He sits in the common room and reads Hogwarts: A History by firelight.

And the first person to get up seems to be, in fact, Percy Weasley, at around six-thirty. "Oh, good morning. I don't usually find anyone here this early."

"Good morning," says Victor. "I woke up early and came down to read so I wouldn't disturb anyone."

"Ah, I see. What are you reading?"

"Hogwarts: A History."

"Interesting choice. Not all that useful, though, I'd recommend going through school books first."

He nods. "Thank you, I'll remember that."

"I'm going to have breakfast, though. Want to come with? Or wait for my brother and Longbottom?"

"I'll go with you - do you mind waiting while I see if my raven is awake?"

"—sure, go ahead. Ah, most owls stay in the Owlery..."

"Muninn isn't an owl," he says reasonably.

He goes up the stairs and returns in mere moments with a raven on his shoulder.

"Was Muninn authorised...?" Percy asks dubiously as they make their way to the Great Hall.

"The owl shop in Diagon Alley sold him to me and the person there said there wouldn't be any trouble over him."

"No trouble," croaks Muninn.

"Huh. Alright."

The way back down is not, in fact, the same way they came up, and there are unfamiliar turns and twists in the way.

Victor pays close attention. Again.

Eventually: the Great Hall! They are not the first ones there, but just because there's a fourth-year Ravenclaw reading a book and failing to move food from his plate to his mouth.

Well. Being this early to breakfast makes him feel a little less unsettled about everything. He feeds Muninn some bacon.

There is fortunately a lot of bacon!

People start coming into the Great Hall in twos and threes, but not in any appreciable quantity until around seven-fifteen, which is when Draco Malfoy and his two minions appear.

Oh, them.

Yep, them.

Next come Ron and Neville, followed by Dean and Seamus.

"You got up really early."

"I'm used to being up early," he says.

"Even after a day travelling and then going to sleep super late?"

"What's it to you?" says Muninn.