Chapter 2: The Professors
The great majestic castle that was called Hogwarts stood with grace in the morning dawn. Hogwarts towers pierce the sky with ease and the stone castle tries to make themself looks presentable for all to see. The inhabitants of the great castle were still sleeping except for a large number but we will get to them in time.
For now we are concentrating on a young boy running around the quite still lake. The boy's long black ponytail bounce to his ever steps. Next to him slithers the green snake that was moving at a speed that would make any snake proud. Harry was finishing his fifth lap around the large lake. The lake was large and it edged both Hogwarts grounds and the Forbidden Forest.
While Harry was near the forbidden forest he could hear whispers talking to one another. It was amazing how a forest could hold so many communities. He saw several centaurs hiding behind bushes and trees. The centaur's trained eyes were on Harry and his movements. On some of their face Harry could tell they were amazed at how fast he was moving. It was funny to see them surprised at his constant training.
Near the lake Harry would spot a tentacle or too. It waved at Harry and he waved back. Sometimes Harry thought he spot a head poking out of the water but he wasn't sure at the moment.
At this time Harry was resting for a bit.
"Ca-n-nn we—ew-wee caallall it a dddd-ay?" Orochi wheeze.
Harry shook his head and Orochi's flop to the ground in defeat.
"Practice forms next," Harry said and stood up.
In the next hour and a half Harry went through several karate katas, Chinese Martial Art forms, Muay Thai and his sword forms. Orochi was off to the side practicing the snake style and trying to keep up with his friend's great stamina.
Harry finally finished with his morning routine and he was heading back to the castle. The corridors were a little empty save for portraits that was just waking up or waking others up. He was going to be going to class today and an abundant of excitement was just building up. Like all marital artist, Harry's mindsets were of a disciple and as such he was eager to learn new things.
After a good quick shower and a change of clothes Harry made his way down to the Great Hall and it was bustling with students coming and going. It wasn't decorated like last night. Although the House banners hangs elegantly over the long four tables. The tables were full of food and students were eating with gusto, especially one red head boy.
Harry looks around and spots Hermione who was buried in her book. He pulls his robes over his shoulder and fluffs it a little. His leather bound shoes click on the stone floor and it was muffle by the noises from the students. Harry's wet hair glistens in the morning light and his emerald green eyes intimidate those around him
"Nervous?" Harry asks Hermione who looks over her book and glance at Harry, "First day Granger-imouto-san, it will be introductions nothing more."
"How-" Hermione was about to asks but she was rudely interrupted by a sleek blonde Hair boy.
"Kousaka!" Malfoy spat out, "Have you made your judgment?"
"I have not," Harry said recalling last night's discussions with young Draco Malfoy. "It is hard to make judgments when you are only two pages into a book." Our young fighter emphasize by holding up a book belonging to Hermione. "I will give you my results after I have analyze my findings Malfoy-san."
Draco nods his head and made his way to the Slytherin table.
"What an ass!" Orochi hissed.
"Thank you," Harry said handing back the book, "I will see you around Granger-imouto-san and please put your books down ones in a while, you might miss things."
Harry was about to make way towards one of the teachers who was handing out class schedule until he bump into Ron. Ron had food in his mouth as if he was trying to eat as much as possible and he was surrounded by several boys his age.
"Good morning," Harry said and brush crumbs off of Ron's shoulder, "I hope we could still be friends."
"Sure," Ron said with a huff and he pushes pass Harry and mumbled, "Whatever."
"Yah gonna take that?" Orochi hiss.
"Quiet," Harry said softly, "Or we will get up at three in the morning and do conditioning till sun rise." Orochi didn't give a retort, "That's what I thought"
"Sadist," Orochi quip.
Harry smiles and made his way to his first class after getting his class schedule. His first class was Transfiguration and from what Harry read about this class. It was one of the most difficult classes in Hogwarts and also the very foundation for mastery magic. Transfiguration has been around ever since the time of warlocks who wants to change an object into the things they need. Harry could tell that this class is very beneficial to anyone.
The moment Harry walks into Transfiguration class room he spot a tabby cat sitting on the teacher's table. He was the third person to come to class early. One was a girl who had light blonde hair and slightly pale skin but not enough to be consider pale. The other person was another a chubby looking boy.
"Neville Longbottom-san, correct?" Harry asks and the boy whips his head around and stares at Harry.
"Ye-yes," Neville stutter, "But there is no san at the end."
"San is the literal translation for Mister or Misses from Japanese to English," Harry explains, "Forgive me if I have made you uncomfortable for using another form of language."
The girl to Harry's right muffles a bored huff that was really will hidden if not for Harry's training in reading the human body.
"And whom might you be?" Harry said standing in front of the girl and bow. His right hand extended outward to gesture for the girl to place her hand in his.
"Daphne Greengrass," Daphne said placing her hand on Harry's.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintances Greengrass-san," Harry said softly kissing her knuckle. "I hope to learn great things within this great halls and as will as from you if I may be so bold?"
"And pray tell how I can teach you anything?" Daphne asks.
"Ah but that is the beauty of it all," Harry said gently letting go of her hand, "You may know things that I do not know. For example you are intrigued in fine arts as will as Potion brewing. As for young Longbottom-san is a great man who knows his way around plants and bushes that may very will be poisonous to us all."
"How did you know?" Both students ask at the same time.
"But what fun will that be if I tell you right away," Harry said and made his way into the back of the classroom and smile at the two who was looking at Harry.
After waiting ten more minutes the classroom was full of first year students. Although Harry felt like there were some students missing and at the same time the Professor for Transfiguration class hasn't shown up just yet.
Harry stare at the cat that was on the table and he had a nagging feeling this wasn't your typical cat. It sat so straight and still you would've thought it was a statue. Its ears would twitch ones in a while and its eyes staring down at all the students that were already here.
When the final bell rung and everyone stare in front of the classroom the professor wasn't there at all. Suddenly the door burst open to reveal two boys, one of them was Ron Weasley and another was someone by the name of Seamus Finnigan.
"Oh thank merlin she isn't here yet!" Ron exclaims and the boy next to Ron nodded in agreement.
Suddenly the cat jumps off the table and turn into the strict Professor that Harry met at the door last night.
"Late to class Mister Weasley, Mister Finnigan?" Professor McGonagall asks and stare down at the two, "Do I have to transfigure one of you to a pocket watch so you two would get here on time? Two points from Gryffindor for being late, another lateness will received detention do I make myself clear?"
"Yes Professor McGonagall," both boys said and Harry heard Ron mutter something like 'it's the first day and we're in troubled?'
"This is Transfiguration class," Professor McGonagall began, "You will take Transfiguration for the first five years and unless you want to pursue it further you can. This class will be the toughest and most taxing class you will endure. Like potion class it is dangerous to play with magic and incantation that could harm or worse kill anyone at the receiving end of your spell.
"I will tell you this right now. I do not tolerate tom fooling in my classroom. If I find any of you doing so, you will get more than detentions. You may find yourself heading home and going to lesser-credited school unlike Hogwarts.
"To began, Transfiguration is an art of changing an object into things. For example," Professor McGonagall swishes with her wand several times and point at the table. Suddenly the table turns into a pig. After the students marvel at the spell casting she revert the pig back into the table, "Any questions?"
Harry raise his hand's up and Professor McGonagall nod at him.
"Transfiguration and Transmutation," Harry said, "Are they not the same field of magic or method?"
"Excellent question Mister Kousaka," Professor McGonagall said staring at the black hair boy in the back of the room with interest, "Transfiguration has many application and doesn't have the strict rule of Equivalent Exchange yet Transfiguration does have a limit of the size of one object can turn into. In all honesty it is the same form of magic but there is a different. Transmutation is permanent, unlike Transfiguration. It cannot be cancel and revert back to its original form. Yes you can change an object back using Transmutation circle but it will take the same effort and time to do so unlike Transfiguration. A simple cancelation spell will do with minimal concentration unless it is a higher level transfiguration."
"Thank you Professor McGonagall," Harry said smiling at the teacher and began to write in his notebook.
"Are there any questions?" Professor McGonagall asks and she didn't get any reply, "Lets began, open your book to page 12."
Harry observes his surroundings and notices a lot of things that would make several psychologists jealous. Most of the students follow instructions and answer some questions Professor McGonagall asks. Though few students were not listening or paying attention. Mostly the ones that were not paying attentions were those who looked like they were raised in the magical environment. He deduced that like most children who grew up knowing things, they feel like they already know it. Just like an exchange student studying about history that was a century back. The exchange student will study very hard while the ones who grew up knowing the history at birth will show little interest in things they already know.
Though Harry notice only a handful of those who grew up in the magical environment were listening intently. Those were the Neville, Daphne, Parviti and another boy who harry didn't know. He jots it down in his notebook and closes it.
Next was Charms Class.
The Professor that teaches Charms was a small man. He had a bushy beard and a silly pointy hat. His name was Professor Flitwick. From what Harry notice was that this man was part something. Be it goblin or dwarf or maybe he just had the dwarfish syndrome. Professor Flitwick was a cheery person and had an upbeat personality that could bring anyone out of his or her depression. His teaching styles were very interactive.
"Basic charms are easy to do," Professor Flitwick began, "I can just tell you one spell and anyone in this room could do it. Like all things the more difficult the spells are the harder it will be to accomplish the spell. For example the light spell, Lumos." The tip of his wand lit up and with another flick the room began to dim.
After another second the only visible light was coming from the Professor's wand. He shows the student in the room.
"Try it!" Professor Flitwick exclaims and everyone in the room try it out. Though only a few could accomplish the tasks. "Good, good, now I want you to imagine a light on the tip of your wand. Come on, try!" He encourages.
After several minutes the entire students in the classroom had their wand lit with a bright light on the end save for Harry who was jotting things in his notebook.
"Now that everyone has their wand lit I want you to dispel it," Professor Flitwick instructs and they did as they were told on the first try, "Good, good, you did perfectly will. Everyone take one point and a pat on the back. As you could tell you are a little winded and can anyone tell me why?"
"Because we used magic," Draco said plainly as if it was bright as day.
"Correct but that is half the answer I am looking for," Professor Flitwick said, "Yes Mister Kousaka?"
"The reason why everyone feels winded is because we are exerting magic and manipulating it to our needs," Harry said, "Also students magical core isn't used to exerting that much magical output as per say, a grown warlock."
"Correct in every since Mister Kousaka," Professor Flitwick squeal with delight, "And an excellent proper terminology as will. Take ten points mister Kousaka."
Harry put his hand up to stop the Professor.
"My education is rewarding enough Professor Flitwick," Harry said and the Professor giggles in delight. "Although I might ask Master Flitwick, will you be teaching dueling?"
"Off course, we have Dueling Clubs just for that and I oversee the activities, please everyone join if you like," Professor Flitwick answer excitedly.
This Professor would be the favorite among the students because he was more of a child than a teacher. He could interact with students on a more even ground than the strict Professor McGonagall and other Professors that live in Hogwarts.
Throughout the day Harry was introduced to the Arithmancy professor who teaches basic math up to numbers with magical properties. The Herbology Professor who was Professor Sprout and she was really knowledgeable in her field. Hogwarts was the premier education in England and the Professors are the proof of it. Although there were some questionable Professors who Harry heard from a second hand sources.
One of them was the Divination Professor Harry heard about. From what he heard she was a little nuts but hey what Divination Professor aren't?
Then there was History of Magic class Harry looked forward too.
As the Professor was a ghost named Professor Binns. From what Harry knew he had been there since the 17th century.
"Good Evening Professor," Harry greets the ghost.
"Evening young sir," Professor Binns greet looking up from his book.
"I am very honor to be a student of Historian Cuthbert Binns," Harry said bowing to the man.
"Ah I have not heard that title in a long time," Professor Binns said and stare at Harry, "Tell me your name child."
"Harry Kousaka," answer Harry.
"Will Mister Kousaka, I am please to see an avid historian in the making," Professor Binns said, "Please have a seat and we will began when your classmates are all here."
Professor Cuthbert Binns was a renowned Historian with a great list of accomplishments in History of Magic within England's borders. His books are very will know and his books shows the gritty views in histories and how it shaped England as what we know now. Harry was really excited since he himself loves history so much and how it relates to everything from when the spells were created to why a policy was created.
When everyone came to class Harry was ready with the lessons at hand. He had another large notebooks out and several pens to the side to take notes on the great history that is England. After ten minutes of the introductions was given. Little by little Harry was breaking down everything Professor Binns taught during that hour.
The students were bored out of their mind and Professor Binns's droning wasn't helping at all. Each student were grouping together and talking about various things. Other than that only two were paying attention out of thirty in the class. Professor Binns would shout out dates and time and who was involved with great emphasis.
When the class was over the students made their way out of the classroom leaving Harry and Professor Binns. Harry had his things in his bag and made his way up to Professor with the looks that could kill.
"Do you have a problem with my curriculum?" Professor Binns asks and Harry caught the hint of his history egging Harry on.
"As a matter of fact, I do," said Harry, "How come the curricular revolves mostly around wars?"
"Because wars started with conflict and end with a resolution that shapes our modern day policy," Professor Binns answer and he stare intently at Harry as if to challenge him.
After digging through his memories of England's policymaking and how Hogwarts could be affected by it. Then it dawned on Harry, his eyes widen in realizations and the wheels in his head were moving far faster than the mind could follow.
"But that's against the Charter!" Harry finally answered.
"Yet no one knows about it or does anything," Professor Binns said and smile at Harry.
"Except for you and select few," Harry said smiling back at Professor Binns.
Now Harry knew why Professor Binns spits out dates and time of the events for an hour. It was a hint as to why History of Magic was the most boring class in Hogwarts. At the same time Professor Binns wants his students to pursue the facts on the students own drive to uncover the truth. Although the method were too subtle even Harry didn't caught it until he spoke to the Professor.
"Thank you Professor Binns for enlightening me," Harry said and bows to the ghost.
The last class of the week was Potion. From the whispers in the halls it was the most hated class next to History of Magic. Rumors have it that the Professor was extremely strict and favored the Slytherin House. Yet that didn't deter Harry's fascination about Potion making.
Harry was waiting in the hall outside the Potion class and jotting things down in his notebook. After another minute students began to arrive and like Harry, they were waiting for the Professor to let them in. Our young fighter really likes this safety precaution because one of two things. The first was to not let any new student into the potion class because it is full of dangerous ingredient. The second was to get used to the dim lit hall that will likely have the same atmosphere in the classroom.
The door swings open and everyone enter the room. The professor wasn't insight at all. Harry stood outside the classroom door with one book in his hand. Everyone else was sitting in the classroom with his or her books out. After another minute the Professor came down the hallway. He was tall with a hook like nose, his hair was black, greased and his eyes were dull and showed no emotion.
"Tell me why you are not in the classroom?" The Professor asks Harry who looks up at the man.
"Safety procedure sir," Harry answer while closing his book, "A door opening does not mean entry and the room may be full of potions in the making. Entering a Potion class without the Potion Master on hand is dangerous because what if there was a potion in the process of creating. What if that said potion was dangerous to breath then we may not know what to do."
"Indeed," the Professor hissed out and stare down at Harry for a good long minute. Then the professor barges into the classroom, "As you have just heard. You are not allowed into a potion classroom without my expressed permission or me being present and one point from each of you for your carelessness.
"My name is Professor Snape and I will be your Potion Professor," Professor Snape said, "There will be no wand waving or incantations." He gave a silent pause peering around his classroom and glaring at everyone. "I can teach you how to bottle fame and fortune. While at the same time stop death in its track." His eyes scowl on one Neville Longbuttom. "Though I expect most of you are such a dunderhead like most of my previews class," He finally rest his gazed on Harry who was listening intently, "Save for one."
During the whole class Professor Snape's was lecturing on Potion safety and how mixing improper ingredient can lead to harmful results. At the same time Harry was jotting things in his notebook and Professor Snape saw the notebook but didn't brought it up.
Harry knew that Professor Snape was a great Potion maker and at the same time knew his profession to the tee. His strict demeanor and attitude was there so the students would more likely pay attention to their potion making in the future. What Harry didn't like about Professor Snape was his people skills. Even though everyone in the classroom was eleven Professor Snape seems to like putting people down.
His blatant favoritism was apparent when he called on students from different houses than Slytherin. Most of the times the questions were a little further in the book than they were at. Although some of the Slytherin students got called on but their questions were easily answered without glancing in the book.
That was the first day and we now find Harry in his empty dorm room writing his letter. The white bird named Hedwig was waiting patiently for her delivery. Orochi was off to the side with a smirk on his lips.
"Thank you for waiting Hedwig," Harry said tying the letter to her leg, "Safe journey."
After a moment of thinking he pulls out a sleek metal object from his briefcase and set it on the table. With one swipe of his hand several symbols began to glow on the metal and float up in front. The glow shimmer just a little bit and then a screen pops up. It was like a computer but magical. This object was still experimental piece of machine and given to Harry to see if it could withstand the stress level of being in a magical induce surrounding.
Harry push on an icon with his finger and it pops up as an email.
"Dear everyone,
I just had my first day of class and it is quite exciting. Orochi's still the same old perve as before but he seems to be in a withdrawn state. The attires are a century old so everyone's mostly covered from head to toe. The School is like castle and half of it not even used. All in all it is an interesting school. Oh and Hogwarts has an artifact named Flynn, it's a thousand years old and very sentient. Hakase-san would love to study it if she was here.
Give my regards to everyone,
Harry Kousaka."
The letter was sent to everyone he knew back in Japan. Especially his former classmates back at Mahora Academy.