Tales from the Ravenclaw Common Room

Sue Li

It was a Wednesday evening in November. Outside a storm raged, but inside the Ravenclaw Common Room it was warm and pleasant. The fire in the fireplace crackled and glowed, shedding warmth nicely throughout the room. The floor-to-ceiling bookshelves had many holes in it where studious Ravenclaws had borrowed the books for studying, some of whom were still perched upon the rolling ladders that they had used to reach the top.

Fifth-year Sue Li slammed down her quill and turned her face upward in a cry of frustration. Spread before her, in a neat quarter of the table, was four and a half years' worth of Charms notes. Her friends Mandy Brocklehurst, Isabel MacDougal, and Padma Patil looked up from their notes.

"Problems Sue?" Izzy asked. Out of the four of them, Izzy was the sweetest.

"It's just this darn Charms homework," she said, pointing accusingly at her parchment. "I can't figure it out."

"Try the shelves," practical Padma suggested.

Sue shook her head. "I've already tried them a million times," she wailed. "It's just not there."

"So look in the main library," Padma said, going back to her own homework.

"I don't want to," Sue said petulantly. Knowing how foolish she sounded, she quickly added, "The corridors are going to be freezing tonight, and I'm sure the library's full of noisy first years."

"So go quickly," Padma said. Turning to Izzy she asked, "Did you get the last few pages of the Transfiguration notes yesterday? Professor Flitwick pulled me out then."

"Sure," Izzy said. She pushed some papers aside and pulled out a sploched piece of parchment. "I think I spilled some of my ink on it, though."

"Never mind," Padma told her. She poked Mandy with her wand who was doodling on a piece of parchment. "Mandy? Can I see your Transfiguration notes from yesterday?"

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, sure," Mandy said distractedly. She pulled the notes out of her schoolbag.

Sue stood up slowly and gathered some of her books and parchment. "Well," she said loudly, "I guess I'll be off then." She paused. None of her friends paid any attention. "I'll be back soon, in case anyone wonders." Still no response. Sighing loudly, she left with a dramatic swish of her long black hair.

Through the chilly corridors Sue hurried up to the library. Although the Ravenclaw Common Room had its own large collection of volumes, it was not as complete as the school library. Upon entering the library, Sue headed straight for the section on Charms, trying to avoid the pockets of giggly and silly students. Two Gryffindor second-years were actually playing catch!

She pulled several helpful-looking volumes and looked around for a quiet corner where she could get the information and quickly leave. She grabbed a table near the door and began pouring over the books, muttering to herself as she worked.

"I couldn't help but overhear," a voice behind her said, "And it would work better if you did it this way." A hand reached over and began writing on Sue's parchment. She looked up to find the identity of the interloper, and -- surprise, surprise -- she looked at Hermione Granger's face.

"There," Hermione said. "That works, see?"

Sue looked at the paper and yes, Hermione had solved her problem.

"Thanks," she mumbled. With her eraser, she furiously erased the work that Hermione had done on her paper.

"No, don't do that!" Hermione said. "Why are you doing that? I showed you how to do it."

"Did I ask for your help?" Sue asked, trying to sound calm, but even in her ears the words sounded rude.

Hermione frowned. "Sorry," she said. "It just sounded like you needed some help."

"Oh, and you were the one to give it," Sue said sarcastically. "Look, Hermione, if I want your help, I'll ask for it. Or maybe you can ask me if I want it." Seeing the look on her face, Sue suddenly laughed. "Do you even know my name?"

"Well . . . no," Hermione admitted. "But you're a Ravenclaw," she said.

Sue forced down the snide comment, instead saying, "It's Sue. Sue Li."

"Hello Sue," Hermione said politely. "I don't see why you're so angry with me," she said.

"I guess I shouldn't be. After all, what else should I have expected from you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, you know, you have a reputation for this sort of thing."

"What sort of thing?"

"Being a -- you mean you really don't know?"

"No. Tell me."

"Nah. It wouldn't be polite, and one of us should be."

"I was not being rude!"

"Yes you were. You just walked right up and started correcting me -- a girl you don't even know."

"That's not being rude. That's being helpful. Besides, I'm a prefect. It's part of my job to help students."

Sue pointed to her own shiny badge, half-hidden by her long, straight black hair. "So am I. You don't see me barging up to strangers and writing on their homework, do you?"

"You shouldn't be so rude," Hermione said. "If you think I'm being so annoying, I'll leave." She stomped off.

"Thank God," Sue muttered, going back to her homework. She had peace for only about two minutes, though, before Hermione came back.

"And what do you mean my reputation?" she demanded.

"Nothing. Never mind. Just forget about it."

"No, I can't. Please, tell me. You obviously meant something by that, and I want to know what it is."

Sue was getting annoyed by Hermione and her interruptions. "Fine Hermione. You want to know what I meant? Here it is." She stood and busied herself with gathering her things together. Once she was done, she stood and looked Hermione right in the eye. "Everyone here at Hogwarts think that you are a nosey bitch who needs to learn to mind her own business and stop flaunting her intelligence in everyone's face.out of the library, happy to have finally told Hermione Granger exactly what she thought of her.

The feeling of satisfaction lasted about half a floor. Sue was standing on the stairs by the library, filled with guilt over having let her temper get the best of her. She debated going back up to the library, and finally her conscience got the best of her. She ran up the stairs and all the way to the library. Quietly, she walked back in and looked for Hermione. She finally found her at a table with her friend Ron and Harry -- crying.

"Don't worry, Hermione," Harry said. "She's just jealous of you; that's all."

"Yeah," Ron said. " You shouldn't believe a word she says. Nobody likes that Sue Li anyway."

"She sounds really mean, too," Harry said. "Almost as bad as Malfoy."

"You're much smarter than her anyway. Harry's right. She's just a mean and jealous person," Ron said.

Sue stood there for a while longer, hearing them comfort Hermione. Feeling like a spy, she slowly walked out and back to the Ravenclaw Common Room.

The scene before her was pretty much the same as always. She sat back down with her friends.

"Hi Sue," Izzy said cheerfully. "Did you find what you needed?"

"Hmm, oh yes," Sue said distractedly.

Izzy put down her quill. "What's wrong Sue?" she asked.

For a moment, Sue felt tempted to tell them everything and ask if everyone really did hate her. But instead, she just smiled slightly. "Nothing."