Thanks to LittleDinghy on Reddit for making the tool for the schedules, which are confusing as fuck since JK Rowling might actually be on drugs when it came to making the schedules.
"I swear their trying to kill us." Melody said as she pulled Neville from a door just a ghost glided through it. " Seriously we are like a hundred feet from the Great Hall and there are like a dozen things that go wrong. Neville be careful, that step is going to go out." She pulled him back just as the step faded away, making him look back at her in gratitude.
Cedric, who had decided to take them under his wing in a manner of speaking, gaped at her. " How'd you know that?"
"Intuition and good looks." She offered a warm smile his way, making him smile back at her. "We're close to the door, come on Neville." She lead him, them, onwards to the Great Hall. The smells of breakfast filled the air, leaving Melody all but groaning for food. "Ugh, I could eat a horse. Say, Cedric, what are the teachers like. I mean I've met McGonagall and she seems strict but what about the others?"
Cedric hurried with them, sitting down next to her when they reached their table and began to stuff their faces with sausage and pancakes. "Well, first there's Professor Sprout, the Herbology Professor and our Head of House. She'll be down there tonight actually so you'll get to know her better. She's fair and pretty laid back, but she can be stern if you endanger others. She hates taking points away, so don't put that on her.
McGonagall is strict, your right about that, but she's nice enough if you impress her. She tends to play favorites with Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, she's the Gryffindor head of house and the Transfiguration professor. She goes overboard with her punishments, everyone knows that. Everything is a severe offense to her so watch out. We've lost the chance to win the House Cup because of her and Snape.
Snape is the Potion Professor and a right bastard, he is a monster." Cedric actually growled. "He favors Slytherin, which he is the Head of. He writes on the board and does nothing to help you learn. My dad says he is the reason we have so few aurors... you'll need to study on your own to make any progress with him. Keep your head down, he loves to take points off for stupid things while mocking you and gives his House points for breathing right."
Melody froze, hate and annoyance in her heart. "What is with this place and promoting abuse? Seriously, Neville's Uncle, Snape, half of the students being bigoted towards Muggleborns and Muggles if my customs book says anything about it."
"What customs book?" Neville, who was chowing down silently on some bacon, asked.
"Oh it's an introductory book for Muggleborns and raised. I'll show it to you later, see if you can help me see how accurate it is... sigh. This sucks... anyway, who else is there Cedric?"
"Oh..."The boy seemed a little flustered. "Oh there's Flitwick, Head of Ravenclaw and Charms. He's a joyful man but he can be emotional and strict. He's a dueling master, and his class might be the most important. Charms is the basis of all magic, so I'd pay real attention to it. He's got a lot of tutors in his House if you need help.
Hmmm... I guess after that would be Sinastra, who teaches Astronomy, which is really important in Herbology and Potions so I'd pay attention. She's a fair teacher, but I don't really know her well beyond basic class. She can be strict but not impossibly so. Her class is at night, around midnights on Wednesday for everyone. After her would be Binns, the History teacher. He's a Ghost and he literally just teaches about the Goblin wars, so use him for study time or nap time and he won't even notice.
Other then that, the Staff you should know is Filch, Professor Hooch and... I think that's it. I guess Hagrid too. Anyway, Filch is the caretaker and he is a wanker, he gets off on mistreating the students cause he's a Squib and we have magic. He has a cat, Misses Norris, who he uses to catch people and give them detention. He'll find a way and reason to punish you for the sake of it, so watch out for him.
Professor Hooch teaches flying and coaches Quiditch. She's great, but a bit airheaded at times. She is very, very strict but is a great teacher. You'll learn a lot from her. I see her a lot, I'm a Seeker on the Hufflepuff Quditch team you see. "
Both Neville and Melody looked at the boy with an impressed air. "Wow, that's impressive." Melody said. "How long you've been playing?"
"Since second year! I hope to hear how you enjoy flying, it's great."
"I am looking forward to flying, even if the idea is terrifying to me." She said, shivering just a little at the notion of flying. "So about Hagrid?"
"He's a drunk, got expelled for something, is always bringing dangerous animals to the school and takes care of the grounds. He's good at that last part, but he's kind of useless otherwise. It's not hard to mess with him, which a lot of people do unfortunately."
"Hmm... that doesn't sound nice of them."
"Oh, Miss Woodard, there you are." An Unfamiliar voice drew their attention, to where a lady was passing out schedules. "Here is your schedule, and yours Mr. Longbottom. Oh, I am Professor Pomona Sprout. I am your head of house Dearies." She smiled at them kindly. She was a small but stout women with messy clothes, leather bound, and a smell of dirt around her and her graying hair. She just seemed to fit the idea of a Herbology Professor.
"Nice to meet you, Ma'am."
Sprout's eyes wandered, and she leaned in a little. "Minerva told me about your gifts, if anyone gives you trouble about them please tell me. I will not tolerate abuse towards my students."
She all but felt Cedric's curious eyes on her, making her sigh a little. "No one other then Neville and the staff know. I don't plan on giving out knowledge of my skill, less others take advantage of it, you know."
Professor Sprout nodded, looking at her with respect. "That is a wise choice, and one I can't imagine is easy for you. Still, my statement stands."
"I'll keep that in mind, Professor."
That lady smiled at them once more then moved on, leaving her to look at Cedric who was giving her a set puppy dog eyes. "Sigh, I'm a Seer, Cedric."
His eyes widened, but he didn't call out. Instead he just gave her another warm smile, with a hint of sheepishness. "I can see why you'd want to keep that under your hat."
"I do, so keep a lid on it."
"Will do."
Turning back to her schedule, she took it in and was annoyed by her schedule.
Melody Woodard- First Year Hufflepuff
Monday
Morning Period 1 (MP1) 8:00-9:00 History Of Magic with Slytherin
Morning Period 2 (MP2) 9:15-10:15 History of Magic with Slytherin
Morning Period 3 (MP3) 10:30-11:45 Transfiguration with Slytherin
Lunch 11:45-1:00
Afternoon Period 1 (AP1) 1:00-2:00 Defense Against the Dark Arts with Ravenclaw
Afternoon Period 2 (AP2) 2:15-3:15 Potions with Ravenclaw
Afternoon Period 3 (AP3)3:30-4:30 Charms with Gryffindors
Tuesday
Morning Period 1 (MP1) 8:00-9:00 Herbology with Gryffindor
Morning Period 2 (MP2) 9:15-10:15 Flying Starting September 12 with Ravenclaw
Morning Period 3 (MP3) 10:30-11:45 Free
Lunch 11:45-1:00
Afternoon Period 1 (AP1) 1:00-2:00 Free
Afternoon Period 2 (AP2) 2:15-3:15 Free
Afternoon Period 3 (AP3)3:30-4:30 Free
Wednesday
Morning Period 1 (MP1) 8:00-9:00 Free
Morning Period 2 (MP2) 9:15-10:15 Free
Morning Period 3 (MP3) 10:30-11:45 Free
Lunch 11:45-1:00
Afternoon Period 1 (AP1) 1:00-2:00 Defense Against the Dark Arts with Ravenclaw
Afternoon Period 2 (AP2) 2:15-3:15 Potions with Ravenclaw
Afternoon Period 3 (AP3)3:30-4:30 Charms with Gryffindors
11:30 Pm to 12:30 am Astronomy with entire year
Thursday
Morning Period 1 (MP1) 8:00-9:00 Herbology with Gryffindor
Morning Period 2 (MP2) 9:15-10:15 Flying Starting September 12 with Ravenclaw
Morning Period 3 (MP3) 10:30-11:45 Free
Lunch 11:45-1:00
Afternoon Period 1 (AP1) 1:00-2:00 Free
Afternoon Period 2 (AP2) 2:15-3:15 Free
Afternoon Period 3 (AP3)3:30-4:30 Free
Friday
Morning Period 1 (MP1) 8:00-9:00
Morning Period 2 (MP2) 9:15-10:15
Morning Period 3 (MP3) 10:30-11:45 Transfiguration with Slytherin
Lunch 11:45-1:00
Afternoon Period 1 (AP1) 1:00-2:00 Free
Afternoon Period 2 (AP2) 2:15-3:15 Free
Afternoon Period 3 (AP3)3:30-4:30 Free
"Wow, that's disorganized... is everything like this or is it cause there are so few teachers that we get so much free time?"
Cedric laughed a little. "It can be a lot to have so much free time, but trust me you'll wish for it back when you hit third year with your electives. Use them wisely, practice your spells, study your potions and herbs. It will really come in handy, Magic isn't just waving a wand an expecting results you know."
Oddly excited, she turned to Neville who was pale faced as he read his schedule. "Don't worry Neville, you can study with me. I already have notecards made for every spells, potion, herb and subject. We got this."
That seemed to life Neville's spirits. " Really, already?"
"Yup, I like to be prepared."
"That's a relief... um... I already know a lot about herbology, I work with my garden and greenhouses as home. I learned a lot, I can help you, if you want.
She leaned in and kissed Neville's cheek, making him blush a deep red. "Of course I'd love that. Now, we should get going. Oh and remind me to bring back Ghost some non fatty bacon. I think he'd love it."
"Ghost?"
"My cat, he's beautiful and a putz and I love him." She turned and kissed a stunned Cedric's cheek next. " Thanks for the company handsome, see you later." And with that they were off, moving onwards to History of Magic... which, since Cedric was right and was basically worthless, she spent going over notes she wrote on the subject for Neville. They learned a whole hell of a lot with her note cards, starting with the creation of Hogwarts. By the time they left class, Melody's impression of Hogwarts went down the toilet if that Teacher was any sign of it's standards.
'''
"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts," McGonagall said, her cold eyes roaming over the class. "Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned." Then, to prove or emphasis her point, she changed her desk into a pig and back again. Everyone was impressed, even Melody but it was also clear minutes later ( and for anyone that actually opened their books up at some point during the summer) that they weren't going to be changing the furniture into animals for a long time.
After taking a lot of complicated notes, they were each given a match and started trying to turn it into a needle.
Melody, excited to finally practice magic, got started right away whipping out her Silverlime wand. She moved her wand in the motion she was told to, the methods she studied and marked down in her notes, and said the right spell... but nothing really happened. She tried another twelve or so times, but still nothing happened. She felt peeved and so she dived into her school bag, shuffling for her notecards.
"What are you doing, Miss Woodard?"
Without looking up, Melody answered her teacher. "I wrote notes on this spell, on all the spells, during the summer. I didn't risk trying any spells, but I did... here it is." She pulled out her thick notecards, which were labeled with Green Pen. "Transfiguration notes, let's see... matches, matches... ah, third card. Here it is...You need to imagine the image whole heartedly, envisioning it well and willing it to be... huh, I guess I could work on that part, more imagination. Hmmm..." She repeated the spell, moving her wand over the match, allowing the image of a needle to be firm in her mind. To her amazement, the match actually shifted as her magic poured out. Slowly but surely, it turned pointy and silver.
It was still wooden and redish at top, but it was better then before.
She looked up, beaming to McGonagall, who gaped at her a little. "All that change from your notes... may I see them?"
"Sure, just give them back, I worked hard on them."
Her teacher nodded, skipping through her notecards over and over, a smile growing on her face as she did so. "These are rather detailed, is this something you came up with or is it something Muggles do?"
"Muggles do it, Notecards are a great study tool."
"I see, you are doing quite well with it. Take five points for Hufflepuff."
She turned to Neville, who was smiling at her happily. "New goal, we are going to win the House Cup... who's won last year?"
"My cousin said Slytherin's won since Snape's been here, so ... them I guess. Anyway, can you help me, I am having some issues."
"Sure, just focus a lot. It's all about confidence, make it happen. You have the power, make it so."
Neville frowned. " Power... are you sure your talking about me?" He joked, almost laughing at the idea that he had power, not seeing he made her frown.
"Neville, trust me, I can feel power. You and Cedric are the only ones that feel like the Professor here does, the only one that feels... like a fireplace instead of a tingle of magic." She meant what she said, leaning in close to Neville made her insides warm like being around Hagrid and McGonagall had. She knew he was powerful. "You've got power, prove it to the world my friend."
With a deep blush, Neville turned to the match and took a deep breathe. Lifting his shaking wand, he moved in the proper way and commanded the spell. His tone was even and he looked determined. To her amazement, the match actually changed colors, losing it's woodeness and taking on a deep silver color. It wasn't pointy but it was serious progress and she was proud of him.
"Good job Neville, I told you, you could do it."
McGonagall, who was nearby helping a Slytherin, turned to them and smiled. "Very good, Mr. Longbottom. Take another three points for Hufflepuff."
Neville's blush could have lit up the darkest parts of the Ocean. "Tha-than-thank you." He stuttered out, ignoring the taunting laughter of a poncey blonde boy in the back of the room. The same blonde boy she had the vision of earlier...
The one of the adult with the dark aura.
She knew, thanks to that vision, that poncy or not, the boy was not to be messed with as someone had his back. He was dangerous, that was clear.
By the time class ended, only she, Neville and that poncy blonde made any progress with their matches, to the chagrin of the rest of the class who failed deeply. Feeling sort of bad, Melody stood as they were dismissed. "I plan on studying the material and practicing the spell when we have off tomorrow so you can come if you want to work on the spell." She gave a warm smile to everyone, even the Slytherins. Most of the class rolled their eyes, but a few girls came over with happy smiles.
"I'm Susan Bones and this is Hannah Abbot. How'd you get the spell so quickly?"
"I have notes, they help a lot. Like I said, you can study with me tomorrow if you want to practice."
"Sounds great... Defense Against the Dark Arts is next, want to sit with us?"
She nodded. " As long as Neville can join us."
"Naturally."
And together they moved onward to class, not seeing a smiling McGonagall watching them as they left.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was fun, a lot of fun. I can't wait till I get to write the more independent chapters.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.