Illuna woke with a sharp crick in her neck and the unmistakable weight of regret in her shoulders. 'Perhaps sleeping here wasn't the best idea. Then again I doubt my groggy mind could think at that time,' she thought to herself.
Her eyes opened slowly to a room cast in early blue light. The fire in the Ravenclaw common room had dwindled to faintly glowing embers, casting flickering shadows on the high-arched ceiling. The scent of ash and aged wood lingered in the air, mingling with the faint crispness of dawn seeping in through the tall, mullioned windows. A draft whispered past them, brushing against her cheek like a cold hand.
She shifted stiffly in the armchair, the rough tweed fabric itching against her skin as her joints protested. Midnight let out a low, groggy mrrrow as he slid from her lap with feline offense. He landed with a soft thud on the rug and slunk under the nearest side table, tail twitching with silent indignation.
"Apologies," Illuna muttered, rubbing the back of her neck as she stretched, her bones cracking one by one and the ache in her muscles dull but ever present. Her book — something on minor illusion charms — lay open, face-down on the side table. She closed it with care, brushing off a speck of ash from the spine, and returned it to the Ravenclaw library shelf with precise fingers.
In the morning light, the library's lofty shelves and spiral columns looked far grander than they had the night before. She took a long moment to admire the curling ironwork and rows of books in soft browns, greens, and deep sapphire bindings. What she wouldn't give to have such a place at home. Though, perhaps, it was better she didn't — she'd never leave the house.
She padded silently through the dormitory corridor, the soles of her shoes muffled against thick rugs. Her roommates were still asleep — Beth murmured something about cauldron cakes in her sleep, Mira slept neatly like a folded towel, and Nellie had an old brass compass balanced on her forehead. Illuna stared at that for a second, then decided not to ask.
The girls' bathroom was cold and misty. The tile chilled her feet through her slippers, and the faint scent of lavender soap hung in the air. She splashed water on her face, the cold biting enough to make her blink hard. Her tangled white hair was smoothed into something less tragic, still slightly ruffled but presentable. The mirror, slightly fogged, reflected her blank, pale expression.
"This is it, then," she said flatly to her reflection. The reflection did not object. Thank the gods this wasn't a magic mirror.
Before leaving, she paused at the common room notice board and copied down her class schedule in tidy script. Then she slipped through the arched door, down the spiraling staircase, and into the waking hush of Hogwarts.
She was lost.
The castle's shifting staircases and trick corridors were less charming when you were alone and directionless. By the time she reached the basement level, the air was cooler, and the stone walls looked more like tunnels than halls. It gave off the slight scent of yeast and bread, and—was that bacon?
She had just decided she might be near the dungeons when two voices caught her attention.
"You're definitely not supposed to be down here," said a tall third-year girl with sleek black hair and crimson eyes. She stood like a shadow against the stone wall, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Beside her was a round-faced first-year with bouncing red curls and strikingly black eyes. She smiled brightly. "Are you lost? That's okay! Everyone gets turned around their first day."
"I was trying to find the Great Hall," Illuna admitted, expression flat. "I believe I've taken a wrong turn."
The younger girl giggled. "Yep. Definitely the wrong turn."
"I'm Tessa," the redhead said, pointing to herself. "And this is my sister, Vi."
Illuna blinked. "You're… sisters?"
They nodded in unison.
The two of them looked so different, you might have believed they came from countries. Vi smirked. Tessa laughed. Illuna frowned faintly.
"…Wizards," was all Illuna thought. They always had something unique about them.
They led her to the Great Hall, chatting about nothing Illuna retained. Once there, the familiar vastness of the room settled her senses a bit. The enchanted ceiling showed soft dawn light breaking through invisible clouds, with rose-gold and peach hues bleeding through like watercolor. The sunlight spilled across the tables, warm and buttery.
She made her way to the Hufflepuff table without much ceremony, Midnight padding along beside her. They sat in front of the two mismatched sisters, and plates of bacon and eggs popped into existence in front of them with a soft chiming hum.
Moments later, a yawn broke the soft murmur of the Hall.
Lily Evans trudged in, hair sticking out in at least six directions, her robes sloppily tied, and her eyes half-lidded.
She looked, Illuna thought, not unkindly, like a Puffskein that had rolled off a pillow and hit the floor.
When she spotted Illuna, she rushed over, grabbing a plate of food herself and scooting next to her. "Luna, it's been a while."
Illuna paused in her eating for a second. "Luna?" she repeated, perplexed.
Lily nodded. "Yeah, a shorter version of your name."
Illuna shook her head. "Please don't call me that."
"Oh." Lily looked perplexed but quickly bounced back. "So how's Ravenclaw?"
Illuna pushed Midnight away from her food while talking to Lily.
Illuna thought for a bit. "Quiet. My roommates are endearing, though. A loud bunch, more fit for Hufflepuff or your own house. Speaking of that, how is yours?"
The conversation flowed easily, shifting topics like drifting clouds. That is, until Illuna finally had enough of Midnight trying to steal her food. She stopped mid-bite and looked at the air beside her plate.
"House-elf," she said clearly. "If there is leftover chicken from last night, please bring a small portion for my cat."
With a gentle pop, a small plate of shredded roast chicken appeared at her feet.
Midnight sat and immediately began eating with the slow dignity of a royal.
"What just happened?" Lily asked, eyes wide.
Illuna replied, now eating her own food in peace. "Hogwarts has house-elves that work here. Cooking, cleaning, and a bunch of other activities."
"And you just asked them for chicken for your cat?"
"Yes," Illuna replied. "He's hungry."
Lily stared at the chicken, then back at her. "Do they get paid?"
Illuna shook her head. "No."
Lily looked troubled. "Isn't that… slavery, if you just order them around?"
"Requested," Illuna corrected. "They seem to prefer being useful. Like Santa's elves in Muggle media."
"That's… kind of awful," Lily muttered. "Don't they ever get a break?"
Illuna tilted her head. "I don't believe they want one."
Lily looked unconvinced but gave up the argument in favor of food. She scooped eggs and bacon onto her plate with a bleary grunt.
As they were finishing up, Illuna casually drew her wand and murmured, "Hora Revela."
A soft golden number appeared in the air above her wand: 7:03 AM. It hovered like firelight, shimmering with a faint ticking noise.
Lily blinked. "Is that a real spell?"
"Yes. First-Year Charms. Page thirty-two."
"That's… actually useful." She wiped her fingers on a napkin. "Teach me."
Lily tried the spell, "Hora Ravela?" she said, flicking her wand forward.
Illuna turned to her, expression impassive. "Say it clearly. Hora Revela. Straight wrist. Focus on the concept of time revealing itself, or on a clock."
Lily tried again — sparks. A hiccup. Third time — a glowing circle formed, pointing at numbers like a floating analog clock.
She turned and looked at Illuna, confused.
Illuna explained, "You imagined a round clock, so it formed a round clock. I focused on the numbers of a round clock, so it gave me precise digits."
Lily nodded, trying again. "Hora Revela!" This time it looked exactly like Illuna's. She smiled in satisfaction.
Illuna nodded, feeling pleased for her. "When you gain enough control of the spell, Hora Revela—" Illuna's wand flicked, revealing the exact year, month, day, and time in neat rows, —"you can reveal more in different formats as well."
Lily's eyes sparkled. "Magic is so magical."
Illuna chuckled. "Indeed it is."
They sat in companionable silence for a while longer, the smells of breakfast and warm fire settling over them like a blanket.
When the Hall began to fill with more voices and footsteps, Lily nudged Illuna's elbow.
"Let's find our classrooms before the castle wakes up too much."
Illuna nodded. "Yes, that would be smart. Have you gotten your schedule yet?"
Lily nodded, pulling out a notebook, and Illuna followed shortly.
When they compared, they found they had morning classes together three times a week: Tuesday and Friday for Transfiguration, and once for Defense Against the Dark Arts on Thursday.
"I suppose we can try to find the Transfiguration classroom first, and branch off to the others?" Illuna suggested.
Lily nodded. "Sure. Any idea where to start?"
"Yes. Some Hufflepuff gave me general directions to every class. I wrote them down."
A bright smile came to Lily's face, reminding Illuna of the effects of Rictusempra. "That's great! We can find our classes fast and then explore the castle."
They rose together, Midnight trotting along behind them like a shadow, as the early day crept onward.