AUTHOR'S NOTE: I am back. My move away from my parents was postponed for a while (stupid bureaucracy). I'm sorry for the delay, and I'll get right on writing. I hope to publish at least one more chapter besides this one before I move. There may be a delay in the publishing after Chapter 10, due mostly to settling in and possible internet issues. On another note, I wish to thank my reviewers, particularly StephBX, who suggested I invert the Gryffindor schedule. That's what I ended up doing. Here is the schedule for first year Ravenclaws that I will be following for the rest of first year.
Monday: 11:00-12:45 Defense Against the Dark Arts (S); 14:00-14:45 - Herbology (G); 16:00-16:45 - History (G )
Tuesday: 00:00-01:45 - Astronomy(S); 16:00-16:45 - History (G); 17:00-17:45 Defense Against the Dark Arts (S)
Wednesday: 9:00-10:45 - Charms (G); 14:00-14:45 –Transfiguration (S); 15:00-15:45 - Herbology (G )
Thursday: 10:00-10:45 – Transfiguration (S); 12:00-12:45 - Charms (G); 14:00-14:45 - Herbology (G)
Friday: 13:00 – 14:45- Potions(H)
Disclaimer: I do not own anything but my idea. The Elder Scrolls series belongs to Bethesda Game Studios, and Harry Potter is solely JK Rowling's brainchild.
September 2nd, 1991
10:58 AM
Hogwarts
Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom
Harry POV
I have to say it. The people who invented staircases that would move while you were on them were one hundred percent INSANE! Seriously, how are normal people supposed to get anywhere on time when the last set of stairs to your destination would suddenly lead somewhere else entirely! And that wasn't the worst of it, oh no. You could be in SIGHT RANGE of your destination and suddenly a WALL would appear between you and your target! If I were not a dragon with the full power of the THU'UM (Voice), I would not have made it to class even this measly two minutes before class starts. I honestly almost expected that at some point I would have to break out my Suthurviing form JUST to get to class on time. I also expected to be amongst the first ones here, but I wasn't. The professor was slumped at his desk, apparently asleep. Most of the class was here already. I noticed that there was a vacant seat by Hermione. I walked right up to her, looked her in the eye, and said "Why didn't you tell me that this world used a different alphabet?"
She had the decency to look embarrassed. "You use the same language, and your written language looks the same as ours, so I assumed your alphabet was the same. Sorry."
That was a good reason, I guessed. "I suppose I don't have to prank you after all. A shame, I had the perfect one planned out. Ah well, I suppose I could always switch your books with blank copies at some later date." The look on her face was priceless, as was her quick check of her books. What was even better was that most of my housemates did the same quick check. I'd have to remember that.
Then the bell rang, and Professor Quirrel woke up and began to teach us. Five minutes in and I could already tell that this class was a complete joke and an utter waste of my time. The realization that I would have to spend over an hour and a half in this classroom taught by That was probably the reason I had this outburst. "Excuse me, Professor Phony." Thanks to my draconic hearing, I could hear Draco sniggering at Quirrel's new name from seven rows behind me. "I think I'm in the wrong class. The timetable says I should be in Defense against the Dark Arts. This is the How Not to Fake a Stutter class."
"W-W-What D-D-Do you-u-u Mean-n-n, M-M-Mr. S-S-Suthurving?"
"First, your fake stuttering is getting on my nerves. Stop it. Second, you refuse to teach anything even remotely combat-useful." I said with disdain.
"F-F-Fake?!" Professor Phony interrupted.
"Real stutterers stutter at either the beginning or the end of a word. Nobody stutters both." I replied. "Furthermore, you interrupted me. My final reason for why you are not fit to teach anyone anything about defending themselves is that you sound as if you're scared of your own exploits. NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND IS SCARED OF A MONSTER THEY ALREADY KILLED!"
Professor Phony fell forwards in a pretend faint. At that point, I got up. "I don't know about you guys." I said to the class "But I've got better things to do then waiting for that phony to wake up. Namely, figuring out how you're supposed to navigate this place. I'd get more done with self-study than coming back to this abysmal class." With my piece said, I left. All of Slytherin and most of Ravenclaw came with me, shaking their heads in disgust at Professor Phony.
September 2nd, 1991
2:00 pm
Hogwarts Grounds
Greenhouses
Harry POV
This class was easier to get too, mainly because it was outside of the castle. Once I managed to get outside, the shifting castle didn't try to move between me and my destination anymore. I was half expecting it to keep itself between me and the greenhouse. Thankfully for the castle and its inhabitants, this did not happen. If it had, I'd have seriously considered Shouting myself into Suthurviing and flying over the castle. If that hadn't worked, I'd have probably destroyed it till it stopped moving. In any case, Professor Sprout started the class easy, learning about the various methods of caring for plants both magical and mundane. The class was informative and she made it fun, turning the various potting methods into a competition, with the first to master it getting 5 house points. Neville Longbottom won twenty points from this. The forty five minutes flew by, and I could tell Neville felt really pleased with himself. He also smelled nervous. I asked him why he was nervous after class, and what he said shocked me.
"I'm almost a squib, and not very brave. I don't fit in with most of Gryffindor, and I don't have any friends yet." He admitted, shame coloring his voice.
"A Squib?" I asked.
"It means a person born of two wizards who doesn't have any magic of their own." He whispered, sounding even more ashamed, and smelling frightened.
"And you think that you're a squib? What utter rubbish." I said. He looked at me in astonishment, hope clear in his eyes and scent. "Whatever your problem is, it isn't that you lack power. You absolutely reek of magicka. Seriously, I've met Altmer who don't have even half as much power as you."
"Err, Altmer? What's an Altmer?" came the predictable question
"A high elf. They're born with higher magicka levels than any other mortal race, and they are highly adept at the magical arts. They can also call on the power of Highborn, which regenerates their magicka at a super-accelerated speed."
"I've never heard of any elves other than house elves. Are you making this up?" Neville asked cautiously.
"Just because you haven't heard of them doesn't mean they don't exist." I replied. "Anyway, it's rather likely that they don't have any colonies here on earth."
"Oh." Neville said. He seemed rather hesitant to do so, but he visibly gathered himself and asked "What did you mean about smelling my magic?"
I looked around quickly, searching for prying ears. Not finding any, I whispered one of my secrets to Neville. "A dragon retains heightened senses even in human form. Perhaps someday I'll show you my dragon form, but not now. My dragon form is too large to be unnoticed."
Neville looked at me like something just clicked, but he smelled astonished. "So that's why you got so mad at Ron when he said what he did about dragons! You're a dragon animagus. If you don't mind me asking, how'd you become an animagus at age eleven?"
"I'll tell you some other time." After I've researched what an Animagus is. "For now, let's just get to class."
September 2nd, 1991
4:10 PM
Hogwarts History Corridor
History Classroom
Harry POV
I had been in this class for ten minutes, and I could already tell that this class would be trying to my patience. Serana had taught me the history of Nirn as far back as she could remember, and that had been extremely enjoyable. She was able to delve deeply into historical cause and effect, and she could usually show how events of the past linked to current events. So when I found out that history here was taught by a ghost, I thought they would operate along the same principle. Boy, was I ever mistaken! The ghost's lecture were the most boring thing I'd ever heard! I had to fight to stay awake, and I was sorely tempted to roast this ghost in order to force the Hogwarts Management to find a real history teacher. The rest of the class was asleep, sans Hermione, who already knew everything about my origins anyway. I was gathering energy to Shout the menace away when Hermione noticed, dived in front of me, and grabbed my mouth. I couldn't Shout this ghostly sleep pill without hurting Hermione, something I was not and would never be prepared to do. So, I let my gathered energy dissipate. A shame, I was looking forward to roast ghost. I ended up losing my battle with sleep, waking up only when Hermione poked me in the head after class. I hoped the ghost wouldn't be this boring every time.
September 2nd, 1991
7:00 pm
Ravenclaw Tower
Common Room
Harry POV
Since astronomy was tonight, Hermione and I decided to head to bed directly after dinner. Dinner had ended an hour ago, though we had finished half an hour before the official end of dinner, and it had taken the entire time to get to the Ravenclaw Tower. This time, the knocker did give us a real riddle. "Nails in my belly, trees on my back, weight in my belly, feet I do lack. What am I?"
It only took a moment for me to determine that what the riddle was talking about. "A ship" I answered, simultaneously hearing Hermione say the same. The knocker nodded and opened the door.
The Ravenclaw library was filled with older students, studying for their own classes. Hermione and I split at the base of the stairs to our dorms, which were much more sensible stairs (they didn't move.) In any case, I swiftly headed to the bedchambers for the first year boys, which were at the top of the stairs. Closing my eyes, I settled down in the bed I had chosen last night. I Channeled a bit of magicka into a ring my uncle had made. It would shock you just enough to wake you up at a specified time. What time it woke you up depended on how much magicka you put into it. Upon setting it for 11:00 PM, I swiftly went to sleep.
September 2rd, 1991
11:55 PM
Astronomy tower
Outside the Observatory
Harry POV
Upon arriving, I noticed Draco standing at the door. At his side stood two witches and a wizard, all of them Slytherins, two who was unfamiliar, and the other I recognized from the train. "Hey!" yelled Pansy upon seeing Hermione and I "I thought you two were employees of the Malfoys! Yet here you two are in Hogwarts robes. Ravenclaw, too. Care to tell me why Lucius Malfoy employed two first years?"
I could see Draco thinking fast. I was about to answer for Draco when an idea lit into his eyes. "He hired them to make sure I had a well-rounded group of friends."
"But they're not Slytherins!" Pansy screamed "In fact, I'm pretty sure they're either Half-bloods, or worse, mudbloods, judging by their names given at the sorting ceremony. You shouldn't be hanging out with those of bad breeding." She sneered at us here.
I could see Draco panicking. Not wanting him to say something he'd regret, I intervened. "Even if we were of what you call 'bad breeding,' it wouldn't mean that we are useless, or even a bad influence. No society can survive, much less grow, in complete isolation, no matter how strong the individuals are. A fresh perspective, or perhaps an injection of new ideas, is what muggleborns bring to the table. If I may be so bold, the biggest problem that purebloods have with muggleborns is that they have no idea what the traditions and etiquette of the purebloods even are, much less the reason behind them."
Hermione perked up. "Exactly, and in such a situation, it's a given that we're going to step on a bunch of social land mines."
Pansy looked confused. "Land mines?"
"A muggle weapon of war." Hermione explained "Pressure triggered explosives that are buried in loose soil. They're usually buried in clusters, known as a minefield, around a strategic location. Anyone who steps on the ground where they're buried gets blown up. The side that planted them keeps a map of where they are so as to not blow themselves up accidentally."
"Sounds gruesome." Said the unknown Slytherin wizard.
"And very deadly." Hermione replied.
"And you're saying that pureblood customs are a minefield?" The unknown Slytherin witch. She thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "I can see where you're coming from, though. To someone who doesn't know them, they would be very dangerous. My name's Daphne Greengrass."
The unknown Slytherin wizard introduced himself as Blaise Zabini.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Blaise and Daphne." Hermione replied "I'm Hermione Granger."
Blaise and Daphne winced slightly. Daphne spoke up. "Yeah, that's one of those land mines. In most pureblood circles, you don't refer to someone by their first name unless you're close friends. We just met."
Hermione reddened. "Oh. My apologies, Greengrass, Zabini. I didn't mean to offend you"
"You know Granger, that minefield analogy makes everything the muggleborns say and do make a lot more sense." Zabini replied "I'm not offended."
"And neither am I." Greengrass said with a slight smile.
Pansy looked contemplative. "Umm, I'm going to go find Millicent. I need to think on this." With that, she left.
Draco looked upset. "I hope she doesn't write to my father. He won't be happy about this."
"What is meant to happen will happen" I said with a sad smile. "The best thing you can do is to focus on the here and now, and roll with the punches as they come. If you worry about the arrow that could hit in the future, you might miss the sword at your neck."
Draco nodded. "Say, I was meaning to ask you. The computers in 2001 a space odyssey. Are muggles really capable of making objects like them?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, they can't make computers anywhere near that advanced, but they are working on it. The computers of today are the size of small boxes, and can only 'think,' for lack of a better word, in ways that they have already been programmed. Unlike Hal, they are incapable of improvisation. However, they excel at tasks that involve set formulas, such as the field of mathematics. They can calculate things like algebra in a matter of seconds once all the data has been put in. Furthermore, they are designed to be able to take massive amounts of raw data and turn it into comprehensive statistics in a handful of seconds. There are also capable of producing games that are far more intricate than any board game. These games can involve anything that the creators can imagine, from exploration to sports. That being said, no video game can deviate from their preprogrammed choices."
I heard Draco breathe a small sigh of relief. I could understand. I personally had some rather deep misgivings on how easily the scientists of the muggle world shared incredibly dangerous knowledge with leaders, especially those who were warlike. Sharing dangerous knowledge should always be done with utmost caution, and then only after at least most of the effects were known. It also worried me that very few scientists would even admit that knowledge was a trap, much less how lethal the knowledge trap was to both the seeker of knowledge and those around them. "So, how do you like the books? Which one is your favorite?" I asked, shaking my head to clear those thoughts.
Draco's eyes lit up, and he answered "Definitely Star Wars. Did the muggles really make the entire trilogy into moving pictures? I think I'd like to see them."
"Yes they did. We'll take you to see them over the Christmas holidays, if you want." I said with a smile. Draco nodded fervently. At this point, Greengrass and Zabini nudged us into the observatory.
Thankfully, Professor Sinistra understood the inconvenience of having to interrupt sleep. She told the class that as soon as we had completed the assignment, we could leave and go back to bed. Evidentially, the positions of the stars and moon affected most rituals and several advanced potions. For whatever reason, she did not mention the science of navigation, and how the stars could tell you exactly where you were at any given time. When I mentioned it, she seemed surprised, and promised to look into it. In any case, the assignment was to track the course of Alpha Centauri, which was apparently the third most common celestial body to affect potions, and a factor in nearly all rituals. My dragon side helped me tremendously, as dragon eyesight is in large part based on tracking small objects. We could also see heat if we wished by closing a special membrane over our eyes. Both of these were quite useful for hunting from the air. Hermione called the spectrum of heat infrared. In any case, I finished my assignment before anyone else, and was dismissed. I swiftly went back to Ravenclaw Tower and passed out on the bed.
Chapter end