Immortal Bird

On the crisp morning of September 1st, as the air carried the first whispers of autumn, Alexander Ambrose Ravenwood stood in the bustling King's Cross Station in London. Clutching his ticket for the Hogwarts Express, he recalled Professor McGonagall's precise instructions to locate Platform 9 ¾.

Dressed in his usual attire—a black shirt paired with black camouflage pants, white sneakers, and a pair of dark steampunk-style sunglasses gifted to him by the orphanage matron—Alexander looked both out of place and confident. The sharpness of his clothes contrasted with the mundane surroundings, drawing a few curious glances from passersby.

His iceberg-blue eyes swept over the platforms, lingering on the space between 9 and 10. There was no obvious sign of the fabled platform, only a solid brick barrier. Doubt flickered in his mind, but he steadied himself. Professor McGonagall had been insistent: "Don't hesitate. Walk toward the barrier with confidence."

Adjusting the grip on his luggage, he felt the reassuring weight of the raven perched on his shoulder. Its red eyes gleamed with an otherworldly intelligence, and it cawed softly, as if urging him forward. Drawing a deep breath, Alexander stepped closer to the barrier, ignoring the curious glances of nearby Muggles.

His heart raced as he approached the solid brick wall. A part of him expected to collide painfully with stone, but he didn't waver. With steady strides and unwavering trust in the magic he had only recently begun to understand, Alexander stepped through.

The world shifted. He emerged into a new station bustling with students and parents, the air alive with the whistle of the Hogwarts Express, a grand red locomotive gleaming at the center of the platform. The sound of chatter and laughter filled the air, blending with the hisses of steam from the train.

Alexander glanced around, taking in the lively scene but feeling no urge to linger. He made his way toward the train, his raven watching the crowd with the same quiet curiosity. Boarding quickly, he began searching for a quiet spot. He passed compartments filled with students, some laughing, some arguing, and others already deep in conversation. At last, nearly at the end of the train, he found an empty compartment.

With a sigh of relief, he stepped inside, closing the door behind him. Setting his luggage down and letting the raven settle on the seat next to him, Alexander allowed himself a rare moment of peace. The quiet was a familiar comfort, a space where he could retreat into his thoughts. For now, he would enjoy the solitude before stepping further into this new, mysterious world.

Settling into his seat, Alexander glanced at his raven, which was now preening its dark feathers, its red eyes glowing faintly in the dim light of the compartment. He recalled what Professor McGonagall had mentioned about the journey—it would take eight hours to reach Hogwarts. With time to spare, Alexander decided to put his restless energy to use.

Reaching into his bag, he retrieved his wand, its alder wood surface smooth and reassuring in his grip. He had spent weeks immersed in his books, absorbing theory after theory about magic, yet had been unable to practice due to the strict laws preventing underage wizards from casting spells outside school grounds. But now, aboard the Hogwarts Express and heading to his new life, he saw no reason to wait any longer.

He turned to the first spell he had memorized: Lumos, the light spell. Carefully following the diagrams he had studied, he adjusted his grip on the wand, tracing the precise pattern in the air. With a steady voice, he spoke the incantation:

"Lumos."

To his delight, the tip of his wand flared with a bright, steady light, illuminating the compartment in a warm glow. The raven tilted its head, watching the light with curious eyes, as if assessing Alexander's effort.

A small smile tugged at Alexander's lips as he examined the light, turning the wand slightly to admire its brilliance. The feeling of successfully casting his first spell was exhilarating—a tangible confirmation of everything he had learned so far. The light pulsed softly, reacting to his focus, and he realized just how much control magic required.

Satisfied, he waved his wand again, muttering, "Nox."

The light faded instantly, plunging the compartment back into its natural lighting.

Satisfied with his progress on the spells, Alexander leaned back in his seat, his raven, Artemis, perched nearby, observing him with keen, intelligent eyes. The bird's gaze reminded him of a hunter, always vigilant, always aware—just like the Greek Huntress for whom she was named. He smiled softly at the thought, finding comfort in the raven's quiet presence.

Taking a deep breath, he reached into his bag for a small, brown leather-bound diary. It had been a gift from the orphanage matron, Julia, before he left, a simple yet meaningful gesture. He opened the diary to the first clean page, the soft rustle of the paper quiet in the otherwise silent compartment.

He picked up his pen and began writing, his thoughts flowing as he reflected on his recent experience with the spell. He jotted down notes on Lumos, pondering the intricacies of the spell and how he could experiment further with its application.

"The light feels more controlled than I expected, but I need to focus on channeling the energy better. Perhaps I can try varying the intensity of the light tomorrow... Maybe a dimmer glow for reading, or a sharper beam for signaling. Could this also be useful for combat, I wonder?"

He paused, tapping the pen against his chin, then wrote down several questions he hoped to ask his teachers when he arrived at Hogwarts.

"Can light spells be used for more complex illusions? Is there a way to shape light into forms, like a protective barrier? Can Lumos evolve into other types of spells?"

Artemis tilted her head, her sharp gaze fixed on the diary, as if reading the words herself. Her eyes seemed to encourage him to keep writing, to continue probing the vast world of magic with the same focused curiosity she exhibited when watching the world around her.

Alexander smiled, his heart filled with a quiet sense of purpose. This journey, this new world of magic, was just beginning, and he couldn't wait to explore all it had to offer. As he wrote, the future seemed full of endless possibilities.

As hours passed, Alexander continued to experiment with his spells, scribbling down his thoughts in the diary: ideas for future spells, experiences he wanted to test, and questions he wanted to ask his professors. Artemis, ever vigilant, watched him, her gaze scanning the surroundings like a Huntress preparing for her next move.

The silence was broken when the compartment door swung open. A young girl entered, looking around, before her eyes landed on Alexander. "Have you seen a frog?" she asked, her voice edged with authority. "A boy named Nevillelost his."

Without looking up, Alexander continued writing in his notebook. "No, now go out. You're bothering me."

The girl stood there for a moment, taken aback, before she retorted, "You're quite rude."

Alexander didn't bother meeting her gaze. His response was cool, but sharp. "Which one is rude? The brat who enters without asking permission and demands things from a stranger, or the stranger who responds without insulting her, even though he's greatly annoyed by her presence?"

The girl's face flushed with frustration. Her eyes narrowed as she stood, seething for a moment. Then, with a huff, she turned and stormed out of the compartment, slamming the door behind her.

Alexander exhaled slowly and glanced at Artemis, who gave him a long, steady look as if evaluating the situation. The train continued on its journey, the peaceful silence restored once more.

After several more hours of the train's rhythmic movement, Alexander found himself standing in front of the grand doors of Hogwarts. The boat ride across the lake had been brief but awe-inspiring, the dark waters reflecting the towering silhouette of the castle against the night sky. The soft glow of the torches lit the path leading up to the doors, casting long shadows on the stone steps. The air was crisp and fresh, a cool breeze sweeping over the lake.

The castle loomed before him, massive and imposing, its turrets stretching up toward the stars. It was a place steeped in centuries of history, and yet, it felt oddly like home to Alexander. For a moment, he stood still, taking it all in—the grandeur of the place, the thrill of stepping into a world that was so unlike anything he had known before.

The boat ride across had been a peaceful journey, the gentle lapping of the water beneath him, the quiet murmurs of the other students around him. But now, standing before the towering doors, Alexander couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation rise within him. A new chapter was about to begin, one that he would navigate on his own terms.

As the students gathered in front of the grand doors of Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall addressed them all, her voice calm but firm. The cool breeze carried her words, and the anticipation of the night's ceremony hung in the air. "Welcome to Hogwarts," she began, her eyes sweeping over the group of young faces. "In just a few moments, you will undergo the Sorting Ceremony, where each of you will be placed into one of the four houses of this school."

She gave a brief, knowing glance toward Alexander, but quickly shifted her attention to the rest of the group. "Your house is more than just where you will sleep and eat. It will shape your years here, and your actions will reflect not only on you but on your house as a whole. You will make lifelong friends, and yes, some rivals as well."

She paused, ensuring the weight of her words settled with them. "There are four houses, each with its own values and traits."

"First, we have Gryffindor," she continued, "known for bravery, courage, and a willingness to stand up for what is right. Gryffindors are often daring, ambitious, and ready to face challenges head-on."

"Next, Slytherin," she went on, "is home to those who value ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness. Slytherins know how to get ahead and aren't afraid to do what it takes to succeed."

"Ravenclaw," McGonagall said with a slight nod toward Alexander, "is a house where wisdom, intellect, and creativity thrive. It is home to those who love knowledge and seek to understand the world around them."

"And lastly," she said, "Hufflepuff, the house of loyalty, hard work, and fairness. Hufflepuffs are kind, patient, and always ready to support their friends and fellow students."

She looked at them all once more, her tone becoming serious. "Remember, no matter where you are placed, you will be expected to uphold your house's values and contribute to its legacy. Your actions matter, and they will be remembered."

With that, she led them into the castle, the towering doors slowly swinging open to reveal the vast entrance hall, as the Sorting Ceremony awaited.

As Professor McGonagall led the students through the grand corridors of Hogwarts, Alexander couldn't help but look around in awe. The walls were lined with ancient tapestries and portraits, each frame containing a painting that moved as if alive. One particular portrait of an old wizard, with a long white beard and a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, waved at Alexander as he passed by, causing him to stop for a moment, captivated. The wizard seemed to wink at him, almost as if acknowledging his wonder.

He continued walking, eyes darting from one moving portrait to another, fascinated by how they interacted with their surroundings. Some of the figures were engaged in conversation, while others seemed to be caught in the middle of an activity, like playing chess or painting. It was like the walls themselves were alive, telling stories and holding the memories of Hogwarts' long history.

"You're seeing the portraits, aren't you?" Professor McGonagall's voice broke through his thoughts. She glanced back at him with a small smile. "Each one holds a bit of Hogwarts' history, and they often have their own personalities. Get used to them. They can be quite talkative."

Alexander nodded, intrigued. This world was even more magical than he had imagined. The moving portraits, the echoing corridors, the magic in the air—it was all so different from anything he had ever known. He couldn't wait to discover more.