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The Last Wyvern
By Essy

In the days before the sorting hat, the founders of Hogwarts would tell prospective students the following fable, each ending the story at a different point and with a different moral. The students' reactions to the tale would indicate which house they were best suited to. The fable is reprinted here from the version available on page 1267 of Hogwarts: A History.

Rowena's Tale

In a time so long ago that it is almost forgotten, wyverns roamed the earth. These were the ancestors of the Chinese Fireballs and the Welsh Greens we see today. They had the head of a dragon, the tail of a serpent and they were great and terrible to behold.

The wyverns loved gold and they amassed great amounts of treasure, but the men hunted them down with bow and sword and wand until they were almost vanished from the world.

The snakes believed they were the natural heirs to the treasures. However, the treasure trove was buried in a cavern deep underground and guarded by the last of the wyvern. The entrance to the cavern was carefully hidden and no matter how hard they looked the snakes never found it.

In fact, it was a solitary raven, leafing through the books and papers of the lost races who had died out with the wyvern, who deduced the position of the cavern and set off to collect the treasure.

The moral of this story is that time spent reading is never time wasted.

Helga's Tale

In a time so long ago that it is almost forgotten, wyverns roamed the earth. These were the ancestors of the Chinese Fireballs and the Welsh Greens we see today. They had the head of a dragon, the tail of a serpent and they were great and terrible to behold.

The wyverns loved gold and they amassed great amounts of treasure, but the men hunted them down with bow and sword and wand until they were almost vanished from the world.

The snakes believed they were the natural heirs to the treasures. However, the treasure trove was buried in a cavern deep underground and guarded by the last of the wyvern. The entrance to the cavern was carefully hidden and no matter how hard they looked the snakes never found it.

In fact, it was a solitary raven, leafing through the books and papers of the lost races who had died out with the wyvern, who deduced the position of the cavern and set off to collect the treasure.

When she arrived she found that the entrance was blocked by dirt and rubble and she could not enter. A badger passed by and saw the raven's distress.

"I will dig for you," said the badger.

The badger dug through the debris and the raven was pleased and offered him a share of the treasure.

The moral of this story is that loyalty seldom goes unrewarded.

Godric's Tale

In a time so long ago that it is almost forgotten, wyverns roamed the earth. These were the ancestors of the Chinese Fireballs and the Welsh Greens we see today. They had the head of a dragon, the tail of a serpent and they were great and terrible to behold.

The wyverns loved gold and they amassed great amounts of treasure, but the men hunted them down with bow and sword and wand until they were almost vanished from the world.

The snakes believed they were the natural heirs to the treasures. However, the treasure trove was buried in a cavern deep underground and guarded by the last of the wyvern. The entrance to the cavern was carefully hidden and no matter how hard they looked the snakes never found it.

In fact, it was a solitary raven, leafing through the books and papers of the lost races who had died out with the wyvern, who deduced the position of the cavern and set off to collect the treasure.

When she arrived she found that the entrance was blocked by dirt and rubble and she could not enter. A badger passed by and saw the raven's distress.

"I will dig for you," said the badger.

The badger dug through the debris and the raven was pleased and offered him a share of the treasure.

However, they found that the wyvern sitting atop the treasure was still alive and neither of them dared to fight it for the treasure. They retreated from the cavern and appealed to a passing lion.

"Sir," said the raven. "I am under an enchantment. If you brave the wyvern for me, I will turn into a beautiful lioness and will wed you."

With a mighty roar, the lion ran into the cave and tore out the wyvern's throat. He emerged with the treasure and saw the raven turn into a beautiful lioness as she had promised. The three of them rejoiced and feasted and finally fell asleep by the entrance to the cavern.

The moral of this story is that faint heart never won fair lady.

Salazar's Tale

In a time so long ago that it is almost forgotten, wyverns roamed the earth. These were the ancestors of the Chinese Fireballs and the Welsh Greens we see today. They had the head of a dragon, the tail of a serpent and they were great and terrible to behold.

The wyverns loved gold and they amassed great amounts of treasure, but the men hunted them down with bow and sword and wand until they were almost vanished from the world.

The snakes believed they were the natural heirs to the treasures. However, the treasure trove was buried in a cavern deep underground and guarded by the last of the wyvern. The entrance to the cavern was carefully hidden and no matter how hard they looked the snakes never found it.

In fact, it was a solitary raven, leafing through the books and papers of the lost races who had died out with the wyvern, who deduced the position of the cavern and set off to collect the treasure.

When she arrived she found that the entrance was blocked by dirt and rubble and she could not enter. A badger passed by and saw the raven's distress.

"I will dig for you," said the badger.

The badger dug through the debris and the raven was pleased and offered him a share of the treasure.

However, they found that the wyvern sitting atop the treasure was still alive and neither of them dared to fight it for the treasure. They retreated from the cavern and appealed to a passing lion.

"Sir," said the raven. "I am under an enchantment. If you brave the wyvern for me, I will turn into a beautiful lioness and will wed you."

With a mighty roar, the lion ran into the cave and tore out the wyvern's throat. He emerged with the treasure and saw the raven turn into a beautiful lioness as she had promised. The three of them rejoiced and feasted and finally fell asleep by the entrance to the cavern.

Whereupon a snake crept from the undergrowth, throttled them all and made off with the treasure.

The moral of this story is that patience is a virtue.

THE END