Ch. 7 classes
Harry woke up the next morning bright and early. He had gotten used to sleeping in a little more at the Burrow but it was still way earlier then most would get up. He looked over to see his dorm mates still sleeping then went to take a shower. When he got out he sat down to write a letter to his new found sister.
Dear Lily,
Hey little sister do you miss me yet? Well I just woke up from my first night here at Hogwarts and I have to say the castle is AWESOME! Its huge. There are ghost flying around and we even have a poltergeist Peeves! Nobody likes him but I think he's kind of cool, reminds me of the twins with all the pranks he pulled last night. Well I can't wait to see you again and I can't wait for you to get here next year. I know you'll love it. Well tell Ginny I said hi and you better write back.
Your Big Brother,
Harry Potter
P.S. I'll send the toilet seat I promised in the next letter
He finished the letter, then got dressed and headed off to the owlery he was told about the day before. He made his way up to the owlery and as soon as he stepped through the door Hedwig flew to his shoulder and stuck out her leg for him. Harry chuckled and pet the bird. "you are a smart one aren't you girl?" he tied the letter to her leg and helped her over to the window. "Now send this letter to Lily ok girl?" Hedwig hooted then nipped his ear affectionately before taking off into the cool morning air. Harry watched as she flew away until all he saw was a speck in the distance and turned to go back down
He walked down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Because it was still early there wasn't anyone eating, except for a few teachers. He sat down at his house table and food materialized in front of him. He smiled at all the choices and, like last night took one of everything he could reach and started to eat. As he was eating Professor McGonagall was watching him curiously. She walked down form the staff table and over to him. "Mr. Potter, what are you doing up so early? You still have at least a good thirty minutes before anyone gets up." Harry looked up at her, startled. "oh…Hi professor. I got up about an hour ago. I'm used to getting up early professor. You see it was my job to cook breakfast at my uncles house and they liked the food to be done by the time they woke up, so I learned to get up really early, either that or get locked in my cupboard." Prof. McGonagall was stricken, but she schooled her face to show no emotion. "Well Mr. Potter you don't have to get up so early here…if you do I'm sure you can find something to keep you occupied during this time?" Harry smiled. "Yes ma'am I can. Oh Professor, how do I find out what class I go to? I don't have a schedule or anything." Prof. McGonagall smiled and a piece of paper materialized in her hand. "Here Mr. Potter, I'm supposed to pass them out when everyone shows up, but since you are already here, here you go." She looked at it and smiled. "I see you have me first thing this morning, just know Mr. Potter I'm a stern teacher, I don't condone goofing off in my class, you understand?" Harry nodded his head vigorously "Yes ma'am I understand, can't wait to find out what we're learning today." McGonagall smiled and walked back up to her seat at the staff table, letting Harry get back to his breakfast.
Harry had already finished eating and was perusing his Transfigurations book when students finally started to trickle into the Great Hall. Ron shuffled into the hall a few minutes later and plopped down next to Harry and began pulling food closer to him. Harry looked over at him and chuckled. "Not a morning person, are you Ron?" Ron grumbled into his breakfast but didn't say anything coherent. Harry turned back to his book and continued to read the first few chapters as Prof. McGonagall came down passing out schedules. She smiled at him a he gave Ron his schedule. "Glad to see you are serious about my class Mr. Potter." Harry grinned sheepishly up at her. "It sound really interesting Professor, especially what I read about animagi, even though it didn't go into much detail." Professor McGonagall chuckled. "You know your father told me the same thing. It doesn't go into much detail because you won't be learning it until at least sixth year Mr. Potter. Now I expect you to be on time for my class." She left them to continue passing out the Schedules. A few minutes later Ron declared himself full and Harry laughed. "About time mate, I thought you wouldn't stop until the food stopped appearing on the table. Ron glared at him. "Hey! I'm a growing boy. I need to eat a lot." Harry laughed. "Yeah well so am I and you ate at least twice what I did. Now let's go, I really don't want to find out what happens when you're late to class." Ron nodded and picked up his books and they left in search of the Transfigurations classroom.
Even though they left early, they were still almost late to class, sitting down at their desk just as the bell rang. Sitting on the Professors desk was a small tabby cat with strange markings around the eyes. They looked around and Ron leaned over to him. "I wonder where the Professor is…" Harry shrugged and looked at the cat strangely, wondering what a cat was doing in the room. Just as he thought that the cat jumped off the desk and transformed into Professor McGonagall. She looked around the room at the class, a small smile turning up the corner of her lips at the students surprise and Rons' whisper of "wicked". "Hello first years, welcome to your first Transfigurations class. for the first lesson I want you to read the first chapter in the book, and when you are done try to turn the matchstick I will set in front of you into a needle, the spell, wand movement and description is in the first chapter. Harry raised his hand and so did the bushy haired girl he remembered from the train. McGonagall looked at them. "Yes, Miss…Granger?" Hermione smiled and lowered her arm. "Professor, I've already read the first chapter, in fact I've read the whole book." Professor McGonagall looked at her in surprise. "Alright Ms. Granger, here is your matchstick." She made a match appear in front of Hermione and turned to Harry. "Mr. Potter?" Harry smiled. "Professor I read the first chapter this morning at breakfast." She nodded, remembering seeing him reading the book after she gave him his schedule. She made a match appear in front of him as well.
Harry looked in his book to see the spell again and started trying to turn his match into a needle. By the time Ron had finished the chapter Harry had made some progress on his match, he had made it form into the shape of a needle, but it was still wood and still a match. When the needle appeared in front of Ron Harry turned to him and began helping him with it. A few minutes later he had made the same progress as Harry, and Harry turned back to his own match and started working on it more. By the end of the class both boys had turned their match into a needle, and were smiling at each other triumphantly. Professor McGonagall checked out their progress and gave them full marks. She gave everyone who didn't completely turn it homework to practice changing it. The only other person who had done so was Hermione. When the bell rang the boys packed up their supplies and left for their next class.
By the end of the day Harry decided that his favorite class by far was Defense Against the Dark arts, with Transfigurations and Charms as close seconds. When Dinner rolled around he and Ron were talking excitedly about their classes. With nudging from Harry, Ron actually was doing well in his classes, always one of the only ones to complete their assigned work in each class. Of course they hadn't had History of Magic as of yet.
As they sat down to eat hundreds of owls came streaming into the Great Hall, bringing mail to their owners. Hedwig soared down and landed next to Harry. Harry smiled, taking the letter form her and letter her eat some of his food before she flew back to the owlery. "What's that Harry?" Ron asked. Harry smiled, "I wrote a letter to Lily this morning, this must be her reply." Ron groaned. "I need to send a letter to Ginny, she's going to be livid if I don't." Harry laughed and opened his letter to begin reading.
Dear Harry,
I'm glad you think the castle is great! I can't wait to go there next year. I can't wait to see all the ghost, and to meet Peeves, he sounds cool. You should try to befriend him, that way he won't prank you and you can have him help you if you want to do any hard pranking. Yes, I do miss you already and can't wait to see you either. Ginny says hi, and that you better make Ron write to her, even if you have to twist his arm to do it. (Harry snickered at this part and showed it to Ron, making the taller boy groan) you better send me that toilet seat you promised me and Ginny. You did promise you know. Well I can't wait to see you, Uncle Remus and Sirius say hi and that you need to write them to. I have to go, going over to see Ginny.
Your Sister,
Lily Potter.
P.S.: I don't know if you've noticed but Ginny has a huge crush on you, especially after you saved her life, she talked about that for hours.
Harry blushed and hid the letter in his pocket, not wanting Ron to see the last part. "Well Ron, seems like you better write that letter, don't want me twisting your arm now do you?" Ron groaned and nodded, continuing to eat. After Dinner They went upstairs to go to bed. They talked with their dorm mates for awhile getting to know them, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnegan, and Neville Longbottom all seemed to be great blokes and they thought they could probably be great friends with each of them.