Hogwarts: The Greatest Wizard

Chapter 90: Pandora Lovegood

After a while, Xenophilius opened the door again and said to Phineas,

"My wife has agreed to see you. Come in."

Phineas followed Xenophilius into the house. As soon as he crossed the threshold, Xenophilius closed the door behind them.

Upon entering, Phineas found himself in the Lovegoods' kitchen—a kitchen unlike any he had ever seen.

The room was perfectly circular, as though built inside a massive spice jar. Not only was the room round, but every piece of furniture—fireplace, sink, cupboards, and stove—was curved to match the walls. The colors were bright and whimsical, decorated in floral patterns, birds, and insects, painted in vibrant primary colors. The visual impact in such a compact space was intense, and Phineas found it a little overwhelming.

Perhaps noticing his discomfort, or feeling the same himself, Xenophilius explained,

"My daughter made this. She adores the color scheme."

Phineas nodded politely.

"It's beautiful. Very striking."

Xenophilius did not continue the topic. Instead, he said stiffly,

"Pandora is upstairs. Let's go."

In the center of the room was a cast iron spiral staircase. Phineas followed him up.

The room above served as a living room and studio, and it was rather messy. Like the kitchen below, it was circular in shape. Piles of books and parchment were scattered about, and delicate models of magical creatures hung from the ceiling. Thin wires connected to the models allowed them to move, and some mechanisms even used gears and alchemy to function independently.

A nine-year-old girl sat on a heap of parchment on the floor, gazing up at the animated models with a delighted smile.

Beside her sat a woman with pale, golden-white hair, silvery eyes, and an ethereal expression. Her eyebrows were faint, and her skin very pale. She wore a simple grey wizarding robe and radiated an aura of intelligence. This was the woman Phineas had come to see—Pandora Lovegood.

She was scribbling something on a piece of parchment but looked up as Xenophilius and Phineas arrived.

"Xeno, are you back? Is this Mr. Black?"

Phineas nodded and stepped forward.

"Hello, Ms. Pandora Lovegood. I'm Phineas Black."

Pandora nodded, then turned to her husband.

"Xeno, please take Luna upstairs. I'd like a private word with Mr. Black."

Xenophilius looked uneasy but complied, scooping Luna into his arms and heading up the next flight of stairs.

Once they were alone, Pandora looked at Phineas and said,

"All right, now it's just us. Show me your ring."

Phineas extended his right hand.

Pandora mirrored him, raising her left. The rings were nearly identical. Because Ravenclaw's heirs forged their own, each had subtle differences based on the maker's skill and style—but the mark of authenticity was clear.

"It's real then. So you're the latest heir?" Pandora asked. "But why come to me? You should've gone to the previous heir. He never came to me, but he was a very talented wizard."

Phineas shook his head.

"Yes, Mrs. Lovegood, I am the current heir. But according to what I saw in the Pensieve, there hasn't been another heir since you. The memory said I could seek out the previous heir for guidance."

In Ravenclaw's hidden chamber, one piece of guidance was made clear: the heir bore the responsibility to pass on knowledge to the next. The names engraved on the chamber walls stood as evidence that, for centuries, heirs had followed this rule—mentoring those who came after them.

That was why Phineas had come.

Pandora frowned.

"That's unusual, but I suppose it's not unheard of. Sometimes Ravenclaw's chamber goes undiscovered for years. So, Phineas, what would you like to ask?"

"I'm not very well-versed in alchemy," Phineas admitted. "Many of the texts in the chamber are beyond me."

Pandora nodded.

"Call me Pandora. And I understand—alchemy isn't widely taught in Britain. But tell me, how did you get the ring? If I recall correctly, aside from the blueprint, there's no real way into the chamber without forging one yourself."

Phineas smiled.

"That's exactly what I did. I hired a master alchemist to craft one from the blueprint."

Pandora blinked in surprise, then chuckled.

"I never thought of that. I only discovered the alchemy lab in the Room of Requirement in my second year. But my skill wasn't nearly enough then. I didn't complete the ring until seventh year—only then could I access the chamber, accept the inheritance, and leave my notes."

Phineas rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"I'm more of a jack-of-all-trades. The books at home barely mention alchemy, and I couldn't find any foundational texts in Diagon Alley. That's why I had to come find you."

Pandora gave a thoughtful nod.

"In that case, you're welcome to stay for a while. I'm currently restoring an ancient spell—you can assist me."

Phineas hesitated.

"But… Pandora, I'm not very advanced in ancient runes. I wouldn't want to slow you down."