William's eyes were fixed on the ring in his hand, his heart pounding.
The ring's design was strikingly similar to the bronze eagle knocker on the door to the Ravenclaw common room. Enlarged tenfold, they would be identical!
His thoughts began to race.
If this was the door knocker, how had it ended up in Fluffy's mouth? And the only person who'd been in the Room of Requirement today… was Professor Tywin.
William stepped closer to Fluffy, navigating the clutter, and held its muzzle.
"Good boy, Fluffy. I was a bit harsh earlier; here, have some fish treats. Now, open wide, let's say, ah—"
Fluffy's mouth opened, and a wave of foul odor washed over William. He held his breath to avoid passing out.
Peering inside as if he were a vet, William inspected Fluffy's teeth. Bits of dried blood—presumably Tywin's—stained the sharp fangs, and wedged between them was a wand.
A black ebony wand.
Tywin's wand.
Which meant the knocker had indeed come from Tywin.
William removed the wand and stood still as his mind whirled. Suddenly, everything made sense.
Tywin had been the one who stole the knocker. He was also the person behind the strange notes claiming to be a Death Eater!
But why would he steal the knocker?
Could this ring really be Ravenclaw's fabled bronze ring?
Drawn by a mysterious impulse, William slid the ring onto his right index finger.
He closed his eyes, waiting for something… anything. But nothing happened.
What about the fabled spirit of Ravenclaw, like in tales of ancient artifacts? Or maybe a hidden soul residing in the ring?
Or perhaps it required some sort of incantation, like the Marauder's Map?
Clearing his throat, William tried in a theatrical tone, "O ring of hidden knowledge and power! Reveal your true strength to me, Stark, who commands you—release the seal!"
Nothing changed. The only sound was Fluffy's loud crunching as it devoured its snack.
William sighed in disappointment.
Frowning, he considered that maybe he'd worn the ring on the wrong finger?
He remembered that Rowena Ravenclaw had a daughter, so she must have been married. The ring shouldn't be on the index finger—it belonged on the ring finger.
He tried to pull it off, but curiously, the ring wouldn't budge. Although it had slid on easily, now it seemed impossible to remove.
After a long look at the ring, William sighed. It was probably best to find Dumbledore.
Dumbledore was knowledgeable, and if he considered the Anna's connection, he'd likely be willing to help.
Besides, William had uncovered Tywin's secret. Perhaps he could save the situation by informing Dumbledore.
If it turned out Tywin truly had been a Death Eater, then Fluffy wouldn't be in trouble—in fact, it might even be praised.
William himself might even earn a Special Contribution Award to the school.
Either way, he needed to tell Dumbledore. With his abilities, he'd surely find a way to protect Hagrid.
What else could William do? Attempt a prison break at Azkaban to free Hagrid all on his own? As if he could solve such a problem alone!
After leaving the Room of Requirement, William returned to the Defense Against the Dark Arts office, but no one was there anymore—not even Tywin's body.
It seemed everyone had gone.
He checked several other offices but found no professors until he reached the Great Hall, where he found Professor McGonagall standing alone at the entrance.
Her robe billowed in the wind as she stood there silently, tears slipping down her face.
It was the first time William realized how sensitive Professor McGonagall could be.
"Professor McGonagall, here," William said as he approached, offering her a slip of parchment.
Professor McGonagall thanked him, wiping her face, but then admonished him, "William, you shouldn't be here. Return to the Ravenclaw common room at once."
William nodded but didn't move. Instead, he asked, "Is Professor Dumbledore in his office?"
"No, he went to the Ministry with Minister Fudge."
"The Ministry? Why did he go to the Ministry?" William felt a flash of panic. Could they have already arrested Hagrid?
"Professor Snape was taken into custody, and Dumbledore went with him," Professor McGonagall replied.
William breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't Hagrid. But then, his eyes widened.
"What? Professor Snape got arrested again?"
He couldn't help but feel shocked. Professor Snape's luck had been miserable lately—it was as if he'd become a scapegoat. To be sent to the Ministry twice in a single year was almost unprecedented.
Professor McGonagall's tone grew stern. "William, these are matters beyond your concern. Now, head back to the Ravenclaw common room at once."
But William still didn't move. With Dumbledore absent, Professor McGonagall was his only remaining option.
He trusted her as much as he trusted Dumbledore.
After a moment's thought, and just as Professor McGonagall looked about to lose her patience, William spoke up. "Professor, I have information that Professor Dumbledore needs to know. Since he's not here, I'll tell you—it's about Professor Tywin's killer."
He produced Tywin's ebony wand and held it out to her.
Professor McGonagall's eyes narrowed, and she fixed him with a sharp look. "We searched everywhere for Professor Tywin's wand. How did it come to be in your possession?"
William hurriedly explained what he knew.
Of course, he cleverly omitted any details that hinted at his rule-breaking, making it seem as though he'd stumbled across Fluffy and Tywin's secret entirely by accident.
Professor McGonagall listened intently, though her frown deepened with each word. While William's account was internally consistent, she remained skeptical and cautious.
After hearing him out, she took him to the Room of Requirement to see Fluffy for herself, hoping to verify his story.
Then, Professor McGonagall led William to her office, where she sat down with her hands clasped, lost in thought.
She furrowed her brow in concentration, trying to make sense of everything. So many things still didn't add up.
But William's account held its own logic, leaving her little room to dismiss it.
As he sat in the chair opposite, bored, he took in the room around him.
It was his first time in Professor McGonagall's office, and he immediately noticed the vast number of books lining the walls.
Professor McGonagall had once mentioned that the Sorting Hat had considered placing her in Ravenclaw. Now, William could see why.
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