Castle Dungeons

"Now, let us discuss how to deal with the ghost Stephen Strange," Headmaster Dippet said.

"Given that he is strongly suspected of damaging the castle's public facilities, after discussion, we have decided to place him under detention and supervision. Effective immediately, Stephen Strange's range of movement and social contact will be restricted. Three professors will cast spells to designate a room in the dungeons for the suspect's use. The walls of that room will be enchanted with the Ghost-Restricting Charm, and someone will be assigned to watch over him."

The moment Helena heard the words Ghost-Restricting Charm, she immediately became flustered. She had thought that Xiwen's ghostly body could not be harmed and would not be subject to any tangible restrictions—that he could leave freely whenever he wished. But this malicious spell specifically designed for ghosts disrupted her plans.

She immediately floated up from her chair and rushed before Headmaster Dippet, shouting, "You have no right to treat him like this!"

Headmaster Dippet remained unmoved. "Grey Lady, please understand. We are doing this to ensure the school's safety."

Helena's voice turned cold. "For the sake of so-called safety, you can inhumanely bind an innocent ghost with a spell?"

Headmaster Dippet said, "The Wizarding World is not peaceful right now. We cannot afford to take chances."

Helena still wanted to argue with him, but Xiwen caught her hand from behind.

"I accept your decision," he said softly.

Helena turned around and looked at him in disbelief.

Xiwen shook his head at her. "It's fine."

Xiwen had another body, after all, so detention was not much of a problem for him. At worst, he could focus his mind on Xiwen Rozier's body and attend classes properly. The ghostly part of him could simply sleep for a while.

Helena stared at him for several seconds before finally being persuaded by the look in his eyes.

"Fine," Helena said, then looked at the three professors. "But I will be Stephen's guard!"

"That's impossible!" Baron rose to his feet then and said forcefully. "Everyone knows that the two of you are close..."

"Are you saying I would play favorites and do something harmful to the castle's safety?" Helena asked harshly.

"I didn't... mean that. I, I only..." Baron immediately grew flustered and began to stammer.

"Grey Lady, please try to understand Baron," Professor Melesi said when he saw this. "He is doing it for the school as well."

"For the school? Heh..." Helena gave a disdainful laugh.

Seeing that neither Baron nor Helena looked pleased, Dumbledore felt too embarrassed to continue watching the show. He spoke up then. "Actually, a single Ghost-Restricting Charm is more than enough insurance. Of course, if Grey Lady wishes to remain in the dungeons and chat with Mr. Strange to pass the dull hours of confinement, that would be perfectly fine as well."

As he spoke, he winked at Xiwen and Helena.

Only then did Helena's expression soften.

"Professor, I can watch Strange as well," Baron said, apparently still unwilling to give up.

Helena coldly rejected him. "There's no need!"

Headmaster Dippet could not say much more when he saw this. Every headmaster knew Helena's true identity as Ravenclaw's daughter, and because of that, she knew many secrets and much history concerning the castle. It was very possible that they would need her help in the future.

Therefore, as headmaster, Armando Dippet did not wish to defy Helena's wishes too strongly. He could only tacitly approve her request to watch over Xiwen.

In truth, the three-hundred-year-old man was deeply puzzled. What kind of love potion had this newcomer, Stephen Strange, fed Helena Ravenclaw to earn such profound trust from her in only a few days?

The three professors and four ghosts left the Headmaster's Office. Along the way, Scholar Angulo was the first to find an excuse to leave the group, leaving behind three professors preparing to cast the spell, one ghostly criminal suspect, one ghost assigned to guard the suspect, and one ghost stubbornly refusing to leave...

They descended into the dungeons via the spiral staircase leading to the Slytherin Common Room.

So Slytherin House really did live in the dungeons... Xiwen silently complained.

The dungeons were simply too deep, and Headmaster Dippet's aged, frail body struggled to support him through such a long, confusing staircase. His breathing became especially labored.

Apparently noticing his heavy breathing, Dumbledore lightly raised his wand.

"Thank you, Albus." Headmaster Dippet recovered some of his strength and sighed. "I really am old."

They continued in silence, and the three men and three ghosts arrived in the dungeons.

This was a different area from the Slytherin Common Room and the classrooms located in the dungeons—a sparsely populated section on the other side. Since few people had passed through or used it for a long time, there were barely any torches nearby. Dust covered the floor, and the surroundings were filthy and messy, with spiders everywhere and sticky puddles of water.

Headmaster Dippet took out a ring of keys, found a rusty brown one among them, and unlocked the bronze door to a room.

This place had probably once been used to imprison people. Old, discarded shackles hung inside, and half of an uneven lead weight protruded from the sludge on the floor. No one knew whether enemies who had attacked Hogwarts centuries ago had once been held here, or whether students who violated school rules had been imprisoned here in the days when corporal punishment was popular.

"This environment is far too awful." Helena frowned.

Headmaster Dippet asked in some surprise, "I thought an environment like this would better suit a ghost's tastes?"

Helena said coldly, "We are not corpses in a gutter."

At that moment, Baron seized the opening and said, "Helena, you don't need to stay in such a place. Let me watch him instead."

"No, I'm fine." The moment she heard Baron's words, Helena responded. "What do you think, Stephen?"

"Let's leave it at that. It's all the same," Xiwen said with a helpless smile on the surface, though inwardly he could not have wished for anything better. This place was so close to the Slytherin Common Room that he could come over at any time as Xiwen Rozier to look after himself.

"Very well, then it's decided." Headmaster Dippet nodded. "Please enter this room, Mr. Strange."

Xiwen floated inside, still complaining inwardly, What room? This is clearly a prison cell...

After Xiwen entered the room, Headmaster Dippet looked at Dumbledore.

"Begin, Albus."

Dumbledore nodded and walked to the door. He flicked his wand and chanted, "Ghost Binding."

Headmaster Dippet and Professor Melesi beside him also recited the spell, reinforcing the enchantment.

Soon, a transparent barrier enveloped the cell.

"Is that enough?" Xiwen asked doubtfully as he looked at the bronze door, which was still open.

"You may try it yourself, Mr. Strange," Dumbledore said with a smile.

Xiwen stretched out his hand and tried to pass it through the barrier. But the instant he touched it, his arm suddenly seemed to lose all strength and could not move forward another inch.

"How fascinating!" Xiwen exclaimed. "I still can't feel anything solid, but I truly can't cross it."

Dumbledore smiled faintly and said to Helena, "Then I'll leave this place to you, Grey Lady."

Helena nodded and reached toward Xiwen's hand hanging in midair. Their palms were only about an inch apart, yet the gap between them felt like an uncrossable chasm.

Seeing this, Headmaster Dippet said to Xiwen, "We will continue investigating this matter. I hope you will not do anything out of line."

"Mm." Xiwen's mood soured at those words, and he answered casually.

Professor Melesi gave him an apologetic look. "Mr. Strange, we can only ask you to endure this for a while. If we find the true culprit, we will certainly offer you our sincere apology and compensation."

Faced with Professor Melesi's earnest attitude, Xiwen could not continue giving him the cold shoulder. He said seriously, "I'll wait for that day."

The three professors then left. Bloody Baron still wanted to stay and say something, but Helena drove him out with a cold expression.

Now, only the pair of ghostly man and woman remained, separated by inches that might as well have been worlds apart, staring at each other in silence.

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