If not for DADA lessons with Lockhart and Potions with Snape, Serena might have had a perfect start of term. Transfiguration was her best class so far. She liked History of Magic because she was able to sleep without being noticed. She tried to focus at first but the teacher who is a ghost, was using a very boring monotone voice that made most of the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs sleep. Charms wasn't so bad either.
Professor Flitwick was the cheerful kind of professor who reminded Serena of her primary school teacher. The only difference was that this professor was tiny and was using a pile of books for him to stand on.
Their first lesson was about a simple levitation charm. They were tasked to make a feather float in the air. Professor Flitwick encouraged them that it would be easier because the object they were given for practice was light enough. They were paired up and Serena was partnered with Colin. She gave a glance toward Ginny who was paired up with Jemima.
"Remember the spell, it's Wingardium Leviosa. And don't forget to wave your hands like this." said Professor Flitwick while illustrating the way their hands must be swayed. He did it while saying, "Swish and flick."
All the students from Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had several tries before succeeding. It was Luna who first levitated her feather. She earned a 'well done' from Professor Flitwick and was awarded five points to Ravenclaw. Her partner, a boy who Serena didn't know the name was quite astonished that the 'weird girl' from their house was the first one to do that. Ginny was also awarded five points after Luna.
Serena and Colin concentrated on the feather and repeatedly swished and flicked their wands while trying to clearly utter the spell.
"Wingardium Leviosa." Serena said then Colin squeaked in delight. "You did it too, Rena!"
Serena grinned but scratched her head when the feather which floated for a few seconds fell. "Not really. I need more practice." she pouted.
She was awarded two points for that. Most of the other students were also able to do what Serena achieved. Desmond on the other hand didn't, and even managed to blow up his feather.
"You remind me of another student from your house, Mr. Rowley." Professor Flitwick told him with a slight chuckle. Serena guessed that it was Seamus Finnigan who she saw with burnt hair the other day.
Their class with Professor Sprout was also interesting. The Gryffindors were joined by the Slytherins. They weren't given hands on activities yet and were only introduced to numerous weird types of plants.
Another class with the Hufflepuffs was Transfiguration taught by Professor McGonagall. Like what Serena thought from her first impression of her, the professor was really not someone to cross. She gave a strict and clever aura that impressed Serena.
"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts," the professor said. "Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned." Then she changed her desk into a pig and back again.
Serena clapped along with the other students. This was the class she was looking forward to. It was her dad's favorite.
Serena was disappointed when they were only given lectures about theories of transfiguration. After the lectures; they were given match sticks, to turn into needles. Serena thought that it was the widest smile she did since she arrived at Hogwarts when she turned the match into a silver and pointed needle.
The class ended and she was the only one to succeed and earned a very rare smile from Professor McGonagall. Serena also thought that there was something that flickered in the teacher's eyes.
"Professor McGonagall likes Serena." Ginny said to Colin. "It's obvious." she giggled.
"You're overacting. She was just happy that one student finished the task." Serena rolled her eyes but did not manage to hide her smile.
As for Gryffindor-Slytherin relationship, Serena had tried to put the gaps aside and not to judge them so easily; but as the few days they interacted with them, the Slytherin students themselves encouraged the feud between the other houses.
One Slytherin student named Robin Bowman had thrown an unnecessary ingredient to Jemima's Cauldron during their Potions class. Jemima's partner, Diana Edge who was also Gryffindor, tried to report it to Snape but the professor didn't even dock points from Bowman. He simply checked her cauldron and walked away.
Nothing much happened in their Herbology with Slytherins yet another one was during their lunch. Malfoy kept on bullying a Hufflepuff first year. Lewis and Colin tried to stop him but ended up being hit by a body bind curse. It was lucky Hermione was there and helped the two boys back on their feet.
Another lesson Serena hoped to be a good one, was their first flying lesson. It was on late-friday afternoon. Serena almost skipped towards the Great Hall as she greeted her classmates including some of the older Gryffindors.
"What are you so happy about?" Harry asked.
"It's our first flying lesson!" Serena said dramatically while pretending to wipe tears in her eyes. Harry grinned and was about to speak when Neville interrupted. "Good luck with that, Rena. My first time was really awful. Broke an arm— worse was that we were with Slytherins." he said while turning glum.
Serena's mood subsided as she recalled that they were taking that class with the Slytherins. She made a grunting noise, "We're supposed to be taking ours with them, too." she pouted and buried her face above the table.
"Don't worry, I bet you'll do great. Don't mind those lot." Harry encourages as he pushed a treacle tart into his mouth.
"Says the kid who had an instant flying match with Malfoy." Hermione reminded with a bossy tone.
"And easy for you to say! You are a natural flyer! The moment you said 'Up' the broom already responded." Ron said with a mixture of envy and praise.
Harry just laughed it off and looked at Serena who was not even subtle about being awestruck.
"A flying match?!" she said.
Harry scratched his head and looked slightly embarrassed.
"Not really, Malfoy just got hold of Neville's remembrall when Madam Hooch took him to the Hospital Wing. We were told not to use our brooms yet but Malfoy challenged me to get it by flying. Then after catching it—"
"With a sharp dive!!" Seamus exclaimed. Serena giggled when she realized other Gryffindors were actually listening to them.
"He was a feet above the ground when he survived that!" Dean said proudly like it was him who did it.
"You're exaggerating." Harry blushed but gave the guys a smile.
"But then McGonagall witnessed it." Ron continued but no one seemed to be worrying about that.
"To make it short, Harry disobeyed our teacher but ended up being rewarded as the new Gryffindor Seeker. Finished." Hermione ended with disapproval.
"That was brilliant!!" Serena praised. So that's how he became the youngest Seeker throughout the century. Then Serena giggled, "Be happy that Colin is not here, or he'll be asking for another autograph."
"Oh, shut up." muttered Harry while checking the other seats for any sign of Colin or Lockhart.
It was time for the flying lessons with the Slytherins. Serena waited for Ginny and the others.
Serena figured that Ginny didn't get much sleep. "You okay, Gin?" Serena asked when the Gryffindors gathered to go outside the castle where the lessons were to be conducted.
"Yeah." Ginny answered. Serena grinned and teased her.
"You didn't get much sleep, did you? Were you busy thinking of Harry or were you awake all night writing on your diary? I wouldn't be surprised if your diary starts to talk." laughed Serena but it didn't take long because Ginny didn't appreciate her joke and suddenly looked anxious.
They were already outside the vast lawn of the castle when they found the Slytherins also walking from the opposite direction where the greenhouses were.
Serena stopped walking and faced Ginny. She pinched Ginny's cheeks and stretched it.
"Wha— or wu— ooin?" Ginny tried to say while her eyebrows raised in surprise.
"I don't know what your problem is but seriously, you look like a gnome! Stop making that face and smile."
Ginny touched her cheeks and frowned at Serena because it became redder than it normally was but she rolled her eyes and smiled.
"It's our free time after this, right? Could we hang around at Hagrid's hut later? Just for a little bit of fresh air." she asked.
"Sure. But aren't we breathing the same fresh air that we could find in Hagrid's hut?" joked Serena.
"Ron usually visit there. Fred and George too (at night). They said Hagrid's funny and very nice to them."
"Really? So is that all or you're actually expecting someone else to see there." whispered Serena because they were already at the spot where the brooms were laid. She was pertaining to Harry; then she smirked at Ginny when she saw her blush.
There was an awkward tension in the atmosphere as the two houses were gathered together without a teacher. Not more than a minute later, a short grey-haired woman with yellow eyes arrived with a whistle hanging around her neck. She walked briskly to the area with brooms and motioned them to come.
"Come on now, first years. I am Madam Rolanda Hooch and I am to teach for your first flying lesson. Let's be quick and go to your brooms."
The students randomly chose their broom and stood beside it. Serena's excitement rushed to her again. She hurriedly walked to the nearest broom. It was kind of old and dusty with its twigs sticking out in different directions.
"No, don't pick it up young lady." Madam Hooch called to Jemima.
"Alright, now raise your right hand over your brooms and say, 'up'."
All of the first years shouted 'Up' at the same time and Serena's broom instantly zoomed to her hand. She smiled widely and checked Ginny out. Same to her, Ginnyalready held the broom. She also looked at Serena and they both smiled proudly.
They were only two of the few who managed to lift their broom, one other Gryffindor was Calvin McLaggen. Bowman was one of the Slytherins who did in on first try. Felix did it in his second try while Desmond and other Gryffindor students had to shout several 'Up's to get theirs zoom to their hand except for Colin and Jemima who's brooms only levitated inches above the ground then fall again. The Slytherins on the other hand were all able to take hold of their brooms.
"Enough of that, Mr. Creevey and Ms. Greatheart. Pick yours up and mount your brooms." Madam Hooch ordered impatiently.
She taught them the correct grip and how to ride the broom without sliding off.
"Now when I blow my whistle, all of you kick off from the ground as hard as you can. Try to rise for a few feet and go back down by leaning forward slightly."
Serena looked around and most of the students were already anxious and scared. She made an inside smile and breathed in. 'I can do this.'
Madam Hooch took hold of her whistle and examined the anxious faces, "On my whistle, one... two... three—" There were sounds of ground kicking and Serena was one of those who created them.
She blinked hard and smiled triumphantly when she found herself more than ten feet off the ground; the soft wind brushing against her cheeks and ponytailed hair. Hers was higher compared to the other students, except for Ginny who was at least one feet above her.
"You're doing great, Gin!" she shouted.
Bowman and another Slytherin boy named Jaden Harper were also higher than the others and continued to go further up to level with Ginny. They did it smoothly with smirks on their faces.
Madam Hooch called out to the students who were having a hard time flying and told them to get down and try it again more smoothly. She looked at Serena and to those who succeeded and gave them a nod of approval.
"Make your grip firmer, Mr. Rowley."
"Relax, Ms. Edge. Think of brooms like horses which senses fear." Madam Hooch continued to instruct the other students and checked on the students already up and down the ground. She told them to repeat that until they can do it smoothly.
She allowed them to fly around the area and strictly told them to be careful and do not show off.
Serena and Ginny praised each other and levitated a bit higher.
"Nice flying, Moore." McLaggen grinned when they passed each other.
"Same to you."
Felix was flying back and forth to Desmond and was helping him along with Madam Hooch's advices.
"Settle down now."
"I'm the worst with brooms." Jemima cried.
"Tell me about it." Lewis joined her.
Lewis was able to summon the broom to his hand but was too nervous that he did not manage to levitated smoothly. They discovered that he was afraid of heights.
"Serena." called Ginny who gestured to Hagrid's hut.
"Oh, right!" They separated from the Gryffindors and ran to Hagrid's hut.
The large man was humming and tending unusually large vegetables. Serena later discovered that those were pumpkins.
"Oh, the youngest Weasley. And Serena Moore. What made you come here?" he asked with a cheerful voice.
"We just want to breathe some fresh air." Ginny smiled.
"And she was hoping we'll bump into Harry Potter." Serena giggled.
Hagrid gave a chuckle when he saw Ginny's face match her red hair's color. "Harry, you say? He hasn't visited me yet. Been wondering when actually. But he sure does spend time here with your brother."
Hagrid offered them rock cakes but they declined but accepted his offer of tea. They had a great time. Hagrid was very kind and caring. He also praised them after they told him about their flying lesson.
"You really remind me of a student who used to barge in here with his friends even at night." he chuckled after Serena caught him examining at her.
"Are you sure its me and not Ginny? I heard Ron and the Weasley twins did." She laughed.
"The Weasleys are another story. Even Charlie and Bill Weasley. But I'm talking about someone else."
Serena was sure that he was giving her a sad smile behind his thick beard.
"Who?" Serena actually had a hunch on who he was talking about.
Hagrid looked at Ginny who was petting Hagrid's large dog named Fang. He leaned a little close to Serena and hesitantly muttered, "It's the young Sirius Black."
That was what she expected. She took a sip of her tea and hesitated for a moment. 'Is this the right time to let others know?' she thought. She took a heavy intake of breath and finally opened her mouth "He—"
"Serena, we probably should be going. My brothers would probably wonder where I am."
Serena looked like she forgotten how to breathe and catched her breath.
Ginny noticed but Serena just smiled at Hagrid. She almost told him who her father is. "It was nice being here Hagrid. We'll come back next time." She stood up and both thanked Hagrid for the tea.
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked.
"I'm just exhausted." Serena grinned.
Ginny was not convinced but smiled. "I wonder if I will be a Quidditch player someday." It was nice of Ginny to do that. She wasn't really ready yet to share her deepest secret; yet she's feeling bad that she can't.
Serena forced to smile and shook her thoughts off. "Me too. What's your dream position? I want to be a chaser or a beater; although girls are unlikely to become beaters."
Their conversation was all about Quidditch as they walked back to the castle and be greeted by Lee and the twins who were surprised to see them.
"Where're you off to?" Ginny asked, "It's almost dark."
Serena noticed they were heading outside the castle. "Oh don't mind them, Ginny. They're probably going to Hagrid."
The twins snickered, "Actually, were going to the forbidden forest." Fred said without hesitation.
Serena laughed and Ginny frowned. But Serena saw the corners of her mouth twitching from trying to hide a smile. "Of course were going to Hagrid." George grinned.
"We miss his rock cakes, you know." Lee added. "They're really fond of it." He patted the twins' shoulders.
Serena and Ginny didn't know which was true but let them go. Serena actually wanted to join them and find out what they were planning to do but instead, they went straight to the common room and had a chat with the others.
