Speaking of Potter, what of Flamel?

Whilst Harry Potter is a fictional character it is clear that creator JK Rowling researched her subject. There was a Philosopher's Stone, or at least a belief in it; and there certainly was a 14th Century French alchemist called Nicholas Flamel. Cerberus, centaurs, gryphons... you name it, they are "real" enough in that mythical way we so love to read about. Don't stop with reading the Potter books, do some further research yourself.