our little angel

Hogwarts Castle

Age: 3
Words
Summary: Raven is running around the Hogwarts Castle until she runs into Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.

It was a crisp, bright afternoon at Hogwarts, and the castle was bustling with students returning to their respective common rooms after classes. The ancient halls echoed with laughter and chatter, but among the noise was the soft patter of small feet racing across the stone floors.

Raven Malfoy, now three years old, had once again managed to slip away from her mother's watchful eye. With her wide, curious eyes and a head full of golden curls, Raven was a bundle of energy that loved nothing more than exploring the grand halls of Hogwarts. Her parents—Lola and Mattheo—had tried to keep her close, but the moment her feet hit the ground, Raven was off, giggling as she dashed down one corridor after another, her tiny legs carrying her with surprising speed.

She had no particular destination in mind, just the thrill of running through the vast castle that had become her home.

Around the next corner, Raven came face-to-face with three very familiar figures—Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley. They were walking through the hallway, talking among themselves when they were suddenly interrupted by the sight of the tiny girl barreling toward them.

"Whoa there!" Ron exclaimed, stepping back just in time to avoid being knocked over by the little whirlwind.

Raven skidded to a stop in front of them, her large, inquisitive eyes looking up at the trio with a mix of curiosity and excitement. Her small hands were clutching a toy lion, her favorite stuffed animal, and her face broke into a wide, toothy grin.

"Hi!" Raven exclaimed, her voice full of enthusiasm. "I’m Raven!"

Harry, always friendly, crouched down to her level. "Hello, Raven! I’m Harry," he said warmly, offering her a smile. "You’re a little far from your parents, aren’t you?"

Raven nodded eagerly. "I’m running!" she said, as if that explained everything.

Ron grinned, looking at Harry and Hermione with amusement. "Running in the castle? That’s a first," he teased, though there was no real malice in his voice. He was just a little surprised to see such a small child so full of energy.

Hermione, always the gentle one, crouched down beside Harry. "Raven, are you lost?" she asked softly, her eyes kind. "Where’s your mummy and daddy?"

Raven tilted her head, looking up at Hermione with wide eyes. "I’m not lost. My mummy is Lola. She’s a student here," she said, puffing her chest out proudly, "And my daddy is Mattheo. He’s big, like you!" she added, gesturing toward Harry.

The three friends exchanged amused glances.

"Ah, so you’re Mattheo’s daughter," Harry said with a knowing smile. "You’ve got a lot of energy, just like him, I’d bet."

Raven giggled. "I can run fast like my daddy!"

"That’s impressive!" Ron said with a wink. "But maybe running around here isn’t such a good idea. Hogwarts can be a bit tricky to navigate, especially for someone as small as you."

Raven giggled again, shaking her head. "I like running. I like the stairs and the big rooms. And I like to look out the windows." She looked at Hermione, then added, "Mummy says there’s magic in the castle."

Hermione’s smile grew even warmer. "She’s right about that, Raven. Hogwarts is full of magic. You’ll learn all sorts of things when you’re older."

Raven’s eyes lit up. "Magic!" she repeated, her tiny hands clapping together with delight. "I can’t wait! Mummy says I’ll be magic too."

Harry chuckled softly. "I’m sure you will be. You’ve got the spirit of a true wizard."

Just as they were beginning to chat more, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hall. A second later, Lola appeared, her eyes scanning the area before landing on Raven.

"There you are!" Lola called out, her voice a mix of relief and mild exasperation. She hurried over to where Raven was standing, reaching down to scoop her up. "You can’t just run off like that, sweetheart. I was looking everywhere for you."

Raven gave a small pout, clearly disappointed that her adventure had come to an end. "I was talking to the nice people," she said, pointing to Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

Lola smiled at the trio with a mixture of gratitude and amusement. "Thank you for keeping her company. She’s a bit of a handful sometimes."

"No problem at all," Hermione said with a warm smile. "She’s a sweet girl."

"Very energetic," Ron added with a wink, though there was affection in his voice.

Lola adjusted Raven in her arms, brushing a lock of hair away from the little girl’s face. "I can see that. Thanks again, guys. I’ll make sure she gets back to the common room."

Raven waved enthusiastically. "Bye-bye, nice people! I’ll see you again!"

Harry smiled as he waved back. "Take care, Raven. See you soon."

As Lola turned to leave, she glanced at the three students one more time. "Thanks again. She’s a bit of a free spirit."

Ron chuckled. "I think that’s an understatement."

With that, Lola headed off down the hall, Raven happily babbling in her arms, still talking about her little adventure. As the trio of friends watched them disappear around the corner, Harry couldn’t help but smile.

"She’s definitely a Malfoy," he said, shaking his head with a grin.

"Yeah," Ron agreed, "but I think she’s a bit more... fun than her father."

Hermione laughed softly. "Definitely. She’s got a spark about her."

And as the trio resumed their walk toward their next class, they couldn’t help but feel that, despite the trials and tension that sometimes defined the Malfoy name, Raven was a reminder that there was still plenty of magic, joy, and light in the world.