Split Personality

A Ghost of a Guide-First Year

       I seriously don't understand why Professor McGonagall isn't Headmistress. She's the one that gave the welcome speech, greeted us, has obviously been there the longest, and waved her arms to make the food appear by magic. The actual Headmistress sat with the other teachers and listened while McGonagall spoke. What was her name again? Oh yeah, Nora Braswell.
       Anyways, the food was delicious, even if I had to eat it with Scorpius. Ugh, Scorpius. I can't believe that we have to basically live together now. I had been planning on avoiding him all year. That doesn't seem like an option now. With my luck I should've seen this coming.
       We're just finishing eating our last desert (it was probably one of the best things I've tasted in my life)  when Professor McGonagall dismissed us and everyone filed out behind the prefects. Scorpius and I were still sitting down when the last student exited the room.
       McGonagall looked down at us over her glasses. "Well?" she said, "You have letters given to you by the founders of Hogwarts. I suggest you read them and follow the instructions that I'm sure they have left you." Her stern reminder of my letter got me focused again. A quick look at Scorpius confirmed that he was focused again also.
       "Thank you for the feast Professor," I say looking up at her as I stand to leave, Scorpius following my example as we started to walk towards the door.
       Once we were in the hall I let out a deep sigh, making Scorpius look at me strangely. I ignored him and leaned up against the wall as I gingerly opened my letter, trying desperately not to tear it. Inside there was a piece  of parchment and a few other things that I ignored for a moment as I unfolded what was obviously the letter part of the letter. It said:
       Dear reader,       
       If you are reading this then you are the girl of prophesy. One who has extreme characteristics in not one, but two of the houses. There should be a boy with you. Someone that is also a child of prophesy. You may not like this person, you may like this person very much, but your decisions will not be made for you. Now, follow these instructions exactly as they are printed and we will take you from there.

Wave your wand  in an x formation in front of you
chant the spell 'imagrio appera' four times
do not be scared by what happens

       Well, that's strange. Despite the weirdness, I pull my wand from the pocket of my robes. I look over and see that Scorpius is looking at me expectantly.
       "What are you looking at?" I asked him, more inquisitive than snarky.
       "If you must know, my letter said that you would do something that would 'take us from here,'" he replied looking a little miffed at the whole thing.
       "Well, alright then," I said getting back to the spell. I crossed my wand in front of me as I chanted the spell, and once I was done the air shimmered in front of me for a second before the form of a beautiful woman appeared like a projection where I had waved my wand. Both Scorpius and I took a step back, startled by her appearance.
       "My name is Rowena Ravenclaw. The other founders and I have set up this illusion to make me appear as a ghost, if only for a short time, to guide you. I am able to communicate with you like any other ghost would, though my stay is only temporary. Now, if you will introduce yourselves we can get started." the ghost that was Rowena Ravenclaw said in a soft voice.
       I blinked a few times before breaking out of my surprised daze, saying, "Oh! Um, I'm Scarlet Westbrook and this is-"
       "Scorpius Malfoy missus Ravenclaw," Scorpius said interrupting me.
       Rowena smiled as she beckoned quietly, "It is very nice to meet both of you. Now, if you will follow me." We followed her through the halls, up a few staircases, through one trap door, and up a winding staircase obviously leading up a tower. "Here we are," she beckoned to the beautifully carved door.
       "Does it have some sort of password or lock to keep other people out like the common rooms?" inquired Scorpius.
       "Not in the sense that you're thinking of. This door is enchanted so only you and Scorpius can get up here, unless you invite someone up." the ghost of Rowena Ravenclaw replied.
       "That's useful," I murmured. I pulled my wand out from my robes, comparing the carvings on my wand to the door. Besides that the ones on the door were much larger than the ones on my wand, they appeared to be in the same pattern... Well, part of the pattern, part of it seemed to be missing.
       "Your wand has the same pattern as the door too?" Scorpius compared our wands, holding them against each other. Once he got close his wand pulled against mine. It surprised me so much I dropped both wands. Embarrassed, I picked them back up. It seemed that the wands were attached. As I looked at them I realized that when they were together they complete the pattern on the door. With a bit of effort I pry them apart and hand Scorpius his wand back.
       "Yes, your wands are twins. They both have thestral hair and dragon heartstring cores, though I assume the wood is different, the length shouldn't differ by much so they can fit together," Rowena explained, leaving us kind of just staring at her. "Come on now, go on in," she beckoned us to open up the door.
       I reached for the handle just as Scorpius did, and for a second we were both holding the handle, his hand on mine, until he gave me a strange look and I took my hand off quickly. Then he opened the door and I was suddenly speechless. Two walls of the room were lined with ceiling to full bookshelves. There were a few tables scattered through the room, but mostly it was couches and reading chairs. There was a burning fireplace in on one side of the room, and there were dim lights hanging from the ceiling. The decorations were clearly a mix of the two house colors, with blue and green clearly a theme. One wall had a break in the bookshelves and had a window and a window seat overlooking all of Hogwart's grounds. The best part was one of the walls had doors that were carved to be the main door split in half, making one of the doors match the pattern on my wand, and one of the doors match the pattern on Scorpius'.
        "Do you like it?" Rowena asked us softly. I had the urge to embrace her, but I didn't know how that would work, her being a ghost, and a temporary one at that.
       Instead, I replied, "I love it! Thank you so much!" Scorpius was too busy reading a book he'd obviously pulled off the shelf and was now absorbed in to answer. "It looks like Scorpius likes it too," I said in a not so quiet voice, hoping that he'd thank her too. Instead he just looked up from his book to give me an annoyed look before going back to whatever he was reading. I sighed and turned back to our ghostly guide.
       "Just go into your room, it's enchanted the same way the other door is, and even polyjuice potion can't fool it," she said proudly, beckoning me towards the beautiful door.
       I turned the knob to the door easily, and the door opened up to a room that must have been enchanted to be so large in such a small tower. There was a beautiful four-poster bed draped in green and blue sheets. There were even more bookshelves, these not only filled with muggle and magic books, but a few dedicated to parchment and supplies. There was a desk and a small light to illuminate the working area. There was a window that showed the quidditch pitch, which  would come in handy if I didn't want to go to the game but still wanted to watch the game. Overall, it was magnificent, and I told her so.
       Then, I looked at the wall beside my bed. There was a blank picture frame hanging on the wall. I tapped on the edges, but it didn't seem to be anything but a blank picture frame.
       "Call for Samuel to come here," the ghost's voice surprised me so much that I jumped.
       "What?" What in the world could she mean by that?
       "Oh, I'll do it. Samuel! Come here!" her voice got the loudest it had yet.
       What happened next surprised me so much that I fell backwards. The area inside the frame shimmered until the top portion of a house elf appeared.
       "How may I help you?" asked the house elf.
       "Samuel, this is Scarlet. Scarlet, this is Samuel," Rowena introduced us. "He is the house elf at the Ministry of Magic. He used to have to sneak around to get any information, but since the second wizarding war the Ministry has turned itself around thanks to Harry Potter and his friends, Samuel can get you pretty much tell you anything that's ever been documented. If it's especially complicated, most likely he won't know it off the top of his head, so it may take him a bit, but you'll never meet a smarter elf.'
       "Thank you missus Ravenclaw," Samuel said, nodding his head towards her. "I will come when you call again." Then the image of the little house elf disappeared.
       "Thank you for everything Rowena," I said as she floated towards the door.
       "It was the founder's pleasure. You have a special future ahead of you. I will show Scorpius his room, then I will leave. If you ever need me, call for me using the same spell you used to call me the first time, but only call me in times of emergency, and never around anyone you don't trust with all of your soul. Goodbye Scarlet." she floated through the door, and I was left alone.