After the Sorting Hat ceremony and the grand dinner in the Great Hall, Hecate and the other newly sorted Ravenclaw students were guided by their head of house, Professor Filius Flitwick, to their common room. The Ravenclaw Tower was located on the west side of Hogwarts, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and the Quidditch pitch. The entrance to the common room was a door without a doorknob or keyhole, but with a bronze knocker in the shape of an eagle.
"To enter, you must answer the riddle posed by the eagle," Professor Flitwick explained, demonstrating by knocking on the door. The eagle's eyes glowed as it asked, "What always runs but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a bed but never sleeps, and can be dry but never drinks?"
"A river," one of the older students answered, and the door swung open, revealing the Ravenclaw common room.
The common room was an elegant, airy space filled with blue and silver decor, reflecting the house colors. It had tall, arched windows that allowed natural light to flood the room during the day and provided a perfect stargazing spot at night. There were bookcases lining the walls, filled with an extensive collection of books on various subjects, and comfortable armchairs and sofas were scattered around for students to relax and study. A large, enchanted fire roared in the marble fireplace, giving the room a warm and inviting atmosphere.
From the common room, a spiral staircase led up to the dormitories. The girls' dormitory was at the top of the tower, offering even more spectacular views. Each dormitory had four-poster beds with navy blue hangings, and the bedding was embroidered with the Ravenclaw emblem. Each student had a mahogany wardrobe and a nightstand, and there were enchanted skylights that could show the stars even when it was cloudy.
Hecate found her dormitory and was pleased to see that Isla, the shy girl from the train, was also her dorm-mate. After greeting each other, Hecate started unpacking. Her black cat, Nyx, gracefully hopped onto her lap, purring contentedly. All of Hecate's belongings were neatly placed in a corner of the room, thanks to the special service she had used to ship her items directly to Hogwarts.
She organized her books, clothes, and other essentials, placing them in their respective places. Once everything was in order, she lay down on her bed to rest. As soon as her head hit the pillow, a series of notifications rang in her mind from the system:
[Congratulations for arriving at Diagon Alley!!:
Gift: £35,000]
[Congratulations for entering the train heading to Hogwarts: Gift: Inventory: 100 slots]
[Congratulations for arriving at Hogwarts!!; Gift: X-Playing Card; Card Appearance - 18: HOLD YOUR HAND / Card Name - Sinking Shadow (Manipulate shadows and move with them, and you can trap others with your shadows)]
[Congratulations on being sorted into Ravenclaw:
Gift: X-Playing Card; Card Appearance - 10: TO BE APART / Card Name - Marvelous Genius (Improve your brain's information processing capabilities)]
The system explained further:
[When an X-Card is Played, the card assimilates into energy and forms into gloves on the Player. Each card has a different glove design, each tailoring to their respective abilities.
**the cards usually chooses it's owner but considering that these cards are gifts for the host , it will recognize the host as it's master .
in case you want to give the cards to someone else , and following the original principle, the card has to chose it's new owner. **
Every card has a specific ability, the type and strength of which is based upon its suit and value. While X-Playing Cards are played, every card also grants an overall physical boost, the strength of which is based upon the card's value.]
Feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity, Hecate inspected the cards. The gloves materialized momentarily, allowing her to understand their potential before they vanished again.
As the cards appeared in her hand, Hecate immediately recognized them from an anime she had watched in her previous lifetime, *High Card*. She examined the card marked "Sinking Shadow" and muttered, "Play... Sinking Shadow." The card disintegrated into ash, transforming into elegant gloves on her hands. She moved her hand to her shadow on the bed and willed it to sink in. To her amazement, the shadow complied, sinking into her hand.
Hecate did all this in secret, ensuring her roommate Isla didn't notice. Once she was satisfied with her experiment, she tried the other card. "Play... Marvelous Genius." Again, the card turned to ash and formed into gloves. As soon as she put them on, she felt her mind clear, and every detail from her journey to Hogwarts became incredibly vivid and obvious.
With a newfound clarity and understanding, Hecate felt more prepared for the challenges ahead. She knew these abilities would give her a significant edge at Hogwarts. She quickly hid the cards, making sure everything appeared normal before anyone could suspect anything. She lay back on her bed, feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation for what was to come.
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### First Day at Hogwarts
My first day at Hogwarts was packed with new experiences. The day began early, with the first rays of sunlight streaming into the Ravenclaw dormitory. I dressed in my new robes and, after a quick breakfast in the Great Hall, headed to my first class: Herbology.
### Herbology
Professor Sprout welcomed the first-year students warmly, explaining the basics of magical plants and their care. I listened intently, absorbing the information about the properties of various magical herbs. We were introduced to the Mimbulus Mimbletonia and learned how to repot it without getting sprayed with Stinksap. It wasn't that exciting for the students born and raised in the magical world, but for me, it was fascinating, though I wasn't really interested in investing too much in this section.
### Potions
Next was Potions with Professor Slughorn. I found myself intrigued by the meticulous nature of potion-making. Slughorn demonstrated the brewing of a simple Cure for Boils potion, and the students were then tasked with replicating it. I carefully followed the instructions, my previous experience with careful measurements and precise actions paying off. I ended the class with a decent potion and earned 2 points for my house, which made my housemates see me in a good light.
### Transfiguration
Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class was next. McGonagall was stern but fair. As we took our seats, she began with an introduction of Transfiguration.
"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts. Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned," she said, her eyes sharp as they scanned the room.
She moved gracefully, her wand held like a conductor's baton. "Transfiguration involves changing the form or appearance of an object. This requires concentration, a clear mind, and precise wand movements. Today, we will start with something simple: turning a matchstick into a needle."
She demonstrated the transfiguration of a matchstick into a needle with a flick of her wand and a clear, firm incantation. The matchstick elongated, shimmered, and transformed into a slender, shining needle. The class watched in awe as the once-ordinary matchstick was now an elegant, silver needle.
I found this particularly fascinating. As I pondered the process, an idea struck me, inspired by my knowledge of coding from my previous life. Just like in programming, where complex tasks are broken down into manageable subprograms, I decided to organize my spellcasting similarly. I mentally segmented the transfiguration into steps: first changing the texture, then the material, adjusting the hardness, and finally the form. Each step was like a line of code, each contributing to the final outcome.
Focusing intently, I followed the instructions, using my fine manipulation of magic. The matchstick shimmered and smoothly transformed into a perfect needle. McGonagall noticed immediately, her eyes widening slightly.
"Excellent work, Miss Targaryen," she said, clearly impressed. "It's very rare for a student to achieve such a perfect transfiguration on their first attempt, especially those new to magic. You have shown exceptional talent and understanding."
She paused, then added, "Ravenclaw, take 10 points for this outstanding achievement."
Feeling a mix of pride and excitement, I realized just how much I was capable of. This early success in Transfiguration was a strong indication of the potential within me, and it ignited a passion for the subject that I was eager to explore further.