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65. the Great Hall
🕑 Added 2025-04-14 02:44:19 +0000 UTCHe sat down between in his usual seat between Filius and Minerva. Pomona and Poppy sat on the other side of Minerva. If Poppy had no patients in the hospital wing, she usually came to meals in the Great Hall.
Minerva leaned to over to Severus and remarked, "Everyone seems accepting of Harry's new appearance."
"With the exception of the headmaster," Severus replied in a low tone with a glare at Dumbledore. "Nicolas Flamel informed me that Dumbledore was picking his brain on how to reverse the blood adoption."
Poppy gasped. "It's impossible to reverse it without a severe risk of genetic damage."
"That's what Nicolas told him."
Minerva shook her head. "That ridiculous prediction Sybill made has completely addled Albus' brain!"
"There's no reason to think You-Know-Who will return anyway," Pomona said. "I for one am not going to be a pessimist and assume the worst!"
"Nor I," Severus agreed. He knew from Mad-Eye keeping him abreast of their search for the horcruxes that they had found a ring once belonging to Salazar Slytherin at the old Gaunt place in Little Hangleton. The Gaunt's had been the last descendants of Slytherin's. They were all dead now. Moody had told him the research that Kingsley and Ned were doing, strongly indicated that You-Know-Who had had a fixation with the Founders and they suspected he might have turned other known items belonging to the Founders into horcruxes. They were looking at Helga Hufflepuff's cup and Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem. Godric Gryffindor's sword had always been kept in a locked case in the headmaster's office and the lock on the case had been made impervious to the Alohomora charm. They were certain that had been untouched. Kingsley and Ned were former Ravenclaws and knew the story about Helena Ravenclaw stealing the diadem because of the spell cast on it by Rowena that gave the wearer great intelligence.
Severus had the ring stored in a specially designed bag that had strong magic suppressors cast on it. At the moment, nobody knew exactly how to destroy a horcrux and he had wanted to consult with Healer Dordt first to see if there might be a way to remove the piece of Voldemort's soul without destroying the object it was stored inside. He had pointed out to them that in addition to the ring, Salazar had also possessed a locket. He was wearing both of them in the portrait hanging in the common room and You-Know-Who had seen the portrait constantly in the seven years he had spent in Slytherin House.
However, nobody had any idea where the locket, cup or diadem might be. Severus broached the subject of the diadem to Filius one night when he was invited to the Head of Ravenclaw's quarters for dinner. Filius had a new recipe he was trying out and wanted Severus' opinion.
"This meal is excellent, Filius!" Severus complimented the small professor. "If you will be so kind as to copy the recipe for me; I would appreciate it."
"Of course, Severus; I'd be happy to," Filius replied cheerfully.
"What do you know of the Ravenclaw diadem? Lily and I were discussing what we knew of it from our time as students one night and found we knew very little."
"Very little is known about it," Filius replied. "The Grey Lady refuses to speak of it. You of course know of the sad endings of Rowena, Helena, and the Bloody Baron involving the diadem?"
"Yes," Severus nodded.
"Rumor has it that Helena went to Albania after she stole it, but nobody's ever been able to verify it and as I said her ghost never speaks of it."
"Was there ever a description of the diadem printed anywhere?"
"I don't believe so, but I have heard it described by others. There's a statue of Rowena wearing it in the Ravenclaw common room. I can describe it better if I'm looking at the replica. We can certainly take a look at it when we've finished eating."
"I have been promising Harry I would visit his house, but sadly I have been so busy with classes, brewing, and the other duties we must perform as professors and heads of house that I have not had the opportunity."
"Well then, I'd say there's no time like the present."
They had dessert and then Severus followed Filius to the entrance to Ravenclaw. "What is the difference between man and beast?" The eagles' head on the entrance questioned.
"Man walks on two legs while most beasts walk on four," Filius answered.
"Correct answer," the eagle's head replied and the entrance swung open.
Harry was studying with Michael Corner, Anthony Goldsmith and Hermione and looked up as Filius and Severus came in.
"Dad!" Harry said in delight. He put down his book and got up.
"Filius and I were having dinner and I decided it would be a good time to take you up on your offer to see Ravenclaw Tower," Severus explained. "I do apologize for leaving it so late."
"That's okay, Dad. I know you have a lot on your plate being head of house and the main brewer for the entire school."
"Why don't we start here? Filius was telling me about this statue of Rowena Ravenclaw."
"Now as recall from what I've heard about the Ravenclaw diadem; it was crafted from Goblin made silver which of course is the purest silver. The big oval in the center was a sapphire," Filius said. "These two smaller ovals hanging down on her forehead were diamonds and smaller diamonds covered the bands you see in and surrounding the oval sapphire in the middle."
"My goodness!" Hermione exclaimed. "How much would that be in today's Galleons, Professor?"
"More Galleons than we could calculate, Miss Granger," Filius answered.
"Probably more Galleons than are in the Prince, Malfoy, and Potter vaults combined," Severus said to Harry.
"Wow!" Harry replied.
"Unfortunately, it disappeared centuries ago and nobody has seen it since," Filius explained.
