Alchemy
Alchemy is a branch of magic, an ancient art and science dedicated to the transformation of aspects and elements. Its practice is greatly diminished in the Wizarding World of today. The subject is not taught at Hogwarts though topics pertaining to Alchemy do show up in advanced Potions and Transfiguration classes. The last of the famous alchemists, Nicolas Flamel and his wife Perenelle died at the ages of 665 and 658 respectively in the early 1990s in their native France. France, particularly around Beauxbatons, and Egypt continue to be centers of alchemical research to this day.
Alchemy is unique in that in its earliest days of practice both the magical and muggle would work together in the pursuit of research and experimentation. Indeed, muggle chemistry and science can claim origin from the legends of alchemy as much as witches and wizards can trace magic of the modern era from those times. As an applied science alchemy is very ritualized, leading to just as many discoveries of basic chemistry and physics as it did to magical processes.
