Rowena Ravenclaw's Statue

Allen read Edward's note and finally understood what was going on. The clever Ravenclaws did not want to revel in the common room; they and Tu Shu planned to hold a costume ball by Hogwarts Lake.

Allen found it quite interesting. Young people always had countless wild ideas, enviable reserves of boundless energy, and endless sparks of youthful passion colliding in their minds.

Allen quickly arrived at the lakeside. The reflection of the enormous castle shimmered in the clear water. Trees along the shore were strung with colorful lights, while many lanterns of various shapes floated through the air. Long tables were arranged in a U-shape across the grass, covered in pale blue tablecloths and laden with food for the students to help themselves to. White Roman-style chairs with backs were scattered across the lawn, their long ribbons fluttering in the wind. Some young wizards sang and danced around the roaring bonfire; some strolled by the lake in small groups; others set off fireworks in the distance. The brilliant bursts lit up the night sky and their cheerful faces.

"Harris, where did you just go? You didn't leave without permission, did you? When I called attendance and found you missing, I had to look everywhere for you!" Penelope spotted Allen and hurried over.

"Oh, I was too tired. When I woke up, I found that I'd accidentally fallen asleep under my bed. That's why you didn't notice me. By the way, Miss Klivert, you look beautiful today!" Allen changed the subject very effectively.

"Miss Klivert, do you know who suggested holding the Halloween banquet here? It's such a brilliant idea. This spacious outdoor venue is far more comfortable than the common room!" Allen praised enthusiastically.

"The other three houses are continuing their banquets in their common rooms. I thought Ravenclaw should be a little different, so I suggested holding it by the lake. I never expected Professor Flitwick to support the proposal so strongly. Look, all those lanterns in the sky were enchanted by Professor Flitwick. The girls all loved the idea and contributed many scarves. This whole area by the lake doesn't even feel cold—I have no idea what wonderful magic Professor Flitwick used!" Penelope's tone gradually became excited.

Allen failed to respond in time because he spotted the Grey Lady among the celebrating crowd. She floated amid the fluttering scarves, seemingly immersed in the wonderful gathering, her expression blissful. Then Rowena Ravenclaw's statue was clearly no longer being guarded. Thinking of the empty common room he had just seen, Allen's heart stirred.

"Miss Klivert, I suddenly remembered something urgent I need to do. Please allow me to leave first." Without waiting for Penelope to react, Allen hurried away.

He quickly returned to the common room and made sure no one was there. Then he rushed to Rowena Ravenclaw's statue. No matter how he looked at it, nothing seemed unusual! Wait, he had not checked underneath. Allen immediately lay down. The lower half of the statue was solid marble, without the slightest crack. Allen was a little puzzled. Where exactly was the entrance? Did he have to search the heavens and earth? Huh, the heavens... Allen looked up at the towering statue. If he did not get to the bottom of this, he would never be satisfied. He dragged over a chair and sprang onto it in one leap. There was nothing unusual above its head either!

For a moment, Allen was completely at a loss. He stared closely at the top of Rowena Ravenclaw's head. Rowena's long curling hair formed a beautiful arc atop her head, and that arc looked very familiar. Allen racked his brains. Then Ravenclaw's Diadem suddenly appeared in his mind. He clapped his hands. How had he not thought of it sooner? It was exactly the curve of the Diadem.

Suppose a Diadem fit perfectly into that spot. The two Diadems would form a complete crown. So the next thing he had to do was find the real Diadem. Allen happened to know where it was. How important it was to love reading—one never knew when such knowledge might come in handy. Having found a clue, Allen could not help but feel smug.

Allen jumped down from the tall chair and put it back where it belonged. As far as he knew, Ravenclaw's Diadem was currently in the Room of Requirement, where Voldemort had turned it into a Horcrux. He did not know whether the corrupted Diadem could still open the statue. Either way, he would try it first.

Allen made his way expertly to the Seventh Floor of the castle and stopped before the mural of the Troll. Holding his breath, he cleared his mind and thought only, I need a place to hide things. He silently repeated it as he walked past three times, and the Room of Requirement appeared. Allen entered. Inside were densely packed bottles and jars, battered textbooks, strange-looking robes, and all sorts of bizarre objects. He saw that the door of a huge cabinet was slightly ajar. As he passed by, he casually pulled it open. Catching sight of what was inside, Allen's expression changed. Someone had actually turned the Troll into a specimen in such a short time and soaked it in a preservative Potion. Even the club in its hand was in there!

He had to find the Diadem and leave quickly. Perhaps whoever had made the Troll into a specimen had not yet left. Allen sped up his search. He vaguely remembered that the original story mentioned a statue of an ugly old wizard, with a wig and a battered hat Harry had placed on its head.

Soon, Allen found a stone statue of an old wizard with pockmarks. It wore a filthy, worn-out curly wig and what looked like an ancient, faded crown.

That was it! Allen darted over and threw the old crown into the system storage slot.

"Fragmented soul detected. Host, please note that living beings cannot be placed in the system storage space. Confirm storage?" The system had been silent for a long time since issuing its last mission.

"May I ask what will happen if I insist on putting it into the storage space?" Allen was curious about the result, though he had a vague guess. Either it could not be stored, or the living thing would be erased.

Sure enough, "If the host insists on placing a living being inside, the system will purify its soul and convert it into pure energy for the system's use. However, the host will receive no reward for energy obtained in this manner." The system's ethereal voice carried not the slightest trace of emotion.

Who needed a reward? If he encountered an enemy he could not handle, he could simply pull them into the system storage slot while they were caught off guard. It was practically killing without a trace!