Harry still remembered Rock — one of the few first-years whose Sorting Hat session took longer than his.
Rock, however, had no idea Harry Potter was this sharp. He simply nodded at Harry before following Theo and Adam quickly into the Great Hall.
---
"Harry? What's up?"
Ron, who hadn't stopped talking since they sat down, turned and noticed Harry staring across the hall.
"It's nothing. I just saw a Ravenclaw kid." Harry shook his head as he came back to his senses.
Then he suddenly remembered something and looked at Ron with concern. "Ron… are we really going to duel Malfoy tonight?"
"Of course we are! It's a duel!" Ron said with complete seriousness. "Relax, we'll just beat him up properly when the time comes!"
"And I heard Malfoy was bawling his eyes out in the hospital wing yesterday. He's probably still not feeling great."
---
Over at the Ravenclaw table, Theo glanced at Rock.
"You know Harry Potter?"
Rock shook his head. "Nope. I stayed on the estate all the way until school started."
"Just be careful." Theo leaned in like he was about to reveal some big secret, throwing his arms around Rock and Adam's shoulders. "My dad said something's fishy about what happened at Gringotts."
Rock raised a brow, then remembered that Theo's dad had a close friend at the Daily Prophet. He nodded.
Never underestimate reporters in the wizarding world — they had a knack for getting everywhere.
"Don't worry. I came to Hogwarts to study."
Adam blinked, confused, and opened his mouth to ask something — but Rock stuffed a slice of roast beef straight into it.
During dinner, Penelope even came by to check on Rock's condition.
Rock thanked her for the concern and said he was fine — he just napped that afternoon.
After a short chat, Ravenclaw's male prefect came over to remind Penelope of her duties, and the two of them left together, still talking.
Theo clicked his tongue. "Prefects look busy."
"Pretty much. Boy and girl representatives are even busier. Prefects help them with their work." Rock shrugged.
Adam scratched his head. "What do the representatives even do?"
"In school? They help the professors manage the student body. They don't have real authority though — no taking or giving points." Theo took a sip of pumpkin juice.
Seeing Adam still confused, Rock added in a low voice, "Representatives need top grades, great reputation, and a perfect record to even get selected."
"And the Ministry's Department of Magical Law Enforcement loves that on a résumé," Theo added. "Especially if they want to apply for the Auror Office. The requirements there are insane."
"But people still apply every single year."
Adam finally nodded in understanding. "Got it now."
---
Nighttime – Ravenclaw Dormitory
Rock sat up in bed. Hearing Theo's snoring and Adam shifting around, he raised his wand toward his head.
"Disillusionment."
He whispered the spell. The wand slid down in a smooth motion, and that familiar cool sensation spread over his entire body.
He climbed out of bed carefully. After confirming his roommates were fully asleep, he quietly slipped out the door.
Ravenclaw Tower at night was incredibly quiet.
As he approached the staircase, he spotted light ahead and pressed himself to the wall.
Click—
The bathroom door opened, and an upperclassman walked out, hair wrapped in a towel.
Rock twitched his mouth beneath the Disillusionment Charm.
Upperclassmen were hardcore — who showered at this hour?
He moved silently past the common room and headed down the spiral staircase.
The bronze door sensed someone approaching and opened inward automatically.
Rock exhaled in relief. The last thing he wanted was to bump into another Ravenclaw who hadn't gone to bed yet.
He descended the tower, passing a dim candle glowing on each floor.
From a window he could see the Black Lake shimmering under the moonlight.
Rock moved faster, crossed the foyer, and headed to the main staircase.
Now the real challenge began.
He inhaled deeply and started climbing.
Thankfully, he'd memorized most of the shifting staircases.
As he reached the fourth floor—
Meow.
The sound echoed sharply through the quiet castle.
Rock froze.
Mrs. Norris was sitting at the landing, staring straight at him with glowing eyes.
He nearly dropped the Disillusionment Charm right then and there.
"Good girl," Filch's voice drifted from the darkness behind her. "No students sneaking around tonight, hmm? We're heading toward the trophy room."
Filch stepped into the light with his lantern, scooping Mrs. Norris into his arms.
"We'll catch those little troublemakers first… then figure out who slipped that tattletale note under our door."
Mrs. Norris meowed, wriggling slightly — the scent was familiar. Someone who'd once given her a delicious can of special sardines.
But Filch kept talking, and she reluctantly looked away from the staircase.
Rock held his breath.
Filch mistook her reaction as encouragement.
"Oh, you think the punishment's too light? You're right! We should hang them upside down. Excellent idea, my sweet."
Rock almost laughed out loud from relief.
Looks like the special sardines he'd given her earlier really paid off.
Then a realization hit him.
Wait… tonight's the night Harry and the others discover the three-headed dog?
Rock wanted to cry.
First night out and I run straight into a canon event. Seriously?
Go back?
Or keep going?
He looked over his shoulder at the stairs. The decision lasted only a second.
He headed upward again.
Ravenclaws don't back down from a challenge.
Okay… maybe they do, but not tonight.
As long as he kept the Disillusionment Charm up, he'd return after the chaos died down.
Reaching the eighth floor, Rock walked to the end of the corridor — tapestry on the left, blank wall on the right.
"I need a place where I can practice spells."
He began pacing, waiting for the wall to respond.