Exploring Secrets

Allen's sudden rise and Cho Chang's outstanding performance had delighted Ravenclaw. The newly recruited Ravenclaw Quidditch players were so formidable that the upcoming match between Gryffindor and Slytherin drew widespread attention. After all, Harry Potter—the one who had defeated the Dark Lord and the youngest Seeker in a century—was about to make his first appearance.

The young wizards discussed it fervently. Some had heard about Harry's exploits in Flying Class and thought highly of him, believing he would perform even better than Allen. Others, represented by Malfoy, did everything they could to disparage him and undermine Gryffindor's morale. Still others were eager to observe their future opponents and prepare for later matches. Roger, for instance, had already prepared a notebook, intending to record the two teams' tactics, strengths, and weaknesses.

The next day, the Great Hall was still filled with the scent of grilled sausages. Allen wondered whether the House-elves thought sausages resembled bats. Could eating sausages bring good luck?

Allen noticed Harry walking in his direction and speared the last sausage from his plate, putting it into his mouth.

"Allen, can I talk to you?" Harry walked over.

"Of course, Harry, but it seems you haven't had breakfast yet." Allen saw Hermione following behind him with a plate of toast.

"Allen, I don't have much of an appetite." Harry looked somewhat uneasy.

"All right. I think we can take a walk first, then come back to eat." Allen signaled for Anna to prepare some food, and she immediately understood.

It was another brilliantly sunny day, yet a chill that even the blazing sunlight could not disperse clung to Harry. "Actually, I understand how you feel right now. You're a little nervous, aren't you? Harry, there's no need to put too much pressure on yourself. Believe in yourself. You fly very well, don't you?" Allen encouraged Harry to face himself honestly.

"But I can't eat anything. I'm really nervous." Harry could always let down all his defenses around Allen.

"Harry, a little nervousness is normal, but it's also the best state to be in. A little nervousness, a little anticipation, a little excitement—that's the ideal state for a match, and I can see it in you. Give it everything you've got, and leave no regrets. I believe in you!" Counseling teenagers was still one of Allen's specialties.

Harry felt that Allen's words had a soothing power. The two walked once around the Quidditch Pitch, chatting about amusing and embarrassing things that had happened around the school. Harry felt much better. He could even feel his stomach protesting, and badly wanted a bowl of steaming hot oatmeal to soothe his empty belly.

The two slowly strolled back to the Great Hall, where Anna had deliberately saved breakfast for them. Hermione and Ron were beside Anna as well, helping arrange the food.

"Bread is filling and can keep up your strength." Hermione insisted on bringing over a large stack of toast.

"Grilled sausages are better. They're oily, fragrant, and high in calories." As Ron spoke, he spread a thick layer of ketchup over a sausage.

"No, I like both, but guys, I'd rather have a bowl of hot oatmeal." Harry declined the toast and grilled sausage.

Allen handed him a bowl of hot oatmeal. Harry drank it in small sips, looking thoroughly satisfied. Allen stayed by his side and continued enjoying his own breakfast.

By eleven o'clock, the Quidditch Pitch was packed with noise and excitement. It seemed that every student and teacher in the school had gathered there. Harry had already said goodbye to his friends and gone to the changing room to prepare for the match. Ron and Hermione climbed to the highest row and joined Neville, Seamus, and Dean, a West Ham fan. To surprise Harry, they had painted a huge banner on a bedsheet dirtied by Scabbers the rat. It read, "POTTER WILL WIN." Dean, who was good at drawing, had also painted a huge Gryffindor lion beneath it. Hermione then cast a clever spell that made the paint on the banner shimmer in different colors.

Watching this Gryffindor celebration, Allen suddenly realized that this was a good opportunity—a good opportunity to continue exploring the secret of the Rowena Ravenclaw statue.

Allen quietly left the stands and swiftly headed toward Ravenclaw Tower.

Sure enough, there was no one in the Ravenclaw Common Room. Allen repeated his previous method, moving a chair behind the statue and springing onto it in one leap. He placed the Diadem above Rowena Ravenclaw's curls.

Then Allen took the Magic Orb of Goddess of Luck Fols from the system storage slot and held it in his hands. As the obscure Incantation slowly left his lips, Fols's Magic Orb gradually began to glow. The light gathered into a beam, and Allen, struck by sudden inspiration, aimed it at Ravenclaw's Diadem. Then a miracle occurred.

As though shedding old clothes, the Diadem slowly returned to its original appearance from the middle outward. It was shaped like an eagle spreading its wings in flight. Its wings were made of countless glittering diamonds, every feather exquisitely curved, symmetrical from side to side yet each distinct. A huge dark green gemstone was set into its body, its many facets refracting dazzling light. Beneath the gemstone hung two more gems of the same material, one round and one shaped like a teardrop. Along the lower edge of the crown was engraved Ravenclaw's famous motto—"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure."

"Success!" Allen exclaimed excitedly.

The statue of Rowena Ravenclaw gracefully rotated aside, revealing a narrow circular passage. Scenes of boys and girls studying, playing, and living together were carved along both sides of the passage, their figures lifelike. Allen had no time to examine them closely. His gaze merely swept past them, and before he had gone far, he heard a rumble as the statue moved back into place. Dim blue lights suddenly lit up in the passage. Wall lamps had been installed along the upper walls at intervals of every ten steps.

After turning three corners, Allen arrived before a Bronze Gate. It was immensely imposing. Two eagles facing one another were carved in the center of its double doors, while rings upon rings of rippling patterns, like waves on the sea, encircled the doors. Two enormous bronze knockers rested silently against the center.

The gate inevitably reminded Allen of the way into the Ravenclaw Common Room. He gripped his wand tightly in one hand and used the Miaomiao Wizard Robe to conjure Gloves around the other. Then he lifted a knocker and struck the door three times. The dull metallic sound of the knocking boomed like a great bell, and Allen suddenly felt as if his thoughts had crossed a thousand years. An ancient, weathered aura rushed toward him.

Azure light shone from the eyes of the two eagles, converging into a screen. Upon it was written Ravenclaw's famous motto—"Exceptional intelligence is humanity's greatest treasure."