Chapter VII

Ravenclaw

Ravenclaw.

Ravenclaw.

Ravenclaw.

The words echoed in Kelsey's mind over and over like a chorus. Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw. She sat there on the stool, too stunned to move. This was not the outcome she had hoped for. Kelsey had so longed to be a Gryffindor, and now that hope was dashed. Ravenclaw. A slight ahem shook her from her stupor and she slowly rose off of the stool, scanning the crowded great hall. The Ravenclaw table had cheered and screamed for her but now they were silent, clearly confused as to why she did not rush over to their table. Kelsey's heart pounded in her chest, feeling like it might explode. Her ears still rang with the words of the Sorting Hat. Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw.

Why Ravenclaw? Why not Gryffindor? Did she not wish hard enough? Was she not qualified enough? Was she not Gryffindor material?

Kelsey found the Ravenclaw table and slowly walked over to them. She stood in front of the table, feeling a thousand eyes on her as she gazed down the length of the house table. She walked down the aisle and found an empty spot on the bench, and sat down. Her heart was in her throat and she fought the urge to cry. She looked down at her plate and her reflection stared back at her.

At least it wasn't Slytherin.

She drowned out the sounds of the other students being sorted, barely heard the roaring cheers of the tables as they got students assigned to their houses, until someone slapped her on the back, bringing her back to the present.

"Hi!"

It was Pepper. She had been sorted into Ravenclaw as well. Kelsey immediately felt a huge wave of relief wash over her being, and hugged Pepper tightly, burying her face into her shoulder. Pepper, taken aback by this sudden showing of emotion, was unsure of how to react before awkwardly patting Kelsey on the head.

"Er, are you alright?" she asked. Kelsey broke the hug and laughed halfheartedly.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine. I just... was hoping for Gryffindor..." she sighed.

An older Ravenclaw student chuckled and Kelsey looked over at him. He was tall and handsome, and had dark brown hair.

"Don't worry, Remington. It's pretty common for students to get placed in houses they didn't want. But there's a reason the Sorting Hat thought you belonged with us. I'm sure you'll find it."

Suddenly, the tables filled with an assortment of food - a large roast chicken, potatoes, curry, vegetables, and fruits. Kelsey gasped in awe.

"Let the feast begin!" the headmaster called.

She put a bit of everything she could reach onto her plate and ate greedily, all of a sudden painfully aware that she had barely eaten anything since breakfast early in the morning. The older student chuckled again and Kelsey became self conscious. She swallowed and sat upright, blushing.

"By the way, my name is Austin Tripathy. I'm a prefect for Ravenclaw. Pleased to make your acquaintance," he said.

Kelsey nodded politely and took another bite of her chicken. The food was delicious.

"Where does all this food come from?" she asked.

"The house-elves make it," Austin replied.

"House-elves?" Kelsey was puzzled and Austin raised an eyebrow. Pepper quickly interjected.

"She's Muggle-born. This is her first time being exposed to magic."

Austin sniffed.

"Ah, I see. That makes sense then."

He took a sip from his cup.

"House-elves are the servants who make our food."

Kelsey now raised her own eyebrow.

"Servants?" she asked.

"Yes, servants. House-elves have always been servants. They know of no other existence beyond that. House-elves must do as they're told, no matter what."

Kelsey put her fork down.

"That's absolutely barbaric!" she exclaimed. A couple of students looked her way then went back to their conversations. Austin shrugged and took a bite from a roll.

"Maybe so but there's not much you or I can do about it. Besides, most house-elves seem perfectly happy being told what to do."

"That doesn't excuse enslaving an entire race. If they're intelligent they deserve freedom!"

"Tell you what, Remington. You make legislation for it and I'll sign it backing you up. Not that it would ever work. Granger has been trying to pass it in the Ministry since she was a student here and hasn't succeeded yet. And she's Minister for Magic!"

"Granger? You mean Hermione Granger?" Kelsey asked.

"Of course I - oh, right. Muggle-born. Yes, Hermione Granger," Austin replied.

At this Kelsey quieted down. She finished her dinner in silence and then looked up to the high table where the headmaster and professors sat. She watched Mr. Potter - well, Professor now - as he ate, laughing and having conversations with Hagrid and the other teachers. She wanted so badly to run up there and hug him tightly, but she knew it would be inappropriate. Mr. Potter seemed to catch her gaze and winked at her, grinning, and Kelsey felt her heart skip a bit, and looked away, her face flushed from embarrassment. Surely that could not have been directed towards her! However, her heart was thumping as hard as it was when the Sorting Hat made its decision, only this time it didn't hurt.

Eventually dinner was over and the prefects gathered all the first years to lead them to their respective common rooms. Austin led the first year Ravenclaws up to the fifth floor and down a corridor lined with braziers that lit up as the students passed by them. After a long walk the group came to a door that had no handle, but instead sported a bronze knocker in the shape of an eagle.

"For the next year this tower will be your home. Ravenclaw Tower is not open or accessible to anyone not sorted into this house, so don't bother trying to bring anyone here from Hufflepuff or Gryffindor. In order to enter the tower you must answer a riddle given to you by the eagle knocker here."

Austin motioned towards the bronze knocker on the door. Upon doing so the knocker morphed into an eagle's head and spoke.

"A box without key or lid, yet inside golden treasure is hid."

"An egg," replied Austin, and the eagle head morphed back into a knocker, opening the door and allowing entry.

The students all filed inside, and began climbing the spiraling staircase up to the common room. The tower was dimly lit, save for a few torches resting against the stone walls. There was another door at the top of the staircase, but unlike before, had a handle that allowed it to be opened. Austin opened the door and the students were greeted with a magnificent circular room, populated with plush deep blue sofas and armchairs, a large fireplace, book shelves and drawers along the walls, a large low lying round table, and midnight blue tapestries on the walls sporting an eagle in bronze. A few older students milled about, some finishing up summer homework and the others socializing. The floor had a large circle in the middle made of stone while the rest was the same midnight blue carpet, dotted with bronze stars that reflected onto the domed ceiling, which was made of obsidian. All around the common room, small windows were aligned - twelve in total. The students filed in, jaws agape at the beauty before them. Austin walked to the center of the common room and turned to face the children.

"This is your common room. In here you may relax, do your homework, or socialize with your fellow housemates. To the left is the girls' dormitory and to the right is the boys'. No girls are allowed in the boys' dormitory and vice versa. You will find that your luggage has already been brought up to your dorms and assigned to your beds. With that, I bid you goodnight. Classes begin at nine o'clock in the morning sharp. I suggest you all get some sleep."

With that, Austin left the new Ravenclaws and went to the fifth year dormitories. The students immediately began chattering amongst themselves, but Kelsey suddenly felt very tired and decided to head to her dorm and get ready for bed. She opened the door and was met with a circular room rather similar to the one in the common area. There were twelve beds in aligned around a tall central furnace, each with a chest at the foot of the bed. The bed itself had a curtained canopy for privacy, and the blankets were midnight blue, with a bronze eagle emblazoned on it. Kelsey found her bed and opened her chest to retrieve her pajamas. She was about to remove her shirt when she suddenly felt extremely self conscious and decided to change in the bathroom instead. She gathered her things and went into the bathroom to change her clothes. When she was done she threw her clothes into her trunk and climbed into bed. Kelsey was about to draw the curtains when Pepper entered the dorm, yawning widely.

"Goodnight, Pepper," she said. Pepper waved and opened her trunk, and Kelsey drew her curtains closed, and quickly drifted off to sleep.