Hearing someone call her name,
the gray-haired girl turned around, casting Lewis a surprised glance.
It was clear she was wondering—
why a first-year she had never met knew her name.
Their eyes met.
Lewis instantly realized his slip.
At the same time, he took the chance to observe her more carefully.
She looked about fourteen or fifteen—roughly the same age as the prefect, Penelope Clearwater.
The two walked side by side at the front of the Ravenclaw group, seemingly quite close.
Seeing her face head-on, Lewis felt an even stronger sense of familiarity.
She looked almost identical to Ciri from The Witcher 3—
just younger.
Combined with her reaction to the name "Cirilla,"
Lewis was now almost certain—
this was Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon.
The Lion Cub of Cintra.
The Daughter of the White Wolf.
The Child of the Elder Blood.
But that raised a problem.
Why was she here?
This wasn't Kaer Morhen.
And Lewis had never heard of witchers or sorceresses in the wizarding world.
Then again—
Ciri's Elder Blood granted her the power to traverse time and space.
In the original lore, she had traveled across worlds—medieval cities, industrial-era lands, even encountering knights of Arthurian legend.
"Did she come here on her own…?"
Lewis frowned.
Something felt off.
With her homeland destroyed and her life in chaos—
there was no way she would calmly attend school in another world if she had come here by accident.
Then suddenly—
that earlier realization resurfaced:
[The anomalies caused by your presence will gradually reveal themselves.]
"…Could this be it?"
If so—
then the mystery had only deepened.
After their brief exchange of glances, Lewis chose not to approach her.
Not yet.
Until he understood the situation better, revealing that he knew her would only create more complications.
Lost in thought, Lewis followed the group toward the Ravenclaw common room.
Compared to the other Houses, Ravenclaw's was the most remote.
It wasn't near the main courtyard tower, but instead located in a tower within the Astronomy complex.
To reach it, they had to cross a stone bridge.
At the base of the tower, Penelope Clearwater began her explanation:
"The ever-changing staircases of Hogwarts were proposed and designed by one of our founders, Rowena Ravenclaw. Be careful as you ascend—don't lose your way."
"Our common room and dormitories are in the west side of the castle. We still have some distance to go—watch your step."
She wasn't exaggerating.
The staircases here constantly shifted.
As they climbed, the steps seemed to form beneath their feet in real time.
Anywhere not being stepped on remained empty space.
After a while, Lewis started getting annoyed.
Sure—
ravens liked high places.
But humans?
Did they really need to live this high up?
Just as his patience began to wear thin—
they finally reached the top.
At the entrance stood a smooth wooden door.
At its center was a bronze knocker shaped like an eagle.
Penelope knocked three times.
The knocker spoke in a calm, resonant voice:
"I work only under pressure. I can harm only myself. What am I?"
"Diamond."
Penelope answered instantly.
She didn't enter immediately, but turned back to explain:
"You'll notice that other Houses use passwords. We don't."
"As long as you can answer the question, you may enter."
"Don't worry—the questions aren't rigid logic puzzles. They're philosophical. There isn't always a single correct answer. As long as your reasoning is convincing, the door will open."
"As for security—over nearly a thousand years, no outsider has ever passed this test."
Lewis raised an eyebrow.
That didn't entirely make sense.
Ravenclaw valued intelligence—but not all intelligent students were sorted here.
Take Hermione, for example.
If no outsider had ever entered—
did the knocker adjust its difficulty depending on who was asking?
Perhaps it could identify Ravenclaws—
and tailor the question accordingly.
"Don't be afraid of the questions," Penelope continued.
"We Ravenclaws love learning. You'll soon enjoy the challenge."
"It's not uncommon for students from different years to gather and solve them together."
"It's also a great way to meet people."
She paused, then added with a smile:
"Though it can be… inconvenient if you forget something and can't get back in."
"So always double-check your bag before leaving."
The door opened.
Inside—
The Ravenclaw common room was a large circular chamber.
Arched windows lined the walls, draped in blue and bronze silk.
Through them, the entire Hogwarts grounds could be seen—the Black Lake, the Forbidden Forest, the Quidditch pitch, the greenhouses.
The domed ceiling shimmered with stars, mirrored by the deep blue carpet below.
Tables, chairs, and bookshelves filled the space.
Across from the entrance stood a marble statue—
Rowena Ravenclaw herself.
Graceful. Intelligent.
Timeless.
A door beside the statue led to the dormitories above.
"Ravenclaw values individuality," Penelope said.
"Some might call us eccentric—but genius rarely follows the crowd."
"Here, you may wear what you like, believe what you wish, and think freely."
"We don't reject those who are different—we admire them."
Lewis immediately thought of Luna Lovegood.
Admire?
Then why had she been bullied?
Was she too different—
even for Ravenclaw?
"Our Head of House is Professor Filius Flitwick," Penelope continued.
"He's often underestimated due to his size—but he's one of the greatest Charms masters alive."
"Some believe he has goblin ancestry—but don't ask him that."
"His office is always open to Ravenclaws. If you're feeling down, he might even show you his dancing cupcakes."
"…You could pretend to be upset, just to see them."
She went on to list Ravenclaw's notable alumni, its history, and its relationships with other Houses—
warning about Slytherin's ambition, Gryffindor's showiness, and Hufflepuff's kindness.
Finally—
"Our House ghost is the Grey Lady."
"She rarely speaks—but sometimes she will talk to Ravenclaws."
"She is the daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw."
"If you're ever lost—she can help."
"And once again—congratulations."
"You are now part of the most intelligent, perceptive, and interesting House at Hogwarts."
With that, Penelope finished her speech—almost as if reciting from memory—and headed into the girls' dormitory with Ciri.
The first-years began choosing their rooms.
Lewis picked a bed at random.
His dormmates included Stephen Cornfoot—
and another familiar name from the original story:
Kevin Entwhistle.
They exchanged simple goodnights.
And soon—
fell into sleep.