Witcher at Hogwarts

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Ethan didn't bother with the password. Instead, with the help of the Ouroboros ring, he simply opened the door. The gargoyle slid aside effortlessly, granting him access.

Stepping into the headmaster's office, Ethan found Dumbledore seated behind his desk, a warm smile on his face as if he had been waiting for this moment.

"Ethan, welcome back. How did your commission go?" Dumbledore greeted, his voice as calm and inviting as ever.

"It went well," Ethan replied, mirroring Dumbledore's smile.

"Good to hear," Dumbledore said, his azure eyes twinkling with an unreadable intent.

"I was hoping you'd accompany me on a walk around Hogwarts."

"Of course, no problem," Ethan agreed without hesitation.

He had no idea what Dumbledore was up to, but for now, he chose to go along with it.

"Excellent," Dumbledore said, standing gracefully from his chair.

"Shall we?"

Without further explanation, Dumbledore led Ethan out of the office and into the castle's quiet, dimly lit corridors. The silence was broken only by their footsteps, which echoed faintly off the stone walls.

"Ethan," Dumbledore began suddenly, his voice thoughtful, "while you were away from Hogwarts, I conducted some research and uncovered something rather extraordinary."

"Oh? What did you find?" Ethan asked, curiosity sparking in his eyes.

Dumbledore reached into his robes, eventually producing an old and somewhat faded tiara. Despite its aged appearance, the crown radiated an air of opulence and mystique.

Its design was intricate: an eagle with outstretched wings, its open span adorned with sparkling diamonds. The body of the eagle was fashioned from a massive, crystal-clear blue sapphire, its brilliance undiminished by time.

Smaller sapphires and diamonds accentuated the tail, adding to the tiara's luxurious aesthetic.

Engraved at the base, in elegant script, were the words: "Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure."

"This... is quite a piece," Ethan said, examining the tiara with a mix of admiration and intrigue.

He couldn't fathom why Dumbledore would present such a treasure. Surely, it wasn't just to showcase its beauty.

"This," Dumbledore said softly, his tone weighted with significance, "is the long-lost Diadem of Ravenclaw."

Ethan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Ravenclaw's Diadem?"

He knew the artifact's dark history—that Voldemort had turned it into a Horcrux—but what caught him off guard was that Dumbledore had managed to locate it.

In the original timeline, Dumbledore hadn't found the crown. Yet here it was, in his hands.

As Ethan leaned in for a closer look, his badge vibrated subtly, a faint reminder of other pressing matters.

Feigning ignorance, he said, "This is... remarkable. But why show it to me?"

Dumbledore's gaze turned serious. "I believe this is another of Voldemort's Horcruxes."

"Can I?" Ethan asked, his tone steady but his mind racing.

Dumbledore nodded, his expression unreadable.

Dumbledore didn't immediately reply but brought the crown closer to Ethan, his expression unreadable.

Ethan drew his wand, tapping it lightly against the tiara, before casting a detection spell. Almost at once, a wave of dark, malevolent energy emanated from the artifact. It was a familiar presence—a mark of Voldemort's corrupted magic.

Dumbledore's suspicions were confirmed. Ravenclaw's Diadem was indeed another of Voldemort's Horcruxes.

"It seems we were right. This is another of Voldemort's Horcruxes," Ethan said, his tone steady.

"As I thought," Dumbledore murmured, his voice laced with quiet gravity.

"This makes it the third one we've found," Dumbledore continued, "following the diary and Slytherin's locket. I suspected Voldemort created multiple Horcruxes, but it's clear we still have more to uncover."

"Splitting one's soul into so many pieces... Voldemort is utterly mad," Ethan muttered under his breath.

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed, but his madness is not without method. I've begun to notice a pattern in his choices. Tom Riddle was a man of great pride, and he selected his Horcruxes with care. Each represents something significant: the Slytherin locket, the Ravenclaw diadem..."

His eyes gleamed with insight. "I believe he sought to use relics from all four Hogwarts founders."

"So that leaves treasures from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff," Ethan said, catching on.

Dumbledore's expression softened into a slight smile. "The sword of Gryffindor remains safe—it's in my possession. I'm confident it has not been tampered with. That leaves only Hufflepuff's treasure."

"The Hufflepuff cup," Ethan guessed.

"Precisely," Dumbledore confirmed.

"Helga Hufflepuff's golden cup, a remarkable artifact imbued with unique magical properties. It was crafted by Helga herself, originally as a vessel to assist house-elves in preparing and serving food at Hogwarts."

"What happened to it?" Ethan asked.

"The cup was passed down through Hufflepuff's descendants until it came into the possession of Hepzibah Smith," Dumbledore explained.

"However, she died unexpectedly under suspicious circumstances. I strongly suspect that Voldemort obtained the cup around that time."

"Then he must have hidden it," Ethan surmised.

"I believe so," Dumbledore replied. His voice grew more deliberate as he added, "Ethan, there's something I need to ask of you."

"Of course," Ethan said immediately.

"What is it?"

Dumbledore hesitated for only a moment before speaking. "I hope you can use your connections within the Ministry of Magic to search for any clues about the Hufflepuff Cup. As you know, Minister Fudge... does not entirely trust me. Your involvement could provide access that I cannot easily obtain."

Ethan nodded without hesitation. "I'll look into it. You have my word."

A rare smile softened Dumbledore's lined face.

"Thank you, Ethan. Your help has accelerated our search for Voldemort's Horcruxes far beyond what I anticipated."

"This is my duty," Ethan replied earnestly.

"As long as someone like Voldemort exists, the wizarding world will never be safe."

Dumbledore's expression grew even warmer.

"I'm grateful you feel that way. Bringing you to Hogwarts was one of my wisest decisions. You've excelled not only in your teaching but also in protecting Harry—and even clearing Sirius's name."

Ethan couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment at the praise. If Dumbledore only knew how often he had handed off his teaching responsibilities to Professor Flitwick this term.

For a moment, he wondered if Dumbledore was teasing him, but the sincerity in the old man's voice left no room for doubt.