Chapter 377: Struggle

“I have a small question, Wizard Sean: what did Voldemort choose to make his Horcrux?”

Before the statue moved, Jia Jia Siting calmed his emotions and asked with a hint of curiosity.

“The Ravenclaw diadem.”

Wizard Sean paused, then replied.

“The Ravenclaw diadem?!”

Jia Jia Siting involuntarily exclaimed.

The legends of the Ravenclaw diadem were countless at Hogwarts.

Just as most Hogwarts students knew Slytherin was a Parselmouth, most also knew Ravenclaw had left behind a magical diadem forged by enchantment.

It was said this diadem enhanced a wizard’s wisdom; the Senior Wei Wei Silai brothers had even sold fake “Ravenclaw diadems.”

If they hadn’t passed glass beads off as rubies, they might have actually sold three silver Jin Jin Jialong.

“Mm.”

Wizard Sean paid no mind to Jia Jia Siting’s exclamation; he leveled his wand and ordered the ceiling-bound statue to act swiftly.

At the same time, his proficiency in magical transfiguration increased by three points.

“Wizard Sean, this is… the Ravenclaw diadem. There must be some way to remove the curse without destroying it…”

After a silence, Jia Jia Siting decided to make an attempt.

Though Wizard Sean treated the diadem like a common toffee in the Great Hall, he knew better than anyone how young wizards pursued wisdom and knowledge.

And now, having learned Voldemort would return, he was even less willing to destroy such a powerful magical artifact.

“Maybe. Or perhaps it’s just a legend.”

Wizard Sean’s gaze flickered.

The statue paused for only an instant, then marched “thud-thud-thud” to stand before the diadem.

“Little wizard! Bold little wizard! Stay away from it!”

At that moment, a familiar voice drifted through the Room of Requirement.

It was Mr. Owl—his gold-rimmed glasses had fallen to the floor.

The statue guardian, Wizard Sean, and Jia Jia Siting all turned their heads at once, staring at it.

“What are you staring at? Stupid little wizard! Bold little wizard! You like the storage closet—and also a—”

Mr. Owl continued flapping his wings.

Though he had “dropped his glasses,” his talons still clutched the parchment tightly.

“Mr. Owl!”

Jia Jia Siting was delighted—this was the first time he’d seen Mr. Owl’s portrait outside the Room of Hope.

“Foolish, loyal little wizard!”

Mr. Owl spoke sharply.

“As a sage of many centuries, you must know of the Ravenclaw diadem. What did you mean by ‘and also a’?”

Jia Jia Siting did not argue; instead, he asked cautiously.

“It’s a secret—”

Mr. Owl was unmoved by flattery.

“Well then, you must not know how the Ravenclaw diadem was made into a Horcrux either…”

Jia Jia Siting looked crestfallen.

“Little wizard with his head stuck in the dirt, do you think I don’t know?”

“Go find Grey—go find Helena—clever little wizard,”

Mr. Owl grew agitated, then suddenly fell silent, his voice dropping low,

“Tragedy can teach wizards many things.”

Jia Jia Siting’s eyes lit up; before he could thank him, Mr. Owl vanished.

At the same time, Bai Yi suddenly flew away from the window.

“Grey… Grey… it’s Lady Grey—Wizard Sean, if we can find out how Voldemort made the Horcrux, maybe we can break its curse…

There’s still a chance.”

Jia Jia Siting whispered his thanks to Mr. Owl, then said excitedly.

Wizard Sean glanced at the Ravenclaw diadem, raised his wand, and the statue guardian instantly merged into the wooden cabinet, transforming into a solid stone box that sealed the Ravenclaw diadem inside.

Only after this did he feel slightly at ease.

“If we can’t resolve it today, then we…”

Wizard Sean said.

“Destroy the diadem immediately!”

Jia Jia Siting said in a low voice.

…

As they stepped out of the Room of Requirement, Wizard Sean and Jia Jia Siting bumped into Hermione, who looked anxious.

So, on their way to the Ravenclaw Tower, Jia Jia Siting quietly and slowly explained the concept of Horcruxes.

“So… he’ll come back, then…”

Hermione turned pale with fear.

“There’s no need to worry, Hermione. He wants to kill every Muggle-born wizard—but he’s overlooked one thing: Muggle-born wizards are the finest of this era.

We will stand united; we will follow the leadership of our most outstanding wizards—and then we will fight him to the end.”

Jia Jia Siting said firmly.

Hermione said nothing; she had not yet processed this terrifying news.

In the corridor.

A low murmur rose suddenly, like distant thunder, signaling that someone had returned from Hogsmeade.

From both ends of their corridor came the sound of footsteps climbing stairs, and the cheerful, loud chatter of students after a full meal. Then students surged from both ends into the hallway.

They stood in the shadow of the corridor, letting the dusk stretch their shadows long behind them.

“You’re right. We must fight him to the end.”

Hermione suddenly whispered, trembling.

“You know, Hermione, if my mother were here, she’d say…”

Jia Jia Siting stared at the bustling crowd in the corridor, watching as Hagrid returned from the Quidditch pitch; between the tall poles of the pitch, wizards darted swiftly,

“Dear Granger, I want you to see what true courage is. Courage isn’t holding a gun in your hand.

Courage is knowing you will lose before you even begin—and still doing it, and holding on no matter what.”

His gaze burned—eyes utterly different from the green eyes beside him.

Within his pupils, storms and tides raged.

Outside the castle, snow fell.

Thick, heavy snowflakes drifted like goose feathers onto the castle’s spires.

Inside the castle, by torchlight, three young wizards walked swiftly.

Along the way, Wizard Sean and his companions saw many ghosts:

The Gryffindor ghost, the brooding ghost, Nearly Headless Nick stared gloomily out the window, murmuring softly: “…not meeting their standards… half an inch short, if only that…”

The Hufflepuff ghost, a plump little monk-like spirit, comforted Nick: “Come now, they should give you another chance—”

Finally, in the eager gaze of Wizard Sean and his two companions, the Ravenclaw ghost appeared.

She was a tall, slender young woman with flowing hair.

Her form was translucent silver-white, beautiful yet marked by pride and deep sorrow.

“Found her—Lady Grey!”

Hermione whispered.

“Grey… that’s probably not her name.”

Jia Jia Siting murmured to himself, then looked at Wizard Sean.

Wizard Sean gave a slight nod.

Until now, most Hogwarts students had assumed this was the ghost lady’s surname.

But in truth, it was likely just a homophone—she was actually called The Grey Lady.