Chapter 343 What Did The Four Founders Leave In Their Objects?
"What should we do now?" Ron asked uncertainly.
After seeing the horrifying nightmarish statues in the room, Ron's deep feelings of discomfort grew more intense.
Reason told him that venturing in meant enormous trouble awaiting them.
He wanted to leave, but found it difficult to abandon the magical object left by Gryffindor.
He glanced at Sirius's gloomy face, then back at the proud Magorian, and finally at Evan who stood beside him, wondering what was going through their minds.
If they moved forward together, there should be no danger.
With Sirius and Evan there, he had no need to worry about what they might encounter.
"Sirius, we..." Harry said, sounding worried. He too was frightened by the monstrous statues he had just witnessed in the room.
"Let's turn back!" Sirius said, staring at Magorian.
"Wait, Sirius," Hermione suddenly interjected. "Why should we retreat? No matter what those monsters in this room used to be, they are just statues now. They cannot harm us at all."
"The last time I came here, I didn't see them. The stone doors to these rooms were closed at that time," Sirius looked at Hermione and explained, "it's quite obvious; those things inside are evidently very evil and dangerous. They are beyond our capabilities. I don't want you to take risks."
"We have nothing to lose now," Evan said. "I don't think it's a risk. It's about uncovering the truth of what happened!"
"That's the Centaurs' concern. It's not ours," Sirius frowned.
"It's not just the Centaurs' concern. Firenze just told us that the moon, representing the Centaurs' devotion to the evil gods, is intertwined with the path of Mars, representing the War of the Wizards. Now it is our concern," Evan looked at Sirius and said, "you know exactly what I'm talking about, we all know that Voldemort created Horcruxes. He's not dead. He will return sooner or later. If he calls back the evil god..."
"That doesn't concern us, Dumbledore will take care of it." Sirius replied curtly. "I just want to protect you now."
There was a sudden silence, and Evan didn't know what to say.
"I know!" Harry hesitated for a moment.
He embraced Sirius tightly and whispered, "Sirius, you are the best godfather and Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. But I think Evan is right. We should now move forward, pass the Final Test, retrieve Gryffindor's object, and unveil all its secrets."
Sirius remained silent, gazing at Harry quietly.
"If my father were here, he definitely wouldn't retreat," Harry looked at Sirius and said firmly, "Gryffindor may have left the object with the same purpose. He wanted us to help the Centaurs and test our courage and other qualities. You've been here before, trying to defy the magic left behind, and here we are now..." With Harry's words, Evan immersed himself in his thoughts.
Suddenly it occurred to him that perhaps everything was as Harry said, and the current problems were challenges deliberately left by the Four Founders, not by chance.
A thousand years ago, after informing the Four Founders about Hogwarts and Voldemort and the Horcruxes, and under Rowena Ravenclaw's advice, they immediately prepared to leave a Secret Treasure to help future generations protect Hogwarts from the invasion of dark wizards.
But this was just one facet, not the complete reason why they did it.
As everyone knows, since the founding of Hogwarts, the Four Founders had been debating their teaching philosophy and admission standards, and none could convince the others.
They finally reached an agreement and merged some of their thoughts into the Sorting Hat, hoping it would convey their respective ideas, no matter how much time passed.
The main reason for leaving a Secret Treasure and establishing tests was to assess whether students of later generations met their own requirements and inherited the qualities they sought.
Perhaps that was the case. All these problems were intentionally left by the Four Founders.
However, with magical power, the insight of the Four Founders, and the average level of the magical world a thousand years ago, it is possible that the tests they left behind were not so difficult. But now, they were far beyond the abilities of today's young wizards.
Evan let out a bitter laugh. He had thought too lightly of the test left by the Four Founders.
Given the current situation, the key to Slytherin's Treasure was related to Herpo the Foul and the malevolent dark creature he had created with countless human souls, while the key to Gryffindor's treasure was linked to the Centaurs and the malevolent deity they once worshipped.
It could be inferred that the tests left by Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff would not be simple.
However, what the Four Founders had left behind was not entirely unsolvable. Just like the powerful magic of Slytherin placed in the underground relics, as long as the method was correct, it could inspire and assist future generations in overcoming difficulties in critical moments and even enhance their magical power.
Slytherin had set the condition that the person entering the ruins must carry one of the four objects he left behind, the ring, the locket, the wand, and the scepter.
Only by meeting this condition could Slytherin's magic left behind be activated.
In Slytherin's understanding, the young wizard who could carry the objects he left behind, even if not his Heir, would surely be a pure-blood wizard.
Valuing blood purity and lineage, that truly resonated with Slytherin's style.
So whatever magic Gryffindor might have left in this Temple, perhaps unparalleled courage was the key to conquering it!
"Let's continue. It's the magical object and the test Gryffindor himself left. The four of us are qualified to try it."
After a long silence, Sirius spoke slowly, "You are right, Harry. I was only considering your safety before, but I overlooked your feelings. If James were here, he wouldn't back down."
As he finished his words, he approached and gave Harry a strong hug, his face filled with relief.
The team continued to advance, gathering in the empty passageway.
The unexpected event created a palpable tension in the atmosphere. Everyone was on high alert. No one spoke, only the sound of their steps echoing in the ancient Temple.
"Sirius, before we enter, you warned us to be cautious. Some of the Centaurs' customs are very malevolent and dangerous." Hermione couldn't help but ask, "But you just mentioned that you have never seen those statues before, so what danger are you referring to?"
"You will soon find out!" Sirius said, pointing towards Magorian, who had stopped. "Prepare yourselves, we are about to reach our destination."