The Raven's Tail

Author's Note: Big thank you to Pam, (The Painted Duchess) for being my beta and just being such a darn wonderful person.

1. A New Arrival

There are some things which you cannot do with people and not end up being friends. Discovering the diary of Rowena Ravenclaw, hidden away within a secret room beneath the library of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is one of those things.

So it was for Alastair Shippington, Ashton Fripp and Tess Lyndon, who, a few months previously, had done just that. Alastair and Ash had been friends since they were children, but until she had accidentally been included in their adventure, the boys had had very little in common with the popular and pretty Tess, who played as Chaser on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. Much to the detriment of her other friendships, and a little to her popularity, the three had been firm friends ever since.

Alastair and Ash were sitting in the common room one Wednesday evening in the January of their fifth year, quietly doing their homework, when the Quidditch team returned from practise. Alastair could never help but notice how fetching Tess looked in her Quidditch robes. Then again, Alastair could never help but notice how Tess looked regardless how she was dressed. He was becoming somewhat worried with the inevitable discovery of the, so far, very-closely-held secret of Alastair's crush on Tess. He hadn't told anyone about it, least of all Ash. In matters such as this, having anyone at all know the secret was a liability, and a best friend most of all.

"But if I had gone right, rather than left," said Tess, talking to Cho Chang, the team's seeker, and Magden Archer-Bromley, who was one of the Beaters on the team. She was miming the maneuver with her hands. "And then cut back left, I could have avoided both of them as well as the bludger. Then I would have been in the clear for the goal."

"Oh, come on Tess. You did well enough," said Magden, clapping a hand onto her shoulder. "You aren't Katherine Kuttlewhip, and you nearly had it anyway." Katherine Kuttlewhip was a Chaser with the Welsh national Quidditch team. Magden flashed his perfect smile at Tess. Alastair noticed several female eyes in the room turn in Magden's direction. Tess smiled shyly back at him, causing Alastair's stomach to drop. Well, why shouldn't she like him? Alastair thought. Magden Archer was Ravenclaw's answer to Cedric Diggory: Handsome; Charming; Popular; a Quidditch player and possessor of one of those smiles which seems to melt the knees of any girl who happened to be facing in the general direction of it.

Feeling a little ill, Alastair let his head hit the desk.

"Hi guys," said Tess, coming over and sitting down at the table. "Are you okay, Alastair?"

"Too much treacle tart, I guess," mumbled Alastair, lifting his head slightly to look around. Magden was on the other side of the room with a group of seventh years, flashing that blasted smile around indiscriminately.

"So practise went well then?" Ash asked Tess.

"Oh - well, mostly," replied Tess. "I think we're all working together really well now. The others are all such good players."

"You are too, Tess," said Alastair.

"Oh, well, I suppose I'm getting better, but I just keep worrying I'm going to muck it up for everyone."

"She's brilliant," interrupted Cho, who was heading for the girls' dorm. "Don't believe what she says about herself."

"I know," said Alastair. "We were there at the Hufflepuff game."

"Exactly," replied Cho. "Slytherin won't know what hit them. Anyway, ugh. I have to go change out of these robes. See you."

Ash's gaze lingered on the departing Seeker for a few moments too long.

"Ashton!" exclaimed Tess.

"What?"

"Keep your eyes to yourself, young man!" Tess was only a month older than Ash.

"Oh. Would it be okay to do that if I were Magden?" asked Ash.

Tess looked over to where Magden was standing and noticed that he had been watching her. Caught out, he flashed a smile and turned back to the group he was with. Tess turned a little pink, before kicking Ash beneath the table.

"Ow! Hey, what?" spluttered Ash, grabbing his shin.

"That's no excuse! I'm going to tell Cho you were staring at her behind."

Ash looked mortified.

"Help me out here, Ship!" he said to Alastair. "She listens to you."

"Oh, it doesn't matter if she tells, Ash," replied Alastair trying to suppress a mischevious grin. "Everyone knows you still hurt yourself regularly, craning your neck to stare at Hermione Granger."

"Oh, FINE, make me a joke then, Al!" shouted Ash, getting the attention of the whole room. He crossed his arms and sank a bit lower in his seat, looking sulky.

"Well, then, perhaps next time you will conduct yourself with a little bit more decorum, Ashton," said Tess, looking down her nose at him. She managed to hold the stern expression for a few seconds before bursting out with laughter. Alastair joined in, while Ash fumed.

"Guys," said Conrad Manheim, a seventh year, and Prefect. "Do you mind keeping it down just a little?" The expression on his face suggested that they might like to keep it down quite a lot or there might be trouble. "I have a brand new book which I'm really rather enjoying reading in a comfortable silence." Raucous behaviour was generally not tolerated in the Ravenclaw common room.

"Sorry," they all said quietly. Conrad nodded, turning away. Ash still looked angry. Tess and Alastair looked at him, then at each other and began laughing again, trying to be quiet.

"We are not bloody Gryffindors!" shouted Conrad from his armchair, book open on his lap. "Would you keep it down!" He then apologised to the room for shouting, as was proper.

At that point, the common room entrance opened, and into the room walked a girl in Ravenclaw uniform who no one had seen before. She looked splendid in her uniform, certainly much better than anyone else in the house. Hers appeared to be expertly tailored, from a material Alastair couldn't place, but which seemed expensive. It was immaculate, yet she wore it so well she might have been born in it. Her hair appeared to be made of blonde silk, and ended just short of her shoulders in a perfect curl. Her eyes were a vivid blue, and her skin was pale, though blemish-free.

She stood near the entrance for a moment, with the eyes of every student on her.

"Hi!" she said brightly, a beatific smile on her face. "I'm looking for Alastair Shippington."

There was more silence for a second before Alastair replied.

"I'm Alastair," he said, raising a hand in greeting.

The girl came over and sat next to Tess, across the table from the boys.

"I'm Alice Darlington," she said, beaming. "It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Alastair was feeling a little dazed. This girl was beautiful. And that smile... There was more silence at the table. Alice held her smile, before leaning towards Alastair.

"Aren't you going to introduce your friends?" she asked in a whisper.

"Oh, ah, this is Ash, and this is Tess," said Alastair, wondering why his voice sounded funny.

"Delighted," said Alice, smiling at Ash and Tess in turn. Conrad appeared at their table.

"Good evening," he said, in his most official voice. "I am Conrad Manheim, and I am one of the prefects of Ravenclaw house." He held out his hand. "If you ever need any help, or have any questions, then I should be very glad to be of service."

"Why thank you, that's very kind. My name is Alice Darlington. Pleased to make your acquaintance," she replied, shaking his hand delicately. She turned back to Alastair, Ash and Tess.

"So, you found your way up here okay?" asked Alastair, as Conrad retreated back to his chair.

"Oh, I was shown the way by Professor Flitwick. He asked me if I wanted him to introduce me to everyone, but I told him that I thought I would be quite all right on my own. He's rather a small person. Do you know why that is?"

There was silence for a moment.

"Well, ah, no not really," replied Ash. "I've never really thought about it, to be honest."

"He has some Goblin blood in him," said Alastair.

"Really?" asked Ash.

"Did he tell you to find Alastair?" asked Tess in a strange tone.

"Yes, he seems to think awfully highly of you. He told me to find Alastair and his friends, who were model students." Alice smiled again. "Well, and also because I'm told we have an Astronomy class tonight and that I might need Alastair's help finding the way."

Alastair started, and wondered what the time was. He'd forgotten about Astronomy.

"I think we should head off pretty soon," said Alice. "Professor Flitwick said that it was a long walk."

Alastair nodded.

"Well, I'll just get ready then," said Alice, still sounding almost impossibly bright and cheerful. "Is this one the way to the girls' dorm?" she asked, pointing to the nearest door. All three of the others nodded. "Great! Well, I'll be right back."

Many students were watching her as she left the room, including Alastair, until Tess kicked him.

"Don't stare, Alastair!" she said, sharply. "It's impolite."

Ash eased his chair a little further from Tess to get out of range, but Tess' attention was focused on Alastair, who was rubbing his shin and looking sheepish.

"Well, she does have quite nice, er... posture," said Ash, breaking the silence and earning a glare from Tess.

The three then sat quietly until Alice returned from the dorm. She now had ribbons in her hair, in the Ravenclaw house colours, and carried a small bag with her class supplies.

"Well, have fun," said Tess, mimicking Alice's voice, before getting up and heading for the dorm now Alice had left it.

"Well," said Alice, presenting herself at the table and addressing Alastair. "Shall we go then?"

His leg still hurt as they left the common room.

"I'm not sure that Tess likes me," said Alice. "Why are you limping?"

"Oh," replied Alastair. "She kicked me."

"Why?" asked Alice, looking a little alarmed. "Does she do that often?"

"Er, no, not really," Alastair lied. "It's just that she... that I..."

"So how long have you fancied her?" asked Alice with a knowing look.

"What? Hey, er... how did...?" managed Alastair.

"How did I know?" asked Alice, giving him her loveliest smile. "I didn't. But now I do."

Alastair stumbled and nearly fell down the staircase.

"But," he managed to force out. He was feeling helpless, his most closely-guarded secret having been duped out of him by someone he'd known for less than five minutes.

"Oh, don't look so hard-done-by, Alastair," she said, with a smile which was meant to be encouraging. "I won't tell anyone. It can be our secret."

Alastair said nothing as he stared at his feet, embarrassed.

"I think you should tell her, though," Alice said, suddenly, nearly causing Alastair to fall again. "How you feel about her, I mean. It could be the start of something wonderful."

"She doesn't like me like that," mumbled Alastair to his feet. "We're only friends because of..." He stopped. That was a secret. "Well..."

"Because why?" Alice asked, one eyebrow raised.

"Just... because we're in the same house, and in classes together," he lied.

"Well, then we will be friends as well. Do you like my ribbons?" She knew there was another secret there, so she changed the subject. She couldn't be too much too soon. She shook her head so that the blue and bronze ribbons fluttered about her head.

"Oh, ah, yeah," replied Alastair, feeling relieved that she hadn't noticed that he was hiding anything.

"I'm glad I've been placed in Ravenclaw, and I think we need to feel pride in our house, don't you?"

"Oh, certainly," replied Alastair. "Though I've found that Ravenclaw is more a place to celebrate individual achievements, rather than house ones. We never win the House cup, or the Quidditch trophy."

"Oh," said Alice, thoughtfully. "Well, I suppose that's a good thing, if it nurtures each student's own achievements. Really though, I do like to be on the winning side."

Alastair smiled.

"We play Slytherin in the Quidditch match this weekend. They're the house which no one really likes. We're confident, too. We beat Hufflepuff in our first game, and Gryffindor walloped Slytherin in theirs."

"Well, that's good then," replied Alice. "Why doesn't anyone like Slytherin?"

"Well, it's... They get placed into the house for their ambition, and it seems to bring out the worst of them, in a lot of cases. All the Death Eaters were Slytherins when they were here."

"Interesting," said Alice.

"Tess is on our Quidditch team," said Alastair, blushing a little as he spoke.

"Is she?" asked Alice, with a playful elbow to Alastair's ribs. "I guess that explains those bright robes she was wearing. How wonderfully exciting. I guess that means you will be going to the game, then?"

"Oh, everyone goes to the games," he replied.

"Will there be a big celebration if we win?" Alice asked.

"We're not all that big on parties in the common room, like I hear the other houses are."

Alice looked a little disappointed.

"Well I can think of a way you and Tess could celebrate," said Alice with a wink. Alastair turned a deeper shade of red. "Everyone is in a good mood, emotions are running high." She laughed at the look on his face. "Oh, don't worry! Now, which way is it to class from here?"