After a long pause, Erwin reluctantly accepted the truth: Rowena Ravenclaw was sharper than him. He could have pieced it together himself if he'd known the facts, but not half as quickly. The old witch's mind whirred like a flawless enchanted calculator—inhumanly efficient.
Erwin frowned. "You know all this and can see it so clearly, yet you'd send Baron after Helena? He's obsessive, stubborn as a troll. It's like chasing shadows with a broken wand."
The question had nagged at him for ages. Baron had been hopelessly in love with Helena, but barred from her side. With that temperament, Erwin half-suspected Ravenclaw had intended to do away with her rival for Baron's affections.
"It's straightforward," Ravenclaw replied calmly. "Baron loved Helena more than anyone except me. He wanted her back at any cost—his life, his soul, anything. He was the perfect choice. But people change, and I overlooked how their personalities would clash. I doomed her. If I'm right, Baron followed her into death."
Erwin nodded. "Spot on. He's the Bloody Baron now, haunting Slytherin, foul-tempered as ever. Helena drifts through the castle, mostly near Ravenclaw Tower. Even as a ghost, she's stunning—ethereal, with that quiet grace."
Ravenclaw's spectral face softened into a proud smile. "Of course. She's my daughter. My finest creation."
Erwin jotted a note in his journal: Wicked humor, narcissistic, doting parent. He snapped it shut.
"I need to return to Hogwarts," Ravenclaw said. "To see her."
"Naturally," Erwin agreed. "When do we leave? No need for a broom, I suppose?"
Ravenclaw shot him a withering look that screamed still sore about that?
"Fine, I need your help," she conceded.
Erwin grinned. "I'll just levitate your statue later, then."
"The statue's not my anchor—this house is."
"Sorry, Your Ladyship," Erwin said, feigning regret. "Can't exactly Apparate a cottage."
Ravenclaw sighed, clearly suspecting he was toying with her. "This is merely a vessel for my consciousness. I can transfer to another."
"Then you'd still need to move the statue first," Erwin pointed out. "As your biggest fan, I'd be honored to help with that. Easy enough."
She shook her head. "A statue couldn't contain my essence. That's why I chose this place outside Hogwarts—something sturdy enough to hold my power."
Erwin rubbed his chin, then brightened. "Wait—I've got just the thing. A real gem!"
With a flick of his wrist, his enchanted ring responded despite the wards. A gleaming brass Gatling gun materialized at his feet.
"Meet my trusty sidekick," Erwin said proudly. "My brother in arms, the one who saves my skin—and ends a few others. Divine weapon, wouldn't you say?"
Ravenclaw's expression soured. She'd uncovered his cheeky streak.
"Boy, are you mocking me?"
Erwin stowed the gun with a shrug. "You started it, playing me for a fool. Even house-elves know help comes with a price. You can't just snap your fingers and expect free labor."
He'd been needling her on purpose—a petty payback for her earlier deception. She deserved it.
Ravenclaw crossed her arms. "You wanted my legacy. I can grant it."
Erwin snorted. "Even if it's useful—and that's a big if—I don't know what it is. Handing it over like that? Sounds like an empty promise to me."
"You can't know yet," she explained. "To claim it, you must pass my trial—a rule I bound myself to. Only if your power eclipses mine could you bypass it, and even then... But trust me, the reward would change everything for you."
"Too vague," Erwin countered. "Compared to your diadem, it doesn't stack up."
Her eyes narrowed. "You deduced that?"
"Easy guess. You're brilliant, sure, but I'm no dimwit. What else could house your soul but one of the Founders' relics? The Diadem of Ravenclaw fits perfectly."
She inclined her head, impressed. "Clever. What if I throw in Hufflepuff's legacy too?"
Erwin's pulse quickened. Hufflepuff's? Add that to Ravenclaw's and the Slytherin heirloom he was poised to snag... three of the four Founders' treasures. The haul was staggering.
As a shrewd opportunist, his mind raced to squeeze more value. He opened his mouth to negotiate—
"Done," Ravenclaw said briskly. "If you're dissatisfied, forget it. I don't need you. I'll wait for someone worthy—not as grasping as a goblin. You're no fit for my legacy anyway. Off with you."
She raised a hand, magic crackling.
Panic flared in Erwin. "Hold on! We can discuss this. Please. A wise founder like you, rushing like a first-year? I was about to say yes—your temper nearly botched it!"
Adaptability was his forte. Dignity? Elegance? Mere frippery next to power. Especially now, with threats closing in, he'd grab strength wherever it lurked.
Ravenclaw paused, eyebrow arched. "You're certain?"
Erwin nodded vigorously, sealing the deal before she could reconsider