Hogwarts, Hogwarts, hoggy, warty, Hogwarts
On September 1st, Molly packed Raven a lunch and stood waving goodbye from the platform until the train was out of sight. Raven began moving down the corridor, weaving slightly from the motion of the train, looking for an open compartment. Many were full already; jam packed with kids playing games or brandishing their wands as if they knew what to do with them. Raven snorted a bit and continued until she found a compartment with two kids in it; one taller, dark haired boy, and a tiny girl who sat across from him, teeth bared and looking ready for a fight.
As Raven slid the door open, she heard the boy saying, “I told you, O, first years aren’t allowed to play Quidditch. That’s why mum took your broom.”
“No,” the girl bit back, “Mum took my broom because you went and told her I packed it. AND, Harry Potter played his first year at school. Why not me? Thanks for nothing, Bellamy.”
Raven paused at the door, hesitantly asking, “Do you mind if I sit here? Everywhere else is full.”
The boy- Bellamy, shrugged. “Suit yourself. Just don’t sit too close to Octavia, she might bite you. And she’s got rabies.”
Octavia huffed, turning to look at Raven. “Please come in and save me from my insufferable big brother.”
Raven moved inside, letting the door latch behind her and taking a seat next to Bellamy. Octavia’s eyes lit up at the sight of the raven on Raven’s shoulder.
“Ohh! He’s lovely!” she exclaimed, reaching out one finger to gently pet the bird’s feathers. The raven let out a soft croaking noise and playfully nibbled at Octavia’s finger.
“What’s his name?” Octavia inquired, stroking the bird’s head.
“She, actually, and I haven’t decided yet,” Raven admitted sheepishly. “It’s going to be difficult, honestly, because my name is Raven- I suspect the person who gave it to me intended it that way.”
Octavia chuckled, and said, “Well, you know Ravenclaw’s symbol is the raven, you could name her Rowena.”
Raven looked into the distance thoughtfully. “You know, that’s a great idea. She is the reincarnation of Rowena Ravenclaw, after all.”
Bellamy rolled his eyes as Octavia’s widened. “Really? How do you know?”
Raven leaned in and whispered, “She told me in a dream.”
Bellamy groaned out loud. “Get me off this crazy train.”
A brilliant smile lit up Octavia’s face. “Then Rowena it is!” She bowed deeply to the bird on Raven’s shoulder, and the bird seemed to bow back before fluttering her wings and cawing in Raven’s ears to tell her she was hungry.
“All right then,” Raven exhaled. “Who likes corned beef?”
--
The ride to Hogwarts went quickly, and soon they were pulling on their robes, Bellamy taking care to make sure his stiff collar lay neatly over his green and silver Slytherin tie, and Raven helping Octavia to fix her hair, eventually offering to braid it so it was out of her face.
Bellamy read as the two girls chatted about what houses they’d like to be in.
“No one ever says Hufflepuff,” Octavia pouted, “But I hear they volunteer at soup kitchens and do fun community service projects.”
Raven nodded thoughtfully, adding, “I think I’m a bit destined to be a Ravenclaw, having been chosen by Rowena Ravenclaw her reincarnated self. Besides, I look so good in blue!”
The train slowed to a stop, and Bellamy jumped up, rushing to give Octavia a hug. “As long as it’s not Gryffindor, we can still be related, O.” He headed out into the corridor, shouting over his shoulder, “And don’t get eaten by the giant squid!”
Octavia rolled her eyes. “C’mon Raven, time to meet our destiny.”
On the platform, an enormous man had collected all the first years into a huddle, shouting, “All firs’ years, this way!” The lantern he held above the crowd’s head illuminated a beaming face covered by a bushy beard.
“All righ’ you bunch, to the boats!”
Raven and Octavia followed to group into a boat, which took off across the lake. She and Octavia gasped at their first sight of the castle perched on top of a cliff, windows glowing warmly into the night.
Raven grinned. “Finally!”
--
Raven wasn’t nervous to be sorted; Octavia had already gone to Hufflepuff, leaving Raven surrounded by a gaggle of children. She waited for her turn under the hat. Harry told her what to expect- “Ron let me think we would be wrestling trolls. It’s really just a conversation- a deep one, but just talk to the hat.”
Raven strode forward confidently when her name was called and she lost sight of the hall as the hat dropped over her eyes.
“Oooh, all cogs and gears, hmm? And a strong command over your magic already, I see,” the hat murmured as Raven squirmed a bit. “Excellent, yes. Let’s send you to ask questions with the rest of them, then- RAVENCLAW!”
Raven handed the hat off to a smiling McGonagall and tripped her way over to the table dominated by blues and silvers, sitting next to a dark haired first year girl who was buried in the pages of “The Art of War.”
Raven took one look at the title and snorted. “Heavy reading for a feast, don’t you think?”
The other girl didn’t bother lowering the book, but replied, “Should I put it down and succumb to the weak revelry of baseless traditions and endless, meaningless noise?”
Raven considered before replying, “You should if you want any of the rolls. I think Monty is trying to eat them all.”
The girl sighed, stowing the book away in her bag and beginning to fill her dinner plate from the food that had appeared on the table.
“I’m Raven, by the way.”
“Lexa.”
“Nice to meet you, Lexa.”
“…We’ll see.”