𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐀 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘. She was lucky that her mother and father had decided to adopt a child instead of trying useless remedies. She was lucky that they didn't question the war-crazed half-goat man who showed up at their door one night. She was lucky the God of the Sun claimed her within a few days of her arrival at Camp Half-Blood. She was lucky her parents divorced amicably, Raya spending the summers with her mother in Canada, and the year with her father in England. She was lucky to get an acceptance letter from Ilvermorny, considering her Canadian citizenship.

She just hoped she was lucky enough for her transition letter to get accepted.

"Oh, I think I see something," Luke Castellan, one of the new campers and possibly her best friend, said as he pointed in the distance.

The two of them stood, lounging behind the Apollo cabin, searching for something in the sky that might deliver Raya's new acceptance letter. They'd been doing this for a week now, and on the last day of camp, Raya knew it was her last chance.

Raya rolled her bright grey eyes, "Luke, I swear to the Gods, if you're gonna show me another cloud that's shaped like a butt, I'm going to feed you to the forest monsters."

"Hey! The butt clouds are funny," he told her. "But I don't think that's a butt cloud. Maybe... a bird? Is it one of your owls?"

"Oh, is it?!" Raya pulled the binocular charm on her necklace, barely blinking as they transformed to actual size, putting them against her face. She adjusted the knob, nearly squealing in excitement as she saw a brown and white bird flying towards her.

Handing the binoculars to Luke, who watched in awe as they transformed back into a small charm, she scrambled to climb to the roof of the cabin. Raya hauled herself up, digging through her pockets for the bacon she stole from breakfast. 

The owl landed near her feet, holding out a thick yellowish envelope, with a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake surrounding a large letter 'H'.

"I love you," she said to the bird as she took the envelope. The bird took the bacon from her, hooting once and flying off.

"Why. Are. You. So. Fast?" Luke huffed, hauling himself over to the roof of the cabin. He threw the binocular charm at her, which she caught and reattached to her necklace. "This thing doesn't even have any footholds."

"Yeah, well, when you've been at Camp long enough, you can climb any cabin," she shrugged.

"Is that the letter?" Luke asked her once he caught his breath. "What does it even say?"

"Haven't opened it yet," Raya stared at it. Emerald green ink caught her eye.

Raya Newbrooke

Apollo Cabin

Camp Half-Blood

Long Island

She stared at the seal, "Oh who cares? I need to see it now."

She ripped into the letter, reading aloud for Luke who stood behind her. "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards). Dear Ms Newbrooke,  We are pleased to inform you that your transition letter has been accepted and you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress."

The duo remained silent for a minute, until Luke furrowed his brows, "Supreme Mugwump?"

"Seriously?" Raya stared at him. "I just got accepted into my dream magic school, and that's what you find important."

Luke raised his hands, "That's a made up word. What the Hades is a Mugwump?"

"Technically, all words are made up words," Raya shrugged. "The Supreme Mugwump is the title of the head of the International Confederation of Wizards. Don't ask who made it. I have no clue."

"Okay, fine. I won't ask anymore questions about the... Supreme Mugwump," Luke made a face. "What house do you think you're gonna get into?"

"Well, I'm kinda hoping for Ravenclaw," Raya said. "I mean, it honestly has such a cool vibe, I think it's the coolest house. Of course, Gryffindor's not bad either. But it's kinda—"

"Um, not a wizard," Luke sat down on the roof. "Need the dumb names when you talk to me."

Raya rolled her eyes, but didn't argue. She sat down next to him. "I want to be in the smart people house. But the brave people one isn't bad either. It's just — I don't know. It's filled with heroes and I don't think I'd fit in there."

"Are you kidding?" Luke stared at her incredulously "This Camp literally trains heroes. You've been here since you were six. I think you could make it into the brave house."

"Camp trains heroes, yeah," Raya agreed. "But Gryff — the ones in the brave house are the hero. Like the one person who saves everyone. Not the side character. The wallflower. And honestly, I don't see myself being the hero. I don't think I'd even want to be the hero. The nice people house would be cool, but if I'm not allowed to kill someone for taking my chocolates, I don't think I'd fit in."

"You'd be perfect for the nice house," Luke laughed. "I mean, you literally make friends with each and every person here. You're always giving everyone snacks and no offense, but you're pretty much the mom friend."

"You're not wrong," Raya muttered, "but I don't think someone from the nice house would push Andreas Lagunes off the rock climbing wall because he almost beat them."

"To be fair, he was wearing a harness."

"Oh shut it," Raya told him. "But there's one more house. It's... the ambitious house."

"Oh, that should be your first choice," Luke told her. "Not the nice, or smart, or brave... ambitious. I mean, come on. You learnt how to use a staff in three weeks because you saw the turtle using it and thought it was cool. Like your ambitions may be kind of dumb, but you'd do anything to achieve them."

Raya made a face, "It's not just for the ambitious. It's for the cunning. The same way the brave house is for heroes, everyone thinks the ambitious and cunning house is for villains. Hogwarts is a magical place — yes, I know the name is fucking stupid — but being placed in the ambitious house has literally ruined that for so many people. My mom's Mugg — mortal as far as they know, and they don't take kindly to crossbreeds. You could start in the ambitious house with dreams and aspirations, but teachers look down on you, students think you're plotting something. It gets to you. And I don't want something stupid like that affecting my years at Hogwarts."

Luke opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by someone screaming from the ground.

"Oi! Gather round the camp fire! The bead ceremony is starting!"

"Coming Lee!" she yelled to her half-brother. Standing up, she held a hand out to Luke. "Let's get your first bead."

REY WRITES!

updates will begin... idk when yet (soon)

but anyways, what'd y'all think of this little intro into raya ??

what house do you think she's gonna get sorted into ??

also what team are you guys rooting for this year (fifa) ??
asian teams are going crazy tho, like i'm acc excited for
this year's cup

thanks for reading!!

thoughts??

comments?

questions?

headcanons?

theories?