A week slipped by, each day blurring into the next with study sessions, late-night spells, and whispered theories. The Secret Seekers had grown more determined than ever. Every evening, one member of the group would return to the Room of Hidden Things to cast their sorting spell, while the others remained in the library or the common room, dissecting runes, enchantments, and techniques to enhance its effectiveness.
On a particularly dull Wednesday during History of Magic ,Louis was staring thoughtfully at a passage in his textbook. He nudged Evangeline beside him.
"You remember the book of Rowena Ravenclaw's magical theories that i found in the Chamber?"
She looked at him, eyebrow raised. "The one you said we shouldn't touch because ancient magic was too volatile?"
Louis nodded slowly. "I've been thinking. Maybe it's time we revisit it. We're close, but not close enough. Her methods—archaic as they are—might be exactly what we need."
Cho perked up at the mention of Rowena.
"Didn't she invent the enchanted blueprint system? The one that adapts spells based on the caster's magical affinity?"
Louis leaned forward. "That could help with our sorting spell. Make it smarter."
That night, every member of the Secret Seeker gathered not in the Room of Requirement, but deep in the common room, surrounded by parchment, quills, and ancient books. Louis had brought the Ravenclaw volume and spread it across their table.
The book pulsed faintly with old magic, its runes shifting on the page like living threads. Louis handled it with care, and each of them took turns proposing modifications drawn from Rowena's philosophies.
"Her idea of resonance markers," Evangeline explained, "could let us tag magical artifacts based on their magical signature instead of raw enchantment strength."
Charles tapped a diagram. "And her glyph of recursion—we could use that to loop the spell logic and scan faster."
Cho nodded. "What about her harmonic overlay runes? That could stabilize the spell over longer periods."
They worked all week, gathering their ideas, debating the risks, and testing small components. On Friday night, they combined everything. A new spell took shape—sleek, efficient, and grounded in ancient theory.
On Saturday morning, they returned to the Room of Hidden Things. Louis stood again at the center, surrounded by the others, their wands drawn and nerves taut.
Louis drew a deep breath and traced the complex glyphs in the air. "Ready?"
"Ready," the others echoed.
He cast the spell. It burst from his wand in a wave of soft, golden light. Unlike before, this version shimmered with ancient energy, threads of Ravenclaw's logic interwoven with modern finesse.
Instantly, the room responded. Items trembled and floated into the air, organizing themselves with almost conscious precision. Rare and powerful artifacts grouped together, glowing gently. Books stacked by magical school, scrolls sorted by potency.
"It's beautiful," whispered Cho.
"It's working better than we imagined," Charles added.
By the end of that day, they estimated the search would take no longer than two more weeks.
And they were right.
Two weeks passed in disciplined rhythm—classes, spellcasting, refining their system. The Room had been transformed. The most potent magical items now floated together, suspended in protective runic barriers.
On the final Saturday, the group stood before the final collection.
Louis approached, wand in hand, his senses alert. He could feel it—darkness, subtle but suffocating. A power that clung to the air like smoke.
"Something's wrong," he muttered. "Back up."
The others obeyed instantly.
He stepped closer to the cluster of artifacts, focusing. And there, nestled among old wands, cursed medallions, and relics of unknown origin, was a diadem.
It looked nearly identical to the replica he had found weeks earlier, but the aura it radiated was undeniable—powerful, ancient… and malicious.
Louis didn't touch it. Instead, he raised his wand and created a containment ward, separating it from the other objects.
"This… might be the real Diadem," he said quietly. "But something's wrong with it. I can feel it. The magic is corrupted."
"Dark magic?" Evangeline asked, eyes wide.
"Strong enough that I'm not risking touching it. I'm going to speak to Dumbledore."
The group nodded in agreement, each of them clearly shaken by the encounter.
They left the Room silently, walking back through the dim corridors until they reached the Ravenclaw Tower. It was late, and most students were already asleep.
As the others disappeared into their dorms, Louis paused by the window, gazing out at the moonlit grounds. He reached out through the link.
"Fleur?"
A soft voice echoed in his mind. "Louis? Everything alright?"
"I think we've found it. The real Diadem. But something's wrong with it… it's soaked in dark magic."
A pause. Then, "Don't go near it until someone more experienced can check it. You did well, mon cœur. I'm proud of you."
Louis smiled faintly. "I'll tell Dumbledore tomorrow. For now, I need sleep."
"And you'll message me first thing in the morning," she teased gently.
"Of course," he said, warmth blooming in his chest.
As he lay in bed that night, the danger of what they had found weighed on him. But so did the hope that, soon, they'd uncover the truth behind one of Hogwarts' oldest legends—and face whatever secrets it held.