Saving Someone

Led by Prefect Penelope Clearwater, the young wizards of Ravenclaw filed out in a line.

"Watch out for those rotating staircases. Don't take the wrong turn, or you'll be late," Penelope reminded them kindly.

"Our common room and dormitories are on the west side of the castle. We still have quite a way to go, so watch your step!" And indeed, one had to be very careful; some of the staircases in the castle were large and wide, while others were narrow, small, and wobbly.

"Ah!"

A shriek brought the students to a halt. Allen looked back to see a young witch with long black hair at the very end of the line, her hands clutching desperately at the edge of a stair.

"Oh, this blasted staircase! I forgot to mention, the step beneath her is prone to vanishing. Remember to jump over it in the future," Penelope said, annoyed, as she hitched up her robes, intending to rush over and save the girl herself.

But the young witch looked as though she could no longer hold on. The students around her immediately reached out to grab her, but they were a step too late. Being young and lacking the arm strength, she couldn't hold on for more than two seconds before she plummeted. At that critical moment, a calm, steady voice rang out: "Wingardium Leviosa!"

The young witch immediately began to float in mid-air. A nimble figure was seen leaping down the stairs in a few swift bounds; as the Levitation Charm was lifted, the young witch was caught firmly by this agile boy.

"Wow, did you see that? Did you see? He used a charm!"

"He's so athletic, his movements were incredibly fast!"

"His reaction was just too quick, even Prefect Penelope didn't react in time."

"Yes, indeed!"

Exclamations of praise filled the air, and the young wizards looked at Allen with eyes full of admiration. Indeed, who else but Allen could have reacted so quickly, possessed enough magic to keep a young girl floating for so long, and moved with such agility?

"Hah! And what do I see here? A first-year wizard who can already cast spells and has enough magic to catch a peer? Flitwick, if I were you, I would certainly look into this," a snide, drawling voice rang out.

"Professor Snape, I am the Head of Ravenclaw House. Our house has always been known for wit and erudition; I consider it a great thing to have a genius like Allen in our midst. Furthermore, ten points to Ravenclaw for your quick thinking and for successfully saving Anna Su." Professor Flitwick, small in stature but with a piercing voice, projected an incredibly powerful presence.

He's a very reliable Head of House, Allen thought to himself, impressed. Not only does he protect his students, but he remembered a student's name in such a short time—truly remarkable.

"Alright, please continue to follow me," Penelope said, having received a signal from Professor Flitwick.

"Allen, thank you for saving me."

"You're welcome. It was the right thing to do."

While they talked, they arrived at the entrance to the common room. The entrance was at the very top of Ravenclaw Tower, where an ancient, smooth wooden door with a large, bronze, eagle-shaped knocker could be seen at a glance.

Penelope tapped the knocker three times, and it emitted a magnetic, mysterious voice: "If you want your dreams to come true, what must you do first?"

"Wake up," Penelope answered quickly. "Other houses have fixed passwords, but we don't. As long as you can answer the enchanted knocker's question, you can enter."

Allen found this setup for a common room quite interesting, though he hoped the dormitories would be a bit more secure.

Walking inside, they found a large circular room with elegant arched windows and hangings of blue and bronze silk, through which one could see the beautiful scenery outside. The ceiling was a dome adorned with stars, and the deep blue carpet below was similarly patterned, creating a profound, mysterious, and unfathomable atmosphere. The room was furnished with large tables, chairs, and rows of bookshelves. In a niche opposite the door stood a large, white marble bust of a woman who embodied both beauty and wisdom—Rowena Ravenclaw. A door beside the statue led to the dormitories above.

"Your luggage has already been placed by your beds. Please find your own and have a good night," Penelope said before being the first to head into the girls' dormitory.

Allen soon found his bed and was surprised to find he was sharing the room with Edward Fox. Edward was equally surprised, but he was far too tired; after a brief goodnight, he quickly drifted off to sleep.

It was no wonder; their four-poster beds were covered with sky-blue silk quilts that looked incredibly comfortable. Allen finished washing up in the bathroom, threw himself onto the bed, and sank into the soft mattress. Closing his eyes, he found the sound of the wind whistling past the window deeply soothing.

A good night's sleep!