For first-years, Hogwarts was at its most relaxed.
Probably to ease them into school life, the schedule was incredibly light.
Rock and his friends had barely been sitting in the common room when they saw upper-year students constantly coming and going.
"Oh? The three of you aren't heading out to explore?"
Penelope walked by with an armful of textbooks, only to spot the three boys tucked into a corner.
When she got closer, she immediately understood the scene—Theo was dragging Adam into a game of Wizard Chess.
"Oh—how brutal."
Adam winced as one of his pieces was smashed to bits by Theo's knight.
Rock looked up at Penelope and nodded toward the stack of books in her arms.
"Heading to the library, big sis?"
The books were a jumble—and for this point in the school year, there was no reason to carry that many unless it was for something serious.
"Sharp observation," Penelope said with a smile.
"The O.W.L.s aren't until next term, but it's never too early to prepare. I'm going to the library to look up some material."
Theo turned sharply, wide-eyed.
"Wait—O.W.L.s are that hard?"
"That depends entirely on the person," Penelope replied lightly. "For example, Rock probably won't be worried at all. Right?"
Huh?
Why was he suddenly part of the topic?
Seeing Rock's baffled expression, Penelope chuckled. Clearly, he hadn't heard the chatter among the younger students that afternoon.
"You're pretty famous now, Rock—at least among the first-years."
"Today you earned Ravenclaw over ten points across two classes. The younger students haven't stopped talking about you. Even upper-year students have heard bits of it."
Rock blinked.
So he'd… become the center of gossip?
"Anyway, I'm heading out. You guys carry on."
Penelope waved and left with a bounce in her step.
"Good grief, Rock—you're the talk of the school," Theo said dramatically, though his acting was painfully terrible.
"Sure, Theo," Rock said flatly. He then glanced at Adam. "Adam, starting today, I think we should distance ourselves from this chatterbox, Mr. Theo."
Adam looked down at what remained of his chessboard—essentially rubble—and nodded without hesitation.
"Of course, Rock. I'll always follow your lead."
Theo froze.
"Oh, Merlin's underwear! You can't just abandon me like this!"
Adam burst into laughter.
If Merlin were still alive, he'd probably hang Theo up and thrash him three hundred times.
"Honestly, Theo, your vocabulary is impressive," Rock said with a grin.
Theo stared in silence. Only after a beat did he realize Rock was teasing him.
"Oh, Rock! I challenge you to a duel to the death!"
"No need," Rock said immediately, raising a hand. "My taste in partners has always been very specific."
Adam let out a bubbling laugh. To him, Rock didn't act like a wizarding kid at all—more like a boy from the Muggle world, just like himself.
Time slipped by as the three of them joked and played.
After dinner, when Rock returned to the dormitory, he saw a barn owl waiting on his desk.
"Flacco?"
Rock hurried over. Flacco was his grandfather Newt's owl—or more accurately, a descendant of the original owl, though everyone still used the same name.
Flacco hopped onto Rock's shoulder and nipped affectionately at his ear.
"I didn't know you were coming, but luckily I've got some bread in my suitcase."
Rock played with Flacco for a moment before retrieving a paper bag from his trunk. While the owl pecked at the bread, Rock opened the letters it had brought.
There were two—one from Newt and Tina, and one from Theseus.
He opened the letter from Newt and Tina first. Tina's elegant handwriting filled the page.
Dear Rock,
Even though your letter didn't arrive until this morning, I'm still so happy. I heard you were sorted into Ravenclaw—your grandfather couldn't believe it. He said no Scamander had ever been a Ravenclaw. Even your Grandpa Theseus said the same…
When he finished reading, Rock quietly folded the letter away.
Most of the contents were the elders fussing over him—and something inside him tightened.
The manor in Dorset was home.
And these letters… tugged at the homesickness he'd been trying to ignore.
Hoo.
Flacco had finished eating and perched once more on Rock's shoulder.
"Give me a minute—I'll write the reply and send you back."
Rock sat down at his desk, picked up his quill, and wrote his responses. Once he finished, he tied the letters to Flacco's leg and sent him off.
"Rock? All done?"
Theo peeked his head into the dorm. After scanning the room, he motioned for Adam to come in. Both had expressions that screamed, We want to comfort you, but we don't know how.
"No need for that," Rock said with a laugh. "This dorm belongs to all of us."
He smiled, genuinely grateful for the two boys.
"Now—how about we review the key points from today's classes?"
"No problem!"
Theo and Adam exchanged a determined nod and went to their desks.
Ravenclaws weren't bookworms—not really. At least not these two.
Theo loved playing games, but he always applied the logic of games to life and studying. And once he did that, his learning ability skyrocketed.
Adam, coming from a Muggle background, had a sharp, adaptable mind—quick to blend scientific concepts with magical theory.
Yes—Rock thought—the Sorting Hat was never wrong.
He could clearly see why both Theo and Adam belonged in Ravenclaw.