Penny took a deep breath.
"I think… it's all my fault," she said quietly.
Soren frowned, and asked her in a confused tone, "What do you mean it's your fault?"
"The banshees," Penny said.
"They're here because of me. And now I don't know how to fix it."
Everyone looked confused.
"We don't understand," Cassie said gently.
"Why would the banshees be here because of you?"
"Take a breath, Penny, and explain it properly."
Penny nodded and steadied herself. "I went on a family trip to Ireland. While I was there, I bought a comb for my sister, Beatrice."
"A comb?" Jacqueline asked.
"Yes," Penny said.
"I think the comb is the reason all this is happening."
Soren's expression changed. "What kind of comb?"
"It was black, shiny, like volcanic glass. Exactly like the one you described in the story, Jacqueline."
The group went quiet.
"So you think," Cassie said slowly, "that the banshees appeared because of that comb?"
Penny nodded.
"According to the story, the comb was the banshee's greatest treasure. The maiden died before she could return it. I think the comb I bought was that same one."
"I thought it was a perfect gift. The seller was eager to get rid of it, and I didn't question why."
"And then?" Soren asked.
"I threw the comb into the Black Lake," Penny admitted. "The same night, the banshees started appearing. I thought if I got rid of it, they'd leave… but they didn't."
Cassie stepped closer to her. "Penny, don't put all of this on yourself. Yes, you should've told us about the comb, but you can't blame yourself for everything that's happened."
She added firmly, "You're not alone in this."
Soren nodded. "We'll tell the Spirit Division everything. Let them figure out how to deal with the banshees properly."
The others nodded in agreement.
Whatever the truth was, they would face it together. And now, at least, they finally knew where it all began.
---
The next day, two members of the Spirit Division arrived at Hogwarts.
Soren and his friends went to the courtyard to meet them, but they weren't the only ones there. A crowd of students had already gathered around the visitors.
Some students called out, "When will you banish the banshees? We can't even sleep!"
Others complained, "How can just two people deal with something this dangerous?"
One of the Spirit Division members, Cobb, stepped forward and raised her hand. "We understand your concerns. And see, the Spirit Division is here to help."
"If you have useful information to share, please wait patiently," she said looking at them.
"Otherwise, kindly make way."
Her partner, Hobb, was much less polite, and said in sharp tone, "What my colleague means, is don't crowd us unless you actually know something important. If you don't, leave."
That made several students back away.
That was when Soren and his group stepped forward.
"We have important information to share," Soren said.
Hobb looked at them with clear annoyance. "Make it quick. We don't have time for nonsense. The Spirit Division doesn't suffer fools."
"Mr. Hobb," Cobb said firmly, stopping him.
She turned back to Soren and smiled politely. "Go on. Anything that helps us resolve this situation is appreciated."
Soren nodded, and started explaining at her, "My friend Penny bought a strange comb during a family trip to Ireland. We believe the banshees are connected to it."
"A mysterious comb?" Cobb said, her interest clearly piqued.
"Fascinating. This could be the lead we've been looking for."
Hobb scoffed. "Or they're just wasting our time."
Cobb shot him a sharp look, then focused on the group again. "Please, tell us everything you know about this comb. It may help us form a plan of action."
Soren and the others exchanged a look.
They told Cobb and Hobb everything.
Penny explained how she had bought the black comb in Ireland, it was shiny like volcanic glass. And how the seller had been eager to get rid of it.
Jacqueline explained the old story they had found, the friendship between the maiden and the lonely banshee, the bargain of the comb and the mirror, and how the bargain was never completed because the maiden died.
Soren added how Penny had thrown the comb into the Black Lake, hoping it would stop the banshees, and how the sightings only increased afterward.
Cobb listened carefully the entire time.
"If what you're saying is true, then the banshees won't give up until they retrieve their treasure."
She looked at Soren. "Some things don't belong in this world, Mr. Whitlock."
Soren blinked, "Wait, I didn't tell you my name."
Cobb smiled slightly, "Don't underestimate the Spirit Division. We know more than we let on."
She grew serious again, "The only way to prove your theory is to retrieve that comb and observe how the banshees react."
Cassie nodded, "Right. If the banshees follow the comb, we'll know they're here to reclaim it."
"But there's one problem. The black comb is at the bottom of the lake," Soren told them.
Cobb nodded hearing it, "Good point, then the three of us will need to go down there as soon as possible."
Cassie crossed her arms, "I've been to the bottom of the Black Lake before. It's not a safe place."
Everyone turned to look at her, clearly surprised, but before anyone could ask how or why, Cobb spoke again.
"All the more reason to act quickly. I'll need someone to identify the comb when we find it. That will be you, Miss Haywood."
Before Penny could respond, Soren, Cassie, Jacqueline, and Merula all spoke at once.
"We're coming too."
Cobb paused, thinking for a moment, then nodded. "Very well."
"I'm quite skilled with the Bubble-Head Charm. You won't have to worry about drowning with me there."
Cassie nodded. "I know the Bubble-Head Charm too."
"So do I," Soren added.
Cobb smiled approvingly. "Excellent. That increases our chances of success."
---
Soon after, they made their way to the edge of the Black Lake.
Cobb raised her wand. "Bubble-Head Charm."
One by one, clear bubbles formed around their heads, sealing their faces while still letting them breathe. The air inside felt cool and steady.
"Ready?" Cobb asked.
They nodded and stepped into the lake.
The moment they sank below the surface, everything changed. The water pressed gently around them, heavy and cold.
Sunlight from above faded quickly, turning into soft green shadows. Tall weeds waved slowly, and the lake floor dropped away beneath them.
They swam downward in a tight group.
"This is our only real lead," Soren said through the charm. "If the comb is really connected to the banshees, it has to be down here."
Cobb nodded. "That's often how these cases go. One object, one mistake, and suddenly an entire area is affected."
"Is this normal work for the Spirit Division?" Soren asked.
"More than you'd think. Cursed objects, restless spirits, broken bargains," Cobb replied.
Soren looked uneasy. "I just hope, we just find it quickly."
"We will," Cobb said calmly.
They continued swimming deeper.
Suddenly, figures appeared in the distance.
Merpeople.
They moved quickly through the water, their long tails flashing silver and green. One of them swam forward and shouted sharply. "Kyaa! Kyaa!"
Soren looked at Cobb. "What are they saying?"
"Don't worry," Cobb said. "I used to work with the Beast Division as a liaison to the merpeople. I studied their language."
Another merperson shouted again, louder this time. "Kyaa!"
Cobb hesitated. "She's either telling us to leave… or inviting us to play tennis."
Soren gave her a very confused look.
"I'm fairly sure it's the first one," Cobb added. "Sorry, my Mermish is a bit rusty."
The merperson yelled again, clearly angry. "Kyaaaaaa!"
"We should explain why we're here," Cassie said.
"Tell them we're only retrieving something dangerous."
"Good idea," Cobb said. "I'll talk to them."
"And we'll search for the comb while you do," Jacqueline added.
Cobb swam forward and began speaking to the merpeople in careful, slow Mermish. While she did, Soren and the others spread out, searching the lake floor.
They checked between rocks. They searched through weeds. They scanned the sand and broken debris.
But they didn't found the comb.
After several minutes, they regrouped and swam back to Cobb.
"We couldn't find it," Soren said. "The comb isn't here."
Cobb nodded slowly. "That matches what they just told me."
She pointed toward the distant shore. "The merpeople found the comb earlier. They sensed a dangerous aura coming from it."
"So what did they do with it?" Penny asked.
"They threw it away, near the Forbidden Forest. They wanted it far from their homes, to keep their people safe."
Soren felt that, they caught in worse situation, "So the comb isn't gone. It's just… somewhere worse."
But Cobb put her hand on his shoulder, and said, "Don't worry, it was not impossible to find it. If the banshees are following it, then we know exactly where they'll go next."
After exiting the Black Lake, they moved carefully into the Forbidden Forest. The air was cold and heavy. Pale figures floated between the trees. They were the Banshees.
Dozens of them surrounded one small clearing.
Everyone quickly put their enchanted earplugs back on and moved closer.
Penny whispered, confused, "If they found the comb… why haven't they taken it?"
Then they saw it. Hobb was lying unconscious on the ground. Right beside him lay the black comb.
The banshees circled him, drifting back and forth, screaming silently.
Penny stared at the object. And said in firmly, "That's it, that's the same comb I bought in Ireland."
Soren raised a hand. "Be quiet, if we make noise—"
Too late.
The banshees had already noticed them. Several turned and began drifting toward the group.
Cobb stepped forward immediately. "No need to panic. We can handle them if we work together."
She pointed ahead. "I'll draw them in. You circle around and flank them."
She looked straight at Soren. "When I give the signal, use the Laughing Potion. Drive them away and get what we came for."
Before anyone could argue, Cobb ran straight toward the center of the banshees, swinging her wand and drawing their attention.
Soren nodded to the others.
They moved into position.
As Cobb kept the banshees focused on her, Soren and his friends uncorked their potions.
The moment Cobb raised her hand, they drank it, and immediately burst into loud, uncontrollable laughter. The sound echoed through the forest.
Hearing it, the banshees were recoiled. Their forms started flickering, stretching, and beginning to fade. One by one, they vanished into the mist.
Within moments, the area was cleared and quiet.
Cobb lowered her wand and turned back to them. "Excellent work. We drove them away. But they'll return soon enough."
Cassie knelt beside Hobb. "He's alive, but he needs medical attention."
Cobb nodded, "Good thing he was wearing Ministry-issued anti-banshee earplugs."
Cassie picked up the comb and examined it closely. "I've never seen anything like this. The design… it's strange. Almost like black feathers."
Cobb's expression darkened. , "Humans were never meant to own something like this. It belongs to the banshees."
Penny looked confused, "I don't understand. The comb was right there. If the banshees wanted it… why didn't they just take it?"
Soren thought for a moment, and said, "There must be something we're still missing."