Ravenshade University

It was a warm August day, and Fallon was helping her grandmother clean the house. You see, Fallon’s parents passed away when she was 5 years old, and she was adopted by her grandmother. So her grandmother was the only parental figure she’d ever really known. As they were cleaning, a strange letter appeared on the counter, one that neither of them had gone out to the mailbox to get. Fallon just shrugged it off and tossed it into the trash, thinking it was junk mail. However, when she turned around, it was back on the counter. Fallon tried throwing this letter away multiple times, but it kept reappearing.

“What the hell?” Fallon finally snapped, then she picked it up and actually read it. It was addressed to her. “Huh?” She muttered under her breath, then called out, “Hey, grandma, come here.”

“What is it, dear?” Her grandmother asked as she stepped into the kitchen.

Fallon held up the envelope and said, “So, this letter appeared on the counter out of nowhere, and I just kept tossing it, thinking it was junk mail, but it just kept reappearing.”

Her grandmother gently took the envelope and ran her eyes over it, a faint look of recognition appearing on her face as she flipped it over and saw a wax stamp with an image of a raven and ‘RSU’ in calligraphy under the raven image. She just smiled and said, “I think you should open it.”

“Um, okay?” Fallon replied, taking the envelope back and breaking the wax seal.

When she took the letter out, it began speaking aloud, “Dear Miss Fallon Thornton, we are pleased to announce that you have been accepted at Ravenshade University. A university where young Witches and Warlocks can learn about and be trained to use their magic. Classes start on August 28th. Enclosed, you will find a key that opens a portal to our school. Yours Sincerely, Madame Ursa Fadington, Dean of Ravenshade.” Then the letter disintegrated, and in the envelope, she found a small brass key about the size of a house key.

“Uh, what?” Fallon said, “I didn’t apply to this school, and I’m not a Witch. What is going on?”

“My dear, it is time to learn about your heritage. Come, let me make some tea.” Her grandmother said, and with a flick of her wrist, she began making tea without getting the ingredients out of the cupboard or turning on the kettle herself.

“I-what? Grandma, did you just-?” Fallon replied.

“Do magic? Yes, dear, I did. I’ve always been able to do it. I wanted to show you when you were little, after your parents passed away, but I wasn’t sure if that was something they would have wanted.” Her grandmother replied.

“What do you mean?” Fallon replied.

“Your mother was a Witch; your father was a Warlock. However, they decided to live mundane lives. I’m sure they would have mentioned something when you were…maybe 16, but unfortunately, they didn’t get that chance. Even then, they may have just wanted you to live like a normal girl and might never have told you. However, your name has been written down for Ravenshade University since you were born.” Her grandmother explained.

“But, how? Okay, say I believe my parents were magical, say I believe…whatever this is, and it’s not just done with strings or other practical effects. I’ve never done magic in my life! How am I supposed to go to a college for magic users?” Fallon said, glancing between the envelope and the brass key in her hand.

“They will teach you. You’re not the only magic user who didn’t know of their lineage until they got their letter. I was the same way. But I went to Ravenshade, and it’s where I met your grandfather, may he rest in peace.” Her grandmother replied.

“Wait, you went to this university? How long has it been around?!” Fallon asked.

Her grandmother chuckled and said, “Oh goodness, at least 300 years, if not more? Fallon, I’m in my late 70s, not 500 years old.”

Fallon stared at her grandmother, her mind racing. This had to be some kind of joke, right? Magic wasn’t real—at least, that’s what she’d believed for as long as she could remember. But then again, she had just seen her grandmother make tea without touching a single thing.

“So…so magic is real, always has been, always will be, and I’m just now finding out at 18?!” Fallon said in disbelief.

“I know it’s a lot to take in, but this could be an amazing opportunity! Your parents even went to Ravenshade. Your mother was a brilliant Witch! She’d even made her own spell that they now teach. It’s called Addington’s Veil, named after your mother’s maiden name. It’s a concealment spell, powerful enough to hide even the strongest magical auras,” her grandmother said, her eyes glistening with fond memories.

“And my dad?” Fallon asked, gripping the key tighter in her hand to where it almost drew blood.

“He was better with potions and the like, but he knew how to defend himself, your mother, or you if needed. Both magically and with normal weapons.” Her grandmother replied.

“So now I have to go to this random Witch and Warlock university and hope for the best? I was hoping to get into Harvard or something!” Fallon said, both frustrated and upset.

“You still could. You could either not go to Ravenshade and go to Harvard, or you can go to Ravenshade, graduate from there in about four years, and then start Harvard at 22 or 23. You can always do both. Or just go to Ravenshade, and that’s it. The choice is yours, dear.” Her grandmother reassured her.

That thought hadn’t even occurred to Fallon, but her grandmother was right: she was young, and 8+ years of university at two different universities didn’t sound awful. She’d just finished 12 years of schooling from Kindergarten up until she graduated from high school in May.

“Okay, fine. Let’s say I go to Ravenshade,” Fallon said, the name still odd to say aloud, “and then go to Harvard after. Harvard requires essays and recommendation letters, and even then, I’m not guaranteed to get accepted. I can’t imagine a regular university would accept recommendation letters from Witch and Warlock professors.”

“You’d be surprised, dear. Sure, Witches and Warlocks are relatively hidden, but there are more magic users out there than you think. And I can promise you, not only would there be non-magic users at Harvard, but likely magic users as well. Just ones that only use their magic for practical things, like making food or coffee or what have you.” Her grandmother replied. Fallon looked down at the brass key in her hand, turning it over contemplatively. The weight of it felt strange, almost like it was humming with energy she’d never noticed before.

“So what exactly does this key do? The letter said something about a portal?” Fallon asked, looking up at her grandmother.

“From my memory, you put the key in any keyhole, like the one to the front door, back door, the pantry, et cetera, turn the key clockwise twice, and when you open the, let’s say pantry door, there will be a portal and you’ll be able to walk through and be in Ravenshade’s courtyard.” Her grandmother replied.

Fallon scoffed, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“Then give it a go.” Her grandmother said, amused.

“Fine,” Fallon replied and approached the glass door that led to the backyard. “Any keyhole?”

“Any keyhole.” Her grandmother said with a smirk.

As Fallon stepped closer, she slid the key into the keyhole, fully expecting it not to fit, but it did. Then she turned it clockwise twice, as instructed. However, the backyard seemed to look the same through the glass of the door, and she crossed her arms and said, “See? This is just some stupid practical joke. I don’t know how you pulled this off, grandma, but-”

“Open the door, dear.” Her grandmother replied before Fallon took the key out.

Fallon rolled her eyes, not believing her grandmother, and she opened the door. When she did, it wasn’t their backyard she saw. Instead, she found herself staring at a vast courtyard surrounded by gothic architecture that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction. Stone buildings with intricate carvings loomed overhead, their spires reaching toward a sky that was somehow a darker shade of blue than the sky above their house. Fallon immediately shut the door, took the key out, then opened the door again and just saw their backyard.

“What the fuck?” Fallon said breathlessly. She tried again, same thing, only this time she didn’t immediately shut the door and take the key out. She turned to her grandmother in stunned silence.

“I-what-how-?” Fallon stuttered out as her grandmother peeked through the portal as well, and a warm smile appeared on her face.

“Things haven’t changed all that much, though I can already see some differences. It looks like some buildings got renovated, and based on the students walking around with smart phones, they’ve managed to incorporate cell towers and Wi-Fi. It seems pretty nice, and you won’t feel too out of place, growing up with modern technology.” Her grandmother commented.

“Are there…like…dorms and stuff?” Fallon asked as she and her grandmother just stared through the portal.

“Yes, but you can also use that key and come home for the holidays or the weekends with ease.” Her grandmother replied. “As the letter said, term starts on the 28th, but students like to go back early to get settled in again. Though I must admit, a little over two weeks is a bit early. But, hey, I don’t know these kids’ personal lives.”

“Is there…like…a uniform or-?” Fallon asked.

Her grandmother chuckled and said, “Do you see a uniform?”

Fallon looked again. No, it was just a bunch of students in regular clothes, crop tops, shorts, sneakers, t-shirts, whatever. She glanced down at her own clothes, a sleeveless shirt with shorts and flip-flops. “So, I won’t look weird in just my usual clothes?” She asked.

“No, dear. They’re just regular kids; they just have magic, same as you. There’s no odd mark or anything of the sort for Witches and Warlocks. However, there are cosmetic spells to change your hair color and eye color if you so wish. Though I personally find your black hair and blue eyes quite pretty. But it’s up to you.” Her grandmother replied.

Fallon stood there, trying to take everything in, then she turned back to her grandmother, “So, I just walk in, find the Dean’s office and hope for the best?”

“Pretty much. I can go with you if you’d like, and you don’t have to go today. You can give it some time. Just try not to wait past the 28th. You’ll still be allowed in, but you’d be a bit behind and probably have a lot of makeup work.” Her grandmother said.

“How about we just…go meet the Dean and I get a dorm assignment. Then I can come back, pack, and move in, I don’t know, a couple of days before term starts?” Fallon suggested.

“I think that’s a wonderful idea, dear.” Her grandmother replied, and they stepped through the portal together.