21 Finding the [redacted] -21

*Albus pov*

"Nothing," I said trying to hide my disappointment

Minerva gazed at me with pity and some disappointment of her own, "I don't understand how this is possible,"

"There must be something," I said my voice leaking exhaustion

Minerva sighed, "We've searched everywhere, even old archives, and there is nothing,"

"It's like he just appeared out of nowhere," Albus said dejectedly while staring at a certain professor's photo

"Are you sure it's safe to have him teaching? We hardly know a thing about him," Minerva asked worriedly

"He seems passionate when he teaches, the students are even learning a lot," I replied softly

"Just keep a close eye on him," I added while looking at his photo

No man looks like that naturally, my soul shivers at what rituals he must have done to achieve that terrifying appearance.

"Yes, just keep an eye on him," I said almost to myself for reassurance, I was once again making the right decision

*Morpheus pov *

For the past couple of free days, I've had I spent the time gridding out the possible areas Helena could have died in Albania.

Just as I was about to head out again to search for the final location I planned out, I felt a familiar presence. Smiling softly I extended my arm.

*swoosh*

"Caw!" My Familiar Negary finally returned

"You took your time," I said while gently brushing his feathers

"CAW!" He protested crying about injustice

"I know my friend, did you find it?" I asked softly

Negary shook his head in delight opening his beak a stone tablet began to appear in his mouth.

Taking the tablet I nodded in satisfaction, "Good, this makes my life much easier my friend," I patted him some more before Ngary disappeared into my robes

Silently I put the tablet away, I won't need that for some time. The issue with becoming old is oftentimes places aren't where you remember them to be. Oftentimes people think being a master of divination one has the ability to find anything. Truly I wish that were the case but sadly most things that truly matter are often hidden under wards to prevent such a person from finding them.

Luckily Negary has a talent for finding hidden objects. And above that talent, he is a master of sneaking through wards. It's actually how we met.

Remembering my original goal I set out once more. This time the location of Helena's death will be found. This was simply another case of where divination wasn't helpful.

I either see the very old image of where Helena died which is useless because the area changed so much overtime

Or I see the location where it should be now but that's just woods! The whole forest looks like that. Truly unlucky.

Arriving in Albania I immediately went to the woods, Apparating along to the location I chose.

Appearing in the location I smiled brightly, this looks similar to my visions. Promising indeed.

Soon I began setting up the divination circles. One circle was large and was made of smooth stone with small characters of the word 'peace' written in different languages.

The other circle, the smaller one was made of a fine powder, the powder was made up of many different ingredients. Some of them were stones ground finely, others were different parts of beasts.

Finally, I lit some aged Taraxacum officinale which is associated with many gods like Hekate, Helios, and Ra. This herp helps with divination greatly.

"me magicae " (Guide me magic)

"videam per oculos meos spirituales" (let me see through my spiritual eyes)

"Ostende mihi Tom Riddle accipientes quod non est eius" (show me Tom Riddle Taking what isn't his)

I saw a young blond-haired boy, he appeared in these woods in look for something.

I saw him smile toothly when he found the Diadem.

I saw him pick It up and begin to leave

the woods.

"solidatur," I incanted calmly brandishing my wand

The image I saw I'm my mind suddenly appeared in the real world, but this time of was ethereal like a projection.

I walked behind Tom, and just before he left the forest I reached out and touched his ethereal form.

"Ostende mihi ubi deinde iter!" (Show me where he traveled next) I yelled pouring my magic into his figure

Suddenly I saw several key places, the last being Hogwarts itself. When the visions stopped everything shattered like glass.

The stones now cracked, and the powder burned away.

World, why do you play such cruel jokes on me? The simplest answer was in front of me this whole time.

Out of all the locations, Tom Riddle went. Hogwarts was the only place someone would stash the Diadem.

I don't know if he just kept it there during his time as a student but I know for certain he brought it back with him.

I must be getting too old, I thought of so many elaborate places of where the Diadem could be. After Helena told me she didn't have it my silly brain never even considered it to be possibly at Hogwarts.

Truly a blunder like no other. Luckily no one else was here to witness it, especially my brother.

This was embarrassing beyond belief.

***

Now that I was back in the castle I walked calmly to one of the locations I should have checked first.

If you want to hide something in Hogwarts use the come and go room. How could I forget that?

If my face could flush in embarrassment it would have by now. Here I am in the come-and-go room looking directly at the Diadem. Maybe I praised this Tom Riddle fellow a little too much he didn't even place any enchantments or wards around it.

Rowena Racenclaws Diadem a coveted artifact is just lying here like a piece of junk.

"So much time," I mumbled to myself, I wasted so much time looking for this thing because I overthought the situation

At least I learned something.

As I went to pick up the Diadem I paused.

A Horcrux? I could feel the habitual smile forming on my face.

This Tom Riddle just got even more interesting, maybe I didn't waste my time after all.

Scoffing I picked up the Horcrux, as the evil taint tried to affect me I almost laughed. Something like this couldn't affect me even in a hundred years.

Sadly since he turned the Diadem into a Horcrux its original use for learning can't be used anymore.

But, I didn't need that function anyways. The use me and Rowena decided to keep from everyone was that the Diadem was actually a key.

Taking the Diadem I left the come and go room. Dodging the house elves and portraits I went to the first Headmaster of Hogwarts's statue.

I put the Diadem in his hand.

*shiiick*

A staircase appeared behind the statue. Taking the Diadem I began to walk down the stairs.

*shiiick* they closed behind me

*Narrator pov *

In his pursuit of the Diadem Morpheus forgot one important thing, so important one would wonder how he could forget.

Marcus Note laid in his bead, sweat drenched his sheets. Painful screams played over and over in his head.

His descent into madness was quickening.

-end-

A/N: Patre on: patreon.com/Boogie324