Waking up from an objectless consciousness, or a dreamless night, I sat up in my bed, I had slept on top of the soft sheets. As I sat up I couldn't help the empty, yet disappointed feeling that was sitting in my stomach, and my mind. Remembering that I wasn't in Ravenclaw. None of the others were awake yet. I looked to the bed closest to me, the girl sleeping in it was about average size, not to thin, but not fat either, she was pretty, and had medium length blond hair, that was messy looking as it laid on her pillow. Giving a sigh, I looked away to myself, I was wearing a basic night gown, that was a soft blue color. Getting off my bed quietly, I grabbed my robe, my uniform, wand and my bag, that had the needed supplies, that were pack prior. Once I was dressed in, I looked up to the pyramid above my bed, I debated if I should bring Capone along, or just let him sleep.
I'll just have my mind on the classes, he can sleep.
I nodded coming to the decision, I left the room quietly, making my way out of the room walking along the doors on one side and the glass window on the other. Till I came to the end of the hall, where the painting was, without anything being said or happening it, opened slowly, as if to keep as quiet as I was trying to be. Luckily no one was in the common room, everyone was likely asleep still, or slowly getting ready to go. Making my way down the stairs to the main floor, only to be stopped on the landing, that connected the two sides of the balcony, by a deep 'hmp' sound
Quickly turning around I saw the portrait, of the ancient man, he had a monkey looking face, with a long white pointed beard. The painting was grooming his little beard, with his hand, starting from the end closest to his chin, and stroking it down to the tip that stopped at the top of his chest, just above a heavy gold oddly shaped necklace that had a green S on it that seemed to be a serpent.
"How did a Ravenclaw end up within this house, hmm?" The painting asked, arching one of his eyebrows, as he stared at me, with his dark eyes. I gave a simple shrug, not sure what to say. "Perhaps, you're not of Rowena?" He went on talking, "No, no, you are, I can tell, care to know how?"
I raised a brow, "The fact we share the same last name, might've been a dead giveaway"
"Watch your bloody mouth you disrespectful slag" he commanded in a growling tone, his voice was showing more of his emotion then his face, that was calm looking. I just rolled my eyes, "You're unafraid, yet you hold fear within you. As she did, she was an intimidating woman, yet she seemed to fear something." He them looked off to the side as he went on, seemingly taking to himself, "a woman that was known for more than just her looks" Feeling the conversation was over, I turned on my heel and went down the stairs and out the doors quickly.
The Great Hall was empty, aside from a few students elves that were hustling around the large room, and two other students, one student sitting at the Ravenclaw table, while the other at the Gryffindor, I recognized from the bus. The daft buffoon that lost his toad. I couldn't help, but to roll my eyes, recalling the dolt. Taking a seat I pulled a book out of my bag.
I had spent the last evening at home looking through our library to find this book, that I'm sure would hold answers about my wand, that the old wand seller, Ollivander seemed to really uninterested to answer, any of the questions I didn't speak. This book was a a deep blue, almost black, shiny leather, it wasn't the thickest of books, I looked over it more than once when I was looking around the shelf it was on. The leather was rough, with foxing the leather and the pages inside. It had a musty smell, that was intoxicating. The front and back of the book had various sized stars carved into it, the front also had a fancy font carved into it that read, ' Cerapter'. The Greek name for winged unicorn.
Opening the book, I was shocked. Not by the information, but the form the information was in. In a poem format. This is what I get for not finding a textbook. I rolled my eyes and proceeded to read the first page of poetry.
Twist and twist, in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surly the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in a winter wonder land
A shape with a horses body and wings of a bird,
A horn that could reach the moon.
a gaze dark and pitiless as the night sky,
moving its slow thighs, while about it
Reel shadows of the indignant winter birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to night mare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
It now has us within the darkness.
The birth of a nightmare.
I read the same poem over and over again. In attempt to under stand it. Pulling out a quil from my bag I began to write my thoughts, and interpretation of the poem. The speaker is describing a scene of a nightmarish level, obviously, the falcon, twisting into the gyre, the spiral, the falcon can't hear the falconer; 'things fall apart; the center cannot hold'. I was brought out of my thoughts and my book by something brushing against my side. Looking to my side I saw the blond girl that slept in the bed next to mine. I tensed seeing her, assuming the worse, from this Slytherin. I then shook my head, What the bloody hell am I thinking? I'm a Slytherin, I'm proof we aren't all like the ugly pug-faced girl, Pansy.
"No worries, Ravenclaw, I'm being friendly, you hear? We're not all terrible" she held her hand out for me to grab "The name is Daphne, Daphne Greengrass,"
Taking her hand I held my cool face as we shook hands, taking notice as I did, of the rest of the room, as students started to come in, as well as large plates of food sitting on the tables, "I've heard of the Greengrass's, one of the twenty-eight, truly pure-blooded families" Or at least apart of the cocky fools that think pure-blood is superior to any non-pure-blooded wizard.
"That we are. So, what'a reading?" she questioned looking to my book, as she grabbed a pair of plates, setting on next to me, and the other in front of her, "What I would do for some mushrooms to go with my eggs" She muttered, scooping some scrambled eggs and tomatoes, mixing the fried tomato into her eggs.
"It's a book of poetry", my tone unintentionally showed my displeasure about the book.
Swallowing a mouth full of eggs, she looked at me with a questioning stare, "Not a fan of poetry?" She proceeded to eat.
Before I could answer a piece of paper was dropped in front of me, along with a indifferent, emotionless voice, "The most important mean of the day , best to eat" The voice was cold, at the same time emotionless, looking over my shoulder, I saw the body of the voice walk on, It was the poorly groomed, thin professor, Snape. As he walked his black robes seemed to flow in a flapping way of wings. This bat-like man was also the head of our house. I rolled my eyes, turning my attention to the paper that was on top of my book.
"Yikes, you've got nearly five classes everyday" Daphne commented looking at my schedule.
I gave a shrug, "Not really, just on Tuesdays, and Fridays. Seems as if Thursdays I'll be the busiest, as I've got six classes. Wish I had more but, I was told I needed the free time, and none of the interesting classes will be available till our third year." I rolled my eyes, my mother had insisted that I have free time to have fun, what a daft notion. Today being the second of the month was, Monday, I studied the days classes, I had potions, herbology, and charms before lunch time, in that order. Followed by the mandatory free time, ugh, after that I had magical theory before dinner. "I think, I'll be going to the library, see ya" Getting up, I stuffed my book, quill and schedule into my bag and left the great hall, that was now quickly filling up with students.
Walking quickly through the halls, not paying much attention to anyone, or thing aside from my destination. Thankfully, I made it to the library, without anyone distracting me or wasting my time. The library was mostly empty, aside from the librarian, whom looked like a vulture, with sunken in check, and her long hooked nose.
"What do you think you're doing here girl? Everyone's at breakfast, shoo." She ordered, with a snide tone.
I raised a brow, "I'm not hungry for food. However, I am thirsty for knowledge" I informed her, going on, "I just want to check something out to study in my free time, is all."
The woman, unfazed by my witty humor, narrowed her dark eyes, "You look familiar" her face was questioning me.
I shrugged, "My parents donate and buy books for Hogwarts"
Before, I could explain more a ruff voice from behind did the explaining, "She's the Ravenclaw in Slythern, Irma"
I noticed the librarians cheeks seemed to flush with a pink color, turning around I saw the familiar, old, creepy man, . his ruff eyes were glaring holes into me, I balled up my hands, feeling them shake. I turned back facing forward, looking at the librarian, her parchment face changed from being of displeasure to being, softer. She wasn't even looking at me. Well, this is awkward. Taking a hint, I walked past the librarian, going behind a book shelf, letting out a sigh. What the bloody hell was with the change in her? I shook my head and went about looking at the books, taking notice of the time, I had half an hour before my first class, potions.
I took hold of the first textbooks that had interesting titles. The first was a large book named, 'Syneídisi Mageía', I stared at the titles for a moment, the language was familiar, it wasn't English, but it was Greek. I pulled my wand out of the pocket of my robe, slowly had the tip go over the book, then flicked it towards myself, whispering "Metafrázo", blinking a bit as the pale magic left my wand and then my eyes, I rubbed my eyes softly, feeling them water a bit, removing my hands I stared down at the Greek title, the previous title was now English in my eyes, as the title now read 'Consciousness Magic'.
"What spell did you use to deface my book?!" I was spooked by the voice of the vulture, turning around, she ripped the book from my hands, "What'd you do!" She demanded glaring at me.
"Nothing, I did a spell on myself, I charmed my eyes so I could read it, I'm not fluent in Greek" I went on, "The book is still Greek for you, and everyone, I just charmed my eyes to read that book"
She then looked at the book, then back at me, holding it up, she pointed at the title, "What does it say then girl."
"Consciousness Magic" I answered her, holding my hand, waiting to be given the book.
She didn't return it to me, "that magic is to advance for you, not to mention most of the magic is considered dark, now girl now leave"
Narrowing my eyes I didn't move, "I'm aware what charms, spells and such might be in there, I am well off to judge what i can do or cannot. I have time to read and fully understand the magic within the paper." I retorted.
The woman only raised her brow, "Prove it learn the first spell in here, now." she challenged me.
"now? I have class" I retorted, I then shook my head, I wasn't going to back down from this challenge, "Fine, I'll learn the first spell, but what happens when I do?" I questioned, tilting my head a bit.
"I'll let you read any book within reason and not question it." she replied simply, "I'll even think about giving you a note explaining why you're late to class." She held the book out, "Deal?" she questioned, with a slight taunting tone.
Quickly I grabbed the book, sitting down on the ground as I did, opening to the first lesson of the book, as the vulture walked away, with her nose in the air.
The first thing being taught in the book was a charm, the I've seen my father use it in his office. On his quill to write notes as he read a book, and on his cup, if it empties it fills up automatically. I pulled out my own quill, and a parchment, setting both down, i held my wand tightly, looking down at the book that sat in my lap. It instructed to give the was a swish to the left and poke in the direction of the object to be charmed, while thinking of the basic task it should do in a 'I want you to -task-' , and to say, 'work'.
Thinking carefully, I looked at the quill, moving my wand to the left a bit, thinking of the task, I want you to write the instructions of the first charm, in English. I then poked my wand forward, as I whispered, "work", after a few moments that felt like hours, the quill arose and began write on it's own. Writing the instructions of the book. Once it was done it dropped down, done with the task. I picked up the parchment, it was written nicely, hmp. My quill has better hand writing than I do, for sure a charm to be used often in the future. I let out a giggle of enjoyment.
Looking back at the book it went on to explain different methods on how to do the spell without saying a word. Placing the parchment back down. Grasping my wand I repeated the previous process, but instead of saying work I pictured the quill moving. Nothing happened. I repeated the process, again. Once again nothing happened. I let out a breath of of frustration. Then repeated the process, again. This time the quill arose and wrote down the instructions again. I tried it once again. Wanting it to write 'Finally.' in a large and bold-ish font. The quill repeated the process of the spell, the quill did exactly as I thought. Getting up from my spot, I picked everything up, and walked to the desk where the vulture sat. She looked up at me with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
"Giving up are we?" She questioned, I lifted up my wand looking at the quill that sat in a jar of ink, swishing my wand to the left I thought of what I wanted the quill to write, 'Amber Rose Ravenclaw is excused of her tardy, she was aiding me, Madam Pince in the library', seeing the excuse note, being slanted slightly, to the right, then to stay standing till the woman to sign it. Then poking in the direction of the quill. It then arose and began writing on a parchment that was next to the jar of ink.
I walked closer to the desk as the quill finished, it was still standing up, waiting to be grabbed, "I'm going to be a bit late I'm sure" I retorted in a cocky tone, "I'm one to honor my challenges, the question now is to you honor the challenges you issue out?" I questioned narrowing my eyes at her.
The woman let out an irritated sounding huff, grabbing the quill, she wrote her signature. Watching as she did so. Once I was handed the parchment I gave her a smile, and left the room.