Chapter 327: The Ravenclaw Diadem
Chapter 327: The Ravenclaw Diadem
Dumbledore didn't pursue the matter of Fred and George wandering around in the middle of the night. Instead, he followed Albert into a small alley within the junk pile. After passing by the giant monster specimen, they walked a little further and stopped in front of a large cabinet that was bubbling and appeared to have been splashed with strong acid.
"Last time, I hid Mr. Hector Dagworth-Granger's gold card in here," Albert opened the cabinet door and pointed to a cage inside. The creature within had long died, and from its skeleton, it appeared to have five legs. "Later, when I came to study this creature, I believed it to be the legendary five-legged monster."
"I've never seen a five-legged monster either, and hardly anyone knows where Drear Island is," Dumbledore also examined the skeleton in the cage and shook his head, "However, your guess may be correct."
"Where is the crown from the photo?" Dumbledore asked again.
"Over there!" Albert pointed to the top of a nearby crate, where there was an ugly bust of an old wizard, his head covered with a dusty old wig and a rusty crown.
"So it was here," Dumbledore reached out to take the crown, but Albert grabbed his hand.
"What is it?" Dumbledore looked at Albert, puzzled by his action.
"I think it's best to wear dragon-hide gloves," Albert said seriously as he pulled out a pair of gloves from his robe pocket and handed them to Dumbledore. "Although we can't be certain if the crown is a Dark artifact, it's better to be safe than sorry. Some of these items can be deadly to the touch, and it would be terribly unfortunate to lose one's life because of carelessness."
Seeing Albert's earnest expression, Dumbledore was taken aback, but he accepted the gloves with a smile, "You're right, I was negligent."
Although Dumbledore thought Albert was being overly cautious, he knew that his caution was not unwarranted, as many Dark artifacts could indeed be dangerous.
Only after putting on the dragon-hide gloves did Dumbledore reach out and take the crown from the bust of the old wizard. He examined it closely and nodded, "You are correct, this appears to be a Dark artifact. Fortunately, you didn't touch it directly, or who knows what terrible things might have happened."
"Is it very dangerous?" Albert asked.
"Yes, a very dangerous and evil Dark artifact," Dumbledore's smile had faded, and he narrowed his eyes as he examined the crown, his thoughts unreadable.
Soon, Dumbledore's cheerful demeanor returned, and he led Albert away from the room of requirement. Smiling, he said to Albert, "Your handling of this situation was correct, 50 points to Gryffindor."
"Then, sir, I'll leave this in your capable hands. Goodbye for now!" Albert bid Dumbledore farewell and turned to leave.
"A remarkable young man," Dumbledore murmured as he watched Albert's departing figure.
When he returned to his office with the crown, the portraits that had been feigning sleep immediately gathered around.
"Is that the crown from the photo?"
"It does resemble the Ravenclaw Diadem indeed."
"Can you confirm its authenticity?"
"That... I cannot be certain. After all, the Ravenclaw Diadem has been missing for over a millennium. However, we do have a simple way to test it," Dumbledore instructed one of the former headmasters, "Armando, please find Ms. Grey and ask her to come to my office."
"Ms. Grey? Very well."
Armando soon departed. He had his own portrait in the Ravenclaw common room, and he could ask the students there to pass on the message if they weren't in class.
"Dumbledore, did you require my assistance?"
Before long, Ms. Grey arrived.
"There is a matter I wish to discuss," Dumbledore pointed to the crown on the table, "I've found it, and I'd like to know if this is indeed the legendary Ravenclaw Diadem."
A fleeting look of astonishment appeared on Ms. Grey's face as she floated towards the table and stared at the crown for a few seconds, "It resembles it, but that's impossible. It can't be here in Hogwarts."
"Where did you find it?" Ms. Grey asked.
"In the Room of Requirement," Dumbledore added, "In that magical room opposite the tapestry of the foolish Barnabas the Barmy being clubbed by trolls on the eighth floor of the castle."
"Is this really the Ravenclaw Diadem?" Armando was shocked. The Ravenclaw Diadem had been missing for over a millennium.
"Impossible!" Ms. Grey murmured. "It should be inside a hollow tree in the Albanian Forest."
With this statement, anyone who wasn't foolish could guess Ms. Grey's identity.
"Someone brought it back to the school."
In fact, Dumbledore had already guessed what this object was, and furthermore, he had an idea of who had brought Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem back to the school.
"Ms. Grey, I regret to inform you that this heirloom of Ravenclaw has been tainted by evil Dark magic."
"He... He's very charming. He... He's considerate and empathetic." Ms. Grey was stunned, staring at the Ravenclaw Diadem in disbelief as she murmured, "How could he do such a thing?"
"Tom is adept at using honeyed words to deceive others." Dumbledore spoke softly, "You aren't the only one he deceived..."
"Is the Diadem imbued with strong Dark magic?" Armando asked, "Can it be restored?"
"Tom most likely turned the Diadem into a Horcrux." Dumbledore whispered, "It's an extremely evil form of Dark magic, so powerful that ordinary magic can't even damage it! I'll need to find a rather special approach."
"A Horcrux!"
At this revelation, the former Headmasters erupted in a chorus of exclamations.
"Fortunately, Mr. Anderson was very vigilant and took the appropriate actions when he found this object. Otherwise, he might have faced grave danger!" Dumbledore raised his wand, attempting to dispel the Dark magic, but to no avail.
"So even you can't do it?"
"Destroying a Horcrux requires tremendous destruction, powerful enough to overwhelm the Dark magic binding the Horcrux." Dumbledore shook his head.
"Use Dark magic! Don't tell me you don't know how!" Phineas suddenly exclaimed. Although Dumbledore rarely used those types of spells, Phineas believed he definitely knew how.
"Avada Kedavra, or perhaps the Cruciatus Curse should be able to destroy it!" Dumbledore, of course, had a way to do it, but if there were other better options, he would prefer not to resort to those methods.
"Use the Killing Curse! You're not using it on a person, so don't tell me you don't know how!" Phineas couldn't help but sneer. He really didn't like Dumbledore's hypocritical pretenses.
"Be quiet, Phineas." An old witch brandished her cane at Phineas, threatening to whack him on the head if he dared to utter another word.
"Destroy it! Don't leave such an evil thing here; it makes us feel uncomfortable."
The other Headmasters agreed; a Horcrux was too sinister, and no one knew what might happen if it were left unattended.
"Very well, Avada Kedavra!"
In the next moment, green light filled the entire Headmaster's office.
As the light faded, the Diadem seemed to vibrate violently, and then, right before everyone's eyes, it cracked on the table. A thick, black, blood-like substance oozed out of the Diadem, accompanied by faint, agonizing screams.
"How could this happen? How could it..." Ms. Grey was shocked. The Ravenclaw Diadem was destroyed because a boy had tainted it with evil Dark magic.
"It seems I'll need to give Mr. Anderson another special contribution award!" Dumbledore said lightly.
He raised his wand and gently waved it at the broken Diadem on the table, causing the black liquid to completely disappear. He then picked up the damaged Diadem and placed it in a box, speaking solemnly to the others, "By the way, regarding the discovery of the Ravenclaw Diadem and Horcrux, please keep this matter confidential. It's important, very important. As for the Diadem, I'll find someone to try and repair it, but I can't guarantee that it will be completely restored."
"Mr. Anderson?" Ms. Grey murmured, "Perhaps I should thank that boy. If not for him, I might have remained deceived."
In the end, the Ravenclaw Diadem was destroyed, leaving Ms. Grey filled with regret for having trusted that boy in the first place.
...
At that moment, Albert, who was in the middle of a lesson, suddenly curved his lips into a pleasant smile. On his task panel, three more tasks were marked as completed—what a bountiful harvest! It seemed the Horcrux had been destroyed, and the Headmaster had indeed been decisive in his actions!
(End of Chapter)
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