Charles knew one thing and one thing only as he entered the Great Hall alongside the rest of the first years – he was going to be a Ravenclaw. Mama, Papa, his two uncles and his aunts were all one, plus Professor Foxwood, a pseudo uncle but still a blood relative, was one too. Charlie was still nervous of course, because he wasn’t sure he was a shoo in, but he ought to be.
He waited patiently until it was his turn to step up outward the hat.
"Describe yourself in three words."
Charlie held his breath, finding it odd to hear the words in his head. How would he describe himself? “My governess says I’m energetic because I like to roughhouse with my friends and brothers.” Rambunctious was probably the proper word. He climbed over everything and anything, and was constantly exploring hidden corners of the family home or the grounds that stretched for mines. He supposed that made him too. (He and Artie once ordered a bunch of dragon poop too for the fun of it, although Mama was too happy about it.) Uncle Anthony was the one who spurred him on when he was home, letting Charlie climb all over him. His governess always scolded him for fidgeting and not sitting still during lessons, but it wasn’t his fault she was so boring! Mama would call him playful, which Charlie thought was much better.
“Ignacio is mean, but I won’t let him be mean to my brothers. So I guess… protective?” He was loyal to his family and close friends above all else, and while Ignacio was around way too often, he wasn’t either of those. The best years of his life were when the kid went back to Spain.
The third one was easy, and came out quicker than the others. “Stubborn.” Mama wanted him to like Ignacio but he just couldn't.
"Would you rather be able to change into an animal, change your appearance, or see the future?"
Uncle Basil could turn into an animal, a raven or a pigeon? Charlie couldn’t remember which one, but it didn’t sound all that interesting to him; he didn’t seem to be able to talk, and he didn’t see the point of parading around as an animal? They were meant to be eaten or kept as pets; Charlie had never seen an animal who called the shots. He enjoyed how he looked even if his hair was always unruly and he hated it when his mama and governess tried to smooth it back, overtimes hiding under the piano or in tight places where neither could reach him so they’d leave him alone. See the future. Charlie finally decided on. Maybe if he could have seen the future, Papa wouldn’t have died in that boating accident.
"If you could invent a potion, what would it do?"
Charles tipped his head in thought. “If I could invent a potion, it would be a Climbing Potion. One sip and you’d be able to scale any surface—trees, cliffs, even walls—without slipping. I’d scale the castle for the fun of it.”
"Imagine you see someone cheat in class. What do you do?"
“I’d tell the professor.” After class, of course. He wasn’t sure he’d confront the student, unless he really didn't like them.
"Who is your enemy and how will you defeat them?"
That one was easy, but one he didn't voice aloud, only because he didn't want the other first years to think he was mean. Ignacio Sidonia. I'm not sure how I'll defeat him, but I will. Charlie was going to be the better wizard. Quidditch Player. Person. Ignacio could rot in he –
Charles squirmed in his seat as he tried not to look at the kid in question, his eyes sweeping over toward his Uncle Basil instead; he hoped the professor couldn’t hear what he was thinking because he’d tell Mama, and Mama would not be happy that he was thinking such things! She might pull him out and Charlie really wanted to stay at Hogwarts. It wasn't fair if Ignacio got to stay!
He waited patiently until it was his turn to step up outward the hat.
"Describe yourself in three words."
Charlie held his breath, finding it odd to hear the words in his head. How would he describe himself? “My governess says I’m energetic because I like to roughhouse with my friends and brothers.” Rambunctious was probably the proper word. He climbed over everything and anything, and was constantly exploring hidden corners of the family home or the grounds that stretched for mines. He supposed that made him too. (He and Artie once ordered a bunch of dragon poop too for the fun of it, although Mama was too happy about it.) Uncle Anthony was the one who spurred him on when he was home, letting Charlie climb all over him. His governess always scolded him for fidgeting and not sitting still during lessons, but it wasn’t his fault she was so boring! Mama would call him playful, which Charlie thought was much better.
“Ignacio is mean, but I won’t let him be mean to my brothers. So I guess… protective?” He was loyal to his family and close friends above all else, and while Ignacio was around way too often, he wasn’t either of those. The best years of his life were when the kid went back to Spain.
The third one was easy, and came out quicker than the others. “Stubborn.” Mama wanted him to like Ignacio but he just couldn't.
"Would you rather be able to change into an animal, change your appearance, or see the future?"
Uncle Basil could turn into an animal, a raven or a pigeon? Charlie couldn’t remember which one, but it didn’t sound all that interesting to him; he didn’t seem to be able to talk, and he didn’t see the point of parading around as an animal? They were meant to be eaten or kept as pets; Charlie had never seen an animal who called the shots. He enjoyed how he looked even if his hair was always unruly and he hated it when his mama and governess tried to smooth it back, overtimes hiding under the piano or in tight places where neither could reach him so they’d leave him alone. See the future. Charlie finally decided on. Maybe if he could have seen the future, Papa wouldn’t have died in that boating accident.
"If you could invent a potion, what would it do?"
Charles tipped his head in thought. “If I could invent a potion, it would be a Climbing Potion. One sip and you’d be able to scale any surface—trees, cliffs, even walls—without slipping. I’d scale the castle for the fun of it.”
"Imagine you see someone cheat in class. What do you do?"
“I’d tell the professor.” After class, of course. He wasn’t sure he’d confront the student, unless he really didn't like them.
"Who is your enemy and how will you defeat them?"
That one was easy, but one he didn't voice aloud, only because he didn't want the other first years to think he was mean. Ignacio Sidonia. I'm not sure how I'll defeat him, but I will. Charlie was going to be the better wizard. Quidditch Player. Person. Ignacio could rot in he –
Charles squirmed in his seat as he tried not to look at the kid in question, his eyes sweeping over toward his Uncle Basil instead; he hoped the professor couldn’t hear what he was thinking because he’d tell Mama, and Mama would not be happy that he was thinking such things! She might pull him out and Charlie really wanted to stay at Hogwarts. It wasn't fair if Ignacio got to stay!
