Hagrid said, "You'll find him in the Restricted Section." Here's why that was a bad idea:
* The Restricted Section is off-limits: This means they were forbidden to go there.
* It's a library: While the library might have information on Flamel, it would be buried among thousands of other books.
* There's no guarantee: Even if they found a book on Flamel, it might not contain the information they needed, like his whereabouts.
So, how were they supposed to find information on Flamel?
The story doesn't really address this specifically, but here are some logical possibilities:
* Asking a librarian: The Hogwarts library is well-staffed and could have someone with extensive knowledge about historical figures.
* Using the Room of Requirement: This magical room can provide anything a witch or wizard needs, including potentially the information they seek.
* Following a lead: Hagrid did mention Flamel was "connected" with the stone, so they could try to find someone else who might know more about him through his connection to the stone.
Ultimately, the story emphasizes the importance of breaking the rules in their quest to find the information they need. This is a key theme throughout the series. They didn't find the information the way they expected, but through their persistence and a little bit of luck, they eventually discovered the truth about Flamel.