Saving a Life

Under the guidance of Prefect Penelope Clearwater, the young Ravenclaw wizards filed out in a line.

"Watch out for those moving staircases. Don't go the wrong way, or you'll be late," Penelope reminded them kindly.

"Our common room and dormitories are on the west side of the castle, and we still have some distance to go. Watch your step!"

They truly had to be careful. Some of the castle's staircases were broad and wide, while others were narrow and small, and they swayed unsteadily.

"Ah!"

The scream brought the students to a halt. Allen turned around and saw that a young Witch with long black hair at the back of the group was desperately clutching the edge of a stair with both hands.

"Oh, these damned stairs! I forgot to mention that the step beneath her feet sometimes disappears. Remember to jump over it in the future." Penelope angrily gathered up her robes, intending to rescue her herself.

But the young Witch was clearly about to lose her grip. The young wizards around her immediately tried to pull her up, but they were a step too late. She was still young and lacked the arm strength to hold on. She lasted less than two seconds before falling. At that critical moment, an exceptionally calm voice rang out: "Wingardium Leviosa!"

The young Witch immediately began floating in midair. A nimble figure leaped down the stairs in just a few strides. The Levitation Charm on the young Witch was released, and she landed safely in the arms of that swift-moving person.

"Wow, did you see that? Did you see that? He knows Charms!"

"He's so agile! He moved incredibly fast!"

"His reaction was so quick. Even Prefect Penelope didn't react in time."

"Yeah, yeah!"

Praise erupted all around them, and the young wizards looked at Allen with admiration. Of course, who else but Allen could have reacted so quickly, possessed enough magic to keep a little girl floating for that long, and moved with such agility?

"Hah! Look what we have here. A young wizard who has only just started school already knows an Incantation and has enough magic to catch someone his own age. Flitwick, if I were you, I'd investigate this properly." A strange, mocking voice sounded.

"Professor Snape, I am the Head of Ravenclaw. The wizards of our house have always been known for their wisdom and broad learning. I consider the appearance of a genius like Allen to be a wonderful thing. And Ravenclaw gains ten points for your quick-witted performance and for successfully rescuing Anna Su." Though small in stature and sharp in voice, Professor Flitwick radiated tremendous authority.

He was an exceptionally reliable Head of House. Not only did he protect his students, but he had remembered their names in such a short time. Truly impressive, Allen thought admiringly.

"All right, please continue following me," Penelope said after receiving a signal from Professor Flitwick.

"Allen, thank you for saving me."

"You're welcome. It was what I should have done."

As they spoke, they arrived at the entrance to the common room. It was located at the very top of Ravenclaw Tower. At a glance, they could see an ancient, polished wooden door with a huge Eagle-shaped Bronze Knocker upon it.

Penelope lightly knocked on the knocker three times. It spoke in a mysterious, magnetic voice: "If you want your dreams to come true, what must you do first?"

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

Allen found the arrangement of the common room quite interesting, though he felt the dormitories ought to be a little more secure.

Inside was a large circular room. Elegant arched windows lined the walls, draped with blue and bronze silk, and through them, they could see the beautiful scenery outside. The ceiling was a dome studded with stars, while the deep blue carpet below was also patterned with stars, giving the room an unfathomable, mysterious air. There were large tables and chairs, as well as rows of bookshelves. In a niche opposite the door stood a white marble bust of a woman who embodied both beauty and wisdom—Rowena Ravenclaw. A door beside the statue led up to the dormitories.

"Your luggage has already been placed at the foot of your beds. Please find it yourselves. Sweet dreams." With that, Penelope was the first to slip into the girls' dormitory.

Allen quickly found his own bed. To his surprise, he was sharing a dormitory with Edward Fox. Edward was equally surprised, but he was far too tired. After saying good night, he quickly fell asleep.

That was hardly surprising. Their four-poster beds were covered in soft sky-blue silk quilts that looked exceptionally comfortable. Allen quickly washed up in the bathroom, threw himself onto the bed, sank into the soft bedding, and closed his eyes. The sound of the wind blowing past the window made him feel deeply at ease.

A night of sweet dreams!