The Sorcerer's Stone is one of the most magical objects in the Harry Potter series. Here's a breakdown of the stone's origin and why it was destroyed.

The Sorcerer's Stone, also known as the Philosopher's Stone, was one of the most magical objects in the Harry Potter series. The red stone had the ability to turn any metal into pure gold. More importantly, it had the power to create the Elixir of Life, a potion that would make someone drinking it immortal. The Sorcerer's Stone itself played a crucial role in the first Harry Potter film (and book), which was appropriately titled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Harry Potter's Sorcerer's Stone was created by Nicolas Flamel during the 14th century. It was the only known stone of that substance to ever be in existence. Flamel, a famous alchemist and wizard, used the stone to concoct the Elixir of Life. Through the use of the potion, Flamel and his wife, Perenelle, both lived to be well over 600 years old. Flamel was also a good friend of Hogwarts headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, who eventually agreed to protect the stone, which was briefly shown in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

Due to the stone's magical properties regarding immortality, it became a target of Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Voldemort had a plan to restore his physical form after his failed attack in Godric's Hollow. The Dark Lord hijacked Quirinus Quirrell's body to go on a mission to procure the stone, in the hope that it could lead him to the Elixir of Life. Quirrell caught wind that the Sorcerer's Stone was being held at Gringott's Wizarding Bank, but before he broke into the vault, Hagrid had already taken it back to Hogwarts.

In an effort to protect the Sorcerer's Stone, it was placed in a chamber guarded by a number of spells and creatures. Those obstacles included a web of Devil's Snare, flying keys, a life-sized Wizard's Chessboard, a mountain troll, riddles, the Mirror of Erised, and Hagrid's three-headed dog, Fluffy. Harry, Ron, and Hermione bravely got through all of the obstacles, as they were worried about the stone falling into the wrong hands. After getting to the stone, Harry came face to face with Voldemort, but he defeated the Dark Lord while also keeping the magical object safe.

After the near-disaster involving Voldemort, Dumbledore and Flamel agreed that they had no choice but to destroy the Sorcerer's Stone. They feared that it could potentially get in the wrong hands, so cutting it out of existence was the only option. Destroying the Sorcerer's Stone meant that Flamel's life would soon come to an end, something that he was content with. He claimed to have enough Elixir of Life left to tie up any loose ends before he met his fate. The Sorcerer's Stone was eradicated but there was no indication how Dumbledore and Flamel destroyed the object.

The Sorcerer's Stone, or Philosopher's Stone, is a legendary substance historically referred to by alchemists. The stone shares similar properties portrayed in the Harry Potter series. It was also known as a symbol of perfection and enlightenment. Seeking the Philosopher's Stone was a goal of many alchemists, due to its mystical capabilities. For centuries, alchemists strived to find the majestic ruby-red stone, with the goal of achieving immortality. So it's no question why the stone would appear in a number of fantasy tales, like Harry Potter.

Next: Harry Potter: The Patronus Charm Explained (& How To Change Your Animal)