chapter three
“RAVENCLAW”
Satisfied with the hat’s choice, Ron took off the sorting hat, gave it back to Professor McGonagall and went to sit with the Ravenclaw table. All the other ravenclaw first years were already sitting there, so he sat down next to one of the first year boys, a blonde guy with a lean figure, quite a bit smaller than Ron. That was something to get used to, being so tall. He was easily taller than many third year students, which made him stand out quite a bit amongst the other first years, together with his fiery red hair. The boy he sat next to introduced himself as Anthony Goldstein. He was a lively boy, laughing and joking together with his fellow students. He explained that he was a half-blood, his dad being a wizard and his mom a muggle.
“I’m pureblooded”, Ron said, “we don’t associate with it all too much though”
“Yeah, I heard about the weasleys before”, Anthony nodded, “big muggle supporters, right? I can imagine that that doesn’t get you many pureblooded friends”
“My dad is obsessed with them. Keeps old muggle junk in his workshop”, he agreed.
The conversation drifted from there, over to the other students and their families. Most of them were half-bloods, the only other pureblood was a girl named Morag MacDougal. There were no muggleborn first years in Ravenclaw. After a few minutes of conversation, Dumbledore stood up and made his infamous speech,”Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you”
The other first years looked around, confused, unsure of what to think of the strange headmaster. The older students just accepted it and dug into the food. Yes, the food had appeared right after Dumbledore finished his ‘Speech’. There was roast duck, ham, mashed potatoes, carrots, peas, game pie, various soups, corn on the cob, strawberries ,various fish dishes and much more.
Ron grabbed chicken wings, some mashed potatoes and some peas and happily ate the food. It was truly delicious, “The house elves are really great at cooking”, he said in between bites.
“House Elves?" Anthony Goldstein asked.
“Yeah, Hogwarts has a few hundred house elves, they cook, they clean the common rooms, they do other tasks for the professors and even students if they ask nice enough”, Ron explained.
“House elves are like servants right?” Terry Boot asked.
“Yeah, they are normally bound to a family but they can also be bound to organizations, like Hogwarts or the ministry of magic. I think Hogwarts is the largest gathering of them in all of Britain, maybe all of europe. My mom often says she would like a house elf but I know that if we had one, mom would just still do all the cooking and cleaning, she’s way too proud to allow anyone but herself to clean the burrow”, Ron told his new house mates.
“Imagine that, never having to clean your own room again, it sounds nice”
Conversation carried on, they joked and laughed, told stories and generally enjoyed each other's company. Eventually the subject of jobs came into view, “So what do you want to do after you graduate”
“Don’t know, something that pays well, maybe work at the ministry”, Ron shrugged at the question.
“I wanna be an Auror”, Anthony smiled, “Hunting dark wizards and witches, that sounds so cool”
“And dangerous”, Terry added.
“Yeah but that only makes it more exciting”, was Anthony’s reply.
“Well, I want to work for the daily prophet”, Terry explained, “Chasing after stories, reporting the news, that sounds like fun”
Soon, the feast ended and Dumbledore stood once more, “Well, now that we are watered and fed, I want to make a few quick announcements before we send you off to your beds. For those new here or those who have simply forgot, the forbidden forest is strictly out of bounds, except if a staff member is accompanying you. The third floor corridor is forbidden to all of you who don’t want to die a painful death. A list of all forbidden items, such as biting yo-yo’s or screaming frisbees is hung outside of Mr. Filch's office. Now, you are free to leave and go to bed, curfew is as always nine o’clock for the first till fourth years and 10 o’clock for those of the fifth year and up”
The first years followed their prefects to the common rooms, the Ravenclaw common room was at the top of ravenclaw tower. It was an aerie room with a high ceiling and bookshelves lining the walls, at its center, there was a statue of Rowena Ravenclaw, wearing a stone replica of Ravenclaw's diadem. The room was open and covered wall to wall in blue and bronze colors. The dormitories were also big and open, with six four-poster beds, draped in blue cloth. Chairs and desks were beside each bed, already having been stocked with parchment and a quill, which rested in an ink fountain. His year mates quickly went to sleep, tired from the long train ride. Ron on the other hand was awake for longer than the others penning to letters.
The first was to his mother and read: “Hi mom, I arrived safe and sound at Hogwarts. I was sorted into Ravenclaw. My housemates are very nice, I think I’ll like it here. Tell Dad that I miss him. I miss you too mom. Yet, it is also a bit exciting, being away from home for the first time. I hope this letter finds you well,
Love Ron”
He wrote that letter in a worse handwriting than his own, because he remembered from the books that Ron’s handwriting was very bad.
The second letter, he penned in his real handwriting, neat and orderly, it was addressed to Albus Dumbledore, “Hello Albus, I have urgent news. I have found out that Sirius Black was innocent. Peter Pettigrew was the Potter’s secrete keeper. His body was never found but that wasn’t because he was blown to bits but because he was secretly an animagus. He cut off a finger and transformed. He has since assumed the role of a pet for the Weasley’s. The youngest Weasley son, Ronald keeps him as a pet rat named Scabbers. He doesn’t know the truth but I do. I know you don’t know me and have no reason to trust me but please heed my call, it is horrible that Black was framed and I want justice to be served,
With kind regards,
A friend”
After having finished both letters, Ron put them away into his trunk. He would send them out the next day, which happened to be a monday, which meant he would have his first classes that day but after he was done with school, he would send the letters via the Hogwarts school owls.