Nicolas Flamel was a French Alchemist that I was lucky enough to visit on a few occasions during my time at Hogwarts simply due to the work of Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape.

He was married to a wonderful woman by the name of Perenelle Flamel. He was born around about 1300 /1326. And died shortly after 1992, once he had destroyed the Philosophers Stone. All I was told was that he had enough elixir to “get his affairs in order” and that was it.

He was very old when he eventually passed away because he was aged between 665 and 696. In his youth he attended Beauxbatons Academy in France, where he met his wife. He owned a house in Paris and towards the end of his life, he lived in Devon, England. It wasn't far from the Burrow but I was not allowed to go. Although I'm sure he wouldn't have minded really.

The Philosophers Stone is thought, not only to create the elixir of life but to grant the drinker the power of immortality. Of which I do not doubt. It is thought that he had a passion for operatic music. There is also a portrait of him in Hogwarts Castle.

I know that I met him in the summer of 1991 but I already knew him by then. I think that the first time I met him was possibly 1989 or 1990 because it wasn’t long before I started school, and I remember him introducing me to a world of potions that was far more than I had ever seen before, alchemy. But, who better to learn it from.

I have never told this to Hermione and I think she will probably punch me in the shoulder when she finds out.