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The Philosopher's Stone was also known as the Red Elixir, the Stone of the Philosophers, or the Celestial Stone.
Most of the time, it existed in the form of a red crystal resembling a gemstone.
It held an extremely unique place in Fullmetal Alchemist.
In that world's alchemy, it was mandatory to follow the principle of equivalent exchange, but there was one thing capable of breaking that rule: the Philosopher's Stone. It was an amplifier endowed with the power to ignore the principle of "equivalent exchange" and allow the transmutation of any substance.
In a sense, an alchemist with a Philosopher's Stone was practically half a god.
In truth, in the world of Harry Potter, the Philosopher's Stone was also called the Stone of the Philosophers, but the two didn't serve the same purpose. The Philosopher's Stone in this world was the main ingredient used to create gold and the Elixir of Life. The alchemical Philosopher's Stone, on the other hand, was the supreme treasure for assisting transmutations.
If the two had really been the same thing, then with a chunk as large as the one Neville was holding, even if the Dark Lord were reborn, Dudley could still crush him into the dirt.
The method for creating a Philosopher's Stone was also very simple.
Sacrifice.
The sacrifice of many, many people.
Although the orthodox process of refining a Philosopher's Stone required sacrificing the victim's entire body, in practice, the truly crucial point lay in the soul. After all, the materials that made up a human body weren't worth much to an alchemist.
The reason was that, in the world of Fullmetal Alchemist, the soul could not exist separately from the body, so both had to be sacrificed together.
But here, things were different.
Standing before him was Voldemort, a soul in its purest state.
As for the body...
Dudley pulled out half a pig carcass. The composition of a human body and that of a pig were not all that different.
"Wait! I think we can talk. If you let me go, I can give you whatever you want. I know the locations of many treasures, and I also possess a great deal of magical knowledge..."
While Voldemort kept trying to lure him with promises, Dudley maintained a look of total indifference and slowly brought his hands together.
The transmutation circle shone with a vivid, enchanting red light.
"I hate... this so much!"
Feeling his own soul disappearing bit by bit, Voldemort let out a roar of pure despair.
In truth, besides requiring souls as the main raw material, a Philosopher's Stone also needed resentment, hatred, and rage as supplementary materials.
And those emotions matched the current state of Voldemort's remnant soul perfectly.
He was simply the perfect sacrifice for a Philosopher's Stone.
The red light gradually faded away.
And at the center of the transmutation circle remained the legendary Philosopher's Stone...
Philosopher's Stone (Perfect)
"Defeated Voldemort's remnant soul once. Reward obtained..."
Dudley did not even bother looking closely at the system prompt. Instead, he walked into the circle and picked up the glittering red gem.
It felt cold to the touch and, at first glance, did not look all that different from an ordinary ruby.
But to the eyes of an alchemist, that blood-red Philosopher's Stone emitted a hypnotic radiance.
Voldemort truly lived up to his role as the final villain of the main Harry Potter saga. Even as nothing more than a thread of soul, he was still capable of producing a Philosopher's Stone of such high quality.
And that tiny piece should not be underestimated.
In other worlds, sacrificing an entire city, or even an entire country, might not have been enough to produce a stone of that level.
To be honest, if someone asked Dudley to truly sacrifice a city or an entire country just to obtain a Philosopher's Stone, he would reject it without hesitation.
It wasn't about being some saint.
It was simply the bottom line he still kept as a human being.
But if the proposal was to use Voldemort's remnant soul to create a Philosopher's Stone, then Dudley would raise both hands in favor.
From the moment Voldemort died by having the protective spell of love rebound against him, he could no longer really be called human. He was merely a miserable soul clinging to existence and refusing to face his own death.
Besides, Voldemort's soul would have to be destroyed sooner or later anyway.
So why not make some use of it first?
"Hmm?"
Dudley had just been preparing to leave when he noticed that there was still something else at the center of the transmutation circle. The object was covered in dust. If not for the prompt from his Data Eyes, he might never have noticed it.
He brushed away the dust from the surface.
Underneath it was a small blue stone, about the size of a fingernail.
"What is this?"
Dudley picked it up carefully.
Magic Crystal
That was the name the system displayed.
Ma... gic?
Dudley understood at once.
That's right.
Magic.
In the world of Fullmetal Alchemist, there was no such thing as magic.
The energy of alchemy did not come from magic inside the alchemist's body, but from the movement of the Earth, or from other sources.
The transmutation circle had not only refined Voldemort's remnant soul into a Philosopher's Stone, it had also refined the magic contained within that soul, turning it into this magical crystal.
But now was not the time to study that object.
Dudley quietly put the Magic Crystal away.
"Professor Dumbledore, how much longer are you planning to stay hidden over there?"
Dudley suddenly turned his head and spoke toward one corner of the room.
"Dudley, your perception is extremely sharp."
The Disillusionment Charm was lifted, revealing Professor Dumbledore.
"Then you ought to eat fewer sweets. That cloying honey smell on you is so strong I could pick it up from a hundred meters away."
"It's practically my only pleasure."
Make Dumbledore give up sugar?
It would be easier to wait for a pig to fly.
No, wait.
With magic, making a pig fly was clearly far easier.
"Professor... Professor Dumbledore!"
Neville cried out in delight. The more terrifying Voldemort was, the greater Dumbledore's reputation seemed. Then he pointed at Quirrell, who had already turned into a puddle of pus, and began speaking in agitation.
"Vo... Vol..."
"I know, Longbottom. I know."
There was a soothing sort of power in Dumbledore's voice, calming Neville's emotions at once.
"I imagine your friends, Miss Granger and the others, are already very worried waiting outside. And besides, it would be best to take Harry to Madam Pomfrey so she can have a look at him."
"Could you do me that favor?"
"I have a few things I need to discuss with Mr. Dursley."
After hearing that, Neville cast Dudley a hesitant glance. When he saw Dudley nod, he finally obeyed. Then he hoisted Harry onto his back and headed for the door.
Before leaving, he handed the Philosopher's Stone he had been holding to Dudley.
"So this is the Philosopher's Stone? The legendary treasure capable of producing the Elixir of Life?"
Dudley looked at the red gem in his hand, clearly different from the alchemical Philosopher's Stone.
If the alchemical Philosopher's Stone looked like a brilliant ruby enhanced with special effects, then the Philosopher's Stone from the Harry Potter world looked more like an uncut ruby.
"Professor, if I'm not mistaken, this stone belongs to Nicolas Flamel. I truly didn't expect it to be kept at Hogwarts and to have nearly been stolen."
"You really should keep it more securely guarded."
As he spoke, Dudley returned the stone to Dumbledore before it even had time to warm in his hand.
Throughout the entire process, Dumbledore kept his eyes fixed on Dudley.
When he saw there wasn't the slightest trace of attachment or reluctance in him, a flash of approval passed quickly through the depths of his eyes.
In truth, Dudley simply did not care that much about the Philosopher's Stone.
The Philosopher's Stone could make gold?
Great.
The alchemical Philosopher's Stone could do that too.
The Philosopher's Stone could grant long life?
Fine.
But the alchemical Philosopher's Stone could do that too.
And on top of that, the alchemical Philosopher's Stone could amplify alchemy and completely ignore equivalent exchange.
To Dudley, the Philosopher's Stone of the wizarding world was something good to have.
But far from indispensable.
"Professor..."
Dudley's expression suddenly turned serious as he looked Dumbledore straight in the eye.
"I think we need to discuss a very serious problem."
"Hogwarts isn't even remotely safe anymore, not the way you promised."
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