Midnight at the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room.
Erwin stood beneath the bronze eagle knocker, watching as it received a stern lecture from Rowena Ravenclaw herself. He couldn't suppress a chuckle.
This all started ten minutes earlier. Ravenclaw had asked Erwin to bring her to see Helena, but the vengeful knocker had blocked their way, demanding a riddle contest. Erwin's puzzle proved impossible for it to solve, so the sore loser resorted to cheating, refusing to grant entry.
Erwin could have Apparated inside, but he didn't want to risk waking the students or causing a scene. Ravenclaw, meanwhile, hesitated in her diadem form—nervous and excited about reuniting with her daughter. As a spirit, her emotions ran deeper than ever, which played right into the knocker's delay.
Seizing the moment, Ravenclaw turned her frustration on the knocker and let loose a blistering tirade. The thing didn't dare respond, hanging there as still as a statue. Erwin had never heard such a masterful dressing-down; if he'd been in its place, he'd be fuming.
After a solid ten minutes, the knocker yielded, swinging open the door with uncharacteristic meekness. The delay had steadied Ravenclaw's nerves, turning her anxiety into resolve.
The Ravenclaw common room lay quiet. With prefects enforcing curfew checks, the students had turned in early. Though Erwin now served as Head Boy, he had no interest in the hassle of nightly patrols. Grodia still handled those duties, and after his graduation, Erwin had his sights set on a sixth-year prefect candidate to step up. Delegating was key—Erwin had zero intention of doing the work himself.
Ravenclaw approached her statue, her gaze sweeping the familiar space with a wave of nostalgia. Erwin hung back, giving her space to reflect.
A moment later, she sighed. "What a long time it's been. So many years, and nothing's changed—it's just as I left it. Well, except for all these new portraits."
Erwin followed her eyes. The animated figures on the walls sat in silent reverence, hands clasped over their hearts, offering subtle bows to their founder. They knew better than to intrude; the mistress of Ravenclaw House had returned.
"Where is Helena now?" Ravenclaw asked.
Erwin tapped into his connection to the diadem. "Upstairs, in one of the dorms."
She nodded. "I'll go up alone. Thank you for this, Erwin—I'll find you later."
He inclined his head, though curiosity tugged at him about the mother-daughter reunion. Still, it wasn't his place to intrude. His job had been to guide her and locate Helena, nothing more.
Brimming with questions of his own, Erwin headed to the Room of Requirement. He threw himself into magic practice, determined to squeeze every drop of progress from the night.
Just past 3 a.m., his magic reserves depleted, Erwin Apparated back to his room. Exhausted, he managed to change the sheets before collapsing into sleep.
The next morning, he jolted awake to find Ravenclaw gazing out the window.
"Founder, when did you get back?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.
"In the early hours," she replied.
Erwin nodded. "I must've slept like the dead. Did you see Lady Helena?"
"Yes." Her tone softened with satisfaction.
"And now? Plans to stay in Ravenclaw? Live with her?"
Ravenclaw shook her head. "My essence is bound to the diadem. What, are you offering to leave it behind?"
Erwin smiled. "If you need it, absolutely. The diadem's a powerful artifact, but in my line of work, a bit more or less wisdom won't tip the scales. I could place it atop your statue in the common room—you'd see Helena whenever you wished."
She studied him, noting the sincerity in his eyes. Erwin meant it. Securing influence over Hogwarts was triumph enough; the diadem paled next to Ravenclaw's counsel. Trading it for her goodwill—and access to the four founders' insights—would propel him further than any relic.
But she declined. "No. Helena has her own path now, free from guilt. She can embrace life anew, and I'll watch from afar. If I grow homesick, though, you'll bring me back—I can't stray from the diadem too long."
"Of course," Erwin agreed.
Ravenclaw's expression warmed. "In return, you may consult me on worthy matters. But spare me the basics; I'm no nursemaid for fledglings."
With that, her form dissolved into shimmering starlight, merging back into the diadem. Erwin's mouth quirked into a grin—he'd gained an unexpected ally, just as he'd hoped.
A knock echoed at the door. "Good morning, Master Erwin."
He flicked his wand, and it swung open. Charlotte entered, beaming.
Erwin stretched, rising to face the mirror. He smoothed his tousled hair, meeting his own reflected smile.
"Another day dawns," he murmured, tracing the corner of his mouth.
Charlotte prepared his toothbrush with toothpaste, stepping aside deferentially. "Yes, Master Erwin—a fresh start."
...
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