CH 17 Life of a Ravenclaw
Soon the sorting was done. Ginny was one of the last to be sorted. While she was given hearty cheers by her brothers and other Gryffindors, she had sent a look of reluctance towards Alcor and Luna before joining her house table.
Alcor knew that Ginny was not one to easily make friends at this point of time, but he was currently unable to do anything about this. Only after suffering at the hands of Tom would this fierce redhead truly blossom into what she would become in future. Therefore, despite the fact that he could change any and all future events, he had decided to let some of them happen regardless.
Soon after the sorting was done, Dumbledore gave a small welcoming speech before they enjoyed the feast. He announced the feast to begin and hundreds of tasty dishes appeared on the tables.
In the Ravenclaw table, Alcor emitted a slight attention repelling aura around himself using magic to avoid anyone including himself in pointless chatter. This magic seemed to work effectively, that is on everyone except Luna.
Luna kept talking about all sorts of weird stuff with Alcor while putting various dishes Alcor liked on his plate. Due to the fact that she was doing this with prophetic accuracy while having an unfocused look, Alcor felt even more sure of something being unique about Luna's abilities.
Midway through the feast, Alcor noticed McGonagall talk to Snape, who had suddenly appeared and whispered something to her, before both of them suddenly leaving the hall in a hurry. After saying a few things to the staff and announcing to the hall that something urgent had come up, even Dumbledore left the hall.
'Hmm, it seems Harry and Ron have arrived on that flying car. A pair of idiots honestly, wasting my effort to send Spectre. Now I will have to feed Spectre with Prana enhanced treats for basically doing a pointless task.' Alcor thought with a sigh.
Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape came back by the time dessert was served. Dumbledore and others took there seat and soon he announced the end of the feast.
"Ahem - just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First-years should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the twins.
"I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch."
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" Dumbledore cried the last line. Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick as if he was trying to get a fly off the end and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself snake-like into words.
Alcor gave a sigh of annoyance at the weird song Dumbledore always makes the students sing. He picked a speed rap like tune and went through the song before most others finished the first stanza. But he still had to suffer through the slow funeral march tune of the Weasley twins, who were the last to finish.
Dumbledore dismissed the students after that, asking Prefects to escort them to the respective common rooms. Alcor and Luna followed other Ravenclaw students, as their prefect led them through a tower, climbing a tight spiral staircase to get to the entrance of their common room.
A huge wooden door greeted them, a life-like bronze eagle-shaped knocker seemed to look at them solemnly.
"Pay attention. I will show you how you can enter our Common Room." the female prefect said as she stepped forward.
As the prefect stood before bronze eagle-shaped knocker, its eyes came to life and stared at the prefect.
"What can be swallowed, but can swallow you?" a resonant voice emerged from the eagle.
The female prefect thought for a moment before replying, "Pride."
"Well put." the eagle's eye seemed to soften a bit as the door swung open and they were all let into the splendorous Ravenclaw Common room.
Ravenclaw Common room had graceful arched windows, and the walls were hung with blue and bronze silks. The domed ceiling was painted with the night sky, which was echoed in the midnight-blue carpet.
Tables, chairs, and ceiling high bookcases covered the expanse of the floor. A giant fireplace blazed with magical fire that seemed to shift colors to a different shade of blue every few moments. An exquisite white marble life-like statue of Rowena Ravenclaw sat in the middle of the two doors that led to the male and female dormitories above.
"Listen up." the female prefect clapped her hands to get their attention "Everyone must have understood by now that to enter our common room you don't have a set password like the other houses. You will have to answer a riddle each time you enter."
"Riddles can be answered in group if you are travelling as such, but we take pride in solving riddles individually as it is a measure of wit. On the other hand, if you fail to answer the riddle you will have to stay out until someone else takes pity on you and answers a different riddle to let you in."
"On the left side of the Ravenclaw statue is the door to female dorms and on the right is the door to male dorms. Boys, don't try to intrude on female dorms as there is a safety measure in place."
"There are seven floors in either dorm, every floor for a different year. First years take the Seventh Floor, Second years take Sixth Floor, and so on. Each of you have got single rooms to allow you the best place to self study."
"For First years, every room is same. But from Second Year, the rules change a bit. There is a special room on each floor, starting from First floor to the Sixth. This special room will be used by the top scorer of previous year, I.e. Top Ravenclaw scorer of First Year will use the special room in Second Year, Top scorer of Second Year will use the special room in Third Year and so on."
"This system exists in both girls and boys dorms to promote the competition among the students. The special room contains all sorts of comforts, so do your best."
"Finally, there is a curfew every night, so don't wander the castle at night. Defaulters will be punished if caught and will be given strict detentions."
"Alright then kids, go to your dorms. Your name will be on the name plate on the door of your room, So you can find them easily. Your class schedule will be given to you tomorrow during breakfast, so do wake up early and get ready on time."
Everyone was tired from the day's events so they all retired to their rooms almost immediately. Alcor found Spectre waiting for him in his room, which looked like only a bit larger than the compartment at Hogwarts Express.
After treating Spectre to a few Owl Treats infused with Prana, Alcor told Spectre to wake him at sunrise the next day. Alcor undressed soon after and lay down on his bed, swiftly falling asleep.