Rune stone path

Another one bites the dust

Luna skipped along the corridor towards the inner courtyard; the Grey Lady loved to float around in that part of the castle. Hermione walked along beside Luna, murmuring softly about potential avenues to pursue. Luna had to struggle to stop from chuckling. The Grey Lady had been around for centuries, she'd certainly experienced almost everything that Hermione could come up with to encourage her to talk about her past.

Luna was planning on taking a far different approach. The Ravenclaw ghost most assuredly loved the castle. Getting the woman to speak about her home would undoubtedly be simple enough. They didn't need a whole history lesson after all, simply a direction of available secrets to pursue. Sometimes Hermione and the others aimed for the Sun when the Moon would do just as nicely.

"Hello, Luna, it's a pleasure to see you as always," the Grey Lady said with a smile as the two students walked up. "It was a shame to lose you from my House, but you certainly seem to be flourishing. And Ms. Granger, I don't believe we've spoken often. What can I do for you today?"

Hermione stepped forward smiling. "Hello. Luna and I were wondering if you'd be willing to answer a bit of a debate we've been having. It's about the castle actually. Luna had mentioned that you've resided on the grounds for quite some time so we thought it would be best to seek out one with the knowledge to settle our discussion."

Luna could only smile and nod. She loved being friends with Hermione. The brunette never ceased to amaze her. Without any prompting at all, her friend had immediately chosen the one path that might just convince the Grey Lady to break her habitual silence on anything approaching the past. Hermione really was brilliant!

"Oh? What would the debate happen to concern?" the ghost asked intrigued.

"Layout mostly," Luna commented spreading her arms wide to encompass the entirety of the castle. "Hermione thought that most of the best hidden areas would have been found already, but I've been trying to convince her that there are still superb spaces that have survived through the centuries without being disturbed!"

Hermione sighed theatrically and shook her head. "She's oversimplifying things. The core of our debate focuses specifically on additional rooms that even the House Elves wouldn't be aware of."

"Like the Chamber of Secrets!" Luna chirped happily.

The Grey Lady frowned and crossed her arms. "Salazar really should have told the others about that cave system. My mother could have warded it appropriately had he bothered to tell her there was a basilisk sleeping in it."

Luna saw Hermione's mouth start to open and she pounced before her friend complete wrecked everything. The Grey Lady's identity as Rowena's daughter was not widely known – and Luna was not about to let Hermione to potentially damage their rapport with a question Luna could easily answer afterward. "I thought there might be a secret corner that each of the other Founders formed somewhere that were similarly hidden away. Hermione says that it's highly unlikely."

Hermione sighed though she took the hint to drop her attempted query. "Yes. You see, I've been trying to improve a map of the castle and we thought you might have some insights into whether there were any locations that we missed. The House Elves have been quite helpful, but Luna has made her case well enough that I'm worried and would like to be certain."

"May I see the map?" the Grey Lady asked. Hermione nodded and handed over her Aide. "Hmm, well it seems you've catalogued nearly all of the passages and locations I am aware of…I assume you've asked the Baron as well?"

Hermione sighed. "Two of our friends in Slytherin tried, but he wasn't able to assist. He apparently hasn't paid much attention to his wanderings."

"Well I can tell you for certain that Ravenclaw did not have any hidden locations. She assisted in the creation of this area with the others," the ghost said pointing towards the Room of Requirement. "While I can't speak for certain, I was told that all four considered it their prime achievement, Ravenclaw in particular. The spells and runic components that went into that room were some of the most complicated ever designed that did not end in complete devastation. Were you aware that it can become whatever you wish?"