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**Chapter 141: The Diadem That Drives People Mad**
2022-07-14 Author: I'm Just a Pigeon
Ravenclaw's Diadem?
William's weakness of insufficient magical knowledge was exposed once again—though he knew from the name that this magical artifact could be called a legend, he truly had never heard of this miraculous artifact.
But there were those in the room who recognized it.
“Ravenclaw's Diadem? The one that can grant its user unparalleled wisdom? But hasn't it been lost?”
Percy's astonished voice broke the brief silence in the room, also making Professor McGonagall shift her gaze from the Diadem. “Yes, that's right, but today it has reappeared—”
William noticed Professor McGonagall paused for a noticeably brief moment before she uttered Percy's name. “Percy, apparently, Miss Weasley discovered it.”
This little revelation almost made William laugh—Professor McGonagall liked to address every student by their surname, but with a group of Weasleys present, that approach couldn't continue.
He felt quite relaxed at this moment; he no longer needed to rack his brains guessing about the perpetrator or anything. The suspect in the rooster death case was quietly lying on his desk, awaiting further investigation.
The presence of Dumbledore, the foremost light wizard, gave him an immense sense of security—that Diadem, no matter how complex or how skilled it was at corrupting minds, couldn't possibly ensnare Dumbledore, could it?
Or someone could emerge from the room, claiming to be some shadowy figure, pull out a wand, and say something heartfelt to Dumbledore?
What kind of international joke is that? If something like that really happened, William would just turn tail and run without a word.
But now, only William, who didn't know much about the Diadem's background, had the leisure to think about other things. Everyone else, even Dumbledore, had their full attention on the Diadem.
“Professor William, please go and notify Professor Flitwick, tell him to come here.” After observing for a long time, Dumbledore stood up and said softly to William, then turned to look at Headmistress McGonagall. “Minerva, go find the Grey Lady; she should come here as well.”
Before William could react, Dumbledore looked at Percy.
“Percy, are you seventeen yet?”
“One more year, Professor. My birthday is in August.”
“Then, go notify the Weasleys; some investigations require their accompaniment.”
“You're not going to expel Ginny, are you, Professor?” Percy finally reacted, his voice involuntarily grew louder. “No, Professor, Ginny doesn't understand anything. It's my fault for not managing her well…”
“Rest assured, Percy, it's just a necessary investigation. This matter is far more serious than I imagined, and I must clarify some things. I assure you, Ginny will not be expelled.”
Dumbledore's assurance was quite effective; Percy immediately calmed down, but William noticed he started glaring at the Weasley Twins.
But this gossip could only go so far—he had to go call Professor Flitwick.
—
“Ravenclaw's Diadem?”
Professor Flitwick, called out of his classroom by William, laughed happily as if he had heard a joke.
“Professor William, that's a good joke, but I'm still in class—it's been lost for ages.”
“It's true, Dumbledore is there too.”
William stressed the name.
Dumbledore's name carried significant persuasion; Professor Flitwick's expression instantly shifted from joking to ecstatic.
“Albus is there too! Just a moment, Professor William, I'll be right there, I'll be right there…”
This professor, known for his composure, now had impatience written all over his face. He hurried back to the classroom, assigned the students self-study tasks, and then rushed out.
“Where is it? The Headmaster's Office?”
The eagerness in Professor Flitwick's eyes made William suspect he was about to Apparate the next second.
“My office, Professor.”
William said, quickly turning to lead the way—he was afraid Professor Flitwick would lose his patience the next moment.
“Ravenclaw's only relic! I can't believe I actually heard this news—Professor William, are you sure it's really Ravenclaw's Diadem?”
Professor Flitwick walked incredibly fast, as if he were about to take flight, but even so, he still confirmed the news with William again.
“Dumbledore says it is. I haven't seen the real thing either, but I don't think it's far off.”
“Then what are we waiting for, Professor William? Young people should have more energy!”
You're practically flying already, Professor!
Urged by Professor Flitwick, William returned to his office in less than half the time it took to find Professor Flitwick. Professor McGonagall hadn't returned yet—when William pushed open the door, only Dumbledore, engrossed in his research, and the Weasleys, two standing and one lying like background props, were there.
However, Professor Flitwick's attention was completely off the students.
The diminutive professor immediately fixed his gaze on the ragged Diadem. The panting from his frantic run vanished almost instantly, as if breathing might damage the Diadem.
He gazed at the ragged Diadem from a distance, scrutinizing every one of its angles with his eyes.
“It's it—it's truly it.”
Professor Flitwick's voice was soft, but anyone could hear the uncontrollable excitement in it.
‘Surely not?’
William mumbled to himself, somewhat unable to understand why this was happening—after all, his magic was too specialized.
Nevertheless, he still showed due respect, maintaining a serious expression and acting as a background prop until the Weasley Twins behind him tried to approach him.
“What are you two up to?”
William asked in a low voice—though these two Weasleys were currently up to something, he was extremely lenient towards the Weasley Twins at this moment.
“Professor, could we step out for a moment?”
George asked in a low voice.
William nodded in approval to the two brothers who had helped him solve a big problem.
—
“Professor, we brought back the perpetrators, just as you said, right?”
The two brothers looked earnest.
“Of course, you did very well. Your detention will be reduced by a week.”
So they came to confirm their reward. William smiled and fulfilled his promise, “Furthermore, because of your excellent performance, I will submit an application to the School Authority for a small amount of prize money. Of course, it won't be too much, don't have too high expectations.”
It was a matter of submitting a report to Professor McGonagall later—it would be easy for the School Authority to approve a small sum as reward since her House's students caught the Prisoner. Of course, the probability of only receiving House points wasn't low either, but William wouldn't mind paying out of his own pocket. Compared to a small amount of Galleons, the resolution of this matter made him exceptionally happy.
“That's great, Professor!” The two whispered in a cheer, but quickly added: “Then Professor, what about the Diadem's reward? We're not asking for any extra points or anything, we just want to wear it for a little while, just a short while, please Professor!”
A ragged Diadem—are all of you so obsessed with it?
Their attitude, on the contrary, made William hesitant to make a casual promise. He wanted to probe indirectly and ask what kind of existence this really was.
P.S.: The next chapter will likely be around 12:30 AM.
(end of chapter)
2022-07-14 Author: I'm Just a Pigeon
Ravenclaw's Diadem?
William's weakness of insufficient magical knowledge was exposed once again—though he knew from the name that this magical artifact could be called a legend, he truly had never heard of this miraculous artifact.
But there were those in the room who recognized it.
“Ravenclaw's Diadem? The one that can grant its user unparalleled wisdom? But hasn't it been lost?”
Percy's astonished voice broke the brief silence in the room, also making Professor McGonagall shift her gaze from the Diadem. “Yes, that's right, but today it has reappeared—”
William noticed Professor McGonagall paused for a noticeably brief moment before she uttered Percy's name. “Percy, apparently, Miss Weasley discovered it.”
This little revelation almost made William laugh—Professor McGonagall liked to address every student by their surname, but with a group of Weasleys present, that approach couldn't continue.
He felt quite relaxed at this moment; he no longer needed to rack his brains guessing about the perpetrator or anything. The suspect in the rooster death case was quietly lying on his desk, awaiting further investigation.
The presence of Dumbledore, the foremost light wizard, gave him an immense sense of security—that Diadem, no matter how complex or how skilled it was at corrupting minds, couldn't possibly ensnare Dumbledore, could it?
Or someone could emerge from the room, claiming to be some shadowy figure, pull out a wand, and say something heartfelt to Dumbledore?
What kind of international joke is that? If something like that really happened, William would just turn tail and run without a word.
But now, only William, who didn't know much about the Diadem's background, had the leisure to think about other things. Everyone else, even Dumbledore, had their full attention on the Diadem.
“Professor William, please go and notify Professor Flitwick, tell him to come here.” After observing for a long time, Dumbledore stood up and said softly to William, then turned to look at Headmistress McGonagall. “Minerva, go find the Grey Lady; she should come here as well.”
Before William could react, Dumbledore looked at Percy.
“Percy, are you seventeen yet?”
“One more year, Professor. My birthday is in August.”
“Then, go notify the Weasleys; some investigations require their accompaniment.”
“You're not going to expel Ginny, are you, Professor?” Percy finally reacted, his voice involuntarily grew louder. “No, Professor, Ginny doesn't understand anything. It's my fault for not managing her well…”
“Rest assured, Percy, it's just a necessary investigation. This matter is far more serious than I imagined, and I must clarify some things. I assure you, Ginny will not be expelled.”
Dumbledore's assurance was quite effective; Percy immediately calmed down, but William noticed he started glaring at the Weasley Twins.
But this gossip could only go so far—he had to go call Professor Flitwick.
—
“Ravenclaw's Diadem?”
Professor Flitwick, called out of his classroom by William, laughed happily as if he had heard a joke.
“Professor William, that's a good joke, but I'm still in class—it's been lost for ages.”
“It's true, Dumbledore is there too.”
William stressed the name.
Dumbledore's name carried significant persuasion; Professor Flitwick's expression instantly shifted from joking to ecstatic.
“Albus is there too! Just a moment, Professor William, I'll be right there, I'll be right there…”
This professor, known for his composure, now had impatience written all over his face. He hurried back to the classroom, assigned the students self-study tasks, and then rushed out.
“Where is it? The Headmaster's Office?”
The eagerness in Professor Flitwick's eyes made William suspect he was about to Apparate the next second.
“My office, Professor.”
William said, quickly turning to lead the way—he was afraid Professor Flitwick would lose his patience the next moment.
“Ravenclaw's only relic! I can't believe I actually heard this news—Professor William, are you sure it's really Ravenclaw's Diadem?”
Professor Flitwick walked incredibly fast, as if he were about to take flight, but even so, he still confirmed the news with William again.
“Dumbledore says it is. I haven't seen the real thing either, but I don't think it's far off.”
“Then what are we waiting for, Professor William? Young people should have more energy!”
You're practically flying already, Professor!
Urged by Professor Flitwick, William returned to his office in less than half the time it took to find Professor Flitwick. Professor McGonagall hadn't returned yet—when William pushed open the door, only Dumbledore, engrossed in his research, and the Weasleys, two standing and one lying like background props, were there.
However, Professor Flitwick's attention was completely off the students.
The diminutive professor immediately fixed his gaze on the ragged Diadem. The panting from his frantic run vanished almost instantly, as if breathing might damage the Diadem.
He gazed at the ragged Diadem from a distance, scrutinizing every one of its angles with his eyes.
“It's it—it's truly it.”
Professor Flitwick's voice was soft, but anyone could hear the uncontrollable excitement in it.
‘Surely not?’
William mumbled to himself, somewhat unable to understand why this was happening—after all, his magic was too specialized.
Nevertheless, he still showed due respect, maintaining a serious expression and acting as a background prop until the Weasley Twins behind him tried to approach him.
“What are you two up to?”
William asked in a low voice—though these two Weasleys were currently up to something, he was extremely lenient towards the Weasley Twins at this moment.
“Professor, could we step out for a moment?”
George asked in a low voice.
William nodded in approval to the two brothers who had helped him solve a big problem.
—
“Professor, we brought back the perpetrators, just as you said, right?”
The two brothers looked earnest.
“Of course, you did very well. Your detention will be reduced by a week.”
So they came to confirm their reward. William smiled and fulfilled his promise, “Furthermore, because of your excellent performance, I will submit an application to the School Authority for a small amount of prize money. Of course, it won't be too much, don't have too high expectations.”
It was a matter of submitting a report to Professor McGonagall later—it would be easy for the School Authority to approve a small sum as reward since her House's students caught the Prisoner. Of course, the probability of only receiving House points wasn't low either, but William wouldn't mind paying out of his own pocket. Compared to a small amount of Galleons, the resolution of this matter made him exceptionally happy.
“That's great, Professor!” The two whispered in a cheer, but quickly added: “Then Professor, what about the Diadem's reward? We're not asking for any extra points or anything, we just want to wear it for a little while, just a short while, please Professor!”
A ragged Diadem—are all of you so obsessed with it?
Their attitude, on the contrary, made William hesitant to make a casual promise. He wanted to probe indirectly and ask what kind of existence this really was.
P.S.: The next chapter will likely be around 12:30 AM.
(end of chapter)
