Chapter 31: Room Of Requirement
“Merlin’s beard, so many things!”
Looking at the endless clutter in front of him, Ron’s mouth fell open. He suddenly thought of something and his face turned red:
“There might be ancient artifacts from a thousand years ago here…”
Hermione rolled her eyes at him, “Facing such a magical room, this is the first thing you think of?”
Ron scratched his face and mumbled, “That’s just a normal person’s reaction.”
Vaughn watched with a smile. After the three of them gradually got used to it, he casually asked Harry, “Harry, do you feel anything?”
“Huh?” Harry was a little confused but replied, “Uh, it’s breathtaking.”
“Anything else?”
Harry was a bit bewildered, “What else should there be?”
Ron and Hermione also looked at Vaughn curiously.
“Nothing much, just asking,” Vaughn waved his hand and then said,
“You can look around. Maybe, just as Ron said, you’ll find some ancient artifacts from a thousand years ago.”
Ron immediately and excitedly pulled Harry off to explore.
Hermione, attracted by a pile of sparkling things, also prepared to go take a look.
Watching their retreating backs, Vaughn’s expression turned solemn. He narrowed his eyes:
“It seems the attraction and resonance between Horcruxes doesn’t exist from the very beginning…”
On the third day of the start of school last week, Vaughn had already found the Room of Requirement. Of course, it wasn’t because he urgently needed a private space, but because hidden within this room full of clutter was a treasure.
Ravenclaw’s Diadem!
It was an Alchemical Marvel, rumored to grant wisdom to whoever wore it.
Vaughn didn’t know what this “wisdom” truly entailed.
But undoubtedly, as one of the founders, something worn by the Legendary Wizard Ravenclaw might have condensed the most mysterious and cutting-edge Magic of ancient Alchemy.
Not to mention, Voldemort had turned it into a Horcrux!
Thinking of Socket Man, Vaughn’s expression turned a bit cold.
He never imagined a day would come when he would have to kneel before Voldemort and kiss his Robe.
That person who split his Soul, who had completely gone mad, was not worth following, not even for Cooperation.
But there was no doubt that Voldemort was a powerful Wizard!
In his past life, some people thought Voldemort was nothing special, unable to defeat an old man like Dumbledore who was over a hundred years old.
They didn’t consider that Dumbledore had the Elder Wand and was a master of Transfiguration.
From the original work, it was clear that the Avada Kedavra was not invincible; it could be blocked, especially by things conjured through Transfiguration – it could briefly give life to inanimate objects, allowing them to be killed by the Killing Curse in place of the wizard.
Voldemort, who dedicated his life to studying the Unforgivable Curses, was practically countered by Dumbledore.
But even so, Dumbledore had never truly defeated Voldemort.
“I still need time to grow, and even more so, I need to weaken Tom, at least to ensure he doesn’t stir up trouble in the coming years like in the original story…”
Vaughn twirled his Wand between his fingers, his gaze towards the clutter deep and profound. Of course, he wouldn’t eliminate the Horcruxes himself.
But that didn’t stop him from finding them and handing them over to Dumbledore.
That great white wizard was always puzzled as to why Voldemort wouldn’t die, and he could help him out.
He figured Old Dumbledore would be very grateful to him!
Originally, he had planned to use Harry’s sensitivity to Horcruxes to find Ravenclaw’s Diadem, but it seemed it wasn’t time yet.
He could only put in the effort himself, slowly sifting through this mountain of clutter one by one.
The magic of the Room of Requirement excited the trio, and they had planned to play for a few more days.
However, the next day, the news of Harry joining the Gryffindor Quidditch team spread throughout Hogwarts.
Team Captain Wood was frustrated. He had repeatedly instructed Harry and the team members to keep it a secret, hoping to use Harry as a surprise weapon.
But Harry, who couldn’t “keep a secret,” immediately told his friends.
And Fred and George, among the team members, bounced around the next day telling everyone they met:
“Harry is our Seeker, this year’s House Cup is definitely ours!”
Wood sat despondently on the Quidditch Pitch that night, contemplating what to do with so many loose lips in his team in the future.
Harry was also in pain. He had almost forgotten that his Detention with Malfoy was for a whole week.
Compared to the subsequent Detention tasks, dusting the Trophy Room was surprisingly the easiest – he had to help Professor Snape with Medicinal Herbs!
The trio’s plan to explore the Room of Requirement had to be postponed because of this.
After searching the Room of Requirement for two more days with no success, Vaughn visited Professor Snape’s Office again on the weekend.
As soon as he opened the door, he heard Snape’s sharp and sarcastic voice:
“Tsk, tsk, Potter, I really wish I could peel open your skull to see if slugs’ slime has filled your thick, stupid head.”
Malfoy was chuckling heartily.
Hearing the door open, Snape finally lifted his face, which was almost pressed to Harry’s forehead.
He glanced at Vaughn, who had entered, then pulled a Note from a drawer and handed it over.
He maintained his concise style: “The book is in the Library. Here’s a Permit. Read it yourself first!”
“Thank you, Professor.”
Vaughn thanked him and shrugged helplessly at Harry, who was on the other side, dazed and pleadingly looking at him.
That’s the Professor’s love for you, Harry. How could an outsider interfere?
Arriving at the Library, Vaughn handed the Note to Madam Pince. This thin, elderly Witch was the third most feared person by the Young Wizards.
Anyone who dared to make noise in the Library would be hit with her Feather Duster and then unceremoniously kicked out.
She looked at the Note with hawk-like eyes, then at Vaughn, and complained:
“The Restricted Section? Why would Professor Snape issue such an outrageous Permit? The books there are absolutely not for First Year students to borrow.”
“The Professor believes I am qualified, Madam,” Vaughn said with a smile.
“Hmph…” Madam Pince snorted like an angry bull, but ultimately didn’t question it further.
“Follow me. Be quiet!”
Madam Pince led Vaughn to the Restricted Section at the back of the Library.
She deactivated the magic of the Restricted Section, leaving Vaughn outside. She quickly went in and came out holding several books: “《Advanced Potion-Making》, 《Potent Potions》, 《Comprehensive Book of Advanced Magic》, and this one… 《Introduction to Dark Arts》. These are the books Professor Snape has permitted you to borrow.”
“Thank you, Madam.” Vaughn took them.
Madam Pince looked at him deeply once more and warned, “The contents of these books are very dangerous. If you have any problems, you must immediately find Professor Snape, or me. Do you understand?”
After Vaughn agreed, Madam Pince let him leave.
