The next morning in the common room the students looked at the notice board and saw that the Gryffindor Quidditch team was down a seeker and a chaser. They also saw that the new Quidditch captain Oliver Wood was holding tryouts on the second weekend. Dipper had been reading about Quidditch and remembered that first years were not allowed their own brooms and that they had to use the schools. It didn't say anything about first years not being allowed to play. Dipper wanted to prove himself as an athlete but he didn't know how to fly.
The way down to breakfast was tricky. The castle was like a giant indoor maze. There were doors all over the place. Some were locked, and some were only accessible to the ghosts. The staircases could move on their own and branched off to several different paths. It didn't help the fact that Peeves was trying to throw tomatoes at them. Thankfully they all made it down to the great hall. Mabel began to tell them what happened last night. No wonder the sorting hat put you in Gryffindor said Fred. It takes a lot of bravery to touch Filch's cat said George. What's wrong with Filch's cat? asked Pacifica. Mrs. Norris has a habit of catching rule breakers said Percy. I heard that she sometimes bothers you when you're not even doing anything said Ron. "Mrs." Norris? can cats get married in the wizarding world? asked Mabel. Oh dear Lord no said Hermione. I don't know what he was thinking naming her that. Then they heard the sound of screeching. Owls began flying into the great hall carrying letters and parcels. The mail's here, it usually comes in the morning said Percy. One owl dropped a newspaper in front of Pacifica and it said the daily prophet on the front page. Pacifica handed the owl a knut and it took off. Oh you gotta be joking me she chuckled as she read the front page. Drunk house elf proposes to goblin he never met before. Fred, George, you two play Quidditch right? said Dipper. Yes said Fred. Well I was thinking of trying out for the team and was hoping you two could give me some pointers said Dipper. Course we can said George. Meet us near the lake Saturday after breakfast said Fred. Mason are you sure you want to try out for Quidditch? asked Percy. A first year hasn't made the team in nearly a century and the best broom the school has is a comet 260. I see no fault in that said a voice. It was coming from Professor McGonagall. When I was a student I won the cup back to back years on that broom. She then handed them a schedule. The seven main classes they would be taking were Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, Potions, Defense against the dark arts, Astronomy, and History of magic.
Over the next two days they began attending their first magic classes. Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall showed a lot of promise as she transfigured her desk into a pig. She told them they still had a long way to go before they got to N.E.W.T level. The lessons required them to cast spells in order to transfigure objects. Charms lesson was a completely different story. The teacher Professor Flitwick was so small that he had to stand on a stack of books. Charms was a bit more complex as these spells could be used for more everyday tasks. Herbology was held in one of the school greenhouses and involved dealing with magical plants. This was were the dragon hide gloves came in. Several of the plants had thorns and often tried to bite them so it was unwise to have the students deal with them with their bare hands. The teacher Professor Sprout pointed at Dipper's brown hat and told him that he had a wise mind to wear head protection for something this dangerous. Dipper felt satisfaction when she gave him five points. Neville, who usually struggled in class was actually fairly decent at Herbology. History of magic was one of the weirdest classes. It turns out the teacher Professor Binns was a ghost that had been teaching the class for over a thousand years. Some say that he didn't even know he was dead.
Midnight on Wednesday was weird as instead of being asleep in their dorms the students were in the astronomy tower on the seventh floor. They were looking through telescopes and gazed up at the night sky. They were learning about the different movements of the planets, their moons, and the stars. Dipper surprisingly nailed the location of the big dipper right on the head. Professor Sinistra was astonished at what he knew. How did you know the exact location? she asked. Dipper, who was a little embarrassed to reveal his birthmark told a lie. When I was five I drew several pictures of the big dipper and gave them away as gifts. People started referring to me as Dipper after that and the name stuck. I see, ten points to Gryffindor said Professor Sinistra.
The next day at breakfast they saw that one of the classes later that day was double potions with the Slytherins. Double classes were twice the length of normal ones and instead of the entire year it was only half the class that consisted of the entirety of two houses. I don't like where this is headed said Ron. What's the matter? asked Dipper. The potions teacher is Professor Snape, the head of Slytherin house said Ron. I heard that he favors his own house and is always giving points to them. He also has a bad habit of taking points from Gryffindor. I thought it was against school rules for teachers to be biased said Mabel. Anybody who's tried to stand up to him has gotten detention said Fred. He's the worst teacher there is said George.
Later that day they had defense against the dark arts with Professor Quirrell. Knowing that Quirrell was new to the job and that he used to teach a different subject made the student think he had plenty of time to do research. The class was basically the magic version of self defense. Although Quirrell seemed to be a good teacher he had a tendency to stutter a lot. The turban on his head also stunk up the room. It turned out that his stuttering was a result of PTSD after he had a few run ins with vampires. Many tended to believe that his turban was full of garlic to help ward off vampires.
Soon the first years were in the dungeons ready for the first potions lesson. Professor Snape had greasy black hair and was frowning before they even started. There will be no wand waving or silly incantations in this class he said. As such I highly doubt many of you would consider the subtlety of potions making to be considered magic. But what if I told you that I can teach you to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses? You will learn how to brew fame, bottle glory, and even put a stopper in death. As long as you are not like the dunderheads that I usually have to teach. He then began doing a roll call of all the students like all the other teachers had done. He stopped when he got to Harry Potter. Well well well Mister Potter, let us hope that your fame does not go to your head and make you arrogant. Your father was full of arrogance. He then addressed Dipper, Mabel, and Pacifica. It seems as though for the first time in history we have American students at Hogwarts. I'm surprised the daily prophet never picked up on it. Let's see if you got the proper information while you were in the states. Starting with you Mister Pines, what would I get if I added a powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood? Hermione's hand shot up in the air. Sleeping potion said Dipper. One known as draft of the living dead said Snape. Despite being muggle born you have obviously done your research. Let's see if your sister has the same idea. Miss Pines, where would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar? Hermione once again raised her hand. A goat said Mabel. Right in the stomach said Snape. It seems the Pines family knows things by instinct. I expect something interesting however from somebody with a muggle father. Miss Northwest, what is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane? Hermione's hand was almost touching the ceiling. There is no difference, it's the exact same thing said Pacifica. The plant also goes by the name of aconite said Snape. It seems that US students are more than they appear. Class, for your first lesson you will be learning the basic cure for common boils. Some students were having trouble while others had no issue. Neville accidentally removed his from the fire too early and ended up spilling it over himself. He began screaming in pain as he was covered in bright red boils. Potter! what were you thinking not telling him to add the porcupine quills too early? asked Snape. Thought it would would boost your image if your classmates struggled while you succeeded? You just cost Gryffindor a point. Harry opened his mouth to retort but Ron stopped him. Don't make the situation worse.
At lunch Dipper was full of so much rage that he broke his plate in half while cutting his steak. I swear to God he said said. If Gryffindor loses the house cup by just one point, i'm ditching Hogwarts and transferring to Illvermorny. Calm down Mason, Snape takes a lot of points from Gryffindor students said Percy. I was one of them and I have yet to break a Hogwarts rule. He began to pat Dipper on the back and Dipper began breathing slowly. Right, i'm going to do the right thing and tell Dumbledore said Dipper. If he's not going to fire Snape then he can at least have a talk with him. Please don't make us look bad said Fred. Gryffindor doesn't need to be known for having tattletales said George. Don't do anything to get yourself in detention said Hermione. I need to do something said Dipper. I'll do it after my flying lesson with Fred and George on Saturday. Mabel then let out a sigh. Not this again.
Authors note: Dipper's tattling is based off of something similar in real life. I used to have a history of getting in trouble at school when I wasn't doing anything wrong. I made a lot of angry trips to the principal's office and got no results. After like the thirtieth time I got in trouble I got so angry I punched the principal in the face. I got suspended but my parents didn't punish me because they knew I was in the right.
As always if you have a suggestion or a prediction for a future chapter, feel free to let me know in a review.
Thank you for reading and please have a great day.