The Eagle-shaped Bronze Knocker

William did not know what happened afterward.

At the urging of their head of house, Professor Flitwick, the Ravenclaw students had hurried away from the scene of the trouble.

If they stayed any longer, it could easily turn into a brawl between the houses. Such things were far from uncommon.

The Ravenclaw Common Room was located in a tall tower on the west side of the castle.

Led by Prefect Robert, everyone slowly climbed the stairs, winding around in dizzying little circles.

At last, they came to a door.

It had neither a handle nor a keyhole, only a smooth, aged wooden panel with an eagle-shaped bronze knocker on it.

The knocker looked exceptionally elegant and was at least a few years old. But Hogwarts was full of relics, so its age was hardly surprising.

Prefect Robert Hilliard knocked on the door, and the eagle's beak opened.

But instead of a birdcall, it asked in an exceptionally gentle voice like Kana Hanazawa's, "What is something you cannot do without, but cannot see?"

William seriously suspected the knocker had an Amap voice pack installed too.

Robert did not answer. Instead, he turned around with a smile and said, "We Ravenclaws don't have a hidden entrance to our common room like the other houses.

"Our common room door has only this enchanted Eagle-shaped Bronze Knocker.

"When you knock, the Eagle Knocker will ask you a question. If you answer correctly, you'll be allowed in."

He said proudly, "For nearly a thousand years, no one except Ravenclaw students has been able to pass this simple barrier.

"Some first-years are afraid of the Eagle Knocker's questions, but don't worry.

"Ravenclaws are good at learning, and you'll soon learn to enjoy the challenges the Eagle Knocker sets. It's not uncommon to find twenty people standing outside the common room, trying to solve the day's question together.

"It's also a great opportunity to meet Ravenclaws from other years. You can learn from them-though you'll find it a little annoying when you've forgotten your Quidditch kit and need to get in and out in a hurry."

Robert continued, "So, would anyone like to try that question just now?

"Don't be shy, first-years!"

Cho was the first to step forward. "Air," she answered.

"Kana Hanazawa" replied, "That makes sense."

As she spoke, the door opened.

William was about to follow the others inside, but Robert shut the door again with a slap.

He knocked on the door.

"Kana Hanazawa's" gentle voice rang out again. "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?"

No one spoke. Cho gave William a shove, and he nearly bumped into Marietta Edgecombe.

William shot Cho a glare and answered, "A circle has no beginning or end."

"Kana Hanazawa" said gently, "You're sooo clever!"

Slap!

Robert shut the door again.

"..."

"Which came first, the chicken egg or the duck egg?"

William answered, "That depends on whether you raised chickens or ducks first."

"Kana Hanazawa": "You're sooo good!"

Slap!

The door was shut once more.

This game of closing and opening the door went on for a full half hour, with Robert shutting it again and again.

William did not know whether it was his imagination, but he felt that the knocker's voice gradually changed from the original "Kana Hanazawa" to "Kurosawa Shiling," and finally began to sound like "Qiao Biluo"!

The knocker was probably in as foul a mood as Professor Snape now. It had never met such an idiotic student!

Seeing Robert's enraptured expression, William felt that he was simply there to listen to the voice pack.

This guy must have a thing for voices, right? Maybe he's even a cross-dressing expert!

Everyone yawned as they walked into the common room.

The Ravenclaw Common Room was a large, round room with an ethereal décor. Elegant arched windows lined the walls, hung with blue and bronze silk.

Stars were painted across the domed ceiling, and the deep-blue carpet below was covered in stars as well. Tables, chairs, and bookcases stood on the floor, while a white marble statue of Rowena Ravenclaw stood in an alcove opposite the door.

Ravenclaw's sculpture was lifelike, its sapphire-blue eyes seeming to be lost in thought.

A faintly teasing smile played on her face, and her gaze was directed toward an enormous floor-to-ceiling window, beyond which lay darkness.

On her head was a delicate circlet replicated in marble, with tiny words engraved on it.

-Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure.

Prefect Robert said excitedly, "Welcome again, young witches and wizards. This is our common room. Our house emblem is an eagle, soaring high above peaks no one else can reach; our colors are sky blue and bronze.

"I don't mean to boast, but this is where the cleverest witches and wizards live, just like our founder, Rowena Ravenclaw.

"We have a very particular label: individuality-some narrow-minded people even call us eccentric.

"But geniuses are usually out of step with ordinary people. Unlike some houses, we believe you can wear whatever clothes you like, believe whatever you want, and say whatever pleases you.

"We don't dislike people who are different. On the contrary, we appreciate them!"

Everyone applauded and, while they were at it, forgave Robert for what he had done at the door earlier.

Chunibyo was characteristic of their age. Everyone thought they were different, and after hearing the Prefect's speech, they were even more convinced that they were special.

Sometimes, a person's qualities were strengthened through this kind of repeated emphasis, eventually shaping the style of the entire house!

Guided by the male and female prefects, the young witches and wizards went to their respective dormitories.

It was a huge room, decorated much like the hall, with sky-blue decorations and five four-poster beds hung with bronze flannel curtains.

The trunks had already been brought up.

Bobocha sat proudly on a bed, dozing with narrowed eyes. Not far away were a rabbit, a toad, a rat, and a miniature yellow bear.

The four pets sat crouched beneath the beds, all wide-eyed and afraid to sleep.

At some point, Bobocha had established the position of boss among the dormitory's pets.

After everyone had washed up and changed into pajamas, they lay down to sleep.

Bobocha lay in William's arms as they looked out the window.

From here, they could see the Black Lake reflecting the moonlight, as well as the dense Forbidden Forest.

William soon fell asleep. Bobocha burrowed under the covers and curled up beside his hand, a tail wrapped around his arm, purring.

William had a dream: the knocker turned into a monster with a human body and an eagle's head, seducing him in "Sister Zhiling's" voice.

When William approached, the eagle's head opened its bloody maw and swallowed him whole!

----I am the knocker's divider----

The "Hanazawa" Eagle-shaped Bronze Knocker asked: Which came first, the bookmark or the recommendation vote?