Cassandra Hightower was wearing a casual dark blue sweater vest over a white blouse, now sporting an impressive brown tea stain down the right sleeve. Her elaborate crown braid was replaced by a simple side plait, giving her a softer appearance that contrasted sharply with her outraged expression.
"MR. SEMMES!" Her voice hit Jack like a slap. "What is WRONG with you?!"
"I can explain!" Jack started desperately.
"First you mock me on the platform, then you undermine me in front of the first-years, and now this?" She gestured at her stained sleeve and the disaster around her. "Your band of vikings just destroyed our common room! Tea everywhere, scrolls ruined, and now you've gone and assaulted Maurice!"
Jack's stomach dropped, "It was an accident!"
"An accident? Then explain how you're accidentally buzzing our windows on a Sunday morning! Explain why my best blouse is ruined and Maurice is unconscious!"
Windows were opening now around the tower like gunports on a man o’ war, faces crowding out to stare. This was rapidly becoming another spectacle. Jack hated it.
"Look," Jack said, trying to keep his voice steady while balancing on his broom six feet from the window, "I was flying too close to the tower. Then someone, not saying who, flew past too fast. When….Maurice stuck his head out, I almost crashed into him. If I hadn’t turned at the last second, we both would have fallen all the way to the ground.”
“Now I'm not saying it's his fault," he added quickly, seeing her mouth open. "I'm really sorry about all of this. We didn't mean to cause trouble. The wind caught me wrong, turbulence off the wall, and then-"
"The wind caught you wrong?" She tossed her braid. "Do you ever take responsibility for anything?"
"I'm trying to! That's why I stayed to apologize!"
“Hmph. You stayed.” she crossed her arms. “And where are your fellow air-pirates now?
"SEMMMMMMMES!" Henry's voice echoed up from the gorge. "Get out of there before they hex you!"
Cassandra leaned forward slightly, peering down. Jack saw the corner of her mouth twitch. "Your choice in fellows leaves much to be desired," she looked back at Jack, eyes sharp as thistles.
Jack ignored the remark, “Is Maurice ok?”
She glanced behind her, "His nose is bleeding, but he's awake." Someone groaned loudly from the common room floor. "No thanks to you."
“I’m sorry,” Jack said firmly. “This won’t happen again.”
"Thirty points from Gryffindor," she said coldly. "Each. For reckless flying, disrupting study hours, and damaging personal property.”
"Wait a sec." Jack leaned forward on his broom, coasting slightly closer to the window. "I'm the only one here. I should be the one punished."
"Protecting your accomplices now?"
"Please." He met her gaze steadily. "They'll kill me for bringing the whole house down.”
“You should have thought of that before.” Cassandra said, looking around at their attentive audience.
“I only just got here, they’re my brand new housemates,” Jack fought on gamely. He thought his ears were about to catch fire from embarrassment. “Let me take the punishment instead of docking everyone points. I’ll clean your tower, scourging, poena cullei, anything!"
"You were all responsible-" she started.
"But I'm the one here,” Jack said. “Please.”
She gave him a long, calculating look, her head tilted slightly, eyes slightly squinted beneath her eyelashes.
Then she pulled out her prefect's notebook and conjured a quill.
The detention slip rapidly took shape beneath her precise handwriting. With a tap of her wand, it folded itself into an origami bird and fluttered across the gap between them. Jack caught it carefully, trying not to lose his balance.
"You'll receive no special treatment, Semmes," she dismissed him coldly. “Good morning.”
The peeping audience of Ravenclaws peered down on him from the surrounding windows like a parliament of highly judgmental owls.
Jack's heart sank as he barrel-rolled into a dive, finding his friends hovering in the shadow of the cliff. Teddy was furiously tapping his fingers on his elbows. Oliver was stone-faced. Henry was evidently trying to pacify both of them.
"Semmes, old sport," Henry shook his head sadly, "you can’t stick around like that. They’ve got us now…"
“They better have frozen you with a sticky jinx,” Teddy growled, “Because if you willingly stuck around like some kind of cowboy so help me-”
“Easy Ted,” Henry soothed, then blanched as Jack produced the folded detention slip. “What’s the butcher’s bill?” he asked the question that was on all their minds.
Jack unfolded the paper bird, and they all crowded around him to read:
> HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
>
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> Date Issued: Sunday, 31 August 1947
> Time Issued: 9:31 a.m.
>
> Issued By: Cassandra A. Hightower
> 6th Year Prefect, Ravenclaw House
>
> Recipient: James T. Semmes
> 6th Year, Gryffindor House
>
> Nature of Violations:
>
> 1. Article 13: Simple Assault
> * Subheading 3: Accidental, No Magic
>
> 2. Article 38: Destruction of Property
> * (Personal)
>
> 3. Article 91: Horseplay
> * Subheading 5: Disrupting Scheduled House Activities
>
> Description of Incident:
> On the morning of Sunday, 31 August 1947, during a house study prep for first-years, the aforementioned student engaged in disruptive and reckless behavior, resulting in accidental physical contact (classified under Simple Assault), minor destruction of personal property belonging to at least 3 other students, and conduct unbecoming of a Hogwarts student, as outlined under the student Code of Conduct. The violations occurred in the vicinity of Ravenclaw Tower.
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> Punitive Measures:
>
> 1. House Point Deduction:
> * Ten (10) points from Gryffindor House.
>
> 2. Gating:
> * Effective at noon today, Mr. Semmes is restricted to school grounds for three (3) weeks.
>
> 3. Detention Prep:
> * Every evening for one (1) week, beginning tonight, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Library under staff/prefectural supervision.
>
> Failure to adhere to these terms will result in further disciplinary action, including possible referral to the Head of House.
>
> Stolen novel; please report.
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> Prefect's Signature:
> Cassandra A. Hightower
> 6th Year, Ravenclaw House
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> This form is to be co-signed and returned to your Head of House by 10:30 p.m. today.
His friends looked at him like there was a unicorn horn growing out of his head.
Oliver let out a low whistle.
“Wha-...that?” Henry asked, shocked.
“Seems that way,” Jack said mournfully. “I’m sorry guys, but she was originally going to dock a hundred and twenty. The forced study halls are going to be a pain-”
"Ten points?" Teddy interrupted, looking thunderstruck. "For crashing into a seventh-year and buzzing a house tower?"
"And detention prep," Jack reminded him. “And gating, whatever that is.”
"Gating means you're restricted to school grounds," Henry explained. "It’s a severe punishment. No Hogsmeade, and no grounds past the courtyard unless you get special permission. You’re basically a first-year again. They might let you tryout for Quidditch if you grovel properly. Algy can put in a good word for you."
“Ugh,” Jack grimaced, “That’s tough.”
“Yes it is, but it could have been miles worse,” Teddy reached over and took a firm grip of Jack’s shoulder, his anger forgotten in his amazement. “We dodged a dragon’s tail. That could have been over a hundred house points and two weeks of detention for all four of us. The unusual thing is that Hightower put it all on you. That is not like her…”
All three of them stared at Jack with identical impish expressions. Jack felt his face getting hot.
“What?” he asked.
"Jack," Henry look at him appraisingly, "I think she fancies you."
"What?!” Jack nearly choked, “No way, I just ruined her morning!"
"Hightower never gives light punishments," Teddy said. "Last term she gave me twenty points and a week’s detention just for cutting a Slytherin toff’s suspenders in the hallway. And he deserved it! You do something miles stupider and walk away with half?!"
"Semmes must have charmed her," Oliver’s usually phlegmatic face was awestruck. "When he stayed to apologize like a proper gentlewizard."
“Think how she delivered the slip!” Henry cackled. “All secret so that her house didn’t know how lenient she was being!”
"A prefect and her halfwit knight-errant," Oliver agreed.
“And here I was cursing the day he was sorted,” Teddy slapped Jack on the back so hard they both nearly overbalanced and fell. “I’m sorry Semmes, just never do that again, aye? When we run one, we run all. No more heroics.”
“I won’t,” Jack promised. “I almost knocked that idiot out the window. Wanted to make sure he wasn’t hurt.”
He stuck his hand out, “From now on I’m with you guys.”
The other three exchanged glances, then grinned. Their hands stacked on top of his, hovering steadily above the gorge. There was silence. Just the rushing of water beneath.
"You’re supposed to say something, Ravenhurst,” Teddy said.
“Why me?” Henry asked defensively. “Why not the Yank?”
"You’re the nobleman," Teddy said. “Semmes’ll just say something hackneyed about freedom and the tree of magical liberty being watered.”
“Noblesse oblige,” Henry cleared his throat, “We few, we happy few, we band of lions, so be it, amen!”
“Aye, though he be earl, yet Ravenhurst is the king of courtesy!” Teddy exclaimed, beating his chest with his free hand.
“Well said!” finished Oliver.
“What the hell are you guys saying?” Jack asked blankly. “I thought we were going to say ‘Go Gryffindor’ or something.”
They broke apart laughing, nearly falling off their brooms.
“It’s Shakespeare, you dunce,” Teddy gasped, wiping his eyes. “The most brilliant wizard playwright to ever have lived!”
“So great even the Muggles claimed him,” Oliver nodded.
"Right then," Henry clapped his hands. "Let's finish the tour before our American friend here gets officially gated at lunchtime. Still the whole rest of Hogwarts to see."
They flew south through the ravine and underneath the suspension bridge that spanned it between the Quad and the-
“Alright, where were we?" Henry fell quickly back into form, "Ah, yes, Academic Wing, remember? Astronomy Tower is there," he pointed to the highest needle-like spire jutting from the Academic Building. "Tallest point in the castle. Excellent for stargazing, better for rendezvous, not that I'd know personally. Ask Marshwiggle."
"Don’t bother," Teddy said in response to Jack’s quizzical look. “Gentlewizards don’t kiss and tell.”
“Look, you’ve got Marshy putting on airs now,” Oliver snorted.
They spiraled lower over the Academic Building, skimming past windows showing classrooms and hallways. "Defense Against the Dark Arts corridor," Oliver designated. "See the scorch marks ‘round the windows?"
"Transfiguration Courtyard below," Teddy added. "Where Winterborn turns first-year troublemakers into statues."
“Bell Tower, right over the north gate, the one we walked through our first night here. Over the central hall are the greenhouses," Henry indicated a cluster of glass structures gleaming in the morning sun north of the central hall. “See the green mass on the roof there? Carnivorous mistletoe. It’ll take your lips right off, so be careful during Christmastime.”
"Speaking of dangerous flora, there's the Whomping Willow," Oliver pointed to a massive tree overlooking the lake. "Don't fly too close unless you fancy a trip to the hospital."
“What’s the deal with it?” Jack asked.
“No idea, that’s a good seventh year research project idea. Get with Professor Blackthorn.” Henry suggested.
They looped the Bell Tower, then swooped low over the North Lawn towards the Quidditch Pitch ("Tryouts this Thursday, you should come"). Then they banked left towards the Care of Magical Creatures paddock where the tartan-clad teacher Mr. MacGregor was hoeing cabbages along with his enormous assistant. MacGregor shook a rake at them menacingly as they flashed past flying low overhead. His assistant let out an ear-splitting whistle and a wave. They looped over the Owlery tower and then back again toward the north along the border of a great, ancient woodland. A patchwork of gently waving leaves beginning to turn fall colors and dark conifers stretched to the horizon.
“The Forbidden Forest,” Teddy gestured to the vast expanse of trees and the foreboding darkness between the trunks. "Forbidden for a reason. Full of all sorts of nasty surprises. The centaurs mostly keep to themselves, but the acromantulas are more…extroverted."
"The what?" Jack asked.
"Giant spiders," Oliver explained. "Size of a carthorse, very territorial!"
Jack peered into the shadows between the trees. American woods were not nearly as dangerous as this, it seemed. At least not until you got really deep into the Appalachians…
“Do we ever go in there?” he asked.
“Strictly off-limits unless escorted, and even then only during Care of Magical Creatures. Don't even think about it," Henry warned, noting Jack's interested expression. "Lost a second-year in there last spring. They found him a week later, speaking in tongues and wearing clothes made of mushrooms."
"He's still in St. Mungo's," Teddy added helpfully. "Thinks he's a talking toadstool."
They zoomed over the greenhouses outside the central hall gleaming in the morning sun, beyond them the Black Lake stretched halfway across the valley.
“Hogmeade’s there, you can see it quite well from up here,” Henry pointed out the village nearly a mile away. “See the road we came up from the train station?”
A vast, pallid form glided into view beneath the surface of the lake, its sheer mass bending the water’s reflection into shifting ribbons of light. A tentacle, smooth and spectral, pressed close enough to bulge the surface in a slow, rippling swell, as though the lake itself recoiled from its presence.
"Is that a-" Jack started, taking a firm grip of his broom. “Is that Nessie?!”
"No, Nessie is further south east in Loch Ness.” Oliver corrected. “That’s our giant squid. Or kraken, if you prefer. Friendly enough, unless you're a trout. Or swimming after curfew."
“Lost another second-year that way,” Henry said.
They flew farther north, catching a thermal that carried them past the lake and over the storybook village of Hogsmeade. Smoke rose from chimneys in lazy spirals, and Jack could make out a few students walking the path to and from the town.
"Shrieking Shack," Teddy pointed to a decrepit old building on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. "Most haunted building in Britain, obligatory tourist stop. Get your parents a postcard."
“Pull up there,” said Henry, waving his hand, “Plenty of time to show him Hogsmeade in three weeks once he’s ungated. Plus the leaves will be proper autumn colors by then. Pretty as a picture. Let’s take Semmes back to the pitch, show him what real sport looks like.”
Jack swallowed a remark that Quodpot and Quopro were infinitely better than Quidditch, inside or outside, and followed them back towards the school grounds and pitch.
"And that concludes our tour," Henry announced as they descended into the empty Quidditch pitch. "Any questions? Comments? Declarations of awe at our magnificent institution?"
As they touched down on the manicured green grass, Jack couldn't help but stare at the towering golden goal hoops, the brand-new gleaming stands, and the fluttering house banners snapping in the breeze.
“It’s incredible,” Jack admitted as he spun around slowly., windswept and exhilarated. He could see why the founders had chosen this spot, surrounded by natural defenses. “You guys have the whole valley! It makes Ilvermorny feel like a prison!” He didn’t mind that he was confirmed to campus for nearly the next month. This place was incredible. He really should try out for Quidditch.
His appreciation was short-lived. No sooner had they dismounted their brooms than a group of boys in blue robes came striding out of the locker room, broomsticks slung over their shoulders. At their head was a tall, handsome young man with unfashionably long brown hair and piercing blue-gray eyes.
“Merlin’s halitosis,” Henry stiffened beside Jack, his easy grin fading. "Ravenclaw must have booked the pitch," he muttered, his voice low and tense.