Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters and locations belong to the talented J.K. Rowling. No copyright infringement is intended.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Chapter 9: First Day of Classes
The first day of classes was an adventure for Harry. Breakfast in the Great Hall was filled with talk and laughter. Professor McGonagall walked around, giving everyone his or her class schedule. When Harry, Ron, and Hermione got theirs, they read through them quickly.
"Oh good," said Hermione. "We have all our classes together!"
"Do we HAVE to have Professor McGonagall first?" Ron asked.
"She's not that bad," Harry said. "You just have to be careful while you're around her. She can be very stern, but overall, she's very nice."
"Well, the fact that she lectured you last night, on the first night, shows that she doesn't care," Ron said.
Harry shook his head. "No, she does. She just doesn't show it very much. If she didn't care, she would have taken at least fifty points from Gryffindor and refused to answer my question."
"Whatever," mumbled Ron, diving into the mound of food on his plate, as though he had not eaten in days.
After breakfast, Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way to Transfiguration. Ron and Hermione would have gotten lost if it weren't for Harry and his memory of the castle.
When everyone was seated, Professor McGonagall took role before launching into her beginning speech, "Transfiguration is a complex subject. If you misbehave in my class, you will be subject to both a loss of points and detention. This is your only warning."
She turned her desk into a pig and back before explaining that it would be a couple years before they attempted a transfiguration of that scale. That day they started with turning matchsticks into needles.
In Charms, Professor Flitwick greeted Harry warmly and said, "Mr. Potter, how nice it is to finally have you in my class."
"Thanks Professor," Harry said.
They started learning the Lumos charm. Hermione got it on her second try, a bright light standing out even in the well-lit classroom, while Harry and Ron struggled and were given extra homework to practice before the next class.
History of Magic was pretty boring. Professor Binns talked and talked, lulling all the students, except Hermione, into a sleepy state. Harry thought this would be the perfect time to draw a picture. There was no teacher to tell him to put it away. But as he started drawing a Snitch, Hermione hissed, "Harry, what do you think you're doing?"
"Nothing," Harry lied. Hermione glared at him and took his drawing.
"I will not let you draw during class," she snapped.
"Hey! Those are my notes," Harry quietly shot back. Hermione glared at him, then put his drawing in her bag.
"I will give it back to you after class," she said.
"Fine," Harry said, pulling out a new sheet of parchment but refusing to take notes. He spent the rest of the class period glaring at his desk.
At dinner, Hermione approached Professor McGonagall and gave her Harry's drawing. "And when did he do this?" she asked.
"History of Magic, Professor," Hermione replied.
Professor McGonagall sighed and said, "At least it was only History of Magic. You can give him back his drawing. However, tell him that if he does it in my class, I will be take points from Gryffindor."
"Yes Professor," said Hermione, taking the paper back and going to the Gryffindor table.
"You told! It wasn't even in her class! It shouldn't matter!" Harry yelled.
"I'm sorry," said Hermione, sitting down and handing Harry back his drawing. "But Professor McGonagall is our head of house. She needs to know what's going on."
"No she doesn't, it is not a problem in her class" Ron muttered, taking Harry's side.
"Anyway, Harry, she said that if you ever do it in her class, she will take points," Hermione continued.
Harry grimaced at Hermione's words, refusing to speak to her for the rest of the meal.
That night, Harry got into bed and thought about the ups and downs of his day. He was pleased to finally be a Hogwarts' student. Sure, Hermione told on him for drawing in class to keep himself awake, which seemed backwards because he figured she would be really mad if he fell asleep, but who understood girls anyway?
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