Wooh, this is a long chapter too. But I don't like it. I hope you like this chapter more than I do. Basically, the chapter is Ray's first day along with events that will lead up to more important events. (I hope to have said more important events written, well typed, soon.)

Once again, I own nothing. I make no money off of this. It's just an obsession I have that will bubble and fester if I ignore it.

Enjoy!


Chapter 11 – Raven the Ravenclaw

Raven didn't realize how tired she was until Dumbledore mentioned bedtime. She smothered a yawn and stood up to follow the prefect leading the first-years away. Her house was the second to leave, and she waited as Slytherin made its way out of the hall. Teddy and Jamie waved to her before they both headed off to bed. Before she left the hall, Raven spotted her friends and waved one last time before following her group out of the large double doors.

The prefect led the first-years out through the large doorway and up the large, marble staircase in the Entrance Hall. They went several sets of stairs, the last being a long, spiral staircase that seemed to go on forever. When they finally reached the top of it, the prefect and the first-years faced a large door with only a bronze knocker in the shape of an eagle.

The prefect turned to the young students and said, "Hello, I'm Prefect Robert Hilliard, and I'm delighted to welcome you to Ravenclaw, house of some of the cleverest witches and wizards in history. First thing you should know is, unlike the other houses, who all have concealed entrances to their common rooms, we don't need one. The door to our common room has no handle, but an enchanted bronze knocker in the shape of an eagle. When you rap on the door, this knocker will ask you a question, and if you can answer it correctly, you are allowed in. This simple barrier 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. This is a great way to meet fellow Ravenclaws from other years, and to learn from them – 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."

Prefect Robert turned and knocked on the door, and a voice said:

"One by one we fall from heaven,

down into the depths of past,

And our world is ever upturned,

so that yet some time we'll last."

Raven frowned in thought. Prefect Robert viewed the identical expressions on the first-years.

Two voices suddenly broke the silence, "Sand—"

"—In an hourglass."

Raven turned and smiled at the boy who finished her sentence. Terry grinned back.

The door opened in answer.

Prefect Robert glanced behind him and smiled the two students. "Brilliant." He walked inside and motioned for everyone to follow him.

Raven gasped along with her fellow classmates as she beheld shelves upon shelves of books. She wanted to run over to them and open each as if it were a Christmas present. She fought the urge valiantly.

Prefect Robert faced the awestruck Firsties. "As I've said before, welcome to Ravenclaw. You know now about how to enter the common room, but let me tell you a bit about who enter it. A cool thing about Ravenclaw is that our people are the most individual – some might even call them eccentrics. But geniuses are often out of step with ordinary folk, and unlike some other houses we could mention, we think you've got the right to wear what you like, believe what you want, and say what you feel. We aren't put off by people who march to a different tune; on the contrary, we value them!

"Speaking of eccentrics, you'll like our Head of house, Professor Filius Flitwick. People often underestimate him, because he's really tiny (we think he's part elf, but we've never been rude enough to ask)" (Everett asked once. Liam smacked him for it, Raven thought.) "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."

"Hmm," Raven hummed. She decided to keep that in mind.

"Ravenclaw house has an illustrious history," Prefect Robert continued, "Most of the greatest wizarding inventors and innovators were in our house, including Perpetua Fancourt, the inventor of the lunascope, Laverne de Montmorency, a great pioneer of love potions, and Ignatia Wildsmith, the inventor of Floo powder. Famous Ravenclaw Ministers for Magic include Millicent Bagnold, who was in power on the night that Harry Potter survived the Dark Lord's curse, and defended the wizarding celebrations all over Britain with the words, 'I assert our inalienable right to party.'" (Raven grinned at that.) "There was also Minister Lorcan McLaird, who was a quite brilliant wizard, but preferred to communicate by puffing smoke out of the end of his wand. Well, I did say we produce eccentrics. In fact, we are also the house that gave the wizarding world Uric the Oddball, who used a jellyfish for a hat." (Raven giggled and imagined a funny man wearing a jellyfish hat.) "He's the punch line of a lot of wizarding jokes.

"As for our relationship with the other three houses: well, you've probably heard about the Slytherins. 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 Gryffindors 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."

Raven resented that. She'd worry about Sebastiaan keeping up with (or outsmarting) some of the Ravenclaws.

"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."

Raven spoke to the Grey Lady once. The gray-eyed witch thought this peculiar. She must have known how I'd be sorted, Raven thought, Well, she is a Ravenclaw.

"I'm sure you'll have a good night. Our dormitories are in turrets off the main tower; our four-poster beds are covered in sky blue silk eiderdowns and the sound of the wind whistling around the windows is very relaxing.

And once again: well done on becoming a member of the cleverest, quirkiest and most interesting house at Hogwarts."

Raven never realized how patriotic each house could be. Prefect Robert seemed to have a lot of opinions. She shrugged, then yawned, remembering just how tired she was. She followed the direction the prefect told her the girls' dorms were in and made her way up a few more stairs. She spotted her belongings in one of the rooms and walked in. She smiled at the two girls already preparing for bed. If Raven remembered correctly, the girls names were Lisa and Padma.

Lisa smiled and gave a small wave, "Hello."

"Hi, I'm Raven."

"Lisa," the brown-haired girl replied.

"I'm Padma."

"Nice to meet you." Raven returned the dark-eyed girl's smile. She and the two girls changed in a comfortable silence and each went to their beds.

Just before they all fell asleep, Padma whispered to her roommates, "I can't wait to explore the libraries here."

Raven smiled, knowing she found another new friend. She and Lisa replied, "Agreed."

They all fell asleep with grins on their faces and excitement in their hearts.


Raven woke early and decided to take the time before the sun ascended to begin her letters to Sirius, Remus, Liam, and Damyan. She dug out her quill and parchment from her trunk and decided to begin with her dad.

September 2, 1991

Dear Remus

Raven frowned in confusion. Sirius was her dad. So why did she write Remus? The red-headed witch quickly decided that was too much thinking for this subject this early in the morning. She promised herself to ponder it later as she continued her letter to her godfather.

She finished the letter and knew there was no time to write the rest before breakfast. She began to sign it, still unconsciously thinking of writing to Sirius.

Love your

Raven bit her lip. What was she? The confused witch thought for a moment, then remembered something Remus once called her. She decided to use that.

She let the ink dry before rolling the letter up and placing it on her bed. As she rummaged through her trunk for her clothes and toiletries, her roommates started to wake up. Raven noticed the last bed was taken and guessed who was behind the closed curtains.

As Raven suspected, Mandy groggily exited the four-poster and walked to the restroom in their dorm. Raven followed her and claimed one of the four showers in the very large bathroom.

After a quick shower, Raven dressed in her uniform and gathered her school supplies. She placed everything neatly in her bookbag, including the letter. Just before she left the room with her roommates, the gray-eyed witch grabbed her magical camera and put that in her bag too. Raven silently thanked Remus for putting an Undetectable Extension Charm on her bag, trunk, a little handbag, and a small pouch for Edgar in case either of them wanted to send something big or many smaller somethings. The last two were her idea.

Raven caught Padma looking longingly at the bookshelves on their way out of the common room. Raven could relate.

As the four girls headed down the stairs, Terry spotted them and caught up. His new friend, Morag, followed with less enthusiasm. "Raven!" Terry called.

The short witch stopped and looked behind her to see who called her name. She smiled when she saw the two boys walking—well Morag was walking, Terry was running—behind her. "'Lo, Terry," she turned to the other boy, "Morag, yes?"

The calm boy nodded and grinned. "Nice to meet you, Raven. Terry couldn't stop talking about you," he teased in a slight Scottish accent.

Terry turned tomato red. "I wasn't talking" (Morag gave him a look.) "much about her," the blushing boy amended.

Morag smirked.

Raven smiled but wondered what Terry said. "Well, it's nice to see you two."

"It's always nice to see a pretty lady in the morning," Morag answered smoothly. He looked behind her, "Or, ladies," he corrected.

Terry glared at him irrationally as Raven smiled and her roommates giggled.

Mandy walked up beside Raven. "You didn't tell me you had such handsome friends," she said, smiling at the two boys. Terry blushed slightly at the complement. Morag only grinned back.

Raven resisted the urge to roll her eyes. It's not like the girl didn't have the chance to meet them herself. She sat near the both of them in the Great Hall last night. "I didn't know I needed to report that," she replied dryly.

Mandy smiled at the tone. "Yes, well, now you know for next time."

Raven giggled and shook her head slightly. "Come on," she turned and led them all downstairs, "I don't want to be late on the first day."

Teddy hurried to walk by her side. Morag stayed back with the other girls, his arm around a blushing Mandy's shoulders.

The group made it to the Great Hall in good time. Raven separated herself from them to visit her friends quickly. She spotted Jamie and Teddy first. Professor Snape also stood there, handing a timetable to Jamie. "Morning Professor. Jamie. Teddy."

They all nodded back identically and Raven couldn't help her fit of giggles.

They all looked at her quizzically, which only helped to worsen the young witch's laughter. She was tearing up now, and by the time she calmed down, most of the people around her stared at her oddly. No one could believe this small first-year had the gall to laugh in Professor Snape's face, let alone a Ravenclaw.

As Raven wiped her eyes, Severus asked, "And what, may I ask, was that?"

With gray eyes twinkling with mirth, Raven answered with a question of her own, "Are nodding and odd looks a Slytherin thing, or did you three practice that?" The three wizards gave her blank looks and she bit her lip to stop her snickers.

"And you ever doubted you'd be in Ravenclaw." Jamie shook his head. "You'll be the next Uric the Oddball."

"Oi, at least give me time to find my jellyfish hat." She feigned a suspicious look. "You haven't taken it again, have you?"

Teddy smiled. "You know what, I think he did. Saw it in his trunk, I believe."

Jamie turned to him. "And what were you doing in my trunk."

"Probably looking for ovomancy eggs," Raven offered slyly.

"Hey!" Jamie and Teddy exclaimed.

"Only oddballs study ovomancy," Jamie argued. Teddy nodded in agreement.

Raven smirked. "Yes, and only one who studies ovomancy would know what it is."

Teddy and Jamie frowned, realizing they fell in her trap. Raven giggled.

Severus smirked. "Four points to Ravenclaw for your Slytherin tendencies."

The nosy people around them gawked at Raven and their Head of House. This was the first time he gave points this year, and he gave them to a Ravenclaw!

Raven giggled at her friends' expressions. "Thank you, Professor."

Severus nodded and continued handing out the schedules.

Raven winked teasingly at her friends before she left with a piece of toast from each of their plates. She waved to Sebastiaan, Everett, and Angelina on her way back to her table, deciding to visit them when she had more time. Right now, she needed to eat, get her schedule, and give Remus' letter to Edgar.

Raven sat down next to Terry just as the owls started soaring in. Edgar quickly flew over to her and held out his leg. Raven gently untied the pouch from it and collected the contents inside. She giggled. Remus sent her a Muggle first-aid kit, complete with gauze and crutches, potions for various ailments, Muggle medicines, epinephrin, two bezoars, a burn kit, sunscreen, arm floaties, a helmet, knee pads, shoulder pads, wrist guards, training wheels for a bike, matches and a canteen taped to a book on surviving in the wild, and one Batman-themed band-aid. All of this came with a message that said: "Be careful! —Love, Remus." By the time she got to the letter, Raven was howling in laughter, earning her and her mail odd looks.

Raven ignored the looks and quickly stuffed her new belongings into her bag, grateful, once again, that Remus used the charm. She also pulled out an extra piece of parchment to reply to Remus' mail. She quickly wrote then tied it to the letter and placed both into Edgar's mail pouch. He hooted softly and Raven fed him a piece of toast before he flew away.

Now famished, Raven forced herself to place her food onto her plate before she ravished it. A few minutes into her breakfast, an amused voice behind her said, "Slow down, Ray! No need to inhale the food. You know it's already dead, right?"

Raven swallowed her mouthful of cereal. Without facing him, she replied, "Piss off, Evi."

Everett smirked and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Now is that any way to speak to a Head Boy?" He said this loud enough for the people around them to hear.

Raven turned to glare at the smug boy that stole a piece of her sausage. She glanced down at his badge. "H-B," she read. "You, Head Boy?"

He nodded.

"Not Head Man?" She smirked as he stopped chewing the sausage.

"Brah," the Head Boy replied with his mouth full.

"What was that?" Raven asked cheekily.

Everett tapped her on the side of the head. He straightened and held out a piece of parchment. Raven looked at it. "My schedule?"

"No, it's your autobiography," the large teen answered, his voice heavy with sarcasm.

Raven rolled her eyes. "Autobiographies are written by the people they're writing about. Biographies are written about people by other people. So, since I did not write this, it is not an autobiography."

Everett stared at her blankly.

"If you're going to tease me, at least do it correctly." Raven returned the look.

"Shut up."

Raven smirked.

"You're a little brat, you know that?"

"Oh, look, he can rhyme," the young witch said dryly.

"You know, usually, when a person is nice enough to get their friend's timetable for them, the friend says 'Oh, thank you, Everett! You're the best and most dashing and talented brother any witch could have!'" He acted that out in his girl-voice, using (what he thought were) girly gestures.

Raven smacked him on the chest and took her schedule from him. "First, I don't talk like that. Nor do I do...whatever you thought that was. Second, asking Professor Flitwick for my schedule is not a big feat. Rescue it from a dragon or something, then I'll be impressed. And third, 'dashing and talented'? Even if you were my brother, those qualities would've skipped a child. Oh, and Raven Campbell? I'll stick with my own name."

"Way to boost a bloke's ego," Everett replied sardonically. He picked Raven up abruptly, causing her to squeak, and sat himself down in her place, setting her on his lap. "And you love me and my last name. You're just jealous you can't have it and Ange will when she marries me. You know I'm in love with her, right?"

Raven quirked her brow at him. "You're not in love with Ange."

Everett smiled. "True. But she thinks I am."

"No she doesn't."

"I know, but she's in love with me."

"No, she isn't. And even if she was, that would be illegal."

"Wasn't illegal for Romeo and Juliet."

"It wasn't allowed, either."

"They were in love. It was romantic."

"They fell in love and killed themselves within three days. Not exactly the romance of the year."

"You're right. It wasn't the romance of the year, it was the romance of the century."

"It was a tragedy!"

"Well, aren't you just Patty Pessimism!"

"It's Debby Downer."

"Whatever, Cathy Correction."

"Really, Kenny Comeback?"

"Yeah, Tiny Tina."

The two glared at each other before bursting out in laughter. Some people around them joined the two.

When Raven finally calmed down from yet another laughing fit, she wiped her eyes and said, "I'm not a little person."

Everett gave her a look.

"Shut up."

Everett chuckled softly and shook his head. He stood up, almost knocking Raven down. He caught her easily, stole her schedule, and threw her over his shoulder.

"Hey, put me down." Raven wiggled and hit his back, repeatedly demanding Everett put her down.

The large teen ignored her protests and checked the schedule. "Charms," he muttered to himself, then, a little louder, "Come on, friends of Raven. Off to Charms we go!"

All of the first-year Ravenclaws followed behind the large Head Boy with a fellow student draped over his shoulder.

After a few minutes of fruitless struggle, Raven sighed and asked, "Will you at least sit me on your shoulder? I'm getting a little light-headed."

Everett chuckled. "All you had to do was ask." He carefully moved Raven to sit on his shoulders and he took her bag for her.

Raven smiled and held on to her friend's curly-haired head. She liked the view from up here. "When did you get so tall?"

"Around the same time you started shrinking," Everett answered with a smirk.

Raven smacked the side of his head but said nothing. She watched the portraits move and even waved to some smiling at her.

Everett started an impromptu tour, complete with stories about the castle and wild gestures for effect. The little Ravenclaws were entranced by the Head Boy's stories, gasping and giggling when expected.

The group passed a few other students on the way to Charms. Any first-years that saw them stared, while any older students that passed shook their heads knowingly. So Evi's this weird everywhere, Raven observed.

The group made it to the Charms classroom in good time. Everett set Raven down and handed her her bag. He leaned down to talk to her, as if she were a young child and whispered, "Now, I can't do this everyday, I have class too, you know."

Raven was about to protest, (she never asked him to escort her to class) but Everett stopped her.

"But I have a free period every Tuesday morning, so you can visit me after Charms. Okay, pumpkin," he cooed.

Raven wondered why he was treating her like a baby, but just wrote it of as Evi being Evi. "Everett?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

He laughed and straightened. "My baby's all grown up." He wiped a fake tear from his eye.

"Go away or I'll tell Jamie on you."

Everett laughed. "Fine, tell him."

"Angelina?" Again, a laugh, though with less enthusiasm.

Raven narrowed her eyes. "Professor Snape." She smiled as that did the trick. Everett waved to the group of Firsties and left without another odd word.

"Erm, who was that?" Terry asked.

"One of my best friends," Raven answered, "and apparently, the Gryffindor Head Boy." She shook her head and wondered what Albus Dumbledore was thinking when he made that decision. Then again, he made James Potter Head Boy. Raven stood up straighter as she thought of another Potter. Harry, specifically. She wondered how she would approach him. Should she tell him who she was, or keep it a secret? Tell him about his family or wonder if he already knows?

"Ah," Terry broke through her thoughts, "Well, he's...different."

"Hah," Raven laughed, "that's the understatement of the year."

Terry smiled.

"What is?" a voice asked. Raven turned to see another best friend walking up to her, along with his housemates.

"Everett is 'different'," Raven answered.

Teddy snorted. "Yeah, different is definitely not a strong enough word."

Raven giggled and Terry wondered who this new boy was.

"He's eccentric, as Prefect Robert would put it," Raven said.

Teddy raised his eyebrows. "Eccentric? No, that's too nice. You're eccentric. He's...insane."

"Completely mad," Raven agreed.

"Funny in the head," Teddy added.

Raven giggled.

Teddy turned to Terry and asked conversationally, "So, who's your friend?"

"Oh, right. This is Terry. Terry—this is Teddy. Terry, Teddy. Teddy, Terry. Ach, this isn't good." Raven knew she would get their names mixed up at one point. Maybe she could give one of them a nickname.

"Nice to meet you Terry," Teddy shook hands with the other boy, "you may call me Theodore. Or Nott."

Raven rolled her eyes and turned to Terry. "No, you won't. Call him Teddy, everyone does." Raven smirked. "Well, except for his mum." Teddy blushed slightly.

"Pleased to meet you," Terry replied uncomfortably. He didn't think the other boy liked him.

Teddy looked behind Terry and nodded. "MacDougal," he greeted.

"Nott," Morag replied.

Raven frowned in confusion. Teddy smirked, "You're not the only one with other friends."

"I wouldn't say we're friends," Morag corrected.

"More like acquaintances," Teddy agreed.

"Maybe pals."

"Or lovers," the two boys said. They smirked.

Raven gave the two odd looks. If Teddy and Morag were so close, why was Raven just meeting Morag?

Teddy laughed at his friend's expression. "Our parents are long-time friends; so, by default, so are we. You never met him because his family lives in Scotland. They have their own Quidditch pitch, so he won't bother with our public one," he explained.

"You go to a public pitch?" A blonde boy sneered and walked up to Raven, Teddy, Terry, and Morag.

"Malfoy," Teddy sighed in greeting, exasperated.

Teddy must know him too, Raven thought, I hope they're not lovers.

Malfoy's friends moved to stand behind him. Teddy greeted them in the same way, as if forced to be polite. "Not everyone lives in the country, Malfoy," he answered the blonde boy's earlier question.

Malfoy sneered in disgust. "You couldn't build one in the country and just fly to that?"

Teddy rolled his eyes. He wouldn't bother continuing this argument.

"What's the point in that?" Raven asked. Teddy winced, knowing the rich boy would not shut up once he got going.

Malfoy looked over at Raven, eyes going a little wider. "Black," he muttered.

"Name or race?" Raven asked rhetorically.

Malfoy collected himself then answered anyway, "Name."

"Call me Raven."

Malfoy looked like he was about to protest, then nodded. "Call me Draco."

Raven stared at the boy for a little while then said with finality, "Maybe."

The door to the classroom opened suddenly, and the students piled in. Teddy and Raven ignored the segregated seating and sat by each other in the front row. Terry and Morag sat behind them. Draco and a boy Raven remembered as Blaise Zabini sat across from them on the Slytherin side. Behind them were Draco's cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.

Professor Flitwick appeared from behind his desk as he climbed on top of a stack of books. He took out a piece of parchment and started checking attendance. When he got to Raven's name, he squeaked and stuttered a greeting, "G-Good morning, M-Miss Black."

Raven didn't like how her last name could turn a respectable wizard into Quirrell. She quickly corrected him. "Please, call me Raven," she said politely, using one of her winning smiles.

The gray-eyed witch's smile worked and her Head of House returned it warmly. "Raven," he amended and went back to the role-call.

The rest of the class went smoothly. They started reading their book and Professor Flitwick taught a bit of the theory of the Levitation Charm. Raven felt a bit disappointed they didn't work on casting it.

After class, they had a morning free period and Raven used it to explore the grounds. Terry, Teddy, Morag, and Mandy joined her. Raven decided to go to her usual spot by the Black Lake and discovered someone was already there. She squinted to see who was skipping rocks at the shore of the lake and nearly gasped when she noticed who was there.

Raven tried not to run in her enthusiasm to talk to her godbrother. She strode up near him, but slowed as a wave of nervousness hit her. For the first time in a long time, Raven couldn't think of what to say. "Erm, hello?"

Harry jumped. He hadn't heard the girl walk up to him. He saw her friends behind her, all staring at him. Harry grimaced, not used to the staring yet. At least they aren't whispering about me as if I can't hear them, he thought. "Hello," Harry answered quietly. "Is this your spot or something?" He didn't want to make them find a new one just because of him. Nor did he want them to feel obligated to ask him to stay.

"No, no. I er, just wanted to say 'hi,'" Raven replied awkwardly.

Harry frowned in confusion, but nodded. "Okay. Well, erm, hi."

Raven sighed. This wasn't going well. "What's your name?"

Harry's eyes rose in surprise. No one but Ron (and that bushy-haired girl, Hermione) had asked him that since he stepped into this amazing word. Apparently he was famous here. "Harry. What's your name?"

"Raven."

Harry liked ravens. "I like your name."

Raven grinned. "I like your eyes." They were a light emerald color. Just like his mum's and even close to her own mum's.

Harry blushed at the complement. "Thank you."

Raven nodded and glanced at the smooth stone in Harry's hand. "You like skipping rocks?"

Harry nodded. "Do you?" He looked around and picked up a perfectly smooth stone. He handed it to Raven after she nodded.

Raven tossed the stone and counted the skips. Seven. "What else do you like?"

Harry tossed his own stone. Nine skips. "Comics." He winced as the answer came out before he could stop it.

Raven tilted her head. "Ever been to UKCAC or Comic-Con?"

Harry stared at her in awe. "No," he said breathlessly, "Have you?"

Raven smiled. "Yes." She bit her lip. "I like Batman."

Harry's jaw dropped. "Me too! He's my favourite."

Raven lit up. "Yeah?"

Harry nodded vigorously. "How many times have you been to UKCAC and Comic-Con?"

"I went to both last year and the year before. I actually plan to go to Comic-Con this summer."

"Really?"

Raven nodded. She didn't know if she was sharing this information to get him to like her or if she really just wanted to share. Either way, she'd probably end up inviting him.

"My aunt and uncle didn't want to take me to UKCAC, so I never got to go. They don't like unrealistic things. I also think they don't like the States, so I didn't even ask about Comic-Con. You're so lucky your parents took you."

Raven bit her lip. "My godfather took me."

Harry looked at her, understanding in his features. "Oh, um, what about to your parents?"

"One's dead. One's in prison."

Harry nodded. "Both of mine are dead. That's how I got this scar." He pointed to his forehead.

Raven nodded. "I know."

Harry stared at her. She already knew who he was. "Why did you ask my name?"

"I wanted to be polite."

The green-eyed boy grinned. It was better than staring. (Which her friends were still doing, by the way.) "Hello," he greeted the other people.

Raven's friends snapped out of it and greeted Harry back.

Morag checked his watch and informed the group that they would be late for Transfiguration if they did not leave now.

Harry picked his bag up and followed them. Raven moved to walk beside him. Teddy went beside her. "So," he started casually, "who the bloody hell is Batman"

Raven laughed and said, "I'll tell you later." She turned to Harry. "So, what other characters do you like?"

Her godbrother lit up and started to tell her stories about his obsession. Raven listened intently and smiled fondly. She wondered if she should ever tell him of their relation to each other.


The group made it to Transfiguration on time and Harry went to sit by his friend, Ron. Raven sat next to Terry across from them.

The moment the rest of the class sat down, Professor McGonagall spoke, "Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts. Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned." She then changed her desk into a pig and then back again.

Raven wanted to clap, she was so excited for this class.

After taking quite a bit of notes, Professor McGonagall announced they would be turning match sticks into needles.

Raven practiced saying the spell in her head then practiced the motions silently. When she was ready, she chanted the spell and waved her wand precisely. She looked down at the match and was happy to see it sharpened and went from a tan color to a gray one. Though not satisfied, she tried again. Raven kept her eye on the pointy match and watched it turn into a sharp, silver needle. She let out a squeak. She did it! Raven felt like cheering, or better yet, doing it again.

The gray-eyed witch raised her hand. "Professor?"

Professor McGonagall turned walked over to the eager student and noticed she looked a bit familiar. Not just from the Sorting Ceremony, but around Hogwarts in general. "Yes, Miss Black?"

Raven held up the needle. "I did it. Will you teach me how to change it back so I may try again?" she asked politely.

Minerva's eyebrows raised in surprise. Not many students completed this transfiguration this early in the lesson. She gave Raven a rare smile as she picked up the needle. She nodded, impressed. She awarded her student ten points before instructing her on how to change the needle back.

Raven practiced the spell and the movements silently, as she did with the last spell, under the careful eye of her professor. She performed the spell better than she had with the last, changing the needle back into a match on her first try.

Her professor smiled again and awarded her another ten points. She told Raven to research other counter-spells, including Finite and Finite Incantatem.

After Professor McGonagall went to check on another student's progress, Raven practiced the spells she already knew, turning the match into a needle and back again. She wondered how difficult it was to do it non-verbally. She decided to research that along with the counter-spells.

The only other person who managed to change their match into something similar to a needle was Hermione. Professor McGonagall awarded her five points, also giving her a smile. Raven wondered if the girl would like to research counter-spells with her.

Once class ended, Raven didn't even need to move, as Hermione already headed her way. "Raven? How did you do the transfiguration?"

The shorter witch smiled. "Come to the library with me after next period and I'll teach you. We can look up counter-spells while we're at it."

The bushy-haired girl nodded and left with a smile.

Raven saw Harry leaving with Ron and waved to him. He waved back and left without a word. Raven sighed and wondered about the next time she could talk to him.

"What's wrong?"

Raven turned to Terry, distracted. "Huh? Oh, nothing."

Terry tilted his head, about to say more, but thought better of it. He, Morag, Mandy, Padma, and Lisa walked with Raven to Herbology.

The Ravenclaws met up with the Slytherins again, this time behind the castle in one of the large greenhouses. Teddy found Raven appearing miles away and quickly guessed the cause of it. He beat Terry to the spot beside her and leaned over to whisper, "Plan to tell me about Harry and you?"

The short witch stared at her friend in surprise, then deflated, knowing she could never hide much from him. "I'll go into details later," she whispered back, "but, you know how Remus is my godfather?"

Teddy nodded.

"Well, I'm not the only Marauder's child to have one," Raven finished vaguely.

The two spent the rest of the class listing to Professor Sprout's lecture on greenhouse safety and basic Herbology tools.


Raven explored the school's library and hour later. She didn't have to wait long before a head of bushy brown hair bobbed through the sea of students. The first day tended to be one of the busiest days for the library. The gray-eyed witch plucked a book from the Transfiguration shelf and headed to the table Teddy saved. She captured Hermione's attention and waved her over to her group of friends already sitting down.

"Hermione, this is Teddy, Terry, Morag, Mandy, Padma, and Lisa. And that boy over there," Raven pointed, "is Sebastiaan." She waved him over.

"Nice to meet you all," Hermione said. Everyone greeted her back in turn.

Raven, Hermione, and Sebastiaan fit themselves in the circle already formed and took out their materials. "You already made progress on your match, you just need to completely change it," Raven began. She took out a matchbox and set a match on the table in front of Hermione. "Show me what you did before." Raven watched the witch recite the spell and wave her wand. The match sharpened and turned gray. "I see. You're moving your wand a bit fast. When you get to the middle part of the spell, match up the movement with the incantation exactly. Like this." Raven took out another match and turned it into a perfect needle.

Hermione watched intently then tried again. This time, the match turned into a sharp, silver needle. Raven smiled and said, "Now try the counter-spell." She performed the spell and her needle went right back to a match. She turned it back into a needle and repeated the process.

Hermione followed Raven's instructions and was happy to find her needle turned back into a match. Raven handed out other matches to her friends for them to transfigure. After some struggle (and a bit of cursing on Teddy and Morag's part), everyone could turn their matches into needles and back again.

Raven smiled at her friends' achievements and opened her book on counter-spells. Teddy took this moment to bring up their earlier conversation. "Is Harry your brother?" he asked in a low voice.

The gray-eyed girl frowned at him for his choice of setting, but answered anyway, "Godbrother."

"Is Remus his godfather, too?"

Raven shook her head slightly. "Sirius is," she replied so quietly, Teddy wasn't sure he heard it.

"Oh, that's bad."

Raven gave him a look, as if to say, No duh.

Teddy grimaced. "What about your mum? Was she his godmother?"

Raven nodded.

"Then why didn't she...?"

"She didn't want to." Raven shrugged, uncomfortable.

Sebastiaan narrowed his eyes at his two friends' obvious secret conversation. He decided to interrupt them before someone overheard. "So Raven, only two classes together."

Raven turned away from Teddy and frowned. "We still have flying lessons, and the Ravenclaws usually have those with the Hufflepuffs."

Padma looked up from her Transfiguration book. "How do you know that?"

Sebastiaan's eyes widened, but Raven answered coolly, "Head Boy Everett told me." Padma nodded and went back to her book. The hazel-eyed boy let out a relieved breath. He knew Raven wasn't supposed to tell people about her lessons with Professor Snape, and, therefore, not about her being at Hogwarts earlier than her classmates.

"Everett became Head Boy?" Sebastiaan asked, incredulous.

"What was Professor Dumbledore thinking?" Teddy muttered.

Raven giggled. "That's exactly how I felt." She read Sebastiaan's timetable. "How was DADA?"

He shrugged. "Okay, I guess."

"Quirrell smells like garlic," Teddy commented. At Raven's confused expression, he explained, "I passed him on the way to Charms this morning."

Raven sneered at the mention of the Defense professor, and quickly changed the subject. "History of Magic?"

Both boys groaned.

"Stupid."

"Boring." Sebastiaan shook his head. "Apparently the professor died in an office fire while he slept."

"And he's taking his revenge out on his students by boring us to death," Teddy added.

Raven glanced at her schedule again. "At least you don't have a double period." She scowled.

Sebastiaan took the parchment from her and shook his head sadly. "Well, you could teach yourself whatever he teaches and use that class as a study period. I hear he only goes on about Goblin Rebellions." He almost handed the schedule back, but did a double take. "You don't have any classes on Friday!"

Raven smiled. "That's when the flying lessons are. They start next week." She glanced down. "And I could make History a study period—if I don't fall asleep, that is. At least I have Potions afterward. That'll wake me up."

"And if it doesn't, you could just make yourself an Invigoration Draught," Teddy offered.

"That's not taught until fifth year," Hermione said.

"Yes, but Raven alre—" A sharp kick from Sebastiaan cut Teddy off. The hazel-eyed boy gave him a meaningful glare and Teddy corrected himself. "Raven is smart. She could learn it," he finished lamely.

"I'm sure she could, but learning Potions takes time. We haven't even begun our first lessons!" Hermione argued.

"True," Raven agreed, smirking at Teddy's expression, "I'll just start with the Boil-Cure Potion before I think about Invigoration Draughts."

Teddy shook his head and rubbed his shin. "You two are mean," he grumbled quietly.

Raven and Sebastiaan shrugged, unapologetic.


September 2, 1991

Dear Remus,

Hogwarts is just as majestic at night. If I weren't a part of this world, I wouldn't believe it myself—that anything could be this beautiful.

I'm sure you already knew that the Great Hall glows at night. Hundreds of candles filled the hall with a soft light that was still so bright. I promised myself I would paint the scene at least a hundred times.

The journey here was fun. At first, the six of us moped; but Bastiaan soon told us to stop sulking and start living. So we did, and everyone arrived with a smile on their face.

I never knew the Black Lake could look so amazing, reflecting something so exquisite, yet keeping its own beauty. And Hogwarts! That would probably be the only book one could judge by its cover. Unless one thought the pages were only as glorious as the cover.

I didn't know hats could sing like that. Did the Sorting Hat always look that worn down? Is there any way to freshen it up? Anyway, I was Sorted in Ravenclaw. I guess no one was surprised, but the hat understood why I would be.

Speaking of the Sorting, Bastiaan became a Badger, and Teddy a Snake. You might be able to guess who became a Lion.

No guess? Harry Potter. My godbrother. I still wonder why Mum didn't choose to adopt him, rather than send him to his Aunt.

I plan to talk to him today, to see what he's like. What his interests are. If he enjoys Hogwarts. If he's okay...

On a lighter note, Ravenclaw has an impressive library. Something I intend to explore very soon.

Ravenclaw tower also possesses an amazing view of the grounds. (So I've heard. I just woke up and have yet to check.)

I don't have much time to write much now, but I promise to write more later and tell you about my first day.

Tell Jini I said 'Hi.'

Love your cub,

Raven the Ravenclaw

A tear dropped onto the parchment and Remus quickly dried it before the ink ran.

Love your cub, she wrote.

My cub, Remus thought. A sob escaped him. He was so overjoyed, he could barely think. The lonely werewolf finally had a daughter. He couldn't be happier.


Poor Remus, getting all happy. Will Raven crush his feelings? Stay tuned for the next installment of Feathers and Letters!

Thank you for reading. Please review. (I wonder if I can get up to ten of those before the next chapter...)