Hogwarts - A New Generation
Chapter 8 - Interesting Things
Yay, exams are over! I was up all last night writing this. So, here's your next chapter, guys. Hope you enjoy. Please review saying if you liked it.
DISCLAIMER: Does it look like I own HP? Except the plot and the OCs.
Ivy and Daisy followed their prefect, Olivia Right, up the Ravenclaw tower and stopped in front of a door, which the twins assumed to be the Ravenclaw common room. The door was a plain expanse of aged wood, and a bronze knocker in the shape of an eagle. No handle or keyhole.
Olivia turned to the first years. "Everytime you want to enter the Ravenclaw common room, you should answer one question. If you do not know the answer, then you must wait for someone who knows the answer." Then, she turned and knocked once on the door.
The eagle's beak opened and a soft, musical voice said, "What came first, the chicken or the egg?"
"Any guesses?" asked Olivia.
"Umm," said one of the boys, Julian Kotley, hesitantly raising his hand. "The egg, because other animals laid eggs before the evolution of chickens...?" It came out more like a question.
The door opened, so it must have been the correct answer. Olivia led them inside. "You have all been sorted into Ravenclaw, as the Sorting Hat recognised in you cleverness, a thirst for knowledge and the ability to think outside the box. Just because you are in Ravenclaw doesn't mean you have to be book worms. While you are at Hogwarts, you must not only excel in your studies, but also have a good time with your friends. If you run into any problems, do not hesitate to come to me or the other prefects for Head of our House, Professor Flitwick, will also help you if you are facing any difficulties. Your class schedules will be given by him tomorrow at breakfast.
"Now, Ravenclaw is the cleverest of Houses, not just in knowledge but also in wisdom. Our people are the most individual – you might even call them eccentrics. But geniuses are often out of step with ordinary folk, and unlike the other houses, 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.
"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. Once again, congratulations on making it to Ravenclaw, and I'm sure you'll enjoy your lessons. Except for History of Magic," she added. "No one likes that, not even the Ravenclaws.
"The dormitories are beyond that doorway. Boys to the right of the staircase and girls to the left. You have all had a long day, so you can all turn in now, and unpack your trunks tomorrow at break.
The first years weren't in a mood to go to sleep, so they decided to look over the common room. The Ravenclaw common room was a wide, circular room with arched windows which were hung with blue-and-bronze silks. The twins noted that there would be a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains during the daytime. There was a blue dome ceiling and a blue carpet on the tables, chairs, couches and bookcases, and on the other side of the door stood the statue of Rowena Ravenclaw. She was wearing a tiara, which the Purebloods told them was the lost diadem. Tiny words were etched on it: Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure. Beside the statue was a door, which Olivia had said led to the dormitories.
After a while of exploring with the other first years, Ivy and Daisy went to their dormitory. There was a line of five beds along one side, and an empty bookshelf on the opposite side, to keep their books, the twins guessed. They had a view of the mountains from the windows in the dorm, and a picture of Rowena Ravenclaw hung on the wall, where the residents of the dorm would see it the moment they opened their eyes in the morning. There was a cabinet for each of them beside their bed, and there were blue curtains in case they wished to draw them before sleeping.
They were both given beds next to one another, and their trunks had already been deposited by their cabinets. They both changed into their night clothes and lay down.
"Good night, Ivy," said Daisy sleepily. They had had a long day.
"Good night," replied Ivy.
...
Next morning, Daisy and Ivy woke up bright and early. They always did. After brushing their teeth, taking a bath and dressing, they head down to the common room. As it wasn't really time for breakfast, the twins heard about all the juicy news. Teddy Lupin, whose parents had both been part of the Order of the Phoenix, which they had heard about from their mother, was a sixth year Hufflepuff here. Apparently, he was also a Metamorphmagus like his mother, Nympahdora Tonks. And then, there was a nice girl from Hufflepuff who had earned the respect of all the students from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor and even most of the Slytherin students with her antics.
And then, this made them widen their eyes quite a bit, Parseltongue was a common language now. The story was something like this: There was a Parselmouth in Slytherin well after (10 years after) Voldemort had been defeated. Many believed him to be an evil wizard, but he turned out to be cool. He taught the other Slytherins to speak Parselmouth, at least a few easy words, and they started hissing things to the other Houses' students, but one of them let it slip that they were just saying hello. The news spread like wildfire, and the Gryffindor bugged the Slytherin to teach them, too. The Slytherin got tired of the bugging and taught them. And the Ravenclaws joined too as they were always eager to learn new things, and the Hufflepuff too joined as this was a chance at House unity. The teachers had no idea about anything, and to aggravate them, the students would often hiss 'Hi' at each other during class, and answer that they didn't know what the sound was, probably the water in the pipes. The 'unity idea' worked, though, and now all the Houses were finally united, though probably a little different than the way the Four Founders had dreamed it would be. (A/N: This idea came from a headcanon I saw on the internet)
All this was so interesting that Daisy and Ivy completely lost track of time and were startled when all the students started heading down to breakfast. When they went outside with the crowd, they saw a few of their fellow classmates outside. Apparently, they couldn't answer the Eagle Knocker's question.
"Many first years are afraid of this," said one of the boys standing there. Robert Hilliard, a sixth year Prefect. "But you needn't worry. The Knocker takes any answer, as long as it's reasonable. Most of the time, the questions have a number of answers. Think of it logically. Ravenclaws learn quickly, and soon, you'll 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, through discussion. (Yes, that's allowed.) This is a great way to meet 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. I'd advise you to triple-check your bag for everything you need before leaving Ravenclaw Tower."
They headed down to breakfast, and Professor Marazion, the Headmaster, told them to fill in. Daisy especially enjoyed the Cauldron Cakes. Then, Professor Flitwick gave them their schedules. The Ravenclaw first years had Charms first. The twins got up and filed out of the dining room with their House, eager for their first lesson with Professor Flitwick.
I'll update the next chapter tomorrow as I'm free. Or even today, if I finish it. Please, please, please review. Come on, it takes less than a minute. Love it? Hate it?