BOOK 1: PHILOSOPHER. (Mattheo Riddle).

Chapter 25.

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PHILOSOPHER.
Chapter 25.
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Lorenzo and Frey look around the Undercroft with amazement. The history and artwork, the way that Artemis and Mattheo have personalised the space for themselves, the mystery of what the Undercroft represents.

Frey admiring all of the artwork from all of the different art periods in wizarding history. She enjoys learning about artists from the magical past.

Lorenzo translating some of the writing that is carved into the stone walls. And a they both find a triptych that has been destroyed, but catches their attention.

"How long have you two been keeping this place a secret?" Frey demands of Mattheo. He and Artemis seemed to have been here long enough that they've had time to decorate to suit themselves.

"Merlin, we should have just done this in the Library or something" Mattheo curses. This place was supposed to be his and Artemis secret. They didn't show Lorenzo and Frey how to get inside, so they can't come and go like Mattheo and Artemis do.

"Why did you hide this place from us?" Lorenzo demands of Mattheo. "We found that door together, you should have told me that you managed to open the door" Lorenzo tells Mattheo.

Mattheo isn't the mood to be berated by the two of them. "Drop it! Both of you! We have something important to discuss, that's the only reason that you're here!" Mattheo scolds them both. Mattheo cannot be bothered hearing Lorenzo or Frey's whining on the subject.

Both of them flinch back from being shouted at by Mattheo. His sour mood is softening into a hostile attitude.

"Merlin, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today" Frey comments. "Maybe you'll cheer up a little when Artemis finally gets here" Frey tells Mattheo.

Mattheo cringes at the thought of seeing Artemis. And Lorenzo and Frey both see the discomfort on Mattheo's face.

"Or not?" Frey asks. "Did something happen between the two of you that we don't know about?" Frey asks out of concern.

"You okay, mate?" Lorenzo asks.

They both put their hands on Mattheo's arm to show him that they're there for support if he needs it.

"It doesn't matter what happened" Mattheo dismisses it with a false smile. "Me and Artemis found out about Nicholas Flamel, and according to Artemis it isn't good news" Mattheo tells them.

For now they need to focus on keeping Professor Snape from getting his hand on the Philosopher's Stone.

Artemis comes into the Undercroft carrying a large book under her arm. "I read this book that Noctua got me on defensive magic, ancient magic and obscure magic. That's where I read about Nicholas Flamel" Artemis tells the group.

"Who's Noctua?" Lorenzo asks. Lorenzo vaguely remembers the name, but with no specifics.

"A friend of the family" is the only answer that Artemis gives. Artemis sits cross legged on the floor and opens the book to the right page. "Nicholas Flamel is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone" Artemis reads from the book.