Chapter Sixteen: A Nighttime Stroll

Wrapped in the cloak of the Disguising Charm, Hevin stepped out of the common lounge.

The green torches lining the corridor outside had all been extinguished, plunging the surroundings into darkness and filling the entire basement with a chilling and eerie atmosphere.

“Lumos.”

He drew his wand, adding just enough light to the darkness to see his way, then proceeded downward.

…

Elsewhere, Helena was watching the meandering “Strange” with surprise.

He had suddenly put aside the “Unveiling Ancient Legends of the Magical World,” which he had been reading intently that evening, and rushed out of the library. After that, he began wandering all over the place, behaving in a most peculiar fashion.

“Are you looking for something?” Helena asked.

Hevin looked at her with a touch of helplessness. “Why aren’t you reading in the mirror space? Why did you come out?”

Helena replied, “I can never quite remember what I read in there anyway. I thought I might as well come out and see what interesting thing you’re up to this time.”

‘It’s nothing interesting at all…’ Hevin thought, somewhat speechless, and casually came up with an excuse. “I just saw a legend in ‘Unveiling Ancient Legends of the Magical World’ that mentioned how each of the four founders of Hogwarts left a secret chamber in the castle, filled with precious knowledge and treasures. I’m a little curious!”

“Most of those legends are just rumors repeated over and over,” Helena said disdainfully, pursing her lips. “But if you really want to talk about secret chambers, Salazar Slytherin likely built one after falling out with the other three founders—though no one knows exactly where it is.”

She paused, then added, “Rowena Ravenclaw did leave a room behind, on the eighth floor, but ghosts can’t enter it.”

“That’s nothing to force, then.” Hevin wasn’t particularly interested in exploring secret chambers—he was just searching for his little cat—so he replied perfunctorily and began wandering around the castle again.

“Wait.” Suddenly, he realized something and stopped. “How do you know all this so clearly? Could it be that you’re…?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? I’m Ravenclaw’s daughter!” Helena said, raising her eyebrows with a hint of pride, though her expression soon dimmed.

“Ah, so you’re a senior from the founders’ era! My apologies!” Hevin joked, making a silly face.

Helena burst into laughter. “You really are incorrigible!”

“What’s the use in being proper? It won’t fill your stomach,” Hevin muttered, though his hands never stopped searching for the cat.

Suddenly, Hevin felt himself bump into someone—or rather, a ghost. The ghost had a terrifying appearance, his eyes vacant and bulging, features gaunt, his robes stained with silvery blood.

“Sorry, I was lost in thought and not watching where I was going!” Hevin quickly stepped aside and apologized.

But the ghastly ghost paid him no heed at all, his gaze fixed intently on Helena, all other movements ceased.

Helena’s expression turned cold at once. She grabbed Hevin’s arm, about to lead him away.

But Hevin’s other arm was seized by the dreadful ghost.

Hevin looked at him questioningly. “Is there something you need, sir?”

“Who are you? I don’t think I’ve seen you before,” the ghost snapped, glaring fiercely.

“Barrow, he’s my friend. Don’t go too far!” Helena’s tone was icy and hard as she addressed Barrow.

At her words, Barrow seemed suddenly flustered, even his voice trembling. “Helena, you’re too trusting—you never realize when you’re being deceived!”

“So you’re saying I’m a liar, Mr. Barrow?” Hevin’s tone darkened as well.

Helena had no wish to argue with Barrow. She simply turned and pulled Hevin toward the other side of the castle.

Hevin wrenched his arm free with ease, following Helena and leaving Barrow behind, lost and forlorn.

As they walked, Helena noticed Hevin’s somber expression and quietly reassured him, “Strange, you don’t need to be upset because of Barrow. He’s just a madman.”

“I’m fine,” Hevin shook his head. He wasn’t upset by Barrow’s accusation. He was simply frustrated that he’d searched nearly the whole castle and still hadn’t found his cat.

As for Barrow’s accusation, it wasn’t entirely wrong. He was using the alias “Strange” to win Helena’s trust—how was that any different from being a liar?

“By the way, was that the one ghost even Peeves is afraid of?” Hevin asked.

“He only bullies the weak and fears the strong,” Helena snorted coldly.

…

Having scoured nearly every corner of the castle without finding a trace of his kitten, Hevin, still cloaked in the Disguising Charm, decided to try his luck outside.

Keeping as quiet as possible on his way to the castle’s first floor, he suddenly saw a faint, dim light appear at the bottom of the stairs. A figure carrying an oil lamp was walking toward him.

“Who’s there?” The figure seemed to have noticed the glow from Hevin’s wand and called out.

Hevin quickly extinguished his wand and hid behind a stone plinth, holding his breath.

A sallow-faced, unkempt middle-aged man carrying a heavy oil lamp approached, searching carefully all around, but failed to find a single trace of anyone.

His face showed puzzlement, but he said in a flat voice, “Come out now—I’ve already seen you!”

Hevin curled his lip, remaining perfectly still.

“What’s the matter, Mr. Pringle?” At that moment, a voice called out from a corner.

A young man with a glowing wand emerged from another corner, asking in confusion.

Pringle brightened at first, but upon seeing who it was, replied in disappointment, “Professor Lorey, what brings you here?”

Professor Lorey answered, “The new term’s just started; I haven’t adjusted to the schedule yet. I couldn’t sleep, so I went for a walk.”

Pringle asked, “Was that you just now? I thought it was some mischievous student out for a night stroll.”

Professor Lorey’s lips curled up. “I wasn’t standing here a moment ago. Perhaps there really is a student lurking nearby.”

As he spoke, his eyes darted, scanning the surroundings.

Hevin tensed up. He didn’t think Prueitt’s not-quite-mastered Disguising Charm would fool a professor. What’s more, after so long, the charm’s effect was already beginning to fade.

‘I need to think of something,’ Hevin thought. At the same time, he silently pressed himself further into the shadow behind the stone plinth, hidden entirely from Professor Lorey’s view.

Professor Lorey and the castle caretaker, Pringle, moved about, searching for the rule-breaking little wizard. When Lorey reached a plinth, he sensed something was off and stepped back, preparing to take a closer look.

Hevin held his breath…

“What are you two searching for?”

Suddenly, a voice rang out in the air.

The two men looked up, interrupted, and saw a ghost floating above them, observing with curiosity.

…

…