Ch. 21: The Lost Diadem of Ravenclaw
Shortly after Harry and his companions left, Jon too, vacated the office. His presence at Hogwarts was not merely to masquerade as Alastor Moody and facilitate Voldemort's resurrection. He had another crucial mission. A Horcrux, one of Voldemort's soul fragments, was concealed within the castle's walls.
The Lost Diadem of Ravenclaw, a relic of true knowledge of Rowena Ravenclaw, was hidden by Voldemort in the Room of Requirement.
This room, a magical entity that appears and vanishes, is accessible only when one is in dire need. It has been the backdrop for numerous pivotal events in the Harry Potter movie series.
Legend has it that Dumbledore once stumbled upon the Room of Requirement, but never fully grasped its nature. He discovered it in a moment of desperation, needing a bathroom, but never uncovered its secret storage room.
In the Order of the Phoenix, Harry utilized the Room of Requirement as a clandestine base for magical training.
In The Half-Blood Prince, Harry stashed his potions textbook in this room, a secret he kept throughout his final years at Hogwarts.
In this very room, Harry destroyed one of Voldemort's Horcruxes, the lost Diadem of Ravenclaw, setting the stage for his final confrontation with Voldemort.
But with Jon now on the scene, the diadem might meet its end prematurely.
"Let's see, the Room of Requirement is..." Jon strained his memory, recalling the details from the film. "It's situated on the seventh floor of Hogwarts, right next to the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy!"
Seizing the opportunity during dinner time, when the corridors of the castle were empty of students, Jon embarked on his quest. He navigated the labyrinthine staircases that shifted positions of their own accord, finally arriving on the seventh floor.
Along the way, Jon encountered numerous spectral inhabitants of the castle. Ghosts, floating ethereal entities, were a common sight at Hogwarts. It was said that wizards could choose to linger in the world as ghosts after death, but few opted for this path due to the excruciating transition.
After navigating several more corridors and turning corners, Jon spotted a large vase. He scanned his surroundings and finally laid eyes on the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, "I found it quicker than expected. Seems like luck is on my side today!"
The tapestry depicted the ludicrous attempt of the wizard Barnabas the Barmy to train trolls for ballet. One could only imagine the cultural shockwave had he succeeded.
Jon shuddered at the thought of being scrutinized by a troupe of trolls.
He dismissed his thoughts and turned his attention to the blank wall opposite.
There was no room in sight. The Room of Requirement would only appear if one paced beside the wall while focusing intently on their need.
"What should I concentrate on? The place where Voldemort hid the Horcrux?" Jon pondered, then corrected himself: "No, more accurately, it should be a place of 'dire need'." The film didn't specify the exact thoughts required to access the room, so Jon had to make an educated guess.
When all else failed, Jon resorted to Dumbledore's method. He drank copious amounts of water and then focused on his need for a bathroom.
"I need a bathroom, I need a bathroom, I need a bathroom..."
As Jon paced, he chanted his need under his breath. On his third pass, the wall transformed.
A sound akin to wind rustling leaves filled the air. Countless patterns emerged on the wall, culminating in a smooth door materializing before Jon.
Relieved, Jon realized he wouldn't have to suppress his urge any longer.
He grasped the doorknob, swung the door open, and stepped into a vast room, lit by torches affixed to the walls.
The room was a labyrinth of towering walls, filled with an assortment of items, all hidden by previous Hogwarts students.
"Finding anything in this clutter will be a challenge!"
Despite knowing the diadem was somewhere in this room, Jon was daunted by the task. Since the founding of Hogwarts, countless items had been stashed here, making the search for one particular item a daunting task.
"Carpe Retractum!"
Jon attempted to use the seize and pull charm, Carpe Retractum, to draw the diadem to him, but the spell proved ineffective in this room.
"Patience is key. Let's take it slow," Jon reminded himself, calming his nerves.
Jon began to sift through boxes and cabinets. After what felt like an eternity, he ventured deeper into the room, surrounded by mountains of hidden treasures. Just as his patience was wearing thin, he struck gold.
"Finally!"
Jon's eyes landed on an old cabinet. Atop an antique box inside the cabinet, an ancient diadem was laying.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah~!
He rushed forward, removed the diadem, and upon confirming its identity, set it ablaze with hellfire. A piercing scream echoed from the diadem, reminiscent of the time he burned the golden cup.
After the diadem was reduced to ashes, Jon didn't rush to leave. Instead, he surveyed the room, filled to the brim with items hidden by generations of Hogwarts students, many of whom were no longer among the living. Only items of significant value would be hidden here.
"I wonder what other treasures lie hidden here?" Jon mused, a smile playing on his lips.
***
At the same time, in a dilapidated old house, the real Mad-Eye Moody wandered around a room, seemingly searching for something. This was Gaunt's family's former home, the location of Marvolo Gaunt's Ring, one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.
During Jon's masquerade as Moody at Hogwarts, the real Moody had been seeking other Horcruxes based on Jon's instructions.
A bright red phoenix, as luxurious as a swan with long golden tail feathers and claws, followed behind him.
The phoenix had hatched from an egg Jon purchased earlier from the magical pet shop. In the meantime, Jon had the phoenix accompany the real Moody.
"Keep up, little fellow! I'll be needing you soon!" Moody said. He limped around the house, scouring for something.
The phoenix trilled as if in response. Its golden glow illuminated the otherwise dark room.
Moody rummaged around until he finally discovered an old ring in a secret cabinet.
"Aha, here it is!" Moody exclaimed excitedly. "Gaunt's ring!"
He placed the ring on the floor. "Come now, little guy, show me your power! Your owner said your fire can destroy this thing!" This phoenix's hellfire, courtesy of Jon, could demolish Voldemort's Horcrux.
With a cry, the phoenix flapped its wings and unleashed a fireball, engulfing Gaunt's ring.
Aaaaaaaaaaaah!
After hearing the Horcruxed soul's scream, the ring melted away in the flames.
"By the sacred whiskers of Merlin!" exclaimed Moody, his voice a symphony of awe and disbelief. He took a hearty gulp of his potent brew, the liquid courage fortifying his resolve. "The boy's tale, once a mere whisper in the wind, now rings with the clarity of a church bell in my ears! That was the voice of You-Know-Who, as unmistakable as the North Star in a moonless sky! Its chilling cadence is etched into the canvas of my memory, never to fade!"
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