Chapter 559: Rowena Ravenclaw
Chapter 559: Rowena Ravenclaw
"Indeed..."
The cold voice echoed once more, "Your Occlumency has improved significantly since we last met, allowing you to regain consciousness in such a short time."
Hearing this voice, Kyle gradually calmed down. He finally realized that he had just now been wearing the crown, free from that strange, all-knowing state.
This was undoubtedly due to Ravenclaw.
"Ms. Ravenclaw?" Kyle asked tentatively.
"It is I."
Even though he had already guessed the answer, hearing it directly still left Kyle feeling incredulous.
It felt as if Ravenclaw herself were present right there with him.
"How is this possible..." Kyle blurted out, "I mean, over a millennium has passed, and there's no Time-Turner nearby."
"Salazar's Time-Turner is merely a medium," Ravenclaw explained patiently, "Once I became aware of your existence, time was no longer such an insurmountable obstacle... This is also why Godric warned you not to touch the Time-Turner."
"But..." Kyle still didn't quite understand, "...Mr. Slytherin, didn't he promise to help me undo the effects of time?"
"That is correct," Ravenclaw said, "Salazar inscribed the Room of Requirement with an Obliviate charm. When we leave, we will forget that we ever met a student from a thousand years in the future.
"However..." she paused, "...this charm has no effect on the crown, and when I realized that I had forgotten something, the crown helped me retrieve those lost memories."
Kyle nodded, for his recent experience had shown him the crown's wonders, and he believed it was capable of such a feat.
"But hiding the memory was something the four of us agreed upon..." Ravenclaw continued, "...so to prevent any unforeseen changes, I sealed this memory within the crown."
"So, you know everything that happened over the last millennium?"
"If you're referring to someone turning the crown into a Horcrux... no, I don't."
Unlike Helena, whose rage burned at the knowledge of the crown being made into a Horcrux, Ravenclaw's tone remained as calm as frozen lake water, utterly unchanged.
"Aren't you angry?" Kyle couldn't help but ask.
"I had already guessed as much. Why would I be angry about something I already knew?"
Ravenclaw said, "The first time we met, your expression changed when I mentioned the crown, and that's when I knew for certain that my crown, along with the objects representing Salazar and Helga, had been made into Horcruxes."
"Then what about Mr. Gryffindor..."
"You didn't look at him," Ravenclaw said, "After I mentioned the crown, you unconsciously glanced at the three of us, but you overlooked Godric alone."
Just from my expression? Kyle's lips twitched as he recalled that Ravenclaw had been the last to speak before the scene vanished, a mere second or two later.
Could she really discern so much in such little time? Does she possess some sort of mind-reading magic?
...
Kyle went on to ask about several other doubts he had, and Ravenclaw patiently answered each one, like a professor addressing a student's queries.
Right up until the end, when Kyle asked why she had appeared, or rather, why this memory had awakened within the crown.
"Because of you."
"Me?" Kyle frowned.
"Indeed. To find the correct timeline, I had put this memory to sleep.
"And that young alchemist, he possesses memories of you, which just so happened to fulfill the conditions to awaken me."
Kyle felt a little strange about this. This was probably the first time someone had referred to Nico as a "young alchemist."
"There are two reasons," Ravenclaw replied. "Even though I already knew, I still didn't want to see my diadem turned into a Horcrux. Since you've already destroyed one of his Horcruxes, you will undoubtedly continue to do so in the future.
"If you give in to temptation and wear the diadem, which is already a Horcrux, then this memory of mine can save your life."
Kyle smacked his lips.
He had always assumed that Ravenclaw's current state was similar to the magical portraits in the castle, capable of chatting but unable to do anything else.
But from her recent words, it was clear that she could still do some things and had retained a portion of her abilities.
That was a bit frightening.
Kyle forcibly suppressed the urge to take off the diadem and asked, "Then what is the second thing?"
This time, Ravenclaw didn't answer immediately. Instead, she remained silent for a long while before speaking softly, "My daughter, Helena Ravenclaw."
"When I retrieved this memory, I attempted a prophecy and saw... a ghost."
Her voice trembled slightly for the first time.
"Only wizards who fear death or have lingering attachments become ghosts, returning to the places they remember most deeply. I hope you can pass on a message to her: No matter what she may have done in the future, she doesn't need to punish herself in such a cruel way."
Future? Kyle was taken aback.
Oh right, when Ravenclaw sealed this memory, Helena hadn't stolen the diadem yet.
But, as they say, like mother, like daughter.
Helena had asked him to deliver a message, and now Ravenclaw was doing the same, albeit in a more exaggerated fashion, having waited over a millennium.
"Ms. Ravenclaw, if that's your request, then I won't deliver the message..."
"I can offer you a reward that will satisfy you, as long as you can find her," Ravenclaw said, a hint of urgency in her tone.
"Whether it's knowledge or wealth, I can give it to you."
"No, you've misunderstood," Kyle shook his head. "I think it's better for you to say some things yourself."
As he spoke, he took out his box, placed it on the table, and opened it.
A pearl-white ghost floated out... Lady Grey, also known as Helena Ravenclaw.
"This is where the diadem is kept..." Helena suddenly fixed her gaze on Kyle's head. "I suggest you take it off. Otherwise, one day you will go insane."
"I want to, but the problem is that I can't take it off now," Kyle said helplessly, spreading his hands. To prove his point, he reached up and grabbed the diadem, pulling it upward with force... and the diadem came off.
The atmosphere became a bit awkward. How should he put it? It was a bit embarrassing... The diadem, which had seemed to be growing out of his head just a moment ago, was now easily removed.
"Believe me, I really couldn't take it off before," Kyle explained dryly.
Helena didn't say anything. She just looked at Kyle with a strange expression. "Peeves wouldn't use such a clumsy lie."
"I really... Never mind," Kyle sighed and didn't bother to explain further. Instead, he walked forward and tried to place the diadem on Helena's head.
"It's useless. Ghosts can't touch anything," Helena said. "I'm content just to be able to see it."
Kyle, of course, was aware of this, but he wanted to do it anyway. A voice in his head told him it would be alright.
As expected, the diadem settled securely on Helena's head, and even when Kyle let go, it didn't fall off.
(End of Chapter)
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