Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
Web of Lies: Revelations.
Harry woke up quite early the next morning. The nervousness he had been feeling the day before came back full force, knowing that he was going to take classes with other people than his friends made him feel uncomfortable. Add to that the fact that he would take first year classes, which he had mastered a long time ago, he was sure the day was going to be a disaster. Looking around, he saw that the other boys were all still asleep so he took the chance and went to take a long shower before the others would claim the bathroom. Once he was ready and dressed for the day, he walked down the stairs hearing his new classmates starting to get up.
Once he reached the common room, Alec looked around. Last night he had been too tired to pay much attention, but now he was able to take in all the details. The most prominent colours were bronze and blue, the Ravenclaw's colours. They were well laid-out around the large room and formed a warm atmosphere, even if different from the one in Gryffindor tower. It was kind of calming, and it seemed to give him the motivation to centre in his studies and knowledge. Different bronze creatures decorated the blue celestial walls and he noticed many eagles, the symbol of his new house.
Some seats were placed around the room, piled up in the centre as in different corners. He was surprised to see that it wasn't as empty as he had expected. Instead, the older students, who were concentrating on their books or discussing their new classes around the cherry tree wood tables, were whispering so they wouldn't bother the others who occupied the room. His eyes roamed further through the room and fixed on the chimney, staring in awe at it. It was... magnificent. He gripped the banister. His body was shaking. The combination of the white marble and the wood gave the impression that man and nature had worked together to create a beautiful illusion. He stared at the flames that were opening in front of him, showing a way to unknown worlds.
He noticed that above the hearth, a portrait seemed inlaid in the wall, showing all those years or maybe even those centuries she had spent there, always looking over the students it guarded. It was a woman perched on a seat, an eagle resting on her glove. His first thought was that wisdom seemed to be deeply printed in her eyes. She was wearing an ocean blue dress that didn't seem out of fashion even with the years that had past. Her alabaster skin and her fire-like hair were evidence in front of the azure sky. Then, he lost himself in the blue of her eyes and a name, only one, came to his mind: Rowena Ravenclaw.
A log broke, and Harry came out of his lethargy, and walked down the stairs noticing that a few people looked up at him as he hesitantly walked into the large, but comfortable room. He was unsure what he should do. Had he been in Gryffindor, he would have gone down to breakfast, even if he was the first one, but now he wasn't aware of what the other Ravenclaws usually did, so he just picked an empty seat in one of the corners of the common room and settled down to watch and wait until some other first year came down.
He had been sitting there for about five minutes when one of the older students approached him. "Hello there."
Alec was aware that the noise in the room had almost disappeared and that everyone was trying to listen to their conversation even if they were not looking their way. Feeling a bit uncomfortable at all the attention, he nodded silently to the teen as the old boy sat down in front of him. Noticing that the younger student was uncomfortable the boy smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry about them, they're just noisy prats."
Alec couldn't help but chuckle a bit when he saw several students start to blush and returning to their own conversations. He was torn out of his amusement when he saw a hand entering his line of vision. "I'm Jason McHill, I'm in seventh year and I'm a prefect."
Hesitantly, Harry shook his hand briefly before sitting back into his chair. Not liking the uncomfortable silence that settled upon them, he decided to try and discover a few things about his new classmates. "Is it always like this?"
Jason raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, Alec? You don't mind me calling you that, do you?"
Harry shook his head slightly. "Alec is fine. I was just wondering if you're all always up so early or that you're just anxious to start lessons."
Jason laughed lightly. "Oh, we're always up this early. It has been common practice in the house for centuries to wake up early. We can't have anyone in the Ravenclaw house to arrive late to classes. From tomorrow, the prefects will be in charge to wake the first years up until you're used to wake on your own. We use the extra time in the morning to review the lessons we're going to get later in the day."
Alec nodded, a bit astounded at the amount of work these teenagers did. No wonder they held the reputation of being the smartest people in the whole school. And yet, looking around, he started to understand that they worked hard to keep that reputation. The same way Gryffindors always tried to show off their braveness, the members of this house made it a point to be the best in everything. Jason once again drew his attention away from his own musings. "I have to thank you."
Harry looked up at him sharply and raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Jason smiled gently down at him. "You were the kid that helped all the other ones in Floorish and Bloots a few days ago, weren't you?"
Alec flushed, he didn't think anyone would have remembered about it. Except for Lan of course, but she had been sitting next to him so there was no surprise there. "I didn't see you there."
Jason nodded lightly. "I wasn't, but my parents were there with my little brother. He's starting at Beuxbatons this year and was there when the dementors attacked. Mother told me that she saw you disappear with Professors McGonagall and Snape, so it was not very hard to guess it had been you who helped them."
Alec nodded slightly. "You don't need to thank me; I just did what everyone would have done."
Jason chuckled. "Not everyone would have known how to fight the effects of the dementors, much less at such a young age, I'm really proud to call you a fellow Ravenclaw and I'm sure you'll make our house proud."
Harry didn't think he had even been so embarrassed in his life. For once someone was praising him on his own merits and he wasn't sure how to accept such praise. He was saved from having to answer when Anthony, the Head boy approached them. The boy smiled down at them.
"Good morning Alec. It's good to see you awake so early, one first year less to get used to our routine."
Both seventh years grinned mischievously. Anthony turned to Jason. "You called first shots on waking the little ones, didn't you? Get on with it before one of the new fifth years takes the chance."
Jason laughed and motioned to Alec. "Want to come and see what awaits you if you oversleep?"
Harry smiled lightly, remembering the many times he had seen that same smile on the Weasley twin's faces. Standing up, the three of them crept up the stairs into the first years' room. All the boys were still sleeping peacefully on their beds, unaware of the three people who had just entered the room. Harry watched in fascination as Jason drew his wand and almost silently the older student muttered a spell. Alec was starting to wonder what he had done, when suddenly the five teens woke up yelping and jumped out of their beds. Harry couldn't help his laughter when he saw hundreds of small slimy tentacles rising from the sheets. The first years turned to glare at them when they heard the laughter coming from the door.
When he was sure their attention was on him, Anthony took a step forward and stopped his laughter. "There are a few things that we, Ravenclaws, have kept doing through the ages. One of them is the fact that was always raise together at half past five to be in the common room at six and make sure we've looked through all the material we're going to use in class that day. From now on and until you're used to it, one of the prefects will wake you at that time. Today, being your first day here we allowed you to sleep in a bit. Now it's nearly time for breakfast, so get ready and come down. Jason will lead you all to the Great Hall so you can have breakfast and some other prefect will take you to your first class. For the first week you'll be taken to your classes by one of the older students, so you are to wait for them after you finish class, after that you'll have to make your own way through the school. Pay attention because it's going to be very confusing."
Nodding to the now serious teens Jason and Anthony left the room. Harry stood still at the door while the others left the room to take their showers. Looking around the blue room he couldn't help but sigh softly. Would he ever get used to this? It was so different than Gryffindor Tower. He was abruptly returned to reality when a voice shouted from the common room. "Alexander Dumbledore, get your arse down here, I'm hungry and want to go to breakfast!"
Laughing softly, Alec shook his head, took his bag and left the room. He could count on Lan to make him feel better and keep things interesting.
To be continued...
A/N: well, today there's a long list of thanks. As usually thank you all for reviewing, thanks to Vinnie for beta reading and to Leena for her help. Also I would like to thank Dod for writing the description of the Ravenclaw common room and to Pheneatis for translating it so I could place it in this chapter.
Web of Lies: Revelations.
Harry woke up quite early the next morning. The nervousness he had been feeling the day before came back full force, knowing that he was going to take classes with other people than his friends made him feel uncomfortable. Add to that the fact that he would take first year classes, which he had mastered a long time ago, he was sure the day was going to be a disaster. Looking around, he saw that the other boys were all still asleep so he took the chance and went to take a long shower before the others would claim the bathroom. Once he was ready and dressed for the day, he walked down the stairs hearing his new classmates starting to get up.
Once he reached the common room, Alec looked around. Last night he had been too tired to pay much attention, but now he was able to take in all the details. The most prominent colours were bronze and blue, the Ravenclaw's colours. They were well laid-out around the large room and formed a warm atmosphere, even if different from the one in Gryffindor tower. It was kind of calming, and it seemed to give him the motivation to centre in his studies and knowledge. Different bronze creatures decorated the blue celestial walls and he noticed many eagles, the symbol of his new house.
Some seats were placed around the room, piled up in the centre as in different corners. He was surprised to see that it wasn't as empty as he had expected. Instead, the older students, who were concentrating on their books or discussing their new classes around the cherry tree wood tables, were whispering so they wouldn't bother the others who occupied the room. His eyes roamed further through the room and fixed on the chimney, staring in awe at it. It was... magnificent. He gripped the banister. His body was shaking. The combination of the white marble and the wood gave the impression that man and nature had worked together to create a beautiful illusion. He stared at the flames that were opening in front of him, showing a way to unknown worlds.
He noticed that above the hearth, a portrait seemed inlaid in the wall, showing all those years or maybe even those centuries she had spent there, always looking over the students it guarded. It was a woman perched on a seat, an eagle resting on her glove. His first thought was that wisdom seemed to be deeply printed in her eyes. She was wearing an ocean blue dress that didn't seem out of fashion even with the years that had past. Her alabaster skin and her fire-like hair were evidence in front of the azure sky. Then, he lost himself in the blue of her eyes and a name, only one, came to his mind: Rowena Ravenclaw.
A log broke, and Harry came out of his lethargy, and walked down the stairs noticing that a few people looked up at him as he hesitantly walked into the large, but comfortable room. He was unsure what he should do. Had he been in Gryffindor, he would have gone down to breakfast, even if he was the first one, but now he wasn't aware of what the other Ravenclaws usually did, so he just picked an empty seat in one of the corners of the common room and settled down to watch and wait until some other first year came down.
He had been sitting there for about five minutes when one of the older students approached him. "Hello there."
Alec was aware that the noise in the room had almost disappeared and that everyone was trying to listen to their conversation even if they were not looking their way. Feeling a bit uncomfortable at all the attention, he nodded silently to the teen as the old boy sat down in front of him. Noticing that the younger student was uncomfortable the boy smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry about them, they're just noisy prats."
Alec couldn't help but chuckle a bit when he saw several students start to blush and returning to their own conversations. He was torn out of his amusement when he saw a hand entering his line of vision. "I'm Jason McHill, I'm in seventh year and I'm a prefect."
Hesitantly, Harry shook his hand briefly before sitting back into his chair. Not liking the uncomfortable silence that settled upon them, he decided to try and discover a few things about his new classmates. "Is it always like this?"
Jason raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, Alec? You don't mind me calling you that, do you?"
Harry shook his head slightly. "Alec is fine. I was just wondering if you're all always up so early or that you're just anxious to start lessons."
Jason laughed lightly. "Oh, we're always up this early. It has been common practice in the house for centuries to wake up early. We can't have anyone in the Ravenclaw house to arrive late to classes. From tomorrow, the prefects will be in charge to wake the first years up until you're used to wake on your own. We use the extra time in the morning to review the lessons we're going to get later in the day."
Alec nodded, a bit astounded at the amount of work these teenagers did. No wonder they held the reputation of being the smartest people in the whole school. And yet, looking around, he started to understand that they worked hard to keep that reputation. The same way Gryffindors always tried to show off their braveness, the members of this house made it a point to be the best in everything. Jason once again drew his attention away from his own musings. "I have to thank you."
Harry looked up at him sharply and raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Jason smiled gently down at him. "You were the kid that helped all the other ones in Floorish and Bloots a few days ago, weren't you?"
Alec flushed, he didn't think anyone would have remembered about it. Except for Lan of course, but she had been sitting next to him so there was no surprise there. "I didn't see you there."
Jason nodded lightly. "I wasn't, but my parents were there with my little brother. He's starting at Beuxbatons this year and was there when the dementors attacked. Mother told me that she saw you disappear with Professors McGonagall and Snape, so it was not very hard to guess it had been you who helped them."
Alec nodded slightly. "You don't need to thank me; I just did what everyone would have done."
Jason chuckled. "Not everyone would have known how to fight the effects of the dementors, much less at such a young age, I'm really proud to call you a fellow Ravenclaw and I'm sure you'll make our house proud."
Harry didn't think he had even been so embarrassed in his life. For once someone was praising him on his own merits and he wasn't sure how to accept such praise. He was saved from having to answer when Anthony, the Head boy approached them. The boy smiled down at them.
"Good morning Alec. It's good to see you awake so early, one first year less to get used to our routine."
Both seventh years grinned mischievously. Anthony turned to Jason. "You called first shots on waking the little ones, didn't you? Get on with it before one of the new fifth years takes the chance."
Jason laughed and motioned to Alec. "Want to come and see what awaits you if you oversleep?"
Harry smiled lightly, remembering the many times he had seen that same smile on the Weasley twin's faces. Standing up, the three of them crept up the stairs into the first years' room. All the boys were still sleeping peacefully on their beds, unaware of the three people who had just entered the room. Harry watched in fascination as Jason drew his wand and almost silently the older student muttered a spell. Alec was starting to wonder what he had done, when suddenly the five teens woke up yelping and jumped out of their beds. Harry couldn't help his laughter when he saw hundreds of small slimy tentacles rising from the sheets. The first years turned to glare at them when they heard the laughter coming from the door.
When he was sure their attention was on him, Anthony took a step forward and stopped his laughter. "There are a few things that we, Ravenclaws, have kept doing through the ages. One of them is the fact that was always raise together at half past five to be in the common room at six and make sure we've looked through all the material we're going to use in class that day. From now on and until you're used to it, one of the prefects will wake you at that time. Today, being your first day here we allowed you to sleep in a bit. Now it's nearly time for breakfast, so get ready and come down. Jason will lead you all to the Great Hall so you can have breakfast and some other prefect will take you to your first class. For the first week you'll be taken to your classes by one of the older students, so you are to wait for them after you finish class, after that you'll have to make your own way through the school. Pay attention because it's going to be very confusing."
Nodding to the now serious teens Jason and Anthony left the room. Harry stood still at the door while the others left the room to take their showers. Looking around the blue room he couldn't help but sigh softly. Would he ever get used to this? It was so different than Gryffindor Tower. He was abruptly returned to reality when a voice shouted from the common room. "Alexander Dumbledore, get your arse down here, I'm hungry and want to go to breakfast!"
Laughing softly, Alec shook his head, took his bag and left the room. He could count on Lan to make him feel better and keep things interesting.
To be continued...
A/N: well, today there's a long list of thanks. As usually thank you all for reviewing, thanks to Vinnie for beta reading and to Leena for her help. Also I would like to thank Dod for writing the description of the Ravenclaw common room and to Pheneatis for translating it so I could place it in this chapter.