Wade hid in the corner, watching the figure pacing back and forth in front of the Room of Requirement.
Ryan Smith, the eliminated Ilvermorny Champion, if he remembered correctly, had performed commendably in the Chamber of Secrets. However, he had a terrible synergy with his companions and was always dragged down by them. In the end, he was hit by a Stunning Spell from Wade before he could even display his full strength.
At this moment, Ryan clutched a dragonhide pouch tightly in one hand, while the other was pressed to his ear as he spoke to someone in a hushed voice.
...
"Stop rushing me!"
Ryan Smith gritted his teeth, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. He glanced nervously at the tapestry nearby and said, "I've tried three times, I can't open this damn door at all! Are you sure you haven't got the wrong place?"
A cold voice came from his ear: I certainly haven't got it wrong. Perhaps there was always someone inside when you came here before.
"This Chamber of Secrets only allows one person at a time?"
Ryan looked at the empty wall, his tone anxious: "Didn't you say that no one else knew about this place except you?"
The other end of the Communication Pea was silent for a moment.
The person on the other end didn't deny the conjecture of "only one person at a time," because when he was still at school, he was indeed the only one who could go to and from the Room of Requirement. He was certain that even Dumbledore didn't know this secret.
But so much time had passed, and he no longer hoped that no other Hogwarts student had discovered this secret.
So his voice turned cold, and he retorted: Are you questioning me? Are you questioning your Guide, who selflessly helps you?
"No… no… I'm not…" Ryan realized his tone was somewhat offensive and quickly explained: "I just… I just worry that I'll miss the opportunity again this time…"
So—hurry up. The other person said: You've delayed too long.
"I know, but sneaking into this place is too difficult." Ryan couldn't help but explain: "The entrance to the Headmaster's Office is nearby, Dumbledore could appear at any moment."
As he spoke, he cautiously scanned the corridor behind him, feeling as if a pair of eyes were constantly watching him.
Don't worry, Dumbledore won't abandon his guests and return to his office before the ball ends. Tonight is your best chance!
The voice patiently reassured him, then became stern again: Focus! Otherwise, the Chamber of Secrets will never open for you!
"I know!"
Ryan said, suppressing his worry and fear. He walked back and forth in the corridor, muttering to himself:
"I need a place to hide things… I need a place to hide things… I need a place to hide things…"
After walking back and forth three times, a tall door finally materialized from the blank wall.
Ryan was overjoyed and exclaimed, "It appeared!"
Keep your voice down! The other side scolded: Do you want to attract everyone?
Ryan quickly looked at both sides of the corridor; it was empty. He suddenly turned his head and saw Silly Barnaby on the tapestry being thumped on the head by a Troll with a club, yet still turning his head to look at him.
He couldn't help but laugh: "So it was you, you silly fool, watching me."
The other side: "...?"
He didn't bother to ask what Ryan was saying, only urged him again to act quickly.
Then, Ryan pulled open the door and walked into the Room of Requirement, momentarily stunned.
"I remember you saying… that this place was piled high with old furniture and accumulated junk over the years, looking like a small town?"
He turned and closed the Chamber of Secrets door, his scalp tingling as he spoke.
Yes. The other side said: Now all you have to do is follow my instructions, and you'll find Ravenclaw's Diadem. First, you need to find a Troll specimen…
Ryan swallowed.
But this place… it was much emptier than the person had described! The area wasn't as large as he had claimed either.
The items that were supposedly piled high now only consisted of scattered odds and ends, which, even if all piled together, probably wouldn't fill a regular classroom.
He also didn't see any Troll specimens.
Such a massive thing, if it were truly still in this Chamber of Secrets, he would be able to see it at a glance from the doorway, especially since the room was now so spacious.
But there was none.
Oh… just not here…
Ryan slowly realized that he had indeed seen a Troll specimen, but not in this Chamber of Secrets—it was in the maze.
The maze was Hogwarts' most interesting large-scale live-action game project. No student from another school wasn't interested in this game. Professor Egbert even said that he planned to build a similar Game Arena at Ilvermorny when he returned.
Anyway, Ilvermorny was founded in imitation of Hogwarts, so continuing to imitate their methods of training students to use Magic wouldn't be embarrassing for anyone.
In short, once when Ryan participated in the maze game, he was startled by a stinky Troll and almost thought he was done for. Only later did he realize it was just a particularly agile specimen that had been enchanted.
He explained the situation to the person on the other end of the Communication Pea. As expected, the person was silent for a full half minute before angrily shouting:
How dare they? Those idiots at Hogwarts, they actually moved everything out of the Chamber of Secrets? Including my Diadem?
Ryan corrected him: "To be precise, that's Ravenclaw's Diadem, and you promised I would get it."
—How is the Diadem "yours"?
Even in anger, the person on the other end understood Ryan's unspoken meaning. He didn't even bother to get angry, just felt surprised—why on earth had he chosen this guy?
"Well... because he was the only one who fell for his deception!"
The man known as the "Guide," but who was actually Voldemort, took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. He tried to maintain his previous tone as he said, "Yes, you will get it. But first, you must find the Diadem's location."
"Right... that's how it is..."
Ryan looked at the messy rubbish in the Chamber of Secrets, his vision blurring. After his body stiffened for a moment, he finally bent down and began searching carefully.
Wade, invisible beside him, thought, ...Is he really just going to start rummaging through the trash? Why not try an Accio?
Of course, Accio wouldn't find the Diadem either, and people generally assumed that such ancient and powerful artifacts would resist being summoned.
Seeing Ryan follow the other party's instructions and search in a certain direction, Wade quietly moved to another corner. He extended his Wand and tapped an old, broken Cauldron.
The Cauldron subtly transformed, becoming an ancient, dull Diadem.
Now, it was just a matter of when Ryan would find it.
Watching the figure diligently searching through a wooden box, Wade leaned lazily against the wall to rest.
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