The crisp October air had settled into the castle, bringing with it the scent of fallen leaves and the occasional draft that wound its way through the corridors of Hogwarts. The Ravenclaw common room, high in its tower, had grown colder, forcing students to huddle closer to the fireplaces as they worked through their ever-growing piles of assignments.
Artemis, Rosaline, and Eliza had claimed their usual table by the window, their books stacked high as they tackled their Transfiguration essay. It was then that Iris Lawrence made her approach.
"Mind if I sit here?" Iris asked, clutching her Charms textbook to her chest. Her golden-brown eyes darted between the trio, hopeful yet hesitant.
Rosaline barely looked up from her parchment. "There are plenty of other tables."
Eliza shot her twin a look but didn't contradict her. Artemis, caught between the two, hesitated before responding.
"You're welcome to, but we're in the middle of—"
"Oh, I don't mind," Iris interrupted, pulling out a chair before anyone could refuse again. She placed her books down neatly, then turned to Artemis with a bright smile. "I heard you got top marks on the Charms quiz. That was brilliant!"
Artemis stiffened, sensing Rosaline's eyes narrowing. "It was just a quiz," she replied, keeping her tone neutral.
"But still! Some of those wand movements were tricky," Iris continued, unfazed. "I was wondering if you'd help me with the Colovia Spell?"
Rosaline let out a huff, dropping her quill. "Why don't you ask Flitwick? That's what professors are for."
Iris's smile faltered. "I just thought—"
"Maybe another time," Artemis cut in smoothly, unwilling to outright reject her but also unwilling to upset Rosaline. She could feel Eliza's gaze flicker between them, but she said nothing.
Iris hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright, then. Another time." She gathered her books and left without another word.
Rosaline leaned back in her chair, watching her go. "She's up to something."
Eliza sighed. "She's just trying to make friends."
Rosaline scoffed. "With Artemis, specifically. People don't do that without a reason."
Artemis remained silent, watching as Iris settled at another table across the room with few others in their year. A part of her felt guilty, but she also knew keeping peace within their group mattered more. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that Iris wouldn't give up so easily.
It wasn't until later that week, after a particularly challenging Charms lesson, that Artemis found herself lingering behind at Professor Flitwick's request.
"Miss Lovelace, a word?"
Rosaline and Eliza shot her questioning looks, but she waved them off, following the tiny professor as he gestured toward his desk. The classroom had emptied, leaving behind only the scent of ink and parchment and the faint glimmers of lingering spellwork in the air.
Professor Flitwick beamed up at her, adjusting his spectacles. "I must say, Artemis, I've been watching your progress closely—well, all of your professors have. You're advancing at a remarkable rate."
Artemis schooled her expression into one of polite curiosity. "I've just been studying hard, Professor."
Flitwick chuckled. "Oh, no doubt! But it's more than that. You have a natural affinity for magic, one that goes beyond simple diligence." He studied her for a moment. "I suspect you've been holding back."
Artemis tensed slightly. "Holding back?"
"There are times when you hesitate in class," he said thoughtfully. "As if you know more than you let on, but you wait for others to catch up. It's admirable, in a way, but don't be afraid to let your talent shine, my dear."
Artemis swallowed. He had noticed. Of course, he had. No matter how much she tried to conceal it, her past life—her experiences as an academic—slipped through the cracks. She didn't want to stand out too much. It was dangerous to be seen as exceptional.
"I just don't want to get ahead of myself," she said carefully.
Flitwick gave her a knowing look but nodded. "I understand. But if you ever want additional challenges, I'd be happy to provide them. You have the makings of a truly extraordinary witch, Artemis."
She gave a small uncertain smile. "Thank you, Professor. Could you suggest some extra Credit projects? It will help me stay occupied."
"Of course Of course, Let me discuss this with my colleagues, we will assign you something that can challenge you my dear, Do come to my office this Friday at 6 PM." Flitwick grinned at the initiative.
As she left the classroom, Artemis exhaled slowly. Flitwick's words lingered in her mind. She needed to be more careful. But another part of her—the part that once thrived in lecture halls, that relished intellectual challenge—whispered that maybe she didn't want to hold back forever. She couldn't wait for the extra credit projects and to shine a little bit more. She can't wait to tell everything to Henry, who she misses Fiercely.
Dear Henry,
I cannot believe it has been over a month since we last saw each other! Hogwarts is everything I expected and more—grand, overwhelming, and utterly bewitching. There is so much to tell you that I hardly know where to begin.
First, I must inform you that Rose, Eliza, and I were all sorted into Ravenclaw! It worked out just as we had hoped. I admit I was a little nervous about the Sorting Hat. It told me I could go anywhere, which was rather unsettling at the time. It suggested Slytherin of all places just like you said all those months ago, can you imagine? It said I had 'an ambition and cunning masked by intellect,' but I chose Ravenclaw, and now here I am.
The tower is beautiful, Henry. You will adore it when you get here next year. It's all deep blues and warm bronzes, lined with towering bookshelves and star-studded windows. Our common room is one of the highest points in the castle, and the view is absolutely breathtaking—especially at night. There's a puzzle to solve every time we enter, which is sometimes amusing and sometimes deeply frustrating when we are too tired for riddles.
Classes are both thrilling and exhausting. Charms is by far my favorite; Professor Flitwick is a delight and seems to have taken an interest in me. He kept me behind after class just yesterday to discuss my progress—not in a bad way, of course! I think I impressed him a little too much, despite my efforts to hold back. Potions is a challenge, mostly because Professor Slughorn has a habit of collecting students he finds promising. I am not sure how I feel about that yet. Transfiguration is brilliant, though I find myself irritated when someone else manages a spell before I do (yes, I am self-aware enough to admit it).
There are some… tensions within our house. Ravenclaws are not quite what we expected. There are the usual bookworms, of course, but some of our housemates are fiercely competitive. I am not talking about friendly rivalry—I mean the kind of competition where people hoard knowledge as if it were gold, refusing to share notes or tips. There are already unspoken factions forming. A girl named Iris Lawrence has been trying to befriend us, but Rose despises her, and to keep the peace, I have remained neutral. She seems nice enough, though. Maybe a little too desperate to be included. I don't know what to do without upsetting Rose.
Outside of Ravenclaw, the school feels tense. The war is bleeding into everything. Older students whisper in hushed tones, and sometimes, when the Daily Prophet arrives, there's a grim silence at the breakfast table as people scan the headlines. The professors pretend as if everything is normal, but it is clear that they are watching us more closely than they might in other times.
Still, there are moments of pure joy. Sneaking biscuits from the kitchens (yes, we found them after we followed an unsuspecting Hufflepuff), late-night conversations in our dorm ( We all share a Dorm), and flying practice—though I must say, Eliza is insufferable about her supposed 'natural talent' on a broom. I suspect she simply enjoys goading me.
I miss you, Henry. It feels strange not having you here with us, but next year will come before you know it. Tell me everything about home—about Uncle Alan, Aunt Lizzy, GrandAunt Aurelia (Hope you are visiting her and keeping company), Write soon to all of us!
With love,
Artemis
Artemis was feeling uncertain about the projects Professor Flitwick might present her with,
Flitwick, ever the cheerful and keen-eyed professor, smiled warmly at her from behind his desk. "Miss Lovelace, as we professors have noticed your exceptional progress in several subjects. While it is admirable that you attempt to keep pace with your peers, we see no reason to let your talents go underutilized."
"Several of us have discussed providing you with some extra credit projects," Professor McGonagall interjected as she entered the room with her usual brisk authority. She closed the door behind her, followed by Professor Sprout and Professor Slughorn, the latter looking particularly pleased with himself.
"You have potential, my dear," Slughorn said with a knowing glint in his eye. "And I make it a point to foster potential where I see it. These projects are designed to challenge you, but of course, they are entirely voluntary."
Artemis looked at each professor in turn, intrigued but wary. "What kind of projects?"
Professor Flitwick clapped his hands together. "For Charms, I'd like you to explore the mechanics of spell modification! Specifically, how different wand movements influence the outcome of first year spells. It would be a practical study, and if you complete it well, I might even let you attempt a few second-year spells under supervision."
Artemis's fingers twitched with anticipation. The idea of structured experimentation with magic intrigued her immensely.
Professor McGonagall's sharp gaze met hers. "Transfiguration requires discipline and theory as much as it does skill. I would like you to research the history of animal transfiguration—its boundaries, dangers, and ethical considerations. A well-written paper on this topic would do nicely, and perhaps, should you excel, we could discuss some practical demonstrations beyond your current syllabus."
Artemis nodded thoughtfully, recognizing the challenge in that particular task. It wasn't as immediately thrilling as Charms, but it had the potential to teach her invaluable lessons.
Professor Sprout beamed at her. "I've noticed your attentiveness in Herbology, my dear. You have a keen understanding of plant properties. If you'd like, I could set you on a study of rare magical herbs and fungi—ones with particularly potent potion applications. You could grow and care for a few samples in the greenhouses and track their progress. It would require patience, but I think you might enjoy the process."
Artemis found herself nodding, imagining the quiet, methodical work of tending magical plants. It wasn't something she had considered deeply before or particularly enjoyed doing before, but there was something soothing about the idea.
Finally, Slughorn cleared his throat. "Now, my project, I daresay, will be the most fun! I'd like you to experiment with simple potion variations. Take the recipes you are learning and tweak one minor ingredient or method of preparation. Document the results. Who knows? You might stumble upon an improvement even I haven't thought of!"
Artemis considered the proposals carefully. Each one was intriguing, and each could provide her with opportunities she wouldn't get otherwise. She weighed them against each other, her mind already filled with possibilities. "Can I choose more than one?"
Professor McGonagall's lips twitched in the barest hint of amusement. "If you believe you can manage the workload, Miss Lovelace, we will not stop you."
"But do pace yourself," Professor Slughorn advised kindly. "This isn't a race, and we don't want you burning out before your second year. I will also provide you with a few of my office Hours every week for you to experiment safely. Do not try to attempt experimenting alone Miss Lovelace."
Artemis smiled slightly, already feeling the first thrill of excitement settle in her chest. "I'll be careful. And… Thank you, professors. I appreciate the opportunity."
Professor Flitwick clapped his hands again, delighted. "Excellent! I will expect an update on your progress every two weeks! You will have till Christmas Holidays to present at least one project, then we can discuss next but you can begin working on any and all of them."
"You can involve your friends in the Herbology Project my dear, it will be good to make it a group project if you wish to." Professor Sprout said Kindly.
As Artemis left the office, a new sense of purpose settled over her. These weren't just extra assignments—they were pathways to honing her abilities. And if she was to figure out how to navigate this world, how to best prepare herself for what lay ahead, she needed every advantage she could get.