Chapter Seventy-One: Ravenclaw and the Room of Requirement

“Me?” The young wizard, Shevin, asked in confusion.

Helena nodded and said, “I need you to concentrate and keep repeating these words in your mind—‘The room Rowena Ravenclaw left for Helena’—and walk past this section of wall three times.”

Shevin’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Helena.

“Did you understand?” Helena ignored his astonished look and continued.

“I understand,” Shevin replied, suppressing his amazement for the moment as he walked over to the wall opposite the tapestry.

He silently repeated the phrase ‘The room Rowena Ravenclaw left for Helena’ in his mind and paced back and forth in front of the wall three times.

Then, a beautifully smooth door appeared abruptly on the wall!

“There’s actually a hidden door here?” Professor Slughorn exclaimed in wonder, walking up to the door and examining it closely.

“But wait, the magical system has already collapsed. How could this door appear out of thin air?” Professor Birley suddenly realized and asked.

A faint, complex, and nostalgic smile graced Helena’s lips as she gazed at the door. Her voice was gentle. “I’ve never truly worried that this castle would become an utterly mundane building without magic, because the fourth magical node is right behind this door. My mother created it with her own hands.”

“She was the one most skilled in alchemy and magical theory among the four founders. The node she left behind could never have been discovered by Lore and Angulo, no matter how long they searched. As long as this fourth node exists, the Room of Requirement will function as usual.”

“So this is called the Room of Requirement?” Dumbledore asked with interest.

Helena nodded. “Yes, although I know that in recent years, many students who’ve discovered this place prefer to call it the Room of Hidden Things.”

She floated to the entrance of the Room of Requirement, but hesitated, unable to bring herself to go inside.

The ghostly Shevin noticed and drifted to her side, taking her hand in his, hoping to offer her warmth and strength.

Then, without further ado, young Shevin pushed open the door—

—

The room was awash in blue and bronze, colors reminiscent of Ravenclaw Tower, but with an added air of elegance and nobility. Lining both sides were rows of bookshelves filled with all kinds of books. Facing the main entrance stood a mysterious and graceful high-backed bronze chair, draped across whose armrest was a pure white marble statue. The statue’s face was beautiful yet stern, exactly matching the one in the Ravenclaw common room.

As Helena entered the Room of Requirement, the marble statue lifted its head!

“Helena, my daughter. You’ve finally come to see me,” Rowena Ravenclaw’s statue gazed tenderly at Helena’s face. The marble lips parted, releasing a gentle, melodious voice.

Catching Ravenclaw’s gaze, the ghostly Shevin tensed and instinctively tried to withdraw his hand from Helena’s, but she gripped it tightly, refusing to let go.

“Mother…” Helena bit her lip, her voice trembling.

“Helena, let’s catch up in a moment, shall we?” Rowena Ravenclaw said softly to Helena.

She turned to look at Headmaster Dippet. “You must be the current Headmaster of Hogwarts, am I right?”

Headmaster Dippet stared at the statue in disbelief. “Lady Ravenclaw, is it really you?” he blurted out in astonishment.

Professor Melis, the elderly head of Ravenclaw House, was equally moved, blushing like a schoolgirl as she gazed at the statue.

Ravenclaw smiled and nodded. “I can sense the castle’s condition now. The information you need is on the third bookshelf to my left, the last book on the third shelf. It contains detailed records of Hogwarts’ structure and maintenance methods.”

The professors hurried over and took the indicated book. Sure enough, it held precise instructions on the locations and repair methods for the castle’s magical nodes. Overjoyed, they began to study it eagerly.

Once they had the book, Ravenclaw addressed the assembled wizards, “Now that you have what you need, you should see to your duties. May I have some time alone with Helena?”

Though the professors longed to converse further with this legendary founder, they knew many young witches and wizards were anxiously awaiting the restoration of the castle. Lady Ravenclaw also wished to be alone with her daughter.

Reluctantly, the professors left the Room of Requirement and began to study the book’s instructions on repairing the magical nodes.

Young Shevin followed as well. Though his meager magic and knowledge were of little help to the professors, he was eager to broaden his horizons.

The ghostly Shevin gave Helena a reassuring glance and tried to exit with the others, but Lady Ravenclaw called him back.

“Please stay as well, sir,” she said.

Shevin paused, then felt Helena pull him back.

“Um…Lady Ravenclaw, wouldn’t it be inappropriate for me to stay if you two wish to be alone?” Shevin asked awkwardly.

“I just want to know, what exactly is your relationship?” Lady Ravenclaw looked at their joined hands, a playful smile on her lips. “Are you planning a love that transcends the ages with my daughter?”

Shevin’s face flushed with embarrassment; he felt as if he could dig a hole in the ground with his toes if only he weren’t a ghost, unable to make a dent in the floor.

“I think our relationship isn’t quite what you imagine…” he began.

“We’re soulmates!” Helena interrupted firmly, turning to Lady Ravenclaw.

“Yes, soulmates. Exactly!” Shevin nodded hastily in agreement.

Soulmates, indeed! One was a ghost, nothing but a soul; the other, the spirit from another world. They could only ever be “soulmates.”

Lady Ravenclaw smiled and shook her head. “Don’t be nervous. I am but a remnant of history, a mother who failed her duties. I have no right to stand in the way of my daughter’s happiness.”

—