What's common between Harry Potter & The Da Vinci Code?

Apart from the fact that Jesus Christ gets mentioned a lot in the Harry Potter series & Harry gets mentioned by Robert Langdon's editor in The Da Vinci Code, there is a name that is common to both the books.

Do you know which one?

No?

Want me to tell you?

Sure?

It's Nicholas Flamel.

Now if you scream "Who's that?", I would very strongly suggest you read the first installment of Harry Potter (The Philosopher's Stone). As per Ms. Rowling, Nicholas Flamel has in his possession the only known Philosopher's Stone. And if you think she made that up, I would have to say "You're wrong"!

Nicholas Flamel was a highly accomplished French Alchemist. It is claimed that he was able to create the Philosopher's Stone which, apart from turning lead into gold, also created the Elixer of Life which, as you might have guessed, makes you immortal. Along with Aqua Regia, both of these were the goals alchemists were trying to achieve back then. While the rest of them managed to create Aqua Regia, which could dissolve gold, Flamel is rumoured to have had success with the other two goals of Alchemy.

Now what does this have to do with The Da Vinci Code, you say?

Nicholas Flamel is mentioned as one of the Grand Masters of the Priory of Sion!

Cool, huh? How modern authors are using actual historical figures to make their stories sound more plausible.

Not sure how many of you caught that while reading the books.

Or maybe you are the type who does not like the Harry Potter series. Or The Da Vinci Code. Or both.