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The children finished their desserts leisurely. The plates eventually cleared and the now sleepy students tried their best to listen to the Headmaster's announcements before they headed off to bed.
"Do you think he really meant it?" asked Hermione.
"Who meant what?" asked Dudley. Harry was glad someone asked. He had no idea what Hermione was talking about.
Daphne sighed and shook her head. "The Headmaster. Do you think he really meant that anyone entering the third-floor corridor on the left-hand side would die a painful death?"
"He said that?" asked Neville, baffled.
"Boys!" said Tracy, Daphne, and Hermione all at once.
"Of course, he said that," said Daphne.
Blaise just started laughing.
"Maybe he was joking?" said Neville with a shrug.
"I don't think so," said Hermione. "He seemed serious." Daphne nodded in agreement.
"Well, I say we don't go to that corridor and don't find out," said Neville. Harry wasn't so sure. A little death defying sounded exciting to him.
They arrived at the Ravenclaw common room and stood before the door.
"What's wet while drying and absorbs more than it ever expels?" asked the doorknocker.
"A towel," said the prefect. "If you ever have trouble guessing the riddle password, just ask for a level 1. Anyone can guess those."
The two fifth year prefects led the firsties into the Ravenclaw common room. It was a complete copy of the Hogwarts library, minus the restricted section, but plus many donated books from former Ravenclaws. It was a tower that was eight stories high and covered with books on every inch of the place. The seven rings lacing the tower led to hallways for each of the year groups. The bottom level was basically a study hall with a common room in the center of it. There were comfortable couches and chairs in groups that all had quieting charms placed on them, to keep noise from carrying around the room. The study cubicles each had a silencing charm on them, for students who wanted absolute silence, something that was hard to achieve in a house that had almost 150 students in it. Stained glass windows stood in perfectly straight lines all the way up the tower, washing the room in colored light.
"In Ravenclaw, we respect the fact that people keep odd hours. Each person gets their own room, though it is a small room. Each person can choose a study cubicle as their own for the entire year. Make sure to choose well and do not enter or touch anything in anyone else's cubicle. These spaces are sacrosanct," the prefect paused to make sure the students all understood.
"As first years, you may choose any room on the first three floors. These floors are for the first through third years. There is a small common room just for first through third years at the end of the third-floor corridor. You will not be able to enter the fourth through sixth year floors or the seventh-year floor, though they are set up very similarly," the other prefect said, pointing to a stairwell behind him that had the numbers 1-3 over the arched entryway.
"Wards will prevent you from entering anyone's room that you have not been invited into, so don't even try. Quiet hours are from 10pm until 8am. Do not break quiet hour rules. You may access the Ravenclaw library at any time. You can add books to the library of your own that other students will be able to borrow throughout the year. You will not be able to take any of the Ravenclaw library books outside of Ravenclaw tower. You may only keep a book for one week before it will disappear and reappear on the shelves. No hogging the books, please," said the first prefect.
"Meet back here at 7:30pm for an all Ravenclaw meeting. Until then, you're dismissed. Go find your rooms and your study cubicles but no running!" said the second prefect.
The children all scurried to find their rooms. The seven friends had a quick conversation about where they'd likely find seven rooms together.
"What floor do you think we should try? The second and third years will mostly have picked a room by now," said a worried Hermione. She wanted to be with all her friends.
"The third floor, said Harry. "Most people will want to avoid all the extra stairs. Come on!" Harry hurried off for the stairs and took them at a fast pace that some might call a run. Dudley was right behind him, laughing all the way. The rest of the group hurried along behind them but at a pace slower than warp speed.
Harry had studied the map inside Hogwarts: A History. It showed a general layout of the castle, though it admitted that things tended to move around, so the map was not 100% reliable. It also showed a general map of each common room. Harry knew that the small first through third year common room was at the end of the third-year hall, near the section of the library on Charms, Harry's favorite subject. He hurried along to the end of the hall, opposite the first-third year common room and saw the rooms as yet unclaimed. He let out a yell of success. Due to the common room. There were only 12 rooms on this level, while there were 32 rooms on each the first and second level. The common room took up a lot of space on the third level. None of the rooms on the third level had been claimed. The friends quickly lined up with Neville and an empty room against the back wall. Dudley got the room next to Neville, with Blaise across from him. Harry took the room next to Dudley. Right across from Harry was Hermione and Daphne in the room right next to him. Tracy took the room across from Daphne, then Neville took the room on Daphne's other side. The group cackled to see one boys' and one girls' bathroom right there with the entrances between Neville's room and the empty room. It would practically be their private restroom, since there was a boys' and girls' toilet off the common room.
Harry grinned and walked into his room. The prefect had said it was small but Harry was quite pleased with the room. It had a four-poster bed, a small desk with two bookcases, a small wardrobe, and a chair in front of a small fireplace. It would be a cozy room, indeed. Harry looked around. He started unpacking his school books and his parchments and quills. He had three pictures to set on his bedside table. The picture of Harry's mother and his darling aunt Petunia. A picture of himself, his father, and Dudley and a picture of himself with his friends, Sirius, and Remus. The last photograph was a wizarding photograph and showed them all involved in a rousing game of quidditch, though Hermione and Neville were off to the side, floating on their brooms, watching the game and reading books. It was a great memory.
Harry hung up a poster of his favorite Quidditch Team, the Wimbledon Wasps, and his favorite footie team, West Ham.
Just as he was considering whether to move his cloak and knapsack to the wardrobe in the room, Professor Flitwick popped his head inside.
"Hello, there, Mr. Potter," Professor Flitwick said in his somewhat squeaky voice.
Harry turned to greet the little man, "Hello Professor Flitwick! It's lovely to see you. Thank you so much for allowing my admittance into Ravenclaw House." Harry gave the man a proper wizard's bow, from the waist with hands in a prayer position before him to show he was not holding his wand.
Professor Flitwick gave a bow of respect in return, with his fist clenched over his heart.
"I wanted to thank you again for the kind gift and the donation of the brooms. The school desperately needed them," Professor Flitwick said, with a smile.
Harry grinned in return. "It was our pleasure! Our father deserves the most credit; it was after all him who installed the values of philanthropy into myself and my brother," Harry said, humbly.
"It seems your father has certain done a fine job with the both of you. Now, what charm would you like on your room in reward? Some examples are a window of your very own, an expansion charm to make your room larger, I could change the color of the walls or the furnishings? Maybe charm the night sky onto your ceiling? It would help with studying for astronomy, quite nicely."
"If I have my room expanded, would it possible to get some additional furniture in here? My friends and I would love a place we could hang out together," Harry said. He would be glad to turn his room into a hangout spot. He had his trunk bedroom that he could sleep in and for privacy, after all.
"Yes, that would be fine. I'll call an elf to help you. It might be a mismatch of furniture but we can certainly accommodate you. How about I throw in a window as well, in honor of your mother, who was one of my favorite students," Professor Flitwick said with a sparkle in his eyes. He liked that this boy was thinking of others rather than of himself.
Harry grinned excitedly in return. "Then, that's what I'd like, please, professor."
Professor Flitwick started moving around the room, casting vigorously at the walls, ceiling, and floor. Harry watched the spellmaster in awe. How was the man moving so fluidly and quickly, when at times it seemed he could barely walk? It was a sight to behold. When the spellcasting stopped, the room seemed to warp inward on itself for a moment before it expanded quickly outward with a soft popping sound. Harry gasped as he looked around and saw the room was easily five times the size it had originally been. The fireplace was now huge, it took up a large portion of the West wall of the room. A huge window was now in place on the north side wall. It had a comfortable looking bench seat and a luxurious set of bronze curtains with a large deep blue raven in the center. Harry's desk had also stretched to twice its original size, as had the book cases and wardrobe. The bed stayed the same size but was pushed over in the corner, out of the way. Harry's trunk had pride of place at the foot of the bed. The deep blue and bronze rug on the floor had stretched to fill the entire room. It had the Ravenclaw house crest on the center in a circle of bronze.
"I absolutely love it, Professor!" Harry said, bouncing on his heels in joy. The room was amazing but also felt cavernous and empty.
"Now, let's fill it up! Oddment!" cried the professor. A wizened old elf appeared in the room. "Please help Mr. Potter choose some additional furniture to fill this room up with. I'm off to see your brother, next!" said the little Professor.
The professor left the room. Harry turned to the little old elf.
"What would you be liking, sir?" asked the elf.
"First, what's your name, sir?" asked Harry. "My name is Harry Potter. I'll be residing in this room for the rest of the next three years, if I can help it." Harry gave the elf a charming smile and waited politely for a reply.
The elf's eyes lit up to be treated with such respect. "I is being Oddment. I is Head Elf for Ravenclaw house. I is in charge of the table and the tower," Oddment said, giving a little bow to Harry.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Oddment. Now, what I was hoping for is enough furniture to turn this room into a comfortable hang out spot for my friends. We'll need seating for 7 at least and a big table that we could work at wouldn't go awry. What say you?" asked Harry. Oddment looked around and popped away. Harry sagged in disappointment. He thought the elf had been overwhelmed and just left. In a quick pop, he was back though, with two large, overstuffed sofas in a deep shade of blue, two loveseat in a periwinkle blue, and three additional armchairs in a soft sky blue color. He also had a large cherry wood table that would easily seat 12 people and had the chairs to back it up. The furniture was all a mishmash of styles but somehow it worked together with the similar coloring. He popped away again and came back with a bunch of side tables and a large coffee table. The room soon looked like a large, comfortable common room for everyone to share. The elf had even found a few extra book shelves and some lovely bronze lamps to scatter about the room. Harry thought it was gorgeous.
"Thank you so much, Oddment! I love it. I can tell I'm going to be very happy under your care," said Harry, complimenting the elf. Oddment was touched. No one hardly ever thanked him.
"If you be needing anything else, like a midnight snack or a drink while you is studying, just call for Oddment. Please tell youse friends, too," Oddment said. Popping out of the room. A cup of hot cocoa and a small plate of cookies appeared on Harry's coffee table. Harry grinned and enjoyed his treat.
Everyone eventually wandered into Harry's room. They were all excitedly chattering about the charms they'd had applied to their rooms.
"I got the window with the window seat. It'll be lovely to cuddle up with a warm blanket and look outside while I read," said Hermione.
Daphne agreed. "That's why I asked for the swinging chair in my room. It makes for a lovely reading location, just like my swing at home."
"I got an expansion charm on my room and my bed," said Blaise, pleased with his choices. "I need a comfortable place to sleep."
Dudley chuckled. "I got an expansion charm and a giant mirror so we'd have room to practice our Taekwondo moves. The professor even put cushioning charms on my rug so we wouldn't hurt ourselves if we fall."
"I got the expansion charm and a dirt repelling charm. I hate tracking dirt everywhere from my herbology studies," said Neville, grinning.
"And Harry got an expansion charm and all this cool new furniture so we can hang out together in here!" said Daphne, pulling Harry into a hug and kissing his cheek. Hermione, not to be outdone, did the same. Then, she held Daphne's hand as they sat in Harry's extended window seat together.
Harry grinned. "Having you all with me is what makes me happy. I'm glad to have a place that's just our own," said Harry.
The other students cheered and honored Harry for thinking of them all. Harry basked in the glow of their appreciation. The students got up and headed out to claim their study cubicles. They went to the main library and found a large octagonal desk that was split into 8 study cubicles. It was located near the back of the room, in a quiet place by itself.
After they'd claimed their study cubicles, they headed to the front of the room that had an area set up like a small colosseum with risers surrounding a raised pulpit on three sides. All the students settled into the seats and waited for Professor Flitwick to arrive.
The assembly began.
"Welcome students, new and returning, to what will surely be a wonderful new year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry or the Loch Beannach School for the Gifted," everyone laughed when he mentioned the code name for the school.
"Ravenclaw house is renowned for being the home of students who love to learn. I wish you all a wonderful wealth of wisdom to come! As many Ravenclaw students like to prepare for classes, I am handing out your schedules tonight. This will give you the rest of the evening to prepare for your classes tomorrow," most everyone cheered at the pronouncement.
"Please feel free to come to me if you have any questions about Hogwarts or any questions about magic. I love to learn, myself, and love to see others learn, as well. Prefects, please stand!" The prefects all stood and waved to the other students.
"These fine folks can also be of great service to you, if you have need. One final announcement. As is Ravenclaw tradition, I will be meeting with each of you at least once per semester. Make sure you sign up for your slot on the noticeboard," Professor Flitwick said, flicking his wand towards the list on the notice board.
"With that said, off to bed! Quiet hours start at 10pm and end at 8am during the week, and 12am to 10am on the weekends. Please respect that. Also, please remember that the third-floor corridor on the left-hand side is out of bounds this year. Danger truly does await those that venture there," Professor Flitwick said, waving goodnight to all the students.
Harry and his friends headed off to Harry's room to read and prepare for classes the next day.
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