A/N: New chapter coming your way! Hope you enjoy this one as much as the first :)

Chapter Two:

Abyssus Abyssum Invocat

You're catching everybody's eyes
But you're a walking bunch of lies
I can see behind your smile
Hello devil in disguise
First Impression - Amanda Tenfjord

His lips tasted of coffee and something sweet…like brown sugar, so different from the bitter tobacco flavor that Finn had acquired since he started smoking a year ago. Raven closed her eyes unnecessarily against the pitch black of the compartment. Pressing her lips harder against Bellamy's, she tried to get lost in the feeling and expel any thoughts of her cheating ex-boyfriend.

"Why is it so dark in here?" Raven muttered when they bumped foreheads while rearranging their positions. He simply grunted in response and pulled her in for another kiss. She sighed, a little annoyed. She didn't really mind, but they had been kissing for what felt like an eternity now. Foreplay was great and all, but when were they going to get to the good part? Last time, she and Bellamy had kissed for all of five seconds before ripping off each other's clothes. This time Raven seemed to be doing all the work. For the love of magic, she had even taken off her own shirt and bra.

Raven shifted on his lap, trying to take some of the pressure off of her knees where they straddled him. Focus, she told herself; they couldn't have that much of the train ride left. If they were going to do this, it needed to be now. She reached down between them, searching in the darkness for his zipper. She grinned triumphantly as she found it, but his hand stilled her wrist, halting her. What the fuck?

She was about to repeat her query out loud, when his lips found hers again. This was weird. Something was off. Raven became increasingly aware of how rough Bellamy's chin was, but that didn't make sense… Bellamy was always clean shaven.

Suddenly light flared into the compartment. Raven blinked and her hands went instinctively to cover her naked chest.

"Well this is… unexpected," an all too familiar, cocky voice said from the doorway.

And there Bellamy stood, totally clothed, his stupid face caught between surprise and mild amusement. Raven's head snapped back painfully towards the person with whom she had just been swapping spit. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Looking back at her was none other than Roan, captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team, grinning maddeningly.

"What the fuck?!" She shoved his chest away as she scrambled off his lap. "WHAT THE FUCK?!" Raven cursed again, her stomach rolling. She picked up her discarded shirt off the floor and threw it on quickly, not bothering with her bra.

"I take it I'm not the only one surprised by this then." Bellamy hadn't moved, mercifully blocking any vantage point into the compartment. He wasn't exactly jumping to her defense either. What a dick. Raven threw a dirty look at him and Roan; her face felt like it was a million degrees.

"I've never been woken up quite in that manner, but, I have to say, I could get used to it." Roan said, standing and pulling on his own shirt.

Bellamy stared at him, "Seriously, dude?"

"What?" Roan shrugged at him. He might as well have said, 'fuck off.'

"Shut. Up," Raven snarled angrily.

"I haven't done anything. Literally!" Bellamy defended himself.

Angry tears sprang to her eyes, but Raven just glared at the two, finally fully clothed. "Rot in hell, assholes," She spat before shoving her way past Bellamy and into the corridor, her knuckles white, still clenched around her bra.

"Raven!" one of the boys called after her, but she kept walking. Fuck Bellamy. Fuck Roan. God, she was so humiliated. It was like she was walking around with a target on her back. She couldn't seem to catch a break.

The loudspeaker crackled, coming to life. "Attention students: We will be arriving at Hogwarts in five minutes. Please make sure you are dressed in your school uniform and ready to disembark immediately upon arrival. First Years, leave your belongings on board. Your things will be brought to your new dorms for you."

Raven picked up her pace; she was barely going to have enough time to get back to her trunk and change before the train pulled into Hogwarts' station. Raven Reyes: 0, The Universe: 1,000,000.

"Hey!"

Raven looked up just in time to see a head of blonde hair before she ran smack into the person accompanying it. The girl let out a sharp yelp as Raven rebounded off her, dropping her bra at the same time.

"Ugh, sorry!" Raven gasped, bending down to pick up her troublesome article of clothing.

"No, it's fine, really," she responded, shrugging off the accident. The blonde was giving her a strange look, but Raven had never seen this girl before in her life.

"Thanks," Raven said. "Well, gotta change!" She waved her bra in the air and then let her arm fall limp by her side, realizing what she had just done. She sidestepped the strange girl and continued down the corridor.

Clarke watched the brunette hurry away, oblivious. Her own heart was beating a mile a minute; she had recognized Raven immediately. She could not have forgotten that face if she wanted to, not after finding it stuck in her boyfriend's wallet. Nope, not her boyfriend. Finn had been Raven's boyfriend and Clarke had been his side piece. That had become abundantly clear when the dark-haired girl in the photograph had pulled a black-and-white Finn in front of the lens to plant a large kiss on his lips. Her stomach clenched at the memory of the smile the couple had flashed at the camera after locking lips. She was disgusted with herself, but even more appalled at Finn. She had totally misread him.

Halfway through the summer she had met a great guy, someone who made her feel special and cared for. It had been exactly what she needed after losing the one person who truly cared about her only a few months earlier.

When her father had died during a raid last spring, Clarke had been blindsided. She hadn't even known that he was an Auror. To her, Jake had just been a teacher, a mentor, a father. Until the ministry had sent someone to break the cold, hard truth to her. Had she even known him at all? Her head pounded painfully every time she tried to think about it. Honestly, the shock still hadn't passed. On top of that, her estranged mother, whom Clarke hadn't seen in years, had forced her to transfer to Hogwarts where she taught as a professor. Clarke had lost her father, her friends, and any form of stability she had known in a matter of days. And it didn't seem to bother Abby at all.

They hadn't even talked after Jake died. Clarke had simply received a letter telling her 'how things were going to be now.' The woman had never asked what Clarke wanted; she just did as she thought appropriate. Clarke didn't want to go to a new school. She didn't want a mother who only bothered to give a shit after her dad died. But Clarke had wanted Finn. And how wrong she had been to want him.

A month ago when Clarke had found the picture of Raven in Finn's wallet, the girl's face had been seared into her brain. Seeing her in person was like a knife in Clarke's gut, like hot pain and searing guilt made manifest.

Clarke pushed her way to the nearest restroom and hurled the contents of her breakfast into the toilet bowl. Once. Twice. Three times. She wiped the back of her hand across her mouth, breathing heavily. She knew this was a reality she would face when she boarded the train. Abby hadn't listened to Clarke's pleas to let her return to Durmstrang, so here she was attending school with a lying sack of shit and his poor girlfriend. Still, despite how much she hated the situation, it distracted her from the deeper pain that she tried to bury. Any time her mind turned to thoughts of her father, Clarke would simply bring up Finn's face and think about all the ways she would make him suffer this year at school.

She used her foot to flush the toilet and left the stall. The water in the tap tasted metallic, but she gulped it down anyway, rinsing her mouth out more times than she cared to count. The train lurched and began to slow down. We must be nearing the station. The thought settled like lead in her stomach. Clarke looked at herself in the mirror and breathed deeply, setting her face into a neutral expression of mild indifference.

Students had filled the corridor by the time she left the bathroom. A muffled whistle sounded from outside the carriage as the train rolled to a stop. She pushed her way into line and shuffled along with the rest of them towards the exit. As soon as she emerged onto the platform, Clarke halted, unsure of what to do or where to go. The train station appeared warm and cheery, illuminated by the yellow glow of many lamp posts; older students were heading towards a line of carriages while the younger ones were congregating off to one side.

"Clarke?"

She tensed. It might have been ten years since she last heard it, but Clarke would never forget the lilt of that voice. Even as she turned towards the speaker, Clarke contemplated all possible escape options. None. She was stuck. A woman in her late thirties with light brown hair walked swiftly towards Clarke; she was stunning in vibrant purple robes, her sleek hair clipped away from her attractive face. Clarke hated it. Her hands trembled slightly at the sight of her mother, so she fisted them by her side.

"Abby," Clarke responded, her voice as cold as she felt. She barely gave the woman a second glance, her eyes scanning the station, the students, anything else.

"I told you to call me mom, Clarke." The exasperation in Abby's voice was evident.

"Hi, Professor Griffin!" A group of young girls waved as they passed. Abby smiled, nodding in their direction. Clarke glared at them.

"I think I'll stick with Abby," Clarke said with forced lightness, as if she was talking about weather patterns.

"Fine," Abby sighed, "I'm here to take you up to the castle. You're going to have to be sorted into a house with the First Years, but I won't make you row up to the castle with them."

"Gee, thanks." Clarke muttered, but Abby had already taken off down the lamplit path. I'd rather be with the First Years right now. To avoid making a scene, she followed Abby as the woman headed in the same direction as the older students. Clarke's skin crawled as she noticed all the curious stares being thrown in her direction. She heard all too clearly the muttered questions and comments about the special treatment. The less everyone knew the better, so Clarke kept her distance from Abby and tried to look like just another student. She felt a little more relaxed when she escaped the prying eyes into the horseless carriage that whisked Abby and her up towards the castle.

Despite the quick pace, the ride was excruciatingly long. Clarke looked everywhere except at her mother. When they finally arrived, Abby ordered her to wait in the Entrance Hall for the First Years, before disappearing into the throng of students. Great.

After what felt like an eternity, the younger students filtered into the hall led by a man dressed in dusky yellow robes. The man reached her first and extended a hand, smiling winsomely, "Clarke? I'm Professor Kane. Glad to have you with us. I've heard a lot about you from your mother."

Clarke shook his hand, her eyebrows rising at his comment, but said nothing.

If he was phased by her attitude, he didn't show it. "Now, in case your mother didn't explain how this is going to work, you'll walk in with us, but be sorted first. Then you can relax with your new house while the First Years are sorted. It does take quite a while." He smiled good-naturedly, making his handsome face even more attractive.

Clarke nodded again, "Great."

Professor Kane turned to address the whole group, "Shall we?" If possible, his smile widened even more. Ugh.

Professor Kane threw open the doors to the Great Hall, not waiting for a response. Clarke followed reluctantly, feeling like a sore thumb walking at the front by herself, a whole head taller than any of the other students. She raised her chin defiantly, keeping her eyes trained on the back of Professor Kane's awful yellow robes. She hated yellow.

The group came to a stop at the front of the large room and Clarke looked around for the first time. The Great Hall was simply…beautiful. The floating candles lit the room with a soft, warm glow that did not obscure the brilliance of the star strewn ceiling above. Clarke's breath caught in her throat and her eyes suddenly felt moist. Her father would have loved this. Had he ever seen it?

Clarke blinked, her heart tightening. She turned her attention back to the front of the room and refused to look anywhere else. A stool had been placed at the foot of the teacher's table in front of everyone. An old, worn hat sat on the varnished stool, looking pathetic next to the gleaming, golden wood.

The entire room hushed as if waiting for something. Then a seam in the hat opened and beautiful tenor voice sang out from its depths:

Oh you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

if you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folks use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!

Clarke bit her lip to keep from laughing. What the hell was that? Hogwarts is fucking weird, she thought and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She missed the ever present rationality and logic of Durmstrang. There were no houses or singing hats at Durmstrang, just smart, serious students who wanted to learn magic. This has to be a joke.

"Griffin, Clarke." Professor Kane's voice echoed loudly throughout the hall.

Clarke tried to keep her face neutral as she stepped forward. The loud murmur of hall was immediately drowned out as the hat was placed upon her head. A soft buzzing filled her ears.

So… A voice hissed in her ear, making Clarke jump. It felt like the voice was coming from inside her own head. You didn't like my song. How disappointing. I've been working on that one all year.

Umm, Sorry? Clarke thought, unsure whether the hat would be able to hear her.

Of course I can hear you, the hat laughed at her. Such a foolish girl. Definitely not a Ravenclaw, then.

Clarke gritted her teeth. She definitely didn't like this hat.

Oooo, not a Hufflepuff either, too short tempered…So that leaves Gryffindor and Slytherin.

Just pick one, Clarke snapped.

No, no, no, dear, that's not how this works. You have to make the choice.

What?

Let's see…Oh, I know…How about we play a little game? Here goes…Everyone in this room will die, but you can save them, only if you give up the person you love most in this world.

He's already dead, Clarke thought bitterly. She didn't want to play this game.

Oh come now, where is your imagination? If he was alive…would you choose to save him or everyone in this room? One life or many-

Clarke responded without a second thought, I would save him.

Hmmm, then you would do well in…"SLYTHERIN!" The sorting hat bellowed into the Great Hall. There was silence, then a smattering of applause from one side of the room.

Professor Kane removed the hat from Clarke's head and directed her to the last table where the lackluster applause had come from. Clarke glanced back towards the teacher's table, catching a glimpse of her mother's stunned face. She felt slightly better after seeing that. Spying an open seat, Clarke plopped herself down.

"I'm Emori," a pretty girl across the table said, distracting Clarke from the sorting of a First Year named 'Davis, Kenney.'

"This is Murphy," Emori continued, "and that's Anya. Welcome to Slytherin, the best house at Hogwarts."

Clarke gauged the group. "I'm Clarke."

"We know," Emori responded, gesturing back towards the sorting hat.

"Right," Clarke nodded.

"Sooo," the guy name Murphy started, "Griffin? Like Professor Griffin?" She stared at him. He was attractive, in a strange, unconventional way, she supposed.

"Yeah," Clarke sighed. "Some would call her my mother."

"What would you call her?" Anya asked, her angular face peaked with curiosity.

Clarke thought for a moment, "Absent bitch?"

The group laughed, obviously sharing her dark humor.

"You'll fit in just fine here," Murphy said with a crooked smile. "Besides being the best, Slytherin house is also known for its dysfunctional families and fucked up kids."

Emori nodded, "I refer to my mother fondly as 'the dragon.'"

Anya shrugged, "Speak for yourself. My parents are great."

"Say that with a straight face." Murphy retorted.

The group laughed again, except Anya who just looked at the rest with a haughty expression. This is okay, Clarke thought, I can do this.

They talked through pretty much the entire sorting ceremony, clapping belatedly every time 'Slytherin' was called out. Thankfully no one asked any personal questions; they seemed to want to avoid them as much as she did. Clarke barely listened to what Headmaster Jaha said. Something about the Forbidden Forest being off limits, etc, etc, etc. The food finally arrived, putting an end to the talking for the most part. She was starting to relax and looked around the Hall, taking it all in once more. That was a mistake.

Across the hall she found a pair of soft brown eyes staring at her. The boy who owned them had a strong tan face and a head of brown curls which were slightly too long. He seemed to register that she had caught him staring after a few seconds. Instead of looking away, his face split into a wide, goofy grin. Clarke frowned at him and returned her attention back to the table. She jerked her head in the boy's direction. "Who the hell is that?"

Emori and the rest of the group looked around. Yep, he was still staring. He raised his eyebrows at them, seeming to enjoy the attention. "That is Bellamy Blake," Emori said, turning back around.

Murphy looked like he had swallowed a sour grape. "They don't come more annoying or self-righteous than the Blakes."

Anya laughed, "You just don't like them because Bellamy beats you in Dark Arts every time there is a duel AND everyone knows Octavia turned you down last year."

It was Emori's turn to grimace, not happy to be reminded of her boyfriend's previous infatuation. Murphy just scoffed and turned his sour expression on Anya.

"You can't talk," Murphy shot back. "You're sleeping with the enemy… traitor."

Anya rolled her eyes, "I'm not sleeping with the enemy, Murphy. Lexa has been my girlfriend for almost a year."

"Lexa?" Clarke asked, curiously.

"She's Bellamy's best friend. Also a Gryffindor," Emori supplied.

Clarke glanced back towards the Gryffindor table, her gaze catching once more on the brown-haired boy, distracted by the fact that Bellamy was still looking in her direction. Beyond him, a beautiful girl with honey-brown hair and tan skin was snapping her fingers in Bellamy's face, obviously trying to get his attention.

Bellamy was in some sort of parallel universe where selective sensory-deprivation was a way of life. Bellamy didn't hear Lexa's fingers snapping and he hadn't touched his plate of food despite the fact that he was ravenous. He couldn't seem to stop staring at the blonde girl across the hall. Clarke Griffin. She was beyond intriguing. She was beautiful to be sure, her pale skin and blonde hair lighting up the room like a beacon; however, that wasn't what intrigued him. He kept staring, waiting to see her face change expressions; however, it stayed neutral, disinterested apart from the small frown she had given him a few minutes ago. She was like a wall of ice, totally unreadable. Bellamy was fascinated. Ice Princess, his mind nicknamed her almost instinctively.

"Drool much?" Octavia's words dripped with disdain, pulling Bellamy from his reverie.

"What?" Bellamy's hand shot immediately to his mouth, wiping away drool that wasn't there.

Octavia laughed, shaking her head. Lexa growled in frustration, "Finally! You've been in a freaking trance for like thirty minutes. I've been talking to a brick wall."

"Sorry," Bellamy muttered, his face flushing slightly. Lexa frowned at him, then looked at the girl across the room. Bellamy's gaze followed hers and once again he felt ensnared.

"Seriously, Bellamy? She's attractive, I'll give you that." Lexa shrugged, her attention returning to the table as she served herself another slice of shepherd's pie. "Personally, I prefer brunettes."

"Attractive?" Bellamy spluttered, he stared at his best friend like she was crazy, "Just attractive? Are we looking at the same person?"

"Brunettes are better," Lexa said simply, shrugging again and taking a bite of her pie.

"Here, here," Octavia said, raising a hand and high fiving Lexa in front of Bellamy.

"You do realize you're half blonde, right?" He said, using his fork to take a bite out of Lexa's pie, despite the fact that he had a full plate before him. Lexa reacted with cat-like reflexes, pinning his full fork to her plate with her own utensil.

"No fucking way, Blake. Eat your own damn food."

Bellamy raised his hands in defeat, abandoning his fork on Lexa's plate and picking up a new one.

"Ahh, it's like the good old days in the orphanage: fighting for food, never having enough to eat," Octavia said in falsely cheery voice.

Bellamy and Lexa stared at her in equal parts horror and disbelief. The orphanage was an unspoken taboo amongst the three.

"What?" Octavia said defensively, "I was joking, obviously. You could each have your own pie if you wanted to! No need to fight over it."

Bellamy and Lexa just shook their heads and continued to eat. "Your hair is kind of blonde in the sun though," Bellamy said, his mouth half-full of food.

"Best of both worlds then," Lexa retorted.

Bellamy gave her a look, "You're so annoying."

"No," Lexa responded, "Raven Reyes is annoying. She's so self-righteous. All that beauty… wasted."

Octavia snorted from the other side of Bellamy and muttered, "You're one to talk."

"By the way, she was looking for you earlier," Lexa added, ignoring the younger Blake.

Bellamy choked on his food, his face coloring slightly. He coughed and responded, "Well, she found me, but not exactly how she wanted to…"

Grinning, Lexa leaned forward and lowered her voice so only Bellamy could hear. "So are you two friends with benefits now? I still can't believe you slept with her. Was she any good? Did she boss you around?"

"It only happened that one time and she cried afterwards… It was fucking awkward."

"You're that bad?"

Bellamy tried to shove her, but ended up flinging a forkful of shepherd's pie at a seventh year down the table. He ducked his head and whispered, "You wish! It was something about her boyfriend, Collins."

"I'd do her, but she is honestly just too annoying," Lexa turned back to her food.

"You just don't like her because she's into boys," Bellamy laughed at Lexa's affronted expression.

"Are you guys still talking about Raven? Lay off," Octavia insisted.

"I don't have a problem with hetero girls!" Lexa protested. "I mean, I can't say I understand their perspective, but I don't dislike them…I like Octavia."

"Don't bring me into this," Octavia muttered, stiffening at her name.

"You have to like O; she's like a sister," Bellamy replied.

"No. I'm not," Octavia snapped back.

"Well, I didn't mean literal-"

"I know," Octavia cut him off.

"Why are you being so snappy today?" Bellamy look at his sister strangely. She seemed to have it out for Lexa recently.

"I said, 'don't bring me into this' and then you continued to talk about me. Leave. Me. Out. You two should be used to that by now."

Lexa rolled her eyes, "It's fine Bell. She's just finally hit puberty and all her little teen hormones are raging."

"Oh, no," Octavia pretended to cry, "I'm so wounded."

"Seriously, what is with you two?" Bellamy leaned forward to create a barrier between them. "You've been at each other's throats all summer."

Neither girl responded so Bellamy just let it drop, not eager to stir up any more drama.

Lexa pushed her plate away with a contented sigh. She was never going to get used to being able to have as much food as she wanted. It was pure bliss. She glanced over at the Slytherin table and caught Anya trying to signal her. The girl grinned wickedly once she realized she'd gotten Lexa's attention and bobbed her head towards the door. Lexa returned the smile and nodded.

"I'm out of here. Cover for me with Indra," Lexa whispered to Bellamy.

"What?!" He hissed back, panic in his voice.

"You'll be fine!" Lexa chuckled and got up before he could form a response. She made her way out of the Great Hall. The room buzzed with noise and movement. It was perfect for a stealthy escape.

"Hey," she greeted Anya with a half-smile when the Slytherin escaped out of the hall a few minutes later.

"Hey," Anya kissed her quickly and then laced her fingers with Lexa's. "Come on."

Lexa let Anya pull her up the stairs towards Gryffindor tower, but stopped her short after they had climbed a few levels. "Everyone will be done soon and heading back to the dorms. Let's just find a quiet spot," she suggested as she pulled Anya into the dead-end of a corridor that was hardly used.

Lexa pressed Anya against a locked door, her body tingling where their limbs touched. She grinned at the older girl and murmured again, "Hi."

Anya shook her head, laughing, and took Lexa's face in her hands, kissing her with gentle thoroughness. She bit Lexa's lip softly and pulled at it. "Hi," she smiled at her girlfriend's pleased face.

"I missed you," Anya whispered as she kissed Lexa's ear.

Lexa scoffed, "We had sex this morning!"

"I'm not talking about sex, Lex," Anya shook her head before running her hands down Lexa's back, "although I'm not complaining."

Lexa nodded, "I missed you too, of course." She leaned in to kissed Anya's mouth, her hands coming to rest on her girlfriend's hips.

"Hey, Trikru! Oh, shit."

Lexa stiffened and pulled back from Anya. Raven fucking Reyes. Anya put a hand on Lexa's shoulder, but it was no use, Lexa was already pissed.

"What the fuck do you want, Reyes?" Lexa bit out, trying to keep her voice even.

"Uh…" Raven had the decency to look embarrassed for interrupting, but any sympathy Lexa felt went out the window with the girl's next words. "Are you kidding me? What you did earlier was pretty low, even for you."

"What are you talking about?" Lexa snapped back.

"You set me up. You lied; you knew Bellamy wasn't in that compartment." Raven pointed her finger accusingly, but lowered her voice as the noise of students rushing to their dorms filtered down the hallway.

"I didn't lie, Reyes. Despite what you may think, I'm not Bellamy's keeper. I told you what I knew. It's not my fault you're too horny to check whose dick you were sitting on." This was ridiculous. Had Raven really followed her up here to yell about earlier? The girl was fucking unbelievable.

"You're such an asshole, Trikru," Raven glared daggers.

"You're such a bitch, Reyes," Lexa snarled back.

Anya pulled her back. "Hey, just leave it. OK?"

"It's fine, I'm leaving," Raven spat out and left the pair in the corridor. She shook her head angrily. Trikru was the freaking plague; the girl didn't care about anyone but herself. Raven felt sorry for Bellamy and Anya.

In the time it took to reach Ravenclaw tower, Raven had calmed down a little. She was an eight rather than a ten on the Raven-is-going-to-blow-her-top scale. Not much of an improvement, though. Hey, Raven thought to herself, it's better than nothing. The small amount of calm she acquired on her walk back dissipated when she saw who was standing beside the bronze, eagle-shaped knocker.

"No, no, no," Raven gritted her teeth. "What part of 'no' do you not understand, Finn?"

"Raven," his face was annoyingly contrite, "We have to talk sometime."

She smiled at him coldly, "Actually, the funny thing is, we don't have to talk. Ever." She looked past him towards the bronze warden. "Ales, abyssus abyssum invocat. Let me in."

The knocker rippled as it came to life. The eagle's bronze eyes opened to reveal fathomless, obsidian orbs beneath. Its great beak parted and a sharp voice spoke, "Sapere Aude, young witch. A riddle for a Ravenclaw…. What occurs once in a minute, twice in a moment and never in a thousand years?"

"Please, Raven. Shutting me out isn't the answer. Don't do this to me… to us." Finn pleaded.

Raven laughed. She actually laughed. "You did this to us. You. Not me, not Clarke… You." She stepped by him to stand in front of the bronze eagle. "The answer is M. The letter M, Ales. Now, open the damn door."

Finn reached for her, "Look, I didn't mean-"

"I don't want to talk about it, Finn." Raven snapped, stepping away from him as the wall behind the knocker began to shift, to part. Finn moved to block her path.

"Rav-"

"What's going on?" Jasper had just arrived at Ravenclaw tower. He walked up behind Raven. "You okay?" He looked down at her questioningly.

"Yeah. Fine," she said, her eyes not leaving Finn. "Goodnight, Finn."

She grabbed Jasper's hand and dragged him through the arched opening, brushing past Finn and somehow resisting the urge to shove him. Raven dropped Jasper's hand once they were on the other side of the door.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked again, putting the hand she had dropped on her shoulder and turning her to face him.

"Did you miss the part where I mentioned I don't want to talk about it?" she said with bite, then shook her head. "I'm sorry, I just don't… Not with Finn, not with you, not with anyone."

He nodded, trying and failing to hide his hurt expression. It made Raven's heart clench. "I understand," he said and she made to turn around. "But," he continued, his hand stopping her, "if or when you do want to talk about it. I'm here… just so you know."

His lips pulled into a wide smile and she couldn't help but return it with a grin of her own. His attitude was infectious. She wrapped her arm around his waist as he slid his hand to her other shoulder. "Want to play a round of Wizard's Chess before bed?"

Raven smirked, "Are you sure you're going to be able to sleep after I cream you?"

"Ha!" Jasper laughed animatedly in her face. "Challenge accepted."

The two walked arm in arm into the common room where their friends were waiting. Being back at Hogwarts with Monty and Jasper, Raven couldn't help but feel like she was finally home again.

A/N: What did you think? Reviews give me life and fuel to write faster!