[171] A Broken Compass

Hall explained his theory.

The other three looked bewildered. The Four Founders' secret chambers?

"Then how did Ron get into Ravenclaw's chamber?" Harry blinked, more concerned about Ron's safety.

Hall remembered how Slytherin's chamber opened. He narrowed his eyes. He had Slytherin blood. Did Ron have Ravenclaw blood? That seemed absurd.

"Maybe not every founder wanted their descendants to find the rooms." Hall said. Slytherin's chamber required a descendant's blood to open. Inside was Helena — enough compensation. The other three founders might have set up similar tests.

"Perhaps they sensed something before they died and set puzzles for worthy discoverers."

Draco's eyes brightened. "So many secrets in Hogwarts! As expected of Hall!" Then his face scrunched. "But why Ron Weasley?"

Harry wanted to defend Ron but couldn't — Ron's grades made it impossible to argue.

"Maybe the book was the key," Hermione followed Hall's train of thought. "A specific book Ron grabbed by chance."

"Ha! He'd be that lucky?" Draco scoffed. If Weasley was that lucky, would he still be poor?

Hall sighed. "If it's Ron... hard to say. There's an old saying — fortune favours fools."

Draco was speechless. Even Hall admitted his friend wasn't exactly bright.

"What do we do next? Search the library book by book?" Draco changed the subject.

"If Ron already took the book, we won't find it," Harry shot back.

Another argument loomed.

"Stop, stop, stop." Hall raised his hand. "This isn't the time for you two to flirt."

"Ugh! I have nothing to do with Malfoy!"

"Disgusting Potter, the saviour!"

Hall pretended not to hear. "We can take another route — find Ravenclaw's ghost."

Hermione smiled, watching Hall sandwiched between Harry and Draco. Anyone else would have cracked. Hall acted like he hadn't heard a thing and kept analysing.

"A Ravenclaw ghost?" Hermione picked up. "Would they know anything about the founder? Gryffindor ghosts come from different eras — they don't know much about Godric himself."

"If it were Hufflepuff or Gryffindor, I wouldn't be sure." Hall's smile held confidence. "But Ravenclaw has a ghost who was there. The Grey Lady."

He paused, then decided his friends could know. "She's Rowena Ravenclaw's daughter."

This content has been misappropriated from NovelPhoenix; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Hermione, Harry, and Draco stared.

"Rowena Ravenclaw's daughter — is the Ravenclaw ghost?!" Hermione's voice pitched. "The most brilliant witch in history — her daughter must know everything!"

Hall gave her a calm look. "Hermione, adjust your mindset. If you approach her like that, we'll have a bad time."

"But shouldn't she — "

"She's her own person. Don't label her by her mother, even if that mother is Rowena Ravenclaw."

Hermione was taken aback by Hall's tone. He softened his expression. "I'm not targeting you — "

"I know." Hermione shook her messy hair. "She's a Ravenclaw by blood, but I should separate her from Rowena Ravenclaw herself."

Hall laughed. "Typical Gryffindor know-it-all."

Harry glanced at Draco. "They're playing riddles behind our backs."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Nobody wants to be seen as dependent on someone else! My dad is amazing, but I'll be amazing too. I'm not just my dad."

Harry's eyes dimmed. Draco remembered — the Saviour had no parents. His expression became conflicted. After a long pause: "...You still have Sirius Black, right?"

Harry smiled. "Thank you, Malfoy."

Draco looked like he might faint. The Saviour thanked him? Was the world ending?

"Anyway — " Hall steered the conversation back. "We can try asking the Grey Lady. She might know something. But that's only one possibility. We should prepare for others."

The group fell silent.

"Let's try!" Harry perked up. "Nothing compares to what she might know. Ghosts who stay at Hogwarts have obsessions, right? We can trade with her."

Hall nodded. The most typical example was Myrtle.

The four-person team set out — two Slytherins, two Gryffindors.

Hermione looked at Hall. "Your Marauder's Map — can it find ghosts?"

Hall paused. "Can I honestly say I didn't consider that?" He hadn't added house ghosts. He'd need to modify the map immediately.

Harry stopped him. If Hall disappeared into the Room of Requirement now, who knew how long he'd be working on it. Ron couldn't wait.

Hall noted it. Improve the map. Urgent.

"Search the library, then the common rooms. Watch during mealtimes — ghosts usually appear around then."

Back in the library, Madam Pince watched them closely. No Grey Lady.

They climbed toward the Ravenclaw common room.

Harry panted. "It's so high!"

Draco nodded, too exhausted to speak. Why build the common room so high? Why not put it in the Black Lake like Slytherin?

"Higher means better light and view." Hall wasn't out of breath at all.

Hermione was nearly exhausted but refused to give up. Why was Hall so energetic?

If she'd asked, Hall would have answered: Quidditch, and Grindelwald's lessons. The old man wouldn't stop until he'd worn Hall's bones out.

Finally, they stood at the entrance.

"Password?" Harry blinked at Hall.

"There's no password. Answer the eagle's question correctly."

Harry looked horrified. Draco's expression wasn't much better.

Only Hermione showed genuine envy. "Imagine how happy I'd be in Ravenclaw."

Harry looked like he wanted to complain but didn't know where to start. Answer questions every time he came back? He'd be locked out daily.

"What if I can't answer?"

"Wait for someone else. If they answer correctly, you go in with them."

Between embarrassment and studying, Ravenclaws had to choose. Harry was thankful he was a Gryffindor — just give the Fat Lady a password.

Hall stepped forward. The eagle door knocker came to life.

"Excuse me — "

Hermione perked up her ears, ready to answer. Harry and Draco were curious too.

"Is Salazar Slytherin still alive? Where is he?"

Everyone froze.

"Wait — " Draco started. Hall covered his mouth.

Hall looked at the knocker. "What kind of answer do you want? Or can you determine correctness?"

The eagle didn't answer.

Hall pondered, then spoke. "Between death and life, he is lost in the dimensions of time and space."

A riddle for a riddle.

The knocker remained silent.

Draco pried Hall's hand off. "Slytherin? He's hundreds of years old! How could he be alive?!"

"How do you know he's definitely dead? Nicholas Flamel lived over six hundred years. Why must a powerful wizard like Slytherin be dead?"

Draco was lost in thought. It didn't seem impossible.

The door slowly opened.

"You — how did you know?" Draco was bewildered. And Hall had mentioned Slytherin's Chamber earlier — if Slytherin referred to that Slytherin...

Hall smiled and led them inside.