Okay, I'm going to have to ask for a bit of help. We know Hogwarts was founded just before the year 1000 at the earliest. I've done some research into that time period – the clothing and the homes, and such, but with the Founders being wizards and witches, I doubt their lifestyles were typical, in their clothing or their life expectancies. Thoughts?


Today I met Rowena Ravenclaw. She's a brilliant woman. I don't know why, but I feel like this meeting is going to change things, change everything. I'll just have to wait and see...


Helga waved her wand, clearing all traces of dust from the small room and straightening the books on her shelf. She stowed her wand and smiled at her handiwork.

The floor was packed earth, covered with a yellow rug. The rug was decorated by a black badger. Helga stood next to a tall bookshelf, filled with volumes of philosophy and alchemy, potions and charms, divination and transfiguration, with the occasional cookbook. She had written several of the books on that shelf.

Across from her, hanging from the wall, was a large portrait. It depicted a man and woman, the man in his early thirties and the woman in her late twenties. They were both smiling.

Helga crossed the room over to the portrait. Smiling at the couple, she said, "Good morning, Mum. Good morning, Dad."

"How are you today, Helga?" the man asked her. Helga shrugged and replied, "All right."

Soon, she left the room, entering her kitchen. She poured herself a cup of tea from the pot on top of her table and sat down to sip at it.

She had just settled into a comfortable position when she heard a knock at the door.

Helga rose and hurried to answer it.

Standing outside was a woman, several years older than Helga. She looked to be in her mid-twenties, perhaps twenty four or twenty five. She wore a blue travelling cloak and she held a wand. She smiled softly at Helga.

"I apologize for my intrusion," the stranger said to Helga. "But do you have a minute to walk?"

Helga stepped out of her house, into the valley. She locked the door behind her with a flick of her wand. "Of course. And may I ask your name?"

"It's Rowena," the woman said. "Rowena Ravenclaw."