Introductions and Shock

Hogwarts Castle, Somewhere in the Scottish Highlands

November 22nd, 1992, 7:01 PM

The Great Hall was silent. The appearance of four people just after the show light stopped was not a normal thing. It was like they have just… teleported there.

The man gave the impression of strength, wild strength, to any that looked at him. With his almost two meters of height, wide chest and squared shoulders, any would think that he was a veteran swimmer. He was wearing a very dark blue suit, so dark that it was almost black, a white button shirt under the suit coat, and no tie. His hair was of a kind of blond-redish color, braided in an old nordic style, with no hair to the sides and the braid reaching just to his shoulders. His face is clean of hair, with exception of the eyebrows and a short goatee, both of the same color of his hair. Skin of a lightly tanned white. And his eyes, of a gray-blue mixture, like the sky cleaning just after a storm. Together, these were what gave him the impression of wild strength, with a touch of elegance for the suit. And he was smiling, a smile that easily reached his eyes.

The woman by the man's left had around 1,8 meters in height, long raven-black free hair that reached the middle of her back. Skin of a white healthy color. Bust of an D-cup, with wide hips and thin waist line, her body lines boosted by the one piece dark blue dress that hugged her upper body. Her face depicted her noble lineage to any that looked at it, and her chocolate brown eyes gave her a gentle and intelligent look. She too was smiling.

The woman by her left could pass as a typical bimbo to anyone. Around 1,6 meters of height, blonde curled hair that reached the middle of her back, soft blue eyes, red full lips, and an hourglass body with a E-cup bust. Unfortunately for the male population of Hogwarts, her body was kind of hidden by her vest, loose dark red robes with golden embroideries. She was looking around with curious eyes.

And to the man's right, was Joan of Arc. She was wearing dress armor with no helmet, armored gauntlets, and legs and shin guards. Her black hair in a low ponytail, letting her facial features show. By the left side of her hips, a sword was fixated. With one hand resting on the sword's pommel, she was ready to enter a battlefield. But she too was curiously looking around the Great Hall.

Just seconds after their arrival, the smiling face of the man was substituted by a frowning one. Few seconds later, the face of the woman by his left changed to a frowning one too. She turns to the man and comments in a low voice.

"The wards are a mess. Half of them are deactivated with the other half working at half the original capacity."

With a nod, the man answers her.

"Yes. And there are third party ones too over the original ones."

With the twitch of a finger, hidden in his pocket, the man seals all means of entrance and exit of the Great Hall. Everyone is oblivious to that.

Susan approaches the group while floating, followed by the other ghosts, including Professor Binns. She, together with the three other members of the Ghostly Council, were at the front of the group, lowering their floating height to stay like they were walking on the ground. Susan takes a step ahead of the group and talks to the just arrived, giving them a small bow.

"Greetings! We welcomed you back to Hogwarts Castle, Lord and Lady Ravenclaw."

The small bow is followed by the rest of the ghost population in the Great Hall. The Professors and staff that were middle way in the Great Hall suddenly stop after hearing the identity of the group. They are shocked, just like the rest of the living population of the Great Hall.

The man and woman that were frowning, just now identified as Lord and Lady Ravenclaw, turn back to smile while looking at the ghostly procession and hearing the welcome. And just as quickly as Lady Ravenclaw's face changed from a frown to a smile, she jumps at Susan, trying to hug her. And she manages to do it, just to increase the shock of the living population of the castle. To their meager knowledge, the living can't interact physically with the ghost of the dead. For those paying more attention to details, they noticed that the Lady Ravenclaw and the Gray Lady, Susan, had identical faces, height and body features. It was like they were twins.

While the two females were 'reuniting', Lord Ravenclaw approaches the other three ghosts of the Council and greets them, starting with a hand shake with Sir Robert, followed by a hug with the Fat Friar, and surprisingly, again, to the ones that were paying attention on them, a fist bump with the Bloody Baron.

"It's good to see you, guys. So how are things at the castle?"

The Bloody Baron, hearing Lord Ravenclaw's question, takes a solemn visage.

"Not so good, my Lord."

The Professors and staff had recovered from the initial shock and moved behind the ghosts to hear the conversation. Lord Ravenclaw, hearing the Bloody Baron answer and seeing the change in his posture, asked back.

"And the entire Hogwarts population are present and counted in the Great Hall?"

"I suppose that yes, they are. But we can always ask. Dimpy."

*pop*

With a soft pop, Dimpy, the house elf, appeared by the Baron's side.

"You called Dimpy, Master Baron? What can Dimpy help with?"

The little creature asked with her eyes moist of happiness. Lord Ravenclaw noticed it and addressed it himself, following with the question that he wanted the answer.

"Oh… You are still with us, Dimpy? And you got the Head Elf position, that's good! Who would have thought that the little over excited elf that followed me to every place the last time I was here would get the house elf position, hmm. So Dimpy, could you tell us if all of the castle's population is present and counted in the Great Hall?"

Hearing that, the little elf got even more happy, that seemed to start to bounce if not for her advanced age.

"Lord Raven remembers Dimpy! Dimpy is so happy! And yes, Lord Raven, every able one is present and counted."

Smiling at the little creature and giving it a head pat, Lord Ravenclaw says.

"Good! You can go now, Dimpy, and tell the other elves that they have my thanks to. The castle seems well cared for."

Nodding her head excitedly, Dimpy disappeared with another soft pop.

*pop*

"So, Baron, give me heads of the most urgent problem."

Hearing Lord Ravenclaw questioning about the problem, the rest of his entourage approached them, followed by Susan. And the Bloody Baron answered truthfully, talking about the main reason behind the summon.

"Well my Lord, from the beginning then. Around fifty years ago a series of attacks on students were registered. The attacker left behind messages that the Chamber of Secrets was opened, and that the heir enemies should be carefull. No major action was taken, no outside investigation was done, because the victims were all muggleborn. All victims were found petrified. Until one day, a student was found dead. The cause of death was unknown. No signs of harm done to the student, and no sign of spellwork too. She just... died."

All students, together with the staff, were listening to the Bloody Baron tale with attention, not wanting to lose any detail. After a small pause, the Bloody Baron continued.

"After the death, the staff were afraid, and talk of the school closing its doors was frequent. Then, one day, a finger got pointed at one student because he was keeping a dangerous beast as a pet. The Ministry and the past Headmaster, were desperate to be seen doing something, and they immediately captured the student, expelling him from school, and sending him to Azkaban. The student's dangerous pet managed to escape."

Hearing that, Rubeus Hagrid, the keeper of the keys and grounds of the castle, got nervous and .

"It was not him, Aragog couldn't have hurt a fly!"

The people in the Great Hall, hearing him, turned to face him. Lord Ravenclaw called to him.

"Oh… So I take that you were the expelled student? Please come near us."

Rubeus Hagrid nervously approached Lord Ravenclaw's entourage. His height of 3,5 meters towering over the group.

"You are a tall fella, aren't you? So what's your name?"

Lord Ravenclaw asked the half-giant wizard.

"Rubeus Hagrid, your Lordship, keeper of the keys and grounds of Hogwarts."

"Mr. Hagrid, so tell me, who is Aragog and why do you say it was not the attacker?"

"Just Hagrid, please. Aragog is an acromantula, he lives deep in the forest now. And he never attacked anyone in the castle."

The Bloody Baron added to Hagrid's tale just after.

"Exactly my Lord, the body of all victims, including the dead one, were encountered free of any harm. No blunt force was used and no punctures to the skin. Taking in account that the only way that an Acromantula can kill its victims is through blunt force or poison injection, Hagrid was cleared of the guilt from the attacks. But still expelled from the school for owning and raising a XXXXX beast inside the school."

Hagrid was nodding at the Bloody Baron tale. Lord Ravenclaw gave a curt nod, demonstrating that he understood, and to the Bloody Baron to continue the report.

"The strange thing was that the attacks stopped after Hagrid was expelled, and everything went back to normal. The investigation was stopped too. No more attacks of the same type, that is until the last All Hallows Eve night."

Taking note of the 'same type' line in the Baron's report, Lord Ravenclaw waited so that the report could continue.

"On that night, the castle's caretaker's pet cat was found petrified together with a message on the wall. The message said 'The chamber of secrets has been opened, enemies of the heir... beware'. At first, three students of house Gryffindor were accused of the attack because they were the first ones at the scene. But it was impossible that it was them, because the said trio were just before that at Sir Robert' 500th deathday party, together with us, other ghosts."

Sir Robert and some other ghosts nodded at that point and soon the Bloody Baron continued.

"The actual Headmaster didn't want to re-start the investigation, and resolved to take a 'wait and see' approach to the attacks."

At that, Lord Ravenclaw and the Ladies beside him frowned, but waited to hear the rest of the report. The Bloody Baron continued.

"That he didn't address the school population concerning the attack, didn't help. And yesterday night, just before curfew hours, one student was found petrified near the stairs. A first year male Gryffindor. The Headmaster, even with his 'wait and see' approach, did nothing. He just confirmed that indeed the chamber of secrets was opened, but did not contact any authority to start investigation. That and that he seems to not care enough to get a restorative potion ready for the student and the caretaker's cat, was the main reason for my Lords' summons."

At that, most of the student's and staff's eyes turned to the Headmaster.

"Hmm…"

Thinking a little about the facts that he had, he started to put, in his head, the order of his next actions.

"Okay, this is what we will do right now."

*CLAP*

Lord Ravenclaw turned to address the people around him, talking loudly and clapping one time with his hands to focus their attention on him.

"I want the matron of the medical wing, and the head of house Gryffindor with me. The castle's caretaker is welcome to acompain us. Leona…"

Lord Ravenclaw said with an authoritative tone that implied that he would accept no nonsense. Calling for Leona, he turned to face the blonde bimbo. The now identified woman, Leona, turned to face him, waiting for instructions.

"You will come with me to the medical wing. We have a student and a kitten to wake up."

Hearing him, Leona just gave a short nod in response. The caretaker perked up hearing that, wanting nothing more than to reunite with his loved pet. Lord Ravenclaw then turned to Joan and continued.

"Joan, you stay here in the Great Hall with Susan , and keep an open eye on everything and everyone. Now where are the people that I called for?"

Joan just nodded at her orders. Hearing that last tidbit, four people approached Lord Ravenclaw. Looking at them and calculating that they have an extra bag, he immediately said.

"Names and responsibilities, please."

"Madam Poppy Pomfrey, matron and resident mediwitch of the castle."

Said an old witch that was wearing an outdated nurse dress robe.

"Argus Filch, caretaker and Mrs. Norris owner."

Said the old balding man. He seemed excited at the prospect to have his pet back.

"Professor Minerva Mcgonagall, Head of Gryffindor House, Deputy-Headmistress and Transfiguration Mistress of the castle."

Said the well dressed old witch.

"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster."

Said the actual Headmaster with a haughty tone. At the last introduction, Lord Ravenclaw just let out a low whistle and immediately said.

"That's too many names, old boy. Okay then, Madam Pomfrey, Professor McGonagall, and Mr. Filch, with me to the medical wing. Headmaster Dumbledore, your presence is not required now, you can return. And Selene, love, the Hall is yours, you don't need to wait for us to start the feast."

The Headmaster was taken back with that. Never was he dismissed with so little respect before. The boy in front of him would have to listen to him.

"Lord Ravenclaw, I insist on going with you to the medical wing, my presence there is necessary."

Amused with that, Lord Ravenclaw just refuted him.

"On the contrary, Headmaster Dumbledore, your presence there is not necessary, and will only be a distraction. Madam Pomfrey is necessary because she is the matron and resident mediwitch of the castle, Mr. Filch is necessary because he is the owner of the petrified kitten, Professor McGonagall is necessary because she is the Head of Gryffindor house, and per school charter is the 'parent in locus' to the petrified minor student, and her presence is necessary too for when I interrogate the minor student about the attack, all, again, per school charter. Your, again, Headmaster Dumbledore, has no basis whatsoever to be there. As Headmaster, you should know that."

Now that answer made some people open their mouths wide. Nobody had ever heard someone talk like that to the Headmaster. Not even the Headmaster himself. Trying to up his game, Headmaster Dumbledore tries his doting grandpa game.

"But I have to be there, after all I'm the Headmaster, my boy, you…"

Before he could continue with his grand speech, he was interrupted by bouts of laughter coming from Lord Ravenclaw's entourage. The 'boy' himself was looking at him amused, and even the ghosts around them were chuckling. The Headmaster is not amused, and frowns at the laughter.

"Did you understand the joke, Fred?"

"I did not, George. And I thought that we were the castle's jokers.."

Talked two boys between them in a not so low voice. They were seated near the group, having chosen to sit at the head of the Gryffindor's table that night. They were identical to each other, red head, freckles and all. They were the infamous Weasley Twins.

"That's understandable, boys."

Not at all expecting an answer, even more from the Bloody Baron, the twins turn to face him. The rest of the living population of the castle, including the 'offended' Headmaster, turns to face the Bloody Baron, waiting for the answer.

"The person that the Headmaster just addressed as 'my boy', is the husband of Susan Sally Ravenclaw, older twin of Susan Hela Ravenclaw and daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw. His full name is Erik Runes Ravenclaw, Lord of Ravenclaw and the Hogwarts Castle. He married his wife, Susan when they were 20 years old. Today, he is 1010 years old. And the Headmaster just called him 'my boy'."

And with that the Great Hall went silent again.