Chapter 60
Chapter : Secrets of the Philosopher's Stone
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Alex’s POV
I had set up a hidden lab deep within the Black family estate, far from prying eyes. It was a place where I could work in peace, uninterrupted by the usual chaos of the wizarding world. The lab was filled with old tomes, rare potions ingredients, and various magical artifacts I had acquired or made over the years.
Today, my focus was on the Philosopher's Stone. Ever since I had retrieved it from Hogwarts, the thought had gnawed at me—was it real or just a clever fake?. It radiated a subtle magical aura, but something felt off. I needed to test it, to understand it.
Placing the stone on my workbench, I prepared a series of alchemical tests. I’d suspected that it might not be the real deal from the start, but I had to be sure. The first test was basic, using lead. If the stone truly held the legendary power of transmutation, turning lead into gold would be its simplest trick.
But as I cast the necessary spells and infused the stone with magic, the lead remained unchanged. I wasn't surprised, but I was still disappointed.
I carefully examined the stone under various magical lenses, detecting traces of alchemical enchantments. There was definitely magic here—just not the Philosopher’s Stone magic. The stone seemed to function as a magical battery of sorts, storing and amplifying energy, but it lacked the properties associated with immortality or transmutation.
"Interesting," I muttered to myself, pulling out a fresh piece of parchment to record my findings. "This is alchemical in nature, but not the legendary stone. Still... it's a powerful object."
As I worked, my mind wandered to other uses for alchemy. If I could learn more about how this stone worked, perhaps I could apply those principles to other magical inventions. Wardstones, for example, were often created using alchemically altered blood and bones from magical creatures, something that intrigued me deeply. If I could learn to replicate that process, I might be able to create powerful new protections for Hogwarts or my family.
But for now, my focus returned to the stone. Even if it wasn’t what I had hoped, there was still much I could learn from it. I noted down every test I performed, every reaction, and every spell I used.
I also began thinking about another project—a Pensieve projector. Reviewing my memories from both this life and my previous one was becoming more important as I worked to piece together information from the Harry Potter universe and the Marvel universe. There were key details, particularly from the Marvel world, that could be crucial in the future, and I couldn’t afford to forget anything.
I envisioned a way to project my memories into a more physical format, allowing me to analyze them in real-time and gather all the information I needed without missing any important clues. It was ambitious, but that was just how I liked my projects.
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Sirius’s POV
I leaned back in the cozy armchair by the fire, watching Marlene as she flipped through the latest edition of the Daily Prophet. The warmth of the fire and the gentle hum of the crackling logs created a comforting atmosphere, but my mind was elsewhere.
"Alex has been spending a lot of time in that lab of his," I said, breaking the silence.
Marlene looked up, raising an eyebrow. "He’s always been like that. He’s got this... drive, this obsession with learning and understanding everything he can."
I nodded, thinking about how different Alex was compared to most kids his age. "It worries me sometimes. He’s so focused on getting stronger, learning more, always working on some new project. I wonder if he’s pushing himself too hard."
Marlene sighed, setting the paper down. "He’s got ambition, Sirius, and you know what that’s like. He reminds me of you in some ways when you were younger—always chasing something, always wanting to prove yourself."
"Yeah, but I was also reckless," I pointed out. "I don't want him burning out or getting lost in all this."
Marlene smiled softly, reaching over to squeeze my hand. "He’s got you to look out for him. And besides, Alex isn’t like other kids. He’s smarter than we give him credit for. He knows when to stop."
"I hope so." I paused, glancing over at the family photos on the mantle. "Harry’s getting interested in healing magic, did you know?"
Marlene smiled warmly. "I did. He’s been reading all the books he can find on the subject."
"He’s a good kid," I said quietly. "After everything he’s been through, it’s amazing how strong he is. But this thing with Voldemort... it’s shaken him. He’s putting on a brave face, but I can tell it’s eating at him."
"We need to be there for him, both of them," Marlene said softly. "This family... we have to stick together, no matter what comes."
I nodded, grateful that I wasn’t alone in all this. We had a lot to protect, a lot to fight for. And with Voldemort still out there, we couldn’t afford to lose sight of what was important.
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Alex’s POV
After hours of testing and analysis, I finally set the Philosopher's Stone aside, my suspicions confirmed. The stone was powerful, but it wasn’t what legends claimed it to be. That was fine, though—it still had potential. I’d keep it safe for now and continue my research into alchemy. Who knows? Maybe I’d stumble onto the secret of true immortality one day.
But for now, I had more pressing matters. I turned to the books on alchemy stacked around my lab and started reading. There was a lot to learn, and not just about stones and metals. Wardstones, magical creatures, and their connection to ancient magic—all of it was connected. If I could master this, I could create things even more powerful than what the founders had left behind.
As I lost myself in the pages of an ancient tome, I made a mental note to focus more on my Pensieve projector project as well. With the memories of both my past lives swirling in my head, I couldn’t afford to miss any detail. The wizarding world might think they were ready for Voldemort, but they weren’t. And as for the Marvel universe, there was no telling what dangers lay ahead.
If the future was uncertain, then I had to be prepared for anything.
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End of Chapter