Ravenclaw Tower was exactly what Alexander Chen expected.
Which is to say—suspiciously intellectual.
The spiral staircase seemed to go on forever, winding higher and higher until Alexander was convinced this was some kind of endurance test. Students chatted as they climbed, but Alexander was too busy mentally preparing his speech for when someone inevitably asked him to solve a riddle to be allowed inside.
Sure enough, when they reached the top, a bronze eagle knocker awaited them.
A soft, calm voice echoed through the air.
"Which came first—the phoenix or the flame?"
Cho tilted her head, thoughtful. "That's… actually a good one."
Students began whispering. Someone suggested philosophy. Someone else panicked.
Alexander sighed and stepped forward. "The flame," he said confidently.
The knocker paused. "Explain."
"Fire exists naturally," Alexander said. "Phoenixes are magical creatures that evolved to use it. No fire, no rebirth cycle. Flame comes first."
Silence.
Then—
"Correct."
The door swung open.
Alexander sighed. "I guess I belong here. Against my will."
The common room opened into a wide circular space filled with blue and bronze. Bookshelves lined the walls. Globes, star charts, and enchanted instruments hummed softly. Large windows revealed the night sky, clear, like the ceiling of the Great Hall—but real this time.
Cho let out a quiet breath. "Okay… this is kind of amazing."
Alexander grudgingly nodded.
The prefect clapped his hands. "Dormitories are separated by year and gender. First-year boys, follow me."
Anohter Prefect lend the girls to their rooms.
As they walked, Alexander noticed the looks—curious, wary, intrigued. Whispers followed him like shadows.
"That's the kid who attacked the Sorting Hat."
"American."
"He made it cry."
Alexander ignored them.
The boys' dormitory was round, with four beds spaced evenly around the room, trunks already placed at the foot of each. Blue curtains hung around the beds, embroidered with silver stars.
Alexander dropped onto his mattress and stretched.
"Not Ilvermorny," he muttered. "But I've slept worse."
His dormmates introduced themselves awkwardly. Anthony Goldstein. Terry Boot. Michael Corner. Polite. Smart. Slightly intimidated.
"So," Terry said carefully, "is it true you yelled at the Sorting Hat?"
Alexander sat up. "Define 'yelled.'"
That did not help.
Later, after changing into pajamas, Alexander lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. The excitement of the day finally settled into something quieter.
He was really here.
Hogwarts.
Not Ilvermorny. Not Thunderbird House. Not the path he'd planned since childhood.
But… maybe not the worst place either.
Across the tower, faint laughter echoed from the girls' dormitory. He recognized Cho's voice among them.
Alexander smirked to himself.
Future Ravenclaw, he thought smugly. I called it.
His wand lay on the nightstand beside him—redwood, Thunderbird feather, humming faintly as if restless.
"Don't get comfortable," he whispered to it. "I'm still mad."
The wand did not care.
Outside the window, stars shimmered over Hogwarts as the castle settled into sleep.
Alexander Chen closed his eyes, already plotting tomorrow.
Because if Hogwarts thought Ravenclaw would tame him—
It had another thing coming.