Chapter 19: The Aftermath

Given the surprising turn of events, Simon was amazed how he managed to keep it all together throughout the meal and make his way up to the Ravenclaw dormitory. George had to be practically dragged up to the Ravenclaw Tower. He barely ate during dinner and spoke little. Not that many of the Ravenclaws had noticed as Sharon dominated most of the "airtime" among the Ravenclaw first years when it came to conversation during the start-of-year feast.

A prefect named Esther Davies got everyone's attention to make the journey to the common room. If not for the years of stair training, Simon was sure he and George would be heaving like many of the other first years who were doing so at the door of the Ravenclaw common room. Simon mused that this was the first ten or so minutes in the past hours where he had not heard Sharon speak.

"Congratulations!" a loud voice boomed in from the front of the crowd. A boy with mousy hair was speaking.

"I'm Prefect John Hilliard, and I'm delighted to welcome you to Ravenclaw House. Our emblem is the eagle, which soars where others cannot climb; our house colours are blue and bronze,…"

Simon had definitely read this on Pottermore before. Except it was Robert, not John Hilliard who shared this speech. They were likely related and both have a passion for sharing Ravenclaw lore. Simon twirled his thumbs as John continued through his monologue about Rowena Ravenclaw, the bronze knocker which was sentient and only opened the door when people answered its riddles correctly, how working through the riddles outside the door together was a bonding experience…

"Speaking of eccentrics, you'll like our Head of House, Professor Filius Flitwick. People often underestimate him…His office door is always open to any Ravenclaw with a problem, and if you're in a real state he'll get out these delicious little cupcakes he keeps in a tin in his desk drawer and make them do a little dance for you. In fact, it's worth pretending you're in a real state just to see them jive."

Simon almost forgot about the famous Flitwick cupcakes. Simon had made a mental note to go to office hours of most professors at least once, sans Binns. It would be helpful to be on professors' good sides if he wanted to learn more and prepare for the future. He wondered if Snape would even talk to him though, as he was not a Slytherin.

"As for our relationship with the other three houses: well, you've probably heard about the Slytherins. They're not all bad, but you'd do well to be on your guard until you know them well..."

Simon snorted. He would be dumb not to keep a guard on around Phoebe. He was certain their unspoken competition would continue in classes.

"The Gryffindors are okay. If I had a criticism, I'd say Gryffindors tend to be show-offs. No offence, Weasley."

George broke from his trance at being suddenly called on and stared blankly at John Hilliard. John just coughed and carried on.

"As for the Hufflepuffs, well, nobody could say they're not nice people. In fact, they're some of the nicest people in the school. Let's just say you needn't worry too much about them when it comes to competition at exam time."

Simon wondered how they would react to Cedric's academic prowess.

"…well done on becoming a member of the cleverest, quirkiest and most interesting house at Hogwarts!"

With that said, John turned around and knocked using the door knocker.

*"What gets bigger when more is taken away?"* a soft and musical voice asked.

John spun around to face the first years again, "Does any first year want to give it a try…"

"A hole," Esther interrupted John, "The answer is a hole. Let's get the first years to bed already!"

John turned a tomato red at Esther's remark. The door flew open to reveal the Ravenclaw common room. It was wide and circular with graceful arched windows and a domed ceiling. A statute of Rowena Ravenclaw stood besides bookshelves which covered half the walls. Portraits of famous Ravenclaws also grace the room.

"The boys' rooms are on the right, the girls' on the left," Esther explained, speaking much quicker and with a much more 'no-nonsense tone' compared to John, "Each room houses five people maximum. From third year to fifth year, the top two male students may room together in a better room and the same for the top two female students. After fifth year, the top four students of each year regardless of gender would get single rooms while the remaining students would share rooms for two or three people depending on the maths. Rankings will be shown in the common room after each exam season. Is that clear?"

The first years all nodded regardless of how much information they had actually processed. It was obvious even if they were zoning out that in Ravenclaw grades certainly mattered. Simon was confident he had the better rooms in the bag.

John Hilliard led the first year boys to their bedroom. They had exactly five boys in their year so they fitted one room exactly. But the room seemed vastly superior in design to the Gryffindor rooms described in the books. There were three arched windows with an amazing view of the campus. Circular lamps were next to every bedside. Simon found his trunk and suitcase placed besides the bed next to a window with a spectacular view of the Great Lake.

"Er, I don't think we had an opportunity to introduce ourselves yet," a boy with mid-length dark brown hair and large onyx eyes said, getting the attention of everyone in the room, "I am Roger Davies."

"Fahim Shafiq," greeted the boy with umber brown skin and striking hazel eyes.

"I am Jake Flinton," grinned a scrawny boy with freckles and sandy blonde hair, "I am a muggle! This is all new to me!"

"Simon, Simon Li," Simon introduced himself, "Don't worry Jake. You will get the hang of things. Feel free to ask me anything. My dad is a muggleborn wizard and is still quite in touch with the muggle world. So, I think I can help explain some things if you need me to."

Jake nodded at Simon gratefully. Then, all eyes turned to George.

"Er…I am George Weasley. You all should know from the reaction that people did not expect me to be Ravenclaw…?"

"It is just house, what's the big deal about it?" Jake asked.

"Well, it does determine your strongest traits!" Roger interjected, "The hat can read your mind!"

Fahim shrugged, "So what? I kind of agree with Jake here. It honestly is not such a big deal being in a different house from your family. Yes, there is the personality trait part Davies just said but it is not that uncommon for people to be a bit different from their family. I have relatives who have been in Hufflepuff as well as Ravenclaw."

"Yeah, Fahim is right," Simon added, "It really is not such a big deal. Plus, now everyone can tell you and Fred apart!"

That earned a slight smile on George's face.

"On the point about families though," Fahim turned to Roger, "That prefect Esther is your sister?"

"Yes, I have two sisters. Clover is in third year."

Fahim, Jake, Simon and even George burst out laughing.

"What?" Roger frowned, unclear what was so funny.

"Are you also related to Chester Davies?" Fahim asked, when he paused for breath, "He was the prefect in my cousin's year."

"Yes. And…?"

The others laughed hysterically again.

"Chester! Esther! Clover! Roger! This is gold!" Jake sniggered.

"What can I say? My family likes *-er *names!" Roger groaned at his new roommates' reaction, "This is really silly."

"I agree. But maybe it is the sugar from the desserts because I cannot stop laughing…," Simon commented. All these years living in a child's body had really pushed his humour to a very low bar. At least this got George to loosen up again.

---

"Hey."

"Hey."

Simon and George found Fred standing at the doors of the Great Hall as they walked down for breakfast.

"Um…I'll leave you two to speak," Simon said, sensing a serious conversation was to be had. He followed Fahim, Jake and Roger to the Ravenclaw table.

George swallowed. He and Fred had always assumed they would be in the same house, hanging together during all their time at Hogwarts. What happened last night came as a shock to both of them. The two of them looked awkwardly at their feet, waiting for the other to speak first.

"Um…I was surprised you got into Ravenclaw," Fred began, nervously fidgeting with his robes as he spoke, "But I guess it was dumb for me to be surprised."

George looked up at his brother's words.

"I talked to Charlie and Percy a lot last night. Like, whenever we did pranks, you were always the one who thinks of ways to improve on it when we do it the next time around. You are also bloody good at potions," Fred continued, "And there is nothing wrong with you being smarter than me. I happen to be braver."

George smirked, "You are *not*."

"Oh yes I am. Come on, Fred the Bold and George the Wise. Just think about it! What a team!"

George chuckled at Fred's wild naming tendencies again.

"Also, it may actually be a good thing we are in different houses."

Fred pulled out a Ravenclaw tie and Gryffindor tie.

"I got these off Charlie's friend, Jae. Kind of a sketchy fella but he offered these for free because we are Charlie's brothers."

Fred passed the Gryffindor tie to George.

Fred grinned mischievously, "Imagine how annoying it is going to be for professors…

"…when they cannot tell which of us pulled off the prank?" George smirked in reply.

"Trust me, Ravenclaw is going to be losing a lot more points than Gryffindor this year," Fred laughed.

"I don't think so. It is Gryffindor that should watch their backs," George retorted, "Let's get started."

---

"You saw the letter from Charlie?"

Arthur Weasley looked at his wife who sat on the couch looking deep in thought. She was clutching a dented watch with golden stars circling its face instead of hands. Arthur had not seen her looking at the watch since the day they heard the news from the aurors.

"Yes," Molly Weasley replied, her voice cracking from the simple word she said.

Arthur took a seat besides her, pulling her close to him as she leaned onto his shoulder.

"They remind me of them so much."

"I know they do."

"And now he is in Ravenclaw…"

"…just like Fabian."

"Yes," Molly murmured, "Just like Fabian."