Ravenclaw Common Room

Vizet read the riddle aloud. "I am here, yet completely unaware of it. If I abandon it, I will surely die?"

"Is it air? It is everywhere, yet difficult to notice. Without air, you cannot breathe and will surely die."

The Eagle Statue seemed to come alive, stretching its broad wings.

The Bronze Gate slowly opened, revealing a marble Spiral Staircase within.

"Perfect answer, and a very reasonable explanation." Penelope applauded. "This is how we live. Welcome to Ravenclaw!"

They followed the marble Spiral Staircase all the way up. At the very top was an exceptionally bright, circular common room.

The common room's domed ceiling was painted with a sky full of Stars, which complemented the clear Crystals floating overhead.

The snow-white marble walls, deep-blue carpets and curtains, and the sturdy, old-fashioned bronze decorations together created the common room's solemn, tranquil atmosphere.

Several desks, benches, and Armchairs were arranged throughout the common room. Bookcases stood in the wall niches, crammed with thick books. The atmosphere of a Cultural Salon was impossible to miss.

Arched windows had also been set into the walls. The starlight outside was exceptionally clear, dotting the heavens like swaying lamps.

The older students easily found places to sit. Some began reading, while others gazed up at the clear Crystals floating overhead, as if emptying their minds.

Quite a few New Students were eager to climb over to the windows and properly admire the dazzling night sky.

Penelope clapped her hands to get their attention. "Professor McGonagall should have told you that your house is your home. You'll be staying here for seven Academic Years!"

"The most important thing now is to take you back to your dormitories. I saw quite a few people nodding off earlier. After being up all night, you must be exhausted, right?"

She first led the girls to the other side of the common room, toward the Girls' Dormitory.

A statue stood on the other side of the common room. It was extremely tall, its top almost touching the domed ceiling.

The statue depicted a beautiful woman dressed in gauze, wearing an ornate Crown. Her long hair nearly reached the ground, giving her an ethereal, otherworldly air that made people hesitate to approach.

An inscription at the base introduced the statue: Rowena Ravenclaw. Extraordinary intelligence was humanity's greatest wealth.

Just as the New Students began nodding off again, Penelope finally returned to the common room and led them to the boys' dormitory.

She suddenly stopped and pointed at a pair of double doors. "This is the washroom. If you want to freshen up later, come here..."

Although the common room occupied only one tower of the castle, it was unexpectedly spacious. There were at least three Spiral Staircases, along with several dormitories for resting.

"This is your dormitory. I won't go inside... Oh, and one more thing: the staircase to the Girls' Dormitory is enchanted. If a member of the opposite sex enters, the stairs will turn into slippery slides covered in grease."

One New Student hurriedly asked, "Then why can you come in here? Is it a prefect's privilege?"

"Of course not. That isn't included among a prefect's privileges." Penelope shook her head. "The most reliable explanation is that the school's founders believed girls were more trustworthy than boys."

The dormitory was just as spacious. Everyone had an exclusive Four-Poster Bronze Bed and wardrobe, as well as their own desk and chair.

The Four-Poster Bronze Beds were hung with deep-blue curtains, embroidered with Eagles in bronze Thread.

Blue carpets covered the floor, soft and springy beneath their feet.

That voice on the train hadn't lied. Their luggage had already been delivered to the dormitory.

It was as if the Shell Girl had tidied everything up.

Not only had she arranged the luggage, she had also made the beds and set out the pillows. The air was filled with the scent of sun-warmed fabric.

The other New Students were simply too tired. They didn't even say goodbye before collapsing onto their beds and falling asleep.

"Hoo-hoo-hoo!"

Thor the Owl began calling out, his claws repeatedly scraping against the Bird Perch as if he were eagerly anticipating something.

"Been cooped up too long?" Vizet smiled faintly and opened the cage.

Thor eagerly flew onto the suitcase and began tapping it with his sharp beak. "Knock, knock, knock."

"Don't wake them!" Vizet quickly picked Thor up, opened the suitcase, and took out a large, thick Cloth Bag.

Inside were snacks he had bought from the Trolley Witch.

"Are you sure you can do it?" He stroked Thor's crest. "Otherwise, I can ask where the Owlery is and find a companion to help you?"

"Coo!" Thor let out a long cry and puffed himself up with an air of complete confidence.

"All right." Vizet smiled faintly, sat down at the desk, and spread out a sheet of Parchment.

He pondered for a long time. By the time the ink on the tip of his quill had dried, he still hadn't written a word.

He had never truly written a letter to anyone before, and for a moment, he didn't know where to begin.

Even with the help of Guardian Meditation, he still felt that his thoughts were a tangled mess.

"Where should I start writing? At King's Cross Station? Or when we crossed the lake to reach the castle?"

"Coo?" Thor bent down like he was bowing and pecked Vizet lightly in the chest.

"That really hit the nail on the head. You seem to have learned a lot from Luna." Vizet dipped his quill in ink again, and the nib spread an ink flower across the Parchment...

Snape wore a grim expression. After knocking, he didn't wait for a response and pushed open the door to the Headmaster's Office.

"The Boy Who Lived, an Obscurial, and a young Three-Headed Dog... Hogwarts is certainly lively this year! Headmaster Dumbledore, wouldn't you agree?"

Dumbledore placed the Sorting Hat on the desk and nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Very lively."

"Heh..." Snape gave two stiff snorts, his voice icy cold. "I never expected Hogwarts to become so 'safe' while I was away for the holidays."

He deliberately drawled out the word "safe."

His eyebrows rose high. "I've been wondering about something. How exactly do you plan to protect Harry Potter? Is preventing the prophecy from coming true all it takes to call this a victory?"

"Someone who might lose control of his emotions at any moment and transform into an Obscurus—and you actually approved his admission, allowing him to become Harry Potter's classmate?"

"Severus, calm down. How about a cup of tea?" Dumbledore sat back down and conjured a tea set. "My suggestion is that you read The Quibbler."

"The Quibbler has become quite interesting lately. It has discussed a fair amount of knowledge about Obscuruses, as well as how one should interact with Obscurials. As far as I know, the response to these recent issues has been quite positive."

"But as far as I know..." Snape finally sat down. "The editor-in-chief of The Quibbler is Xenophilius Lovegood, and that Obscurial has the same surname."

"Yes." Dumbledore brewed a pot of tea. "The fact that Xenophilius would do this clearly shows that he approves of Vizet. Besides, I've discovered something else rather interesting."

Snape glanced at his teacup and continued, "Also about that Obscurial?"

"Indeed. The Sorting Hat told me." Dumbledore tapped on the desk. "Could you tell us more?"

"That child is no simple matter..." The Sorting Hat suddenly split open along a seam. "I seem to be able to see what he's thinking, but at the same time, I can't quite see it."

"It's a very strange feeling! I think he's extremely personable... I don't mean that he's an old antique too... What I mean is..."

It carefully considered its wording for quite a while. "Through that child, I can see you from his perspective."

"This is so interesting! I really like this feeling. I really like this child."

Snape's face tightened as he frowned, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes. "Are you saying..."