Chapter 719 - 720
"Yes, he hasn't died but has become a vampire!" Dumbledore declared, delivering a weighty piece of news.
An instant eruption of discussion followed. Everyone looked at Dumbledore in shock, struggling to believe his words. Cedric unexpectedly turning into a vampire seemed unfathomable to them all. Their heads spun from the revelation, and the following news deepened the shock.
"Cedric fully embodied the unique qualities of Hufflepuff. He was a good and loyal friend, a diligent student who believed in fair competition – a champion worthy of respect," Dumbledore continued. "But we must ask why such an outstanding person would undergo this transformation. Why would he leave his country, family, and the friends he knew so well? Why would he be forced to start anew in a foreign place with a new identity?"
Why indeed? Everyone looked up at Dumbledore, eager to hear more.
"Because he was made the scapegoat of this unfortunate event," Dumbledore paused, scanning the faces of the students. "This event was manufactured by Voldemort. He has returned and returned with the help of vampires!"
The assembly hall erupted in anxious whispers. People couldn't believe what they heard, and fear filled their faces.
The discussions and whispers continued for a while, gradually fading into silence.
"The Ministry of Magic did not want me to share this with you," Dumbledore continued, "and some parents may find my actions shocking. Some may find it hard to believe that Voldemort has returned, or they may think I should not burden you with this information because you are young. However, I believe that the truth is always better than lies. If we continue to hide the truth, no one will stand up to fight Voldemort, and the magical world will have no future."
At this moment, every face in the assembly hall was turned toward Dumbledore, and every face displayed shock and fear. The tension in the hall was palpable.
Dumbledore addressed Evan and Harry, saying, "Evan and Harry have successfully escaped the clutches of Voldemort. They have set an example for all of us, showing bravery in the face of danger. Few wizards have displayed such courage when confronting Voldemort's oppressive power. I hold them in the highest regard."
The attention of many shifted to Evan and Harry, and they were met with respect and admiration. Hearing that they had stood up against Voldemort shocked most, but it also inspired awe at their bravery.
"Although you are students and cannot directly engage in battle, I hope you understand that when facing unprecedented evil, we must unite," Dumbledore continued. "The Triwizard Tournament, which was abruptly halted, may not have achieved its original goal, but its purpose was to foster understanding and strengthen the bonds within the magical community. Given the current circumstances and Voldemort's return, these bonds are more crucial than ever."
Dumbledore looked at Madam Maxime, Hagrid, Fleur, Gabrielle, and their Beauxbatons alumni. He then turned his gaze to the Durmstrang schoolmates, including Krum, who had not been at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.
Under Dumbledore's watchful eye, the remaining Durmstrang students appeared tense and fearful, expecting him to deliver harsh words. Particularly, the student who had been talking with Malfoy seemed uneasy.
"To all the guests in this assembly hall," Dumbledore said, his eyes fixed on the Durmstrang students, "Hogwarts is forever open to you if you wish to come. I emphasize once more that, given Voldemort's return, our strength lies in unity. We will crumble at the first sign of trouble if we allow division. Voldemort's strategy is to sow discord and hatred. Only by demonstrating unwavering friendship and trust can we withstand him. Despite differences in culture and language, as long as our goals remain aligned, these differences need not be barriers."
"I sincerely hope I am wrong, but I believe we are about to face a dark and challenging time. Voldemort's cruel actions have directly affected some of you in this hall, and many families have been torn apart. We can only succeed by standing together. Please remember this day, the recent unfortunate events, and when you are faced with choices between the right path and shortcuts in the future, I hope you will make the right choice."
The semester continued, with four months remaining until the holidays. However, the atmosphere at Hogwarts had significantly changed. Dumbledore's announcement had caused a considerable stir, spreading rapidly beyond the school's walls.
The next day, Hogwarts was inundated with owl deliveries, with over a thousand letters arriving. These letters were from the guardians of students. Many of them were shocked by Dumbledore's revelation and found it hard to believe. Some thought it was a mere conjecture and accused Dumbledore of burdening the students with such information. A few even threatened to withdraw their children from Hogwarts.
Only a small minority, mostly members of the Order of the Phoenix-like Neville's grandmother, were willing to believe Dumbledore's words. Most parents aligned with the Ministry of Magic and the Daily Prophet, which had provided no evidence of Voldemort's return. They believed Dumbledore's opinion and criticized his decision to share it with the students.
With Hermione's help, Evan prepared an article about Voldemort's return for the Hogwarts Magic publication. With Dumbledore's approval, they were set to publish it, though they were unsure of the response it would receive.
However, Evan had a more important task ahead of him. The time had come for the Merpeople's sacrificial offering ceremony. Evan needed to obtain the Ravenclaw diadem from the raven and enhance his abilities before acquiring the key to Ravenclaw's hidden treasure.
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Evan returned to the bottom of the lake once more, finding the familiar solitude and quiet that he had grown accustomed to. The recent battle and the impending return of Voldemort had not disrupted the lives of the Merpeople. They continued their ancient sacrificial offerings as they always had.
Despite being part of the magical world, the Merpeople had a close-knit community. While the world outside may be in turmoil, it had little effect on them. For thousands of years, they had lived here, detached from the affairs of the castle or the wizards who dwelled above.
However, upon seeing Evan's arrival, many Merpeople swam up to inquire about the castle's happenings, as they had heard Voldemort's name even in the lake's depths. They were aware of the fearful deeds he had committed in the past. Evan engaged in conversations with the Merpeople, and after the familiar slit on the statue's tail opened, he slipped inside.
Following the same route, Evan arrived at the massive stone door. Above it, the dark blue raven stood patiently, its two ruby eyes glistening in the wand's light. It appeared lifeless, devoid of any aura, like a dying creature. However, having encountered it previously, Evan knew better than to underestimate it. The raven possessed a profound knowledge of alchemy; in Evan's eyes, it had a spark of life.
Alchemy was rooted in ancient Egypt, a time when powerful pharaohs and masters thrived. Although these ancient masters had created magical wonders beyond imagination, their primary goal had always been conquering death. They explored alchemy and soul magic from different angles, yielding results such as the Philosopher's Stone and Horcruxes.
Evan carefully examined the raven, his gaze sharp and analytical. He had learned from Luna how to approach the questions posed by the Ravenclaw common room's entrance. Each knock came with a different riddle, some simple, others challenging, all set up by Rowena Ravenclaw herself.
The raven asked, "Phoenix and fire, which came first?"
Evan responded confidently, "They are in a cycle with no distinct beginning or end. The phoenix is born in fire and eventually returns to the flames. Their existence is mysterious, defying a clear start or finish."
"Correct answer, visitor. Intelligence and wit deserve reward," declared the raven, and the stone door slowly opened.
Evan released the powerful magic he had summoned, dissipating as if it had never been there. He walked past the raven, holding the Ravenclaw diadem in his hand. He ignored the magical protections on the books as he reached the innermost chamber. Before him stood the imposing giant statue of Rowena Ravenclaw herself.
The raven alighted gently on her head, tilting its head to gaze at Evan with blood-red eyes. Its eyes flickered with a peculiar red light.
"Great intelligence and ability are humanity's greatest assets," the raven croaked, emitting a hoarse, mournful cry. "Visitor, you've passed the first test and placed the Ravenclaw diadem where it belongs. I will reveal the hidden secret to you."
Evan raised his wand and directed the diadem in his left hand to float upwards. He controlled its movement, guiding it precisely onto the statue's head. With a slight tremor, the diadem settled perfectly in place. The raven watched Evan closely as if sensing something within him had triggered a mechanism.
Evan blinked, momentarily lost in thought. Had he missed something? What was the secret of Ravenclaw?
The surroundings around him began to change. He was no longer in the chamber but on a rocking steamship. The vast, deep blue sea surrounded him, and the salty scent of seawater filled the air. Evan looked ahead and saw Rowena Ravenclaw herself standing on the ship's bow, smiling at him.
It was another form of soul magic.
Ravenclaw, like Gryffindor, had uniquely preserved part of her soul. However, it seemed different from what he had encountered with Gryffindor. Rowena Ravenclaw did not speak to him directly, which was not a formidable illusion. The Gryffindor's soul preservation relied on the power of the Philosopher's Stone and the stars.
Evan had not sensed any formidable power beyond the raven in the Ravenclaw's secret chamber. Without magical support, her soul should not have persisted, let alone possess the strength to create an illusion. Yet her magic was potent and unexplainable.
Evan observed his surroundings and carefully considered his situation. This place seemed similar to the Pensieve memories and his experience with Tom Riddle's diary. This preserved past image could be accessed by a successor. He was witnessing Rowena Ravenclaw's memories.
In this form, Rowena Ravenclaw appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing a beautiful set of sky-blue wizard robes. She radiated beauty and seemed almost mesmerizing, especially with her piercing blue eyes, which held a pure and captivating allure.
Evan marveled at the scene around him, taking in every detail and feeling the essence of Rowena Ravenclaw's memories.