Saturday morning.
Vaughn had "graced" the Gryffindor table with his presence again—today's pick in his ongoing game of Which House Will I Sit With Next?
He'd barely buttered his toast when he spotted Harry and Ron marching toward the Forbidden Forest, Hermione trailing behind them with her books clutched to her chest.
"I'm going to keep an eye on you two," she declared, tight-lipped.
That was all she said.
Ron, naturally, assumed the worst.
"She's doing it to get back at me," he whispered miserably. "She's waiting to report everything we do to McGonagall. I swear—every time I turn around she's lurking there like a ghost!"
But Harry shook his head.
"No. Hermione cares more about house points than anything. She wouldn't risk losing any just to annoy you."
Ron groaned. "Then what is she doing?!"
Harry decided he didn't want to know.
Hagrid's Hut
They reached the familiar wooden hut at the forest's edge, smoke curling from the chimney.
"Harry! Ron! Hermione!" Hagrid boomed, delighted. "Come in! Come in!"
Hermione walked in without a word to the boys, took a seat beside Fang, and promptly began discussing magical beasts with Hagrid as if Harry and Ron didn't exist.
Harry wandered the hut and paused when he saw a Daily Prophet on the table.
Front page:
BREAK-IN AT GRINGOTTS!
The date made his stomach twist.
It happened the same day he and Hagrid visited Gringotts.
Harry read aloud, breath quickening:
"The vault targeted in the break-in had already been emptied earlier that day…"
"That was vault 713!" Harry exclaimed. "It only had a grubby little package inside—Hagrid took it! When they say 'emptied'… it makes perfect sense!"
Ron whistled. "Cool!"
Harry swallowed.
"Er… Hagrid told me not to tell anyone about this.
You won't say anything, right?"
Ron puffed out his chest.
"I won't breathe a word!"
Hermione sniffed defensively.
"I always keep secrets."
Harry relaxed.
Hermione kept secrets.
Ron… usually didn't.
But he meant well.
Still—
By noon the next day…
Vaughn knew.
The Philosopher's Stone
"The Philosopher's Stone…"
In the quiet of the library, Vaughn flipped through a thick tome depicting the legendary artefact.
Unlike the fan theories of his previous life that dismissed the Stone as "overrated," the more Vaughn learned about magic, the more miraculous the object appeared.
Alchemy wasn't just transforming metal—it was altering essence.
The Stone could turn base materials into pure gold.
It could brew the Elixir of Life, the only known magical substance that truly defied death.
Nicolas Flamel and his wife had lived over six centuries by using it.
Six hundred years.
Nothing else in the magical world compared.
…though Vaughn did recall Flamel looking rather fragile in Fantastic Beasts.
Immortality clearly came with side effects.
"They say the Flamels live somewhere in Devon," Vaughn mused aloud. "My family lives in Devon too…"
But the books offered no address.
And knowing how cautious the Flamels were, their home was almost certainly protected by a Fidelius Charm.
"No chance of finding them."
Still… the idea of visiting had its charm.
He had never properly studied Alchemy.
The books in the Hogwarts library were full of cryptic nonsense—"spiritual ascension," "material awakening," "creating the self from nothing."
It all read like someone wrote it drunk.
Vaughn closed the book with a sigh—
And the System Panel flashed into view.
[New Task Activated]
Side Quest ①: Acquire the Philosopher's Stone
Reward: Alchemy Talent
Vaughn blinked.
"…You're joking."
Of all the insane missions the System had given him, this one was suicidal.
The Stone was being hunted by Voldemort
and protected by Dumbledore.
Only an idiot would get involved.
Vaughn closed the panel without hesitation.
Nope. Absolutely not.
He put the book away, checked the time, and headed for Professor Snape's office.
Snape's Office
Vaughn had always believed Snape had terrible taste.
His classroom and office were tucked into the dampest, bleakest corners of Hogwarts.
The corridors were so cold they felt carved from ice.
How did this man ever compete with James Potter?
What woman would fall for someone who lives in a dungeon?
But then Vaughn opened Snape's office door…
…and fell silent.
Rows of rare ingredients, floating preserves, pickled roots glowing faintly, shimmering phials stacked in perfect order—
It was mesmerising.
And the smell.
Not rotting sludge—
but subtle, clean fragrances from well-treated ingredients.
"This place is incredible," Vaughn breathed.
Snape—lurking silently in the corner—allowed himself a tiny, private smile.
Not bad, he thought.
He had spent two full days choosing which part of his collection to display.
Rare, but not ostentatious.
Impressive, but educational.
Worth every minute.
"Professor, your office is a treasure trove."
Snape's chest warmed. Just a bit.
He remembered Friday night—carrying Vaughn's improved anti-scabies potion to Dumbledore's office. The old man had been astonished.
Deeply satisfying.
So the Chosen One is nothing special after all…
But this Slytherin boy—
This one is a true Potions genius.
"Vaughn Weasley," Snape said at last, voice smooth and low, "you'll have plenty of time to explore. For now—"
He stepped aside, revealing a simmering cauldron.
"Show me this 'magical extraction method' of yours. Let us see whether it amounts to anything."
Vaughn's eyes brightened.
"Oh? 'Plenty of time'? Does that mean I can come every weekend, Professor?"
Snape did not answer.
Which, of course, meant yes.
He gestured stiffly.
"Begin."
Vaughn rolled up his sleeves, lifted his wand, and got to work.
In the dim dungeon, only the soft crackle of fire and the rhythmic chopping of ingredients filled the air.
Snape watched silently, occasionally interjecting:
"…An unusual technique. How do you ensure your magic permeates the material?"
"Familiarity with the ingredients, Professor.
Perhaps it's partly my Transfiguration talent—I can 'see' their inner structure clearly."
Snape grunted.
"Any wizard could do it. With enough practice."
"Of course, Professor. Anyone could—after enough repetition."
Snape paused.
Then muttered, almost grudgingly:
"…Let me try."
Vaughn stepped back with a polite flourish.
"Please, Professor."
And for the first time in years—
Severus Snape felt genuinely excited about potion-making.
(End of Chapter 25)
PS :
Philosopher's Stone – Legendary alchemical artefact capable of creating gold and producing the Elixir of Life.
Nicolas Flamel – Famous alchemist; creator and longtime possessor of the Stone.
Fidelius Charm – Ultimate concealment charm hiding a location within a Secret Keeper's mind.
Side Quest ①: Acquire the Stone – Vaughn's dangerous System mission promising Alchemy Talent.