These past few days, I've read quite a lot of feedback on how I've portrayed Ravenclaw, and after giving it some thought, I realize I did handle the order of things poorly.
Ravenclaw is indeed wise. What I originally intended was to use Helena's memories to illustrate Ravenclaw's greatest essence — tolerance.
It's a tolerance born from wisdom — because wisdom allows one to see more, see further, and thus tolerate more. It's not the warm-hearted, kind, and united tolerance of Hufflepuff, but a tolerance for differing opinions and divergent paths.
That's why the Sorting Hat says, "Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure," and that all those with wisdom can find like-minded companions in Ravenclaw.
This creates a house that, unlike Hufflepuff, is inherently more divided. Differences gradually emerge and eventually lead people down completely different paths. But everyone is using their own intellect to find their own way. Because of tolerance, Ravenclaw allows those with differing paths to coexist. Because of wisdom, those with differing paths are not easily persuaded or swayed.
When I was writing the last bonus chapter, I thought about Luna — and then I realized: Ravenclaw should have bad people. Because if it truly welcomes a multitude of thoughtful wizards, it should not be a harmonious and peaceful place. It should resemble the Hundred Schools of Thought era in ancient China — full of intellectual contention and debate.
It should be a house with massive factions, both good and bad, fighting for what they believe in, even sending those they disagree with to Azkaban.
And it's precisely with this goal in mind that Ravenclaw encourages challengers and thinkers to clash and debate, so that out of that wisdom, even brighter knowledge might emerge.
So of course, Ravenclaw would include fame-hungry opportunists like Lockhart and authoritarian figures like Rita Skeeter. Because they, too, are using their intelligence to pursue what they believe is important — just like not all the ideas from the Hundred Schools of Thought were worth preserving.
Naturally, some in Ravenclaw see them as wrong and believe they should be in Azkaban — and that's exactly how it should be.
Because of tolerance, Ravenclaw gave rise to Lockhart and Rita. But it also gave us Millicent Bagnold — the Minister for Magic who stood firm against Voldemort until the very end.
Do all Ravenclaws feel proud of Lockhart or Rita Skeeter? Of course not — that's why Ravenclaw's tolerance welcomes people with vastly different views and behaviors, but also inevitably breeds large numbers of internal dissenters.
This very tolerance also allows them to unite when rejecting something collectively — like during the selection of champions in the Goblet of Fire. But that doesn't stop them from wanting to throw the person into Azkaban afterward.
And Professor Flitwick, as Head of House, unquestionably fits this idea of tolerance — though perhaps that's partially due to his limited portrayal in the original books.
It was from this core concept of tolerance that I began to write all the various quirky Ravenclaws — though, as it stands, I may have overdone it, to the point where I now need to explain it, since I couldn't convey the concept clearly from the start.
But I believe Ravenclaw should be this way: in pursuit of wisdom, of knowledge, willing to strike hard even at fellow housemates if needed, and to stand firm against others — I love my teacher, but I love truth more.
Chasing good grades? High marks? Harmony and unity? That's all fine — but it's too small in scope. That may be part of Ravenclaw, but it cannot be all of it.
Ravenclaw should dare to question the future of the wizarding world, to consider the future of wizardkind, to seek reason amid chaos, to say "no" when needed, and after firming up its beliefs and goals, to do whatever it takes to prove its stance — including, but not limited to, sending other students (even fellow Ravenclaws) to Azkaban.
Yes, that is what Ravenclaw truly is.
T/N: For twenty chapters ahead on all my fics become a P@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle