Chapter 372: The Crown in the Treasure Room
Chapter 372: The Crown in the Treasure Room
Weekends at Hogwarts were always pleasant, but not for everyone.
At 7:50, Mikel, who had been lingering in the Great Hall for half an hour, reluctantly put down his utensils and headed towards the dungeon classrooms, glancing back every few steps.
He seemed to be seeking help from his roommates, hoping they would accompany him or perhaps cast a hex to get him out of detention.
As long as he could avoid this punishment, even a two-day stay in the school hospital would be fine.
However, Kyle and Ryan never once looked up at him.
"I'm going to the Quidditch Pitch later," Ryan said, seemingly unaware that someone was missing, and turned to the other side, "They're recruiting two people this year, and I'm going to try my luck. Maybe I'll get picked."
"Sure, which position are you going for?" Kyle turned his head, avoiding the pitiful gaze at the door, "Chaser, just like you."
Ryan poured himself a glass of juice, "Or maybe Keeper, I heard the competition isn't as fierce for that position."
"I'm not sure about that," Kyle replied after a moment's thought, "But I think you can try both positions and see which one suits you better."
"I was thinking the same," Ryan said, taking another slice of toast, "Are you going now? We can go together."
"I'm not going," Kyle shook his head, "Cedric is there, that's enough. I have other things to do."
After Harris graduated, Cedric became the new captain of the team, responsible for recruiting new members and creating training plans.
The two chatted for a while, and it was exactly 8:00.
Mikel's pitiful figure was no longer at the entrance to the Great Hall.
Kyle and Ryan stood up simultaneously.
Ryan went directly to the Quidditch Pitch, while Kyle climbed the stairs to the eighth floor and walked back and forth in a corridor three times.
"I need a room to hide something," Kyle muttered to himself.
He stopped in the middle, facing a wall opposite a tapestry.
The door to the Room of Requirement appeared quickly, as if it had always been there.
Kyle entered and closed the door behind him.
The room was silent, and he stood in a space as large as the Great Hall, surrounded by items hidden by generations of Hogwarts students, forming towering walls.
Below were piles of wobbly, broken furniture and thousands of books.
However, most of these books had little value, and some banned books carried certain dangers. Opening them could potentially trigger a hex, classifying them as Dark artifacts.
Of course, there were useful books as well, but Kyle didn't have the time or the inclination to sift through them one by one. The library had enough for him to read, and there was no need to waste time here.
Further down were Winged Bolts and Razor Flying Discs, some still hovering weakly... broken bottles containing solidified potions... clothes, hats... opals... eggshells... rusty iron swords...
Kyle walked through these alleys of trash, or perhaps treasures, and soon found a Troll specimen.
The Troll, standing over a dozen feet tall, was quite noticeable even in this treasure trove.
"It should be around here," Kyle looked around and followed the path in front of the Troll, eventually stopping in front of a pile of ugly statues.
These statues were all in the same style, each uglier than the last. Compared to them, even Old Tom from the Leaky Cauldron could be considered handsome.
Among the statues of wizards that resembled house-elves, one stood out. It wasn't the ugliest, but it had a crown tilted on its head, its color faded and rusted.
The Ravenclaw Crown.
Kyle took a deep breath.
He had been here once during his first year, but he had only taken a glance from a distance and left without getting close.
According to Kyle's original plan, as long as Dumbledore started searching for Voldemort's Horcruxes, he could just find an excuse to throw this thing at him.
It wasn't until June that he suddenly changed his mind.
It was mainly because of Rowena Ravenclaw.
In the Chamber, this founder could be said to be the most frugal with her words among the four, usually just watching as the other three spoke.
There was only one thing, and that was her reminder to practice Occlumency more and her mention of the crown at the end.
If Kyle remembered correctly, her exact words were that only when he wore the crown and remained unaffected could he truly be considered proficient in Occlumency.
At the time, these words didn't sound strange.
After all, strictly speaking, increasing wisdom is also a form of magical invasion, naturally falling within the scope of Occlumency.
But a few days ago, after seeing the Sorting Hat in the Headmaster's Office, Kyle suddenly felt something was off.
If a sword was protected so well, then what about the crown that increases wisdom...
Setting aside all other factors, even if the crown wasn't stolen by her daughter, Helena, and wasn't made into a Horcrux, but remained in the school... But for such an important item, could it be used by a student just because they said so?
Moreover, if one were to follow Rowena Ravenclaw's words and use the crown to practice Occlumency, it wouldn't be used just once or twice but regularly.
There is no error in the 69th book! 6=9+book_bar first release of this novel.
This was simply impossible.
Handing over Rowena Ravenclaw's crown to a student for Occlumency practice?
Unless Rowena Ravenclaw herself comes in person, otherwise, no headmaster would agree to such an outrageous request.
Maybe Dumbledore would, but only him...
Rowena Ravenclaw couldn't possibly guess the personality of the Hogwarts headmaster a thousand years later.
Additionally, there are so many ways to practice and test Occlumency, Legilimency, Confundus Charm... even using a Veela would work, why insist on using the crown? Isn't this standard too high?
It's like you want to practice boxing, but someone directly puts up a ten-centimeter-thick steel plate and says that you've succeeded when you punch through it...
There's nothing wrong with these words, but is it really necessary?
With Rowena Ravenclaw's wisdom, she should have known better, but she still said it.
Is there some other meaning behind this...
After hesitating for a few days, Kyle still decided to come over, regardless of whether he was overthinking it or not, at least he would take the crown first and then decide.
With his current level of Occlumency, he should be able to resist the influence of the Horcrux.
Probably...
Kyle put on the Anti-Charm Gloves and carefully picked up the crown.
There were no curses or traces of mental magic, but after being made into a Horcrux, the crown had lost its luster and become dull and tarnished.
If he were to put it in a second-hand shop in Diagon Alley, it probably wouldn't even be worth a Sickle.
Kyle looked closely and barely made out the fine inscription on it: Wisdom is man's greatest treasure.
Kyle took off the Anti-Charm Gloves and held it directly in his hand, still without any reaction.
It seemed that even though both were Horcruxes, the crown and the diary had some differences, at least it wasn't as active.
Kyle took out the box he had prepared beforehand and placed the crown inside.
(End of Chapter)
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