Rewrite the Stars

Summary: "Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own." – Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land. FemHarry.

Just a warning: FemHarry, AU, Language, Clichés, Age Difference, Messed Time Line, More in the Future

Just so you know (Name): FemHarry's name is Charis Aster Potter. In Greek mythology, a Charis is one of the Charites or "Graces"; goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility. This name comes from a Ancient Greek word meaning "Grace", "Kindness" and "Life". Aster is a Ancient Greek word for "Star" while the meaning of the flower Aster can differ depending on the presentation, my favorites being "Elegance", "Patience" and "Daintiness". Also, the Ancient Greeks used to burn aster leaves to ward off both snakes and evil spirits.

I don't own anything related to Marvel or Harry Potter!

Chapter 9. The First Day

Harry woke up to find that she wasn't in the Hogwarts Express any longer. For a moment, she wondered where she was or how she had got there but she couldn't come up with a answer. Her whole body was aching and even with the pile blankets over her, she couldn't shivering; it was difficult to think properly like this.

Soon enough, the answers to her questions hit her; the memories, the hooded black creatures, the cold, the screams –

Emerald green eyes snapped open.

It was dark, probably past midnight and she was lying in the Hospital Wing. Harry didn't even bother to try and push herself out of the bed like she usually did and, instead, turned her head to the side.

James was sitting beside her bed, his eyes closed and posture straight. His arms were folded against his chest and her Invisibility Cloak had been thrown over another chair.

She had barely stared at him for a second before his ice-blue eyes opened, scanning the room in search of something before stopping on her.

"Hi," Harry said, lamely.

James let out a choked breath, throwing himself to the floor so he was kneeling beside her bed.

"Charis," James whispered, his voice holding no small amount of relief as he leaned forward to run a trembling hand through her hair. "Charis."

"Sorry," She muttered, feeling a little lost. The thirteen years old couldn't understand why he was so relieved.

"Why're you sorry, doll?" The long haired man grasped one of her hands, squeezing it. "It wasn't your fault. It was that thing." He spat before making a pause and taking a deep breath, as if trying to stay calm and not start screaming and ranting like the mother hen both of them knew he was.

Harry closed her eyes for a moment, trying to banish the screams that started to echo on the back of her mind. Sighing, she opened her eyes once more to look at James, biting her bottom lip as she did so.

"What… Do you know what were those things?" She whispered.

Harry really didn't want to know but part of her told her that she had to ask.

Ice-blue eyes flashed with poor concealed rage as his nostrils flared, "Dementors." James replied. "They were the monsters the quartet had spoken about."

The guards of Azkaban, her mind whispered. Harry shivered as she recalled Ulric's words about how those creatures sucked a person's soul out of their body as well how they took away a person's happiness and positive thoughts and only left their despair and sadness.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked, worried about James.

If there was anyone who would be greatly affected by those hooded creatures, then it would be him.

Her Great-Uncle gave her an soft but exasperated look, shaking his head with a sigh, "Oh doll," James muttered. "I'm fine – I was fine then as well." The It's you who wasn't was left unsaid but both of them heard it. "The Cloak hide me from them." He said after a moment, glancing at said Cloak by the corner of his eyes. "I was the only one in the compartment who wasn't being affected by those things."

Harry smiled sweetly, "I'm glad."

It was good to know that her Invisibility Cloak could hide the user from the Dementors. That would give James protection against them.

James scoffed, lips twitching up a little as he patted her head, "I had wanted to shoot those things when you called for me. God, doll, I had never felt more hopeless than at that moment." He said, closing his eyes as if in pain.

"Did you?" The green-eyed girl asked, trying to distract him. She knew that there was nothing that she could say or do to make him feel better.

He opened his eyes to look at her once more.

"Did you shoot them?" She asked.

The ice-blue eyed man pursued his lips, "There was no time." He said. "Lupin showed up and used some kind of magic on them, scaring the Dementors away. He didn't leave after that so I ended up staying under the Cloak."

Harry knitted her brows in confusion, "…Lupin who?"

She didn't remember anyone at the school called Lupin.

Contrary to what one may assume from the size of the castle, there weren't all that many students at Hogwarts at the moment; everyone knew everyone even if by nickname.

"Remus Lupin," He clarified. "The man in the compartment."

"Oh," She stiffed a yawn, blinking her eyes. "He's already more useful than the last two Defense teachers we had." Harry mumbled.

"We'll see," James said, tucking a strand of hair out of her face.

He said something else but Harry was far too tired. She feel asleep before she even knew what was happening, as if her body had decided to shut down.

When she woke up again, it was to see Poppy Pomfrey hovering over her.

"I had hoped you would only end up here after your first Quidditch match this year." The Matron said, giving her a look as she leaned to check Harry's eyes and waving her wand to cast diagnostic spells on the girl.

"But Poppy," Harry smiled a little, batting her eyelashes, "I missed you so much that I had to come to see you."

"Uh huh," Poppy hummed dryly, moving to grab a glass of water as well the small girl's glasses from the bedside table and handed it to Harry after the girl pushed herself up into a sitting position.

"So," Harry said, drinking the water while pushing her glasses on her face. "What's the verdict? Bed rest? Should I stay in this bed for a few days?"

Absent mindedly, Harry wondered where James was. She was sure that he would have patted her head by now if he was in the Hospital Wing.

"You're fine now." Poppy took the now empty glass from her, grumbling under her breath. "Honestly, setting Dementors around a school. The Minister is mad."

At the tone of the woman's voice, Harry scanned the Hospital Wing. All the other beds were empty though.

"Did anyone else faint?" The small witch asked the older, motherly looking woman.

"No. But, to put it lightly, many ended feeling bad in those things' presence." Poppy said with an dark look on her face. "They stayed here for a few hours and then left for the feast."

At the mention of food, Harry's stomach growled (There was no other way to explain the sound it made). Poppy's lips twitched up with amusement but the Matron refused to smile.

"Did I miss breakfast?" The thirteen years old asked.

It was clearly early in the morning and she could remember talking to James last night, which meant that she had missed the Welcoming Feast. Hopeful, the same couldn't be said about the breakfast; she was really hungry.

"No, you didn't." Poppy replied before resting her hands on her hips and fixing the raven haired girl with a stern look. "You may go, but do try to stay away from her for at least a month."

"I'll try." The thirteen years old witch promised.

The Matron rolled her eyes good-naturally, "That's all ask."

Poppy then watched her jump from the bed, moving to take her uniform and wand from the bedside table. Just as Harry was walking to the bedroom inside the Hospital Wing so she could take a shower and change from the pajamas she was wearing, the Matron spoke once more.

"Also, Minerva asked me to inform you that the password is Fortuna Major."

"Thanks Poppy!" Harry sent her a smile over her shoulder.

Ten minutes later, Harry found herself streaming up marble staircase and then walking along a maze of corridors, which were followed by more corridors, up more and more stairs, before finally reaching the hidden entrance to Gryffindor Tower. She would have left to breakfast already but Harry needed to get her messenger bag first; all her books and writing supplies were there.

She stopped in front of a large portrait of a blonde haired fat lady in a pink silk dress. The woman looked at her, "Ah, look who decided to show up."

Harry sighed. If she replied, the Fat Lady would just keep talking. It was better to ignore her.

"Fortuna Major." The girl said, ignoring the Fat Lady's indignant huff.

The portrait swung forward to reveal a round hole in the wall. Harry all scrambled through it and stopped when she found herself in the Gryffindor common room; a cozy, round red room full of squashy armchairs, couches and a welcoming fire.

Harry gasped when she saw a familiar figure sitting by the fire with a book in his hands.

"James!" She hissed, running toward the man as his head snapped in her direction.

He placed the book aside, standing up just in time to catch her as she threw herself at him.

"What're you doing? Someone is going to see you!" The witch said, worried.

"Don't worry, doll." He hugged her close, looking down at her. "Everyone has already left for breakfast."

Harry relaxed, shoulders dropping as she sighed with relief, "That's good." Green eyes then flicked around the common room. "How did you enter anyway?"

He must have stayed with her at the Hospital Wing until later so how had gotten the password?

"The red-haired twins," James explained, ice-blue eyes narrowing with suspicion. "They came to me at the Hospital Wing and asked if I was your Uncle James." Harry's eyes widened but she didn't say anything as he continued. "I don't know how those kids even knew who and where I was but they did." The long haired man scowled. "I confirmed my status as your Uncle and didn't say anything else, waiting for what they were going to do."

"And what did they do?" Harry asked.

"That's what bothers me." He replied. "They exchanged a look and then told me the password and how I could find your Common Room. The twins left after that."

The thirteen years old girl looked down at her feet.

The Weasley Twins had always known more than they should. Actually, it was an open secret at Hogwarts that they knew every single corner of the castle like the back of their hands. So, honestly, she didn't find the fact that they knew about James or where he was all that surprising.

Harry, however, had no idea of what to think about them knowing about her Great-Uncle presence in the castle. Would they use this information somehow? They hadn't pranked her or anything last year, but they had also looked away and did nothing every time they saw her being bullied.

"I was thinking of talking to them." James informed her, causing Harry to look up, "I can find out what they want and why they hadn't told anyone about me yet."

The green-eyed girl gave him a look.

The long haired man kissed her forehead and smiled charmingly, "We'll just talk."

"Right," Harry said dryly before shaking her head, "I'll get my things so we can head to breakfast."

James let her go with a nod and reached out to grab her Invisibility Cloak, which he had left on the coffee table beside the armchair he had been using. Meanwhile, Harry walked across the common room and made her way up the spiral staircase until her familiar, circular dormitory with its six four-posters hung with deep red, velvet curtains; each bed having a bookshelf, a closet and a desk. Harry found her messenger bag over her chair and glanced next to her bed to find her trunk before she made her way out of the dormitory.

Soon after that, Harry and James (Who was hidden under her Invisibility Cloak) entered the Great Hall for breakfast.

Harry, with her Great-Uncle's hand over her shoulder, set off toward the Gryffindor table. She kept her head high, even though she really wanted to hunch her shoulders and disappear as people looked around at her.

"Don't show how uncomfortable their looks makes you, doll." James whispered. "Don't give them this satisfaction."

She nodded discretely, taking a deep breath.

Draco Malfoy, who had been entertaining a large group of Slytherins with what seemed to be a very funny story, didn't take long to notice her. With a malicious glint in his greyish-blue eyes, Malfoy did a ridiculous impression of a swooning fit, causing his friends to laugh not so quietly.

The small ignored him but couldn't help but worry a little when she could no longer feel James's hand on her shoulder.

Where had he gone?

"Hey, Potter!" Pansy Parkinson, a paper pale Slytherin girl with dark hair and a face like a pug, shrieked, "Potter! Look! The Dementors are coming!"

Her, Malfoy, Grabbe and Goyle pulled the hood of the robes and wiggled their fingers as they said, "Woooooooo!"

Pursuing her lips, Harry dropped into the seat next to Neville at the far end of the Gryffindor table, leaving enough space for James.

"Morning, Harry." The baby-blue eyed boy whispered, glaring at the Slytherins over his shoulder before handed a sheet of parchment to her. "Your schedule," He said.

"Thank you Neville." Harry smiled as she accepted her class schedule.

Just as Harry was going to examine her new schedule, she heard screams. Her head whipped around upon hearing the entire Great Hall laughing.

She closed her mouth, snickering when the small witch saw that someone had actually thrown food all over Draco Malfoy and his followers. The quartet had eggs, jam, tomatoes and juice from head down. It was hilarious, especially as Malfoy wailed louder than Parkinson, clutching his hair with pure agony.

"Who did this?!" The bleached blonde screamed, "I swear that when my father hear about this –"

Harry quickly looked away from him before the boy decided to blame her, shoulders shaking as she tried to not burst out laughing.

"What a diva," James's voice spoke from her right.

Harry grinned, sending a look in his direction.

"Was that you?" She mouthed.

"Maybe." It had been him; he sounded far too smug for this whole thing to not have been his fault.

Harry giggled.

It took a while for everyone to calm down. And that only happened ten or so minutes after Malfoy and the others left the Great Hall. Harry and Neville ate their breakfast while speaking in rushed tones about their schedules.

"Hey Hermione," Ron Weasley said loudly, making the duo turn to look at him. The red haired boy was frowning as he looked over the bushy haired witch's shoulder, "they've messed up your schedule. Look, they've got you down for about nine subjects a day. There isn't enough time."

Green eyes blinked before she and Neville exchanged looks of disbelief. They weren't the only ones.

Hermione Granger gave the boy a look that was just a little bit superior, "I'll manage. I've fixed it all with Professor McGonagall."

"But look," Ron laughed a little, "see this morning? Nine o'clock, Divination. And" Ron leaned closer to the schedule, arching his eyebrows, "look, underneath it is Arithmancy, nine o'clock. I mean, I know you're good, Hermione, but no one's that good. How're you supposed to be in two classes at once?"

"Don't be silly," Hermione said shortly. "Of course I won't be in two classes at once."

"Well, then –"

"Pass the marmalade," Hermione cut him off.

Ron stared, "But –"

"Oh, Ron, what's it to you if my schedule's a bit full?" The older girl snapped. "I told you, I've fixed it all with Professor McGonagall."

"Fine," The blue eyed boy snapped back. "See if I care!"

"I wonder how she's going to all those classes?" Neville whispered as they looked away from the duo.

Harry shrugged.

Everyone knew that in their Year, Hermione was Professor McGonagall's favorite. It won't be all that surprising to Harry if the woman had actually bent a few rules so the girl would have a way of going to all those classes at the same time.

"What I want to know is why she's taking Divination," Harry muttered, a little confused. "She's lives and breaths everything that is logic."

Neville nodded with an thoughtful expression.

There was a tap on her shoulder and Harry felt it as James grabbed her wrist. Looking down, she noticed that he wanted her to check her wrist watch.

They had ten minutes until their first class of the say started.

"Come on Neville," Harry said, standing up. "We better go if we don't want to be late."

She ignored how Ron and Hermione turned to stare at her. Neville grabbed a toast as well as his bag and followed her out of the hall.

Divination wasat the top of North Tower while the Arithmancy's classroom was on the way there (Classroom 6-A). Thankful, Harry had explored the castle a lot last year so she knew how to get there. Hadn't it been for that, she knew that she and Neville would have been completely lost as theyjourneyed through the castle.

"You just follow this corridor and then turn right." Harry said when they reached her classroom, writing down her instructions for Neville. "After that you will see a portrait of a group of Greek woman – Go up the stairs next to it and follow the corridor until you see a circular trapdoor with a brass plaque on it. Ask for entrance and you'll reach the Divination classroom."

Neville nodded seriously, clutching the sheet of parchment when she handed it to him.

"Thank you, Harry!" He smiled, "I'll see you in Transfiguration!"

The green-eyed girl waved at him with a smile. She waited until she could no longer see the baby-blue eyed boy before looking around.

"Say James," The raven haired girl said. "Are you staying for my lesson?"

He patted her head, "Not now." James said, lowering the hood of the Invisibility Cloak so she could see him, "I want to explore the castle a little."

Harry felt a little disappointed but she could understand why he would want to explore the castle.

"Ok," She pouted. "See you later then."

With a smile, James kissed her forehead and left, pulling the Cloak's hood up and disappearing from view.

Sighing, Harry opened the door of the classroom to find a large room that looked more like a big homey sitting room than a real classroom. There were at least twenty small tables around the room which were surrounded by comfortable, squishy armchairs. The room was lit by floating crystal orbs – Although the extra illumination was unnecessary since there was a lot of natural light coming from the high windows. The walls were filled with posters and the few bookshelves on the corner of the room were crammed with tick and old looking books as well several trinkets.

Harry looked around.

There were several Huffepuffs in the room but almost no Gryffindors (Actually, aside from her and Hermione, there was only Fay Dunbar in the room). If there were so few Gryffindors in this class, Harry wondered how many had decided to take Ancient Runes.

Shaking her head, Harry walked to a empty table in the back of the room, ignoring all looks the Hufflepuffs and Hermione were sending in her direction.

"Good Morning, class." Professor Vector said as she entered the room moments later, the door closing behind her.

She was a tall, slim woman wearing fitting crimson red robes and high-heeled boots. Her black hair was held up by a red ribbon and she was wearing large crimson earrings.

For a moment, Harry wondered if she hadn't been a Gryffindor when she had been a Hogwarts student.

"Good Morning," Some of the students replied.

The fairly young black haired woman didn't seen all that bothered by the lack of enthusiasm and moved to write something on the blackboard.

Harry rested her chin against the palm of her hands as she observed the brown eyed witch.

Numerology X Arithmancy

Professor Vector turned to look at them before sitting behind her desk and leaning against her chair and staring at them with a deadpan, if not bored, expression. She seemed… interesting? Definitely different from all the other teachers.

"Who can tell me the difference between those two?" Professor Vector asked.

Hermione's hand immediately flew up. Harry also held her hand up, although slowly, as did Ernie McMillan, a pompous blonde haired Hufflepuff.

"Miss Potter." Professor Vector nodded at her.

Hermione looked insulted and just a little incredulous at not having called to answer the Professor's question.

"Numerology is the study of the mystical relationship between numbers and the character or action of physical objects and living things." Harry said trying to recall what she had read about the subject over the summer holidays. "Arithmancy is divination using numbers that are the equivalent of letters of a name."

Vector lips twitched up, "Very good."

The green-eyed girl resisted the urge of rolling her eyes when she noticed Hermione glaring at her. The bushy haired girl hated it when people showed that they could be as smart or smarter than her.

Too bad for you, Harry thought, I'll get the best grades I can.

The small girl really wanted to make her Great-Uncle proud of her achievements.

"Now, give me examples of both subjects." Professor Vector said.

Harry stopped to think about it.

"Er – For Arithmancy… Well, the Greeks examined the number and value of the letters in the names of two combatants, and predicted that the one whose name contained more letters, or letters of the greatest value, would be the victor…" She knitted her brows for a moment, "Hum… For Numerology… It can be used in the creation of a wards or even in the preparation of Potions ingredients."

"Twenty Points to Gryffindor," Professor Vector said, pointing at her. "You're very right, Miss Potter." The older witch scanned the room before she continued, "Despite the name of this subject, I'll be teaching you both Numerology and Arithmancy."

Some of the students started whispering, curious to learn more. Professor Vector waited until the whispers ceased before she went on.

"We'll be starting with a brief history lesson." The brown eyed woman snapped her fingers. The white chalk she had used to write on the board moved on its own.

Harry blinked, immediately recognizing the words the chalk wrote on the board.

Number rules the universe.

Number is the within of all things.

Number is the ruler of forms and ideas,

and the cause of gods and demons.

Wasn't that Pythagoras? Harry was pretty sure she had seen this very briefly in Muggle School.

"Modern numerology," Harry immediately reached out for her quill and parchment as the Professor started speaking, "often called 'Pythagorean',is a very streamlined version of the teachings of Pythagoras, who learned the power of numbers while studying mathematics and mysticism with the people of ancient Chaldea. Though the practice of number divination has been recorded in various early civilizations from China to Egypt, the Chaldeans were particularly renowned for their knowledge of the subject…"

And the lesson went on.

It was, as Professor Vector herself said, a brief history lesson. The older witch told them about Pythagoras and the school of magic he had founded in Crotona in 529 BC shortly after Chaldea fell to the Persian dynasty as well what was taught by that school. By the end of the lesson, Harry had filled more than ten pages with notes.

It was a very interesting subject, especially as it saw numbers not as mere passive digits representing amounts in formulas and equations, but as living forces with profound spiritual significance; humming with the music of the universe.

Before Harry left for Transfiguration, Professor Vector asked them to write an essay about the Pythagoras' beliefs. And, funny enough, she threatened to burn Hermione's essay if the girl tried to write more than what she had asked for ("I have heard horror stories about you and your work, Miss Granger.").

Hermione's face had been priceless. Harry didn't think she had ever seen the older girl look so terrified of a teacher.

Giggling to herself, Harry left the classroom and set off for Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration lesson.

It didn't take long for her to reach the classroom. Neville was already there, looking a little pale and trembling slightly. At this, Harry frowned, taking a seat next to her friend and grasping his shoulder. At her touch, he jumped, absolutely terrified.

"What's wrong?" Harry whispered, noticing how the rest of the class kept shooting furtive glances at him, as though he were about to drop dead at any moment.

Neville shook his head.

She gave him a worried look before turning to look at Professor McGonagall as she told them about Animagi (wizards who could transform at will into animals) before she transformed herself in front of their eyes into a tabby cat with spectacle markings around her eyes.

Despite how interesting the lesson was, Harry barely paid attention to it. She kept focusing her attention on poor Neville.

Had something happened in Divination?

"Really, what has got into you all today?" Professor McGonagall asked, turning back into herself with a faint pop, and staring around at them all. "Not that it matters, but that's the first time my transformation didn't get a round of applause from a class."

Everybody's heads turned toward Neville again, but nobody spoke. The poor blonde haired boy kept shaking.

Hermione raised her hand, "Please, Professor, we've just had our first Divination class, and we were reading the tea leaves, and –"

Harry eyed the other girl.

So she was in Divination at the same time as Arithmancy? Harry arched her eyebrow, wondering how such thing was possible.

"Ah, of course," Professor McGonagall cut her off, scowling. "There is no need to say any more, Miss Granger. Tell me, which of you will be dying this year?"

Everyone stared at her while Neville raised a trembling hand.

"I see," Professor McGonagall sighed, fixing Neville with a look, "Then you should know, Longbottom, that Sibyll Trelawney has predicted the death of one student a year since she arrived at this school. None of them has died yet. Seeing death omens is her favorite way of greeting a new class. If it were not for the fact that I never speak ill of my colleagues –"

Professor McGonagall broke off, her nostrils going white before she went on, much more calmly.

"Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic. I shall not conceal from you that I have very little patience with it. True Seers are very rare, and Professor Trelawney –" She stopped again, and then said, in a very matter-of-fact tone, "You look in excellent health to me, Longbottom, so you will excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in."

Harry snorted, patting her friend's shoulder when he finally relaxed. He sent her a small smile.

"Better?" She whispered.

Neville nodded, "Maybe I should move to Arithmancy…" He muttered, "I don't want to have to deal with Professor Trelawney again…" The blonde looked a little sick, "I can survive Gran's wrath if that means no one will keep predicating my death…"

Harry never got the chance to reply as Professor McGonagall continued the lesson. Everyone turned their attention back to her. Although Harry did hear Lavander Brown muttering something about tea cups and bunnies. Not that she stopped to think about it.


Harry smiled as she walked out of the castle after lunch, feeling James's hand over her head. She had missed him.

Yesterday's rain had cleared; the sky was a clear, pale gray, and the grass was springy and damp underfoot as the students set off for their first ever Care of Magical Creatures class.

While she and Neville (as well James, although he was hidden) walked down the sloping laws to Hagrid's hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, the small thirteen years old witch noticed Ron and Hermione following them with frown on their faces.

Harry sighed, wondering when they would stop staring at her. It was not only uncomfortable but also irritating.

Her mood didn't get better when she spotted three too familiar backs ahead of them; it was Malfoy and his group. Unfortunately, it looked like the Gryffindors would be sharing this lesson with the Slytherins.

The greyish-blue eyed boy was talking animatedly to Crabbe and Goyle, who were chortling like the trolls they were.

"I was hoping he won't be here," Neville muttered looking at Malfoy.

Harry pressed her lips together, "You and me both." She decided to think of something else and asked, "Who'll be teaching this class anyway?"

Neville blinked, looking at her with confusion before he seemed to recall something.

"Oh, yeah – You weren't at the Welcoming Feast." Hs smiled a little, "It's Hagrid."

Emerald green eyes blinked with surprised, "Really?"

The chubby boy nodded.

Uh, Harry didn't expect this. Hagrid was a great guy but she had never imagined him as a teacher. Most of the creatures he liked to work with weren't all that safe around thirteen years old children.

She frowned, sending a worried look at Malfoy's back. Knowing the bleached blonde, he would try to get Hagrid fired. She would have to keep an eye on him.

Hagrid was waiting for his class at the door of his hut. He stood in his moleskin overcoat, with his boarhound Fang at his heels. The Half-Giant tugged with his tie, looking impatient to start.

"C'mon, now, get a move on!" Hagrid called as the class approached. "Got a real treat for yeh today! Great lesson comin' up! Everyone here? Right, follow me!"

Harry and Neville exchanged a look, silently hoping that Hagrid won't take them all to the forest.

Thankfully, the Half-Giant strolled off around the edge of the trees, and five minutes later, they found themselves outside a kind of paddock.

"Everyone gather 'round the fence here!" he called. "That's – make sure yeh can see – now, firs' thing yeh'll want ter do is open yer books –"

Harry heard James snorting. She, on the other hand, looked down at her copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. That was the only book she had.

The one Hagrid had sent to her was now buried in the Dursleys's back garden. Apparently, not even magical books could survive a bullet wound.

"How?" Malfoy said with his drawling voice.

"Eh?" Hagrid blinked.

"How do we open our books?" Malfoy repeated. He took out his copy of The Monster Book of Monsters, which he had bound shut with a length of rope.

Other people took theirs out too; some, like Neville, had belted their book shut while others had crammed them inside tight bags or clamped them together with binder clips.

"Hasn' — hasn' anyone bin able ter open their books?" Hagrid, looked absolutely crestfallen.

Harry fought back the urge of patting his hand. She didn't want to be noticed by the Half-Giant. If he was crestfallen now, then he would be heartbroken when he heard that Harry's copy of the Monster Book of Monsters had been killed after it tried to eat her.

"Yeh've got ter stroke 'em," Hagrid said, as though this was the most obvious thing in the world. "Look –"

He took Hermione's copy and ripped off the Spellotape that bound it. The book tried to bite, but Hagrid ran a giant forefinger down its spine, and the book shivered before it fell open and lay quiet in his hand.

James hummed. Harry could practically picture him arching his eyebrow.

"Oh, how silly we've all been!" Malfoy sneered. "We should have stroked them! Why didn't we guess!"

Harry hated to even think about this but she agreed a little with Malfoy. If Hagrid wanted them to get a book like that, then he should have placed an warning in the their book list or something.

This lack of information was just a point against him.

And Malfoy will be more than happy to use it to his advantage, she thought, pursing her lips.

"I-I thought they were funny," Hagrid said uncertainly.

"Oh, tremendously funny!" Malfoy said. "Really witty, giving us books that try and rip our ha –" Before he could keep talking the pale boy fell forward, face landing on mud.

The whole class roared with laughter.

Harry lowered her head, grinning widely, "Nice one." She whispered.

"He was starting to annoy me." James replied, amused.

Malfoy threw a fit but, unfortunately, he didn't leave. Instead, he shut up and kept using his robes sleeves to clean his face while muttering about his father.

"Er – Righ' then," Hagrid cleared his throat, "so – so yeh've got yer books an' – an' – now yeh need the Magical Creatures. Yeah. So I'll go an' get 'em. Hang on…"

He strode away from them into the forest and out of sight. Harry clasped her hands together, looking up at the sky as she prayed – begged to any and gods out there that the Half-Giant won't end up bringing some kind of man-eating creature.

"I never thought you were religious, Harry." Neville commented, amused.

Harry smiled, "I'm not. But it doesn't hurt to call for help or guidance sometimes."

"God, this place is going to the dogs," Malfoy said loudly. "That oaf teaching classes, my father'll have a fit when I tell him –"

"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry said, tiredly. His voice was starting to give her a headache.

He sneered at her, "Careful, Potter, there's a Dementor behind you –"

He was pushed on the ground once more, being forced to eat mud as his face was once again buried into it.

Thanks Uncle James, Harry shared a grin with Neville.

This wasn't Malfoy's day.

"Oooooooh!" Lavender Brown squealed, pointing toward the opposite side of the paddock.

Turning around, Harry saw at least a dozen of the most bizarre but still beautiful creatures she had ever seen. They had the bodies, hind legs, and tails of horses, but the front legs, wings, and heads of what seemed to be giant eagles, with steel-colored beaks and large, brilliantly orange eyes. The talons on their front legs were half a foot long and deadly looking. Each of the beasts had a thick leather collar around its neck, which was attached to a long chain, and the ends of all of these were held in the vast hands of Hagrid, who came jogging into the paddock behind the creatures.

"Are those Griffins?" James asked, placing his arm around her.

Harry shook her head in response. She was pretty sure they weren't.

"Gee up, there!" Hagrid roared, shaking the chains and urging the creatures toward the fence where the class stood.

Everyone backed away slightly as Hagrid reached them and tethered the creatures to the fence.

"Hippogriffs!" Hagrid roared happily, waving a hand at them. "Beau'iful, aren' they?"

Both Harry and James hummed in agreement. The hippogriffs were truly beautiful and unique creatures with their gleaming coats, changing smoothly from feather to hair, each of them a different color: stormy gray, bronze, pinkish roan, gleaming chestnut, and inky black.

"So," Hagrid rubbed his hands together and beamed around, "if yeh wan' ter come a bit nearer –"

No one moved. After a moment, Harry approached the fence cautiously. She wanted this lesson to go well, at least for Hagrid. So she would do her best to cooperate.

"Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know abou' hippogriffs is, they're proud," Hagrid explained. "Easily offended, hippogriffs are. Don't never insult one, 'cause it might be the last thing yeh do."

But, of course, Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle weren't listening. The trio of Slytherins were talking in an undertone and Harry had eyed them with suspicion; something told her that they were plotting.

"Yeh always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs' move," Hagrid continued. "It's polite, see? Yeh walk toward him, and yeh bow, an' yeh wait. If he bows back, yeh're allowed ter touch him. If he doesn' bow, then get away from him sharpish, 'cause those talons hurt. Now — who wants ter go first?"

Most of the class backed farther away at this. Harry rolled her eyes, pouting at Neville when she found herself to be the only one willing to approach the hippogriffs. Her friend gave her a apologetic smile.

Her Great-Uncle placed a hand over her shoulder, fingers moving quickly: I'll follow, he said.

With this Harry climbed over the paddock fence.

"Good girl, Harry!" Hagrid practically roared. He was ecstatic. "Right then, let's see how yeh get on with Buckbeak."

The Half-Giant untied one of the chains and pulled the only gray hippogriff away from the others before slipping off its leather collar. The other students on the other side of the paddock seemed to be holding their breath. Malfoy's eyes were narrowed maliciously while Neville seemed to be praying for her survival.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Nev, Harry thought with humor.

"Easy, now, Harry," Hagrid said quietly as she moved to stand in front of the hippogriff. "Yeh've got eye contact, now try not ter blink… Hippogriffs don' trust yeh if yeh blink too much…"

Harry and Buckbeak stared at each other, none of them wanting to lose their battle of wills and ended up blinking first.

"Tha's it," Hagrid said, making a motion with his hands. "Tha's it, Harry… now, bow…"

Harry gave the creature a courtesy and then looked up. The hippogriff was still staring haughtily at her. It didn't move.

Oh, well – She tried.

"Ah," Hagrid didn't even try to mask his worry. "Right – back away, now, Harry, easy does it –"

He cut himself off as the hippogriff suddenly bent its scaly front knees and sank into what was an unmistakable bow.

Hagrid started clapping, "Well done, Harry! Yeh can touch him now! Pat his beak, go on!"

Harry hesitated for a moment, waiting until she felt her Great-Uncle's presence next to her before doing so. She patted the beak several times and the hippogriff actually closed its eyes lazily, as though enjoying it. It was rather cute.

The class broke into applause, all except for Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were looking deeply disappointed.

"Righ' then, Harry," Hagrid announced. "I reckon he might' let yeh ride him!"

"Definitely not." James hissed. "Patting the creature is fine, but no flying! Don't you dare, Charis."

Harry smiled nervously at Hagrid. She knew better than to argue with the ice-blue eyed man when he was using that tone of voice.

"Maybe another time," The small girl said, trying to think of an excuse. "I'm not feeling too well to fly right now."

Hagrid looked disappointed but smiled at her, "Very well!" He said, looking back at the rest if the class, "Who wants ter try?"

Encouraged by Harry's success, the rest of the class climbed cautiously into the paddock while Hagrid untied the hippogriffs one by one, and soon people were bowing nervously, all over the paddock.

Neville ran repeatedly backward from his, which didn't seem to want to bend its knees, while looking at her for assurance which Harry was more than happy to give to her friend.

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had taken over Buckbeak. He had bowed to Malfoy, who was now patting his beak, looking disdainful.

Seeing this, Harry moved close to them. Putting some of the things her Great-Uncle taught to her over the summer to reach the trio without them noticing.

"This is very easy," Malfoy drawled. "I knew it must have been, if Potter could do it… I bet you're not dangerous at all, are you?" He mocked the hippogriff. "Are you, you great ugly brute?"

Buckbeak's eyes flashed and he raised its talons. Harry acted, pushing Malfoy out of the way as he let out a high-pitched scream worth of any little girl. The small girl was thrown on the floor and she heard James cursed in Russian as well in English as he kneeled next to her, placing his hands where blood was blossoming over her robes.

Poppy is going to kill me, Harry sighed, wincing in pain.

James cursed a little more.

She winced once more. This time though, it wasn't from pain.

Forget Poppy, Harry mourned, Uncle James is going to murder me after he is finished with feeding Malfoy to the Giant Squid.

At least she had been able to mess with whatever plan Malfoy had coined to get Hagrid fired.

Hope you liked it and please, don't forget to:

Review, Favorite or Follow and if you have questions/suggestions, just send me a PM.

-Cissnei.

BONUS!

TIMETABLE

Student Name: Charis Aster Potter

House: Gryffindor

Year: Third Year

Monday

07:30 AM – 09:00 AM: Breakfast

09:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Herbology (with Hufflepuff)

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Herbology (with Hufflepuff)

11:00 AM – 11:15 AM: Break

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM: History of Magic

12:15 PM – 13:15 PM: Lunch

13:15 PM – 14:15 PM: Defense Against the Dark Arts

14:15 PM – 15:15 PM: Defense Against the Dark Arts

15:15 PM – 15:30 PM: Break

15:30 PM – 16:30 PM: Charms

16:30 PM – 17:30 PM: Charms

17:30 PM – 18:00 PM: Free Time

18:00 PM – 19:00 PM: Free Time

19:00 PM – 20:00 PM: Dinner

12:00 AM – 01:00 AM: Astronomy (All Houses)

Tuesday

07:30 AM – 09:00 AM: Breakfast

09:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Arithmancy (with Hufflepuff)

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Transfiguration

11:00 AM – 11:15 AM: Break

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM: Transfiguration

12:15 PM – 13:15 PM: Lunch

13:15 PM – 14:15 PM: Care of Magical Creatures (with Slytherin)

14:15 PM – 15:15 PM: Care of Magical Creatures (with Slytherin)

15:15 PM – 15:30 PM: Break

15:30 PM – 16:30 PM: Herbology (with Hufflepuff)

16:30 PM – 17:30 PM: History of Magic

17:30 PM – 18:00 PM: History of Magic

18:00 PM – 19:00 PM: Free Time

19:00 PM – 20:00 PM: Dinner

20:00 PM: Curfew (First to Fourth Years)

Wednesday

07:30 AM – 09:00 AM: Breakfast

09:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Charms

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Charms

11:00 AM – 11:15 AM: Break

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM: Ancient Runes (with Ravenclaw)

12:15 PM – 01:15 PM: Lunch

01:15 PM – 02:15 PM: Transfiguration

14:15 PM – 15:15 PM: Transfiguration

15:15 PM – 15:30 PM: Break

15:30 PM – 16:30 PM: Arithmamcy (with Hufflepuff)

16:30 PM – 17:30 PM: Arithmamcy (with Hufflepuff)

17:30 PM – 18:00 PM: Free Time

18:00 PM – 19:00 PM: Free Time

19:00 PM – 20:00 PM: Dinner

12:00 AM – 01:00 AM: Astronomy (All Houses)

Thursday

07:30 AM – 09:00 AM: Breakfast

09:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Potions (with Slytherin)

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Potions (with Slytherin)

11:00 AM – 11:15 AM: Break

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM: Herbology (with Hufflepuff)

12:15 PM – 13:15 PM: Lunch

13:15 PM – 14:15 PM: Ancient Runes (with Ravenclaw)

14:15 PM – 15:15 PM: Ancient Runes (with Ravenclaw)

15:15 PM – 15:30 PM: Break

15:30 PM – 16:30 PM: Defense Against the Dark Arts

16:30 PM – 17:30 PM: Defense Against the Dark Arts

17:30 PM – 18:00 PM: Free Time

18:00 PM – 19:00 PM: Free Time

19:00 PM – 20:00 PM: Dinner

12:00 AM – 01:00 AM: Astronomy (All Houses)

Friday

07:30 AM – 09:00 AM: Breakfast

09:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Care of Magical Creatures (with Slytherin)

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Care of Magical Creatures (with Slytherin)

11:00 AM – 11:15 AM: Break

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM: History of Magic

12:15 PM – 13:15 PM: Lunch

13:15 PM – 14:15 PM: Potions (with Slytherin)

14:15 PM – 15:15 PM: Potions (with Slytherin)

15:15 PM – 15:30 PM: Break

15:30 PM – 16:30 PM: Arithmancy (with Hufflepuff)

16:30 PM – 17:30 PM: Ancient Runes (with Ravenclaw)

17:30 PM – 18:00 PM: Free Time

18:00 PM – 19:00 PM: Free Time

19:00 PM – 20:00 PM: Dinner

12:00 AM – 01:00 AM: Astronomy (All Houses)