Now that Harry was allowed to do magic and mix potions, not just learn the theory behind magic or the properties of potion ingredients, he found lessons very interesting. He was a bit surprised to find out that Professor McGonagall was quite strict in the classroom. He had difficulties reconciling that with the kind and patient mature she had shown to him previously. On the other hand, she was fair and never favored anyone, so Harry got over his surprise quickly.
The very first class, McGonagall, gave everyone a stern talking to. She warned that anyone who misbehaved would leave her class and not return, then had everyone take notes. After that, each student was handed a matchstick and told to transfigure it into a needle, using the notes they'd just taken.
Though Harry knew the theory, he apparently didn't inherit his father's talent for Transfiguration, as he didn't succeed in turning his match into a needle in the first few tries. Neither did Ron. Maddie was the only one who was able to turn her match into a needle within the first few tries, and Hermione and Rose followed a few tries later. Professor McGonagall smiled, praised them, and showed rest of the class how well they had done.
Toward the end of class, Harry was finally able to turn his match completely into a needle, and so did Ron and Reanne. Neville had managed to turn his match silvery with a pointy tip, but it was still the same thickness of a match and had no eye. Pierre had turned his match into the thickness of a needle with a pointy tip and an eye, but the color was still that of a match.
In Charms, Professor Evans (Stuart) handed everyone a feather and explained the Levitation Charm. Hermione and Maddie were able to levitate their feathers on the first try. Harry must have inherited some of his mother's talent for Charms, for he managed to levitate his feather on his seventh try. Reanne managed to levitate her feather around that time as well.
At another table, Justin ended setting his feather on fire and had to ask for a new one. Harry shook his head at Justin's frustrated look and watched as Maddie went over to give Justin pointers. By class' end, Ron, Rose, and Neville were the only ones to successfully levitate their feathers, though Neville's had only floated a few centimeters above his desk and fell a few seconds later.
History of Magic was the class Harry found the least interesting, though Professor Perkins wasn't a boring teacher, even though he was a ghost. He did tend to talk on and on, but the subjects he spoke of during those times were interesting ones, and it was obvious to see that he was genuinely excited about the topic at hand.
Defense against Dark Arts was Harry's favorite subject. Professor Lupin was a very good teacher, and made the subject interesting. For the first class, they took notes about boggarts, and Professor Lupin promised to find a boggart by next class so they could all have a try at it. Harry exchanged happy looks with Ron, and wondered what his worst fear would be. When he first came to the Academy, his worst fear was probably his uncle or being taken back to the Dursleys. It would have changed by now, and Harry had no idea as to what it could be.
Herbology was held three times a week at Greenhouse one, and Professor Malati Ghandi was the teacher. She spoke English with a touch of an accent, and when Dean Thomas knocked over a flower pot accidentally, she was so startled that she spoke a few words of Hindu. Neville's best and favorite subject turned out to be Herbology, and Harry saw Professor Ghandi give Neville a speculative look at the end of the second class.
Potions with Professor Flamel was interesting, and Harry found that he'd inherited some of his mother's talent in Potions, though Maddie and Hermione often produced slightly better potions than he did. His potions mostly turned out perfect, or almost-perfect, so Harry didn't mind, and he was able to help Ron and Pierre, who at best produced Acceptable potions much of the time.
Professor Flamel told the class about some of the work he and Professor Dumbledore did in alchemy. He also revealed that he'd created the Philosopher's Stone, which was why he and Madam Prenelle Flamel were over six hundred and fifty years old. He added that the students shouldn't spread that around outside of school, saying that his teaching potions and his wife the school Healer at Merlin Academy wasn't common knowledge. Most of the books mentioning him reported him and his wife as living a quiet life in Devon.
As Professor Flamel didn't really explain the Philosopher's Stone, other than as the reason why he and his wife were so old, Harry had to look the information up. He and his friends spent an afternoon after classes in the library before Neville found a thick book mentioning the Stone. It could transform any metal into pure gold, and produced the Elixir of Life, which would make the drinker immortal.
Astronomy was held Tuesday and Thursday nights with Professor Goldberg. The very first class, she pointed out the constellation she was named after. Then she pointed out several other constellations and individual stars and had every take notes and fill out a star chart.
Once a week, on Friday afternoons, was the Computer Class. The blond boy that Harry noticed turned out to be a Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, and he snorted and looked disgusted when he found out that Mr. Adams was a Muggle. Harry heard Malfoy mutter, "What kind of place is this? Father thought I would do better here rather than at Hogwarts, because Dumbledore's such a Muggle-lover and Merlin Academy's mysterious, but this is worse. The Headmistress is even more of a Muggle-lover than Dumbledore if she's hiring Muggles and having them teach a class on the use of a stupid Muggle contraption. It's bad enough that two of my roommates are Mudbloods. Once I write Father about this, he'll withdraw me immediately and send me to Hogwarts. Or maybe Durmstrang."
"Is something the matter, Draco?" asked Mr. Adams, apparently having noticed Malfoy's grumbles.
"Yes there is," said Draco loudly. "Why do I have to learn the use of a stupid Muggle contraption when I'm a wizard?"
"Because Headmistress Kennedy says so, Draco," responded Mr. Adams. "She feels that it is best for the students here at the school to be familar with the use of computers. Wizards should not be ignorant of the use of Muggle devices, in her opinion, which is why you are taking this class. And why all children of wizarding families will be required to take Muggle Studies later."
Draco looked horrified, and angry as well. "Well, I refuse! Muggles are lower than dirt, and Mudbloods are no better!"
There were gasps around the room, but Mr. Adams did not show any reaction. He simply said in a calm and level voice, "Mr. Malfoy, such talk is not allowed in my class, or in any other class, for that matter. You have detention tonight. Please leave the room and see Professor Kennedy or Professor Goldberg about your objections to this class."
"I will!" snapped Draco. "Maybe Professor Goldberg will listen to me!"
Harry wondered how Draco would react when he found out that he couldn't leave the school and transfer to Hogwarts or Durmstrang, at least not until the end of the school year. When Merlin Academy had been founded, the Founders had done a bit of magic, and written in the school charter, so that any student who had agreed to attend the Academy had to change their mind and transfer before term started, or wait until the end of the school year to do so.
When class ended and Harry was returning to his dorm room, he spotted Draco walking angrily out of Professor Goldberg's office. He shoved rudely into Dean, who unfortunately happened to be one of his roommates, and continued on his way. Harry hurried over to Dean, who had fallen, and asked, "All you all right, Dean?"
"I'm fine, Harry," said Dean. He didn't wave off Harry helping him gather the stuff that had fallen out of his school bag, and said, "Draco is just being his normal evil self. When he found out that I wasn't pureblood, he started being rude to me, and he ripped the poster I had hung up of the West Ham football team off my wall and into four pieces. Johann, my other roommate, mended it magically for me and told Malfoy off in a mix of English and German. He's not touching my things any more, but he's still being rude to me."
"Tell a teacher," suggested Maddie, who had come over. "They aaren't going to stand for Malfoy's behavior. I don't understand why Professor Kennedy even sent him an acceptance letter."
"Maybe she figured that there was something inside of him that was worth saving," said Harry. "Draco's probably only this way because of how he was brought up. At the Academy, the teachers and students here can help him see what he's been taught is all wrong, and maybe he'll turn out to be good and won't be so rude and everything all the time."
"I guess," said Maddie slowly.
Dean nodded. "I think you're right, Harry. I'm going to ignore the stuff Draco does and help him see that Muggles aren't lower than dirst and that Muggleborns are equal to pureblood wizards."
"Good," said Harry. He and Maddie walked with Dean to his room.