An End of Year Mystery

As Professor Dumbledore entered the Staff Room at Hogwarts, the rest of the teachers were already there. The Staffroom was an old-looking room, filled with a long table surrounded by comfortable armchairs. Dumbledore took the leather armchair at the end of the table which was reserved for the headmaster and started with the meeting, "I am sorry for being late, but at my age, I'm not the fittest on my legs anymore. Well better get this meeting underway as we all have things to do. Let's start with our new students. Are there any exceptional students among the first years? Minerva."

"Well, we've got a pair of exceptional trouble makers this year. Fred and George Weasley are pranksters comparable to the Marauders. I already got a headache just for imagining all the troubles in the next few years." Professor McGonagall explained with a defeated expression, " Among my transfiguration students there are some talented ones, but especially Mr.Diggory and Mr.Mason are exceptionally gifted."

"Yes, Mr.Mason is one of the brightest Wizards I had in my House in Years." Squeaked Flitwick happily, " As I understand it he performs in all his courses exceptionally. And is very talented in Potions."

"Is that so? How is your opinion of Mr.Mason, Severus?" Asked Dumbledore interested while watching Snape with his twinkling blue eyes.

"I've never seen a more talented student in my life, his natural talent and instincts in the subtle art of Potions are exceptional. He improved already in his first lesson the recipe and completed his task exceptionally. But most of all he created his first Original Potion Recipe as a first-year. A Task even I only accomplished in my third." Explained Snape grudgingly.

While in thought Dumbeldore asked, "How is he coming along with his fellow classmates?"

"Besides his roommates he didn't interact a lot with other students, according to my observations, he either spends time studying in the Library or disappears somewhere in the castle. But he has a close relationship with his roommates." Said Flitwick.

"I am happy that the Students all got acclimated to the life in the castle." Said Dumbledore with a mysterious look on his face, "How are the Exam preparations coming along."

"I prepared a special exam for Mr.Mason, it will show me how far along he is in Potions." Explained Snape.

"This will be interesting, can't wait for the results." Agreed Dumbledore, "How are the rest coming along?", continued Dumbledore with the meeting…

~ Scene Break ~

Matthew completed his End of Year exams without trouble. Only the potions exams were slightly challenging, the questions ranged from first to the fifth-year curriculum. It was clear he got a different exam paper than the rest of his class. In the end, he still became the top of his year. Followed by Cedric Diggory in second place and Scarlett Fawcett a female Ravenclaw.

After the exams house, Ravenclaw partied in their Common Room. Most of their Students came out among the top 10 of their years. The older students brought snacks from the kitchen and even some butterbeer and Firewhisky which was off-limit for the younger students. Everyone enjoyed themselves after these stressful exams.

The party ended late in the morning. After returning to their dorms his roommates fell asleep. Matthew remembered he forgot his bookbag in the Common Room and decided to get it quickly. As he arrived in the common room he suddenly heard the AI Chip in his mind.

[Warning! Warning! Host under a powerful compulsion. Trying to purge the foreign Magic. Succesful.]

As he came back to his senses, he remembered his bag was still in his bedroom, 'So why would someone send me back into the Common Room?' he thought while observing the empty common room. All other students already left for sleep. Only the remains of the party were left behind. The House-elves still didn't arrive to clean.

His eye fell on a wall beside the white marble Statue of Rovena Ravenclaw. Something on that wall gives off a blue glow that he never registered before. As he got closer to the Wall he recognized the Ravenclaw emblem, a blue glowing eagle. The moment he arrived before the Wall he touched the glowing eagle, it suddenly extended and a Circle of Runes appeared. In a circular motion, the runes started to swirl and formed a portal.

On the other side of the Portal, an almost bare chamber appeared. Only a bronze eagle head hung on the wall.

'AI Chip what is happening here?' asked Matthew mentally.

[Beep! Not enough data to analyze rune formations. The Portal is formed of a mix of Spatial and Mystical Energy. Similar Energy radiation located above the host.]

'So the Room is at the top of the Ravenclaw Tower? I am pretty sure nothing like this happened in the Harry Potter Books. I don't seem to be in danger, so I better check out the other side.' He decided as he stepped through the portal and approached the Bronze eagle.

"Welcome to the trials of Ravenclaw, possible heir. You are one of the outstanding few students who are given a chance to complete a trial and become heir of Ravenclaw." Explained with an aloof voice.

"What are these Trials? And how did I qualify?" He asked Skeptically.

"The Trials were secretly left behind by Rowena Ravenclaw to foster gifted Ravenclaw students. Besides being sorted into Ravenclaw, A first-year Student needs to reach first place in the Exam Rankings additionally they need to prove their mental capabilities. You satisfied the last condition by developing your own Potions. The older you are the harder the Conditions would become." Explained the eagle.

"How many others were there and did they need to achieve the same conditions?" wondered Matthew.

"Before you, 23 other students entered this room since the founding of Hogwarts. They needed to complete similar conditions and accomplish them in many different years. No one fulfilled them after their fifth year, after all, they become exponentially harder to fulfill every year. Only 5 Students completed the Trial before." Answered the Eagle head with his proud voice.

"And what do I gain from passing the Trial?"

"After passing the Trial you will gain what every Ravenclaw desires, Knowledge. You will gain access to Rowena Ravenclaws personal Library. And don't even think about it. The Room of Requirements can't access the Library after all Lady Rowena created both of them." Explained the eagle,

"Did the other founders also leave something similar behind?" Matthew asked trying to fish for pieces of information.

"Who knows nobody shared the secrets they left for their Students. But enough Questions. let us start with your trial. You have the choice between three choices: Enchanting, Spell creation, or Ward breaking. Make your choice wisely!"

'Creating enchanted items could be useful but I don't want to mainly rely on tools in the future. Spell creation would expand my Spell repertoire with trump cards for future battles. Ward breaking could also come useful in the future. Hmm, hard choice. Nothing of that I could accomplish at the moment since I concentrated on other areas in my studies. Hmm… what to choose?', pondered Matthew.

"I choose Spell Creation. It's the most useful topic in the near future and will assist me for a long time." He decided.

"Wise choice Heir. You have one year to create 2 spells, attack, and defense. The Trial is open for you the whole year but you only have one try to succeed! Now begone Heir. Return when you are prepared." Spoke the Eagle as suddenly a bright glow flashed through my eyes and I suddenly stood in the empty common room.

The Portal was nowhere to be seen only the blue glowing eagle remained on the wall. Matthew decided there was no point in remaining here at the moment and left for bed.

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