Before a seaside cottage, the bitter sea breeze stirred the fine sand on the beach. The once-dilapidated shack had been lovingly restored. The leaky ceiling was now lined with neat cedar planks, the gaps sealed with waterproof hemp. A bookshelf, handcrafted by the woman, stood in the corner, holding books Adam had brought. The decayed wooden floorboards had been replaced, filling the air with the fresh scent of timber, banishing the faint musty odor of old.
Sunlight streamed through spotless glass windows, casting shimmering reflections of the rolling waves and the setting sun into the room. Cobwebs in the corners had been swept away with a bamboo broom, and a wooden table, once coated in dust, now held a vase of freshly picked wild chrysanthemums. The flowers swayed gently in the sea breeze, breathing life into the once-forlorn cottage. A seashell wind chime hung on the door, tinkling softly and glowing warmly in the twilight.
On the beach, the woman had built a simple trellis from driftwood, where unknown plants climbed in cascading layers, their leaves speckled with glistening salt crystals in the dusk. Adam sat on an old wicker chair, now cushioned with an indigo cotton pad, listening to the waves lap against the rocks. Overhead, returning seabirds skimmed the horizon, tracing graceful arcs where sea met sky.
Inside, a refurbished fireplace crackled with warm flames, the burning pinewood snapping merrily.
"So, you're saying this ring will point me toward whatever I'm thinking about?" Adam asked, holding up the ring in question.
Mrs. Annie set down her clay cup, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with a gentle smile. "More precisely, it guides you toward what your heart truly desires."
Adam's small face creased with confusion as he examined the ring in the fading sunlight. "But I wasn't even wearing it at the time."
Her hand trembled slightly as she reached for the teapot, her expression turning serious. "Then there's only one explanation: it's resonating with another item touched by divinity."
"Divinity?" Adam's hand froze, nearly dropping the ring. He clutched it tightly, his voice uncertain. "What's that?"
"If you've read The Tales of Beedle the Bard, you'll know the story of Death and the three brothers," Mrs. Annie said, filling his cup with tea and handing it to him. "The descriptions of the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone, and the Invisibility Cloak are all true. Those objects exist in reality and are known as the Deathly Hallows."
She continued, her voice calm but weighty. "The Elder Wand was once just an ordinary branch, but when it was imbued with Death's power, it became extraordinarily powerful. But, child, haven't you ever considered something?"
Her words hung in the air, striking Adam like a thunderclap. "There's more than just Death among the gods."
Adam swallowed hard, taking a large gulp of tea. The crisp pine-needle aroma steadied him. "So, back then, you were after this ring…"
He watched her carefully, but to his surprise, her gentle face showed no flicker of emotion.
"I'm sorry, little Adam," she said softly. "I've forgotten many things. Even that memory only resurfaced when I saw the ring."
Adam's shoulders slumped in disappointment, but he pressed on. "Do you at least remember how you got it?"
"When I was very young, I found it in my family's abandoned attic," she replied, pouring him another cup of tea. "It was only much later that I realized this ring held extraordinary power."
Adam stared at the ring in his palm, its silver surface reflecting the twilight and his own dark eyes. "Alright, then. Something this important—I should probably return it to Sherry."
Mrs. Annie covered her face with a soft laugh, her eyes growing even warmer. "There's no need. Sherry made her choice, and fate brought this ring to you. Besides, it's not as powerful as you might think, or I wouldn't be here now." Her voice grew serious. "But you must use it with caution."
---
At Hogwarts, time crawled by, yet slipped away unnoticed—a feeling shared by every student. With Halloween approaching, the castle buzzed with festive spirit. Beyond the oak doors, the atmosphere grew positively magical. The portraits on the walls donned holiday attire—some sporting pointed wizard hats adorned with jingling bells, others draped in velvet cloaks embroidered with skulls. Even Peeves, the poltergeist, got in on the fun, lobbing flying candy spiders at passing students.
In the Great Hall, the usual floating silver candelabras had been replaced with jack-o'-lanterns, their flickering candlelight casting ghostly faces on the walls. The shadows danced, morphing into shapes of wand-waving wizards or soaring owls.
In the second-floor Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students sat at their desks, debating the best Halloween costumes for maximum fright.
"A Headless Horseman outfit would be brilliant," one student said. "Just slap a pumpkin mask on your head—terrifying."
"Eh, it's alright," another countered. "A werewolf would be way scarier. It's a full moon that night—perfect for spooking people."
A round-faced student tapped the desk excitedly. "I think a Veela costume would be the most fun…"
Aiden shot him a disdainful look before turning to Adam, who was slouched over the table. "You look like you haven't slept in days, mate. But I see you conking out early every night."
Adam rubbed the dark circles under his eyes, yawning but saying nothing. Lately, he'd figured out how to use the ring without wearing it—just focus on what he wanted, and it worked. So, he'd been sneaking into the Restricted Section of the library at night, using the ring to find the books he needed. To avoid any strange effects from those tomes, he copied key passages into a small notebook with his quill. The cost was sleep deprivation, but the payoff was rapid progress. His Alchemy skill was nearing Level 3, and his proficiency with various charms was steadily climbing. Professor Flitwick, at least, was thrilled, often awarding Hufflepuff points for his work in Charms.
Sherry plopped down beside Adam, catching snippets of the costume debate. "What do you think makes a scary costume?" she asked curiously.
Without hesitation, Adam pointed to the back of the classroom, where a sinister magical array from the previous professor still marred the wall. For some reason, Professor Hogue hadn't removed it. The younger students had been spooked at first but had since grown used to it. "Paint that array on yourself and pretend to be a professor lying in a pool of blood. That'd scare anyone."
The room fell silent, every student staring at him, dumbfounded. Aiden swallowed hard, glancing nervously around the classroom, half-expecting something to leap out. "I always knew you were a genius, but maybe tone it down a bit?"
Adam raised an eyebrow and turned to Sherry. "I'm heading back to the orphanage this weekend. Want to come with me?"