Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 402: The Choice

Ron's words made Sheen pause for a moment.

He then smiled and nodded.

"This has little to do with me; it's because of your efforts."

Sheen said seriously.

"I knew it would be like this..."

Ron mumbled something so low that no one could hear him.

"You will never know how much you have done or how important it is."

The young wizards dispersed in twos and threes in the corridor.

Including Ron.

He was walking past the second-floor window, where ice crystals still clung to the glass.

On the floor above him, Sheen passed by stained-glass windows at the same location but different heights.

Ron's words gave him some inspiration.

The magical world's teaching system has always been vague, a fact that has persisted since he first encountered magic.

Perhaps magic is such a mysterious and profound thing, but there are still laws within it that can be controlled.

Headmaster Dumbledore said:
"People are more afraid of the unknown than death."

This also applies to magic.

When it comes to magic, which can only rely on "innate intuition," wizards are like plunging headlong into a vast, boundless forest.

Not only could they not see the road ahead, but they also didn't know where they were.

Sheen's notes are like clear and distinct road signs carved by his predecessors, while the standards he sets through the panel allow wizards to know which stage they are at.

He never considered what knowing his exact skill level meant for the young wizards...

Now, Ron's words have made him reflect a lot.

It seems he can still do something to perpetuate magical knowledge.

That alone was enough to make him happy.

Lost in thought, Sheehan didn't even notice Professor McGonagall striding briskly behind him.

Today, Hogwarts is experiencing another day of rain and snow. Large, fluffy snowflakes fall on the gray, distant mountain outlines, and a cold wind, streaked with ice crystals, blows against the windows.

Sheen always used his wand to warm his scarf so it wouldn't get completely wet.

"You're not happy with your head?"

"Helena said from the window."

"...I am very satisfied."

Sheen answered truthfully.

Helena: "..."

"What story do you want to tell? If you know more about the stories of the ninth century than I do, perhaps I'd be willing to listen more."

Helena asked, sounding somewhat helpless.

"That is... the world behind the veil of death..."

Sheen said slowly.

These words made Helena very uncomfortable; she was afraid to go there, and that she would never be able to go there.

It was like describing food to an extremely hungry person; if it weren't for the wizard named Green in front of her, she would have already snorted and left.

"I'm sorry... but I went there and met someone unexpected."

Sheen continued.

“Green, you never lie—”

Helena thought it was a very funny joke.

Sheen silently made the air rune float up, and any wizard could feel the dreamlike, wispy mist surrounding it.

"A legendary soul artifact?!"

Helena admitted that she had underestimated the young wizard.

Even though she had already placed the other person on a level slightly lower than "her".

"Very good, so what's next?"

She became somewhat interested.

“I met Ms. Ravenclaw.”

Sheen said.

Helena was struck dumb, and remained silent for a long while:
“Green, if wizards could see the dead through soul artifacts, the world would have been in chaos long ago.”

But... I believe in you.

Tell me, what sweet nothings are you planning to say?

Forgive my bluntness, but I have nothing left to be taken from me.

She tried her best to appear nonchalant, but inside she was in turmoil.

“She said it’s okay.” Sheen didn’t say anything sweet, but those three short words left Helena stunned.

Something like a pearl fell where she was standing.

Sheen kept his head down and didn't look at anything.

"In the world of ghosts, if no one cares about them, they will gradually lose their intelligence and emotions."

I want to say...maybe someone is waiting for you.

After a while, once Helena had calmed down a bit, Sheen continued.

"Thank you for weaving this beautiful dream for me, Mr. Lucky Black Cat, but I'm sorry I can't listen to any more."

Helena had never felt so lost; she instinctively wanted to drift away.

If she believed the little wizard, then the matter would be so cruel that even ghosts would tremble.

"Ms. Aesop taught me some methods to let ghosts rest in peace."

Sheen continued.

"Stop joking, Green."

Helena couldn't help but shout it out loud.

Fortunately, Sheen had anticipated this and cast a whispering spell, which prevented the surrounding wizards from noticing.

As for Sheen talking to the ghost? It's alright, they wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Green was talking to the basilisk.

……

Helena has drifted away.

Before she left, she saw the Book of Ghosts and the funeral rites in Sheen's hands.

He witnessed the young wizard quickly unfold the ritual, which exuded a special magical power.

She drifted aimlessly down the corridor.

The wind blew, like a transparent river; the raindrops fell, like icy shooting stars. It seemed as if she was the only one left in the castle, simple and cramped.

Her no-beating heart brewed a profound sorrow for her, yet she could no longer shed a single tear.

"Royna..."

She curled up in the corner, just like a long, long time ago, when she was vulnerable, she would call out her name.

Sheen followed silently, making sure he didn't see or hear anything.

Just follow, silently follow.

Until Helena got tired.

She saw the little wizard with a worried look on his face; she realized she had drifted outside the castle.

They were walking out into the deepening twilight...

The air was filled with the warm scent of grass, the smell of lake water, and the aroma of burning wood wafting from Hagrid's cabin.

She had never felt so alive as she did now.

"How long have you been following me, Green?"

She asked.

"Ten hours and seventeen minutes, then..."

Sheen answered.

"I do not know."

she says.

"Ah."

Sheen replied.

As if nothing had happened, they began to gaze at the fiery red sunset in the distance.

"I'm going for my class."

Sheen suddenly blurted out a sentence.

Helena couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth.

……

When he returned to the castle, Sheen still didn't know how much he could help.

He was not the one facing a difficult choice.

However, he soon found himself unable to ponder this profound question any longer.

He encountered Professor McGonagall, whose eyes were somewhat unfocused, standing next to the armor in the corridor.

"Child, is there anything you want to say to me?"

She asked.

“Yes, Professor. I experienced some wonderful things in the world behind the veil... I met Ms. Ravenclaw.”

Sheen did not hide anything.

(End of this chapter)