17 Chapter 17 "Philosophers Stone"
They proceeded down the corridor, descending along a sloping path.
Apart from the echo of their footsteps, there was the faint sound of water droplets dripping slowly down the walls.
"Did you hear that?" Daphne paused and strained to listen.
Several others also listened attentively to the surrounding sounds and, indeed heard a soft rustling that appeared to be originating from ahead.
"Let's keep moving; we'll find out when we get closer," Skyler gestured ahead where the lights shone.
At the end of the corridor, they discovered a brightly illuminated room, and the sound emanated from the high vaulted ceiling, where numerous winged keys fluttered about.
"This... is this the second challenge?" Having experienced a previous setback, Daphne had grown cautious, fearing they might stumble into another trap. "Do you think these keys will attack us if we just enter the room?"
Meredith, more observant, pointed to the thick wooden door opposite and stated, "There's a door on the other side. We likely have to pass through this room."
Daphne suggested, "If all the keys swarm us, we could cast Bombarda together and eliminate them all. Would that work to pass this level?"
Skyler shook his head, "Daphne, your adaptability to spells and your courage in the face of adversity is commendable, but you can learn a lot from Meredith regarding observation and reasoning. Look closely; those things above your heads aren't flying birds."
After observing them for a whole semester, Skyler believed that these two girls' talents and dispositions made them trustworthy confidants in the future.
This, of course, wasn't hindered by their attractive appearances.
Unlike the brutish Crabbe and Goyle, the two who wished to be Skyler's followers, the girls showed promise.
Daphne scrutinized more closely and realized the winged creatures were actually a group of flying keys. "Daph, this must be a challenge set by Professor McGonagall. Did she draw inspiration from your award-winning paper on magic lights?"
Skyler nodded, declining to comment, and asked, "Have you considered overcoming this challenge?"
Daphne furrowed her brow, "Don't tell me we need to find the right key among these piles of keys."
"Bingo! You've got it. It seems you'll need to locate the correct key to unlock the door." Skyler responded calmly, "They're clearly not there for decoration."
"But there are hundreds of keys!" Daphne grumbled.
Meredith had retrieved a broomstick and was preparing to hand it to Skyler and Daphne.
While the three were decent flyers, they acknowledged their limitations compared to Harry and other Quidditch players, so they decided to act with courage.
Skyler slowly stated, "I'm going to impart another valuable lesson. Real combat doesn't have a one-size-fits-all solution. You need to learn to use your strengths and employ any available tools to achieve your goals. Wands are only one part of our arsenal—potions, herbs, magical creatures, and yes, even Muggle devices can be our tools."
"The true power of a wizard doesn't just lie in magic but in their intelligence. When facing any problem, don't resort to magic as the immediate solution. That's a sign of cowardice. I believe those who rely solely on magic or brute force are no better than primitive sorcerers. Flexibility and intelligence in utilizing all the resources at your disposal to solve seemingly insurmountable problems—that's the mark of a truly great wizard."
The two girls listened attentively and gazed at Skyler with newfound respect.
Subsequently, Skyler took out a Muggle Universal Lock Pick from his pocket.
After a few attempts that astonished the two girls, he successfully opened the door lock with a click.
The two stared in amazement as Skyler nonchalantly turned the doorknob and addressed them with a grin, "The door is open; let's step inside." With that, he pushed the door open.
"How... How did you do that?" stammered Meredith.
Skyler explained, "This is a Muggle device called a Universal Lock Pick, specifically used for picking doorknob locks. The door lock was enchanted with an anti-Alohomora spell, rendering conventional wizard unlocking methods ineffective. However—"
Skyler paused with a smirk, "wizards have been too arrogant. Even Dumbledore didn't give Muggle methods their due recognition, and that's why this loophole exists. I daresay that any defensive measures in the school, even the faculty offices, can be thwarted using this tool."
The trio crossed through the door into an empty room.
The room was shrouded in darkness, and they couldn't see anything.
Suddenly, torches on the walls ignited, revealing a remarkable sight that resembled a boss battle in a video game.
They now stood at the edge of an enormous chessboard.
Ahead of them, two rows of black statues stood, taller than they were.
On the opposite end of the room were two rows of white statues.
Daphne muttered, "Could this be... Wizard's Chess? What should we do now?"
"We might have to play as chess pieces. We can proceed once we defeat the opponent," Skyler speculated.
However, he wasn't entirely certain they could win the game with just three pawns.
Daphne and Meredith exchanged concerned glances.
After all, if they were required to serve as chess pieces, they weren't eager to be captured by these towering chess piece statues.
Skyler devised a plan; Daphne would represent the king, Meredith the queen, and he would be a knight.
The king and queen were among the most challenging pieces to capture in battle.
Meredith still had reservations, "What if we get taken out of the game?"
"I'll do my best to prevent that scenario. If it's unavoidable, we can cast Bombarda as a last resort." Skyler began to move the chess pieces, expanding the board with an opening move.
He noted that Professor McGonagall's chess game wasn't as sophisticated as he'd assumed, and this game was progressing more smoothly than expected.
The number of chess pieces... was hopeless...
Skyler focused on how to quickly defeat the opposing king as the chessboard field shrank to a certain level.
The White Queen ruthlessly knocked the opposing bishop to the ground and hurled it out of the chessboard like refuse.
Seizing the moment, Skyler advanced and moved his wand to eliminate the White King.
However, just as he was about to obliterate it, the king removed its crown and tossed it at Skyler's feet.
This action signified Skyler's victory.
They proceeded through a wooden door, entered a corridor, and continued their journey.
As they walked, Meredith speculated, "The three-headed dog was Hagrid's challenge. The Devil's Net was likely set up by Professor Sprout. The chessboard was probably Professor McGonagall's creation. And with the magician's handwriting, I suspect we might be facing a challenge by Professor Snape next."
Skyler grinned, "Did you forget about our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?"
As they reached another door, an unpleasant odor struck them when they opened it.
They instinctively raised their clothes to cover their noses.
The sound of chains being pulled from inside and a bellowing roar emanated from the room.
"It's a Troll!" Meredith exclaimed.
Giant creatures were typically terrifying to girls, and their mere presence could incite fear, regardless of their own abilities.
Daphne handled it a bit better than Meredith and refrained from screaming, but her expression was still disconcerted.
Skyler responded nonchalantly, "It's merely a large monster. Don't forget that I defeated one on Halloween."
His comment seemed to have a calming effect, and the two girls' expressions became less fearful.
Skyler continued, "This giant monster possesses strength akin to a giant and considerable magic resistance on its skin. Using a Stunning Spell to incapacitate it is impractical, but it does have a weakness. Do you know what it is?"
Both Meredith and Daphne promptly replied, "The back of its head! The back of its head is its weak spot."
Skyler snapped his fingers and smiled with satisfaction. "Yes, recognizing its weaknesses makes it less intimidating. Later, I'll use Obstacle Spells to restrict its movements, and you'll control it with Levitating Charms. Use the sticks to deliver heavy blows to the back of its head. Understand?"
The two girls, who had been taught advanced Levitation Charm techniques by Skyler, nodded in understanding.
After opening the door, Skyler took the lead by casting Obstacle Spells to impede the troll's movements.
The two women simultaneously employed Levitating Charms on their sticks to control the troll and delivered hefty blows to the back of its head, successfully toppling it.
When the task was complete, the two girls embraced each other happily, even giving a high-five.
Unbeknownst to them, their prior grievances had dissipated.
Next, they faced Professor Snape's logic puzzle challenge.
Both girls weren't particularly skilled at logical reasoning, so Skyler patiently explained the principles behind logical deduction and offered some sample questions from the Muggle world to allow them to practice while waiting for him.
Meanwhile, he consumed the antidote on his own and, after passing through the black flames, arrived at the final challenge—a room containing the Mirror of Erised.
Unlike Harry in the original books, Skyler was familiar with the Mirror chemical creation dating back to the 14th century, but the method for manufacturing this alchemical product had been lost.
This wasn't uncommon in the world of alchemy.
Many magical items, like Vanishing Cabinets, Two-Way Mirrors, Philosopher Stones, and Deathly Hallows, had lost their manufacturing methods due to the tumultuous times and secrecy within the wizarding community.
The magic embedded in the Mirror of Erised was none other than the Enchantment of the Mind Trap, which detected the innermost desires of anyone who gazed into it and projected that desire as a reflection.
Dumbledore had made certain alterations to this mirror to enable it to store valuable items.
The only individuals capable of obtaining the Philosopher's Stone from it were those who desired to acquire it but had no intention of using it.
Skyler touched the mirror after casting Occlumency.
He observed himself in the mirror, holding a red stone.
To his amazement, when he reached into his pocket, he discovered the legendary Philosopher's Stone.
Skyler transfigured a fake Philosopher's Stone that matched the real one and used Occlumency to master the secrets of the Mirror of Erised.
After several attempts, he finally discerned the mirror's mechanism and succeeded in placing the fake stone into it.
Perhaps Dumbledore could recognize the fake Philosopher's Stone, but it didn't matter.
In the vast Hogwarts, Skyler, a first-year student, had little reason to suspect him.
What's more, his actions this evening had been carefully planned.
Skyler knew that virtually all the portraits throughout the castle served as Dumbledore's eyes and ears. Still, he and the two girls had quietly departed their dormitory thanks to the Illusion Charm and Silencing Charm, ensuring that no one in the castle was aware of their departure.
The last hurdle involved Dumbledore using a Summoning Charm to retrieve the Philosopher's Stone, but this was also manageable.
Hogwarts' Anti-Apparition magic had a critical loophole—the non-wizarding system.
Apparitions by creatures like phoenixes and House-elves remained unimpeded.
Skyler hastily had Dobby transport the Philosopher's Stone back to Malfoy Manor, safeguarding it within the family's secret chamber, which was further secured by multiple protective, concealed, and shielded enchantments.
With these steps completed, Skyler rushed Daphne and Meredith back to the Slytherin common room using the Disillusionment Charm and Silencing Charm.
He couldn't help but feel grateful that the Slytherin entrance was concealed by a stone wall. It revealed itself once the correct code was given, eliminating the risk of discovery that might exist if they had to deal with a guardian like the Fat Lady in Gryffindor.
Philosopher's Stone was secured!
