The House Competition
Round 9
Ravenclaw, DADA
Drabble
(must include) A letter
(animal) Eagle
WC: 678
Rowena Ravenclaw
Rowena was sitting at her desk. The dim light of the candle shone upon the thick parchment. Scratching her head she let out a sigh, there were just so many things to consider. This wasn't the first letter she had exchanged with Godric, but with a possible impact that enormous, she wanted to make sure that she was doing everything alright.
While she admired Godric's courage, starting a new project, especially one that big, Rowana was mostly thinking about all the things that could go wrong. Salazar was determined to protect the children from the Muggles and create a safe space where they could learn magic and consolidate their culture whereas Helga just wanted to give the kids home away from home where they could be just children.
Leaning back into her chair, Rowena placed her quill onto the desk and closed the lid of her ink bottle. Founding a school for all the magical children of the British Islands was no easy feat. All the things that needed to be considered were spinning in her head, she didn't even know where to begin.
What were the most important things the children needed to know? At what age were they mentally ready to learn what skills? How does one structure an entire school year? Who were they going to hire to teach? And are they going to start with first years and move them gradually up or would they have different classes with different age groups right from the beginning?
Knowing that there were so many things she was still missing and hadn't considered yet, Rowena stood up. Grabbing her coat, she went outside.
Closing her eyes she inhaled deeply. The fresh air filled her lungs, expanding them to their maximum. For a moment her thoughts calmed down and Rowena relaxed. Letting her shoulders hang low, she took the first steps away from her house.
Sure she had over the years tutored a couple of children and passed her knowledge on to other grown witches and wizards as well, but that was very different from taking responsibility for the education of entire generations of students. Maybe this project was just a number too big for them and they were doing a disservice to all the young students.
Following the narrow path, she let her gaze wander over the stony landscape. Still deep in her thoughts only the cries of a bird of prey prompted her to look up.
A majestic-looking eagle was flying circles high above her head. Stopping for a moment, Rowena followed the gaze of the big creature. High above the cliff, she spotted a nest. From where she was standing, the witch could clearly see a couple of heads looking out.
The little eagles were eagerly flapping their wings imitating their mother. One of the little chicks hopped onto the edge of the nest. Sitting there the bird stared at the mother and then down. Losing courage, the little one jumped back to their siblings into the safe nest.
Rowena watched the baby eagles for a while. Eventually, one of them got bold. Under the mother's encouraging cries, the chick jumped up to the edge of the nest. Sitting there for a couple of minutes, summing all their courage, and then the little one jumped. Flapping the small wing radically, they sank to the ground.
In her mind still with the eagle family, Rowena sat down on her desk. If those birds had been orphaned, who would show them how to fly?
Picking her quill and parchment up, she hastily wrote the reply.
Dear Godric,
After thinking about all the things that could possibly go wrong and how I might not be able to fully provide what the students would need, I've come to a realization. If not us, who else will take the first step to a better future?
I'm available to discuss the details of a school with you, Helena, and Salazar. I know this project will require my everything and I'm ready to give it.
Yours Rowena