Another chapter, hope you enjoy it as much as i enjoy writing it. hope my action isnt too slow!
I will introduce more characters later.
"So he spoke to you this time? The voice remind you of anyone? Have you heard it before?" Sirius asked rather, well, seriously. His mother just looked pensive in the mirror.
"It- I don't know, it sounded hollow you know, not like any human voice I ever heard." Harry replied, not for the first time explaining it to them. "Mum, could it have been-"
"Voldemort? I don't know Harry," she responded thoughtfully, "it would be our best guess but what he said just doesn't add up!"
"Me helping him return? Is that it?"
"Mhm, as far as we know he's already returned. Lying low for now, but definitely back. Albus thinks he's holed up in Albania gathering followers."
"Maybe he meant return to power? To England?"
"Maybe honey, for now just ignore it. Nothing to be done, thanks for letting us know.
"Now, how was your first night at Hogwart's?" Conversation quickly changed and moved to lighter topics. The nightmare left in the back of Harry's mind.
Harry quickly told them the reaction of students and staff to his arrival, he told them of the first years and how terrified they all were, as if no one told them what to expect.
He told them about the people he met so far, that they all expected some sort of proof from him that he was Harry Potter. How infuriating that was. He also completely ignored Sirius' not-so-subtle winks as he mentioned Hermione. His uncle had done this every time a girl came up to Harry.
Too soon he realised that he had to go, his first day was about to start.
Hermione came down to the common room at 7, waiting on the first years. Ready to take them to the Great Hall for breakfast. Over the next 45 minutes they slowly made their way down, chatting animatedly about the school. The lessons. Magic.
"Did you see all the ghosts?"
"And the floating candles?"
"And Harry Potter?"
"The spell he taught us"
"Can't believe we already did some magic"
On and on their discussion went. Hermione hearing bits of it as she read her book. That was until a voice broke her from her reverie.
"Morning Hermione, are we ready to go?"
"Harry? What are you doing here? I thought-" She started a little startled.
"7:45. You said to meet you here?"
"Just thought, after yesterday… Ron.. Right." She quickly stopped herself and turned to check whether all the first years were here. In her mind though she carried on "Why is he here? Surely after speaking to Ron he'd never want to associate with her again. Egh, I should have stayed and listened to what else he had to say. Now I'm just gonna have to guess."
"Everyone's here so let's go down to breakfast."
She could only smile and shake her head, as Harry cheered along with the first years.
"Ok! What. What is it?" She asked rather angrily. Harry kept glancing at her every other second. Never saying anything. Just… looking. Finally she just couldn't take it and snapped at him.
Harry recoiled at this, his face tinged red at being caught. Quickly schooling his features though, he replied to her.
"Sorry sorry, it's just- well- this is the second time we've spoken, and you have yet ask me anything personal. I was just surprised, that's all." Harry said rather sheepishly.
"Not that I'm not curious, but it just seemed rather rude. We have just met after all"
"It hasn't stopped anyone else.
"Everyone coming up to me. First with disbelief that I'm really Harry Potter. Thinking I'm so impostor. Asking for proof like I owe them anything. Then staring at my forehead, clearly trying to get a glimpse of the stupid scar. Then falling over themselves to try and worm they way into being my friend. It's barely been a day and I already see why my mum didn't want to send me here. Bloody idiots the lot of them!"
Hermione's eyes grew at his rant. His anger rising with each sentence. Roiling off of him in waves as he reached the end of it. He kept his voice quiet, but even so people were looking at him from the other tables.
She could see where he was coming from. Thinking to herself, trying to imagine how she would handle something like this. Probably blasting curses at anyone and everyone who crossed her. She liked that no one really bothered her much. Apart from snide comments in classes and some name calling she was fairly invisible, and she liked that.
Harry once again broke her from her thoughts. This time with an apology.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have snapped like that. It's just so-"
"I know, no harm done." At his disbelieving look she added, "Really. Like I said, it's rude. Also really, just a bit stupid. None of the teachers questioned it so why wouldn't others believe you."
She smiled at him and decided to change the subject.
"The first years said you taught them a spell at the feast. I saw you instructing them, what was it?"
"Ah that, well one of the boys was complaining that his food had gone cold before he could finish it. It was just a hot air spell Fervaeren" At this Harry took out his wand and pointed it at Hermione's hand as he muttered the spell. A sensation of warm air passed over her hand, reminiscent of a wave she felt stepping of an airplane on her holiday to Malta last year.
"Useful spell, not on the curriculum. I've never heard of it before actually" She said, her curiosity getting the better of her "where did you learn it?"
Harry actually chuckled, "I'm not surprised, my mum came up with it. She's got a lot of those, and since we were technically in hiding, she never published them anywhere."
"Your mother creates her own spells? That's fascinating! She must be really good at arithmancy. We don't get any classes on spell creation until our NEWTs. I can't wait for that. It's been something I've always wanted to do." Her eyes shining as she carried on. "Make spells, or improve ones that already exist. It's just incredible, the knowledge you need, about magic, to find spells and manipulate language to focus them."
They quickly fell into a deep conversation about spell creation and how it works. Both of them questioning why Latin is so heavily used in all spells.
Hermione noticed something. He wasn't growing bored of their conversation. Like many other people did whenever she tried to discuss any of this with them. Even the Ravenclaws. As soon as she tried to discuss something outside of the curriculum they grew bored, not having anything to add. So much for "seeking knowledge". But here Harry was, not only animatedly discussing everything with her, but also bringing up questions and ideas that she's never considered.
Harry on the other hand, felt more at peace than he had since he got on that train yesterday. This reminded him of the breakfasts he shared with his mum. The talk of magic, different branches. Exploring subjects that they both found interesting.
Neither of them noticed Professor McGonnagal come up behind them to hand them their schedules. She listened in on their conversation and without interrupting them she levitated the schedules in front of them as she walked off.
It took another ten minutes for them to notice their schedules in front of them. Both confused as to how they appeared there until one of the first years pointed out what happened, eliciting giggles from the rest of them.
Harry and Hermione just shrugged looking at their schedules. Their first lesson was starting soon, Charms with Professor Flitwick. She motioned for the first years to follow them. Their first lesson in Transfiguration was on the way so she could lead them to their first class.
As the lesson began, Professor Flitwick paused at Harry's name during roll call.
"Ah, Mr. Potter. I'm glad to have you in my class. Your mother was one of my best students, though I do believe Ms Granger is giving her a run for her money"
Harry glanced to Hermione, who just blushed and lowered her head. He heard a murmur go around, a lot of things to the extent of "teacher's pet". His eyes narrowed slightly, before schooling his features and turning to the professor.
"Thank you professor, happy to be here. My mother had a lot of good things to say about your classes. That reminds me, she would love to catch up with you sir, I'll see you after class?"
Professor Flitwick nodded and began their lesson. Drilling into them the importance of this year. OWLs. A lot of the lesson consisted of going over the spells they have already learned in the past years. From levitation charm to the summoning charm.
It turned out to be the right call, since a lot of people in the class really struggled with it. Hermione noticed that Harry performed every spell, without any problems and her curiosity about him grew.
"I wonder how much his mum taught him about other subjects."
Very quickly, both of them decided to play a small game, banishing and summoning the same object in the classroom. Harry would banish it and she would then try to summon it as it was flying away from her. She found this was much more difficult than simply summoning a stationary object.
"It's the fact you need to adjust your power as the object moves away." He remarked as she furrowed her brow after having to duck when the pillow flew over her head. "Let's see, I'll banish it again, put a lot of power into the spell initially and then easy up as you see the pillow fly towards you?"
She did just that, and the two of them soon tried to find a balance between banishing and summoning the pillow away, or towards, them, to keep it hovering in place. Earning them 10 house points from the little professor as he walked around the class.
Harry then smirked at her. His grin widening and she gave him a little questioning look as to what he's going to do next. The pillow started to move away as Harry increased the power of his spell. Hermione not to be outdone, did the same and soon they were playing tug of war with the pillow, the whole class watching them. Hermione starting to sweat a little, and Harry just looked at her, his eyes shining mischievously. He then turned to the pillow and narrowed his eyes and Hermione felt the pull on her arm, as if a tether from her wand was holding on to the pillow that tried to move away from her. One second, two… three, and the pillow exploded. Feathers slowly flying and covering all the students. Hermione gasped and Harry laughed as Professor Flitwick looked between them.
"Well, that was certainly interesting, you two. Can I ask what were you doing?"
"Just showing Hermione the nuances of charms Professor. How changing how much power you put into a spell can affect its outcome."
"Hmm quite right Mr Potter, though I do have to ask you and Ms Granger to stay behind and clean up the mess. Class dismissed everyone, remember the two feet of parchment on summoning and banishing charms and their uses for next time"
"Of course sir." Harry responded. Hermione gave him an odd look. As they started gathering the pillow feathers.
This was the first time Hermione has been given anything close to a reprimand from a teacher. Though she was only asked to help clean up which was only fair. She couldn't even be annoyed with Harry because that was the most informative practical experience she had in charms. The possibilities of using the spell in different ways based on how much power she input were flying through her head.
She glanced up as Harry gave Professor Flitwick a piece of parchment, and him thanking Harry profusely before moving out of the classroom.
Harry turned back to her questioning glance.
"My mum's private address, we're sort of, off the grid and owls can't really find us. This address is somewhere mum goes to check for any post from trusted sources."
Hermione nodded.
"That was fun wasn't it Hermione?" He asked with a grin. "You've got some serious power there. You must be a menace in a duel. Are you part of the club?"
Hermione blushed slightly at the praise before responding. "My power? You almost had me flying from the desk! If that pillow didn't break that's exactly what would have happened. And you didn't even break a sweat!" She heard him laugh.
"Don't laugh!" Which just spurred him on, "And yeah, I'm part of the club, though only to help couple of my friends, since it's the best time to practice magic outside of class. I'm not part of the yearly competition or anything."
"Competition you say? That should be fun"
He had that mischievous smile on his face again.
"I take it you're going to join then?" Hermione asked.
"Of course, anything to practice more, it'll be good to test myself against other students too."
"I guess that's true, come we've got potions now and you do not want to be late to that class."
"Mr Potter. Ms Granger, glad of you to join us." This led to snickering from most of the students in the green robes, which Harry assumed meant they were Slytherin.
"Harry Potter, too good to wear school robes?" He drawled as he took in Harry's appearance in his muggle clothes. Flitwick didn't even pick up on it, and the rest of the student body just shrugged. Having Snape point it out, however, had most of them raise their eyebrows.
"That will be ten points Potter, and you're both late. That'll be another ten-"
"We're not late sir, it's still a minute before the lesson. Also there are no rules to say that I have to wear the school robes. They're only mandatory for official occasions." Harry interrupted the professor ignoring the warning look he got from Hermione, and every other Gryffindor in the classroom.
Professor just snarled, as they took their seats.
"Be that as it may,"he continued in his slow monotonous voice, "you decided to grace us with your presence and immediately begin bending the rules. Tell me Potter -"
"You're Professor Snape right?" Harry interrupted him. "Mum says hi. She also asked to pass on a message."
That stopped the professor dead in his tracks.
"Well. What was it?"
"She said, Don't you dare. That's all." Harry stood his ground as Professor Snape stared him down.
The entire classroom holding their breath. Everyone knew of the kind of Professor Severus Snape was. Mean, bullying man, with a deep hatred for all houses but the Slytherins.
Severus Snape knew exactly what those words meant. As he stood there, he began to wonder how much has Lily told the boy. There was nothing for it. He had to reign it in and decided that he will just ignore his presence. As much as that was possible with those emerald eyes boring into him.
A few seconds passed by until the Professor gave a small imperceptible nod before turning round and addressing the class.
No points taken. No detentions given. Hermione stared at Harry with disbelief all over her face. It was rare that something would break her from listening to a professor. But this was just bizarre. Harry had a small smile on his face as he took some notes on the potion they were brewing and began his preparations.
All lesson, Snape ignored both Harry and her, something that never happened. The Slytherins were also shocked, what began as snickering at the fact that the Gryffindors were gonna lose more points, turned to shock when the professor just ignored them totally.
Harry turned out to be a competent potioneer. Though he was clearly bored here. His potion looking slightly off colour compared to Hermione's. Though he didn't look too bothered by it. Just nodded to himself and made some corrections in his notes.
It wasn't until the end of the lesson that the inevitable happened. Gregory Goyle's cauldron exploded, completely inaudibly for some weird reason. His mixture however ended up in other student's cauldrons and it was Ron that was the most unfortunate. His potion already looking unstable with a terrible red smoke rising from it instead of the silvery one they were to expect. As soon as Goyle's concoction mixed with it… The blast ended up sending Ron back into a wall. Snape growled at him and strode over angrily waving his wand to reenervate him.
"20 points from Gryffindor Weasley. Your utter incompetence continues to astound me, how you ended up with that badge on your robe I will never know. Get yourself to the hospital wing now!
"The rest of you. Bottle up your potions and leave them at my desk with your name on the vial. Class dismissed."
With that he walked out of the class leaving it in the awful state.
Hermione sighed, she knew that it was too good to be true. Snape would not be able to go a whole lesson without punishing the Gryffindors. Though she should at least count herself lucky to not have been included in his bullying. She looked to Harry who had a bemused expression on his face. They made eye contact and both just shrugged as they left the classroom.
"What the hell was that Harry?" She said quietly to him as they made their way to lunch.
With a chuckle Harry explained, "Mum told me that her and Snape have a bit of a history, and that it might make it, let's say, difficult for me to be in his class. She didn't want me to deal with that, so… hence the message."
"Do you know what their history is?"
"Honestly? Not a clue, and I'm not sure I want to know" he finished with another chuckle. "But enough of that, tell me more about the duelling competition"
"Well, let's see. The competition has 3 groups based on what year you're in. First and second years are together, and so are third and fourth years. The fifth years, so us, are in a group with the sixth and seventh. Which makes this year the most difficult for us. But because our core has stabilised by now we are officially too, I guess powerful? To join the lower years.
"There's generally a demonstration of spells between the overseeing professors. Professor Flitwick is always there, sometimes Professor Hobbs, our DADA teacher, comes to show us some defensive spells and techniques.
"Then every now and again Dumbledore will join too, usually give pointers to students. He really is a good teacher."
Harry's eyes lit up.
"Dumbledore is there? That I can't wait to see."
"He doesn't generally engage in duels though. Flitwick will generally duel a couple students each week. Mainly those with enough skill to get high in the competition. But Dumbledore just teaches." Hermione tried to calm Harry's excitement.
"Ah Hermione, trust me. He will engage this time. I wouldn't be surprised if he's there on that first weekend."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Let's just call it a hunch." He responded with a wink. But he seemed to wither slightly under her stare, and followed that up with a more satisfactory answer. "He's been trying to get in my duelling lessons for six years. Mum never let him. Used it as a lesson that he can't always get what he wants, when he wants it." Harry chuckled.
"Wait, six years? How long have you been learning to duel?" Harry grimaced.
"Since I was eight. I've had a bit of an irregular upbringing when it comes to learning magic. At least compared to people in England."
"But that's-that's unfair. You've had way more time to practice control and-and the spells, and everything. That puts everyone else in classes at a disadvantage!" Hermione said, admittedly a bit more hotly than she wanted to. Harry picked up on it and the smile faded from his face, to be replaced by a slight forlorn look.
"I also made my sacrifices. I didn't exactly get a choice in this." He turned to his food, his actions showing Hermione that he didn't feel like talking about this anymore.
"Damn it Hermione! You know exactly what, or rather who he lost as a baby. He hasn't exactly had an easy life. Your pride is why you end up losing friends!"
Hermione didn't turn away from him as her mind whirled. She knew she needed to apologise. Bringing up the fact that his father died, even if it wasn't her intention, was not something she could just brush past. She also couldn't stand the dimness of his eyes, not when she has seen how bright they can glow. "Seriously Hermione, you just met the guy yesterday."
"Harry, I'm-I'm sorry about that, ok?" It took a few seconds for Harry to look at her. His expression has changed much, but he hasn't run off from her yet, so that was something.
"Eh, don't worry about it. I knew that would come up at some point," he paused for a bit, clearly gathering his thoughts. Hermione briefly wondered how he could get over his anger, since he clearly was angry just a second ago, so fast. "Besides, I'm glad I had extra few years of lessons, how else would I have been able to keep up with you in class?"
Hermione smiled in thanks. The rest of their lunch going much more pleasantly.
Hermione introduced Harry to couple of her friends from Ravenclaw. Lisa Turpin, a tall blonde girl. Fiercely intelligent and a clear prodigy in arithmancy. Though incredibly quiet, the only time she ever spoke with any sort of fervour was when their topic turned to spell creation again. The other girl, Sue Li, much more bubbly. She reminded Harry a little of Hermione. Both girls with brown hair, though where Hermione was untameable much like his, Sue's was short and straight.
They chatted all the way through lunch and all went ahead to their arithmancy lesson, followed by runes.
Harry figured, that Hogwart's, might not be so bad.
"Hey mum, Professor Flitwick should be in touch soon, and thanks for the message to Snape. You were right, he's… a very unpleasant man"
"Severus wasn't always like that, but I knew he'd cause trouble." She replied, her eyes downcast a little. Quickly though she looked back at him with a smile, "so, how was the first day? Still think it was useless sending you there?"
"Heh, you know, it was actually really fun…" Harry went on to describe his lessons, and the little competition he had with Hermione which made Lily laugh. Harry always liked when his mum forgot her worries. Too often he would see her with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Not even a slight exaggeration there. "And Professor Vector was thrilled about the hot air spell. She would love to speak to you about all the other ones you came up with so maybe reach out to her?" He saw Lily nod, as he carried on. "I'm thinking of challenging the headmaster to a duel on Saturday".
Lily's eyes opened wide. "Harry… is that wise?"
"Mum, come on, I know I'll get my ass handed to me-"
"Oi, watch your language!"
"Sorry," he replied somewhat sheepishly but with that smirk which told her she knew he wasn't really sorry, "either way, I know I'll lose. But I'd love to see how he duels. You yourself told me how legendary his fights always were."
"You know by challenging him you're gonna put yourself in the spotlight right?"
"Mum honestly… how will that be any different than now?"
"Fine fine, but no wandless magic. Keep that a secret for now, you never know when it could come in handy."
As Harry agreed to this term, he went on to chat about the classes he'll be having for the rest of the week. Their conversation continuing and ending in a light hearted manner. With his good mood, he went to sleep.