Ravenclaw Tower
The Ravenclaw Tower was located in the western part of the castle. It was perched on the fifth floor and was only accessible to students if they solved a riddle. The eagle-shaped knocker on the door challenged the students with a new mystery every day.
As they finished climbing the stairs, Pandora Malfoy and Selena Lestrange saw two silhouettes arguing.
They joined two of the boys from the fifth-year group who were exchanging ideas with a tone that seemed to betray a growing irritation, in front of the door to find the solution of the day.
“If only it was a password like the Gryffindor or the Slytherin.” Oliver grumbled, scratching his head.
Silas rolled his eyes, preferring to ignore his friend's pointless remark. “Worse than the devil... that must refer to a danger,” he reflected, biting his nail.
“What is it today?" asked Pandora approaching cautiously.
“Go and ask him to repeat it,” breathed Silas annoyed, “I can't remember the whole statement.” His gaze lingered on Selena's figure. He seemed to realise once again that she now belonged to their group. He straightened up slightly and smiled at her.
The eagle resumed in a sour voice: “I'm better than God, worse than the devil. The poor have it, the rich need it. If you eat it, you die. What am I?”
“If you eat it, you die, it could be something poisonous?” Oliver thought aloud.
The young heiress of the Lestrange family leaned against the wall. She admired the beauty of the place in silence. She noticed that a large armchair had been set up near the entrance to the Tower.
Noticing the young girl's intrigued look, Oliver explained: “We've put it there; in case someone doesn't find the solution by the end of the evening. So, you don't have to sleep on the stone floor.”
She stifled a little giggle. Imagining how many students would be prevented from going to bed seemed such an absurd idea.
But Selena loved riddles. It was one of her favourite games. Second only to cap ou pas cap and hide and seek. Her aunt used to organise treasure hunts for her in her Parisian flat. To find the hidden object, she always had to solve a strange question that required her wits. And in the jumble of her beloved Berenice, it was all the more stimulating. She used to always consider the most absurd answer. Because that was usually the solution.
After a few minutes, a broad smile spreading across her face, she approached the knocker and said confidently:
“Nothing.” She continued for the benefit of her new comrades, who were staring at her in amazement. “Nothing is better than God, nothing is worse than the Devil. The poor have nothing, the rich lack nothing. And if you don't eat anything, you die.”
The knocker froze, and the door opened to reveal the magnificent Ravenclaw common room.
“If that's not proof that you're a Ravenclaw,” Pandora congratulated her laughing.
The circular room they entered was a true work of art. The high, ribbed windows enhanced the elegance of the space. Tapestries and curtains draped in Prussian blue velvet lent a certain intimacy to this grandiose room. The young woman was captivated by the disproportionately high mahogany bookcases that harmoniously punctuated the space. Finally, she discovered five comfortable recessed alcoves where small groups of different ages had settled down to chat.
They made their way to the first alcove, joining Lucy, Max, Arun, Eleonore and one last fifth year, whose name Selena couldn't remember. After several exchanges with her new classmates, she realised that the girl was the most discreet of the group and that her name was Daisy Drake. She was apparently in a relationship with a certain Peter Pettigrew, a sixth-year student from the Gryffindors' house. At dinner she had been sitting next to someone called Emmeline Vance.
Apparently, Daisy had just told them the latest Hogwarts Express gossip: Emmeline had just got back together with Sirius Black.
Selena chuckled at the mention of her childhood friend's name. Sirius Black had apparently become quite a heartbreaker. Now in his sixth year, he seemed to have already accumulated numerous conquests. It was true that Sirius was a handsome boy, with his clear eyes, sculpted jaw and shoulder-length hair. Unlike his younger brother, who had developed an athletic, almost androgynous musculature, Sirius had become the incarnation of the male. His robust torso, glimpsed through a carelessly slightly open shirt, left most young girls dreaming.
Lucy looked at her, and suddenly realised, “Why, yes, he's your cousin now!”
“You could say that, as my elder brother married his cousin a few weeks ago,” she replied, suddenly realising with dread that if Sirius was now her cousin, so was Regulus. Merde!
“Ohh a wedding! Lucky you, I love weddings!" Said Eleonore excitedly, trying to meet Arun's eyes as he exchanged views with Max about one last fashionable song.
“Have you been dancing all night?” Added Lucy, keen to know all the details of a pureblood wedding evening.
“Hmmm”, suddenly embarrassed at having been deprived of the evening, she reluctantly admitted, “I haven't made my debut yet, so I wasn't really allowed to take part in the evening!”
There was something embarrassing about admitting that she hadn't made her debut. As if she had to admit that she was still a child. And although she liked acting like one, there was a feeling in her stomach that she doubted she had ever been one.
“Your debut! It's so fancy!” Exclaimed Eleonore.
“What exactly does it involve?” intervened Silas, who had approached the girls to find out more about the new girl.
She had realised at dinner that some of her comrades were not from pureblood families. In fact, only she and Pandora were purebloods. Most of her new comrades were what her brothers scornfully called half-bloods. The handsome Silas Brightvale, on the other hand, was born of Muggle parents. The worst friend she could have chosen, according to her prejudiced parents. He was to become her best mate then!
“I don't know if it's so fancy to announce to the entire male population of my parents' circle, that I'm ready to be married, but if you say so,” she pronounced with a certain bitterness.
“When you say it like that, it sounds less appealing.” Lucy conceded, “what rules does it involved?”
“Well, I'm not allowed to go to parties yet… not allowed to get too close to boys, basically I'm not allowed to have any fun until my father chooses the right match for me,” she replied annoyed.
“It sounds crazy, we're not in the Middle Ages anymore!” intervened an outraged Eleonore.
“I'm being dramatic, don't worry,” Selena reassured her in a lighter tone, “beside I never said I was going to obey all those rules at Hogwarts,” she said with a smile.
“Good, because you were going to crush the hopes of some boys,” remarked Eleonore.
“Of course...” she giggled.
“Oh no, no false modesty between us... I've seen how you've already been spotted by certain guys,” said Eleonore, “but we'll be there to point you in the right direction and tell you who to avoid.”
The girls returned to their dormitory to continue their discussion and to talk freely about the boys at school. They were thrilled to discover Selena's elegant and refined French-style outfits. As she admired the beauty of the circular room that would now be hers for the next few months, the space quickly became the scene of mild hysteria. Selena was captivated by this typically feminine energy of chaos and laughter.
Lucy and Eleanore spent a long-time grilling Daisy to find out all the details of her relationship with Peter Pettigrew. They had been an item for over six months and she had visited him several times both at home and at Potter Manor.
“No, you didn't! You went to James Potter's house! Tell us about it! Were all the marauders there?” Apparently, Lucy was very interested in the group of Gryffindor pranksters, especially a certain bespectacled quidditch player.
“So, you have a crush on James Potterrrr?” asked Selena, raising an eyebrow.
“Not really. He's sexy, but so obnoxious. And I have a weakness for guys with broad shoulders. But clearly in Potter's case, I'm just admiring the specimen.” She chuckled.
“What about you Pandora?” Selena inquired, noticing that the blonde girl remained very quiet during their conversation.
Eleanore cut short the impetus in which Pandora was about to reply: “she had already had a vision. She'll meet him after Hogwarts.” All the other Ravenclaw laughed. The blond witch nodded silently in agreement.
“You have visions of the future?” continued Selena now intrigued.
“Yes, but it's all a bit hazy and it mostly happens when I am sleeping,” replied the shy young witch.
Eleanore and Lucy wanted to continue the discussion about boys, and insisted on knowing if their new classmate had already noticed any boys she liked.
She laughed and then admitted that she didn't know the names of those she had found attractive. Lie.
The two young matchmakers exchanged a conspiratorial look then said to her “Promise to let us know as soon as you know their names!”
“I promise,” she concluded with a yawn.
Their energy and joy in chatting about frivolous subjects inspired a wave of nostalgia in the young witch. She thought of the dancer friends she had left behind, but also of her eccentric aunt, whom she already missed dearly.
After an evening of laughter and excitement, Selena stretched out on her new bed and waited for each of her roommates to sink into a peaceful sleep.
Once she was absolutely certain that no one could hear her, she got up in silence. She then retrieved her wand and the various items needed for her usual ritual. She sighed silently. She would have to make up her mind to carry out these protections every evening. To be able to stay sane, and above all for the sake of her new friends.
"Salveo somnia,” she whispered around the room before disappearing under the sheets for the night.
The next morning, when she opened her eyes again, her breath caught at the sight before her. The dormitory was laid out in a circle, and each of the magic students' beds bordered a large window. As the Ravenclaw tower was one of the highest places in Hogwarts, she had an unobstructed view of the lake and the Forbidden Forest. She gazed for a moment at the dawn light breaking gently through the mist before rising.
Her daily dance practice over the last few years had instilled in her the rhythm of an early bird. The room was still lulled by the deep breathing of her roommates. As she sat up, she met the languid expression of Pandora Malfoy.
Without exchanging a word, they strolled out of the dormitory after silently getting ready. As they made their way to the breakfast table in the Great Hall, Selena marvelled at the beauty of the ceiling. Hogwarts was definitely a place like no other.
As soon as they were seated, a copious breakfast appeared on their plates. She poured herself coffee with milk and sugar, as usual, and watched the room gradually fill up. Pandora wasn't much of a talker, but Selena didn't mind her silence. On the contrary, the young blonde witch possessed an aura that was naturally soothing in any situation. The prospect of becoming friends with her delighted the young dancer.
When he entered the Great Hall that morning, Regulus Black was still angry. Angry at Selena Lestrange. Angry at that bloody hat. And angry with himself for getting in such a state over a girl.
After that disastrous sorting ceremony, he had left because he could no longer contain himself. He could no longer contain his disappointment. He needed to release the weight in his chest, the tension that had been there for a month.
The frustration caused by the evening's events was no doubt just another excuse. A new excuse to let the violence devour him. He had to destroy something. Or someone. For a moment, he contemplated the idea of allowing himself to be seduced by young Selwyn. She had been trying to lure him into bed for a few weeks and perhaps this prospect was not the worst idea.
But he had finally settled for an empty classroom. After casting a silencing charm, he had smashed, burnt, destroyed and shrivelled everything. Everything!
After this cathartic episode, he felt better.
For several months, he had been finding it increasingly difficult to contain his anger. He knew that his practice of black magic probably had something to do with it, but he had to make progress. He had to become more powerful. He had to restore the honour of The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black.
When he saw Selena Lestrange sitting with Pandora, sipping her cup of coffee, his heart sank. She should have been with him. Discovering the Slytherin dungeons with him, wandering the corridors of Hogwarts with him.
The realisation that he had fantasised too much about these moments with her since they had met again was unbearable. Ever since he met her gaze in the library of Black Manor, he had dreamt of her eyes. Her mad, alluring dance at Bella and Rodolphus's wedding had left him full of desire. He'd already woken up several times sweating, getting a hard-on just imagining her in her white lace dress, which was far too revealing. And now there was only room for disappointment.
And what had particularly triggered his disgust with the situation was his traitor brother's reaction. He had seen that Sirius had been delighted with Selena's sorting. That fucker! He gave her a bloody congratulatory wink!
Perhaps his reaction was disproportionate. Maybe she could still be his? Imagining the Ravenclaw boys around her revolted him. But maybe he still had a few cards up his sleeve. After all, she had promised to be his potion partner. He had to act quickly. Put down his pawns while he was still in the game.
Swallowing his black tea in one gulp, he stood up and, to the astonishment of Evan Rosier and Demeter Mulciber around him, crossed the Great Hall, heading straight for the Ravenclaw table.
He sat down on the girl's right, barring the way to another Ravenclaw in their year whose name he did not know.
“Hello Selena,” he said.
“Hello Regulus, how are you?” she whispered uncomfortably, dipping her golden eyes into his: “You're not too angry with me?”
“Of course, not,” he said, placing his hand strategically on her shoulder. Even with her robe on, he felt the warmth of her shoulder on his hand, sending a slight shiver down his spine.
“So, are you ready for your first lessons? What have you got today?” he asked, leaving his hand where it was.
He had already looked at his own timetable, and already knew that they shared several classes a week.
“Today, I've got History of Magic with the Hufflepuffs, Potions with the Slytherins,” she continued with a smile. “And in the afternoon, Divination with the Gryffindors and Defense against the Dark Arts with the Slytherins. Again! “
“Great!” he replied, falsely surprised. “Maybe I could show you the library after our last lesson?” Knowing the young witch's love of reading, he knew he'd make a good point by offering her this visit. “And if you need, I could give you a lift back to Ravenclaw Tower.”
“When you're a prefect you pretty much know where everything is.” He added as he finished his sentence by moving slightly closer to the young girl's face.
“Thank you, my dear friend, for all the trouble you've taken to welcome me here,” she replied poshly in a whisper, leaning towards him.
He forced himself to remain as serene as possible as he inhaled her sweet almond scent. Merlin! It was going to be difficult to remain impassive if she stayed so close to him.
As he tried to think of something other than her bewitching smell, three girls sat down opposite them. They exchanged a curious expression of collusion with Selena as they looked at him.
Having never really made the effort to meet them. He gave them a cold smile and recognised one of them. She was one of the chasers in the Ravenclaw quidditch team. She and her twin brother had a bit of talent: a certain Kettles.
“Hi Black! Are you still planning to be a seeker this year?” Asked Lucy.
“If I don't have a competition, that's the plan,” he said confidently.
“It's funny because this year we need a new seeker. Are you going to try Selena?”
“Well, maybe. If I can't find a way to dance, I'll need a physical activity to drain off all my excess energy.” She replied, widening her eyes.
Regulus swallowed at this answer, thinking of physical activities he could suggest to her to drain off all her energy.
“Really, you want to join the quidditch team?” Silas Brightvale broke into the conversation.
“I'm not sure yet. When are the try-outs?” She asked.
“In a fortnight, if you want, I can help you train,” Silas offered.
What was that bloody Mudblood offering his Selena? Regulus looked at the boy with a false smile and added firmly: “I think it might be interesting for me to train her, as I've already been a seeker myself for several years. No offence.”
“None taken. Although it might be better to train with her future team-mates,” insisted Silas, understanding Regulus' strategy.
“I'll see,” she told them. “Nothing's done yet, but I might still have a hope of continuing ballet here.”
As he was about to get up, he said, “I must go now, my lady, I hope to see you soon. All my respects, my dear,” he whispered in Selena's ear loud enough for the young Brightvale to hear.
As he walked through the Great Hall, he looked back and was pleased to see that Selena's new friends seemed to question her about a potential love affair between them and that she was slightly blushing.
If he wasn't flirting with her too directly yet, he was counting on her Ravenclaw female friends to take charge of suggesting this idea to her.
“Merlin’s beard! What was that?!” Eleanor shrieked.
As soon as Regulus had left their table, all girls stared at Selena with intrigued eyes.
“Well…” feeling a little bit awkward at all the fuss they were doing about nothing. “It’s just Reg!” she said with a suspicious eye.
“Just Reg” exclaimed Lucy imitating Selena’s voice, “Just Regulus bloody Black!” looking back and forth between the boy and Selena. “He is like… Slytherin royalty, and he’s gorgeous!”
“And we have never seen any Slytherin coming at the Ravenclaw table before?” added Pandora, suddenly joining the conversation twisting her mouth, embarrassed.
“Never?” Asked Selena astonished.
“The Slytherins are not the nicest crowd”, added Daisy, "having a Slytherin come to our table it’s… unheard of…”
“If you can believe it?” Said Silas with irony.
“I have known him forever”, she explained flatly, “we are just reconnecting because we didn’t see each other since we were ten.”
“Well, he seemed to want more than that!” Laughed Lucy squeezing her hands.
“Not sure about that”, she said doubtfully, “I think my brother may have something to do with it.”
As she turned to watch Regulus joined his friends, she thought back to the little girl who had always had a crush on the raven-haired boy. Could he ever see her as anything other than the annoying little sister of one of his friends? The tops of her cheekbones flushed at the thought. No. No way. Rabastan must have had something to do with Regulus' presence. He must have been sent by the Lestrange brothers to keep an eye on her.
And then, Regulus Black was and always had been way out of her league. But a teenage girl can always nourish dreams. Can’t she?