Chapter Two

Rowena entered the headmaster's room, and headed towards the sealed box. After opening it, she found it empty.

She collapsed into a chair and her breathing grew ragged. How was she going to help others if she didn't have the diadem? Where had it gone? Who had taken it? Was it the headmaster; had he taken it and was planning on using it to run Rowena and her family out?

It was then that Rowena noticed a ripped piece of parchment lying in the box. Rowena reached over and picked it up. Inside was a note, written by a hand that Rowena knew all too well.

It was signed Helena Ravenclaw, the most intelligent woman in the world.

Rowena couldn't tell anyone what had happened; she couldn't believe it herself. Her wonderful, smart, beautiful daughter had done such a horrible thing? Impossible…it just couldn't be!

Eventually, she had to admit that her daughter had turned against her. She was too angry for words to explain, but she wouldn't tell anyone what had happened. She would let them all continue to believe she possessed the diadem; the very one that she had made. And to prove it, she would make a copy, and use that to trick all of society. Who would be able to tell the difference?

xxx

Rowena spent months denying the truth from everyone. People came to her for advice and for her wisdom, and she tried to the best of her ability to satisfy them. Without the diadem, it was much too difficult. The strain and the pressure began to get to Rowena; she began to age faster. Wisps of white hair could be found mixed in with her usual black tresses.

It was not only the stress that was making Rowena ill. Her love for her daughter had not diminished, as she thought it had. She still cared very much about Helena, and couldn't bear to be apart from her any longer. Helena had been her best friend; her only source of family.

Rowena began to care less and less about the diadem. It came to a point when she no longer cared at all. She only wanted her daughter back, with or without the diadem. It didn't matter anymore!

Soon Rowena was on her death bed. Her days and nights were numbered, and she hadn't seen her daughter for months. Her death was approaching faster and faster, as the days without Helena progressed.

One afternoon, Rowena called upon a trusted friend and ally. He was known as the Baron, and he was a student being taught under the prejudiced eye of Salazar Slytherin. The Baron was deeply in love with Helena, and was heart-broken when he had learned that she had run off.

Ever since the day he had met Helena, the Baron tried to woo her. Helena rejected his affections every time, but the Baron vowed never to give up. He loved Helena too much to do so. He prized her beauty and reveled at her intelligence. He sought to marry her one day.

When the Baron saw the condition that Rowena was in, he felt sorrowed. How was he ever going to get her blessing when he married Helena, if she wasn't around to give it?

"Come here" Rowena rasped.

The Baron rushed over to Rowena's bed and took her hand.

"What is it, Professor? What can I do for you?"

"You must go find my daughter. Please? And bring her to me. I must see her one last time, before I go. I know you can do it; you have the perseverance and the patience. That much I have seen"

"I will bring her to you, but may I ask your permission for one thing?"

"Speak"

"I would like your blessing in marrying your daughter. I can treat her well - better than any other man. Professor Slytherin tells me I'm bound to be successful in life, and there's no one I would rather share it with, than your beloved daughter"

"You have my blessing. But go! Go now, before it is too late"

Speaking was too much for Rowena, and she collapsed back onto her pillow. Her hands fell limp at her sides, as she entered the world of exhausted slumber.

The Baron began his journey that day, after receiving permission from his mentor. The Baron did not reveal his true intentions to his mentor, and never even told him where he was headed. He only said that he wanted to adventure; learn the things he could outside of a classroom.

Slytherin trusted the Baron so much that he allowed him to roam free, thinking that his pupil would be back in no time.