Xiwen Under Suspicion

Under the dazzling starlight, Xiwen strolled across the castle's stone bridge, holding Helena's hand.

It had to be said that much of the reason Xiwen had little interest in the young Elshiona came from Helena. Xiwen's mental age was far beyond eleven; compared with the relatively immature Elshiona, the beautiful and captivating Helena was undoubtedly far more in line with his tastes.

Xiwen's unusual methods, considerate nature, and handsome foreign features were all novel experiences Helena had never encountered in the numb centuries since her death. Thus, though neither had ever said it aloud, in just a few days, the two lonely souls had gradually drawn closer.

Moonlight draped the castle in a silvery veil, blending with the glow radiating from the pair on the stone bridge, like a painting washed in moonlight. Starlight dotted the deep night sky, lights adorned the castle's distant walls, and Xiwen and Helena's reflections shone in each other's eyes.

"I..." Helena parted her lips, seemingly wanting to say something.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans. Several unwelcome visitors suddenly hurried out through the iron gates of the corner tower.

"Professors, he is the suspicious ghost I mentioned." Bloody Baron pointed at Xiwen's figure and spoke gloomily.

Xiwen turned and saw Bloody Baron, followed by Headmaster Armando Dippet, Deputy Headmistress Galatea Merrythought, and Gryffindor Head Albus Dumbledore.

Headmaster Dippet looked at Xiwen with a stern expression, while Professor Merrythought seemed somewhat puzzled. As for Dumbledore, his gaze moved curiously between Xiwen and Helena, clearly intrigued.

"Baron, what are you trying to do again?" Interrupted, Helena glared angrily at the gaunt ghost before her and demanded.

"Believe me, Helena, I am only ensuring the safety of all Hogwarts," Baron said.

"But..." Helena still wanted to argue, but Xiwen tugged lightly at her.

"Professors, what do you need from me?" By then, Xiwen had roughly guessed that the professors had come because of the damaged Magic Node. Baron had likely merely served as the trigger.

Come to think of it, an unidentified ghost with an Eastern face who could cast spells was indeed highly suspicious.

"Are you Mr. Stephen Strange?" Though his words were polite, Headmaster Dippet's aged face remained exceptionally grave.

Xiwen nodded.

"Then please come with us. There are some matters we would like to ask Mr. Strange about," Headmaster Dippet said.

"All right." Xiwen was very calm, since he truly had done nothing wrong.

Helena gave him a worried look. Xiwen answered with a reassuring glance, then followed the three professors ahead.

At that moment, Dumbledore seemed to recall something. He turned to Helena and said, "Grey Lady, come along as well. We may need your help."

Only then did Helena relax, following at Xiwen's side.

The group passed through the castle's corridors from the corner tower and entered the Main Tower. At the side of the Main Tower stood an enormous and hideous stone monster. After Headmaster Dippet gave the password, the monster suddenly came alive and leapt aside, while the wall behind it split in two. A spiral staircase stood beyond it. Once the three professors stepped onto it, the staircase began moving, carrying them upward in circles.

As for the three ghosts, they could not actually touch physical objects, so there was no question of riding the staircase. They could only silently float upward alongside it...

The spiral staircase stopped after delivering the three professors to the eighth floor of the Main Tower. A gleaming oak door stood before them, fitted with a brass knocker shaped like a griffin.

Beyond the door lay the Headmaster's Office, a spacious, beautiful circular room filled with all manner of mysterious, soft noises. Numerous strange instruments rested on spindly-legged tables, and powerful magic seemed to seep faintly from them.

The walls of the Headmaster's Office were covered with portraits of former male and female headmasters, all lightly snoring in their respective frames. There was also a huge desk with clawed feet. On a shelf behind it rested a battered, wrinkled wizard's hat—the Sorting Hat.

Xiwen observed the headmaster portraits on the walls with great interest. It was said that headmasters' portraits were created by the finest artists using powerful magic, even drawing upon the manner of existence of ghosts. These portraits should have retained considerable intelligence—or rather, had been granted considerable intelligence—and were unlike the numerous portraits throughout the castle.

"Please, sit." Headmaster Dippet took a seat behind one of the spindly-legged tables first, then briskly gestured for the two professors and three ghosts to make themselves comfortable.

Professor Dumbledore and Professor Merrythought appeared very familiar with the place, each expertly finding a seat and sitting down.

For Xiwen and the other two ghosts, sitting or not made no difference. Still, to give the old headmaster some face, they each found an empty seat and pretended to sit.

"Mr. Strange, where were you, and what were you doing, on Tuesday afternoon and evening this week?" Headmaster Dippet got straight to the point.

Xiwen answered truthfully, "I was reading in the library with Helena in the afternoon. In the evening, I was with Scholar Angulo, socializing with members of the Ghost Council."

"Albus, please call Scholar Angulo for me," Headmaster Dippet indicated to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore nodded and waved his wand. A brilliant silver light flew from his hand, passed through the wall, and left the Headmaster's Office.

Xiwen looked at the spell in surprise and silently thought, It feels like the Patronus Charm, but can the Patronus Charm be used to deliver messages? Or did I see it wrong?

Before long, Scholar Angulo floated in through the wall.

"Sorry to disturb you, Scholar," the headmaster said to Angulo.

Scholar Angulo smiled and replied understandingly, "It is no trouble. Time is the one thing ghosts never lack."

Headmaster Dippet said, "We called you here to verify some information."

"Some facilities within the castle were deliberately sabotaged last night, and the culprit has yet to be found. Sir Baron reported this suspicious Mr. Strange to me, so I need to verify whether the information he provided is correct." He looked at Scholar Angulo. "Was Mr. Strange with you last night, socializing with members of the Ghost Council?"

Scholar Angulo gave Xiwen a friendly smile and said, "That is correct. Last night, I happened to encounter Dr. Strange in the Entrance Courtyard. Since I have always respected learned people, I took the initiative to introduce myself and suggested that we go socialize with the other ghosts."

However, upon hearing Scholar Angulo's words, all three professors' expressions turned solemn.

Because the damaged Magic Node was near the Entrance Courtyard!