feathersmoons:

liberty-flight:

I’m reading up on chocolate frog cards in the Harry Potter universe, for reasons, and-

“Came up with the ever changing floor plan.” 

Really, Ravenclaw? Really?

“You know what this school needs? To not make any sense-”

“Rowena, I don’t think-”

“Exactly, you don’t think. I’m brilliant and this is perfect. Moving staircases, walls that think they’re doors-”

“But how will the students get to class?”

“They’ll have to figure it out.”

“…”

“Everyday. They will figure it out everyday. My students will live in a tower and navigate these stairs every time.”

“The stairs move! This doesn’t seem safe…I think I’ll put my common room in the basement, Rowena.”

“Ditto. I think the dungeons would be safer…”

“…My kids will brave these stairs. I’ll take the other tower.”

The secret is, there’s a pattern to the moving staircases. If you know the variables, they’re totally predictable. 

The formulae have been passed down from Ravenclaw Head Girl/Boy to their successor, one to the next. Of course every year a good chunk of Ravenclaw students figure it out for themselves, but the rule is you keep it to yourself. 

They are not technically keeping this secret from the other students. There’s a directive straight from Rowena herself that they should absolutely tell everyone of any house … 

 … if they actually ask.