Disc.: I do not own any of the characters only my OC, all the rights go to their respectful owners. If you like the story leave a comment :)
When the students were done eating the welcoming dinner the headmaster, who Penny remembered was called Dumbledore stood up.
"First years should note that the forest on 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 that were sitting at the Gryffindor table. Penny looked at them briefly before she cast her eyes back to Dumbledore dismissing the thought about them being most likely related to the boy called Ron.
"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. As for the Quidditch trials, they will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their House teams should contact Madam Hooch."
"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
That last statement peaked Penny's interest as to what could be hiding there. She heard a few first years laugh at that not taking the warning seriously.
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore as he gave his wand a little flick and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words.
"Everyone pick their favourite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!"
Everybody finished the song at different times, Penny being one of the first to do so, so she looked around and saw a rather short professor look at her in amusement.
At last, only the 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.
"Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
"Ravenclaw first years, follow me!" Penny heard the boy that just stood up beside her say loudly.
As they followed him they were joined by Gryffindor first years. Before she could hear Hermione's voice she already saw her bushy hair in her peripheral vision.
"Congratulations on Ravenclaw Penny. Shame we're not in the same house." She said.
"Thank you. Congratulations on Gryffindor." She replied politely, not commenting on the second part.
"I wonder if we have the same classes. Can I see your schedule?" Hermione asked as she pulled her schedule out and so did Penny.
"Let's see then." Hermione said looking over Penny's schedule and then her own.
"We have the same classes." Hermione cheered, while Penny just double checked if it was true.
"So it seems." She replied putting her schedule away.
Hermione kept going on about the classes and what they'll learn in them as Penny half-heartedly listened to her while watching the people in the portraits along the corridors whispering and pointing at them as they passed. They climbed more staircases, some of the students yawning and dragging their feet, and Penny was getting quite annoyed with it. Like that wasn't enough she could see a bundle of walking sticks floating in mid-air ahead of them and as the red haired boy, Percy his name was, took a step towards them they started throwing themselves at him.
"Peeves," she heard Percy whisper. "A poltergeist." He raised his voice, "Peeves — show yourself."
A loud, rude sound, like the air being let out of a balloon, answered.
"Do you want me to go to the Bloody Baron?" He said not looking anywhere in particular.
There was a pop, and a little man with wicked, dark eyes and a wide mouth appeared, floating cross-legged in the air, clutching the walking sticks.
"Oooooooh!" he said, with an evil cackle. "Ickle Firsties! What fun!" He swooped suddenly at them. They all ducked, well almost all. Penny stood there as Peeves stopped before her, looking her dead in the eyes, trying to get a reaction out of her.
Penny found him amusing, but yet again no one would know that, just by looking at her. He raised his hand with the stick right above her, ready to throw it right at her, before he was stopped by her hands on his face. He could feel her fingers pinching and pulling his cheeks, Penny was looking at him noting to herself that his face went paler than it was and his eyes widened a bit.
"Interesting. So it's true then, — that you can actually touch a poltergeist." She said to no one in particular still looking at Peeves. The next second he escaped her by vanishing for a second reappearing above the heads of the other students.
"Ewww. An ickle firstie touched me. I have cooties! — Madam Pomfreeeey!" He screamed, but before he left the room he turned to Penny "This isn't over you!" he screamed at her still shouting for Madam Pomfrey.
Penny turned around just to see the guy named Percy with a pink face and the other students looking at her.
"Gryffindor, follow me this way" Percy said leaving up the stairs with the first years after him.
"I'll see you tomorrow Penny" Hermione said as she followed suit.
"Ravenclaw this way" The boy that led them said and she followed the group down the stairs. After some more minutes of walking they entered a staircase in one of the main towers, which went up in a spiral. They stopped before a door without a doorknob or keyhole, but a bronze knocker in the shape of an eagle.
"In order to enter the room, you must answer a riddle asked by the eagle knocker. If you answer incorrectly, you must wait for someone else who gets it right." The boy said and turned to the bronze eagle knocker, answering its riddle.
They entered the common room which was circular, with arched windows that provided an incredible view of the Hogwarts grounds. Penny saw a white marble statue of a woman that she presumed was Rowena Ravenclaw, the founder of Ravenclaw. As she looked around more, Penny saw that the common room looked a lot like a library, but more comfy and homely.
They stopped in the middle of the circular room and the Prefect turned to them.
"I'm Prefect Robert Hilliard, and I'm delighted to welcome you to Ravenclaw house. Our emblem is the eagle, which soars where others cannot climb."
"Without wishing to boast, this is the house where the cleverest witches and wizards live. Our founder, Rowena Ravenclaw, prized learning above all else – and so do we. Unlike the other houses, who all have concealed entrances to their common rooms, we don't need one. This simple knocker has kept out everyone, but Ravenclaws for nearly a thousand years.
"Some first-years are scared by having to answer the eagle's questions, but don't worry. Ravenclaws learn quickly, and you'll soon enjoy the challenges the door sets. It's not unusual to find twenty people standing outside the common room door, all trying to work out the answer to the day's question together – although it is a bit annoying if you've forgotten your Quidditch robes and need to get in and out in a hurry. In fact, I'd advise you to triple-check your bag for everything you need before leaving Ravenclaw Tower."
"Our Head of house is Professor Filius Flitwick. People often underestimate him, because he's really tiny and he's got a squeaky voice, but he's the best and most knowledgeable Charms master alive in the world today. His office door is always open to any Ravenclaw with a problem, and if you're in a real state he'll get out these delicious little cupcakes he keeps in a tin in his desk drawer and make them do a little dance for you. In fact, it's worth pretending you're in a real state just to see them jive."
"As for our relationship with the other three houses: well, you've probably heard about the Slytherin. They're not all bad, but you'd do well to be on your guard until you know them well. They've got a long house tradition of doing whatever it takes to win – so watch out, especially in Quidditch matches and exams.
"The Gryffindor are OK. If I had a criticism, I'd say Gryffindors tend to be show-offs. They're also much less tolerant than we are of people who are different; in fact, they've been known to make jokes about Ravenclaws who have developed an interest in levitation, or the possible magical uses of troll bogies, or ovomancy, which as you probably know is a method of divination using eggs. Gryffindors haven't got our intellectual curiosity, whereas we've got no problem if you want to spend your days and nights cracking eggs in a corner of the common room and writing down your predictions according to the way the yolks fall. In fact, you'll probably find a few people to help you.
"As for the Hufflepuffs, well, nobody could say they're not nice people. In fact, they're some of the nicest people in the school. Let's just say you needn't worry too much about them when it comes to competition at exam time.
"I think that's nearly everything. Oh yes, our house ghost is the Grey Lady. The rest of the school thinks she never speaks, but she'll talk to Ravenclaws. She's particularly useful if you're lost, or you've mislaid something.
"I'm sure you'll have a good night. Our dormitories are in turrets off the main tower, girls to the left and boys, to the right." He finished his obviously prepared talk and went to talk to some of his friends by a table.
Penny walked into the girls room which said 1st year. There were a few four-poster beds all covered in sky blue silk and she could hear the sound of the wind whistling around the windows, yet strangely it wasn't bothering her, quite the opposite, in fact it was very relaxing.
"Hello, you are Penny right?" A girl with dark shoulder length hair approached her.
"Yes." She answered shortly as she picked up Angus from his cage and put him on her bed.
"I'm Rebecca. And these are Lisa, Mandy and Sue." They all waved at Penny when Rebecca called their names as to greet Penny.
"It's nice to meet you too." Penny answered and made her way to the bathrooms to get ready for bed. She could feel their eyes on her as she exited the room, but she could not care less.
Soon after she went to sleep without saying a word to her new roommates and she preferred it that way.