1.

"mingling"

𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐏 𝐈𝐍 𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐖.

It was a tough one, and the manky, old Sorting Hat gravely decided she would do amazing at Slytherin, thinking she had too much ambition. It considered Gryffindor but ruled it out for undisclosed reasons and Hufflepuff was very close, but for some reason, Ravenclaw trumped all.

Ethan very happily showed her their common room. The eagle knocker asked a riddle and you had to answer it to get in. If you didn't solve it, you had to wait until someone else comes along. Valerie felt this was too much work but she didn't comment, knowing that this would be her life for now.

"Which came first, the wizard or the ghost?"

Ethan scoffed. "It's going easy on you," 

Valerie furrowed her eyebrows. "The ghost...it lived before a wizard, didn't it?"

"Correct," the door flew open.

"It won't be like that all the time, it's just that the author is too dumb to create a hard riddle," Ethan helpfully added.

The Ravenclaw common room was beautiful. It was extremely big and the roof was perfect for star-gazing. The gothic vibe was long forgotten as the common room embraced colors of blue and gold.

Ethan nodded at a staircase. "Go through that and go upstairs till the fifth floor. Your name should be on the plaque at the door."

"Can't you come with me?"

Ethan went furiously red. "I'm a boy! I'm not a pervert!" he said indignantly. With a furious bite of his sixth croissant, he stalked up the other staircase.  

Sighing, Valerie went up the staircase he told her to go. When she reached the fifth floor, her name was there on the plaque:

5th Years !

Padma Patil...

Elara Diggory...

Gina Teresa...

Valerie Alexandris...

She pushed the door open and a girl with a long braid of shiny black hair looked up. She smiled at Valerie.

"Hello!" she said, "You must be the new girl. The one who...er...I'm Padma Patil!" 

Valerie appreciated her tact. "Valerie. Valerie Alexandris."

"Welcome to Ravenclaw! The other two are in quidditch practice, they should be back soon." 

Valerie nodded and went ahead to the empty bed which she presumed to be hers. It was a four-poster bed which was a huge improvement from the flimsy Hospital Wing beds. Padma asked her if she liked Quidditch but before Valerie could respond that she had no idea what that is, she fell asleep.

❖

When Valerie woke up, two faces watched her like an interesting new species. It was a bit terrifying, waking up from a deep slumber and seeing two unfamiliar faces. Thus, Valerie screamed and proceeded to gracefully fall off the bed.

The other two raised their hands in alarm. Valerie decided that this was a peace gesture.

"Hello," Valerie waved from her spot on the floor.

The other two girls waved back. "I'm Gina," the girl with dusky brown skin and dark brown hair smiled. Gina's eyes were beautiful, changing from green to blue to brown. Valerie was a bit taken aback.

"And I'm Elara," the other girl said quietly. Her blonde hair was cut short, more like a bob and she had a sad, grieving expression. Her blue eyes silently studied Valerie.  A hug was what anyone would have wanted to give her.

"Valerie," she introduced herself, picking herself up from the floor. 

"I know, you fell from the sky--" Gina was cut short from an elbow from Elara. She fell quiet. 

"Sorry."

"I'm okay with talking about it," Valerie said. She was glad that everyone was so empathetic here but she really didn't mind.

Gina's eyes lit up. "Tell us, then. Everything," Even Elara looked interested.

So, Valerie did. She was aware she could have lied about everything but she didn't. Maybe the need to tell someone was un negotiable or maybe, deep inside, Valerie just wanted some friends.

Gina was an extremely bad listener but Valerie enjoyed her inputs. Elara listened without a word and offered some sympathy later.

When Valerie was in middle of telling them about what Minerva said about the memories, Gina interrupted.

"Minerva?"

"Yes," Valerie said, confused.

"But...did you call that to her face?"

Valerie combed through her brain. "No, I didn't. I just called her that in my head. Why?"

Gina stifled a laugh and Elara looked thoroughly amused.  "Nothing," Gina snorted.

"Mandy would hate you," Elara said, smiling softly.

"Who's Mandy?"

"A first-class snob. She moved up a year because she's ever so smart, but she still has to stay in our dorm for a month until they finish some arrangements for her." Gina scowled deeply, as if the mere thought of Mandy annoyed her.

"I didn't see her name on the plaque,"

"I removed it. It was the best day of my life when she announced it," Gina shrugged. Elara nodded as well and Valerie could guess that Mandy was not popular. The door opened and a girl with bright blue hair in two braids entered. 

"Gina! Get ready quickly, you have to get down for breakfast. Elara!" the girl seemed surprised that she was there, "I thought you would be better," she frowned at the badge pinned at Elara's chest. Elara went a fiery red.

Valerie hadn't noticed the badge. It was a blue and silver badge, the words 'PREFECT' engraved on it.

"Sorry, Elizabeth," Elizabeth nodded and closed the door.

Gina punched Elara playfully. "Loosen up! Elizabeth didn't mean it seriously, there's lots of time for--" she stole a glance at the clock ticking above the door. She yelped and sprinted towards the shower.

Elara sighed and plastered a smile for Valerie. 

"Time for your first breakfast ever, you better get ready,"

❖

Ethan was dutifully waiting for her at the common room. He greeted Gina and Elara absent-mindedly and shook their offers to escort Valerie away. He had dark circles under his eyes and Valerie felt a sister-like concern for him.

"Are you okay?"

Ethan snapped out of his thoughts. He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes like it did yesterday. "I'm fine,"

Valerie refused to be deterred. "Tell me,"

And Ethan, just like Valerie vented to Gina and Elara, he did. He explained about how he was dating this girl called Hermione who was furious at him because he questioned her relationship with a boy.

Even though Valerie didn't have any memories telling her she had experience with dating, she knew Ethan had messed up.

"You shouldn't have questioned her loyalty, Ethan. It probably hurt her feelings," Valerie said gently as they walked to what Ethan called 'The Great Hall'.

"I didn't mean to! I just got jealous," he said sadly.

Valerie advised him to give Hermione some time and apologize later as her feelings might still be raw. She wasn't sure where all these words were coming from. Did she date before? Is she still dating them or did they break up?

"Thanks, Valerie," Ethan said, smiling softly. "You're a true friend,"

Valerie's heart swelled up with joy and comfort at the word 'friend'. But her mind kept on going to the past. Did she have friends wherever she was before? Or was she a loner?

Stop it, a voice said in her mind, just focus on the present.

Valerie decided that the voice was very wise.

"Here we are," Ethan flourished his hands at the hall. It had four tables, and above each of them were the house's crest. Ethan automatically headed towards the Ravenclaw table and Valerie followed. 

Gina and Padma grinned at her. Elara gestured to the seat next to her. Valerie obliged while Ethan headed off to a girl in the Gryffindor table. 

So much for advice, Valerie thought.

As she suspected, the girl sent him off with a flea in his ear.  She had bushy brown hair and brown eyes that looked dull and distant. She was reading a book while nibbling on her toast, but Valerie could tell she wasn't really paying attention.

She sighed and turned to the boy on her other side. He had bright red hair and blue eyes that reminded her of Ethan. He was playing chess with another boy and laughed triumphantly when he won.

A Ravenclaw boy leaned over to Valerie and whispered in her ear.

"Hey, you're good at chess, right?"

Valerie shrugged.  She didn't have any memories of playing chess.

"Why do you ask?"

The boy pointed at the redhead. "That's Ronald Weasley. He's been beating us Ravenclaws for weeks. He's so arrogant and annoying."

Valerie raised an eyebrow. "And?"

The boy lowered his voice. "And I'll give you fifty galleons if you beat him."

Valerie's eyes widened. Fifty galleons sounded like a lot of money.

"What's the catch?"

The boy shook his head. "No catch. Just beat him and bring some honor to our house."

Valerie was about to agree when Gina intervened.

"Wait a minute, Michael. You can't just make a deal like that without a contract."

"A contract?" Michael looked nervous.

"Yes, a contract. You think Valerie will trust you? You're a Ravenclaw, after all. You might be lying or cheating."

Michael frowned. "I'm not lying or cheating. I'm just desperate."

Gina smirked. "Well, then you won't mind signing a contract that guarantees fifty galleons if Valerie wins."

Michael hesitated. "Can we make it forty?"

Gina opened her mouth to haggle, but Valerie cut her off.

"I'll do it for forty galleons and a contract."

Gina glared at her. "You're selling yourself short, Alexandris. Ronald Weasley is a tough opponent."

Valerie shrugged again. "I don't care. I just want to play."

Gina rolled her eyes. "You're no fun, Alexandris."

Valerie ignored her and got up from her seat. She walked over to the chess board where Ronald Weasley was waiting for her.

He grinned when he saw her.

"VALERIE ALEXANDRIS! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU! READY TO LOSE?"

Gina raised her eyebrow at Valerie. See what I mean?

Valerie scowled at Ronald Weasley. He was going down.

madi speaks!

is gina's appearance like piper mclean from hoo? yes. am i gonna change it? no? also just wait and see valerie and ron will be brotp <33