Chapter 675: A Pointless Pursuit

In fact, since Hermione brought Harry and the others to the Room of Requirement that day, they who knew about Horcruxes quickly recalled the incident of the Chamber of Secrets and the Basilisk attack in the second grade.

Back then in the secret room, they saw Tom Riddle with their own eyes—it was from the diary with the black cover.

For this reason, they prepared for another break-in of the Slytherin Chamber during the holidays. Because in the second grade, there was no evidence of the death of the basilisk, so they naturally thought that the basilisk might still be alive in the secret room.

Because of this, the three little lions and the little eagle, Luna, specially stepped up their practice. Including the eye disease spell that is said to be effective against basilisks, the existence spell that can barely grasp its movements with eyes closed, and the potion that resists petrification...

Even Hermione bought two big roosters to target the Basilisk's weakness.

Of course, this is only because it is mentioned in the book that the crowing of a rooster can drive away the basilisk. But whether this is really an effective method is unknown.

It's a pity that although they made a series of preparations to deal with the "possibly" basilisk that was still alive. But when they got there, they found that the basilisk had disappeared, leaving only piles of rocks.

Of course, Tom Riddle's diary was never found. Regarding this, Harry and the others were somewhat puzzled, but Hermione thought that the diary might have been taken away by Maca long ago.

As for the secret room in the secret room that Maca found when he went back to investigate for the second time, he had sealed it long ago, and Hermione and the others did not notice it.

"...I heard a story at Ms. Gray's. Would you... want to hear it?"

In the front garden of Hogwarts, when the three little lions were worrying about having no other clues, Luna, who had been standing quietly all along, suddenly spoke.

"Ms. Grey? Oh...is that the ghostly beauty from your Ravenclaw house?" Ron scratched his head, "Although I really want to hear it, but now...it doesn't seem like the time to listen to the story ?”

Everyone is gradually getting used to Luna's incomprehensible words. Ron naturally thought that Luna's thoughts were wandering again, and even Harry thought so, only Hermione paid a little attention.

"What story? Is it something related to the Horcrux?" In line with the principle of not letting go of all possible clues, Hermione still asked.

"Oh, I don't know... Maybe?" Luna said with misty eyes, as if she had entered her characteristic trance mode, "At least it has something to do with Tom Riddle... It's him who cheated from Ms. Gray where the Ravenclaw Diadem is located..."

...

Ms. Gray... that is, Helena Ravenclaw, this is a woman with a dignified and beautiful appearance. After death, she turned into a ghost but can still be called a beautiful woman. Naturally, one can imagine her appearance in life.

It's just that this female ghost of Ravenclaw College is beautiful, but she always has a domineering posture, which makes people feel uncomfortable.

If Maca hadn't gone to her place to try to say hello in advance, Luna's temperament probably wouldn't have had any intersection with this thorny rose.

But generally speaking, Ms. Gray has taken care of Luna since Luna entered school. For example, when Luna is not familiar with the castle, she can point the way, or occasionally chat a few words. Over time, this living person-ghost has gradually developed some friendships.

Mrs. Gray, from some past experience, did not like poseurs, and deceit was the last thing she could stand. But Luna is an extremely pure girl, and this alone is very appetizing to her.

In this way, one day after Voldemort was wiped out by Maca, Ms. Gray seemed to feel a little emotional about the old days. And Luna became her confidant.

"You know what? The man who died there a few days ago,

Stole something from me once. "

That day, in front of a certain window in the Ravenclaw tower, Ms. Gray said so quietly. In her translucent eyes, complex lights flickered slightly, as if she had fallen into some embarrassing memories.

"Stealing is wrong." Luna said at the time, glancing at the ghost floating by the window.

Although Luna's words were simple and empty, they seemed unimaginably heavy to Ms. Gray. The other party also looked towards Luna, but quickly looked away again.

"Yeah! Stealing is wrong..." Ms. Gray repeated this sentence softly, with deep meaning in her words, "Maybe it's because I stole first that I was punished again and again later?"

As she spoke, she couldn't help but sighed softly.

"Do you still know?" she said, "That man stole my trust from him... He stole my trust in a despicable way..."

This time Luna didn't speak, she just stood aside as usual, quietly listening. Sure enough, Ms. Gray continued to confide without waiting for her to say anything more.

"That man, Tom Riddle..." she said, "he flattered me with flattering words, he praised my beauty and intelligence, he said I was no worse than my mother. When he had a good impression, he asked me where the tiara made by my mother was. He also said that he would help me find it, and then dedicate it to me again..."

"But...but..." At this point, Ms. Gray said in great disappointment, "He still lied to me—he found the golden diadem, but he didn't give it to me, and even lied that he didn't find it at all."

"I know he must have found it, because no one but me knows where the diadem is, and it must still be there..."

As she was speaking, Ms. Gray slowly shook her head again, her eyes looking out of the window were full of powerlessness.

"But what can I do with him?" she continued, "I'm just a ghost, and he had already graduated. He returned to Hogwarts that day, just to apply for the professorship of Defense Against the Dark Arts class Yes... Later he didn't apply, so he left alone..."

...

"...the Diadem of Ravenclaw."

For the diadem mentioned in Luna's account, Hermione obviously knew what it was. But seeing her pondering for a while, she frowned and showed a thoughtful expression.

"Extraordinary wisdom is the greatest wealth of human beings." Luna sang in a light tone, "Ravenclaw's golden crown can enhance the wisdom of the wearer."

"But I really didn't expect that Ms. Gray turned out to be the daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw..." Ron's concern was obviously a little bit elsewhere.

"So, there seems to be a clue... But, is it broken again here?" Harry said helplessly, "Voldemort might make the golden diadem into his Horcrux, and then hide it somewhere... After all, How many Horcruxes did Voldemort make in total?"

"Who knows?" said Hermione, "but at least it's definitely not going to be just one - that's obviously too risky for him! You think we came across that diary so easily in the first place." ..."

Naturally, Hermione's analysis made some sense. But they didn't know that the reason why the diary appeared under their noses was actually the "credit" of Lucius Malfoy.

While they were still thinking about the number of Horcruxes, Ron suddenly spoke again.

"Actually," he hesitated, "I'm even more curious about Ms. Gray's matter... Luna, as you mentioned just now, she said she also stole something, right? That's why she was punished..."

"Yeah." Luna quickly nodded, "She stole her mother's golden crown, and then hid it in the Albanian mountain forest... She said, it should be a tree hole in a big tree."

At this point, Luna became interested instead, and whispered seriously: "Later, in order to find her daughter back, Rowena Ravenclaw sent Barrow, who loved Ms. Gray deeply, to find... Do you know who Baron is? In fact, he is the bloody Baron from Slytherin!"

"Oh, this is really another amazing piece of news!" Ron said gossipingly, "So? What happened later? There should be some other story... Don't tell me that there will be no more..."

"Later," Luna said mysteriously, "Because Ms. Gray didn't want to go back to Hogwarts with him, Barrow stabbed Ms. Gray to death in a fit of rage!"

"this……"

Since no one expected that Ms. Gray would die like this, the three of them were quite shocked. But Luna didn't pause for long, and then continued...

"...But after Ms. Gray's death, Barrow was also very remorseful, so he committed suicide on the spot." She said, "So, Barrow became a bloody Barrow—his blood wasn't just his own. Some, and some, are Lady Gray's."

"The bloody Barrow has such a violent temper, so it's not surprising that this kind of thing happened..." Harry nodded, "But let's put these stories aside for now! What we need to know now is whether Voldemort hid the golden crown Where is it?"

As Harry said before, he finally got an unexpected clue from Luna, but when he got here, the clue was broken again.

Two consecutive items that may be Horcruxes can only be traced to the way. This feeling is undoubtedly aggravating. But the world is so big, and wizards can use the Apparition spell to roam around the world at any time, and it is more difficult to find something that has been deliberately hidden than to find a needle in a haystack.

After that, time passed day by day, and before one knew it, the International Alchemy Competition was approaching.