At this year's start-of-term feast, the Young Wizards felt as though their brains could barely keep up.
The earlier announcements-Quidditch being canceled but a chance to join the national team, the Triwizard Tournament being held but restrictions placed on the Chiefs-had all been within their capacity to accept.
But how had a Founder's daughter suddenly appeared?
Even among the Ravenclaws, few Young Wizards knew that the Grey Lady was Ravenclaw's daughter, let alone the students from the other houses.
Many had seen her before, but had simply taken her for an ordinary ghost haunting the Castle.
Beside Shawn, the Grey Lady stood tall and graceful in an antique ruffled gown. Though she was a pearly-white ghost, her bearing was elegant.
Her innate nobility and impeccable manners were etched into her very soul.
The Young Wizards could not help exclaiming in amazement.
"Is she really a Founder's daughter?"
"Whoa! Doesn't that make her a thousand years old?"
"She's a ghost, but she looks so noble."
"..."
Dumbledore and Flitwick also gave up trying to verify the Diadem's authenticity.
With Ravenclaw's daughter vouching for it, even a fake Diadem could pass for the real thing.
Flitwick was beside himself with excitement. Welcoming their Founder's relic back to the house was an absolutely momentous occasion.
To Flitwick, it eclipsed even the earlier news about the Triwizard Tournament.
As Ravenclaw's current Head of House, he was sure to go down in history.
In truth, after handling the Diadem, Dumbledore already knew that the treasure was genuine-and that it had once been made into a Horcrux.
He gave Shawn a meaningful look, a gratified smile spreading across his face.
Counting the Notebook, the Locket, Harry, and the Diadem, that made four.
Shawn had already found four of Voldemort's Horcruxes.
Taking Trelawney's earlier treatment into account,