Richie arrived at the office of the Ravenclaw Head of House. After a quick knock and a muffled response, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
+1
"Our Seven-Pointed Star?"
Professor Flitwick, who had been writing something behind his desk, looked up with mild curiosity.
"Shouldn't you be off chatting about Quidditch with your friends? What brings you here?"
Richie stepped up to the desk. His tone was dead serious. "Actually, Professor Flitwick, I wanted to talk to you about some of the things that have been happening around the castle lately."
"Well then, please, take a seat," Flitwick offered.
Once Richie sat down, Flitwick leaned forward. "Has something happened?"
Richie took a second to organize his thoughts, then laid out everything he'd noticed, making his deep concern for the school's overall safety completely clear.
The forbidden third-floor corridor. Professor Quirrell's erratic behavior. The mountain troll invading on Halloween. Harry's broom violently malfunctioning during the match.
+3
He didn't hold anything back, detailing exactly what he'd seen and heard. When he finished, he sat back and waited for Flitwick's response.
"Oh, dear. I am truly sorry." Flitwick's face fell, genuinely ashamed. "As a professor, it breaks my heart to hear that a student feels unsafe inside this school."
He sighed. "But regarding these specific matters, my hands are largely tied."
Flitwick hopped down from his chair. "Tell you what. Come with me to the Headmaster's office. Let's see what Albus Dumbledore has to say about all this."
Richie nodded. That worked for him. He was genuinely curious to hear how the Headmaster of Hogwarts justified the absolute chaos unfolding in his school.
Flitwick led the way, and they headed up through the castle.
Up on the eighth floor, they stopped in front of a spectacularly ugly stone gargoyle.
"This is the Headmaster's guardian. You need the password to get past it," Flitwick explained, before turning to the statue. "Honey Yuzu Tea."
The gargoyle's stone jaw ground open. "Correct!"
With surprising agility, the massive statue leaped to the side. The wall behind it split perfectly in half, revealing a spiral stone staircase slowly moving upward like an escalator.
"Whoa," Richie muttered, genuinely impressed.
"Follow me, Richie," Flitwick instructed, stepping onto the moving stairs. Richie quickly followed suit.
As soon as they were on the stairs, the gargoyle hopped back into place, sealing the entrance.
Settling back into its spot, the stone beast shook its head and grumbled to itself. "Young wizards these days... zero respect. I'm literally hideous, and the kid just stares at me. The absolute state of this generation..."
It wiggled its stone behind and went completely still again.
The Headmaster's Office
Calling it an "office" felt like a massive understatement; it looked more like a whimsical toy factory.
The second Richie walked in, he was hit by a wall of chaotic noise: gears grinding, the soft poof of cotton stuffing in plush toys, and the low hum of whispered conversations.
Just past the entrance, several long tables were covered in delicate, twisting silver instruments that whirred and puffed tiny clouds of smoke. Nearby, unstoppered potion bottles continuously bubbled, letting off streams of pink mist.
The back wall was plastered with portraits of past headmasters and headmistresses. Some were loudly snoring in their frames, while others gossiped in hushed tones.
Beneath the portraits sat a massive, claw-footed desk. Behind it, a kind-looking old man was thoroughly enjoying a plate of sweets.
"Ah, Filius. Dropping by at this hour? Care to join me for afternoon tea?"
Professor Dumbledore elegantly popped a candy into his mouth. As he looked up at Flitwick, his bright blue eyes landed on Richie.
"Oh? A young Ravenclaw. Let me guess... Richie Harland?"
"Good afternoon, Professor Dumbledore," Richie said, offering a polite bow.
"Ho ho, a polite young wizard is welcome anywhere," Dumbledore chuckled. "Please, take a seat. Join me for some tea, if you'd like?"
Dumbledore gave a casual wave of his hand. Instantly, two plush chairs glided across the floor, stopping right behind Flitwick and Richie.
Richie felt a gentle, invisible pressure on his shoulders, naturally guiding him down into the chair. Without making a sound, the chair slid forward, bringing him right up to the desk.
A teacup filled with a steaming, fragrant liquid materialized in front of him.
"Today's special: Honey Yuzu Tea," Dumbledore offered.
Taking the cue, Richie picked up the cup and took a small sip. It was surprisingly refreshing—a little too sweet, maybe, but definitely good.
"Professor Dumbledore," Flitwick started, getting right to business. "I brought Mr. Harland here because he's deeply troubled by recent events around the castle. Frankly, I suspect he's not the only student who feels this way; he's just the only one who spoke up."
"Ah. Castle events..." Dumbledore turned his full attention to Richie. "Mr. Harland, would you mind sharing these concerns with me?"
Richie went through the exact same list he'd just given Flitwick.
As Richie laid out his arguments, Dumbledore idly stirred his tea with a small silver spoon, listening intently.
When Richie finally finished, Dumbledore let out a long, quiet sigh.
"I see..." Dumbledore murmured. "Richie—may I call you Richie? As Headmaster, the responsibility for what happens within these walls falls entirely on me. There is no denying that."
"However, things are rarely as simple as they appear on the surface."
Dumbledore took a slow sip of his tea before calmly breaking it down.
"Professor Quirrell's behavior has indeed been erratic. The staff is currently evaluating his teaching standards. If he fails to meet them and it negatively impacts the students' education, the school will intervene."
"As for Professor Snape... he is an exceptionally dedicated professor. I would ask you to please reassure Harry that he has completely misunderstood Snape's intentions."
+1
"Regarding Harry's broomstick, Madam Hooch is already conducting a thorough investigation."
"The mountain troll on Halloween? You are right—it never should have been here. But its intrusion served a purpose: it exposed a flaw in the castle's defenses. Much like a mouse chewing a hole in the skirting board while the homeowner isn't looking. Now that we know the hole is there, we've patched it."
Dumbledore paused, his gaze hardening slightly as he looked at Richie.
"And the forbidden fourth-floor corridor..." (Note: Western/US translations typically adapt the UK "third-floor" equivalent to the US floor numbering system, but keeping contextually to standard Hogwarts lore, it remains the forbidden corridor). "That area holds a treasure that must be protected. Its presence isn't meant to threaten the students. Quite the opposite—it is the thorny hedge planted to protect the rose."
"Richie, please rest assured. Hogwarts will do everything in its power to protect its students."
"But if necessary sacrifices must be made..."
Dumbledore offered a sad, knowing smile. "Just as a student might break a leg in a flying lesson, Hogwarts will never stop teaching them how to soar."