Sean ignored Peeves for the moment and went to find Snape first.
When Snape heard that Sean wanted to see Dumbledore, he gave him a cold glance.
"Dumbledore is the headmaster. He has many matters to deal with," Snape said flatly.
"Do not disturb him unless it is necessary."
"But Professor, I believe only Headmaster Dumbledore knows the answer to the question I want to ask," Sean replied.
Snape narrowed his eyes slightly.
"What do you want to ask?"
"Merlin," Sean said. "Professor, do you know the legendary wizard Merlin? I heard he left behind a secret treasure at Hogwarts."
Snape flicked his robes and sat down.
"It is merely a rumor," he said calmly.
"No one knows what it is. Perhaps it was invented by students long ago."
Sean, however, didn't think so.
Rumors at Hogwarts were rarely baseless.
The Chamber of Secrets in Slytherin.
The Room of Requirement that appeared when needed.
Those had once been rumors too.
Yet they were real.
"Professor," Sean continued suddenly, "do you know how long Peeves has been at Hogwarts?"
Snape paused for a moment.
"According to legend, Peeves has existed since the founding of Hogwarts."
Sean's eyes brightened.
"If he has been here since the founding… then he must have seen Merlin."
Everything suddenly connected in Sean's mind.
Earlier, when Kurt and the others were being toyed with, Sean remembered the strange existence that was Peeves the Poltergeist.
He was like a ghost, yet the other ghosts did not acknowledge him as one of their own.
He could touch physical objects, turn invisible, and cause endless chaos.
If Peeves entered Sean's dormitory while Sean wasn't using the Magic vision, there would be no way to notice him.
"Thank you, Professor," Sean said. "It seems I won't need to find Headmaster Dumbledore after all."
He already had a lead.
First I need to catch Peeves.
Then I'll ask him why he keeps putting Merlin's card on my desk.
Maybe he has some connection with Merlin.
But catching Peeves was far easier said than done.
In the entire Hogwarts castle, only Dumbledore and the Bloody Baron could control him.
Back in 1876, a caretaker named Rankoros Carpe had attempted to capture Peeves with a brilliant trap.
He placed numerous weapons as bait inside the trap, believing Peeves would be unable to resist them.
Above the bait was a giant enchanted bell jar, layered with binding spells.
Once Peeves entered the correct position, the bell jar would drop and trap the mischievous poltergeist.
Rankoros believed his plan was perfect.
But Peeves simply blew the bell jar apart, scattering broken glass all over the corridor.
He then grabbed the weapons inside the trap and began firing them randomly.
The entire castle had to be evacuated.
Later, the headmistress Eupraxia Mole negotiated a treaty with Peeves.
The agreement allowed him to:
Swim once a week in the first-floor boys' bathroomThrow moldy bread from the kitchens as ammunitionReceive a specially tailored hat from Madam Bonabil
Only then did Peeves agree to surrender his weapons.
Shortly afterward, caretaker Rankoros Carpe retired early for health reasons.
The current caretaker, Filch, also hated Peeves with a passion.
But Filch was a Squib.
Rankoros had at least been a wizard—and even he couldn't deal with Peeves.
Filch stood no chance.
Fortunately, Sean never intended to confront Peeves himself.
He knew that Dumbledore and the Bloody Baron could make Peeves behave.
Dumbledore was impossible to summon.
But the Baron—
That was another matter.
Sean headed toward the Astronomy Tower.
Sure enough, the Baron was still there.
Standing alone.
Or rather—
Standing alone as a ghost.
The sound of Sean's footsteps caught the Baron's attention.
He glanced briefly at Sean before turning back toward the distant horizon.
"Baron," Sean began casually, "what's over there? You stare at it every day."
The Bloody Baron was not Nearly Headless Nick.
He didn't chat idly.
If Sean hadn't tricked him earlier with Helena Ravenclaw, he wouldn't have spoken at all.
Seeing the Baron ignore him, Sean didn't feel discouraged.
The Baron's personality was always cold and proud.
Trying to be friendly with someone proud like him probably won't work, Sean thought.
Better just ask directly.
"Baron, could you do me a favor?"
"Could you help me catch Peeves?"
"No."
"Could you maybe—"
"No."
Sean paused.
Then he casually added,
"I actually saw Peeves scaring the Grey Lady in the Ravenclaw corridor earlier."
The moment the Baron heard this, his reaction changed instantly.
"That cursed poltergeist!" the Baron snapped.
"He should never have been allowed to remain in Hogwarts."
"Where is he?"
"Maybe near the Stone Bridge," Sean replied.
"But I'm not certain. You know how Peeves is."
The Baron didn't wait another second.
He flew down the tower stairs immediately.
Sean hurried after him.
The Baron searched the castle for Peeves.
Finally—
They found him near the Clock Tower.
The moment Peeves saw the Baron, panic flashed across his face and he tried to escape.
"Peeves," the Baron thundered.
"Stand there. Do not move."
There was something in the Baron's voice—an authority Peeves could not resist.
The poltergeist froze.
He nervously adjusted his little hat, clearly trying to ease the tension.
Sean examined the creature.
Peeves was only about forty centimeters tall, with a face like a mischievous clown.
Sean couldn't imagine how such a creature could possibly be connected to Merlin.
While the Baron angrily scolded Peeves, Sean stepped forward and held up the Merlin card.
"Did you put this on my desk?"
Peeves stuck out his tongue comically.
"Peeves didn't make trouble," he said.
The Baron was still furious.
Sean wanted to speak to Peeves alone.
So he told another lie.
"I think Peeves should apologize to the Grey Lady," Sean said.
"Let me take him there. I'll make sure he does it."
The Baron would never go see Helena Ravenclaw himself.
His guilt toward her ran too deep.
Since Sean volunteered, the Baron simply nodded.
Sean grabbed Peeves by the collar and dragged him toward Ravenclaw Tower.
Once they were out of the Baron's sight, Sean stopped walking.
He looked down at the poltergeist.
"Now tell me," Sean said.
"Why did you keep putting this card on my desk?"
Peeves suddenly behaved.
Instead of being mischievous, he stood still and answered honestly.
"Someone told me to put it there."
"Who?" Sean asked.
"Merlin."
Sean knew Merlin had died centuries ago.
But he didn't immediately dismiss the answer.
This was Hogwarts.
This was the wizarding world.
Anything was possible.
"Why would he give me this?" Sean asked, pointing at the card.
Peeves rolled his eyes.
"You were chosen, you idiot."
"Chosen for what?" Sean pressed.
"Is Merlin still alive? Is it the legendary treasure?"
Too many questions rushed through Sean's mind at once.
"Of course he's dead," Peeves said impatiently.
"It's his mind that chose you."
"You're so stupid. I don't know why Merlin would pick someone like you."
Sean froze.
Hearing that explanation reminded him instantly of something else.
The Sorting Hat.
A magical object that carried the thoughts and wisdom of the four founders of Hogwarts.
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