Hogwarts: The Blood Mage

After leaving the train in Hogsmeade, Aidan got into a carriage with Alva and Silas. This time, they chose not to talk about anything too serious, keeping their experience to themselves. For one, it was the sort of thing most people would blame on illegal substances, a miscast charm, or an elaborate prank. And second, if someone did believe them, they wouldn't be able to explain it properly without shedding light on Aidan's inheritance.

Upon reaching the castle, the group separated into two; Silas heading to the Slytherin table as its Head Boy, and Alva and Aidan walking to the Ravenclaw table as its Head Girl and Head Boy.

It didn't take long for Minerva McGonagall, Hogwarts' Headmistress, to stand and greet the first-years in order to begin the Sorting Ceremony. This, of course, meant enduring the bloody song of the Sorting Hat.

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty, but don't judge on what you see, I'll eat myself if you can find a smarter hat than me..."

"I just wish the damn hat wouldn't sing that horrible song every single year." Alva heard Aidan muttering under his breath.

"How come? It doesn't sound that bad to me." She observed.

"It isn't really." Aidan conceded, before quickly explaining his point. "But after seven years, it gets annoying."

Thinking about his words, Alva understood how it could become annoying to hear it every year —the hat did not have, after all, the most pleasant of voices. 

Aidan, not wanting to sit through a minute of suffering, took out his phone and opened WiTalk, intent on sending Silas a message so they could organise a rendezvous to talk about everything that had gone down during the summer. Just as he was about to send the message, he paused and looked at Alva, thinking for a moment.

"Hey, Alva." Aidan called, taking her out of her thoughts. "Would you mind exchanging numbers?" 

"I-Isn't that too quick?" Alva answered, her mind wandering to many places. "We've only just met." 

"And we also got attacked together right after." Aidan quipped, an amused smirk tugging at his lips. "I was thinking of making a group chat in WiTalk with you and Silas." 

"That way we could set meeting times, and other stuff to talk, study, practice magic, etc." Aidan explained. "Besides, it would make it easier for us to work in tandem as Head Boy and Girl." 

Blushing when she realised she had made quite a big blunder, Alva took Aidan's phone from his hand and registered her own contact. 

"Really, 'Alva Íkornsdóttir'?" Aidan asked when he saw the new contact. "And here I thought we were already friends." 

Alva blushed a bit harder, but decided not to reply. Aidan was too good at teasing, and her defences were untrained from not socialising much in Durmstrang. Ignoring him, she reckoned, was the best way to avoid being embarrassed. 

By the time their conversation was over, the Sorting Ceremony was already almost finished. After the last couple of students were sorted, Aidan stood up and congratulated all new Ravenclaws. He did not like his new role, but he certainly would fulfil it. 

After the Start-of-Term Feast, McGonagall graced the students with a few words and sent them on their ways. The Head Boys and Girls stood up and called for every first year to stay behind as the rest of the students made their way to their Common Rooms. 

"Welcome, First Years, to Hogwarts." Aidan greeted the new students, who looked between excited and nervous. "I'm Aidan Haimadros, and this is Alva Íkornsdóttir." 

"We are Head Boy and Head Girl of House Ravenclaw this year." Alva continued where he left off, as if they had practiced the improvised speech. "If you need any help, have any questions, or simply want to chat about something, feel free to approach us in the Common Room." 

"And talking about the Common Room, why don't we guide you there now?" Aidan suggested before heading out of the Great Hall. "Come on now, follow me." 

As they ascended the Grand Staircase —the moving maze that connected most of Hogwarts— Aidan shared a few curiosities about the castle, the portraits, and other details. He was doing it mostly for the First Years, yes. But he looked at Alva every time he shared something new, making his fellow Head Girl feel warm when she realised he was trying to help her fit into Hogwarts by filling the gaps in her knowledge about the school. 

"This is the entrance to the Ravenclaw Tower, on top of which is our Common Room." Aidan said as they reached an arched entrance in the fifth floor. "To reach it, you have to go up two floors in the spiral staircase." 

As they continued climbing, Aidan shared small details about the Ravenclaw Tower and their Common Room. How Rowena Ravenclaw herself had designed the entire area in a way it would help those who pursued their studies seriously, how the materials had been carefully chosen, and so on. He even spoke of how the tower was made to 'amplify' the sound of the wind against its walls in order to aid sleep. 

His explanation was interrupted when they finally reached the door to their Common Room. It was a single door with a bronze knocker in the middle, which Aidan grasped before looking at the First Years and then at Alva.

"In order to enter the Common Room, you will have to use this knocker and answer whatever riddle it gives you." Aidan explained the function of the knocker as he banged it softly against the door. "Be on top of your game, or else you'll be stuck outside until someone who can answer the riddle appears." 

Just as he finished explaining, a voice came from the knocker, offering them its first riddle of the year.

"I have no teeth, yet I can bite. I come by night, but flee from the sun. I pull water from thin air, and make the warmest brittle with a single touch. What am I?" Everyone heard it say. 

The first years were fascinated by the magic of it, since they had never seen anything quite like it. Those who had grown up in the magical world had heard about Howlers, but that was their only experience with talking magical objects. 

"Does anyone want to give it a try?" Aidan asked the first years. "Alva and I will provide the answer if you need it, but this one is quite simple." 

"You've solved it already, haven't you?" Aidan asked teasingly, glancing at Alva.

"Of course I have." Alva replied confidently and whispered something only Aidan could hear. "You jerk." 

They gave the first years some time to think, since most of them wanted to give it a try, until one of them raised their hand. 

"Could it be... cold?" The young girl said hesitantly. 

Aidan and Alva smiled at her and congratulated her as the door to the Ravenclaw Common Room opened on its own. Upon entering, they divided the students by gender and guided them to their dorms. 

By the time they were done, Aidan and Alva were exhausted. Too much had happened that day and pretending in order to maintain normalcy had taken its toll on them. 

In the main hall of the Ravenclaw Common Room, Aidan and Alva sat by the fireplace, exchanging a quiet look.

"You really can't placate your curiosity, can you?" Aidan asked, realising she wanted to ask many questions still. 

"You don't owe me any answers." She said, answering his earlier question —whether he owed her any answers or not. "So I want to make it an exchange." 

"An answer for an answer." She said, her tightly closed hands resting on her lap. 

Aidan ran a hand through his hair as he thought it over. After a few moments, he looked Alva in the eyes. 

"Deal."