Ethan Jones, cued by Hagrid, said: "You're right, Hagrid. Sometimes what eyes see isn't necessarily the truth.
Hermione, you only saw Snape staring at Harry and muttering something, but can you be sure there wasn't another person staring at him, also reciting something?"
Hermione didn't agree. She questioned Ethan Jones angrily: "Then how do you explain that Harry's broom returned to normal after I set Snape's robes on fire?"
"Are you sure you didn't do anything else during this period?" Ethan Jones once again played the annoying riddler. He didn't want to reveal Voldemort possessing Quirrell yet.
"I'm sure!" Hermione recalled and answered firmly.
"Then stick to your judgment." Ethan Jones didn't reveal more to avoid her overthinking.
Harry still wanted to know what Fluffy was guarding. After some pulling and pushing, Hagrid inadvertently revealed a name—Nicolas Flamel.
Harry wanted to continue asking, but was stopped by Hermione. Hermione gave him a look.
Knowing the erudite Hermione might know some information, he stopped questioning and started drinking tea, chatting about other topics.
Hagrid also breathed a sigh of relief and greeted them more enthusiastically to eat and drink.
On the way back to the castle from Hagrid's hut, Hermione, who was studying Alchemy, told the others about Nicolas Flamel's life deeds.
"Nicolas Flamel is a very famous Alchemist. He is the first and last person to refine the Philosopher's Stone.
The Philosopher's Stone, can turn any metal into pure gold and also create the Elixir of Life, making people who drink this potion immortal. It was with this potion that he celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year."
"Turn stone into gold?!" "Immortal?!" Harry and Ron's focus was completely different.
Harry was thoughtful; everything made sense: "So, Snape is after the Philosopher's Stone."
Hermione nodded: "I think so. And it's written on Dumbledore's Chocolate Frog card that he and Nicolas Flamel are partners and have achieved remarkable results in Alchemy.
In the book The Development of Medieval Alchemy (or contextually similar title), there are more introductions about him. If you are interested, I can lend it to you."
"No thanks. We just need to know what Fluffy is guarding." Thinking of those thick books Hermione read, Harry quickly refused.
Ron was still imagining that if he got the Philosopher's Stone, he could buy whatever he wanted and no longer have to use his brothers' hand-me-downs like now.
Ron was full of longing: "If only we could get the Philosopher's Stone, we would have endless money and be immortal."
"Don't think too much. There is only one Philosopher's Stone in the world. Do you think others won't covet it?
Immortality is what everyone wants, but currently, the only ones who have lived till now using the Elixir of Life are Nicolas Flamel and his wife."
Ethan Jones's words broke his fantasy, making Ron somewhat dissatisfied.
"You Slytherin bad seed, you definitely have bad intentions. Especially you guy, you are so close to Snape and defended Snape just now." He cursed in his heart but said nothing.
Hermione was still introducing Nicolas Flamel's Alchemy achievements endlessly, but Ron couldn't listen anymore. He was full of thoughts about whether he could get the Philosopher's Stone and how to use it after getting it.
"I don't need to possess it forever, but just for a little while, enough for me to conjure some gold."
Although Ethan Jones's words were unpleasant, he admitted one thing: something like the Philosopher's Stone was indeed not obtainable by ordinary people. But now it was so close to him; couldn't he even fantasize about it?
Harry was also longing. Being wealthy, he didn't want to use the Philosopher's Stone to turn stone into gold, and being young, he didn't want immortality. But the thought of thwarting Snape's conspiracy made him excited.
"If there is definite evidence to drive Snape out of the school, that would be great."
Hermione actually wanted the Philosopher's Stone too, but she neither wanted to turn stone into gold nor wanted immortality. Studying Alchemy, she hoped to get close to this great work called the highest Alchemy achievement, and even go a step further, analyze it, and replicate it.
"If I can create a Philosopher's Stone, I can even call myself the second person in the history of Alchemy, only below Nicolas Flamel, the first person to refine the Philosopher's Stone."
Perhaps among the four, Ethan Jones longed for it the least because he knew clearly that Dumbledore had arranged everything long ago. He wouldn't let anyone really use the Philosopher's Stone to gain benefits.
In the afternoon, Ethan Jones continued to follow Snape to learn potion knowledge, while the three who had just discovered such a major secret searched for other information related to Nicolas Flamel in the library.
Perhaps the burning of the robe in the morning made Snape very unhappy. In this Potions class, whenever Ethan Jones made a tiny mistake, he would be ridiculed by him in the most sarcastic tone.
Ethan Jones knew he was unhappy and didn't talk back or refute like before. He was just more cautious, striving not to let Snape find an opportunity.
After an afternoon of Potions class, Ethan Jones left the office with a full harvest and the unhappiness of being scolded.
After evening self-study, Ethan Jones released various magic wantonly by the Black Lake to vent his emotions.
"Much better." Looking at the pitted grass, he used a Reparo to restore all the land to level ground, but he was powerless about the scorched and blown-off grass.
Fortunately, it was already November. The flowers were withered and the grass yellow, so there wasn't much need for restoration.
In the spell practice the next day, Harry and Ron arrived late with dark circles under their eyes. The two yawned and practiced spells listlessly.
Ron also deliberately stayed away from Ethan Jones, not wanting to get too close to this bad seed.
Even Hermione noticed Ron's behavior, let alone the party involved, Ethan Jones.
So when resting in Hagrid's wooden hut, Ethan Jones chatted with Hagrid and Hermione most of the time, occasionally responding to Harry. As for Ron, he didn't say a word to him.
This obvious differential treatment made Ron furious, but he could only curse Ethan Jones in his heart.
After all, compared to Ethan Jones, Ron was inferior in every way:
In terms of strength, one easily killed a Troll, while the other ran away being chased; in terms of wealth, one casually took out several Galleons to ask Hagrid to buy candy, while the other used his brother's old wand; looks were not worth mentioning, there was no comparability at all.
In this tragic contrast, where did Ron have the confidence to confront Ethan Jones head-on?
Moreover, even if Ron really chose to be reckless, what was the reason? Supporting Snape and thinking he didn't harm Harry?
So, Ron's behavior was just impotent rage.