Thursday, September 1st, 1994
The Great Hall
"Thank Merlin, for the sorting is now over. I'm not sure how much longer my poor old stomach would last," Dumbledore said as he stood up. "I have some very important announcements to make, but they can wait. It is about time you were all fed and watered. Dig in."
Dumbledore sat down, and food started appearing on the table. There was a succulent beef wellington with golden-brown Yorkshire puddings, surrounded by a sea of roast potatoes, gravy, and vegetables. Bangers, mash, fish and chips, and shepherd's pie were also on offer, along with a platter of cheese and crackers and a selection of cured meats and pickles for starters. In the middle, there were desserts. The students were treated to a lavish spread of sticky toffee pudding, trifle, and fruitcake, served with a selection of teas and coffees and pumpkin juice.
"Jessica, I'll take the first years to the Common Room, if that's okay," Percival asked.
"Yeah, sure. Thank you," Jessica said before she started plating up.
"Remind me to give them their bracelets," he said.
"You hand them out to the first years, and I'll do the rest," Jessica said. "And enough talking about prefect duty; I'm starving."
We spent the next forty minutes eating and chatting with the younger students before Dumbledore stood up again.
"Eh, um, could I have all your attention? Thank you. Mrs. Norris, our new caretaker, has informed me that the list of objects forbidden within the castle now includes Screaming Yo-Yos, Fanged Frisbees, Ever-Bashing Boomerangs, and Chocolate Marshmallow Bunnies," Dumbledore said with a mischievous beat as disgruntled moans rang around. "I'm joking about that last one. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items that may be viewed in Mrs. Norris's office."
"Now. There is, apparently, a rather nasty rumour flying around about the school that Quidditch will not be played this year. That rumour, I'm here to tell you, is absolutely true." Indignation filled the Great Hall as Dumbledore smiled in amusement. "There is an explanation. You see, I was not meant to tell you about this until the end of this month. However, given the sombre mood and events outside our control, I have decided to impart some good news to you all. Hogwarts will this year play host to a legendary event that has not taken place in over one hundred years: the Triwizard Tournament."
Excitement shook the hall, but one voice rang clear. Fred Weasley exclaimed, "You're joking!"
"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley. For those of you who do not know, the Triwizard Tournament was originally conceived some seven centuries ago as a way for the three largest European wizarding schools to engage in a series of magical contests while their respective student bodies experienced the benefits of cross-cultural, social intercourse." A crackling, albeit bewildered, silence hung in the air, and Dumbledore continued. "In other words, one got to spend an entire year getting to know people who spoke a funny language. Unfortunately, due to the distressingly high death toll, the tournament was cancelled... until now, that is. On Friday, November 14, delegations from the Beauxbatons Academy of Magical Arts and the Durmstrang School of Wizardry will journey to Hogwarts. This year, our home will be their home. I ask only that you endeavour to make it a happy one."
"Everybody pick your favourite tune, and off we go."
'Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts...
Teach us something, please.'
As the Great Hall buzzed with joy, the atmosphere shifted abruptly as a sudden bolt of lightning illuminated the sky outside, followed by a deafening clap of thunder that seemed to shake the very foundations of Hogwarts Castle. The students gasped in awe and trepidation, their eyes wide with fear and excitement as the storm raged on.
"AHHHHHHH! There's a one-legged and one-eyed pirate looking at me!"
Amidst the chaos of the storm, the massive oak doors at the far end of the hall swung open with a resounding creak, revealing the figure of Alastor Moody. He stood at the entrance for a few moments, his silhouette outlined against the backdrop of the raging storm, his magical eye whirring and clicking as it scanned the room.
With each subsequent flash of lightning, the shadows danced eerily across the stone walls, casting flickering shapes that seemed to move with a life of their own. Moody remained unmoved, his expression stoic and impassive as he slowly began to make his way towards the head table.
As Moody approached, the students watched in silence, their eyes fixed on the hobbling figure before them. Professor McGonagall stepped forward to greet him, her voice barely audible over the din of the storm.
Moody nodded curtly in acknowledgement before turning his attention to Dumbledore, who sat at the head table with a knowing twinkle in his eye.
"Dumbledore," Moody said, his voice gruff and authoritative. "Good to see you again."
Dumbledore smiled warmly in response. "And you, Alastor. Allow me to introduce you to the students of Hogwarts. Students of Hogwarts, I think this is the perfect time to mention a few personnel changes from last year. Professor Lupin unfortunately had to depart and could no longer teach, so I would proudly like to introduce to you your new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Alastor Moody."
With a nod from Dumbledore, Moody took his place at the head table, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room. He settled into his seat with a heavy sigh, his gaze sweeping over the gathered students with a mixture of scrutiny and curiosity.
"For our next personnel change, Mrs. Norris will now be our full-time caretaker. Please do not cause her too much trouble. And our final personnel change: Professor Bins will be replaced by this fine gentleman here. Please give it up for Professor Theon Dewsbury-Hall." There was a large cheer that resounded in the hall. "Last year, we saw two additional professors hired for each of the five main subjects. I am happy to say that we have retained their employment. And now, let's go again. Everybody pick your favourite tune, and off we go."
'Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts...
Teach us something, please.
Whether we are old or bald,
Or young, with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling,
With some interesting stuff,
For now, they're bare and full of air.
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing.
Bring back what we've forgotten.
Just do your best; we'll do the rest.
And learn until our brains all rot.'
Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand, and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest.
"Ahh. Magic to my ears. Prefects, could I ask that you guide the first years to their respective commons rooms, and for the rest of you, off to bed? We have a long one-day week ahead of us."
All the returning students applauded and began to disperse, excited for the new school year. They slowly filtered out, leaving the first years standing like lost tourists. The Ravenclaw first years all huddled around the most confident-looking person and were waiting for further information. Percival was the last of the older Ravenclaw left. The helpless first years looked to raven haired boy with pleading eyes.
He stared back as he slowly finished his Tres Leches cake. The confident-looking boy took a leap of faith and stepped closer. The others followed. They looked at the headboy expectantly.
"First years, gather around me," Percival said while putting down his empty plate. After waiting for all the first-year Ravenclaws to gather, he waited even longer for the stragglers from the other house to leave. Standing at head of the group of first-year Ravenclaws, they looked like a group of little lost ducklings, he thought. They all have pinchable cheeks. I remember on my first day, the Ravenclaw prefect pinched everyone's cheeks as we introduced ourselves. Most of the little ones in front of the head boy had faces filled with anticipation, while others bore expressions of nervousness.
"Hello everybody, my name is Percival, but nearly everyone calls me Percy. I am the head boy, so come to me if you have any questions. It could be about what you're learning or how to look after yourself. Anything really. Now, I want to go around and introduce yourselves. Keep it brief, as you'll have enough time to get to know each other in the common room before curfew starts," Percival said.
They all introduced themselves as the Ravenclaw group made their way out of the Great Hall. They walked past the moving statues in the waiting chamber as the last girl introduced herself before the confident boy started. Taking a left towards the Grand Staircase, the final boy finished his introduction as we approached the foot of the moving staircase. Perfect timing! I reckon this batch is a good batch.
This year, Ravenclaw had the largest number of male students in the past fifteen years. There were six boys and 13 girls. There were four muggle-born, eight half-bloods, and seven pure-bloods, a much more balanced ratio than the head boy's own year. He was the only boy with four girls.
"Introductions finished before we got to the Grand Staircase. You lot are better than the current second-years. They would not stop talking," he said as the head boy turned around and saw some of the tension vanish from the first years. "We won't have enough time for a full tour. Prefects Roger Davis and Jessica Fitzgerald will handle the full tour tomorrow. If you have any burning questions, ask, though you may want to save some for our discussion back in the common room. Last year, they kept asking questions and had none left for later."
A timid voice spoke up from the group. "D... d... do we get maps?"
"We've had that question come up a lot. In the history of Hogwarts, there have been eleven people who awakened their magic late and joined at a much later date. Funnily enough, they all joined in their fifth year. The last one happened about two hundred years ago. To help them familiarise themselves with Hogwarts, they were loaned out an artefact called the Field Guide. You guys will be given a watered-down version of that. It will have a map and some key points of interest, but it won't have a wayfinder. You will have to locate your classrooms yourself starting Monday. It will also have your timetable, so don't lose it," Percival said as the girl nodded. "In simpler terms, yes, you will get a map. Does anybody else have questions?"
The silence answered his question. "Good. I'll start our tour with this magnificent piece of architecture behind me." Right on cue, the moving staircases started to rearrange themselves before the new students.
As the group of first-year Ravenclaws gathered closer to the foot of the staircase, their eyes widened with curiosity and wonder. They watched in amazement as the seemingly stationary staircase before them began to stir, the marble steps creaking softly as they shifted position.
At first, there was a collective gasp of surprise, followed by excited murmurs rippling through the group. Some students leaned forward, their expressions a mix of awe and fascination, while others took a cautious step back, unsure of what to make of the magical display unfolding before them.
The older Ravenclaw stood at the forefront and observed the students' reactions with a sense of pride, knowing that for many of them, this was their first encounter with the enchanting wonders of Hogwarts. He had a similar reaction when he first saw this as well.
"The Grand Staircase is a massive stairway in Hogwarts Castle; the structure is mainly used to access each floor of the castle, including the dungeons. Rowena Ravenclaw was the Hogwarts founder who invented this marvel of architecture and magic. There are a hundred and forty-two staircases at Hogwarts: wide, sweeping ones; narrow, rickety ones; some that lead somewhere different on a Friday; some with a vanishing step halfway up that you have to remember to jump. Follow me."
As Percival briskly led the group of first-year Ravenclaws up the Grand Staircase, they followed him eagerly, their eyes wide with wonder and amazement. Like lost puppies following their leader, they trailed behind the older boy, marvelling at the shifting steps beneath their feet.
As they ascended, one observant student noticed that the stairs were slowly disappearing behind them. Panic flickered in their eyes as they quickened their pace to keep up with the others, but despite their efforts, they couldn't match anyone's strides. Percival slowed down a little so most of them could catch up.
Suddenly, with a yelp of surprise, one student fell behind, their foot catching on the edge of a vanishing step. They stumbled and tumbled backward, landing with a thud on the now empty space where the staircase had been just moments before.
The other first-years gasped in horror, their eyes wide with shock as they turned back to look at me, expecting me to save them. Instead, to their surprise, the head boy let out a small chuckle. They looked at him as if he were mad.
Before their eyes, the fallen student rose slowly into the air, a set of stairs materialising beneath them as if by magic. With a delighted expression, the student floated gently back up to their feet; his face was full of giddiness as they rejoined the group. We had one hallway and another flight of stairs before we reached the Common Room.
"You might think that was dangerous. 'How on earth could something like that exist in a school?' 'It's a safety hazard!' I'm here to tell you to relax. The Grand Staircase would never intentionally put a srudent in danger. It, like everything else at Hogwarts, is here to help. How was the ride, little man? Did it get rid of the nerves?" Percival asked.
"It was amazing. I felt like I was Superman. I was flying like Superman," the boy said giddily.
"A fellow comic fan. There aren't many of us here," the head boy said, as some of the little ones looked confused. "If you look to your left, you can see the Hogwarts emblem. From top right to bottom left, you have a snake for Slytherin. It's either an adder or a cobra. I can't tell. Then you have the lion of Gryffindor. I'm pretty sure that's a Panthera leo."
"A Panthera Leo is a lion. It is its scientific name," said the boy who flew. "They're not a lion subspecies."
"That's why I dropped Care for Magical Creatures. I'm rubbish with animals. Thanks, little man," he replied as they continued walking. "Then you have one of the greatest creatures to soar the skies: the Golden Eagle. Our Golden Eagle. And finally, you have the European Badger for Hufflepuff. Each of the animals represents a key trait of each house. Try to get along with your fellow first years."
"Excuse me, Mr. Percy." Percival turned around to see the timid girl who asked about the map with her hand raised.
"Percy is fine."
"Percy. During the sorting, I felt there was something off with the people in green and red. Do they hate each other?" she asked.
"I wouldn't say hate. Actually, hate is probably the right word."
"Why is that?"
"It wasn't always like that. During the founding era, they got along quite well. As a matter of fact, I remember a book saying Godric Gryffindor and Sazlar Slytherin were like brothers."
"If they were like brothers, why do they hate each other now?"
"That requires story time. Would everyone like to listen to a story as we walk?" Percival asked as a majority of them nodded. "After the founding of Hogwarts, the four founders became targets for the witch hunts. They were public figures and their death would have legitimise their cause. Gryffindor was either an orphan or had no family left. Ravenclaw was from Eastern Europe. She was born in the region that we now call Albania. Nobody knows about Hufflepuff's lineage. It's like she just popped up from nowhere. Slytherin was the only one with family on the British Isles. He was English nobility. They might not have gotten along, but they were still family.
The muggle witch hunters went after Slytherin's family. They were tortured and starved for days before they were executed. Some muggle-born witches and wizards were among the witch hunters. They owled the dismembered corpses to Slytherin. Slytherin wanted revenge. He wanted them to know pain. He wanted to execute the witches and wizards that defected. Slytherin called for stricter protocols for introducing muggles to the wizarding world.
The other founders agreed; however, he took it too far. He wanted to erase the memories of muggle families for every new muggle-born witch and wizard. Similar to how MACUSA operate today. That was a step too far for Gryffindor. Slytherin couldn't believe his own brother would betray him. He soon left Hogwarts. While he was still teaching, the dissatisfaction they had with each other was passed down to their students. The dissatisfaction grew into annoyance, then frustration, into dislike, and finally into hate. And that hate is now their legacy."
"I agree with Mr. Slytherin," said the timid girl. "That would have probably been the best course of action."
"Hindsight is 20/20," Percival sighed.
"Ooh, ooh, Mr. Percy?" the timid girl said while raising her hand. "If we ever get dragged into a conflict between Gryffindor and Slytherin, who should we support?"
"Ideally, whoever is in the right. If they both have a valid case, I would personally go for Slytherin. Historically, again, I would go for Slytherin," Percival replied. "During the conflict, Ravenclaw supported Slytherin's call for stricter protocols. Hufflepuff remained neutral but leaned towards Gryffindor. Given that there has always been less Ravenclaw compared to Hufflepuff, our support didn't mean much, but it earned the goodwill of Slytherin. Did you know they the only exception to that rule is my year? There are five Ravenclaws compared to four Hufflepuffs."
"Excuse me, Percy," another said as she raised her hand. She seemed familiar. Percival could have sworne he'd seen her face before. "Is it true that the Chamber of Secrets was opened two years ago? Was there really a basilisk? Did the basilisk want to eradicate all muggle-borns?"
"Yes, the Chamber of Secrets was opened two years ago, and yes, there was a basilisk. It was about forty-five meters long and absolutely hideous. No, the basilisk did not want to eradicate all muggle-borns. The basilisk was the safety mechanism left by Sazlar Slytherin. It was doing whatever the heir wanted, and we don't know what the heir wanted. We still don't know who the heir is," he replied to their quick succession of questions.
"How do you know it was a safety measure left by Slytherin?" the girl asked.
"It said in his journal. And it was also mentioned in Ravenclaw's journal that each founder left a safety mechanism in the event of Hogwarts ever being attacked."
"How come I've never heard of Slytherin's Journal? I've heard of Ravenclaw's journal, but not Slytherin," the girl quipped.
"A group of us went down to the chamber before everything was seized. Dumbledore and the Ministry were gracious enough to leave the safe material at Hogwarts after they were scrubbed of any dark magic and copied. The journal was one of the safe materials. The more dangerous, but not harmful, are in the Restricted Section of the library. Really dangerous materials and artefacts were sent to the Department of Mysteries. Dumbledore thought it would only be right if Slytherin's material went back to Slytherin. The only reason I know about it was because I was in the group that explored the chamber and because the Crown of Slytherin let me borrow it for two days."
"What is a 'Crown of Slytherin'?" the girl asked.
"It is the Slytherin with the most power at Hogwarts," the blue-eyed boy said as they approached the final staircase. "One final staircase before we get to the Common Room. If you look to your right, you can see stone replicas of famous Ravenclaw alumni. There's a little plaque explaining who they are and what they did. The first statue you walked past was Ignatia Wildsmith. She invented Floo Powder and helped develop the Floo Network. This is a statue of Niamh Fitzgerald. She was one of the best headteachers in the history of Hogwarts. That one there is Laverne De Montmorency. Does anyone know what she invented?"
"She created amortenia and other love potions," the timid girl answered.
"Somebody has read their material over the summer. Well done," the head boy congratulated, as the girl glowed when answering correctly. "One of the few men with statues is Hector Fawley. Although the Fawley legacy has somewhat degraded in recent times, Hector Fawley's legacy as one of the best Ministers of Magic is secured. Perpetua Fancourt, here, is the creator of the Lunascope. When you have your astronomy lesson, if you go to the storage area, you might see the first Lunascope prototype."
"Is there a statue of Gilroy Lockhart? I love his books," said the confident boy.
"No, he does not have a statue. Maybe one day as one of the greatest fiction writers," the older Ravenclaw answered sharply. "And here we are!"
As the group of first-year Ravenclaws approached the landing before the entrance, they were met with a sight both imposing and intriguing. Towering before them stood a magnificent set of double doors, crafted from rich mahogany wood that gleamed in the soft light of the corridor torches. The doors, adorned with intricate carvings and elegant brass handles, exuded an air of timeless grandeur.
Above the doors, perched regally on a stone ledge, was a majestic eagle statue, its keen eyes seeming to gaze down upon the students with intelligence and curiosity. As the group edged closer, they noticed that the eagle appeared to be more than just a mere ornament. It was as if it were alive, with its wings poised for flight and its beak ready to speak.
"Welcome, seekers of knowledge." The eagle's voice resonated through the corridor, its tone wise and commanding. "To gain entry to the Ravenclaw common room, we must gauge if you have the necessary traits. 'Wit beyond measure, man's greatest treasure.' Are you prepared to answer my riddle?"
The first-year students exchanged excited glances. This was their first encounter with the famous eagle knocker that guarded the entrance to their house. With eager nods, they waited for the eagle to pose its question. With bated breath and excitement palpable in the air, they prepared to answer the riddle.
"Whoever wants to answer it, could you take a step forward?" Percival said as he stood at the back and watched one.
The timid girl who asked about the map took a step forward. She had been clutching her robes with a tight fist as she tried to calm herself down. She took a deep breath.
"Are you ready, child?" the eagle asked. It waited for the girl to nod in response. "You see it; you saw it. What am I?"
"A seesaw," she responded eagerly.
"Well done, child. You all may now enter," the eagle said, as they could hear cogs turning.
With a series of soft clicks and whirs, the intricate lock on the mahogany doors began to disengage. The students listened intently as the sound of cogs turning and gears shifting echoed through the corridor, each motion bringing them one step closer to entering their common room.
Finally, with a resounding thud, the heavy doors swung open, revealing a warm glow emanating from within. The students exchanged excited glances, their anticipation reaching a crescendo as they stepped over the threshold and into the heart of their new home, away from home.
As they crossed the threshold, the doors closed behind them with a soft thud, sealing off the outside world and enveloping them in a comforting embrace. With a sense of wonder and excitement, they made their way deeper into the Ravenclaw common room.
The head boy walked in front of them, leading them deeper into the common room. As the first-year Ravenclaw entered their common room, they found themselves enveloped in an atmosphere of quiet elegance and scholarly charm. The soft glows of everlasting candles greeted them as they walked forward.
"If you look to the right, the three statues guard this entrance to the girls' dormitory. Other entrances have a similar set ups. The stair to the right leads to the boys' dormitory. Boys are not allowed in the girls' dormitory. The first two offences of breaking this rule will receive a harsh point deduction and a talk with Professor Flitwick. The third offence will grant you a meeting with the headmaster. Is that clear?" Percival stated, as they all nodded slowly.
"This is the fifth floor, where the sixth year sleeps. The ground floor is where your dormitories are. You have a bit of a trek getting out of here. Each subsequent floor holds the subsequent year. The ground floor has a small private garden that you can use. There's a storeroom on the first floor, and the largest library is on the second floor. Each floor has a small library with additional reading materials related to your courses. There's a communal area on the third floor and a silent study below us. The sixth floor also has a silent study area, but mostly fifth, sixth, and seventh years use that one. The seventh floor has a balcony that you can use. Our Head of House's office is on that floor alongside the prefect's bedrooms," Percival explained. "There is also an additional set of stairs ahead of us that you can use."
In the centre of the room stood three rows of seven chairs each, arranged neatly in front of a magnificent statue crafted from the gleaming marble of Rowena Ravenclaw. As the students made their way through the room, they passed by a collection of bookshelves meticulously arranged along one wall. Eleven shelves stood tall, each filled with an assortment of ancient tomes, magical texts, and literary classics such as 'Beedle and the Bard' and a signed Gilroy Lockhart collection.
The common room itself was predominantly constructed of cool stone, its surfaces adorned with accents of silver and gold that caught the eye with their subtle shimmer. Splashes of royal blue and regal purple added touches of colour to the space.
"Could I have your attention, please? Thank you. You guys have around 5 minutes to explore this floor. I am going to meet Professor Flitwick now, and after, Professor Flitwick and I will address you before the prefects show you towards your room," Percival said. "Just for a heads up, there will be two people in a room, so one girl will be by herself." You guys can discuss amongst yourselves who that person is going to be. Thank you again."
As the older Ravenclaw turned around to ascend the stairs, a soft tug on his robes brought him to a halt. He glanced back to find a young brunette girl standing before him, her eyes wide with timidity. Her fingers nervously twisted the hem of her robes as she struggled to meet the boy's gaze.
Kneeling down at her level, he offered a warm smile, hoping to ease her apprehension. "Hey there," Percival whispered gently, extending a hand towards her. "What's wrong?"
She hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared. It's my first time away from home."
A pang of sympathy tugged at his heart as he listened to her confession. Taking a small piece of parchment from his pocket, he transfigured a delicate dandelion and tucked it behind her ear.
"You're not alone, you know," the older Ravenclaw reassured her, his tone soft and reassuring. "Hogwarts can be overwhelming at first, but you'll find your place here. Just give it some time."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she nodded, grateful for the reassurance. "C-Can I... can I share a room with my sister? She's only a year older than me."
Percival offered her a reassuring smile, understanding her longing for familiarity in this new environment. "What's your sister's name?" He asked gently.
"Kelly. Tasha Kelly," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'll see what I can do," the boy promised, giving her a comforting pat on the shoulder before watching her timidly return to the group of first-years.
Percival then turned around, went up the spiral staircase, and walked towards Professor Flitwick's office. He knocked on the door and waited until the professor gave him the go-ahead to enter the office.
"Good evening, sir," Percival said.
"Good evening, Percival," the half-goblin responded, placing a glass gently on the table. "The Field Pages are over there. Just let me finish this. The tournament is going to be the death of me. Not the actual tournament, but the paperwork. And figuring out a way to not get Potter involved."
"I'm surprised he didn't get involved in anything last year," Percival said before he paused. "Forgot about the dementors."
"And the werewolf incident," the professor muttered as he lifted his glass
"What werewolf incident?" Percival asked.
"Better if you didn't know. I heard from Jessica that you had a panic attack on the way here," he said as he took a sip of his drink. "They're getting more frequent, and I strongly suggest you receive professional help."
"I'm fine," the student said as he rolled his eyes. "I don't need it."
"Give me your bracelet," he said, his hand stretched out above the table. Reluctantly, Percival gave it to him. The half-goblin inspected it before putting it down. "The charm has rapidly deteriorated, and I suspect the reason is the more frequent panic attacks. I will not be applying the charm to your bracelet anymore."
"What? Why?" Raising his voice, Percival interrupted him. The Charms Master stared into him eyes, and the boy kept his mouth closed.
"Have you heard of the opioid crisis that is happening across the Atlantic?" he asked as the head boy gave a slight nod. "It started off relatively harmlessly. It was used properly and in accordance with proper medical guidance. People took it, and it took the pain away. They got used to it. Used to the thrill and the numbness that it brought. The more they used it, the more they needed it. So they have it more often, and slowly they become addicted. And that addiction slowly destroys them from the inside. To recover, they need to go to rehab, get help, and sort themselves out. Not for themselves, but for the people around them. Do you understand?"
"Absolutely. 100%."
"The opiod is your bracelet."
"Yeah."
"The addiction is your reliance on it."
"I got it."
"The people slowly destroying themselves are your panic attacks."
"Mm-hmm."
"Rehab is Madam Pomfrey."
"Loud and clear. 100%."
"I've already reserved every other Wednesday from 18:00 to 19:00 for the rest of the academic year for you."
"What happens if I don't go?" Percival asked.
Professor Flitwick let out a sigh. "Percy, do me a favour by going to the first two. After that, if you don't go, I have no reason to help you. You can't help a man who doesn't want to be helped," he said.
"Okay. I'll do it for you," Percival replied.
"Don't do it for me. Do it for yourself," the professor sighed again as he lifted the quill off the parchment.
"One more thing, sir: one of the first years would like to share a room with their older sister. Could you do something about it?"
"What's the girl's name?" Professor Flitwick said as he looked up from the documents.
"I didn't get her name, but her sister is Tasha Kelly, if that helps," the head boy said with a shade of embarrassment in his voice.
The rain tapped a steady rhythm against the office window, the dull percussion matching the dim flickering amber flame. Professor Flitwick open the top drawer of the desk, fingers rifling past rubber bands, last years homework that he had forgotten to hand out, and a small collection of medals. He slammed it shut, accidently, given his facial expression.
Next drawer. A small pile battered notebook, leather spine cracked with corners torn. The third drawer stuck for a moment before giving way with an unpleasant squeak. Files, folders, and forbidden items. He gently picked up the folder and placed it on the desk.
"That's a large folder," the head boy commented.
"After what happened and your complaints, we were forced to keep a detailed records about our students. Academic, medical, and a family record," the professor sighed as he slowly flipped through.
"You make it sound like I complain about everything," Percival replied.
The professor stopped for a moment, stared at the young wizard, and resumed his searching. "The Board of Governors and most Lords were not pleased when Dumbledore insisted on this much detail on the records. Their occupation, financial status, and a family tree dating back three generations."
"Why would that be bad? Isn't most of that information public?"
"You'd be surprised with the number of Muggle borns actually being Half-bloods," Professor Flitwick smirked as he stopped flickering through. "Lucky for them, nobody will see this unless absolutely necessary. And you won't be bribing me to spill the tea. Tasha Kelly found her. Um, yes, we could absolutely make that happen. I'll notify the house-elves to rearrange the rooms. But that means more paperwork and headaches."
"Do you need help with those headaches?"
"You could probably help with one. It makes more sense to have Miss Kelly on the first floor with all the second-year students. However, this leaves the first-year students will have an extra room. We could extend the garden, but Pamela is also stuck with paperwork. Any ideas or should I just close of the room?"
"No clue."
"I'll discuss it with Albus next week. Go downstairs; I'll follow you after I put the away," the professor said as he closed the folder. "Don't forget the box with the Field Guides V2.3.8"
"That's a really long name," Percival replied.
"We can think of something more catchy later."
Hearing the professor's reminder, Percival picked up the box and made his way downstairs. The professor followed behind. Seeing the student quiet and in their seats, the head boy passed the Field Guides out.
The half-goblin, in the meantime, stood on a stool behind the podium and charmed it to float. Seeing the half-goblin bobbing up and down behind the podium, a few student let out a soft chuckle.
"Welcome to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! It is with great pleasure and excitement that I stand before you, just as you are beginning your magical journey.
First and foremost, allow me to introduce myself. I am Professor Flitwick, your Charms professor and Head of Ravenclaw. I am here to guide and support every one of you throughout your time at Hogwarts. A wise old man once said, 'It is our choices that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities.'
As you embark on this new chapter of your lives, I want you to remember one thing above all else: Hogwarts is not just a school; it is a home. A home where you will learn, grow, and forge friendships that will last a lifetime. Here, you will discover the true extent of your magical abilities, uncover hidden talents, and face challenges that will test your courage, resilience, and, not to forget, your wit.
But fear not, for you are not alone on this journey. You have your fellow students, your professors, and the entire Hogwarts community standing beside you every step of the way. Together, we will celebrate your successes, overcome your obstacles, and ensure that you reach your full potential.
Now, as you settle into your new surroundings, I urge you to embrace every opportunity that comes your way. Attend your classes with enthusiasm, immerse yourself in the rich history and traditions of Hogwarts, and never shy away from asking questions or seeking help when needed. Remember, there is no such thing as a foolish question in the pursuit of knowledge.
Welcome to your new home, my dear first years. Welcome to Ravenclaw!"
The first-year students gave him a short round of applause. Once the applause dided down, the raven haired boy took centre stage. After taking a few deep breaths, the boy began.
"My family and I are simple people. In our apothecary, we curated potion ingredients. They were probably used in the inoculations you had before coming here. No one in my life expected very much of me. And that is precisely what makes this moment so extraordinary. Last year, my potion was dubbed a miracle potion after a record breaking increase in magical births. It opened our ports to scholars around the world and put magical Britain back on the map. But yet, it still disappoints me.
Rowena Ravenclaw once said, 'Wit beyond measure, man's greatest treasure.' How is it that we've had generations of Ravenclaw roam through these halls and yet no-one has had this effect? How is it that no great invocation has brought scholars from across the globe?
It's because we lost ourselves. Lost our dreams. In the pursuit of academic excellence, we forgot what it meant to be Ravenclaw. We forgot how to be creative. How to innovate. How to think. And mostly, in the pursuit of great, we failed to do good.
Professor Flitwick and I, alongside alumni and current student, has discussed this matter and came to one reasonable conclusion: the Extended Qualification Project. Simple concept, really. Think of a small problem and try find a solution that has a positive net outcome. And it has proven to be effective.
Look at the Field Guides in your hands. This is a derivate of an artefact that was the width of my fist. Now it's as wide as my pinky. The original Field Guide was loaned out to student who joined Hogwarts late. It has a map and help records information and spells that you learn. This version has all the same rune matrices and rune schemes as the original, but simplified and more energy efficient. It also now acts as your planner and timetable. The three Ravenclaw who created this were featured heavily in the academic circles and helped pioneer a new field of artefact and rune research: artefact and rune optimisation.
Another alumni notices that those who exercised moderately showed better results in casting and learning new spells. A different alumni notices that a well balanced diet also lead to better results in casting and learning new spells. They both lead a small sample group and observed a somewhat positive correlation. The more exercise and a well balanced diet a subject had, the better their performance to a point.
And that leads to the first two sections of the EPQ. Those two alumni have started a national trail to see these effect on a larger scale, alongside the Departments of Education, Agriculture, and Health. This years Ravenclaw is going to be the largest sample, with smaller samples in other magical schools and colleges. You don't have to participate, but we strongly recommend putting up with it. So diet and exercise.
For the final bit, it's selecting the focus of your project. This year, you are going to brainstorm your ideas and we'll match you up with a fourth year that could help you."
"Excuse me, Mr Ebonwood," a small voice interrupted. "How will we find the time to do this and manage our school work? And how do we come up with solutions?"
"Percival is fine, and that's a really good question," the head boy replied with a soft smile. "A normal school day is from nine in the morning to three in the afternoon with around two hours of that being free study periods and lunch. If you seriously study for three or four hours a day every school day, you could finish the syllabus for the first two years before the exam period. You'll have plenty of time to do your own stuff. And next year when your brainstorm solutions, you can use all that knowledge or you could even start your electives early to find better solutions."
"But isn't that dangerous. Using magic without proper guidance," the small voice thoughtfully replied.
"Help is always offered to those who ask. The professor wouldn't mind curious students asking for help," the head boy responded. "And that question basically finishes off what I need to say. If you have any questions about this, don't hesitate to ask. But don't ask now, otherwise the perfects will get upset for eating into their time."
"What are the prefect going to talk about? And is it going to be long? I'm so tired," another small voice said.
"They're going to talk out the field guides, extra curricular activities, and how the trail are going to take place. It should take more than twenty minutes. And after that you can go to bed," the professor chimed.