Harry Potter and the House of Ravenclaw

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Chapter Five - Admissions and Arrivals

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As they entered the classroom Hermione audibly gasped and a few of the other students were looking at Lupin with concern.

"He does look pale," Hermione whispered to Harry as they took their seats. "But I'd say more upset than worried."

"What?" Ron leaned across Harry. "Are you an expert on body language now?"

Hermione ignored him. "To me, he looks like he did-"

"Just before he left," Harry cut her off. He winced at Hermione's indignant look. "Sorry, but I told you, something is up."

The lesson commenced. However, Lupin wasn't on his usual form.

The class was used to Professor Lupin's lessons being those of a practical nature. Instead he meekly asked them to copy passages out of their textbooks.

Harry was reminded strongly of Professor Quirrell.

At the end of the lesson, the class dutifully filed out with the exception of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. It took Lupin several seconds to realise they were still there.

"Can I help you three?" He attempted a smile. "Was there something you didn't understand about the lesson?"

"No, Professor." Hermione shook her head. "We understood everything we copied about Wraiths."

Lupin took in Hermione's tone of voice and then continued. "Well then, what can I do for you?"

"Actually we were going to ask the same thing." Ron sat down on the edge of Lupin's desk. "Professor, err...?"

"What we want to know is...well..." Harry started his attempt; this was harder than he thought it would be. "Is anything wrong?"

Lupin's false smile fell for a second but he quickly fixed it back in place. "What do you mean? Nothing's wrong."

"Has anything happened?" Hermione asked softy.

"What gives you that idea?" Lupin looked uncomfortable.

"You seem upset, sir." Hermione bit her lower lip in thought. "Has anyone said anything to you?"

Lupin's pained expression gave them the answer they were looking for.

"Who?" Harry almost demanded.

"It's not important." Lupin shook his head.

"It is!" Ron cried. "You are one of the best teachers in this school. We don't want you to leave again."

Lupin was visibly touched by Ron's comments.

"Thank you, Ron." He smiled. "But really, I can deal with this myself."

"You shouldn't have to," Hermione blurted out.

"I'll deal with it," Lupin repeated.

"It was a teacher, wasn't it?" Harry looked Lupin straight in the eye.

"Harry. Drop it," Lupin warned.

"It was him, wasn't it?" Harry pressed on.

"Harry!" Lupin's tone became desperate.

"Who?" Ron looked from Harry to Lupin. "Who said what?"

"Snape," Harry said simply. "He's had a go just because-"

"Harry," Lupin cut him off.

Harry tried again, "But Professor-"

"I'm a werewolf, Harry." Lupin stood up and walked round to where Harry stood. "There is no escaping that fact. Professor Snape is still having trouble trusting me, that's all. I understand; I really do. I may not like it, it may upset me, but I understand because it's something I've had to deal with all my life and it's never going to go away."

The three children stood there in a stunned silence. They had never heard Lupin talk so openly about being a werewolf and how people treated him.

Lupin smiled at each of them.

"Severus' comments upset me, I admit that. But I'm fine really. I'll get through it." He started to usher them towards the door. "I do, however, appreciate you taking the time to care. That means a lot to me."

"It was no trouble," Hermione gulped as a few tears ran down her cheeks. "We...like you."

Lupin was touched. "Well, Hermione, I like you too. I like all three of you." He handed Hermione a handkerchief from his pocket. "Now come on, cheer up. We have a feast to prepare for. I bet you're all curious about our new arrivals."

Harry and Hermione nodded and Ron mumbled something about them being his cousins so he wasn't bothered.

Lupin gave a light laugh which sounded good to Harry's ears. He hated to see someone he respected and considered a friend in distress.

"Come on then." Lupin grinned at them. He did seem visibly happier and healthier. "Let's get ready for them."

~~~~~

As they made their way to Gryffindor Tower, Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked in silence, each of them thinking about the sentiments expressed by Lupin and how much they'd like to throttle Snape.

"We've got ages until the feast," Ron grumbled. "What are we going to do?"

Harry shrugged.

"You could try and get some homework done." Hermione stopped in front of the Fat Lady's painting. "I'll even help you." She made it sound like Ron should be honoured. He wasn't.

"Hobgoblin," he said flatly to the painting.

She nodded and swung open at the password.

Hermione never knew when to drop it. "Ron, you'll get behind like you did last year. If you stay on top of it now-"

"Hermione." Ron spun round to face her. "Leave it."

Hermione opened her mouth to try again when Harry saw an idea flash across Ron's face.

"I thought we'd plan what we're doing for your birthday anyway." Ron turned to Hermione.

Hermione blinked. "What?"

Harry smiled to himself. Ron definitely knew how to appeal to Hermione's ego. It wasn't a big ego, it wasn't easily flattered, but Ron knew ways of making Hermione blush.

"Really?" She smiled and turned to Harry who nodded quickly.

"Well I thought it would be nice to mark the occasion." Ron was a genius.

"Well, err... we'll be doing the same for yours...of course...in March," Hermione stammered.

"Of course." Ron nodded calmly. "And for Harry in July."

"Oh, well then." Hermione smiled and sat down. Ron sat next to her.

"Harry? Are you helping?" Ron turned to him, giving him a desperate look.

Harry was doing his best not to laugh and could only mange, "Can't. Have to see Hedwig. Bit off. See you later."

Harry almost ran out of the common room and up to the Owlery, laughing all the way.

**********

Ravenclaw was sitting alone quietly in a corner of the staff room when Severus came in. She looked up slowly, smiled and then went back to her book.

Severus hesitated for a second before walking over and joining her.

"Severus." Ravenclaw nodded politely.

"Is this how thing are going to be from now on?" he asked her quickly before he lost his nerve.

She put her book down onto her lap and looked at him carefully. "What do you mean?"

"Are you going to be...distant? Now that your daughter is coming?"

"My daughter is here already." Ravenclaw smiled. "She's being shown around by Dumbledore and Minerva-"

"That's not the issue," Severus snapped. "What does this mean for...us?"

"Us?"

"Yes, us." Severus could feel his heart sinking. Was it over already? "I presumed there was an 'us' now that you're divorcing your husband."

"There is." Ravenclaw's answers were closed. Severus was reminded of himself, he didn't like it.

"We need to talk."

"We are talking. Severus, what is the matter?"

"I need to talk to you right now about where we stand." He took hold of her hand and gently pulled her up out of her chair. Her book fell to the floor with a thud. "This talk requires great detail and the staff room is not the place."

"Where then?"

"We can go to my office." Severus led her by the hand out of the door.

~~~~~

The office was filled with jars of various foul-looking things. Ravenclaw pulled a face, then grinned.

"This reminds me of your dorm room. Your roommates used to shout at you so much for all your little jars. I see you haven't grown out of it."

"I still have some of the original ones over here." Severus pointed to three jars, all of which were covered in dust and contained what looked like pickled lizards.

"You're disgusting." Ravenclaw laughed.

Severus smiled and nodded.

"Now to business." He sat down and motioned for Ravenclaw to do the same.

"Business," she pondered with a laugh, "sounds ominous."

"Verena, I'm serious." Severus placed his hand on hers. "I've only just got you back. I want to keep you. But I need to know: is your daughter being here going to change things?"

"Of course it is," Ravenclaw started. Then on seeing his dejected face, she added, "But not the fact that we will be together."

"So what will change?"

"To begin with, the way we act when we're together. I think it's safe to say there isn't a child in Hogwarts who doesn't know there is something going on between us. I'd prefer to tell Jasmine in my own way."

"Of course." Severus nodded. He understood how she must be feeling. To reveal to her daughter something that was going to change her whole world. All three of her children's worlds would be changed.

Severus cast his mind back to another time when he had changed the lives of another three people: his parents and his sister, Cordelia.

They had found out from the authorities who had come to the house looking for him that he had joined the Death Eaters.

He had expected his father, who had always expressed a dislike of Muggle-borns and who had always lectured him to take pride in being pure-blood, to be proud of him, but he hadn't been.

"How can you do this to us, Severus?" his father had bellowed at him. "There is a difference between disliking Muggles and Mudbloods and killing them. Do you not know that difference?"

He hadn't until Dumbledore had shown him.

But he had changed his family's lives forever. Family friends had abandoned him. Jobs were lost and relationships were broken. Poor Cordelia, his older sister, had had to bear the brunt of his mistake.

At the time Cordelia had been engaged to be married, but her beloved had soon turned away from her once his family had learnt of Severus' past. They didn't want to be married to a Death Eater's sister. Who would? Snape didn't blame them, neither did Cordelia, who surprisingly didn't blame Severus either.

She was one of the wisest people he knew; in good company with Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall.

"Severus." Ravenclaw's voice pulled him out of his recollection. "This will soon become very public. Are you prepared for that?"

"Public? Us?" Severus wasn't sure if he was prepared for that. "Why?"

Ravenclaw began to explain. "The media will want every little piece of dirt they can get on me, you, our families..."

"Our families?" His thought once again turned to Cordelia. He couldn't do that to her, not again. "I can't," he muttered.

"What?" Ravenclaw asked quickly. "What do you mean you can't? You can't what?"

"I can't do that to my family. I've put them through too much already." Severus shook his head. "I won't do it. The media can't know."

"They will find out." Ravenclaw seemed angry. "It is inevitable."

"Not if we..."

"If we what?" Ravenclaw was definitely angry. "If we what, Severus? If we stop?"

He nodded. "If we end this... for a short time. Then you can divorce Bevan and we can be together."

"I want Bevan to know who I'm leaving him for."

"He can know. But I don't want it to be public."

"Why?" Ravenclaw stood up and put her hands on her hips. "Are you ashamed of me?"

"No!" Severus jumped up and stepped over to her. "No, of course not, but I think we should spare our families the media intrusion."

Ravenclaw seemed to think for a moment before shaking her head. "No, I won't end it with you."

"It won't be for long. Just until media interest in your divorce dies down." Snape put his arms around her. "Not too long. Then we can be together. Forever if you want..."

"I don't know if I can." Ravenclaw buried her face in his shoulder. "I'm falling for you all over again, Severus."

Severus couldn't stand to see her like this. His heart was pounding and his head was screaming to follow its advice and end it for the short term. But instead he found himself say the words: "All right, Verena. We'll do this your way."

Severus felt Ravenclaw relax in his arms.

She sighed and wrapped her arms around him in turn, a broad grin spreading across her face.

**********

Hedwig was huddled in a corner when Harry opened the door to the Owlery. The Snowy Owl gave a soft hoot as a greeting, but something about it chilled Harry.

"Hedwig?" Harry called to her. With great effort she glided down onto his arm.

"Oh, Hedwig." Harry stroked her feathers with the back of his hand. "What's wrong?"

Hedwig gave him a pained looked and hooted faintly again.

"Come on." Harry turned and opened the door again. "Let's go and see Hagrid."

~~~~~

Hagrid was sitting on the steps of his hut as Harry came over with Hedwig . He smiled broadly at Harry, then turned his eyes to Hedwig.

" 'Arry?" Hagrid exclaimed. "What's up with Hedwig?"

"I'm not sure." Harry allowed Hedwig to step onto Hagrid's arm so he could take a better look. "She's been off all summer, but now...well she seems especially ill."

"Hmmm." Hagrid nodded. "A few of the school owls have been sickly through summer. They're ill now too. Got them in 'ere."

Harry followed Hagrid into his hut. Six of the schools' Tawny Owls sat inside, some on the rafters, others on the back of chairs.

"Don't worry 'Arry." Hagrid smiled at his young friend. "She'll be right as rain in about a week or so. Got some tonic to give to 'em."

Harry sank into one of Hagrid's giant chairs and bit his lip.

"Something wrong 'Arry?"

"It's just..." Harry began. "I should have known she was ill from the way she was acting. But I just put it down to her having got used to not being allowed out during summer."

"Ah, owls don't like to be shut up for ages." Hagrid shook his head. "I take it your dope of an uncle won't let you let Hedwig out."

Harry shook his head and watched as Hagrid gave Hedwig some of the tonic.

"He thinks you'll send messages to your friends."

"He lets me do that now." Harry grinned at the memory of how he 'persuaded' Uncle Vernon to allow him to send letters. He had told him that the escaped convict Sirius Black was his godfather and would want to know that he was being treated well. Uncle Vernon had been so afraid that a mad escaped wizard would come after him that he had consented to Harry sending letters by owl.

"So why can't Hedwig go out?" Hagrid interrupted Harry's train of thought.

"Uncle Vernon is afraid the neighbours will become suspicious if they keep seeing an owl flying about during the day. She's only allowed out at night on weekdays."

"That's not enough." Hagrid shook his head. "Poor thing, no wonder she's ill. Oh, but it's through no fault of yours, 'Arry." Hagrid added quickly. Harry smiled weakly.

He did feel it was his fault. Hedwig was his responsibility and he had neglected her. Now she was ill. How could be have let this happen to her? How had he not noticed sooner?

As if she could hear his thoughts, Hedwig fluttered onto Harry's shoulder and gave his ear an affectionate nip.

"Thanks Hedwig." Harry stroked her head. "But I don't deserve that. I let you down."

Hedwig gave an authoritative hoot as if to say 'less of that talk, please' and gave him another nip before flying over to the headboard of Hagrid's bed.

"She'll be right, soon." Hagrid assured him.

~~~~~

"Harry, have you been in the Owlery all this time?" Hermione stood up as he entered the Gryffindor common room. "You've been gone ages."

Harry sat down next to Hermione on a sofa facing the fireplace. "Hedwig's really ill so I took her to Hagrid."

"Hedwig's ill?" Ron asked from his seat in a large comfy chair, raising his eyebrows. "What's up with her?"

"Not sure really." Harry shrugged. "Hagrid said some of the school owls are ill too. They're in his hut. He's going to take care of Hedwig until she feels better."

"Oh, Harry." Hermione put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Hedwig is a tough owl; she'll be back in no time."

Harry nodded and with a deep breath changed the subject. "So what about the birthday plans?"

"Well," Hermione began and Ron rolled his eyes.

Harry had to stifle a laugh.

"We thought that instead of having three little parties throughout the year... well, we thought one big party at the end would be better."

"But Hermione, your birthday is next week," Harry pointed out. "Mine isn't until the end of July. I'm sure a big party would be great, but aren't you waiting a long time to celebrate your birthday?"

"We thought about that," Ron cut in before Hermione could open her mouth, "but I'm not much of a party person and neither is Hermione."

"We don't really feel comfortable if the attention is solely on us..." Hermione nodded.

"Neither do I," Harry interjected.

"I know." Hermione folded her arms across her chest. "So a big party would take the attention off just one person. It would be shared out between the three of us."

"Sounds like a good idea then." Harry nodded in approval. "We might need some cheering up by that time anyway."

"I thought so too." Hermione smiled.

Professor McGonagall appeared in the common room."Can I have everyone's attention please? Is everyone here?" She looked around the room. "Good. Now the feast is due to start in an hour. I want everyone there on time so there will be no coming into the hall late." She shot a threatening look at Seamus.

"Yes, Professor," the Gryffindors chorused.

"Good. I will come back up at five minutes to six. If you are not here in the common room when I come to escort you all down, you shall be dining up here alone, is that understood?" With this Professor McGonagall swept out of the portrait hole.

"They must be here already then." Fred came over to where Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting. "I wonder when they arrived?"

"Probably this afternoon while we were all in lessons." Neville said gloomily as he wandered over to the group. "It would have been nice to get a first look."

"You're not really missing much," George assured him. "They're dead ordinary."

"That's what I said." Ron sighed. "But he thinks Jasmine is gorgeous," he added, pointing at Neville.

"Gorgeous?" Fred and George both said together.

"She's okay..." Fred shrugged.

"...I suppose..." George shrugged as well.

"...but gorgeous?" they both finished.

"That's what I said." Ron nodded.

Neville mumbled something about getting ready in good time and went up to the dormitory. Hermione watched him go.

"I'd better get ready too." With this she too went to get ready for Hogwarts' latest arrivals.

For nearly the whole hour the students in Gryffindor tower were doing exactly the same as the students in the other Houses. Whispering and wondering.

**********

"I hope everyone is ready." Professor McGonagall reappeared at precisely five to six.

Nods and murmurs of yes ran through the common room.

"Good." Professor McGonagall clasped her hands together and smiled. "Now follow me, please, Gryffindors and stay together."

~~~~~

Harry, Ron, Hermione and the rest of their House followed Professor McGonagall into the Great Hall. Once there they took their seats and allowed themselves to look around.

The hall was decorated in all the colours of Hogwarts. Behind the High Table sat every teacher at Hogwarts; it was quite a squeeze. Behind them hung the House banners, in the middle of which was the Hogwarts banner depicting the four House animals.

Harry managed to catch Lupin's eye and he gave Harry and a quick smile. He looked a lot better, in Harry's opinion, and even seemed to be wearing new robes.

The whole hall was a buzz of excitement and anticipation. Students were whispering within their Houses, some were whispering to others on other tables. Harry turned in his seat to look at Draco Malfoy.

Strangely, he was sitting with a nervous exposed look on his face. He didn't look like his familiar self. Usually the epitome of cleanliness and grooming, Draco looked like he'd run out of his hair gel and had opted for simply brushing his hair back. Also his face looked even paler than it normally did, if that was possible.

Harry was about to mention this to Ron when the door at the end of the hall opened.

~~~~~

Severus had already led his House to the Great Hall by the time the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs arrived. He seated himself to the right of Professor McGonagall's seat, to the left of Professor Flitwick.

"I'm so excited." The tiny teacher smiled up at Severus.

Strangely Severus found himself smiling back, "It certainly is interesting. There hasn't been a Ravenclaw taught at Hogwarts since..."

"Ever," Flitwick finished Severus' sentence. "None of the Ravenclaws or Hufflepuffs have ever been taught here. They've all been to private schools."

"So only the heirs of Gryffindor and Slytherin have been taught at Hogwarts?" Severus found this curious. Flitwick simply nodded.

Severus was about to ask Flitwick why when the doors at the end of the hall opened.

~~~~~

Dumbledore opened the doors and led three teenage girls into the Great Hall. Harry craned his head to get a better look at each of them.

They followed Dumbledore in a line, one behind the other. First in line was a tall, slim girl with sky-blue eyes almost hidden behind her gold-rimmed spectacles. She was very pale with golden-blonde hair tied up in a ponytail; she wore a look of superiority on her otherwise attractive face.

"That's Heather Malfoy." Harry heard Ron whisper.

Harry nodded.

Behind Heather was a smaller girl with masses of fiery red, curly hair. She was plumper than Heather and had lively green eyes which looked around the room with a curiosity Harry remembered from his first days at Hogwarts.

Harry turned to Ron quickly. "Is that your cousin?"

Ron nodded. "Lucy Rowl." He grinned. "She's really nice. The last one is Jasmine Ravenclaw."

Harry turned back to look at the third girl.

She was as tall and slim as Heather Malfoy but had the spirited green eyes which Harry had seen with Lucy Rowl. Her hair was strawberry blonde and fell down around her head to rest on her shoulders. Harry couldn't decide though if she looked nervous or aloof as her gaze darted around the room before resting on him.

Harry gave her a small smile as she walked past with Dumbledore to the High Table.

"I wonder what's up with them?" Hermione grumbled.

"What do you mean?" Harry turned back to his friends.

"Did you see the looks on Malfoy's and Ravenclaw's faces?" Hermione scowled. "They don't want to be here and they're not afraid to show it."

"Maybe they're just nervous," Harry whispered as Dumbledore raised his hands for silence.

"I would like everyone to welcome Miss Malfoy, Miss Rowl, and Miss Ravenclaw." Dumbledore began to clap, soon everyone in the hall followed suit. After the clapping had died down, Dumbledore smiled.

"After that warm welcome I hope that they will feel better about being sorted." He gestured to the old Sorting Hat which was placed on its usual stool.

Harry suddenly wondered if there would be a song to welcome the three new students. As if to answer his question, the Sorting Hat spoke.

"I have no song for these ladies today. My task is a difficult one which will take up my strength. I'm afraid you'll have to wait until next year."

A small laugh filtered through the hall and even Dumbledore's smile grew.

"Shall we begin?" It was a statement not a question and the hall fell silent once again.

Dumbledore called out the first name. "Heather Malfoy."

The tall blonde girl strode up to the stool and sat down. Dumbledore placed the Sorting Hat softly on her head. After a few moments it spoke.

"SLYTHERIN."

Heather coolly stood up and made her way over to the cheering Slytherin table. She sat down next her cousin Draco, who in Harry's opinion looked uneasy.

Dumbledore called out the second name. "Lucy Rowl."

Lucy bounded up the two steps and sat on the stool. The Sorting Hat was put onto her head. Dumbledore had only just let go when the Hat called out:

"GRYFFINDOR."

Lucy grinned and almost ran to sit at Harry's table. She sat across from Hermione next to Fred. Both Fred and George looked very happy to see her.

Finally the noise died down again and Dumbledore read out the final name.

"Jasmine Ravenclaw."

Jasmine walked slowly up to the stool and sat down. As the Hat was placed on her head Jasmine's face filled up with confusion. She sat there for several minutes and to Harry it looked like she was arguing with the Sorting Hat. He knew that feeling, to have to ask to be put into the House you feel you deserve. The Hat had tried to put him in Slytherin, but he had asked for Gryffindor and won. He wondered what House Jasmine was asking for.

It seemed whatever she had said had not changed the Hat's mind as Jasmine's face returned to its original worried state.

After what seemed like a small eternity the Hat called out:

"GRYFFINDOR."