Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

Chapter Ten

Classes and Rivalries

Harry woke groggily as a chirpy voice spoke.

'Time to wake up! It is a bright new day! Time to wake up! It is a bright –'

Slam!, went Steve Cornfoot's fist on a box next to his bed.

'Morning lads,' he yawned at the five other boys as he stood up. 'Hope you don't mind me setting an alarm charm last night, we've that – yawn – meeting in 30 minutes.'

Steve made his way to the adjoining bathroom for his morning ablutions, and Harry followed after he had come more awake. It was all real – he was actually at Hogwarts, and classes would be starting!

Around seven twenty, Harry had washed up, dressed into his uniform complete with bronze-and-blue tie, put on the rather bulky robes, and made his way downstairs to the Ravenclaw Common Room. Seeing that none of his room mates were wearing the wizarding cap, he opted to do the same. Apparently that cap was optional, or preserved for special occasions such as the Opening Feast only.

Hermione was already downstairs, animatedly chatting with the other first-year girls. When Harry caught her eye, she began blushing. 'Girls are weird,' Harry thought.

'Morning runts,' spoke Hilliard, who had been waiting for the last two boys, Michael and Kevin, to arrive. 'Our Head of House, Professor Flitwick, should be here shortly. After that Penny and I'll show you the way to the Great Hall for breakfast.'

'Thank you Mr Hilliard,' spoke up a little man. Harry recognised him from the High Table at the feast yesterday. Professor Flitwick was less than four feet short, and was wearing a sharp Muggle suit complete with bow tie. He had neatly trimmed brown hair, and a sharp moustache.

'Welcome my young Ravenclaws!', he happily exclaimed. The firsties took seats in the sitting corner near the fireplace, and the Professor stepped on a low table in front of them to better address them.
'I am very pleased to see so many new young bright students in my House.
'The House of Ravenclaw has a reputation of being studious, and I expect you all to do your best. Starting next week, the fourth- and sixth-years will be providing homework help to the younger years after dinner every day, and I encourage you form study groups among yourselves for your free periods. You can either study at one of the tables here, or in the library under the care of Madam Pince. Unless you wish to be banned from there, I recommend you take good care of your books,' he chuckled slightly.

'I do not expect any of you to get any House Points losses or detentions of course, but should you feel a teacher has treated you unfairly, please come to my office and I'll see what I can do for my Ravens. My office hours are daily after dinner, except on Wednesdays.
'Now, here are your class schedules,' he handed the first-years a peace of parchment with a neatly written block of periods and classes on it, 'and then you'd best get your History and Transfigurations books, as I think Mr Hilliard and Ms Clearwater wish to escort you to breakfast. Any questions can wait until breakfast,' he pre-empted the raised hands of several students, including Hermione's. And at that he left.

'Five minutes, then we're leaving for breakfast,' said Penelope Clearwater.

The kids scrambled back upstairs, and grabbed their book bags, books, parchments, and spare quills and ink, then rushed back downstairs.

Clearwater and Hilliard led them back down the circular stairwell down the tower, and then through a series of corridors, until they neared the Great Hall. Harry and Hermione were walking hand in hand, both making note of the route and mentally trying to draw a map. Hogwarts was a confusing place, with no directions anywhere on its walls, so they had to rely on features such as placement of windows, tapestries, and portraits to find their way around.
That many of these portraits were animated and its inhabitants liked to step out of their frames to visit their neighbours definitely did not help.

In short while they heard the din of many talking students, and they had arrived in the Great Hall.

'Oi you love birds, we've reserved two spots for you here,' said Steve with a teasing tone.

'We're just friends,' muttered an embarrassed Harry. He did not let go of Hermione's hand until he helped her to her seat, though.

Breakfast was tolerable. The food was again great, but the only thing to drink appeared to be pumpkin juice. Hermione kept chattering on about how great it would be to start classes and what they would learn, to anyone interested – and everyone else. Learning to tune her out would be one of the first things Harry did, he promised.

Their first class was History of Magic, which was taught by an actual ghost. Professor Binns didn't even wait for them all to get seated, and simply started lecturing as the clock stroke nine. It was a combined class with the Slytherins, who took the left side of the room. Professor Binns was droning on about Goblin rebellions in a tone so monotone that Harry had to fight not to fall asleep, as he took notes. Most other Ravenclaws also struggled to stay awake.

All nine Slytherin students didn't make it through the period, and were catching up on a beauty sleep before the hour ended.

'That pug-nosed chochi really could use as many beauty sleeps as she can get,' thought Harry. The girl, Pansy something, had been shooting him mean looks at the sorting yesterday.

Professor Binns assigned them all to write an essay on the leaders of the rebellion he had been lecturing on, three feet on parchment.

The Ravens had a free period next, and the twelve all decided to check out the library and get started on their first homework.
The librarian, who they knew to be Madam Pince from Flitwick earlier that morning, forced them to line up before she allowed them to enter and inspected them for any food items. Kevin had a bread roll with him and he was not allowed to enter the library before he ate it, and had gone to a nearby bathroom to wash his hands.
The 'Claws split up into two groups, and Harry and Hermione found themselves joined at a table by Steve, Michael, Morag, and Mandy.

'Right then,' Steve said as they sat down. 'Are you all familiar with writing using a quill on parchement?'

'What do you mean?'

'It's not as easy as using a crown pen, as the quill tends to dry out if you're not careful. You also want to be careful of not getting smudges on your parchment – or sleeve – as the ink doesn't dry immediately.
'There's a handy spell you can use for it, incantation is siccescat and you just point the wand at the parchment like this,' he wrote down his name on top of an empty peace of parchment and cast the spell. 'You try it.'

Hermione was bubbling with excitement about learning her first spell. It had been a bit of a let down that her first class was not something flashy, but this to her more than made up for it.

Michael and Morag seemed to already know the spell, and helped Steve correct the pronunciation of the other three. Harry had never used parchment before in his life, both his Muggle school and his later tutors had sensibly used paper and modern pens instead. Mandy and Hermione were not familiar with it either.
Before long they had all mastered the spell, and started working on their essays.

'No Harry, that is wrong,' said Hermione as she was looking over at Harry's paper. 'Professor Binns clearly said that the Goblins were lead by Snarlfang, not Snarltooth. You also misspelled slaughter there,' she prodded her quill at the offending word.

Harry grumbled something which could by an optimist be interpreted as 'thanks I guess,' which apparently was enough to please the bushy haired witch.

'I have to talk to her about her nagging,' Harry thought as he continued writing.

Then a soft bell rang from somewhere. The kids looked up, wondering what it meant.

'That's the warning bell,' said an older Gryffindor student who was picking up his things. 'Fifteen minutes to get to the next class.'

The twelve Ravenclaws scrambled to dry their parchments, put away their inkwells, quills, and books, and hurried into the hallway. Madam Pince shot them a dirty look for making noise, but they were hardly the only group leaving the library.

'And where exactly is the Transfiguration classroom?' asked Terry of the others.

'How should I know?' Steve replied. 'Oi, longshanks!' he yelled at the Gryffindor who had warned them earlier. 'Where is the Transfiguration classroom?'

'Up two stairs and then to your left, and you'd better hurry you midgets,' was the slightly amused reply as the student rushed off to his own class.

The group barely made it in time for classes to start, finding several Gryffindors already there. Harry and Hermione shared a desk near the front, and waited for the bell to signal the start of class.
Professor McGonagall was not present, although a mackerel tabby cat was sitting statefully on top of the teacher's desk.
The bell rang, and Professor McGonagall was still not to be seen. Deciding to just get his materials ready, Harry took out his book and writing materials. The other Ravenclaws did the same.
The Gryffindors on the other hand were talking among themselves.

After another three minutes the door slammed open, and an exhausted Ronald Weasley and Neville Longbottom came running in.

'Old McGonagall isn't here yet then?' exhaled Ron, 'Man that is a stroke of luck innit Nev? She's right scary, she is.'

The cat jumped down, and walked to the duo. As it passed the middle of the class, it morphed into the shape of Professor McGonagall.

'That's bloody brilliant that is!' yelled Ron, just as Professor McGonagall reached the duo and grabbed them by their ears.

'Thank you for that honest assessment Mr Weasley,' she said as she forced the two behind an empty desk, 'you two can write up two feet on the importance of being on time tonight in detention. Be in your common room by six and I will come collect you.'

Ignoring the splutters of protest from the two boys, she went back to her desk.

'That, class, was the animagus transformation. We will discuss the theory in third year... if you are still in this class by then.
'Transfiguration is the most dangerous and complex magic you will be learning here at Hogwarts. Anyone messing around in my class will depart and not be allowed to return, you have been warned.'

His initial assessment that she was not one to be crossed was right, Harry decided.

Professor McGonagall gave an overview of the various kinds of wand movements used in Transfiguration, but to the students' disappointment they were not allowed to perform any spells. That would be reserved for tomorrow's double lesson, the Professor explained.
As the bell for lunch rang they were sent off with another essay assignment, on the wand movements she had shown them.

Lunch passed, and the Ravens went down to the greenhouses for their first Herbology class.
The Herbology teacher was a rotund little witch called Professor Sprout, and she told them they were to carefully inspect and draw one of the plants she lead them to.
This was another class they shared with the Slytherins. Professor Sprout was at the other end of the greenhouse, helping the Slytherin Daphne Greengrass with something. Harry and Hermione were drawing the intricate leaves of the plant, when they were suddenly splattered by dirty mud from behind.

'Here's some more mud for you, Mudblood lover!' said the obnoxious voice of Draco Malfoy.

Harry turned around, murder in his eyes. Hermione was frozen in shock, both she and Harry had mud all over their backs and in their hair.

'You lousy son of a Death Eater!' yelled Harry, and he threw a punch at the blond git, connecting with his nose, which broke with an audible snap. Hermione let out a loud gasp, and looked in horror at the blood, and the sudden outburst of violence.

'MISTER BLACK!', yelled Professor Sprout, as she grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him away from the bleeding and whimpering Malfoy. 'Never in all my years I've –' she glared at the boy, as Malfoy was being attended to by a sycophantic Slutherin girl with a pug-nosed face.

'Ten – no FIFTY House Points from Ravenclaw, and DETENTION with Mr Filch this night!' was Professor Sprouts verdict when she saw Malfoy was in pain.

'Ms Parkinson, Mr Goyle, please escort Mr Malfoy the hospital wing. Mr Black, pack your bag. You have an appointment with Professor Flitwick.'

'But Professor,' began Hermione in a shaky voice, 'Malfoy started it, he –'

'Ms Granger, I can understand you're standing up for your boyfriend but if I want your opinion I'll ask for it!' the angry Professor shut the young witch down.
'All of you, pack your things! Class is over!'

She began to march Harry out of the Greenhouse, and back to the castle.
Hermione was crying slightly, not only was Harry fighting again, but she had never been spoken to in such a manner by a teacher before.

'There there Hermione,' Morag patted her on the back.
'Harry will be okay. I am sure Professor Sprout will calm down, and Professor Flitwick will listen to him.'

A/N: Thus Harry's ends first day of classes.

He's not the timid boy from canon, which as you see is not just an advantage.

I found a wonderful class schedule for Harry's First Year in PDF form somewhere, unfortunately I cannot find its author. Harry of course follows the Ravenclaw classes.
The animagus scene is not in the book (I think it only comes up in third year), but I liked it too much in the film to leave it out.

I appreciate your reviews and try to answer them if you ask questions. But please make sure you don't turn off the ability to receive PMs :(
The same goes for anonymous reviews, I cannot answer you if there is no way for me to reply.

This chapter beta'd by marijeme, all remaining errors are mine.

A/N 2: Sorry for the slow down in my update rate. At this point I'm no longer working from existing material so it takes more time to write, edit, rewrite, etc.. If you want more from me, please check my Der Kaiser's Ramblings collection story. I have written two more one-shots this week while I was stuck in B&C.

A/N 3: Minor edits 03-08.

Story recommendation is something I wish I'd written. butalearner's A Kiss of Clichéd Proportions, story ID 8555329, makes fun of the whole soul bond theme in a very amusing way.