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Chapter 3: Hogwarts
The first morning back at Hogwarts I woke up at 4:30 and dressed in my workout clothes. I had already thought up a plan for how I was going to do my exercise now that I was at Hogwarts and I was going to follow through with it. Every morning I would wake up, do 50 push ups and 50 curls before running the stairs from Gryffindor tower to the last floor on the grand staircase and back again.
This morning was my first run through and when I got back to my dorm at quarter to 6 my body burned forcing me to use muscle relaxation charm and a cold shower to fight off muscle cramps. I knew it would all be worth it though when Voldemort was dead and the world was safe.
I was ready and down stairs waiting for Ron or Hermione when some of the first years arrived downstairs not knowing where to go. I was playing with Hunter when one approached me.
'Um excuse me. Can you please show us how to get to the great hall?' A little guys asked.
'Sure do you want to go get the rest of you so no one gets lost?' I asked. After they murmured to themselves a girl and a boy disappeared up to get the rest of their friends.
Sitting at the table surrounded by first years Harry couldn't help but think how different this year was, no one though he was a lying prick (well apart from Cho but that was different) there was no evil Umbridge and all imminent death was on the other side of the school wards.
'So what did you guys think of the sorting ceremony last night?' Harry asked starting off a chaotic round of energetic chatter. Harry just shook his head and grinned.
'Harry your early this morning.' Hermione sat sitting in the mist of all the children opposite me. I smiled up at her and shrugged eating off my third serving off breakfast. Some of the younger boys were trying to eat as much as me and one of them Scotty who had joined us from Hufflepuff looked like he was about to be sick.
'He was nice and brought us all down to breakfast.' Rose the cute little blonde girl next to her said smiling up at Hermione. The girls next to me were happily feeding Hunter as they ate there breakfast and talking about what classes were going to be like.
'Hey you guys I've got a Firebolt and a Thunder Clap if your good today maybe this afternoon after classes I'll let you guys try them out.' They lit up like Christmas lights. 'But to do that, none of you can get a detention and you have to earn a total of 15 house points between yourselves.' I said and they all started chattering excitedly. Hermione shook her head and mouthed bribery at me and I shrugged and smiled.
When my time table was handed to me this was what I had.
Monday : Double Herbology, Charms, Double Defence Against Dark Arts
Tuesday: Double Care of Magical Creatures, Potions, Double Study period
Wednesday: Double Transfiguration, Herbology, Double Potions
Thursday: Care of Magical Creatures, Study, Defence Against Dark Arts, Double Study
Friday: Double Charms, Transfiguration, Double Study
Needless to say I liked the afternoons of the week the most. Hermione had l spare a week to my seven but Ron wasn't taking care of magical creatures so he had ten. Needless to say I was a little envious of him. That was until Professor McGonagall told him that instead of his spares on a Friday he would be doing extra transfiguration or charms classes with a group of low Exceeds Expectations students.
Today was Tuesday which meant both Hermione and I had classes and Ron had a set of spares which he didn't have any homework to do in. He was just going to sit around and do nothing.
'Ron if you want a shot to be on the quiditch team then should use this spare practicing. See if someone else with a spare will help you.' Harry suggested.
'Can I borrow your broom?' Ron asked.
'No it's not a toy Ron. And I don't want it damaged for the first years.' Harry said before heading down to see Hagrid. The care of magical creature's class had Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Padma Patil, Parvati Patil, Seamus Finnegan, Neville Longbottom and me.
'Morning all, Harry where's Ron and Hermione?' Hagrid asked.
'Ron didn't make the grades and Hermione picked a different elective, ruins I think.' I told him.
'Well at least your still here. You got best in the class with your high distinction outstanding.' Hagrid teased him. 'Alright you lot today I will be showing you how to groom flame mane horses.'
Being lead down by the lake Hagrid told them if they got it wrong and caught alight to jump in the lake and not worry about their clothes. The horses were white, hazel or black no two tones or paints. Only one had a marking right on the front of his chest.
'Right know with these horses you have to be gentle and keep them calm or they'll spook and their manes while turn to flames. I'll need a volunteer.' Harry stepped forward already knowing that no one else would.
'OK Harry, pick a horse.' Hagrid said so Harry went and let the marked horse sniff his hand.
'Good job Harry let it know you're sent. Know gently rub its neck. Good.'
They worked with the horses as Hagrid told them all about them and what they were used for. It was needless to say that girls that asked for a pony never saw one of these. Harry was sad that Ron or Hermione weren't here to see them because it was a good lesson.
Dean Tomas had apparently helped Ron out with his goal keeping as Harry found out at lunch. And that Harry should really pick him to be a chaser. Harry had to remind Ron that A he wasn't captain and B he wasn't even on the team yet. That had shut Ron's bragging up real fast. Harry told Hermione all about the mornings lessons then listened to her go on about the runes she had been deciphering in her class.
'Well good morning everyone and welcome to Newt level Potions I'm sure that your all excited to be back at school. Now I know that Professor Snape was a no nonsense teacher and that he graded you all hard but I think a more enjoyable approach to potions is needed to get you young people to learn.' Slughorn said in a way that Harry couldn't help but think that he was a giant walrus paedophile. With a smirk Harry hid his face momentarily as he thought of an ulterior motive for the slug club.
Slughorn talked about several different potions giving an example before telling them that today's lesson was a competition for a perfect day.
In potions when they finally got to get started on their potion Harry thought about what he had to do in cooking and how it was basically the same as potions making. It was a revelation that Harry was sad he had never had before. Instead of cutting and squeezing the beans he crushed them getting better results. As he worked Harry thought about how his aunt had made him learn to cook and changed cook his draught more than brew it. He even stirred differently adding in a clockwise turn every once in a while to mix his draught. Harry was amazed that his potion was getting so far along in the text so quickly. Even Hermione who kept looking back and forth between theirs with surprised.
When Harry's mixture became clear crystal white like the final product of the text book he bottled it up and cleared away his potions equipment.
'Given up Potter?' Malfoy sneered over at him.
'No I'm done; my draught has turned crystal clear.' Harry smirked and Slughorn looked up from the cauldron he was staring into.
'I can't believe you won that mate. Liquid luck. Man I know what I would use it for.' Ron said slapping Harry on the back as they left the dungeons.
'So do I, Voldemort. Now let's go to the library, you have potions homework and I have care of magical creatures.' Ron groaned and muttered something under his breath darkly.
'Come on Harry its first day can't we just chill?'Ron whined.
'Ron there's a reason your far behind Hermione and me. Do you think maybe this is it?' I asked him and started walking toward the library before he could argue again.
We weren't the only ones using the time for study when we got to the library Hannah, Neville, and Parvati were there already Malfoy, Crab and Goyle were also in the library with Blaze Zabini and Pansy Parkinson. They were all in my care of magical creature's class and I think Ron felt left out of the loop as we did our homework and talked about the flame manes.
'Are you taking astronomy this year Harry?' Parvati asked as they looked over a shared text book at the flame manes.
'Yeah but it's only one night every two weeks this year. I'll have to find other things to use my telescope for. Say Parvati does you window by any chance face the boys dormitories?' Harry asked innocently which earned him a slap on the arm and a bunch of giggles.
'Harry what's the difference between draught of living death and other sleeping potions?' Ron interrupted as Parvati opened her mouth to speak.
'Easy draught of living death makes the drinker imitate death, putting them into unconsciousness and slowing down there heart rate. It also somewhat paralyses the muscles so the person doesn't move in their sleep.' I replied annoyed. 'It's all in the text book.'
'What did you score overall? Did you get into the top 25? I got 25 only just in.' Hannah asked Harry leaning over the desk slightly and Harry got a full view of her cleavage as Ron snorted.
'He got into the top three. He got third, Hermione of cause got first.' Ron told her bitterly.
'Really? My sisters right between you and Hermione. She got second. I got 17st. What did you get Neville?' Parvati asked.
'I got 30 and Ron what did you get?' Neville asked. Ron muttered under his breath and everyone at the table realised he got lowest score. I left them to their studies after I finished my homework grabbing my broom and heading for quiditch pitch.
When the first years ran down to the quiditch pitch all excited about getting to try out my new broom I couldn't help but smile. I let them all have a go on the Firebolt first while flying around to keep an eye on them. For being so young a few of them were pretty decent flyers. Some of them were a little nervous but they all had a go. Quite a few of other students sat in the stands and watched Harry and the kids play around on the brooms. At one point Harry saw Professor McGonagall watching and thought that she would tell him to stop but she didn't just watched before leaving.
Harry only just managed to put his brooms away and stick a notice up in the common room before it was time to go to dinner. When Harry got to the great hall he saw Luna sitting by herself at the Ravenclaw table. Harry knew everyone thought she was a freak but she was his friend.
'Luna come sit with me so one more person can be utterly disgusted with Ron's eating habits.' I said loudly so that Ron heard me.
'Hey I have perfect eating habits.' Ron protested as Hermione cracked up laughing. Luna smiled and came and sat with us telling.
Thanks Harry you didn't need to do that. I have no problem with sitting by myself.' Luna smiled.
'Yeah I know your tough like that. Just humour me.' I smiled at her. Luna sat with us and told us about the new goings on in Ravenclaw common room. Though after a while she just went back to explaining weird and mystical creatures losing Hermione's interest pretty fast. Neville found her the most interesting and started a deeper conversation with her, they seemed to have a spark so I left them to it.
There was excited gossip when we got back to the common room. They had found my notice.
Quiditch tryouts 12th of September
All positions vacant looking for an amazing team minus a miraculous seeker and a full sub team.
If unable to make the tryouts contact Harry Potter
'Why the bloody hell do you want a full sub team?' Ron asked Harry after knocking a group of first years out of the way so he could read the board.
'Because it quiditch is about fun Ron, it doesn't matter if you win or lose. Why not make all training fun too?' Harry asked and Ron looked at him incredulity.
'About fun? Quiditch is about the battle of one team against another. It's about kicking Slytherins ass and winning the cup!' Ron yelled. Harry stood up so that he was slightly looking down at his friend.
'Quiditch is about friends and having fun, celebrating together when we win and working hard together when we lose. It's about trying your best and never giving up. Quiditch has never been about the outcome it's about the flight and the time, dedication and teamwork.' Harry said and Ron shook his head.
'I think those Belletrix's curses went to your head.' Ron said and everyone sucked in a breath. Harry steered him to the quiditch cabinet.
'What do you see in these photos?' Harry asked looking at them again for the first time in a while. There were pictures of all the teams. They weren't serious or composed they were just photos of groups of witches and wizards that made up the quiditch teams.
'I see the old quiditch teams of the best house.' Ron said smugly and got a few roars of approval.
'No Ron you're not seeing the point. No matter what photo you look at their all the same.' Harry said and Ron snorted.
'No their not look in that one their all in the hospital wing with you.' Ron pointed the photo out.
'What Harry's trying to make you see is that it's not about winning it's about making a tight group of friends who love to fly together.' Ginny said and Ron snorted.
'Yeah because we win.' Ron said and Katie stood up next to Harry.
'Not always. You had to of noticed it last year, Angelina, Alisa and I used to crack up and cry knowing that Harry wanted more than anything to be out playing with us but he couldn't. He was our seeker and friend. Hell we started a new hospital wing celebration ritual for him.' Katie laughed and Harry grinned giving her a one armed hug.
'So you see Ron?' Harry asked his arm still around Katie and Ron shock his head.
'Yeah I see that you're a little girl that doesn't disserve to be captain.' Ron snorted and walked out the common room. Ginny had gone to draw her wand on him but Harry had put a hand on her arm.
'He's not worth the detention.' Harry said and she narrowed her eyes at the closing portrait.
'He's not worth the magic he's wasting.' She retorted and went back to her seat and Harry and Katie did the same. That night everything was a little awkward with Ron.
The next day Ron acted as if nothing had happened and Harry decided to let it slide which Hermione seemed grateful for. At transfiguration as I expected we were told that all of our spells would from here on out be conducted non-verbally which was fine with me. We went over spells that we already knew but the only people that could do non-verbal were after a little practice Hermione and me. I wondered what I had done wrong so early in the term when McGonagall held be back after class.
'Mr. Potter for once you are not in trouble so you may relax.' She smiled. 'I wanted to talk to you about your career choice last year. You achieved much higher grades than I had thought you could and already in my first class you have shown that you have strong abilities. I was wondering if you have considered becoming a teacher?' she asked and I smiled a little.
'Yes, when Hermione got me to teach the DA last year. It's nice seeing the people achieve feats they couldn't before. Maybe I'll think about it after the war.' I said and she let me go I saw her smile faintly to herself as I passed through the door.
Herbology was even more dangerous plants this year. It was no surprise to me to learn that Neville had gotten the highest marks in the class followed by Hermione. Today we were learning how to trim whippy vine, its fruit and leaves are used in a lot of healing potions particularly potions for muscle damage. I worked with Ron, letting it attack him while he tried to hold its vines, let's just say it was a way of getting back at him. I grabbed a few vines at a time trimming them and thinking how much easier it would be if we could just immobilize the damn thing.
I thought the arrangement worked out quite well since I didn't get whipped a quarter of the times he did. We were the fourth pair to finish with most of the other guys getting though it the same way we did. Parvati and Lavender would jump away and squeal every time they got within range of their plant. Stepping forward I grabbed their plant and held it down and against my chest so that all of its tentacle like branches were away from my face.
Parvati was the first to come close to it and start trimming away the whippy vines. Lavender watched me for a few moments before she helped her friend. Lavender kept shooting me looks as they worked and stepped back to let I release the plant when they were done.
'Thanks for that Harry.' Parvati said. Lavender didn't say anything again. Lavender not talking meant something was incredible wrong and Parvati noticed.
'You two are both welcome.' I smiled. As I turned to walk way Parvati grabbed my hand. Turning back to her she asked in an undertone so that only lavender could here.
'Are you starting up the DA again this year?' she said in a low voice looked hopeful and I shrugged.
'I'll tell you by Friday night.' I said and she nodded.
Potion's was, with Slughorn a lot easier than it was with Snape. Slughorn would talk to you and give you advice correcting you as you went along. Harry successfully completed his blood replenishing potion to Slughorn's utter delight. The old man seemed very interested in him. Malfoy didn't seem to like the fact that the new potions teacher liked Harry better than him.
Everything was going perfectly for Harry until they reached DADA's the next day. Harry wondered if it was going to be even worse than the year before. Standing outside the class waiting Harry just hoped Snape would for once stop picking on him.
'Come in students.' Snape said opening the door of their classroom. His voice made him sound ominous and threatening. They all filed in and Harry sat in-between Hermione and Ron at a middle bench. 'You have had many teachers in this subject over the years. Don't use that as a crutch I will not stand anything less than perfect in this class room.'
Snape looked around at each of us and as he looked me in the eye I held his gaze. DADA's was my biggest strength. He could bully me in potions but not here.
'The danger of the dark arts is great; the power of it is easy to yield so why do we not all use it? Potter' Snape asked rounding on him.
'It might be a concept you can't grasp Professor but the dark arts kills the soul and destroys the heart. You don't use dark magic it uses you, tears away your soul and your heart.' I said and he narrowed his eyes at me.
'The Dark arts do as Mr. Potter said end up consuming you. You lust for more power more destruction. But the arts are not all solely evil…' Snape talked in his droning voice for what seemed like hours till he finally said they were to move the desks to the side for a practical exercise.
'You have all been no doubt told that you must be using non-verbal spells in all your classes. That applies to this subject more than the others. If I hear or see anyone muttering incantations I will not hesitate to throw you from my class or take points.' Snape said. 'Into pairs, person one tries and stun person two who will try to block it.'
Ron paired up with Harry being the caster. Standing and looking around the room Harry noticed that Ron wasn't the only person having difficulty with non-verbal spell. The only person looking as bored as him was Hermione.
'Pathetic Weasley let me show you how it's done.' Snape said moving up to them and drawing his wand. Thinking fast Harry drew his own wand yelling Protego! in his head. As Snape's stunner came flying at him his shield expanded out destroying the spell on impact and throwing both Snape and Ron clear across the room.
The class who had all stoped and watched the exchange were in shock then the Gryffindors all started clapping. Snape got back up looking pissed and straightened his robes.
'Detention Potter I said shielding and non-verbal spells.' Snape snapped.
'That was a simple shield charm just protego and I did the spell non-verbal. You can ask Professor McGonagall. So no I won't go to detention because I did exactly what you told me to do.' Harry said.
'I didn't say the rest of you could finish practicing get back to work. Potter since you can do non-verbal spells I want a 6 inch essay on the benefits of being able to us it before you leave class today.' Snape snarled before he continued his walking around the room.
'Mate, that was brilliant! Throwing Snape across the room like that. Wish ya hadn't thrown me to but I'll live.' Ron said patting him on the back as they headed down to the great hall for some food.
'Thanks Ron.' Harry replied with a grin. Snape had of cause on top of the essay he had made Harry write in class given them all homework. They had to write about the proper use of silent shield charms and stunner charms.
Friday morning was the first charms lesson which just like ever other class everything was now expected to be nonverbal. Ron was back in a shitty mood and kept giving Pansy Parkinsons back filthy looks from his seat in the back row.
'All right everyone I want you to practice your basic charms non-verbally except for Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy and Miss Padma Patil who can start reading through the use of the aguamenti charm.' Flitwick told them and Harry gave Ron an apologetic look before kicking back his feet on the desk and opening the textbook on his lap.
Transfiguration was more of the same but Harry knew by the end of next week everyone would be on a more even keel again. Ron was reminded that he had to spend his study periods in transfiguration practicing his nonverbal and Hermione had study she wanted to do so Harry made his way up to the hospital wing.
'Mr. Potter, you had better be carrying a message because there has been no quiditch game yet this season so there should be no reason for you to be here.' Madam Pomfrey said with hands on hips.
'Hello Madam Pomfrey. I'm actually here to ask you if you could teach me some basic healing spell?' Harry asked. She looked him over with a crucial eye for a second then gave a nod.
'I guess its better that I teach you now than you die out in battle later.' She said and Harry nodded he did like that choice better.