Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any associated characters, places and events.

Hey there, been a while, but guess what! I have 10+ chapters of this written from nanowrimo this year, so expect some more frequent updates. :) Cheers for sticking around.

The Magic of the Classroom

Regs flipped open the first pages and skimmed the text. He had, of course, already read through a decent portion of the book, and found it extremely basic. He had little doubt that most of the Ravenclaws had also already read the introduction as well. Professor Summerfield seemed competent and professional – at least for the moment. He wondered if she could be persuaded to part with some of her duelling expertise outside of the scope of first year Defence classes. He bet she knew some pretty interesting spells that definitely weren't on the Hogwarts curriculum.

He looked up; most of the Slytherins were still reading, but nearly all of the Ravenclaws were sitting quietly, or reading further into the text. After a few more minutes, Professor Summerfield cleared her throat.

"I think that will do. I hope that gives you a good idea what Defence is, and what might be covered this year."

Regs blinked and then Professor Summerfield had her wand in hand. Damn! She was that quick a draw?

"The very first spell I want to teach you, is not really a spell at all. It is a very useful tool for attracting attention if you are lost, stuck or need help. There is an incantation to help you learn the spell, but it is actually reasonable enough to expect that you won't need it. Unfortunately, it is much easier to perform if you have a wand that has been specifically paired to you. How many people here have heirloom wands, or wands that did not specifically choose them?"

Regs closed his fingers assuredly around the handle of his wand. No hand-me-downs for the Blacks. The thought of his encounter with Ollivander warmed his chest. The old wizard was one of the strangest, but sometimes strange wizards were the ones who knew the most interesting magic.

…an interesting combination… this wand suits those who follow a great vision… unicorn hair for consistency… for the witch or wizard who seeks a higher purpose… be warned: this wand will shy away from dark spells until you have truly mastered it…

Regs gripped his wand tightly, and looked down at it. A wand for those with a great vision, who seeks a higher purpose. It was made for him. There was no higher purpose than the seeking of purity and power for his kind. He imagined Ollivander's hands crafting this wand, smoothing the wood under his fingers, making it just for Regs. Boxed in that shop for years until Regs came along and it sang for him. His father had frowned at Ollivander's words about Dark magic. Regs wasn't worried – a lot of unicorn tail hair wands were reluctant to perform darker spells. Unicorns were Light creatures after all; it was perfectly logical. But if Ollivander said that his wand could perform it after mastery, then master his wand Regs would. He had no intention of shirking Dark spells in his lifetime. In fact, he rather suspected he would know a fair few of them eventually. He had read lots of his father's book in the library at home, and they were fascinating – the most interesting kinds of magic.

"A few of you? You'll have to work extra hard to master this one, then." Professor Summerfield brandished her wand across the front of the classroom. "Observe. For casting spells, you should be balanced and focused. An unfocused spell at the wrong time could cost you your life. Your mind must be clear, your intent must be crystallised. Now – the magic you will learn today – sending out sparks."

She shot her wand forward in a single motion and red sparks burst from the end in a vermillion crackle and showered the room. The class gasped and muttered excitedly for a moment. Regs restrained himself from rolling his eyes with difficulty. Excited for sparks? How childish. Next to him, Elias was grinning and so Regs kept his thoughts to himself.

"The colour of the sparks can be altered, but let us leave that until next lesson. Today we will be focusing on simply producing the effect, regardless of colour. Take up your wands, please, and let us line up against the wall."

By the time they had all shoved their way into some semblance of a line, Professor Summerfield had swept all the desks and chairs to one side of the room.

"Hold out your wands!" she called. "Focus your mind on what you want. Think about your wand as a part of you – it is an extension of your purpose. Think about the moment your wand chose you, if it did so, and the magic that swelled therein – sparks most likely came forth, as wands often dispel formless intent this way. Then just flick your wand forward. I have set up a barrier against the opposite wall, so any wayward magic should not damage the classroom. Ready? Begin!"

Regs took a deep breath, thought of Ollivander's words, the warmth in his fingers as the wand accepted him, and the red sparks that had burst forth then. He used Occlumency to focus the intent, and then pushed it into his wand as he snapped it forward. There was a warmth beneath his fingers for a moment and then a fizzle of red light that snapped and crackled at the end of the wand.

"Good try! Again!"

Regs looked around at the concentrated faces of his classmates. A few fizzles of light much like his own, lit up the room but no one had made true sparks. Regs felt a swell of pride and turned to face the opposite wall again. He pushed intent into his fingertips and flicked it. Another crackle of light, stronger this time.

It took ten minutes before the first jets of light burst out, and surprisingly, from three students at once. Amanda Rowle had produced green sparks, Joanna Tripe a very surprised shower of gold, and Regs a starburst of deep red.

"Excellent!" Professor Summerfield said, smiling. "Well done, students." She turned to the rest of the class. "I want you all to keep trying. We will do this for most of the remainder of class. Stop and rest if you need to regather your thoughts at any time, but I will not tolerate laziness, if you decide that you'd rather chat than try. As for you three," she turned back to Regs and the two girls. "Once you have managed this spell successfully three times in a row, come and see me at my desk."

Regs nodded crisply, feeling quite satisfied. Here he was, at last, doing magic. Sure, it was only sparks, but he had something tangible that he could do. By end of the class, he had not cast the sparks correctly three times in a row, only two, but he was gratified to see that neither had the others. Rowle had done about as well as he – two times strongly, but lost it on the third attempt – and Joanna Tripe, on the other hand, was struggling to get out another single burst of light. Most of the class had cast the sparks at least once by the time they were to pack up, and the colourful rainbow of light was very pleasing to look at.

"That was a good lesson," Elias commented as they left the room and headed towards the dungeons for Potions. "I like Professor Summerfield."

Regs hummed. "I'm withholding judgement."

Elias gave him a strange look. Regs shrugged.

"You don't really know what someone's like after one conversation, same with a teacher after one class. How is she when someone acts out? It was the first lesson, she probably wanted to make a good impression."

Elias laughed. "Merlin, but you're so cynical."

Regs shrugged. "Can't help it."

They reached the Potions classroom just ahead of the other Slytherins and found a small handful of Gryffindors already there. Regs suppressed a sigh. History of Magic and Potions with the Gryffindors. Well, this was going to be fun.

When the door opened, he darted inside quickly and set up his books at one side of the room, where he could not be surrounded by the Gryffindors. Elias trailed after him bemusedly.

Professor Slughorn beamed at them from the front of the room. "Come in! Come in! First Potions lesson for you first years – very exciting! Find a seat quickly, don't worry about your cauldrons just yet. We have business to get to first – the register. Yes! Let's see who we have."

The next twenty minutes became increasingly boring to Regs. Slughorn was a networker; that was plain to see instantly. He gushed over famous names and grasped at distant connections, even in those who were half-bloods. He beamed down at Regs, whose name was near the start of the list, and asked after his grandfather, Arcturus Black, and his Order of Merlin, and others of note in Regs' family. Regs answered dutifully, but he detested this kind of pawing bumbling praise, this grasping desire to be thought well of by those with more honour to their name, more wealth and more power.

"And your brother, of course, in Gryffindor! Such a shock to me, such a shock – but probably more of shock for your family, eh?" Slughorn winked at Regs, seeming not to notice his stiff-backed posture or the flat look that had settled on his face. "Still, he's a good lad. Bit disruptive in class, but he does well enough. Such a pity, really… would have been nice to have you all in my house!"

"Indeed," Regs said coldly, and Slughorn straightened.

"Of course, we have you here now, don't we! And I hear from a little bird that you're quite the hand at potions yourself! I'm an old friend of Professor Morton, your tutor, you know. I expect great things from you, now, Mr. Black." Another wink and then Slughorn was gone, moved onto the next name on his list. Regs could not shake the crawling sensation from his skin, and he dared not look around to gauge the reaction of his classmates to that little speech of Slughorn's. What a despicable, deplorable strategy.

Although he was expecting it, Regs was still disappointed that their first lesson consisted only of learning to make a Cure for Boils. He went about it quickly and efficiently, absent-mindedly crushing snake fangs, and counting out horned slugs and porcupine quills. He glanced over at Elias.

"You want your cauldron a little hotter," he murmured. Elias smiled at him gratefully.

The potion had to brew for a little while and Slughorn spent the time chatting to certain students and making notes on the board about the ingredients they were using.

"No homework today!" he called out. "It's only your first lesson. I just want to get a sense for how you might find the classes and who can follow instructions!"

Slughorn swept past Regs again and nodded approvingly at the bubbling liquid that both he and Elias were looking after. Regs smiled tightly at the man, and looked down again, studiously taking notes from the board.

"Looking good, Cooper… yes, well done. Mr. Black, might I trouble you for a moment?"

"Yes, sir?" Regs put his quill down and looked up at the Potions teacher, his face studiously blank. Slughorn was tugging on his moustache, eyes intent on Regs' face.

"I know it's early in the year yet, but Christmas isn't far away, and I like to plan things early. I like to have a little gathering with a few students – those who show promise, you see. Those who attend any of my little parties can get to know one another and see how they might form mutually beneficial agreements later on down the track. You've clearly got a knack for Potions – been at it for a few years, haven't you! But such a well-known young lad, you'd be an absolute necessity. Consider it, won't you? There'll be a few small get-togethers before the holidays, of course, so you'll have time to see who else is around before then. What do you think?"

Regs smiled up at the man. "That sounds delightful, Professor. I'll expect some correspondence about it, shall I?"

Slughorn beamed, and Regs almost winced. "Excellent! Simply excellent. Look forward to seeing you there, then!"

He bumbled off and Regs looked at Elias, whose eyebrows were raised.

"A Christmas party with Slughorn?" Elias muttered. "What a joy."

Regs rolled his eyes. "Right. Like I want to spend any more time in his company. He's a good enough teacher, so far. But what an overt attempt to manhandle his way into people's influence!"

Elias' mouth twitched. "But you're still going?"

"You have to take these opportunities, sometimes." Regs heaved a sigh. "He might say something useful. He might know someone who tolerates him that could be useful to know. I have to see what he can offer before I decide to forsake that avenue."

"Come on, you only want to go for the food," Elias protested, grinning. "I think he's rather fond of it. Did you see his waistcoat button? I was worried it was going to pop off and hit me in the eye!"

Regs stifled the laughter that was bubbling in his throat. "Oh no, don't say that! I'll never take him seriously again."

"Like you were taking him seriously, anyway," Elias shot back and Regs conceded the point.

"Come on, we should add the snake fangs; I think it's been long enough."

By the end of the class, both of their cauldrons had the pink steam the potion was known for, and Slughorn was pleased - too pleased. Regs left the room in disgust. Well, so far, Transfiguration was going to be a lot of hard work, History was a dud, Defence seemed alright, withholding judgement on the teacher, and Potions was going to be a breeze with an irritating professor.

The Slytherins dropped off their books on the way up to lunch since they were so close to the dungeons. Elias waited impatiently while Regs gathered up his Herbology things for their next double class after lunch.

"In a hurry?" Regs asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm hungry," Elias muttered sheepishly. "I don't know why, but the smell of Potions always makes me hungry. I think it's just the idea of things cooking."

Regs couldn't help but laugh. "That's so strange."

Elias shrugged. "Come on! I could eat a manticore!"

Regs screwed up his face. "But why in Merlin's name would you want to?!"

Elias laughed and ran down the corridor. "Come on!"

Regs grinned and followed his friend. The Great Hall was already nearly full when they arrived and the smell was pretty good, Regs had to admit. He glanced at the Gryffindor table and saw Sirius' dark hair swinging as he gestured wildly to Potter and Pettigrew; the halfblood – Lupin – wasn't there.

He turned back to his plate and began to eat, listening as Parkinson chatted to Wilkins about the Charms class they hadn't had yet. Regs listened with half an ear and passed a plate of bread rolls to Nott, who took one suspiciously. Regs just shrugged.

They went down to the greenhouses after lunch, and Professor Sprout met them halfway. The Herbology teacher was quite young, bright-eyed and curly-haired, though she tried to tuck it all under her pointed hat. Regs knew very little of this teacher except that she was kind and friendly and not thought badly of by most people. She wasn't the most prestigious of witches, nor the most polished, but often those who worked in the field spent more time with their area of interest and less with people. And they were good at what they did. The entire wizarding society benefitted from those who researched the dirtier subjects. Regs just preferred that he didn't have to dine with them.

"Come along, chaps! We're going to take a tour of Greenhouse One today, and get you all settled in. Head over there now, some of your classmates are already waiting."

Regs shared a glance with Elias and they went to the huge glass building that Professor Sprout had indicated. As they walked inside, the air became warm and heavy with water, and the smell of earth and fertiliser was strong. Regs wrinkled his nose and sighed. He was accustomed to working with pungent Potions ingredients, but he preferred that they were already harvested so that he didn't have to spend his time grubbing in the dirt like a muggle. Unfortunately, magical plants often reacted with the sorts of spells that could be used to handle them without getting dirty – hence the invention of dragon hide gloves.

Plants, shrubs, small trees, pots and pots of strange leaves and flowers were everywhere in the greenhouse. Regs thought he recognised a few, but after a moment his attention was taken by the other students gathered nearby – Ravenclaws again.

Professor Sprout came back in then, ushering the last of the Slytherins inside. "Everyone here? Excellent. Welcome to Herbology! In this class we will study the properties and powers of magical plants and fungi – as you may have worked out if you've had a look at your textbook. Today we will tour the greenhouse, and then we'll have some time to work with nettles – which you will use in your Potions class this week, if you haven't already. Can anyone tell me which basic Potion uses nettles?"

Several hands went up, Elias among them. Sprout chose one of the Ravenclaws to answer and Elias put his hand down again and looked at Regs. He leaned in.

"I know you know that. Why didn't you put your hand up?"

Regs repressed a smile. "She had enough takers."

Elias frowned but shrugged. He turned back to the lesson.

The tour of the greenhouse took up the most of the first class. They had a double lesson of Herbology, which meant that Regs was going to spend hours at a time in this smelly, dirty room, feeling distastefully uncomfortable. On the plus side, with one double lesson, at least he wouldn't have to do this three separate times a week. And they would have time to go up and wash before dinner. Regs tried to imagine Bella – or Narcissa! – doing this for seven years and couldn't. Well, it was a tradition, and a necessary class and everyone had to do it, so Regs would make the best of it.

Regs was quiet at dinner. Their second day of classes had tired him out and he was ignoring Elias' attempts to bring him into conversation. Since Sirius had gone to Hogwarts and left Regs to his own devices to occupy himself for a year in between, Regs had grown quite comfortable with his own company. Being surrounded by so many people, and so many people that he didn't want to know was somehow more exhausting than he'd imagined. In addition to that, he had to temper his every word and facial expression to what he wanted people to see. He couldn't wait to get into his bed and drawn the curtains so that he could be alone again. Alone with himself, and his own expectations and his plans. He needed to finetune some things.

Back in the common room, Elias kept shooting Regs strange glances. Finally, Regs had had enough and turned to him.

"What wrong, Elias? You're acting like I'm going to explode or something."

Elias blinked a few times and opened his mouth. "I just… I was just wondering if you had changed your mind."

Regs frowned. "Changed my mind about what?"

"About being my friend," Elias mumbled. He was looking at his toes.

Regs paused. "No? Have I said that I don't want to keep your company any longer?"

Elias looked slightly relieved, but still apprehensive. "Well, it's just that you've barely spoken to me all afternoon and you didn't look at me during dinner and I wondered if maybe I offended you in Herbology or something…"

Regs smiled. "Elias. If you had offended me, I would have said something. It's just…" He looked around to make sure that they weren't being overheard and leaned in. "At home, I didn't have a lot of company. My brother and I were – close. And then he went to Hogwarts and everything changed. I spent a lot of my time by myself. Being here, surrounded by people, and not all of them purebloods is just really hard."

Elias nodded slowly. "So, you want to be alone sometimes. But Hogwarts is full of people."

"Exactly." Regs said. "If I want to be alone, it isn't because I don't want to spend time with you. It's that I don't want to spend time with anybody."

"That makes sense." Elias sat back, looking much happier. "Well, just let me know if you need space. I'd rather you said something, so I could go off and work on an essay or something and not crowd you too much."

"Thank you, Elias." Regs smiled at the boy. He really was a nice fellow. "I appreciate that."