Chapter 308 — In the Auditorium
"Harry! Can you wear the tiara for a moment?"
"Yeah, show us what it feels like!"
"Can I rent it? Ten Galleons an hour—fair price, right?"
"How did you even take it off the statue?"
"I'm a Ravenclaw too! Can't you just give it to me?"
"You beast—this isn't fair! Hey—are you even a Ravenclaw?!"
The Ravenclaws surrounded Harry like a respectful, overly enthusiastic fence. Their eyes sparkled with a mixture of curiosity and longing, and although they tried to act civilized, the barrage of strange questions betrayed their excitement.
Harry raised both hands, trying to calm them.
"This crown originally belonged to Ms. Grey's mother—Rowena Ravenclaw. I just helped Ms. Grey resolve something important in front of the statue. That activated the mechanism and revealed the diadem. Also, um… we have class this morning."
Luckily, Anthony, Hermione, and the other second-year Ravenclaws emerged from the stairwell at that moment. Their class had long developed the habit of traveling together between lessons—mainly as a strategy to avoid Peeves.
Ron quickly pushed his way through the crowd, waving Harry forward. The group squeezed their way into the corridor and headed toward the Great Hall.
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This morning, the enchanted ceiling was painted with thick gray clouds, perfectly matching the gloomy weather outside. The dim light reflected Harry's mood as well—restless curiosity mixed with the fading shock of everything that happened in the common room.
As he slid into his seat, surrounded by steaming porridge, pickled herrings, stacks of toast, eggs, and crispy bacon, an unexpected thought popped into his mind.
Cho Chang.
She would've been up since dawn, studying diligently even on a cloudy day.
But then Harry remembered—the sky had been clear when he had woken up earlier.
Before he could untangle that contradiction, Draco hurried over from the Slytherin table, looking unusually breathless. Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle followed closely behind, eyes wide with curiosity.
Their expressions weren't even the most dramatic ones in the hall.
Everywhere Harry looked, students were staring at him like he was some kind of enchanted dessert that might vanish if they blinked.
If not for the professors handing out timetables at their respective tables, Harry suspected he might have been buried alive under an avalanche of questions.
"Is it true?" Draco panted. "You really have Ravenclaw's diadem?"
Harry sighed. "Yeah. It's true."
Not even the enchanted milk jug beside him—with a moving illustration titled Magic in the Muggle World—could lift his spirits now.
And that was saying something.
He'd been incredibly happy reading that book.
It described in surprisingly respectful detail the ingenuity of Muggles, confirming what Harry already believed: Voldemort severely underestimated them, while wizards like Mr. Weasley represented the world's future.
But today, not even that brought comfort.
The diadem tucked in Harry's robe pulsed faintly with calming magic, even unworn.
Draco leaned in. "Is it just sitting there—in your pocket? Have you worn it at all?"
He stuttered slightly, unable to contain the excitement of seeing a relic of the Founders for the second time this year. The locket had been destroyed before he even had the chance to admire it.
"If you really want to try it later, Draco, I don't mind lending it to you," Harry said casually.
Professor Flitwick hurried over at that moment, his squeaky voice trembling with excitement.
"Harry, I still can't believe the diadem was in the common room all this time!"
He handed Harry his timetable and practically vanished, clearly struggling to contain his questions.
Ron looked at his schedule. "Defense Against the Dark Arts first thing!"
"What? That can't be his doing, right?" Draco muttered anxiously.
"You mean Professor Riddle?" Anthony chimed in, appearing as dramatically as always. "Is he dangerous? Well, even if he is, Harry won't be hurt! He's a true Ravenclaw!"
"A… true Ravenclaw?" Harry blinked, biting into a piece of egg to settle himself.
He certainly didn't remember earning a title like that.
Was Ron supposed to be the other one?
He glanced at him, but Ron looked just as confused.
Anthony cleared his throat dramatically.
"It's like this. The Sword of Gryffindor only appears for a true Gryffindor. So naturally, Ravenclaw's diadem would only respond to a true Ravenclaw. And it responded to Harry! It's obvious!"
Harry rubbed his forehead.
"I already told you, it was because of Ms. Grey…"
He had no desire for another glowing title. His life was already chaotic enough.
Anthony burst into tears.
"I knew you were humble, Harry!"
His booming declaration made half the table turn around. Michael Corner—who had been preparing a speech to impress Ginny—stopped mid-sentence and stared. Terry turned too.
Suddenly everyone was looking at Harry again.
They would've approached, too—if the clock wasn't inching toward nine.
Besides, Harry and the crown weren't going anywhere. The diadem wasn't going to sprout wings and fly off.
Gryffindor and Hufflepuff had two morning classes—Herbology and Transfiguration for Gryffindor, Charms and Herbology for Hufflepuff.
Slytherin, like Ravenclaw, only had one: History of Magic.
They normally didn't care much about Ravenclaw affairs.
But after Anthony's outburst, every Slytherin in the hall tilted their heads and stared at Harry again.
The professors all left shortly after, heading off to prepare their lessons.
Which meant—
"All because of you!" Ron groaned, glaring at Anthony.
"I'm not even full yet!"
Forced by the gathering attention, Ron and the others grabbed their bags and rushed out early toward the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
The girls had already left long before them—unable to contain their curiosity about Professor Tom Riddle.
All except Hermione.
Hermione and Alexander Smith stayed behind, calmly finishing breakfast together.
Harry shot a resentful look toward the table.
Some people got to eat in peace.
He did not.
Damn Anthony.
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