The second Ron and Harry left their dormitory the next morning, Neville, Seamus and Dean were whispering excitedly about Harry. Then everyone else was doing it in the common room. Ron felt a little jealous that Harry was getting so much attention but pushed it down. He could tell Harry did not like this attention. But it was harder to push down when Parvati Patil referred to him as "The tall kid with red hair". But he decided to say nothing. Ron and Harry went down to breakfast together. But they got lost. They tried to go through a door that happened to be the entrance to the out of bounds corridor! The caretaker Argus Filch found them and didn't believe that they were lost. He threatened to lock them in the dungeons! Luckily, they were saved by a professor who was passing.
"That's Professor Quirrell. I met him when I was in Diagon Alley with Hagrid" Said Harry.
"Lucky he was passing!"
They found their way to the Great Hall after that.
Percy wasn't impressed that they were late but he went easy on them as it was their first day. Once they sat down, food magically appeared onto their plates! All the boys dug in without hesitation! But nobody ate more than Ron did.
"You don't always eat like that do you?"
Ron looked across from him and saw that question came from Hermione.
Of course.
"What? I'm hungry" Said Ron with his mouth full.
Hermione looks simply disgusted with Ron and went back to eating.
Not long after, Professor Mcgonagall came over with their timetables.
They spent the rest of the week getting used to the castle and their classes.
The castle was mostly easy to get used to. There was 142 staircases. Some of them were quite tricky. Some of them lead somewhere different on Friday. Some have a vanishing step so you had to remember to jump. There are some doors that are also tricky. Some don't open unless you ask politely. Some of them aren't even doors. Just solid walls pretending.
The portraits were tricky too. They could leave whenever they want. The Fat Lady was quite consistent at that. There were coats of armor that could walk!
There was also the ghosts. They were uncomfortable when they went through you but they also tried to help by pointing you in the right direction.
However, Peeves the poltergeist was a pain. He always tried to pull pranks. The only one possibly worse than him was Filch. He lived to catch troubleakers and had a cat named Mrs Norris. She seemed to have a psychic link with him. Once she finds people, Filch can show up 2 seconds later.
The lessons were alright once you found them. Most of them anyway.
Ron's favourite class was Charms. His first class had him zooming Neville's toad around the class. Everyone was excited but unfortunately he said it would be a while before they got to that. Ron couldn't wait to learn that charm!
Ron did not like History of Magic. It was taught by a ghost. Professor Binns was very old when he fell asleep in front of the staff room fire and got up next morning to teach, leaving half his body behind him. Binns went on and on while they scribbled down names and dates. and got Emetic the Evil and Uric the Oddball mixed up.
Astronomy was a class that took place every Wednesday at midnight. The teacher for that class was Professor Sinistra. They had to study the night skies through their telescopes and learn the names of different stars and the movements of the planets. It would be an ok class for Ron if it wasn't so late.
They had Herbology 3 times a week. It wa s taught by a dumpy little witch called Professor Sprout. They had that class in the greenhouses. They learned how to take care of plants and fungi and found out what they were used for.
One thing that was a known fact about the first year Gryffindor Herbology class, is that Neville was easily the best student. Next to him was Hermione and Hannah Abbott. The three of them always worked together in those lessons.
Professor Mcgonagall taught Transfigration. Ron was right to feel rules should not be broken in front of her. But as strict as she was, she was very clever. She gave them a talk to the second everyone sat down in her class.
"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts, anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned"
Right after that, she used her wand to change her desk into a pig and back again! Everyone thought that was awesome! But they weren't gonna be doing that stuff for a long time.
She gave them a lot of complicated notes to take down. Then she gave all of them a match to try and turn into a needle. Only Hermione was able to by the end of class. Professor Mcgonagall showed all of them how her needle was silver and pointy. Then she gave Hermione one of her rare smiles.
Hermione had quite a proud look on her face that Ron did not like one bit.
Defense Against the Dark Arts was the class everyone was looking forward to, but it turned out to be quite a let down.
Professor Quirrell's classrom smelt like garlic, which apparently was to ward off a vampire he'd met in Romania and was afraid would come after him again one day. He wore a turban and he said that it was a gift from an African prince for getting rid of a troublesome zombie.
However, when Seamus eagerly asked Quirrell how he fought off the zombie, Quirrell went pink and started talking about the weather. They also noticed a funny smell from the turban. Lavender Brown and Parvati were particularly grossed out by the smell and asked anyone they could what the smell could be.
Fred and George insisted it was also full of garlic, so that Quirrell was protected wherever he went.
Friday was an important day for Ron and Harry. It was the first time they got to breakfast without getting lost.
"What have we got today?" Harry asked Ron as he poured sugar onto his porridge.
"Doube Potions with the Slytherin's, Snape's head of Slytherin house. They say he always favors them. We'll be able to see if it's true"
"Wish Mcgonagall favored us"
Ron didn't see that happening. After all, Mcgonagall was head of Gryffindor house but gave all of them a huge pile of homework on Wednesday.
The post arrived right after that. It always came by owl, just like at home. Harry's owl Hedwig dropped a note onto his plate.
Harry tore it open at once and read through it.
"Can I borrow your quill?" He asked Ron.
Ron nodded and gave it to him. Harry wrote something on the back of the note and gave it to Hedwig and she took off.
"Who was it from?" Asked Ron. He doubted it was from Harry's family. He's heard a lot about them this week. They sound like horrible people.
"Hagrid. He asked me to meet him for tea around 3"
"Cool!"
Potions took place in one of the dungeons. It was cold down there, not to mention quite creepy, what with the pickled animals floating in glass jars all around the walls.
Professor Snape took the roll call to start the class Professor Flitwick did that as well. Flitwick did something else that Snape did immediately after. He paused at Harry's name.
However, Professor Flitwick gave an excited little squeak and toppled out of sight.
Snape on the other hand,did something else.
"Ah, yes, Harry Potter. Our new - celebrity"
Ron felt angry on his friend's behalf. Malfoy and his goons found that hilarious.
Gits.
Once Snape was finished calling names, he looked up at the class. He had black eyes that ere cold and empty. When he spoke, it was barely more than a whisper but all students caught every word. H could make a class keep quiet without effort, like Mcgonagall. Ron had the impression that Snape was worse than Mcgonagall though.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making. As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with it's shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death- if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach"
Nobody had anything to say to that, but Ron and Harry raised their eyebrows in a ay that said "What a git" and Hermione had a determined look on her face that showed she wanted to prove she wasn't a dunderhead.
She didn't really need to though. As annoying as she was, she was definitely brilliant.
"Potter!" Said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Harry looked very clueless. He glanced at Ron but he had no clue either. Hermione's hand shot into the air however.
Of course.
"I don't know, sir" Said Harry.
Snape sneered.
"Tut, tut - fame clearly isn't everything"
Ron glared at Snape for that. He was also ignoring Hermione's hand which made Ron glare the smallest fraction of a bit harder.
Hermione was annoying but she didn't deserve to be ignored if she knew the answer to a teacher's question.
"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
Ron had no clue what a bezoar was. Neither did Harry it seemed. Hermione raised her hand went as high as possible without her leaving the seat.
Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were shaking with laughter.
"I don't know, sir"
"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?"
Ron has definitely found his least favourite teacher. He really had to hand it to Harry for looking into those cold eyes without breaking.
Snape still ignored Hermione's hand. He clearly had a problem with Harry. Ron also felt a little bad for Hermione.
"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
Hermione actually stood up. Her hand was stretching toward the dungeon ceiling.
"I don't know. I think Hermione does though. Why don't you try her?" Asked Harry.
Ron found that really funny! So did Seamus. He even winked at Harry. Hermione looked like she wasn't sure what was happening. Like she thoght maybe she was being made fun of.
Snape however, definitely didn't like that.
"Sit down," He snapped at Hermione. She looked quite unhappy. Ron felt bad for her again.
"For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite. Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?"
Everyone was getting quills and parchment very quickly. Snape spoke over the noise. "And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter"
For some reason, Harry was receiving a glare from Hermione!
Snape put them all into pairs and had them making a potion to cure boils. He watched them all do it and criticised everybody apart from Malfoy and Hermione. He seemed to like Malfoy and Malfoy only. He was telling everyone to look at the perfect way that the git stew his horned slugs, when clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing filled the dungeon. Neville had somehow managed to melt Seamus' cauldron into a twisted blob, and their potion was seeping across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes.
Ron's already were old looking enough without this!
Within seconds, the whole class was standing on their stools while Neville, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs.
"Idiot boy!"
Ron was shocked that Snape would call a student that.
Snape cleared the spilled potion away with a wave of his wand.
"I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?" He asked angrily.
Neville whimpered as boils started to pop all over his nose.
"Take him up to the hospital wing" Snape spat at Seamus.
Then he rounded on Ron and Harry for some reason.
"You Potter, why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor"
All Gryffindors thought that was really unfair. Harry was about to argue, but Ron kicked him.
"Don't push it. I've heard Snape can turn very nasty"
Ron noticed Hermione was glaring at Harry again.
An hour later, they left the duneon. Harry looked quite miserable.
"Cheer up. Snape's always taking points off Fred and George. Can I come and meet Hagrid with you?" Asked Ron.
Harry smiled immediately at the mention of Hagrid.
"Sure! You'll love him! He's great!"
Ron had no doubt about that. He had heard great things about Hagrid from Fred, George and especially Charlie.
At 2:55 they left the castle and made their way across the grounds. Hagrid lived in a small wooden house on the edge of the forbidden forest.A crossbow and apair of galoshes were outside the front door. There was also a sign on the front door.
PLEASE TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU COME IN.
Author's note: I know this doesn't happen in the books, but it's something I can imagine Hagrid doing for irony. He loves big dragons but doesn't like yells as he thinks it would frighten them so I can imagine Hagrid having no problem working with big animals who make a mess but not like tiny messes like the dirt from a shoe! So I decided to put it in. It'll be in another story I'm writing.
Harry knocked and they heard a frantic scrabbling from inside and several booming barks. Then Hagrid's voice rang out, saying, "Back, Fang-back"
Hagrid's big hairy face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open. "Hang on. Back, Fang"
He let them in, struggling to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boar hound.
They kicked off their shoes when they got in. There was only one room. Ron noticed it was smaller than most room's at the burrow. Ron couldn't help but smile a little at that. There were hams and Pheasants hanging from the ceiling, a copper kettle was boiling on the open fire, and in the corner stood a massive bed with a patchwork quilt over it.
"Make yerselves at home" Said Hagrid, letting go of Fang,who went straight for Ron. He started licking his ears. Fang was not as fierce as he looked. Similar to Hagrid.
"This is Ron"
Ron grinned at Hagrid who grinned right back. He was pouring boiling water into a large teapot and putting rock cakes onto a plate.
"Another Weasley, eh? I spent half me life chasin' yer twin brothers away from the forest.
Ron tried to not feel insecure about that. Something else his brothers did that he couldn't do first.
Ron and Harry both tried a rock cake. They were so hard that they almost broke their teeth. They pretended to enjoy them though to spare Hagrid's feelings.
They told him all about their lessons. Hagrid had 3 words for Filch.
"That old git"
Harry and Ron were delighted to hear that!
"An' as fer that cat, Mrs Norris, I'd like ter introduce her to Fang sometime. D'yeh know, every time I go up ter the school, she follows me everywhere? Can't get rid of her- Filch puts her up to it"
Harry told Hagrid all about the potions lesson.
"Ah don' worry Harry. Snape hardly likes any students"
"But he seemed to really hate me!" Said Harry
"Rubbish! Why should he?"
Hagrid turn to Ron.
"How's yer brother Charlie? I liked him a lot- great with animals!"
"He's happy! He works with dragons in Romania!" Said Ron.
"Ah what a great job! I envy him! I'd like a dragon alright! I knew he'd either work with animals or play professional Quidditch"
Before Ron could respond, Harry spoke. He was holding a paper from The Daily Prophet. The headline was "GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST"
"Hagrid! That Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! It might have happened while we were there!"
All Hagrid did was grunt and offer Harry another rock cake.
When Ron and Harry walked back to the castle woth rock cakes that they were too polite to refuse, Harry told Ron about the paper saying the vault that was broken into was emptied earlier that very same day. He then mentioned that Hagrid had emptied Vault 713!
"You reckon Hagrid beat them to the punch?" Ron asked.
"I think so" Said Harry.
They both gave this some thought at dinner. They couldn't really guess what had been taken on their own though. Harry said it was very small.
They went back to the common room after dinner.
"I'm gonna write a letter" Said Ron.
He decided to write to Ginny. He actually missed her this week.
Ginny,
I hope things are cool at home. Hogwarts has been alright so far. I'm friends with Harry Potter! I know that's really gonna excite you! He's pretty cool. Not like you'd expect from a famous person. Not arrogant or bratty. I'm enjoying being his friend.
I got sorted into Gryffindor. So did Harry! Most of the Gryffindor's are cool, apart from one girl. Hermione Granger. She is such a know-it-all.
Anyway, the twins and Percy are ok. Percy is acting just like you'd expect with that prefect badge.
Give my love to Mum and Dad.
Take care,
write to me soon,
Love,
Ron
