chapter 21- Secrets of Alchemy and the lost language of runes

Discovery in Lily's Notes

Harry sat in his room, carefully flipping through his mother's old potion notes. Over the past few months, he had already gained a solid understanding of potion-making, but today, something different caught his eye.

Among the brewing techniques and ingredient lists, there were detailed sketches of symbols—runes. At first, he thought they were some sort of shorthand, but as he read further, it became clear that his mother had been trying to study alchemy.

One page stood out:

"Modern wizards only use alchemy for small enchantments and potion enhancements... But the real secrets of alchemy have been lost. Everything points to runes being the key, but no one understands them properly anymore."

Harry frowned. Runes?

The State of Alchemy in the Wizarding World

Determined to learn more, Harry spent his next few visits to Diagon Alley's bookstores searching for alchemy books. He found some—but they were disappointingly basic.

Most books only covered:

Simple transmutation (turning objects into different materials).

Potion enhancement (strengthening potions slightly using elemental balances).

Magic item crafting (which mostly involved cramming runes onto objects).

Runes, in particular, were treated like labels rather than a real language.

Most books simply stated things like:

This rune means 'protection'.

This rune means 'strength'.

This rune means 'fire'.

There was no explanation of how they worked together or why they had power.

"They just memorize runes without knowing what they truly mean," Harry realized.

Runes: A Lost Language of Magic

The more he studied, the clearer it became—runes weren't just symbols. They were a forgotten magical language.

If used properly, they could:

Create spells without wands.

Enhance magic items far beyond what modern enchantments could do.

Unlock secrets of ancient magic lost to time.

But no one seemed to understand this anymore.

"If I can figure out how to properly use them, I could do things that even most modern wizards can't."

The Legend of Nicolas Flamel

There was only one true alchemist left—Nicolas Flamel.

Flamel, the creator of the Philosopher's Stone, had lived for centuries and was said to have mastered alchemy in ways no one else had. However:

He was almost impossible to find.

Any mention of him in books only referred to his past works, never his current whereabouts.

His connection with Dumbledore was well-documented, meaning if Harry searched too openly, Dumbledore might notice.

"If he's alive, then he must have knowledge that even modern wizards don't," Harry mused.

What Comes Next?

With new determination, Harry decided:

He needed to study and decode runes properly, treating them like a lost language.

He would search for clues about Nicolas Flamel's whereabouts while keeping a low profile.

If the Wizarding World had lost its knowledge of true alchemy, then he would reclaim it himself.

For now, he would test rune theories on his own, carefully experimenting in secret. If he could unlock the true meaning behind them, it would be a step closer to real alchemy.

End of Chapter