Evan used the Floo Network to leave Hogwarts. Fudge, the Ministry of Magic, and Voldemort were unaware of their destination. Voldemort had already sent messengers to communicate with the giants, and they were expected to meet with the giants eventually, potentially leading to a fierce battle.
Locating the giants' hidden residence in Sicily would be challenging, as it was deep within a mountain, making it difficult for humans to reach. Before their departure, Dumbledore had provided them with directions. Hagrid and Madam Maxime were the primary negotiators in their contact with the giants, with Evan and Sirius supporting them.
Dumbledore had informed them that the journey would be extremely dangerous, with the possibility of encountering Death Eaters at any time. Communicating with the giants was also expected to be a significant challenge. While Evan was aware of the dangers, he was determined to proceed.
Before leaving, Dumbledore, Sirius, and Moody assured Evan he could handle the mission. Madam Maxime initially had reservations due to Evan's young age, but she eventually agreed to his involvement.
Dumbledore emphasized the importance of vigilance and the need to remain cautious throughout the journey. He also reminded them of the danger posed by Death Eaters. With those warnings in mind, Evan and his companions prepared to depart.
They used the Hogwarts Floo Network, which was not monitored by the Ministry, to keep their destination a secret. Voldemort had sent messengers to contact the giants, but locating their hidden mountainous residence in Sicily would be a formidable task. Hagrid and Madam Maxime were the primary negotiators in their discussions with the giants, and they would attempt to convince them not to align with Voldemort.
As Evan arrived at Madam Maxime's office in Beauxbatons, he found himself in a lavishly decorated room with ample natural light. The room's decor matched the golden and red theme of Beauxbatons, and two giant stone columns featured carvings of young witches holding wands.
Nick Flamel, the elderly wizard in dark golden robes, sat at a tea table with coffee and cakes. He greeted Evan warmly and inquired about his progress in alchemy since their last meeting.
Evan admitted that he had been primarily studying ancient magical languages and had made limited progress in practical alchemy.
Flamel expressed his belief in Evan's potential and urged him to continue studying alchemy, emphasizing the importance of mastering it for his future. He was concerned about the situation with the monsters, and the monsters' religious organization called the Claw of the Raven.
Flamel explained that more than 600 years ago, there was a passionate religious organization called the Claw of the Raven. They were students of Ravenclaw at Hogwarts and worshipped the War Goddess Morrigan. Their beliefs and actions had a significant impact on magic at the time.
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"Indeed, it's the Claw of the Raven," Flamel said, looking at Evan. He continued, "Knowing this name indicates that you've put considerable effort into studying ancient magical history. This fanatical heretical organization was established over 600 years ago, with its founding members hailing from the Ravenclaw house at Hogwarts. They posed as legitimate successors of Ravenclaw and were devoted to the War Goddess Morrigan, a significant figure in Celtic mythology representing both wisdom and war."
The War Goddess appeared in various mythologies under different names, but her priesthood and role were somewhat consistent. In ancient times, Celtic champions would place a gravel stone representing themselves before going into battle, creating a marker. After the war, they would each retrieve their stones, leaving behind the stones of fallen comrades, which were gathered like small grave bundles. These fallen soldiers were considered sacrifices by the War Goddess Morrigan. Her presence often heralded war, death, and destruction.
Despite these associations, she was still considered a legitimate deity, making it hard to imagine her connection to any cult. The relationship between Ravenclaw and the War Goddess had been hinted at earlier, a family of ancient wizards claiming to be direct descendants of Morrigan's raven incarnation known as the Ravenclaw clan or the Greedy Spoliators. Rowena's memories, left behind in the Ravenclaw diadem, confirmed this connection.
"Beauxbatons may have been a newly established school, but Hogwarts was already well-known, even at that time," Nicolas Flamel continued. "Its size exceeded today's, and over two-thirds of the wizarding world's population had graduated from there. The most prestigious house was Ravenclaw, where only the exceptionally intelligent were accepted. In that era, their wisdom held the potential to shape the entire magical community."
More than 600 years ago, the Muggle world was entering the Renaissance, marking the prelude to modern European history. At the same time, the magical world was undergoing significant changes. The old magical systems were gradually abandoned in favor of new Magical Theory and practical methods. Ravenclaw's brilliant minds were eagerly anticipated in this transformative period.
These emerging magical schools of thought and independent organizations weren't just about advancing Magical Theory; they represented different ideas, some of which seemed outrageous or sinful.
Flamel recalled, "I'm not entirely sure about the details, but one day, a wizard from the Ravenclaw house declared to the outside world that he had discovered enlightenment left by Rowena Ravenclaw herself within Hogwarts Castle. The essence of this revelation was that the War Goddess Morrigan would descend upon every world to conduct the Final Judgment. All would be destroyed, and only the successors of Ravenclaw and the followers of Morrigan would survive."
Evan found this story, as shared by Nicolas Flamel, almost absurd. Flamel noticed Evan's reaction and said, "Quite laughable. At that time, everyone thought this wizard and his organization, the Claw of the Raven, were disregarded as mere heretics. However, the development of this organization exceeded everyone's imagination. That wizard may have discovered Rowena Ravenclaw's hidden powers, derived from powerful magic dating back to before the Great Flood."
Undoubtedly, the members of Ravenclaw were knowledgeable. Still, when their beliefs became fanatical, they could be far more dangerous than the average person. Claw of the Raven quickly grew into a massive cult. In just a few decades, their activities surpassed people's worst expectations. They scoured the world, seeking remnants of ancient magic. Nobody knew exactly what they were looking for, nor did they reveal what they had found. All anyone knew was they were involved in heinous acts, plotting numerous horrific massacres.
Unlike Voldemort and the Death Eaters, Claw of the Raven had no desire to rule the magical world. Their goal was chaos and destruction. At first, they revered the War Goddess Morrigan as their sole spiritual deity. Still, their beliefs shifted over time, and the gods they worshipped became more ancient and distant than anything known.
These fanatical believers anticipated that these ancient gods would soon break free from their prison and return to the world. They believed these gods would restore the world to its pre-flood state and pass Final Judgment on all living beings. Through their knowledge of ancient magic, the members of this organization possessed extraordinary strength, far surpassing that of ordinary wizards. They were known for one of their most famous and insane acts, their audacious attack on Hogwarts during their zenith.
They attempted to completely destroy the largest wizarding school in the world, hoping to find more clues in their quest. After uncovering numerous remnants of ancient magic, the founder of Claw of the Raven believed that a vital clue from Rowena Ravenclaw had yet to be discovered. They thought this clue was hidden within Hogwarts, which held the key to bringing about the Final Judgment. Consequently, they sought to capture and occupy Hogwarts.
Unsurprisingly, their actions made them the enemy of the magical world, and this passionate organization ultimately faded into obscurity.
This piece of history was included in the ancient magical history syllabus. Evan, unlike other students, didn't dismiss it entirely. He suspected that Ravenclaw may have left behind some clue about an ancient and powerful deity. Once discovered by her successor, this clue led to contact with that deity. Therefore, Claw of the Raven believed in an evil god that would bring about the Final Judgment they preached and ultimately destroy the world.
"I've shared this story with you before, but more than 600 years ago, I embarked on a perilous journey to Egypt and obtained the 'Book of Abraham' and the Philosopher's Stone," Flamel slowly recounted. "During that time, I managed to narrowly escape a Manticore and got lost in the desert for several days, struggling for survival in the endless sea of sand until one evening."
In the previous summer vacation, Evan had heard this story from Flamel.
Flamel continued, "It was a bitterly cold and piercing night. After my last ounce of strength had been exhausted, I collapsed, feeling life rapidly slipping away from my body. I could sense the approach of the Grim Reaper, drawing nearer and nearer to claim me. After I closed my eyes, I saw a man holding a peculiar staff. He introduced himself as Abraham and handed me the book, telling me that I could gain extraordinary and wondrous power by diligently reading and thoroughly understanding it. My child, I mentioned this to you before, but that's not the story's entirety."