Better than her
Chapter: 1
Helena glared at her mother's back as she smiled and waved off yet another fan. Book signings were common in their house, as Rowena could not seem to contain her extent of knowledge – choosing to share it through books. There were schoolbooks, biographies, history books, philosophical volumes, poetry books, and many other genres of book that many could not even name.
This particular signing was for her latest book of poetry: Perspiccus Posterus. A tall witch clutched the book tightly to her chest as she hurried excitedly to Rowena's table.
"I'm a huge fan! Thank you so much for writing this, it's amazing, as are all of your other books!" she garbled. Her mother smiled at the star struck witch and took the book from her hands. Flicking it open to the front page she said,
"Thank you! It's lovely to know there are people out there who are so enthusiastic about my work – who am I signing this to?"
"Sarah," jabbered the beaming witch.
"Well, Sarah, I hope to see you again, perhaps even at another book signing." Rowena smiled as she gave Sarah the now signed copy of Perspiccus Posterus. Sarah, who was bright red by now, backed out of the door, fixing her gaze on Rowena as though she would disappear like a dream. Helena made a noise of disgust: it was ridiculous how pathetic some witches could become in the presence of her mother. They threw themselves on her as though they had no self-respect. Helena failed to understand why the wizarding world was so enchanted by her – she was a fair lady by all means, but her brilliance was not deserving of such merit. Helena believed herself to be fairer and wiser than her mother, for at the age of 18, having just finished school, she thought she knew more than her mother had at her age. Considering it a waste of time thinking about the obvious, she rose from her chair by the grand fireplace and swept from the room.
At the end of the corridor, she pushed open the heavy oak doors which led into a large circular room. Every inch of wall was covered in shelves containing every size, colour, and genre of book. A narrow staircase spiraled up the side of the wall, providing a walkway to the top of the tower room, which spanned seven and a half storey's up. Proceeding to the top floor of the library, she picked up a book on concealment charms and pulled a trap door down from the ceiling. She ascended the steps into the roof of the tower – her favorite room. A single window arched from the floor to the beginnings of the roof, and the ground was covered in a midnight blue velvet carpet embossed with one hundred and three small, handcrafted crystals. By the window was a mound of silver pillows and several cotton blankets. Helena sat down among the pillows and pulled the blankets tight around her – unfortunately, the tower room was the coldest room in the house, with a constant cold draft blowing tirelessly around the room, even then, in the summer, it was chilly up there. She turned her head to look out of the window at the familiar view of the mountains and lakes of Scotland.
Ravenclaw Manor was large, almost castle like with a turret and was built of a dark purple stone. It was set at the top of the hill, providing breathtaking scenery. Helena may have always preferred to stay inside and read a book, but the one thing she had always appreciated, growing up in the manor, was the beautiful expanse of land that isolated her from the rest of civilization – allowing her to run wild and free, and to behave as she wished.
Returning her attention back to her book, she began to revise what she knew of concealing objects in use of others. Of course she knew it all, but Helena felt it important to know every aspect of magic like the way she knew her way around a library, and finishing school only meant that she would have plenty of time to practice during the summer.
For Helena planned to do great things, to be a great witch, and she had a thirst to prove her superiority over her mother to be better than her. She would be wiser more knowledgeable, she would do more than just open a measly school, she would lead a group of elitists that she deemed worthy of her company, and slowly bring her followers to power. They would create a revolution, and right all the wrong and injustice in the world. People would earn status through effort and intellect, not purity of blood or money. The new generation would be smarter, and wiser, and they would learn etiquette to show respect when it is clearly deserved.
But to do all this she would need more wisdom and wit, not the kind you could learn, but the type you acquire through deep and complicated enchantments. She needed her mother's diadem.
A/N
I know they wouldn't have had book signings back then so it's kind of an AU, but it's not modern day I would think it would have been from 50 to 100 years ago.