Chapter 36: Chapter 34: Hogwarts Spirit
As Ravenclaw students rushed to the library, motivated by Nero's stirring words, students from the other houses stood still, their thoughts drifting toward the significance of what they had just heard.
Ember, Alaric, and Lilith each felt the weight of those words, each processing them through the lens of their own house values, and all three realized the importance of seizing the time they had at Hogwarts.
Time.
Nero had emphasized it again and again, and it rang true in every corner of the school.
Time was the most precious thing they had, and they couldn't afford to waste it.
It was Ember who stood first, her fiery Gryffindor spirit unwilling to be outdone.
She strode with determination, her fiery red hair almost seeming to crackle with energy. "Nero's right, you know," she said, her voice loud enough to command attention in front of the Gryffindor tables. "Time is slipping away from us. Every day we waste is one less day we have to become the witches and wizards we want to be. And if we don't make the most of every minute we've got here, then we're dishonoring not just ourselves, but the legacy of our house."
She paused for a moment, letting the weight of her words sink in.
Ember's green eyes swept over the room, locking onto her fellow Gryffindors.
"Think about Godric Gryffindor. Do you think he sat around and waited for greatness to fall into his lap? No. He fought for it. Every day, he pushed himself and his friends to do better, to be braver, to be stronger. He didn't waste a single second. And if we're truly Gryffindors, we can't afford to waste this time either."
There was a soft murmur that rippled through the room, the power of Ember's words catching fire in the hearts of her housemates. Ember's voice was low but steady as she continued.
"I'm not saying we all need to become scholars. This isn't about just reading books in the library, though I know the Ravenclaws are going to have a field day with that. No. But each of us has something we've been avoiding, something that's been too difficult or too terrifying to try. Whether it's learning that new charm, figuring out the hardest spells, or even challenging someone to a duel. Whatever it is, now's the time. We can't sit around anymore. Godric Gryffindor went proactively after what he wanted. And we can do the same."
The room grew quieter as more Gryffindors nodded, understanding what Ember was urging them to do. It wasn't just about studying hard, it was about taking risks, pushing boundaries, and doing it together as a house.
As the fire in Ember's eyes faded, she smiled.
"So, let's make a promise right now, here and now. We'll take up the challenge. Every single one of us. We will take action. And when Ravenclaw looks back in a month, we'll show them we're not about to let them race ahead. This is Gryffindor. This is our time. Let's go."
The Gryffindor students looked at each other, slowly rising from their seats. The air buzzed with excitement. Ember had lit a spark, and now the house was burning brighter than ever. It was time for Gryffindor to make their move.
Meanwhile, on the Hufflepuff side, Alaric stood up.
His thick brown hair was slightly tousled, but there was no mistaking the seriousness in his warm eyes. The words of his friend Nero echoed in his mind as he surveyed his housemates. The Hufflepuffs were known for their loyalty, hard work, and humility, but Alaric felt the pressure rising within him as well. He couldn't sit back and let time slip away.
"I agree with Ember" Alaric said, his voice steady and clear, carrying the weight of his thoughts.
"Time is precious, and it's slipping through our fingers. We can't afford to just let it pass by while other houses race ahead. But you know, there's something more to it. I've been thinking a lot about Helga Hufflepuff lately. Our founder, my ancestor, didn't build this house on idle hands. She built it on the idea that we can do something with our time. We can work together and accomplish more than we ever thought possible."
Alaric took a deep breath, leaning forward slightly. "Helga didn't just work hard by herself. She brought people together. She believed in loyalty, in supporting one another. That's what made her so great. And that's what makes us great. We have the power to shape our future, but we can't do it alone. We need to lean on one another, challenge one another, and push each other forward."
He paused, his gaze sweeping the room, watching the faces of his fellow Hufflepuffs as they listened intently.
"What if we start setting up study groups? Not just to cram for exams, but to share knowledge: potions, magical creatures, charms, whatever we're passionate about. What if we all helped each other learn new skills and become better at something we've struggled with? It doesn't matter how big or small. What matters is that we're working together. We're not just waiting for things to happen. We're making them happen."
Alaric's words hung in the air, and for the first time, Hufflepuffs began to stir with excitement. The idea of working together, as a team, to become stronger as a house felt like something they could all get behind.
"But here's the thing," Alaric continued, his voice lower now, "we can't let Ravenclaw or Gryffindor pull ahead of us. We have to make every moment count. Time is ours to make the most of. And together, we'll be better than we ever imagined. Let's show everyone what Hufflepuff is made of."
There was a quiet determination as Hufflepuff students exchanged looks, nodding in agreement. The group started to swell with a new sense of purpose as students discussed their next steps, eager to make the most of their time at Hogwarts.
At last, Lilith rose from her seat in the Slytherin corner. Her eyes glinted with quiet intensity, but her voice was calm, steady, and full of sharp conviction. She had been contemplating Nero's words, feeling them resonating with her own ambitions.
Time, more than anything, was a powerful currency. And she wasn't about to let it slip away, not when there was so much more to achieve.
"I've been pondering about what Nero said," Lilith began, her voice cutting through the murmurs of her housemates.
"And I agree, time is the most precious thing we have here. But it's not just about spending every second in the library or running after knowledge. We Slytherins have a different way of using our time. We're not just about working hard, we're about working smart. That's what sets us apart."
She paused, her eyes glinting with pride. "Do you think Salazar Slytherin sat around waiting for the world to hand him power? Of course not. He took what was his, and he made things happen. He was cunning, calculated, and decisive. He knew when to strike and when to wait. And he always made his time count."
Lilith's gaze sharpened, locking onto her housemates as she continued. "I'm not saying we all need to rush into everything. But we need to focus on the things that matter. We need to master our skills, refine our magic, and sharpen our intellect. We don't have to follow the same path that Ravenclaw sets out for themselves. But we do need to outthink them. We have to become the best versions of ourselves, and to do that, we need to be strategic about our time. Whether that's perfecting a complex spell, learning how to further control a transfiguration, or honing our talents in subtle ways, it's up to us to decide how we use our time wisely."
There was a moment of silence in the room, the weight of her words settling into the minds of the Slytherin students. The tension in the room was palpable, but it wasn't just competitive rivalry, it was a quiet recognition of the power they all held, if they chose to wield it.
"We can't afford to let Ravenclaw get too far ahead," Lilith added, her voice now quiet but firm. "They're driven, but so are we. We have to prove that Slytherin is more than just cunning. We're the house that plans. We know how to make the most of our time, and we will show the world that no one, not even Ravenclaw, can outsmart us. We will make our time here count."
The atmosphere in each house was charged with a new energy, a spark ignited by the words of Ember, Alaric, and Lilith. Though they were still first-years, they had found their own ways to challenge their housemates and help them realize the truth of Nero's words: time was the most precious thing they had at Hogwarts, and they couldn't afford to waste it.
Each house was now determined to rise to the challenge, to use every moment wisely, and to make their time at Hogwarts something they would look back on with pride.
And as the students dispersed, there was a palpable sense of unity, of rivalry, and of purpose. It was clear that the fire Nero had ignited was not just confined to Ravenclaw. Every house at Hogwarts was about to enter a new era of self-improvement, and no one, least of all Ravenclaw, was going to be left behind.
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