We were hurried along endless torch-lit corridors by William, who was shouting at us to hurry up. Paintings that hung on the wall moved magically, wizards and witches peering at us with interest. I could hear them muttering to themselves about us, moaning about the noise that we were making as we chatted excitedly to one another.
We came out of the corridor and into a very tall and large area. I looked up, and to my astonishment, several marble staircases moved to different platforms right above our heads. I heard the rest of the Ravenclaw House gasp in awe.
"Quickly now, First Years! You will have plenty of time to explore the castle another time! Come on, Jake, don't poke the paintings, they don't like it! Come on!" William shouted, grabbing the curious Jake on the arm and hauling him away onto a staircase. Several others clambered on, and grasped the rail tightly, scared of falling off. The staircase began to move, and the kids let out a scream or a yelp, holding onto whatever they could find. The other First Years and I had to wait for the staircase to come back after the first group had gotten off the stairs at the next floor platform. The staircase started to move back towards us, and we clambered on, Tiffany and the boy who we were talking to with me, holding on tightly to the rail. The stairs gave a jolt and started to move, and I gave a small shriek, as did Tiffany. I looked over the edge, which I probably shouldn't have, and saw the bottom floor looming below. I felt my stomach churn a little for I wasn't wildly keen on heights.
The staircase came to a stop and the rest of us managed to reach the others without throwing up all over them. William showed us down more corridors, and I was shocked to see a ghost emerge through a wall. We all stopped, scared and amazed at the same time.
"Good evening, William! Taking First Years to their common room, I see?" Said the ghost, nodding in our direction. "Welcome, young ones, to Hogwarts! I am Sir Nicholas, ghost of the Gryffindor House! It's lovely to meet you all!" And with that, he floated away and straight through the opposite wall. We were stunned, not knowing what to say or do. William just kept us moving along, until we finally reached a long winding staircase up a tower. We followed him up and up, and found that at the top of the staircase there was a large grand door. The door, however, had no doorknob or a keyhole, but a bronze knocker in the shape of an eagle. William turned to us.
"In order to enter the Ravenclaw common room, you must answer a riddle asked by the eagle knocker. If you answer incorrectly, you must wait for someone else to get it right." He said, smiling. "I'm sure you can all work out the riddles. You've been put into Ravenclaw, which means that you are all of somewhat higher intelligence than others. Let's hear the riddle and see if we can work it out."
William used the eagle to knock on the door three times, and waited for the riddle to be spoken.
"What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a bed but doesn't sleep, has a head but never weeps?" Asked the eagle, in a loud, booming voice.
William turned to us, expectantly. Jake and the other boy walked over to where Tiffany and I were standing.
"What is it? Do you know?" Jake asked.
"..what can run but never walks..." The other boy said, thinking to himself.
Tiffany just shook her head. "I have no idea. Hannah, have you got anything?"
I racked my brains, thinking hard. What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a bed but doesn't sleep, has a head but never weeps.. a river!
"A river!" I shouted, not realising how loud it was.
"Excellent! A river! Yes! Well done, Hannah!" Said William, patting me on the back. My friends smiled at me, congratulating me on completing the riddle.
"Look! The door is opening!" Tiffany squealed, clapping her hands and jumping up and down on the spot. I looked over her shoulder, and she was right; the door to the Ravenclaw common room was slowly opening.
We all flooded into the large room, and gasped in awe as we looked at it for the first time. It was a wide, circular room, with a midnight blue carpet, arched windows hung with blue and bronze silks, and a domed ceiling painted with stars. The room was furnished with tables, chairs and bookcases: and by the door leading up to the dormitories, there stood a tall statue of a woman made of white marble.
"William," I said, beckoning him over. "Who's this?"
He chuckled and gestured to the statue. "That is Rowena Ravenclaw, one of the founders of Hogwarts, along with Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, and Salazar Slytherin. As well as that, she is the namesake of the Ravenclaw House."
"What happened to her?" I asked, curiosity taking over me. That was one of my bad habits, I always wanted an adventure, and was always curious and nosey where I shouldn't be.
"She died sometime into the eleventh century, after she fell fatally ill. Legend had it that a broken heart is the cause – because her daughter, Helena, had run away with her diadem."
"Her diadem?" I questioned, looking at William, who nodded.
"Her diadem was the only known relic once belonging to Rowena. Etched upon its surface was Ravenclaw's famous quote: 'Wit-"
"-Beyond measure is a man's greatest treasure." I said, interrupting him, and looking back at the statue. "I remember now. I read about it in a book, back at home. It was said to enhance the wisdom of its wearer, which is Ravenclaw House's most treasured attribute." I looked back to William, who laughed.
"The diadem had a blue sapphire shaped like an oval. The diadem was later stolen by her daughter, Helena, a fact that Rowena kept a secret from the other founders until her death bed."
"But the diadem was destroyed, wasn't it? By Harry, Ron and Hermione?" I said.
"That is true, yes. The diadem was one of the Horcruxes that Lord Voldemort used to keep him alive. But it is destroyed now, and he has no way of returning." Said William, patting my shoulder.
William turned back to the other students. "Right, First Years! I will now show you to the dormitories, and you will have some time before curfew to get settled. The dormitories are up the stairs, girls to the right, boys to the left. Quickly!" He clapped his hands in haste, and we all clambered up the stair case. Tiffany and I entered the door on the right, which was labelled 'Girls' and Jake and the other boys entered the opposite one which was labelled 'Boys'.
There were several four-poster beds, each covered in sky blue silk eiderdowns, and our trunks were waiting at the foot of the beds. I found my trunk, and was happy to find that Tiffany's bed was next to mine. I jumped on my bed, and lay flat on my back, breathing out a deep sigh. This was where I was meant to be.