"If possible, I would like to work as a librarian at Hogwarts," Rowena proposed.
"That position is already filled," Helga said with a hint of regret.
In truth, letting Rowena stay in the library would have been an excellent choice. When she had books to read, she could become an exceptionally quiet woman who bothered no one. Yet becoming the librarian was not the only way to spend time among the shelves.
"Hey, you are the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor right now, are you not?" Rowena suddenly recalled something. Her gaze fixed intently on Helga. "You have completed a full year, right? Then that curse Salazar mentioned before..."
Rowena began eyeing Helga's teaching position with clear interest. She thought she could help her old friend share the burden of the supposed curse.
"It has already been resolved." Helga immediately raised her hand, signaling Ravenclaw not to get any ideas.
Even if the sky itself fell, no one would stop her from becoming the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for the new school year.
Helga had not cared much about the position at first. Too many people, however, had whispered about the curse in her ear for months.
If she stepped down now, would that not confirm the curse in everyone's minds? More importantly, she and that old snake had already resolved it together.
If others believed she still could not handle it because of Rowena's involvement, that would feel deeply unjust.
"Alright..." Rowena sat down in a chair, looking somewhat dejected. Her fingers tapped lightly on the armrest as she processed the refusal.
"How did you solve it?"
Helga told her everything. She described how she and Salazar had located Pandora's Box and encountered Moros. As the story unfolded, Rowena's eyes lit up with growing excitement. The ancient artifacts and forgotten powers clearly stirred something deep within her scholarly heart.
"So Salazar has quite a few interesting things in his hands now," Rowena said meaningfully. A sly smile played on her lips. "It would be wonderful if I could get them and study them thoroughly."
Helga glanced at her but chose not to respond. Some treasures were better left untouched, especially those connected to Salazar Slytherin.
"In the new school year, Hogwarts has quite a few major plans," Helga continued, smoothly shifting the topic. "You will naturally find a place to show your abilities, Rowena."
"So you have finally decided to take action?" Rowena looked at her old friend with clear interest. She leaned forward slightly, eager for details.
"Yes. Organizing such a competition is no easy task," Helga said with a sigh. The weight of responsibility showed in her posture.
For the global magical schools tournament planned for the coming year, Jamison Greengrass had nearly exhausted himself. He had traveled extensively and smoothed out every possible detail with great care. Now, all that remained was to send out the formal invitations to the various magical schools once the holidays ended.
"We will finally be able to prove that Hogwarts is the best magical school in the world. This competition, no, this grand event, is of utmost importance to us." As Helga spoke, her gaze gradually became firm and determined. The firelight from the nearby hearth reflected in her eyes.
"But what if, in the end, the champion is not a Hogwarts student?" Rowena's voice cut in at an inopportune moment.
Helga stared at her. "???"
"How could that be? That child Diggory is quite capable. Not to mention Salazar and you have both trained students..."
"But what if other magical schools also have students of equal caliber?" Rowena asked. "Helga, how can you be so certain that students from other schools are inferior to Granger and the others?" Her expression turned serious as she entered a state of rational analysis. She spoke with the calm precision that had always defined her.
"As far as I know, Hogwarts is not the only school with a thousand-year legacy. Do you think the founders of those schools are all truly gone?"
Rowena's meaning was clear. Having lived through that distant era, they all understood their own capabilities well. If the three of them could survive until now, then other powerful wizards could have done the same, perhaps even through methods like Horcruxes or other forbidden arts.
"That... does make sense..." Helga frowned deeply. She had never personally investigated the other magical schools. She could not afford to jump to conclusions. There remained a real chance that Hogwarts might stumble during this tournament.
Helga's mood instantly grew heavy. The confidence she had felt moments earlier began to fade.
"No need to worry." Rowena revealed a mysterious smile that hinted at hidden knowledge. "Hogwarts stands in an unassailable position."
Helga raised her head. Confusion filled her eyes at first, then understanding slowly dawned. She raised one hand and curled her fingers together to form the shape of a snake's head.
Rowena smiled and nodded. Exactly.
Hogwarts possessed an advantage no other magical school could match. One of its own founders was currently attending the school as a student.
It was like a group of people gathering to play a board game, only for one player to suddenly jump onto the table and declare himself a piece on the board.
"The old snake definitely will not want to participate," Helga said, knowing Salazar well. Asking him to take part in a children's competition would feel more unbearable to him than death itself.
"That is not up to him," Rowena said calmly. "He is currently a student. Does he dare defy the school's orders? Besides, we will not openly name him to participate. We will use a series of rules and regulations to gently trap him into it."
Helga's eyes lit up with amusement. As expected of Rowena.
"As for whether he will try to withdraw after joining..." Rowena's gaze grew deep and thoughtful. "Then we will simply have to make him understand the stakes involved."
Helga's eyes curved with silent laughter. Rowena had only just returned, yet she had already devised such a clever plan. Truly worthy of Rowena Ravenclaw.
"With this, Hogwarts will undoubtedly win the final championship," Rowena declared with full confidence.
"But would that not be cheating?" Helga frowned again. The purpose of the competition was to prove that Hogwarts was the greatest magical school in the world. Relying on the old snake to compete felt wrong.
Even if they won because of him, it would be a hollow victory. The students they had trained would still not be able to match those from other schools. That truth would not change simply because of Salazar's exceptional performance.
Rowena, however, remained unconcerned.
"Win first, then talk about the rest. We have only been awake for a few years. There will be plenty of time in the future to properly cultivate students."
"Alright." Helga was eventually convinced. The logic was hard to deny.
"Next, I will take you to meet Albus Dumbledore, secure you a teaching position, and help arrange the competition for the new school year. What do you think?"
"Alright!"
The two immediately hit it off and reached a solid agreement. For Rowena, who had just emerged from the dungeon, she craved activity and excitement.
At this moment, she possessed boundless energy she was eager to expend.
From Helga's perspective, she had strong motivation to find Rowena something tedious and energy-consuming. This would keep the brilliant but restless woman occupied and prevent her from growing bored and inventing strange new ideas.
Thus, the two were like opposite poles of a magnet, instantly drawn together in perfect harmony.
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12 Chaps ahead at Patreon.com/HornyFBI