Professor Minerva McGonagall was not an arrogant woman, however, she also did not believe in false modesty. She knew how good of a teacher she was, she could explain, with time, the most complex of transfigurations even to those with no aptitude for the subject. She could also control the rowdiest of classes and was one of the few people the Weasley twins truly respected. However, the silence that had descended on her Third Years was unnatural and felt oppressive. She had her suspicions for the reason, but she needed them confirmed.

"Really, what has got into you all today?"

The class remained nervously silent, although many turned their heads towards one Harry Potter. McGonagall's suspicions increased. Eventually Hermione Granger raised her hand, "Please Professor, we've just had our first Divination lesson, and we were reading tea leaves, and-"

"Ah, of course." Damn Sybill. Minerva understood Dumbledore's reasons for protecting the woman, of course, and she sympathised with Sybill in a way, but couldn't Dumbledore have protected Sybill someway where she wasn't inflicted on the unsuspecting students? "There is no need to say any more, Miss Granger. Tell me, which one of you will be dying this year?"

Everyone stared at her.

"Me," Harry said finally, from the back of the class. McGonagall almost felt like cursing. She had her suspicions that Potter already knew about the Prophecy, and that it was the reason he had taken Divination in the first place. McGonagall could only imagine what he was thinking, to go into a class to gain an insight on the Prophecy and instead have your death foretold, she could only imagine how he was joining the dots.

"I see," she said in her best 'no nonsense' voice. "Then you should know, Potter, that Sybill Trelawney has predicted the death of one student a year since she has started at this school. None of them have died yet. Seeing Death Omens is her favourite way of greeting a new class. If it were not for the fact that I never speak ill of my colleagues-" McGonagall drew a sudden, deep breath. She had been getting carried away, but it didn't matter. Glancing at Potter it seemed he had calmed down somewhat and accepted her message.

"Divination is a very imprecise branch of magic, the theory, background and intricacies can be learnt, but the actual Art of Seeing is a gift one is born with. True Seers are very rare." She stopped herself before she insulted Trelawney again, and glanced at Potter. "You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you'll excuse me if I don't let you off homework. I assure you, should you die, you need not hand it in."

Pleased that this seemed to lighten up the class somewhat she continued with her explanation of an Animagus, a subject she noted with a creeping sense of dread, Harry Potter seemed very interested in.

…

"Wait for me," Harry muttered to Ron and Hermione after the class, and approached Professor McGonagall, who was apparently rearranging her papers.

"Professor," McGonagall looked up. "I want to change electives,"

"May I ask which one, Mr Potter?" although Harry had no doubt she knew.

"Divination. I wanted to learn the theory, etc, and it doesn't seem I'll learn that in Tre – Professor Trelawney's class." McGonagall nodded.

"Do you know which elective you'll take up in replacement, Mr Potter?"

"Probably Ancient Runes, but I'm not entirely sure yet, Professor."

"And your friends?"

Harry glanced behind him. Hermione looked unsure, and Harry was convinced that she, like him, believed Trelawney to be a fake and the class a waste of time. However, actually getting Hermione to give up a class would be near impossible.

Ron also looked unsure, and Harry was sure he had been thrown of course by the opening class. Ron mouthed 'Ancient Runes?' to which Harry mouthed back, 'More exciting than it sounds, but don't just take what I'm taking,' Ron nodded. He, out of the three of them, had been least sure that the prediction was fake, but he had found the class, with it's frankly batty teacher and overwhelming incense, horrible, and it would be unbearable without his friends.

Ron stepped forward, "I'm changing too, Professor, though I'm not sure I'll change to Ancient Runes."

Professor McGonagall let them go, a small smile on her face. Now, if only she could persuade the obsessively studious Hermione to drop the useless subject that would only be taking up her study time.

…

After lunch they had their first ever Care of Magical Creatures class and they walked down the sloping lawns down to Hagrid's Hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. It was only when he spotted three only-too-familiar backs of the heads that he realised that they must be taking the class with the Slytherins and his heart sank. Malfoy was talking animatedly to Crabbe and Goyle, who were nodding and chortling when he paused. Harry was quite sure he knew what they were talking about.

Hagrid was waiting for them at the door to his hut, looking impatient to start and for one nasty moment Harry thought Hagrid was going to lead them into the Forbidden Forest. However Hagrid lead them to a patch near the trees where there was a rough sort of paddock, filled with a group of Hippogriffs.

"I don't know whether this is brilliant or mental on Hagrid's part," Harry said to Ron and Hermione, and they nodded. It made for an impressive opening lesson, sure, but how would a bunch of uncertain Third Years deal with the easily offended Hippogriffs, especially idiots like Malfoy who, most likely, wouldn't listen to Hagrid.

Malfoy was complaining loudly about how Hogwarts had gone to the dogs since it had to employ Hagrid as a teacher and, predictably, that he was going to complain to his father about it. Harry repeatedly told him to shut up and moved the general conversation onto other things, since he knew Hagrid was incredibly sensitive of his status as a not fully qualified wizard (and half-giant, but they weren't supposed to know that).

…

Flying a hippogriff, Harry decided, was a curious sensation. For one, it was completely and utterly different from flying a broomstick. He was sitting a great big animal, not a varnished wooden broomstick with a charmed cushion. He controlled the broomstick entirely, to the point where he sometimes he even forgot it was there. He could never forget that Buckbeak was there. He could nudge Buckbeak one way or the other, and if Buckbeak wanted to he would turn, but it was very clear, from the first time that he had met Buckbeak's beady eyes, that Buckbeak was giving him the ride; he was not riding Buckbeak.

Harry landed, windswept and exhilarated. Emboldened by Harry's success the rest of the class surged forward, bowing to, and patting their hippogriffs. Hagrid walked up to Harry and nudged him, "So, how was flying a hippogriff, Harry?"

"Brilliant … Professor." Harry grinned back, before the back of his mind vaguely registered Malfoy stupidly insulting Buckbeak. Harry, whose reactions had been honed by Sirius and Remus, who were half terrified Harry would get himself into fights and half terrified he would be attacked, whipped out his wand and, not having time to utter any specific spells, simply pushed and Malfoy was flung, none too delicately, out of the way of Buckbeak's rage.

Hagrid was immediately in front of Buckbeak, calming him down. Malfoy, fuming (although the look was ruined by the leaves in his hair), was now up and had his wand pointed at Harry. Harry, spoiling for a fight, kept his own wand pointed at Malfoy, but said nothing.

Hagrid's heart rate began to slow down after he had got Buckbeak calmed down, but then he noticed the Malfoy boy was now angry with Harry. After taking a moment to remember that he was the teacher, and therefore supposed to be in control of the class and sort this out, he rounded on Malfoy.

"Oh, no you don't, Malfoy. Put that wand away before I take points."

"But Potter-"

"He saved your life and you know it."

"But the hippogriff-"

"You had been told specifically not to insult the hippogriffs. Very proud creatures. But you insulted Buckbeak. How did you expect him to react? Ten points from Slytherin."

Malfoy was silent, but there might have been a mumble of, "My Father will hear about this," but Malfoy bringing up his Father was now background noise to all of them, and so they ignored it.

…

Hagrid sat in his hut feeling fairly happy. His first lesson had gone well! He was a proper teacher and everything! OK, a student had nearly gotten maimed, but he hadn't gotten maimed in the end, and it was his own fault for not listening. Probably thought Care of Magical Creatures was a doss lesson. Idiot kid. Didn't Malfoy realise he was a proper teacher now? Professor Dumbledore said so and everything. He had stopped Harry and Malfoy from killing each other, which was a sort of trial by fire for any teacher and he had taken House Points. He had to stop himself feeling like a fraud when he took House Points …

…

Harry was pensive as they walked to Defence Against the Dark Arts. He was sure Malfoy was determined to get Hagrid fired, and last year had proved the Ministry was already prejudiced against Hagrid. Harry would just have to keep an eye on Malfoy.

And he still needed to talk to Remus about his 'Dementor Problem'.

Still, Remus' – Professor Lupin's Harry reminded himself, first lesson. This was bound to be fun.