"First years! First years this way!" A man's voice said. "Come on now! In the boats!"
Cold water sloshed against Alyssa's skin, Ewan, still groggy, sitting next to her. They all smiled at the excitement, all the first years discussing houses.
"I hear they make you take a test. You have to punch a lion in the face to get to Gryffindor…" a kid murmured. The teacher helping them out grinned, but didn't say a word.
"Well, I was told by my sister that to get in Slytherin you have to punch someone to get what you want…" murmurs of agreement followed.
"To get into Ravenclaw you have to do a five page essay... " more murmurs of agreement followed.
"How would you get into Hufflepuff?" a kid asked.
"Don't know," said a girl with brown hair.
"What in bloody hell is everyone talking about?" a girl with blonde hair said amidst all the confusion.
The teacher spoke out loud. "You all are gonna be sorted into houses, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. The song'll explain what they're like I suppose. How you get sorted is a mystery though," he explained. After a few minutes all the first years were near the shore, and the teacher helped them up. Alyssa finally got a good look at him, he had black hair and chiselled cheeks, and he sported a beard. He walked all the kids up to a giant gate and started searching his pants. "I always forget things," he muttered, before finally finding the key. He unlocked and opened the castle gate and led the students inside.
"Where are we Alyssa?" Ewan asked, semi-conscious.
"Were at a big castle, it's made of stone, and we're walking inside. Portraits are everywhere too, they're talking and moving," Alyssa explained to him.
"Sounds exciting," he replied, blinking and looking at the castle around him.
"It is," Alyssa replied. All the students followed the teacher, and they all stopped in front of a large double door.
"Behind this door is your futures, and kids, they're exciting. You all are going to be sorted, and it's so fun and scary and exciting. Come on then, line up," they did and he led them through the doors.
Behind the doors was a grand hall, with four tables with tons of students. They wore long robes and talked in loud voices. A great table with about 30 teachers was at the end, and before that was a chair with an old and ratty witch's hat.
"Come on then! Let's get up to the chair now," the teacher ushered them on.
"Welcome new students, to your first year at Hogwarts," a stern voice said out loud. It came from a stern looking lady with slightly graying hair, standing at a podium, "and Professor, I don't suppose you introduced yourself, have you?"
"Well no Professor," the teacher said and then turned to the children, "Well. I'm Professor Longbottom, and I teach Herbology," he bowed to the kids, and the lady smiled.
"Thank you Professor, that was a wondrous bow. I am Minerva McGonagall, but to you all, I'm Professor McGonagall, and this you may have noticed is Hogwarts, Professor Longbottom here will help sort you," she said before sitting in her seat.
"When your name is called, sit on that chair and put that hat on your head," Longbottom explained.
Suddenly, the hat started to move, a tear in its side becoming a mouth. It slowly rustled and then it began singing a slow but loud tune.
I may be worn, but you can see
I can see the unforeseen
Whether you be Brave and Strong like Gryffindors
Or Wise beyond your years like Ravenclaw
Or Loyal and Kind like ye old Hufflepuff
Or may you be Determined like all of Slytherin
I can see
And here at old Hogwarts let it be known
I will always help you find your kind
When he was done, the hat seemed to look around the room, waiting for Longbottom to call out names.
"Myrtle Andor," he called out. A short girl with blonde bobbed hair stepped up to the chair, sitting down gracefully in one swoop.
"Very tricky, very tricky indeed. Not used to such a complicated mind," the hat said aloud. "Where can you get the furthest? Well that's very straight-forward… SLYTHERIN!" cheers erupted through the room, and an entire table stood up to cheer her on.
"Jennifer Rister," a girl with black hair that swooped down her back walked up.
"Siblings go here, huh? Kind, nurturing. Definitely HUFFLEPUFF!" people that wore yellow and black cheered very loud. It looked as if she had an older brother that went here too.
"Alyssa Barondess," suddenly Alyssa's breath quickened, her heart pumped faster. She stepped towards the seat and placed the hat on her head, breathing heavily.
"You, you're related to Clarisse Barondess. She was a Slytherin through and through, was very determined to get her way, you might even belong there. But, you have a love for something greater, a thirst for knowledge."
"Where would I work? Where can I change things?" she asked with a slight whisper.
"Very brave, asking where you should go, very… wise. I think I know where you'll thrive. RAVENCLAW!" Alyssa stood up and saw a table where people were cheering the loudest, they wore blue and bronze and they seemed very pleased. She took off the Sorting Hat and walked to them. One of them hugged her and smiled, ushering for her to sit down. She looked back to Ewan, who was staring at everything in awe. The ceiling caught his attention, the stars shimmering. Alyssa watched intently as the rest of the kids were sorted.
Finally, it happened, "Ewan Gilderman," he looked towards the seat and the worn hat, and stepped towards it. He sat down, looking exhausted.
"Ewan… You aren't much of a mystery. Sharing bits and pieces of history with others. I know where you'll fit. RAVENCLAW!" Ewan stood up, placed the hat down, and walked slowly to Alyssa, tiredly grinning. Terrence, who sat at a table with gold and red colors everywhere clapped the loudest, grinning and smiling.
"Pierce Lyd,"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Ren Stenlon."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Lyra Syrant."
"SLYTHERIN!"
After each kid was sorted McGonagall rose and commenced the feast, smiling widely at the students. Almost instantly chicken and ribs, pork chops, mashed potatoes, anything you could think of appeared.
"Bloody long ceremony this year, wasn't it?" a boy with thick framed glasses and green hair grinned at Alyssa, speaking with a thick Irish accent. "You lass, are one of the thirty newbies we have this year alone. Rather excited myself."
"Why's that, Freed? Newbies aren't fun until the second week at least," said a girl with brown hair.
"I apologize for me friend here, she has an attitude some days," he handed Alyssa a piece of chocolate and looked at his friend. "Freed Thomas Finnigan. Both my fathers are wizards. Bit of a nasty shock to my grandfather. They raised me in Ireland, I miss it everyday."
"I've heard of your fathers. They were friends with Harry Potter, right? I read it in a book," Ewan said, his eyes coming to life.
"I've heard the stories from 'em."
"We all have," said the brown haired girl. "I'm Merideth Lane, nice to meet you young one, and you too young one's friend."
"Uhhh, nice to meet you I guess."
"Don't you worry 'bout her. She calls anyone younger than her young one. She's jus' thirteen, so she isn't too big," Freed said, with a grin on his face.
"So, what's it like in the Ravenclaw Tower? I've seen some paintings, but I wonder how it's changed over time…" Ewan trailed on.
"Fabulous, chaotic, and a mess," Merideth said, making a grand gesture with her hands.
"Really? I thought it would be more elegant, like Rowena."
"We screwed it up, but you'll love it," she smiled. "We're only elegant at the parties we throw," she whispered, "we have to maintain an image."
"Why?" Alyssa inquired. "It seems unnecessary, why lie about what you are?"
"Everyone knows we're a mess, but the whole thing about us is that we can put things together. We like to prove it," Freed interrupted.
"And we throw some killer parties," Merideth smiled. "Sadly, though, we can't attend. We have to be fifth years."
"The only way you can attend below is if you work the party. Serve food, drinks. Not exactly glamorous," Freed explained.
"Not at all," Merideth sighed.
Piles of dessert began to replace the mounds of food, and Ewan began to pile the food onto his plate, eating tons of food. It was like he hadn't eaten in a long time.
"When we go up, you two have to follow the Head Boy and Girl, and the Prefects. You'll find them. They'll take you up," Freed said. He smiled brightly and glanced at Merideth. Alyssa grinned and Ewan ate. And all was new and great. And Alyssa didn't want anything to change quite yet. She found herself spacing out, staring at the wall.
"Have you seen Hope Syre? Her looks have definitely changed, and have you seen Kate Pero? They both look fabulous," Merideth said, pointing at two girls. Alyssa instantly recognized the girl from the bookstore when she looked over, sitting at the table grinning with a girl sitting next to her.
"She looks the same Mer. She's just wearing her hair back. And Kate has always looked like that too. They've just never hanged out together," Freed pointed out. Alyssa looked at the two of them. The girl next to the one with navy blue eyes had long hair and brown eyes, she wore thick framed glasses and she smiled widely.
"I guess so, they're in their fifth year, right?" Merideth asked, looking at them intently.
"Yes, the lasses are. And good thing too, it was sad watching Hope work the parties. And Kate always longed to go in, at least I think so."
"Who's Hope?" Alyssa asked.
"The one with the shoulder length hair, navy eyes. Kates the one with glasses and long eyes," Merideth sighed. "Never thought they'd be friends."
"Well, they practically are the same, they come from America, both of them. They read those books, talk about that school. Take Muggle classes. Act and talk. They were bound to become friends."
Hope stood and smiled at her friend, then walked out the grand hall, a boy with black hair and piercing eyes followed her out, holding a chocolate in his hand.
Hope Syre waited round the corner for Jet to come, her heart pounding as he stepped near her. He put his green and silver scarf on the ground, and stepped towards her, staring into her eyes.
"Did you have fun this summer?" she asked him, cupping his face in her hands.
He stared at her, with pain in his eyes as he closed the space between them.
"You promised that you would try to leave them," she said wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I know, I tried. I tried," he said, almost reassuring himself. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her there. She held him closely and they stood there in silence, listening to each other's breath, holding the moment. He stepped back and placed the chocolate in her mouth, holding the same sad expression on his face. She smiled a tiny bit, holding him closer than ever.
"I tried, too," she leaned her head into his chest, capturing the moment, memorizing it, memorizing his smell.
"I know," he said, kissing her on the forehead and then stepping back. "You have to show the first years the way to the Tower, I have to show them to… The Underground Lair," she laughed at the nickname for the Slytherin common room.
"I'll show them around, until later Jet," Hope walked over to his scarf, picked it up and wrapped it around his neck. She brushed his hair with her fingertips and turned away, walking to the grand hall to show all the new first years to their new homes.
"Goodnight Hope."
She opened the hall doors and smiled. Kate smiled back at her and stood, ready to answer the riddle with the first years. They happened to be Prefects.
Alyssa and Ewan followed Hope and Kate with all the other first years. Two boys stood next to them goofily grinning, and a boy and a girl ahead of them gave a tour. Hope would talk with Kate and then they'd talk to all the students, answer all the questions, listen to the facts they know. It was as if they sucked it all up.
Alyssa watched Ewan, who was more awake than ever. She watched him closely, trying to understand how he must be feeling. Watching the light in his eyes bounce back when he got a piece of food in his mouth. She smiled at him, kept him close. For Alyssa, this was her first friend, and she was happy that she found him.
"We're here, everyone this is where you will spend days at a time, grasping for sleep, listen to all kinds of music, read wonderful books, forge friendships, dance all night. This is a very magical tower. I know we're not famous, like Gryffindor. I know we're not infamous like Slytherin or Hufflepuff. We are the overlooked house, I get it. But being a Ravenclaw is way better, because we don't burn the world, we don't fight fire, we don't build from the ashes. We stop the fire from ever occurring. We change the fire to water. We change the world," Hope said, smiling. "Hey Geoffrey," she peered at the knocker on the grand dark door.
The knocker moved, forming a mouth and eyes, looking straight at Hope. Alyssa couldn't help but to hang her mouth open. She gaped at the knocker while Ewan smiled widely, pointing at it and whispering to Alyssa quietly. "I told you that I am nameless Miss Syre."
"And I told you that you need a name, that my name is Hope, and I think you should be called Geoffrey," she replied stubbornly. "I would like a riddle for the day."
"Fine Hope, I have a hard one for you. What came first, the chicken or the egg?" the knocker replied.
"As all of you can see, we have to answer the riddle Geoffrey here gives us, you can answer in pairs, groups, as a whole, and if you're too injured, sick, or tired he'll let you in, call Madam Pomphrey, Headmistress McGonagall, or he'll just let you in and let you sleep, if you need someone to talk to, he'll probably get me, Kate, or Freed. Especially Freed," Hope explained.
"And Geoffrey will know your limits. He'll ease you into riddles. After a couple weeks, the riddles may change. Not everyone will get the same thing. He may ask philosophical questions, may ask what your interests are to personalize his questions for you. He might even test you on your weak subjects. If you're down he'll ask you about your favorite topics, ask for facts and details. I suggest you get a partner for riddles. Hope and I are partners this year due to having the same schedules. I suggest you get a partner too. It helps. Form a small group if you're unsure. Answer them alone if you have too. People scared the both of us at a young age," Kate said, looking at Hope. Alyssa sucked in the information, eating it up. She wanted to find something, learn about it. This was what she would learn. The Ravenclaw Tower was a fascinating new thing.
"So, let's think about the riddle. What came first the chicken and the egg? This one is difficult, because the door requires a real answer, one straight from your head, not from what you read," Hope looked at each one of them before continuing, "I think Kate and I need some help with this, can you guys help?" Everyone nodded and Alyssa looked at Ewan who was already in deep thought.
"I think I know," Ewan said after a couple of minutes. Hope nodded for him to continue. "I think it's the egg, because all great things start young. Shakespeare was once a child, and although the chicken doesn't look great, it feeds people, it helps ecosystems. It has a role."
The knocker closed its eyes for a few seconds and opened them again. "Welcome in students, you answered a riddle."
Alyssa looked at Ewan, filled with hope. Joy even. Alyssa, had never had a friend before, never once known what it was like to have someone. But Ewan was her new friend, someone she could count on. And she had only known him for a day. But she was happier for Ewan than she ever was for herself.
The door opened slowly, revealing a room that was sparkly clean, bookshelves lined the walls, some of the full, some labeled, some filled with trinkets. Papers about studies in binders. Blue couches with bronze pillows were everywhere. Blank canvases were to one side, a stage on one end. Doors were everywhere and staircases lined upwards. And the rooms smelled like lavender, and fresh baked cookies, new books, the smell of rain. Paintings and instruments hung on the walls. People already collected, talking and laughing. All of them in regular clothes. The faint sound of jazz music was playing in the background, and Alyssa could hear the faint whispers of a plan for a party. A cork board with papers and plans. A giant calendar on the wall was already packed with group plans and organizations. The first years murmured amongst themselves.
"Although it's famously known that Helga Hufflepuff created the Room of Requirement, Rowena Ravenclaw improved the idea. All the dorms are rooms of requirement. Except for the fact that each one has a specified thing. Dorms are for rest and comfort and ideas. The beds are individualized for each student. The desks are individualized. The carpets, the flooring, everything is custom. We have quiet dorms that get rid of noise. We have dorms where you can stay up late doing whatever. They are gender neutral. Bathrooms for Ravenclaws are in the tower. We have a giant room for girls. A giant room for boys," one of the people in front giving the tour explained. "Basically, if you can think it, we have it." Alyssa looked around, people sang on stage, some read. It was sort of overpowering, the feeling of activity around them. Alyssa closed her eyes, trying to put the people out of place, not ready for conversation quite yet. Her breathing quickened, and her heart rate increased. She could feel her heart beat almost out of her chest.
"I know it's a little too much," Kate said to Alyssa, who opened her eyes to see Kate kneeling down and looking her in the face. "First day Hope had an anxiety attack. And I nearly died," she said softly. "It gets better though. Even though this house is overlooked, great witches and wizards come out of here."
"Okay, okay," Alyssa felt herself calm down, felt the pressure come off her chest, felt it ease. Kate gave her a reassuring smile and stood up, leading her to a small room with books and chairs and only a few people.
"Stay here if you need a quiet space, only ten people are allowed at a time." Kate left her there, and Alyssa allowed herself to relax for a while.
