The Raven's Claw

Chapter 2

The next morning, Alastair took a copy of 'Hogwarts, A History' down to breakfast with him. He wanted to have a close look at the crest he knew was printed in there. It wasn't untill he got to the Great Hall that he realized that the crest was, in fact, emblazoned on the front of everyone's uniform. He felt a bit silly then, and thought to himself about how when something is in sight all the time, you can easily forget about it. Anyway, he decided, the one in the book was probably more detailed.

Alastair had finished his cereal and was munching toast as he leaned low over the book, getting a good look. He was careful, as he did, not to get any crumbs down between the pages. He was sure that the eagle in the book and the eagle on the painting were different. The claws were in a different position. Alastair sat back, feeling a bit proud at being so observant when he heard laughter from behind him and someone grabbed the book.

"Well, well, bookworm. Studying again? Didn't anyone ever tell you that the breakfast table is for eating, not for burying your nose in a book?"

Alastair was cursing himself for being so stupid as to have brought a book to breakfast and then sat with his back to the Slytherin table. He stood, and turned around, his cheeks flushed. Suddenly it felt like everybody in the room was staring at him. Draco Malfoy held the book, a mocking sneer on his face. When was there ever not a mocking sneer on the boy's face though?

"Give that back," He said quietly. "I was just looking at something." Malfoy laughed. Then several other Slytherins did as well.

"Aw, come on Draco," said another Slytherin. "He can't help it, he's a Ravenclaw. He probably studies in his sleep!"

At this, several Ravenclaws began yelling insults across at the Slytherin table. Malfoy was staring at Alastair, whose face felt like it was going to start burning at any moment.

"No, I think I'll keep this," said Malfoy. "It might help you learn when to behave like a proper wizard." With that, Malfoy turned around and sat back at his table.

"Give it back, it's not mine!" said Alastair, louder now. The book was from the Ravenclaw library in the common room.

"Give the book back, Malfoy, or it's detention." A Ravenclaw prefect, Conrad Manheim had appeared at Alastair's side.

"Oh alright, take it then, whatever," Malfoy said, affecting a bored tone of voice and not turning around. "I'm only trying to help the bookworm be a bit more normal." Several nearby Slytherins sniggered. Alastair grabbed the book and sat back down, fuming. Why did they have to pick on him? He thought bitterly. He'd never done anything to them. A little ways up the table, Tess Lyndon caught Alastair's eye and gave a sympathetic smile. She mouthed the word "Bastards" to him, and Alastair smiled back, still red faced. He placed the book on the table, closed and face down.

Ash arrived then and sat next to Alastair. "Morning!" he said brightly. Then noticing Alastair's colour, he asked "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," replied Alastair. "Where have you been?"

"Oh, I had to see Professor Flitwick about an assignment," said Ash. There was a snort from the Slytherin table. Ash grabbed a bowl of cereal and started to eat. "What's with the book?" he asked, after a minute.

"Tell you later," replied Alastair, and they slipped into silence while Ash ate.

Ash elbowed Alastair and nodded across the room. Harry Potter and his friends were heading out of the hall. Alastair knew it wasn't Harry that Ash was staring at. When Alastair looked at Harry though, he wondered how it was that this normal looking boy was the one who had met Voldemort and actually survived fighting with him. Harry looked just like anyone else in here. Alastair wondered for a moment if Harry was truly unique, or if anyone else here could have done the same. Probably not though, Cedric Diggory was dead after all.

"If there was anyone who deserved to be in Ravenclaw who wasn't, it would be Hermione Granger," said Ash. "I wonder why it is that the hat sorted her into Gryffindor."

"Maybe she's brave as well as smart," replied Alastair.

"I'm brave as well as smart!" said Ash, loudly. There was another snort from the Slytherin table. "Do you ever wonder if the sorting hat makes mistakes?" Alastair noticed that Ash was now looking over at Luna Lovegood. "Not that I'm sure where it is that she would fit in," he continued. "Hufflepuff maybe."

"Oh, leave her alone," said Alastair, feeling sensitive about anyone being picked on. He knew Luna managed more than her fair share of bullying. It was true that Luna seemed to be on another planet most of the time, but you couldn't say she wasn't intelligent. Being in class with her had proved that. She was just... different.

"Come on, let's go," said Alastair suddenly, getting up.

"Hey hang on..." said Ash, half a piece of toast in his mouth. He grabbed another piece as he got up, and hurried after Alastair. They left the great hall and headed for the dungeons. Their first lesson today was Potions.

That night, both Ash and Alastair sat together in the common room doing their Potions homework. It grew to be quite late and there were only a few other students left up. There was one late-running game of wizard chess and a few students reading or working.

"See, look," said Alastair, pointing at the painting above the fireplace. The eagle's right leg is raised up a bit higher there than here in the book.

"Huh," Ash replied, comparing the two. "Well spotted." He sat back in his seat. "Who cares?"

"I wonder who it was that messed up our painting," said Alastair. Ash shrugged, and stared at the fireplace.

"Hey, did you notice that the eagle statue on the fireplace there is the same as the one on the painting?" said Ash

"It is too," said Alastair, getting up and walking to the fireplace for a better look. The chess game had just finished as he passed, the players resetting the pieces on the board before heading for bed. The stone eagle on the right hand side of the fireplace was in the normal position, but the eagle on the left side had the one leg raised, the same as in the painting. Alastair got up as close as he could to the statue.

"Trying to set yourself on fire, Alastair?" came Conrad's voice from one of the armchairs nearby.

"Ah, no," said Alastair, only then realizing how close he was to the flames. "I've noticed how the eagle in the painting there and this one here are different to the ones over there and on our crest."

Conrad glanced at the painting and the fireplace. "Are they? That's interesting." He didn't really look that interested. Behind him, the only other student still up packed his things and said goodbye, heading for bed.

"Thank you for helping me earlier," said Alastair.

"Oh, that's no problem," replied Conrad. "It's what I'm here for. Well, aside from learning and all that. Don't worry about Malfoy, either, he may be pure blood, but he has mud for brains." Alastair laughed. "Well, goodnight anyway." With that, Conrad left Alastair and Ash alone in the common room. Ash was staring closely at the stone eagle.

"You know," he said. "I think this leg moves."

"Moves?" asked Alastair.

"Yeah, you know, like a lever or something. It won't budge though."

"That's cool!" Alastair was excited. "Do you think it needs a password to open?"

"I don't know. Maybe." said Ash, his nose nearly touching the stone. "What would it be?"

Alastair had no idea. He returned to the copy of 'Hogwarts, A History' for inspiration. He flipped pages back to where it described the founders.

"Maybe it needs a spell to open." Both boys froze, as though caught in a prank. It was Tess Lyndon. She had been reading quietly in the large armchair in the corner and they hadn't even noticed she was there. Ignoring the blank looks on both faces, she drew her wand, aimed at the fireplace and said "Alohomora." Nothing happened. "Worth a try, anyway." She shrugged.

"It's a lever, not a door," said Ash, as Tess stood up from her chair.

"Do you have a better idea?" she asked, her hands on her hips.

Alastair got up and walked to the fireplace. He looked at the Eagle statue and said "Knowledge above all." The leg on the eagle moved, sliding down to the position of its twin on the other side of the fireplace. To his left, between the side of the fireplace and the corner of the room, a part of the wall swung open.