A/N: unBeta'd Chapter 6.
Harry's eyes grew wide for just a moment when Hermione was sorted. He honestly expected her to get sorted into Ravenclaw when the sorting hat dropped into her head. He fondly watched as Hermione took off the hat and skipped towards Gryffindor table and was greeted with a huge applause.
The sorting continued but Harry was barely listening, seemingly detached from the physical world, his expression impassive as his thoughts swam of his parents; wanting nothing more than to have a little bit more connection to them.
Harry was pulled from his thoughts when his name was called by Professor McGonagall, "Potter, Harry!"
As soon as his name was called, low murmurs erupted throughout the Great Hall. Most of which he's heard before and was thoroughly used to, although there were some he caught as he walked towards the sorting hat that were quite amusing.
"Oh my… If not for the fact that he's only eleven…"
"He's so dreamy," the voice then made a coughing noise, "…well for a firstie."
"Perhaps I should fail my classes and go back down a grade…"
"Cho!"
Before the hat was dropped on his head and obscured his vision, He caught sight of a pink-haired seventh-year witch slumped on the Hufflepuff table doing her best not to burst out laughing as she held her stomach.
Then it went dark as the sorting hat covered his eyes. 'Hmmm, good… very good, it seems Hogwarts landed a collection of brilliant minds this year. You have quite the prodigious mind Mr. Potter. Think of what you can accomplish in the house of wit and learning… no… better yet, in the house of cunning with grand ambition.'
When he heard the hat's words, Harry tried his best to convey his desire to be sorted into the house that his parents were sorted into.
The sorting hat released an exasperated sigh, 'Of course, I should have known...' Harry pictured the hat rolling its' nonexistent eyes. The hat chuckled, 'Indeed I would Mr. Potter, if I had them… Now, are you absolutely certain of this decision?'
Harry simply answered with a resounding, 'Yes.'
'Hmmm… you know, in retrospect, you are doing the exact opposite of what Mr. Black did when I sorted him all those years ago, but your heart is in the right place, as was your godfather's when I sorted him. Very well,'
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted into the now silent Great Hall.
A moment's pause ensued; followed by the same booming applause the Gryffindors greeted each and every new housemate.
Harry took the hat off, placed it back on the stool and made a beeline towards where Hermione was seated. "Guess we see each other sooner than expected Granger. May I?" He greeted and politely asked if he could sit beside her.
"Harry! Of course you may," Hermione smiled and scooted to indicate he may sit with her. "I didn't expect you to be in Gryffindor, is that why… uhmm… never mind, I'm sure it's personal."
Harry knew what she wanted to ask, he could read it all over her face. He gave her a reassuring smile and said, "Perhaps," he owed it to her observant nature to connect the dots.
Hermione nodded and turned back to observe the sorting and Harry did the same. Not many left to be sorted now.
He applauded along as two other Gryffindors joined their ranks, one of which was Ron Weasley who paled when he caught Harry's eyes as he joined Gryffindor house. Harry internally chuckled; to think that the redhead took Daphne's words on the train all too seriously, she'll have the youngest male Weasley wracking his brains out worrying on a non-existent plot to have Gryffindor house infiltrated by a true Slytherin. 'Although, I suppose it would be fun to play the part.' He mused.
With the last name called forward, "Zabini, Blaise!"
Blaise lightly tapped Harry on the shoulder as he passed and said, "See you around Potter."
Harry replied with a nod and observed Blaise be sorted into Slytherin where he joined Daphne and Tracey.
The first years' sorting concluded, the Headmaster stood from his head's seat and addressed to the students, "Welcome all, to another year at Hogwarts, with that note, let us all enjoy a wonderful banquet."
Hermione expected as much when the Headmaster ended his brief welcome, and varieties of food appeared piled on dishes. Everyone began eating, the higher year students introduced themselves to the first years and hoped to lessen their apprehension at being the new kids in school.
Hermione would have liked to discuss anything about Hogwarts with the redhead fifth year prefect that introduced himself earlier as Percy Weasley; but to do that, she would have to turn her head to the direction of her fellow first year Ron Weasley, who seemed adamant to devour anything edible in range.
She turned to Harry who had a contemplative look on his face, "Penny for your thoughts?"
Harry smirked and said, "You're going to need a lot of pennies Granger."
Hermione scrunched up her face and pretended to be thinking about it and then giggled, "Deal, so what's on your mind?"
"Persistent are you? To be honest, not much; I was just thinking about how Hogwarts is going to be different from Beauxbatons."
"Oh, of course, you would have left some friends at your old school. You don't regret going here do you?" Hermione asked and gave him a sympathetic smile.
Harry looked at her with a stoic expression for a moment, "No, not really. As for friends, we'll be writing." He leaned closer and asked, "What about you Granger? What do you think of the school so far?"
A slight pink tinge rose on Hermione's cheeks because of Harry's proximity, she smiled brightly, "Everything is absolutely amazing! Oh, I can't wait to start classes, there's just so much to learn."
Harry chuckled at the bushy-haired girl's enthusiasm for learning, "Glad to hear it Granger. I'm sure you'll do great."
Hermione was about to respond in kind when she felt that rush of magic that signaled the switch of dishes into dessert. Once again she was caught awestruck for a moment at the variety of selection. She saw Harry took some of the treacle tart and decided to have some as well.
Hermione didn't get the chance to pick up her conversation with Harry when they finished dessert because the Headmaster stood once more, the Hall fell silent.
"Now that we are all fed and watered; I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. Fist years should note that the forest on the grounds are forbidden to all students."
"Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has also asked me to remind you all that no magic are to be used between classes in the corridors."
"I am delighted to welcome back our dear Professor Quirrell who is to resume his post as Muggle Studies professor. And also, let us welcome our new Defense against the Dark Arts Professor, Professor Croaker from our Ministry's department of mysteries. And finally, I must tell you that this year; the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to any and all students until further notice, failure to comply shall be met with the appropriate disciplinary action."
"Now I hardly want to keep you lot from your much needed sleep, please be reminded that you will find your class schedules on your respective bedside desks in the morning, and off you trot!"
The prefects dutifully went about their task and led the first years to their respective houses. Hermione barely registered the series of turns they made and the number of flights of stairs they climbed to get to a painting of a rather fat lady. She was pretty sure she had fallen asleep in the middle of their walk which was probably why Harry had held on to her elbow while the Indian girl that held her by the waist was yawning from time to time.
Hermione managed a coherent reply when Harry said, "Sleep well Granger. See you in the morning." Harry then turned to Hermione's dorm mates, "Best make sure she's properly dressed for bed you two, don't think she can manage that alone." With that, he turned and followed his own dorm mates to their dormitories.
Hogwarts, Gryffindor house
First year dormitories
September 2, 1991
Harry eased into consciousness. He brushed off the odd feeling of not waking up in their France manor since he is now attending Hogwarts. When he got up to their dormitory last night, he only shared common pleasantries with his fellow Gryffindors he didn't already know, bid Neville to have a good night sleep and closed his bed hangings but not before he caught Ron eye him suspiciously. He of course incited that reaction from the youngest male Weasley by demonstrating proper Wizarding etiquette complete with his façade that he normally only used with his cousin; and not the seventh year cousin either.
He lay and stared blankly at the ceiling of his four-poster bed for about five minutes when the digital alarm went off. 'Digital alarm clock: modified for magical use on an area heavily saturated with ambient magical energy, check.' Harry mentally filed. He has about three weeks to test three modified electronic devices that ran on ambient magical energy.
After a few more moments, Harry decided to get up and prepare for the day.
Done with his morning necessities and clothed in proper Hogwarts robes, he scanned over his timetable and prepared the books he'll need along with parchments and quill.
Harry slung his book bag on his shoulder and quietly walked down to the common room. He didn't notice his only other dorm mate, who was awake at such an ungodly hour of five thirty in the morning, gave him an expression of guilt and sadness then turned to look at his wand on the desk and gave the eleven inches of Holly a look of disgust and indignation.
Harry found a lone figure seated on a rather comfortable looking armchair by the common room fireplace. He walked over and found Hermione pouring over one of her school books with her lit wand as her source of illumination.
"I see you're quite the morning person. Good morning Granger." He was slightly amused when she almost jumped off the chair when he spoke.
"Harry! Uhmm… Good morning to you too," Hermione said after she got her heart rate back to normal pace, she didn't even hear Harry walk over towards where she was seated until he spoke. "Isn't it too early to be dressed for class?"
"Hmmm? Oh, I think I'll go wander around the castle; see if I can find the classrooms without help. See you at breakfast." Harry said as he began to walk across the common room.
"Ok, see you." Hermione replied as Harry ghosted across the common and out through the portrait door. No wonder she didn't notice him approach earlier; with the effect of the dimly lit common room, Harry's eerily almost unmoving robes, and his somewhat aristocratic posture when he carries himself; he almost seemed to float, if not for his visibly confident steps, Hermione would have thought that Harry really was floating.
She watched Harry exit through the portrait and went back to reading her transfigurations book which they will have for the day.
Harry wandered around the castle for about an hour until he found the room he purposely sought out to find, the Trophy Room. He must have stood on the same spot for far more than a couple of minutes because the rays of sunlight that filtered through the room's windows were getting brighter.
So lost in his thoughts as he stared at the small shield that had his parents' name engraved in them, Hogwarts Head Boy and Head Girl of school year nineteen seventy-seven to seventy-eight, that he haven't noticed when a pale-blonde girl entered the room until she said, "I figured I'd find you here."
Harry was pulled from his thoughts by Daphne's voice. He turned and gave her a weak smile, "Hey Daphne, been there long?"
Daphne closed their distance, stepped right next to Harry and slightly leaned on his shoulder, "Not too long. I take it you found them?"
Harry nodded his head to the direction of the small shield with the Head Boy's and Head Girl's name on it.
Daphne sighed and rested her head on Harry's shoulder, inciting him to wrap an arm around her, "You're an idiot, you realize that right?" she said to which Harry just snorted out a chuckle, "They would have been proud of you no matter what house you were sorted into… not to mention we could have had a kick at Sirius' reaction of knowing you got sorted into Slytherin." She muttered the latter in an undertone.
Harry and Daphne stayed that way for a long while. It wasn't until the caretaker's cat Mrs. Norris trotted into the trophy room and looked up at the two students with a calculating gaze. They both stared at the feline with impassive expressions. After a moment, the feline deemed them worthy of a reprieve as they weren't found breaking any rules, Mrs. Norris motioned her head towards the door and both students took it as dismissal from the caretaker's pet, they left for breakfast.
Hermione went down to breakfast with her dorm mates. Her two other dorm mates introduced themselves when she finally went back up to their dorm to get ready for the day.
Parvati and Lavender seemed to have struck up a beginning of a long, fruitful and giggly friendship with the bushy-haired witch as their catalyst.
They were soon joined by their fellow first year boys, save one. Hermione wondered where Harry was. She must not have been very subtle with her search because she heard Parvati and Lavender giggle profusely after a whispered conversation, and then Lavender asked, "Looking for Harry, Hermione?"
Hermione almost snorted in an unladylike manner at the blonde girl's question, "Oh yeah, I suppose. He said he'd go wandering around the castle earlier, he could have easily gotten lost with the size of this place; honestly I'm quite surprised we found our way back here from Gryffindor tower, though of course the paintings were great help."
Her answer placated the two and drew on a serious note, "I suppose you're right Hermione, do you think we should inform a professor? Professor McGonagall is over there by the staff's table."
As if on cue, Harry walked into the Great hall with Daphne and groups of higher year students just getting to breakfast; Hermione spotted the couple through the steady stream of students coming into the Hall for breakfast. She waved when they looked in her general direction of the Gryffindor table.
Parvati and Lavender were again engaged in a whispered conversation when they zeroed in on the target of Hermione's gesture. They noticed Harry nod at Hermione then turned to talk with the pretty blonde first year Slytherin, probably to say goodbye or to see each other later; of that, they weren't sure. But they do know that they only have a few minutes at best to get some answers out of their bushy-haired dorm mate.
"Who's that Harry walked in with?" Lavender asked.
"Who? Oh, that's Daphne, she's Harry's best friend." She simply said and turned back to where Harry was finished talking with Daphne and now made their way to their own House tables.
Parvati pounced at the opportunity and fixed Hermione with a devious smile, "Just his best friend? Or…" Parvati purposely left it hanging.
Hermione blinked at her dorm mate's follow-up question, but before she could ask why they were asking, Harry joined them in their seat for breakfast. "Granger, Brown, Patil," He politely greeted each with a smile.
Hermione greeted him with a smile while her two dorm mates once again giggled and chimed, "Hello Harry."
Based on their whispered conversation and constant giggles, Hermione surmised that Parvati and Lavender must have wanted to ask Harry some, more than personal questions; but whether it was because of his current stolid demeanor while he ate breakfast or her presence between Harry and her two other dorm mates, they managed to keep it to themselves.
Harry finished a balanced breakfast in an appropriate set of time; he turned to Hermione who was reading her transfigurations book, having already finished her own food. "You don't expect to be given a pop quiz on the first day of school do you?" He asked with a sly grin.
"Doesn't hurt to be ready…" She retorted which earned her a chuckle from the emerald-eyed boy, "Anyway, how'd your exploring go? I thought you've gotten lost when the other boys came in and you haven't."
"I did actually, spent half the time getting lost." They both softly laughed at that, "Though I did manage to find the trophy room, not that it's much of an achievement since it's not one of our classrooms."
"Oooh, will you show me? Hogwarts has been around for almost over millennia, all those achievements, trophies and recognition received by students since its founding; I bet the room is absolutely grand and amazing!" Hermione beamingly lectured.
Harry amusedly chuckled at the bushy-haired witch, "I'll show you the room if I could find my way back Granger, but for now, how about we start heading for class."
"Yes of course, I suppose Professor McGonagall isn't someone you'd want to be late to on the first day of classes. Parvati, Lavender, do you want to come with us?" Hermione said and invited her dorm mates.
"Sure Hermione," The two chimed together, but added in an undertone when they walked on either side of Hermione, "Are you sure don't want to walk with Harry alone?"
The pink tinge that rose on Hermione's cheeks could have been interpreted either way as she mildly glared at both of her dorm mates which only incited giggles from the two.
Hermione and company were joined by first years Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin as they walked the corridor for their first day of Transfigurations class. They arrived at their classroom with ample amount of time to either relax from a most satisfying breakfast or in Hermione's case, take out her book, parchment and quill, ready for copying down notes. There was no one in the classroom when they arrived save for a tabby cat sitting stiffly on the Professor's desk.
Hermione noticed that once again, Harry sat quietly with the stolid expression he wore at breakfast. A behavior mirrored by most of the Slytherins, though with varying degrees of impassiveness. The Ravenclaws, much like her, were reading their text books while the Hufflepuffs were chatting albeit they didn't make too much noise. Neville was the only one different; if she didn't know any better, she'd think that he's glaring at his wand on the table in front of him.
The bell rang indicating the start of classes. It was at that moment that the remaining three other Gryffindor boys chose to go to class and came bursting into their Transfigurations classroom about fifteen minutes later. They were greeted with Professor McGonagall's steely gaze and proceeded to reprimand the three students from her own house for being tardy.
"I will not be repeating classroom orientation. That is punishment enough for your tardiness; should this happen again, points will be deducted. Now if you would take a seat and open your books to the first activity indicated, I suggest you do your work with minimal noise." Professor McGonagall sternly instructed.
Not very long into doing their assigned work, the class was again disturbed by a small explosion from the direction of the three tardy Gryffindor boys. Seamus managed to bore a smoking hole through his working desk with the spell that was supposed to turn their matchstick into a needle.
The Professor internally sighed but didn't let her disappointment show; it was after all the first day of class. Professor McGonagall walked over the damaged desk and with a few waves of her wand, repaired the desk and provided Seamus with another matchstick to work on. When she glanced over to her other Gryffindors, she was delighted to see that two of them have successfully turned their matchsticks into needles while Mr. Longbottom, Ms. Brown and Ms. Patil were close.
"Mr. Potter, if you don't mind, would you kindly assist these three since they weren't here for the demonstration earlier." Professor McGonagall relented to provide assistance to the obviously struggling tardy students.
"Of course Professor." Was Harry's short reply and gathered his notes to share with the three.
Hermione for her part went back to reading and writing quick notes on her parchment. Both her and Harry were awarded points for turning their matchsticks into a needle as everyone else who successfully did the same task.
All of the first years' classes started and ended much the same way as their first transfigurations class did, though the tardy trio managed to keep up with their housemates and avoided being late again.
Much to Hermione's delight, two if not three of their subjects were closely interrelated. She was confused at first when their Charms class Professor started their first lesson on shield charms; shield charms were at least halfway through their books, but decided not to question it.
When they finally got a 'Defense Against the Dark Arts' class, it was made clear why they had to learn the shield charms for their first Charms class. Professor Croaker may not be as excitable as Professor Flitwick nor was he as stern as Professor McGonagall, but his presence demanded attention. At the very least, his eerie voice and direct to the point lessons would have your full attention, not to mention that on his first day of class, the eerie Professor materialized out of nowhere and proceeded to explain that in dire situations, those who aren't attentive to their surroundings would certainly die a quick and painless death… if you're lucky.
Needless to say that it was a panting group of Gryffindor and Slytherin first years that exited their first Defense lesson. Professor Croaker it seemed took a whole new world view of the word endurance, as their first lesson of instilling survival at such a young age. The Defense Professor had each student stand against him, produce the strongest shield charm he or she can muster and hold it as he fires seriously overpowered stinging hexes, that felt like a pinch administered by someone who has long nails and twisted the pinch for good measure, at them.
Hermione could proudly say she held up for the first trio of stinging hexes but didn't much appreciate the ones that got through and hit her legs and shoulders. Her eyes watered a bit before she realized that she had a renewed shield charm defending her. She turned to see that Harry had brought up his obsidian-colored wand; she gave him a grateful smile.
Her smile lasted for about a second until the Professor spoke in his eerie voice and tone, "Ah, yes, Mr. Potter, perhaps you'd like to be next."
Hermione helplessly walked back to her seat. She looked around to observe the expressions of her fellow classmates who had gone ahead of her on the Professor's lesson. Tracey was rubbing her grazed shoulders; Crabbe was unabashedly rubbing his bits that got squarely hit by the spell when his shield fell, and her fellow Gryffindor Seamus somberly pointed out to Ron how lucky he was that his name was all the way to the back, perhaps by then, the Professor would get tired and his stinging hexes relatively weaker.
Hermione was however curious as to why Daphne was sporting a bone chilling smirk as Harry stood in front of the Professor. Her curiosity was soon satisfied when Harry brought up his shield charm. She noticed Harry's shield looked a lot more prominent and the color a lot sharper. Hermione lost count after the first ten overpowered stinging hexes fired Harry's way when the Professor switched from power to speed of his casting.
Awed by his tenacity, the class as a whole gasped when Harry purposely dropped his shield, side-stepped the hexes he can dodge, grimaced slightly at the ones that grazed him and finally dove behind the Professor's desk. "Very good Mr. Potter." Professor Croaker complimented with the same eerie tone, his next comment however, drew shivers from their spine, "Now, who wants to be the next victim."
After the first years' initial introductory classes, they quickly got into pace for the school year. Hermione couldn't be more ecstatic after her first week at Hogwarts. Apart from Harry, she noticed that most of the magically born and raised children her age weren't that much far ahead in their knowledge about magic as she originally thought.
The only downside so far that she could think of was their History of Magic class. The spectral Professor was indeed knowledgeable in his subject matter and even though he died a long time ago, he was quite updated in his subject; but for the life of her, Professor Binns simply wasn't capable of making History sound interesting. It was like the ancient ghost was quoting directly from the books, which he was when Harry pointed it out when they met at the library later that week.
By the end of the first week, Hermione loved each and every one of her classes with transfigurations and charms fighting bouts for first place while she surprised herself by having potions firmly locked in second; not that having Harry as her 'lab' partner was the main reason but it certainly influenced her decision. Now though, she is faced with a new dilemma for the first weekend, first years were to have their first flying lessons on broomsticks.
"I figured I'd find you here Granger." Harry said as he sat across Hermione on their usual table in the library. The same table they shared with Daphne, Tracey, Blaise and from time to time some fellow first year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs.
"Hello Harry. What brings you here? I thought you finished all your essay assignments, because I could have sworn you finished them, I mean Daphne, Tracey, Blaise and myself was here when you finished them; because it was the same time we finished our essays. And why are you smirking!?" Hermione said in a stride with a rising volume which slowly drew the attention of Madam Pince, the severely strict school librarian.
Harry chuckled and leaned forward on the table, "Granger, you're rambling… Guess it's safe to assume you're that nervous about flying lessons tomorrow huh?"
Hermione blushed at being caught, "Is it too much to ask for some seatbelts and safety harnesses on tomorrow's broomsticks?" She asked and half-hoped to get a positive answer.
This drew a soft laugh, and Harry motioned for her to get out of the library with him so they can talk freely as Madam Pince was close to glaring daggers at them if she were to hear a peep from them again.
Hermione relented and followed Harry out of the library, "Don't you want to spend the rest of the day with Daphne and the others? It's a nice day out and after our double potions; even I would want to spend the rest of the day under the sun." She said as they walked to the direction of Gryffindor tower.
"I mean honestly! How does Professor Snape survive the cold down there?" Hermione added, oblivious of the Potions Professor emerging from a hidden corridor that provided a shorter walk from the Headmaster's office to the staircases that led directly to the dungeons.
"The answer to that would be heating charms Ms. Granger, preferably casted on multiple layers of clothing." Professor Snape said as he passed them and added with a slight nod before he turned to the next corridor, "Mr. Potter."
Harry smoothly slipped into his façade and mirrored the Potions Master's greeting as he said, "Professor."
Hermione stood shocked at being heard by the very Professor she was referring to, but thankful that said Professor didn't seem offended or didn't look like it at least.
"I think he heard you," Harry commented and chuckled.
"Prat," was all Hermione said and joined Harry in light laughter.
When they arrived at the common room, Harry told Hermione that if she wanted to leave her book bag behind, she could. He then ran up the boys' dormitories to retrieve something and met Hermione back at the common room about five minutes later.
"Here you go; I thought you might want to read that while we sit by the lake." He said and handed her a book entitled Quidditch through the Ages.
Hermione's eyes widened as she took the book. A quick run through on its contents, she found what she sorely needed to know for tomorrow's flying lessons, the book contained an introductory to flying on a broomstick.
"Oh Harry, thank you!" She said and they both proceeded to walk out of the castle to enjoy the rest of the day out by the lake.
Once outside the castle, Hermione made sure there was nothing to trip over and opened Harry's book to read. She only stopped when he did and was a bit surprised when Daphne spoke, "Even on a nice day out, it seems you can't separate Granger from her books Harry."
Harry shook his head, "It's actually my fault this time; she kept worrying about the flying lessons for tomorrow."
"Hey! Like I said, is it too much to ask for some seatbelts on tomorrow's broomsticks?" This drew an uncharacterized snort from the three Slytherins. Hermione looked around for a spot to sit on when she found an assortment of usually served desserts on top of a picnic mat. "Uhmmm, are we having a picnic?" she asked.
Blaise snapped his fingers, "Is that how you call it? I knew the term was relatively simple but I couldn't remember what it was."
Hermione amusedly shook her head and took a seat by Harry and Daphne. They spent the rest of the day sitting, chatting and relaxing by the lake.
Hogwarts, Gryffindor house
First year dormitories
September 7, 1991
Saturday, first weekend at Hogwarts; Harry groaned as he eased into consciousness. He only planned to report to his godfather the previous night but they ended up talking for well over midnight. Sirius inquired about how his testing of the magically enhanced muggle technology was going. The digital clock and portable compact disc player worked splendidly even with the school being extremely saturated with ambient magical energy, though Harry expressed his concerns about testing the Television screen to which his godfather advised him to bring in a Professor, preferably both Ancient Runes and Charms professor.
With that out of the way, Sirius asked him how his first week at Hogwarts went. He told his godfather about his daily exploration of the castle. Sirius perked up at this news and proceeded to remind his godson about this remarkable map he along with James and Remus had made when they were in school; that if he found it, he won't have to wander about in the mornings trying to memorize the place.
Harry cleared his thoughts when his alarm went off. He slowly stood off from his four-poster bed and was promptly greeted by the snores of his redheaded dorm mate. As he walked towards the bathroom to get ready for the day, he noticed Neville was awake as well, "Morning Nev," Harry nonchalantly greeted.
After having done his morning ritual; Harry put on his casual muggle clothing, though growing with Daphne as his fashion adviser, this entailed that each and every garment was regrettably muggle designer's clothing.
He passed Neville on his way out of the dorm, "You know Nev, if you keep glaring at your wand like that, it might just up and poke you in the eye." He said with a hint of teasing for his friend's unusual behavior since school started.
Harry mistakenly took Neville's snort as one of amusement and he was half-way down to the common room to have caught Neville's comment when he said, "I hope it does, so I'd have a reason to snap the bloody thing."
"You're really on edge about your first flying lessons later huh Granger?" Harry asked when he spotted Hermione seated on her usual armchair by the common room fire.
Hermione, for her part, had once again almost jumped off the armchair when she heard Harry, "Geez Harry! How do you always do that?"
He chuckled, "Good morning to you too. And how do I always do what?" he asked with genuine curiosity.
Hermione giggled and replied, "uhmmm… never mind… Going out for your daily walk?"
Harry nodded and then turned contemplative for a moment, "Want to have that walk with me Granger? I was just going to hang around the trophy room until breakfast."
Hermione beamed and closed her borrowed book from Harry. "I would love to." She stood and took Harry's offered arm.
They made their way to the trophy room in relative silence.
The pair spotted Daphne leaning her back against the wall beside a rather huge looking double door. The blonde smiled that reserved smile of hers as she spotted them walking down the corridor. Whether it was by instinct or perhaps out of respect for the blonde girl, Hermione let go of Harry's arm when Daphne joined them as they entered the trophy room.
Once inside, Hermione stood wide-eyed at the neatly and properly arranged stacks of trophies, glass cabinets of golden engraved shields and plaques of recognition.
"Go ahead and wander around Granger. Daphne and I will just be there by those cabinets." Harry said.
Hermione nodded and smiled at the two, she briefly glanced at where Harry pointed at and read the label of the series of cabinets, Hogwarts' Head boys and Head girls. She filed that thought away and headed for the plaques. What better way to learn more of the school's history than to look for significant events that clearly left its mark upon the school and its students.
That afternoon, about a little over an hour after everyone finished their lunch, found the first years on the school grounds in their best imitation of muggle casual wear, at least all thought up to wear pants in anticipation for their flying lessons. This of course served as entertainment for the muggleborns; save from Harry and company, most magically raised children seemed to bizarrely mismatch their muggle clothing.
While they waited, all grouped up with friends they managed to make in the course of their first week in school, most of them sat on the grass and chatted with their friends. There were two groups of first years however that drew attention to themselves more than necessary. Ron and Seamus regaled their friend Dean of their adventures on a broom that would have gotten them countless warnings in regards about upholding the Statute of Secrecy and would have had their parents paying for penalties many times over.
Their bizarre stories were only matched by one Draco Malfoy who himself boasted to anyone who bothered to listen about his own adventures that always seemed to end with him narrowly escaping muggle helicopters.
These stories were making every clueless muggleborn nauseous by the minute, bad enough that none of the brooms in these stories had any safety devices in them but the series of loop de loops that the youngest male Weasley visually explained with his hands seemed to be the only way to pass this particular class if anyone of them ever wanted to try out for quidditch house teams next school year.
With all first years present and accounted for; Madam Hooch, their flying instructor, along with four quidditch team captains from each house as teaching assistants; strode to the school grounds and began their flying lessons.
"Everyone stand by a broom stick," Madam Hooch instructed, "Come on now, no point in choosing, they're all the same." She barked, and indeed the broomsticks were all, of the same model, seemed to be new at that, just a couple of years since its purchase.
"Now, I want you to stick your right hand over your broom, and say up." Madam Hooch instructed from the front while her teaching assistants assisted some of the few awkward muggleborns.
"UP" the first years shouted.
Some jumped immediately on a student's hand while some seemed reluctant to until they were given a tip by the four team captains to sound more commanding instead of a request.
Next the first years were shown how to mount their brooms by Madam Hooch. Once they were airborne, Madam Hooch left them to the assistance of the four quidditch team captains while she observed each student, ready to head off any unforeseen accidents; they may only be hovering at about twenty feet but judging from the boasted conversations the redhead of Gryffindor and pale-blond loudmouthed Slytherin, anything could happen.
"Alright you lot, you seem to have gotten the hang of it." Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor quidditch team captain, commented, "Very nice form there Potter, heck if I didn't know any better I'd say you were born on a broomstick."
Harry shrugged his shoulders and nonchalantly replied, "Genes,"
"Oh, of course, well then… be sure to try out for the team next year or Merlin help me, I'll hunt you down if you don't." Oliver said and drew a chuckle from the first year; he turned to assist the remaining Gryffindor first girls.
Harry turned to Hermione to see how she's doing, "So how is it Granger? Still think you need seatbelts on that thing?"
Hermione huffed, "Well there's no harm in being safe…" she retorted.
"Mind if I leave you here a bit? I need to talk to Neville."
"No, go ahead. I'll be…" She was cut off by Tracey's fit of giggles from above as she barreled down and safely stopped beside Hermione.
"I got her Harry, see you on the ground." The auburn-haired girl assured.
Harry nodded and headed off towards Neville. When he got to him, Harry asked, "Nev, now that we're in the air, want to tell about what's been troubling you since school started?"
Neville, caught off guard, cursed under his breath. The usually kind and cheerful thought sometimes a bit shy boy sighed, "I'm sorry Harry, I know I've been a bit of a git lately."
Harry waved it off, "Hardly. You've been glaring at your wand like you want to snap though, why is that?"
"I suppose I couldn't have kept this from you even if I wanted to," Neville said and took a calming breath, "When I went to Ollivander's for my wand, I was there for an hour. I must have tested dozens until I got this."
"Holly wood eleven inches and Phoenix tail-feather. Apparently the phoenix whose tail-feather is in this one, only gave one other, that old senile wand-maker dubbed this wand as the brother wand of the one that killed your parents." Neville laced every one of his words with as much loathing as he has on the dark lord.
Harry chuckled a bit, "It never really did suit you when you start insulting the elderly Nev,"
"Harry! I'm serious! No, don't do that godfather joke now please… Don't you know what this means?"
"That you could be the next Dark Lord? Don't worry about it; I'll be your right hand man if you'll have me." Harry said, trying to assuage his friend's needless worries of owning the brother wand of the one that's caused so much pain and suffering.
Neville palmed his forehead, "I think I'm gonna be sick, aren't you even the least bit concerned about this?"
"Not really. A wand is a mere tool Nev, I've read up on a bit of wand lore and wands are quasi sentient at best, that only goes up to matching its owner; but what you do with it, is all up to you."
Neville took a deep breath, "I suppose you've got a point…" he felt a ton lighter, "So, do you really think I'd make a great Dark Lord?" he quipped, trying to lighten up the mood.
Harry grinned; at least his friend is back. He honestly thought that there's just no point in worrying about something that's just literally out of your control; and if Neville keeps worrying about it, then he'd snap Neville's wand himself and have Ollivander make Neville a new one with raw ingredients. Plus there's always Mr. Measures if 'the old senile wand-maker' refused.
"Alright you lot, everyone did splendidly for their first flying lessons, especially the muggleborns. Three more Saturday flying lessons without a hitch and you can consider yourselves proficient flyers. Now land slowly and class dismissed." Madam Hooch instructed after she observed that the first years made considerable progress for their first lesson.
The first years, once firmly on the ground, went back to their respective house common rooms and dormitories to relax.
A/N: Well, here you are everyone, Turban head returns as Muggle Studies Professor and I figured that for the DADA position, I figured that if there's no applicants that the ministry would appoint a volunteer from their ranks with either DMLE head aurors or Dept. of mysteries unspeakables specializing on offensive and defensive magic development as preferable choices. Questions about the chapter, kindly PM them. As always, you're welcome to share your opinions and views as reviews.