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Rowena Ravenclaw was born in 993 B.C.E. in Scotland. While there is little factual information that has surfaced about her childhood and young adulthood, many stories have travelled by word-of-mouth. For example, one famous tale states that when Ravenclaw was just nine, she came across a poor thirteen-year-old boy who had confunded himself into a state of hysteria. The wise young girl saved his life through several tricks she had learned, and with help from a hint of dittany. This rumour has become rather exaggerated in some cases with some renditions stating the boy was, in fact, Salazar Slytherin. However this is impossible because his childhood home was located in England, not Scotland.

Ravenclaw excelled in all branches of magic. She learned all of the most basic ones, and likely taught all of them at some point or another. She is best known for her work in Charms however, primarily because of her work on bewitching her famous diadem, which was said to augment the wisdom of whoever wore it. Ravenclaw also excelled in magical architecture, and is in fact known for helping build Hogwarts itself.

Throughout her life, Ravenclaw had strong ties with the Hufflepuff family, more specifically Helga Hufflepuff. Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and their two friends, Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor, decided to create the finest school of their era. This school, of course, is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ravenclaw, as the smartest and wisest of the four, was given the task of planning the school. It was her who chose the location, designed the floorplan, and even named the institution. When it came down to decide who to admit into the Ravenclaw house, Ravenclaw chose those who were creative and sharp of mind.

Towards the end of Ravenclaw’s life, her daughter, Helena, stole the diadem and fled to escape her mother. Ravenclaw herself was very sick and couldn’t find her daughter by herself, so she enlisted the help of the Bloody Baron. Unfortunately, the entire situation resulted in the death of both the baron and Helena. Ravenclaw eventually died in 1000 B.C.E., lonely and heartbroken.

The portrait of Rowena Ravenclaw depicts a composed and refined woman, much like the Ravenclaw house. It was made by an unknown artist at an unknown date, but one can assume it was close to her death. She stays put in her own frame, only leaving to seek out the portrait of her daughter, Helena. Almost every time, Helena runs away from the sight of her mother and leaves her to sulk back to her own gilded frame. Though she is not very talkative, if you show intellect or need her help, she will almost always strike up a conversation with you.

She is not an angry portrait, but is usually a depressed one. Ravenclaw needs to be around the loving care of her students, and was therefore placed by the stairway leading towards the Ravenclaw Common Room.