Alexander was concerned with was long term exposure to Elixir of Life. The physical benefits were well documented, but the mental effects were unknown. The only known data Alexander had access to was his own experience with it three years ago when he used it to repair the damage Rookwood and Voldemort had inflicted upon him for months. The memories of those dark days had come back in sharp relief in his mind, and he could recall it with almost perfect clarity, even years later.

Still, the benefits of longevity, a body in its perpetual prime, and clarity of mind had so far been worth it. Alexander and Daphne had designed the procedure after the latter raised a concern about the Elixir of Life's short lifespan, as it would evaporate if not quickly drunk. The implanted shard got around this, using the water and blood already present in the body to create the Elixir of Life, and using it instantly. Motion caught Alexander's eye.

"Hold that thought, Daphne. The target has arrived. I'll see you at home later," Alexander said, his eye focused on two men walking across the street. Both were smiling, but Alexander knew one to be nefarious.

"Okay, be safe, Alex!" Daphne said. She closed the connection, and the warmth coming from the tablet around his neck faded.

Alexander moved into the crowd, becoming one with it, as he pursued his quarry. The crowded streets parted easily around him, the non-magicals avoiding him due to the Notice-Me-Not Charm that was still active. He followed them off the less populated roads, into a section of Tokyo full of warehouses, where the crowds were much thinner. Alexander hung back even further to elude detection.

The suddenly stiff and robotic movements of one of the figures caught Alexander's eye, even as far away as he was. The pair vanished into one dark warehouse, the door slamming shut behind them far too quickly to be natural. Alexander rapidly approached.

A tingling along the hairs of his arms alerted Alexander of the danger in front of him. He slowed to a stop, and closed his eye, extending his magic out in front of him. Slowly it fed back sensations and feelings, things impossible to describe with mundane words. Fortunately, he didn't need words to understand them.

They were wards, in their truest, primal form. A sharp sensation of death echoed from in front of Alexander, and he wondered what kind of man would set up an Incan Death Ward in the middle of Tokyo. Alexander shook his head and focused.

He wouldn't be dismissing the wards, even as dangerous as they were. It would spook his target, alerting them that someone was there, and this whole event would be for nothing. Instead, he was hoping to use a technique a particularly drunk Curse Breaker had shared with him in Spain called Ward Skimming.

Ward Skimming was a technique where a Curse Breaker convinced the wards they belonged and that they should be allowed entry. Unfortunately, it was a short term solution, usually minutes at best, before the wards would activate on the Curse Breaker, killing them quite violently, if they were too slow to escape. Alexander was hoping to get at least a minute before they activated upon him.

Sliding between and under the wards set up around the warehouse, Alexander quickly entered and prepared himself magically. Unfortunately, he wasn't prepared mentally for what he saw.

The interior of the warehouse had been ripped out, leaving a vast, cavernous space. On the floor hundreds of runes were carved, spiraling out like a star, but glowing with a hellish light. In thirteen places around the circle lay the bodies of men, women, and children, all bleeding from their wrists. And in the center stood one man.

This was all Alexander had time to see before deadly intent filled the air. Alexander almost panicked, thinking it was the wards activating, but realized it was something far worse. The man in the center of the room began chanting, speaking a tongue that made the hair on Alexander's head stand up on end, and the runes on the ground glowed.

The blood poured faster from each of the victims, and they began to scream. As much as Alexander wished to stop this, even he knew the dangers interrupting a ritual, an action that would level much of the surrounding city. Besides, as cruel as it was, Alexander wasn't here for them.

He was here to understand how the man, Nicolas Flamel, still lived without a Philosopher's Stone.

So he watched as the ritual finished, draining the blood and life from each of the unfortunate victims. Their bodies became shriveled husks, almost skeletal, before collapsing into dust. Blood and magic flew through the air, and Alexander realized with a pang of regret that each of the victims must have been magical to some degree. And in the center of the circle stood Flamel.

The blood poured into Flamel's mouth, so much that it should have caused him to swell up like a balloon, but his body remained fit. No, it became fitter, with wrinkles on his skin smoothing out, restoring his vitality. The stolen magic sunk into his skin, but it writhed unpleasantly, trying to resist.

Alexander had seen enough and could feel a different kind of killing intent fill the air. Quickly he made his way back outside, slipping back out of the wards. Eager to get away, far away, he took to the skies above and flew as fast as he dared as if distance would help remove the sense of foulness that now clung to his body and mind.

Nicolas Flamel was using magicals to keep himself alive. The ritual Alexander just witnessed was as elaborate as it was powerful, even he had no idea how one would go about removing a soul, and thus a person's magic, and giving it to another. The blood, Alexander reasoned, was used to revitalize the body, although how he could not even begin to guess.

It was only when Alexander flew above the Atlantic Ocean that he slowed down. He wondered how long Flamel had been using the ritual, and if the use of the Elixir of Life, and its effects on his mind, had contributed to it in some capacity. Would he one day become just like Flamel? Alexander had no answer.

Magic Break Can't Be Seen

AN: Thanks again to .hughes for letting me know the name of fic that inspired my Gordric. Harry Potter and the Sword of Gryffindor By: cloneserpents if you were curious.

Spoilers: I won't be giving any out, not even in PM's. Sorry guys, you'll just have to wait.

Flamel's House: Is a museum in real life. And Paris is full of loud tourists and annoyed French people. Probably the most realistic thing I've ever written, if I'm being honest.

Muggle Technology being dangerous: even back in 2017, the ability to take a video and upload it online in under a minute was pretty easy. Considering how much secrecy the Wizarding World needs in order to sustain itself, I do view a cellphone as one of the more dangerous threats muggles have against wizards.

Ward Skimming: I like the idea of this skill, but it needs to be limited to prevent world breakage. Depending on the strength of the wards and the Curse Breaker's magic, you can sneak past wards for a limited time. Anywhere from seconds to five minutes top. It does give you a little warning with the feeling of impending doom though.

Harry Potter: He's 36 and a father of three. I do think, with how much canon throws the power of love down our throats, that he would be very concerned about the safety of his children. I did try to have him and Flamel to have the "mentor-like" relationship he and Dumbledore once had, but writing it felt weird. Hopefully it feels natural to you guys.

Astoria/Draco: Considering the age of Scorpius, I find it entirely possible they tried to have another child prior to him. I do think the Blood Curse (which is part of J.K. Rowling's Post Canon) would be very difficult on a pregnant woman. As for Draco's greed, mentioned in Alexander's section, I do think that would be a common reaction to finding out your sister-in-law's boyfriend had a Philosopher's Stone. He's a Slytherin, and despite what canon has us think, that doesn't mean he's necessarily a moron.

Daphne: Yes, she chose to Obliviate her sister and brother-in-law in order to keep Alexander's secrets. I hope I managed to portray how it was not an easy decision for her. Alexander and Daphne have big plans, big ambitions, and cannot risk failure because someone is greedy. I am amused that it almost mirrors canon, with how Hermione Obliviated her parents, but that wasn't intentional.

Philosopher's Stone: It's a weird little thing with a lot of potential. But something I'm curious about is the long term effects of using the Elixir of Life. It "restores" people's bodies to their prime, heals neurological damage, and extends their life. If only there was someone who had already used it for hundreds of years for us to examine the side effects...

Flamel: He hasn't had access to a Philosopher's Stone for over twenty years at this point in the story. So how is he alive? The ritual I showed you in Alexander's section is one of the few times I'll ever use a "true" ritual in this story. It works by taking the magic/soul and blood/life of other witches and wizards and giving it to someone else. As for why Flamel does not simply create a new Philosopher's Stone using the same method he originally did? It took the destruction of a runic language. He accomplished it hundreds of years ago because there were significantly fewer magicals, if he did the same now, it'd cause massive amounts of destruction. It's moot to him, since he has other methods to prolong his life.

Alexander Dantes: Yes, he's still missing an eye. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about it. I had a long, boring section where Alexander pays the Goblins for information about where to find Nicolas Flamel, but I couldn't write the Goblins to be interesting in any way. The most impressive thing the Goblins did in canon was make the Sword of Gryffindor, and that's kind of lackluster compared to a Philosopher's Stone. So I cut it all, and write it here: Bribery. That's how Alexander found Flamel.

As for why he didn't fight Flamel? Alexander was still under the Incan Death Ward's effects, Flamel has an unknown level of skill and power, Alexander wants information about the long term effects of the Elixir of Life, etc. There are a lot of reasons, but don't worry about it. This story isn't going to be boring, I can assure you.

I hope you're all enjoying the story! The NEXT UPDATE is in THREE DAYS!