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Seeing Morris poking his hand in and out of the ghost's body, Cho Chang hurriedly grabbed his sleeve. "Stop it! You can't just touch a ghost like that!"
Morris withdrew his hand, looking confused. "What's wrong? Sir Nicholas doesn't seem angry."
"It's not about anger," Cho said seriously. "Ghosts have a special aura. If a living person stays in contact with them for too long, they can fall ill. Last year, a student spent the whole night with a ghost and ended up in the Hospital Wing for a week."
"Alright, thanks for the warning," Morris said, nodding thoughtfully.
Nearly Headless Nick adjusted his collar elegantly. "This young lady speaks correctly. Although we ghosts mean no harm, excessive physical contact with the living can be dangerous. But rest assured, brief contact is harmless."
Morris, however, didn't feel discomfort at all. The icy sensation coursing through his hand made him feel invigorated. He was confident that a ghost could not hurt him. Still, since someone had kindly warned him, it was better to be cautious.
Soon, Nearly Headless Nick returned to the Gryffindor table, and Morris's first encounter with a ghost came to an end.
After Dumbledore's lengthy speech and the school singing a somewhat chaotic rendition of the Hogwarts song, it was finally time for the first-years to return to their dormitories. Each house's Prefect would lead their new students.
The Ravenclaw Prefect was a tall, thin boy, though Morris didn't catch his name at first.
As they walked, Morris kept thinking about the Principal's final words.
"…Lastly, I must warn everyone: anyone who does not wish to suffer an accident and die a painful death should avoid the Fourth-floor corridor on the right-hand side."
The blunt warning did more to spark curiosity than instill fear. Dumbledore had a talent for fanning the flames of intrigue. Even normally cautious Morris felt a flicker of interest—but he quickly pushed it aside. Exploring now would be reckless, and somehow he sensed this corridor might involve Harry Potter. It was smarter to keep a safe distance until fully prepared.
Led by the Prefect, Morris followed the group up a marble staircase, through a corridor, and finally up a narrow spiral staircase to a wooden door.
In the center of the door hung an exquisite bronze knocker shaped like an eagle, its metallic surface shimmering in the torchlight.
"Welcome to the Ravenclaw Common Room," the Prefect said, turning to the freshmen with a polite smile. "I am Prefect Robert Hilliard. There is no fixed password here. Instead, you must answer the question posed by the knocker. It might be a riddle, a logical puzzle, or even a dry joke. Answer correctly, and the door will open. Answer incorrectly…" He spread his hands. "Then you'll either wait for someone else to succeed or try again later."
The freshmen murmured in surprise. Morris watched with interest. This unusual access system was certainly in the Ravenclaw style—but riddles were not his strong suit.
Robert tapped the eagle's head lightly. Suddenly, the knocker came to life and spoke in a clear voice:
"What becomes more the more it is shared?"
Robert shrugged. "A very simple question, really. Any Ravenclaw should know the answer: knowledge."
With the sound of machinery whirring, the eagle folded its wings, and the door opened automatically.
"Please, come in," Robert said, stepping aside. "Welcome to your new home."
Morris followed the group through the archway. The first thing that caught his eye was a wall adorned with a massive stone eagle carving. Two curved staircases rose on either side of the carving, leading upward.
After climbing the stairs, the full grandeur of the Ravenclaw Common Room revealed itself.
It was a stunning circular space with a high domed ceiling. A deep blue carpet, patterned with delicate spheres, stretched across the floor. Several plush sofas and armchairs surrounded a crackling fireplace, with books scattered about, lending the room a lived-in feel.
The most striking feature was a white marble statue perched atop the stairs—a woman of elegant bearing. Morris guessed it was Rowena Ravenclaw, the house's founder.
Robert explained, "The common room has two floors. Up the central staircase are your dormitories—boys on the right, girls on the left. I'll assign dormitory numbers shortly."
"Now, you're free to explore."
The students immediately dispersed in small groups, wandering and chatting. Morris, however, chose an armchair by the fireplace and picked up a book lying nearby.
What a pleasant environment. The warmth of the fire and the quiet elegance of the room made him feel at home.
He opened the book, expecting a scholarly work, only to read the title: How to Win the Heart of a Fellow Wizard.
Morris blinked. Silently, he returned the book to its spot. Clearly, this common room was more dangerous than he had imagined.
About three minutes later, Robert returned and called out to the first-years. They gathered around, including Morris.
He unfurled a parchment. "There are only five male freshmen in Ravenclaw this year, so dormitories are assigned four students per room. However, with these numbers, one student will have to occupy a room alone."
The freshmen exchanged glances, whispering among themselves. Spending the night alone in a strange place, even at Hogwarts, was intimidating for an eleven-year-old.
Robert continued, "Does anyone want a single room? The space is slightly larger."
Most students hesitated, unsure whether to volunteer. Then Morris and a black-haired boy raised their hands almost simultaneously.
Robert breathed a sigh of relief—he had feared no one would step forward, which would have complicated the room assignments.
"Very well—Morris Black and… Kyle Chesterfield," he read from the list. "But there is only one single room, so since you both volunteered…"
"Duel!" an upperclassman shouted, drawing laughter.
Robert gave him a look of mild annoyance. "Don't butt in, Cyril." Then he turned back to the two freshmen. "According to Ravenclaw tradition, you'll decide through a competition—not a duel, of course, so don't worry."
Morris felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Hogwarts was a place of endless surprises, and the Ravenclaw Common Room—with its riddling knocker, marble statues, and intriguing books—was just the beginning. Already, he sensed that this year would be unlike any other.
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