After dinner was over and his stomach was full with all kinds of food he had never tasted before, Ludwig followed the crowd of Ravenclaw students led by an older student with two braids named Elaine. He walked quickly but calmly, occasionally glancing back to make sure no new students got lost.
Hogwarts' corridors felt even more mysterious at night. Torchlight reflected on the stone walls, paintings along the corridors whispered softly to each other, and occasionally, footsteps could be heard far above, though no one was visible.
"We'll go up two staircases that usually like to change direction. If you feel the stairs start to sway, hold onto the railing tightly," Elaine said with a smile. "And don't get too close to the whispering walls. Sometimes they're just chatty walls, but sometimes they're not."
Ludwig walked beside Maude, who now seemed more relaxed. "Each house has its own entrance, right?" he asked quietly.
"Yes. Gryffindor uses a portrait, Hufflepuff has a door near the kitchens, Slytherin enters through a wall in the dungeons... but only Ravenclaw has to think before entering their own common room," Maude replied proudly, as if it were a special characteristic.
Finally, they arrived in front of a large, beautifully carved wooden door, located at the end of a tower corridor facing the night sky. There was no handle. No lock. Only a silver raven's head statue integrated into the center of the door.
When Elaine stood before the door, the raven statue came to life. Its stony eyes gleamed brightly and its beak opened, uttering a calm yet enigmatic riddle:
"I am something that if you keep, it will not last. But if you share me, I will remain. What am I?"
Ludwig immediately stopped behind Elaine. Some new students looked at each other in confusion.
Elaine simply gave a small nod and replied, "A secret."
Suddenly, a soft click was heard, and the door slowly opened, revealing the warm and spacious Ravenclaw common room.
"If you get the answer wrong, you just have to wait until someone gets it right or... well, sometimes you have to wait an hour," Maude whispered with an amused smile.
Ludwig was astonished. The room they entered was not a narrow, gloomy space as he had imagined from the tower. Its walls were dark blue with silver star carvings, the ceiling was high, and large windows revealed the truly real night sky—as if they were directly among the stars.
Then came a small, unexpected moment. Another male Prefect called Ludwig.
"Ludwig Lovegood, right? You come with me. Everyone else, follow Elaine."
Ludwig was confused for a moment, but followed. They ascended a small, winding staircase towards the boys' dormitories. Upon reaching the dormitory door, the Prefect opened it and smiled, half-amused.
"Welcome to... your little kingdom."
Ludwig stepped inside and immediately fell silent.
The room was spacious—excessively so—with three beds neatly lined up, a study desk, and a private window facing the west side of the school. But what was most striking: there was only one other trunk at the end of the room. And there was no other sound but his own breathing.
"Only two boys in Ravenclaw this year. The rest... well, you'll see," the Prefect said with a shrug. "Ravenclaw has been trending for smart girls lately. So congratulations, you have a spacious room and can use two desks if you want."
Ludwig didn't know whether to be happy or worried. But certainly, he hadn't expected to be one of only two boys among—what seemed like—a mountain of intelligent and critical girls.
As the Prefect left, Ludwig sat on his bed and glanced at the other trunk. "Wonder who the other one is..." he murmured.
As if in answer, the door slowly opened, and a boy with thick glasses and messy curly hair entered. He looked at Ludwig with large eyes behind his lenses.
"You're surprised too, huh?"
Ludwig nodded.
"My name is Noam. I like odd numbers and seagulls," he said innocently. Then he immediately placed his trunk on the bed and began arranging books without much fuss.
Ludwig gazed at the dormitory ceiling adorned with small stained-glass stars. He took a deep breath, then smiled faintly.
"Hogwarts is indeed... never ordinary."
Soon after, a scream echoed from the corridor.
"AAAAAAAH! The books are flying!"
Ludwig and Noam exchanged glances.
"Corner bookshelf?" Noam guessed.
Ludwig stood up and grabbed his reading glasses. "Come on, let's check. Who knows, we might learn something from an angry dictionary."
And the first night at Hogwarts concluded with small laughs, light footsteps, and two Ravenclaw boys beginning to weave unforgettable days into their lives.
First Day of Classes
The morning air in the Ravenclaw common room still hung cold, as if reluctant to leave. Ludwig slowly opened his eyes. A pale blue sky was visible from the window, interspersed with a thin mist that still lingered on the surrounding mountain peaks. A small hourglass on his desk emitted a soft sound—tick, tick, tick—accompanying the first seconds of his first day as a Hogwarts student.
He sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Okay... this is real," he mumbled, still half-disbelieving. His hand felt the edge of the blanket, making sure it wasn't all a dream.
Across the bed, Noam—his roommate, who enjoyed spouting strange riddles—was already awake and standing in front of the mirror, trying to tame his unruly curly hair.
"Do I look smart today?" Noam asked, turning around.
"You look like someone who's about to debate a professor," Ludwig replied, grinning.
"Perfect. I'm ready to lose five points before breakfast."
They chuckled softly, then hurried to change into their robes and go down to the common room. Near the door, one of the seniors, an older student named Mei, was already standing, reading a class schedule.
"Potions class first. With Slytherin," she said without looking at them. "And Professor Snape. So don't get too creative, okay?"
Noam immediately turned to Ludwig. "I think that message was for you."
Ludwig pretended to be offended. "I haven't even had a chance to mess up today."
Breakfast passed quickly. The Ravenclaw table was filled with nervous chatter and small laughs about class schedules. Ludwig looked at the Gryffindor table, and his smile broadened. There, sitting with a typical "I can already imagine getting yelled at by a professor" expression, was Charlie Weasley. His red hair was a bit messy, and he seemed to be making something out of a spoon and a piece of parchment.
Ludwig waved. Charlie turned and immediately reciprocated with a small nod and a wide smile—a kind of code meaning: see you later, I have another crazy idea.
The dungeon where the Potions class was held felt like a dungeon from a horror story. Dark stones, pale yellow lights, and pungent aromas of ingredients you wouldn't want to smell for more than five seconds.
Professor Snape stood at the front of the room, his black robes billowing every time he turned. His face was as serious as ever, his eyes sharp, and his mouth rarely smiled unless he was being sarcastic.
"This class," he said without preamble, "will teach you a more subtle art than merely waving wands. If you wish to be foolish and reckless, the exit is at the back."
The atmosphere was silent. Someone from Slytherin coughed softly. Noam noted: Snape = don't speak unless told to.
That day they learned to brew a Sleeping Draught. Ludwig worked carefully, following the instructions word for word. His hand trembled slightly as he measured the valerian powder, but he managed to pour it without spilling.
Snape paced to each table, occasionally stopping to make a sharp comment.
"Mandrake root pieces are too large. This isn't soup."
"You're stirring counter-clockwise, Miss Renshaw. If you wish to create a mild poison, please continue."
When he reached Ludwig and Noam's table, he stared at the contents of their cauldron for a long time without speaking. Then, just one sentence:
"Promising."
Ludwig and Noam exchanged glances. No smiles, no relief either. But deep down, they knew: from Snape, "promising" was a kind of commendation.
After Potions class ended, Ludwig emerged from the dungeon. In the Great Hall, he saw Charlie sitting alone, drawing a small dragon on parchment.
"Charlie, do you still remember the cards from my books?" Ludwig sat down without asking, placing a stack of cards on the table.
"Of course. I even have three versions of Gandalf. But I still don't understand why you keep reprinting them."
"Because I'm designing the rules. I want to turn this into a game," Ludwig said, his eyes alight. "Not just a collection, but a duel—like strategy. Like chess, but wilder."
"A card game?"
"Yeah. One-on-one. Each player brings a 'deck'—about forty cards. Inside are characters, items, spells, monsters. The goal is to make the opponent's 'life points' run out."
Charlie grinned. "Sounds like a wizard's duel."
"Similar. But this uses brains and luck. You have to build your deck balanced: strong characters, support, and spells. For example, you can play Frodo at the start, give him 'Mithril Armor,' then activate 'Elven Light' to raise his defense."
"And the opponent can attack Frodo?"
"They can, if they have stronger monsters or destructive spells. But—if you have 'Gandalf the White,' you can negate that attack and return it to your opponent's hand."
Charlie raised an eyebrow. "Negate?"
"Um, cancel. Basically, like you cast a protective spell before being hit by an attack."
Charlie laughed. "Okay, go on. What else?"
"Cards are divided into five types: characters, monsters, items, spells, and locations. You have five character slots, and one location arena. Each turn, you can draw one card, play one character, and activate one effect."
"Effects?"
"For example, 'Mount Doom' as a location can give all Orcs an attack bonus. But it also makes all Elf creatures lose one power each turn. So strategy is important."
Charlie was silent for a moment. "Doesn't sound bad. But you made all of this yourself?"
"Yeah. From scratch. That's why I printed the cards one by one, tested the effects, wrote the rules."
Charlie nodded slowly. "And you want to start a club?"
"So I'm not playing alone."
"Who's your target audience?"
"Slytherins will definitely like the competition. Ravenclaws will enjoy the strategy. Hufflepuffs, well, they like to gather. And Gryffindors like a challenge."
"It's funny that you can think of all that."
"This is one way for us to battle without hurting anyone. And… without spells."
Charlie chuckled softly. "I want to see you make Frodo defeat a Balrog."
"Possible, as long as you use 'Light of Galadriel' at the right time."
"Count me in."
In the dimly lit corridor, Ludwig and Charlie walked briskly towards Professor Flitwick's office. The atmosphere at Hogwarts remained bustling, yet amidst the rumble of footsteps and student whispers, Ludwig held his intentions with full determination.
They arrived in front of a small door, one-third the size of the others in the corridor. Ludwig raised his hand and knocked gently before opening the door. Inside, Professor Flitwick was tidying a stack of books on his desk, his sharp gaze immediately turning towards them.
"Professor Flitwick, we would like to request permission to establish a new club," Ludwig said in a polite and confident tone. "This club will focus on card dueling. We wish to introduce a form of competition that combines strategy and magic."
Professor Flitwick frowned, his eyes shining with curiosity. "Card dueling, you say? This is quite different from usual Hogwarts traditions. I must admit, I have never heard of such a concept."
Ludwig continued, "Furthermore, I wish to learn more about alchemy, especially aspects that can help me design a duel board that adheres to magical rules and strategy. I hope there might be guidance for that."
Professor Flitwick stroked his chin, his face serious and thoughtful. "Unfortunately, my knowledge of alchemy is limited. However, if you wish to delve deeper into that aspect and gain permission for your club, I suggest you meet Professor Dumbledore. He possesses extensive insight into various fields of magic, including alchemy."
Ludwig nodded respectfully. "Thank you, Professor. I will meet Professor Dumbledore as soon as possible."
Charlie smiled faintly beside him, "All right, I'll accompany you there."
Professor Flitwick smiled warmly, "Very good. I hope your club can bring new colors to Hogwarts."
Professor Flitwick rose from his chair, his smile kind yet authoritative. "Very well, I will escort you to Professor Dumbledore. He will surely provide more precise direction."
Ludwig and Charlie followed Flitwick through the winding corridors within Hogwarts castle, towards the Headmaster's magnificent office, filled with a magical aura. The heavy door slowly opened by Flitwick, and they stepped inside.
Professor Dumbledore sat behind his desk, his sharp but warm eyes looking at their arrival. After hearing Ludwig's explanation about his plan to establish a card dueling club and Ludwig's desire to create a duel board that required alchemical knowledge, Dumbledore nodded slowly.
"I hear your intention, Ludwig," Dumbledore said in a calm yet thoughtful voice. "However, creating a duel board that adheres to magical rules and strategy is not an easy feat. You must first understand alchemy deeply. Your knowledge of it must be strong enough for this game to truly succeed and be safe to practice at Hogwarts."
Dumbledore then rose and walked to a bookshelf in the corner of the room. He took out several thick books titled Fundamentals of Alchemy, The Essence of Magical Transmutations, and Advanced Alchemical Practices, then handed them to Ludwig.
"Study these books thoroughly," Dumbledore said. "Once you are ready and have sufficiently mastered alchemy, we can discuss the club's permission further."
Ludwig received the books with utmost respect, his determination growing stronger. Charlie gave an encouraging nod beside him.
Dumbledore smiled gently. "I look forward to your learning, Ludwig."
Several months passed quickly at Hogwarts. Ludwig's time was almost entirely consumed by a dense routine: attending classes, spending hours in the library, and delving into every page of the alchemy books lent by Professor Dumbledore.
From morning until evening, he was immersed in theory and practice, trying to understand the complex essence of alchemy while slowly testing his still imperfect duel board designs. Each experiment brought new failures and new lessons.
Charlie, who was always loyally by his side, occasionally reminded Ludwig not to be too hard on himself, but Ludwig just smiled, bending back over the thick book open on his desk.
Now, the Christmas holiday had arrived. The castle corridors began to quiet, many students having returned to their respective homes. Ludwig and Charlie stood at the threshold of the Great Hall, carrying a few belongings and planning to go home.
Even so, the duel board Ludwig dreamed of was still far from complete. But his determination and spirit had not waned, and in his heart, he knew this journey had only just begun.
The Hogwarts train glided slowly through the snowy landscape that was beginning to cover the fields and forests around the castle. Ludwig sat near the window, his tired eyes gazing at the white mist outside, his mind still busy pondering the failures he had experienced over the past few months. Charlie sat beside him, occasionally offering a comforting, encouraging smile.
When the train arrived at King's Cross station, the Lovegood family, Ludwig's mother Pandora, was already waiting on the platform with Luna, his small and energetic younger sister. Pandora smiled warmly seeing her son alight from the train, but what caught Ludwig's attention most was Luna, who ran towards him with quick, small steps.
Luna jumped and hugged Ludwig tightly, refusing to let go. Her large, sparkling eyes seemed full of anxiety. "Don't go away again, Ludwig. I'm afraid you'll go far and not come back," Luna whispered in a tiny voice that almost sounded like a plea.
Ludwig was touched, gently stroking his sister's hair. "I won't go far, Luna. I'll always be here for you."
Even after arriving home, Luna kept a tight grip on Ludwig's hand, as if afraid her brother might disappear again. Pandora smiled at the closeness, then invited Ludwig into the warm house, filled with their unique collection.
In the living room, filled with books and magical artifacts, Ludwig began to tell his mother about an idea that had long occupied his mind—creating a board game using cards that featured characters from the stories he admired: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. He explained how these cards could form the core of a game combining strategy and magic, while also creating a new and exciting experience.
Pandora listened with great interest, her eyes shining with her son's passion and creativity. "That's a wonderful idea, Ludwig. We must experiment with that right away," she said, full of support.
They then walked into the Lovegood family's Mage Tower, a tall tower filled with magical tools and a comfortable yet sophisticated experimental space. There, Ludwig opened boxes containing the cards he had meticulously crafted, arranged his workbench, and began testing various duel board concepts. Pandora helped prepare alchemical ingredients that could be used to enhance the magical effects on the cards, while Luna, though still young, sat in the corner of the room with sparkling eyes, watching her brother's every move in awe.
That night in the Mage Tower, the three Lovegood family members were engrossed in experiments and discussions, building a small world full of hope and magic, all while keeping the secrets only they knew.
The winter snow had not entirely melted when the day of departure arrived. That morning, the London sky was gray, and the biting wind pierced the skin even through thick coats. On Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, the atmosphere was filled with wizarding families seeing their children off back to Hogwarts.
Ludwig stood beside his trunk trolley and owl cage, a Ravenclaw house scarf wrapped around his neck. Beside him, Pandora watched with a calm face but slightly misty eyes, while Luna's small hand clutched her brother's robe as tightly as she could.
"Luna, I have to go back. My first year isn't over yet," Ludwig said softly, crouching down to be at his sister's level.
But Luna just shook her head hard, tears starting to stream down her cheeks. "You promised it wouldn't be long that time... but it was so long, Ludwig. Don't go again," her voice broke, her chest heaving with suppressed sobs.
Pandora touched Luna's shoulder, trying to soothe her, but the little girl clung to her brother, as if unwilling to be detached from her only anchor in a world that felt too big and alien.
Ludwig hugged his sister tightly. "I'll be home as soon as the next holiday comes. We'll still experiment in the Mage Tower, remember? I can't finish the game board without you and Mum."
Luna sobbed, nodding slowly, but still reluctant to let go of the hug.