[Chapter Three - Classes Begin]
Dawn rose the next day and Harry groaned as he pushed himself up and saw it was eight o'clock and knew it was still night time back in New york. Hearing the gentle hoots of Hedwig he got up and saw she wanted to go flight, at least he knew the dorms had access for owls to come down here and get out through ventilations in the walls. Sending her through it she took off and he smiled. Checking his message he saw his dad wanted a detailed explanation because his mother said so. So he typed back he'd send a letter. Garbed in his uniform for the day he grabbed his wand, his sack and exited his room and saw Deaco do the same and he said: "Morning."
Dracon nodded with a yawn and said: "Are you ready for the day?"
He nodded and said: "Hope it would just be a simple day though."
The duo climbed the stairs into the common room and saw Crabbe, Goyle and Draco's only female friend Daphne Greengrass. The duo said: "Morning."
The trio greeted back and Harry asked: "What's on the agenda for the day?"
The day was of course Wednesday, the center of the week and of course class was at midnight. Harry decided to hang around and chat with his fellow first years. They were honestly surprised when Harry said he'd prefer to be treated like a normal person instead of a celebrity as fame wasn't everything. Draco had known Crabbe and Goyle most of his lives as their fathers grew up together and met Daphne when he was seven. He honestly found them to be good friends but when Daphne asked: "So Harry, what are your views on mudbloods?"
Ever Slytherin looked at him and he sighed knowing this was going to happen, even Professor Snape was nearby in the shadows and Harry said: "Honesty, pure, mud or half doesn't bloody matter. My adopted father had non-magical parents and was a bloody top-tier surgeon before he had a horrible accident that cost him most of the functions in his hand. To me mudbloods as many families call them I see as founders of a new generation of magic users, they are the first of a new family of magic just as was our forefathers so long ago. My father told me that magic is like nature; it evolves and adapts all the time, thus magic grows and blooms in many ways. So Daphne I'd despise the word mudblood, it sounds stupid and holds no real value to anything, they are a new generation so they are newbloods."
Professor Snape could only smile in the shadows and Harry's words had shook the entire house. Could the "pure" blood belief just be as foolish as he said, but he was correct that their ancestors had no magic relatives at all. By the end of the day Harry's words spread throughout the school like wildfire and Hermione smiled at her friend as they hung out together after lunch in the library studying for tomorrow's transfiguration class and a bit of astronomy which Harry had a massive head start on. Taking a stroll outside by late afternoon he sighed as Hedwig landed on his arm and he said: "Here you go girl, head to bleecker street, New York girl. Pretty sure you will see the large house with an odd shaped round window."
She nodded and flew off and sent a message about his owl on the way, saying he wanted Hedwig to deliver a message while he was in school instead of the phone. Next day it wasn't just transfiguration they had to deal with which was later that day. They went out to the greenhouses behind the castle to study Herbology, with a dumpy little witch called Professor Sprout, where they learned how to take care of all the strange plants and fungi, and found out what they were used for. Easily the most boring class was History of Magic, which was the only one taught by a ghost. Professor Binns had been very old indeed when he had fallen asleep in front of the staff room fire and got up next morning to teach, leaving his body behind him. Binns droned on and on while they scribbled down names and dates, and got Emetic the Evil and Uric the Oddball mixed up.
Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, was a tiny little wizard who had to stand on a pile of books to see over his desk. At the start of their first class he took the roll call, and when he reached Harry's name he gave an excited squeak and toppled out of sight. Professor McGonagall was again different. Harry had been quite right to think she wasn't a teacher to cross. Strict and clever, she gave them a talking-to the moment they sat down in her first class. Her words were: "Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts," she said. "Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned."
Then she changed her desk into a pig and back again. They were all very impressed and couldn't wait to get started, but soon realized 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. By the end of the lesson, only Hermione Granger had made any difference to her match; Professor McGonagall showed the class how it had gone all silver and pointy and gave Hermione a rare smile. But when she saw Harry's, she gasped and said: "Mr. Po… Strange is your needle made of diamond."
He nodded and said: "Sorry Professor, but I'd thought to see if I could try to turn it into something harder. I knew I needed to focus on the element carbon and mold and shaped the needle."
The Professor held the need and knew it was pure diamond and said: "Ten points to Slytherin Mr. Strange. You have quiet skill in transfiguration. Excellent work."
Leaving the classroom Hermione asked: "How'd you do it exactly?"
Harry smirked and said: "Helps to know the compound of various objects. I do know the transmutation spell by doing it wandless and transfiguration is no different so I modified it slightly to wand magic and study the basics of it and went from there."
She then said: "Clever, so how is Slytherin, I hear a lot of bad things about it."
He shrugged his shoulders and replied: "That's everyone's opinion. Best to have your own experience instead of Hermione."
Hermione nearly tripped and he caught her. But the next class everyone had really been looking forward to was Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Quirrell's lessons turned out to be a bit of a joke. His classroom smelled strongly of garlic, which everyone said was to ward off a vampire he'd met in Romania and was afraid would be coming back to get him one of these days. His turban, he told them, had been given to him by an African prince as a thank-you for getting rid of a troublesome zombie, but they weren't sure they believed this story. For one thing, when Seamus Finnigan asked eagerly to hear how Quirrell had fought off the zombie, Quirrell went pink and started talking about the weather; for another, they had noticed that a funny smell hung around the turban, and the Weasley twins insisted that it was stuffed full of garlic as well, so that Quirrell was protected wherever he went.
Soon enough it was friday and only one class, potions well more like till lunch time and it was Gryffindor. Harry had no beef with most of Gryffindor save for a few, especially since he made friends with the Weasley twins Fred and George and gave some tips about pranking. Arriving at the grand hall with Draco and Daphne as Crabbe and Goyle had already left Daphne asked: "What have we got today?"
Harry grabbed some breakfast steak, eggs, bacon, biscuit and some gravy before replying: "Double potions with Gryffindor so expect some beef with some with them. Especially from Ron, dude has beef with me, saying I was being like Voldemort. As if I ain't no coward who targets kids. If I wanna fight, I'd go for the guy responsible, not the innocent."
Starting to eat his breakfast he cut his biscuit in half and put some apple jelly on it, then eggs and bacon and dipped it into the gravy. All thought it was an American thing, honestly it was, but mainly a southern thing. Crabbe and Goyle also dug in and Draco said: "Not to worry about the Gryffindors, Professor Snape favors us, we will not be having any issue."
Harry nodded and continued eating. Just then, the mail arrived. Harry had gotten used to this by now, but it had given him a bit of a shock on the first morning, when about a hundred owls had suddenly streamed into the Great Hall during breakfast, circling the tables until they saw their owners, and dropping letters and packages onto their laps. Hedwig dropped a package and letter in Harry's lap and he grabbed some biscuit and broke a piece off for her and let her have it. He broke a few more pieces and he checked his mail and Goyle asked: "Can I see the newspaper?"
Harry passed it and said: "Knock yourself out."
Opening the letter it said: "Dear son, Although it is odd for you to be sending letters. I can see why your mother adores your owl as she is very beautiful. Your mother and I wish you the best of luck and to remind you to stay out of trouble. Also as for your phone, I hope you will still use it, Stark had put a lot of effort into it. One other thing I wish to mention is that Wong had heard news of a serpent like wraith spotted in Britain while you were shopping. Be Careful my son, we believe it may be him. Love your father. P.S. Hey sweety, it's mom, tell Hermione we hope to see her and hope you make lots of friends and have a great time."
Smiling he fed a piece of rabbit to Hedwig he then flew off as Goyle said: "Hey, guys listen to this, somebody broke into Gringotts, listen. Believed to be the work of dark witches or wizards unknown, Gringotts goblins, while acknowledging the breach, insist that nothing was taken. The vault in question, number 713, had in fact been emptied earlier that same day. That's odd."
Harry then said: "Odd, the day I met Draco, Hagrid had removed something from said vault. An item personally requested by Dumbledore."
Daphne then asked: "Could the Professor know someone was after the item?"
Draco then said: "Possibly, but who knows."
Crabbe nodded as he munched on a muffin. Soon classes began to start as potions were held into the dungeons, thankfully with his father proper security measures were put into place such as vents. Harry sat with Daphne and Draco on either side of him and Crabbe and Goyle were behind them. Snape, like Flitwick, started the class by taking the roll call, and like Flitwick, he paused at Harry's name. He looked at Harry with a hard stare. "Ah, Yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new -- celebrity."
Draco Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle sniggered behind their hands. Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class. His eyes were black like Hagrid's, but they had none of Hagrid's warmth. They were cold and empty and made you think of dark tunnels. Soon Daphne looked at Harry with concern and he gave her a soft smirk as Snape began to address everyone. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word -- like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. "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 its 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."
More silence followed this little speech.
"Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Harry replied: "Draught of the living death."
Snape raised a brow, and he almost smirked, but Snape said: "Still Mr. Potter, fame isn't everything. Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
Harry smirked and said: "In the stomach as it is a foreign material most often composed of hair and fiber and fails to pass through the intestines, most are from goats, but yet there are uncommon occurrences that it is found inside of humans."
Snape nodded as everyone looked at Harry, impressed or hating him, then he said: "What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
Harry smirked and daid: "Trick question, they are one in the same professor. Although mainly used in many poisons recent studies shown to be a remedy for swelling, fever, infections, restlessness, anxiety and panic attacks, and paresthesias; it has also been used for anginal pain, arrhythmias, arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, respiratory infections, laryngitis, sore throat, toothaches."
Snape nodded his head and said: "Why are you not all copying this down! Five points to Slytherin for Mr. Potter."
Throughout class Gryffindors have been an issue with some of them either ignoring the lesson or not caring, Snape wouldn't allow it. Snape put them all into pairs and set them to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils. He swept around in his long black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing almost everyone except Harry a bit and Malfoy, whom he seemed to like. He was just telling everyone to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his horned slugs when clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing filled the dungeon. Neville would have almost melted Seamus's cauldron if Harry hadn't caught the duo from messing up which earned them more points for Harry being a module student and preventing a chemical accident. After class the group of many Gryffindors dubbed the Strange gang climbed the steps out of the dungeon.
Draco then said: "Nice job Harry, Snape seemed in a good mood."
Daphne then said: "I'll say, you also prevented a disaster caused by Longbottom."
Harry then said: "Yeah, guy needs help on focusing he seems to have a lot on his mind. Hope he can get the help he needs. Anyway I've got to go see Hagrid today."
Draco then asked: "Why?"
Harry then replied: "He wants to see how I am doing thus far, and honestly with it being the weekend I could use the unwinding and to get out of the castle. Hate being cooped up."
After lunch Harry walked out of the castle and made his way toward Hagrids and noticed Hermione and he said: "Hermione? Off to Hagrid's as well?"
She nodded and said: "You too, nice knowing I'm not alone, how was potions?"
Harry chuckled and told her what happened and she giggled. Arriving at Hagrids they met Fang, a large black bloodhound like dog and Hagrid enjoyed having them over. The rock cakes of hard raisin bread, Harry had used a softening spell to make them edible for him and Hermione and enjoyed the tea. By dinner time he and Hermione made their way back up to the castle enjoying each other's company. The weekend flew by and come Monday it was the day of flying lessons, it was not a class, but rather something important to know. Today's flying lessons would house a quarter of each house and lessons would stop for said person once they have to hang on, usually on the first try.
Draco then said as they ate: "So Harry, any experience on a broomstick?"
Harry ate a piece of cantaloupe and said: "Nope, prefer my dad's cloak of levitation. Thing is sentient and very useful. And like the name says it can make you levitate and fly."
Crabbe said: "Wicked man, that sounds awesome. Where can I get one?"
Harry then said: "It's an ancient magical artifact, only one of its existence. Sorry, but my Dad is never without."
Harry remembered how Malfoy certainly did talk about flying a lot. He complained loudly about first years never getting on the house Quidditch teams and told long, boastful stories that always seemed to end with him narrowly escaping Muggles in helicopters. He wasn't the only one, though: the way Seamus Finnigan told it, he'd spent most of his childhood zooming around the countryside on his broomstick. Even Ron would tell anyone who'd listen about the time he'd almost hit a hang glider on Charlie's old broom. Everyone from wizarding families talked about Quidditch constantly. Ron had already had a big argument with Dean Thomas, who shared their dormitory, about soccer. Ron couldn't see what was exciting about a game with only one ball where no one was allowed to fly.
Harry heard Ron prodding Dean's poster of the West Ham soccer team, trying to make the players move. Neville had never been on a broomstick in his life, because his grandmother had never let him near one. Privately, Harry felt she'd had good reason, because Neville managed to have an extraordinary number of accidents even with both feet on the ground. Hermione was almost as nervous about flying as Neville was. This was something you couldn't learn by heart out of a book -- not that she hadn't tried. At breakfast on Thursday she bored them all stupid with flying tips she'd gotten out of a library book called Quidditch Through the Ages. Neville was hanging on to her every word, desperate for anything that might help him hang on to his broomstick later, but everybody else was very pleased when Hermione's lecture was interrupted by the arrival of the mail.
Harry had received a letter and another package from home, the last package was some toiletries, but opening this one he smirked and said: "Nice."
Holding it up he saw it was a platinum pocket watch with a stag and doe on the front. Opening inside on one side was a normal blackface and the other had a cloak face with an hourglass in it and Daphne said: "No way, Harry's got a Time Turner!"
All eyes were on him and he said: "Huh, mum must've sent it to me."
Opening the letter he read aloud and sajd: "Harry, your father thought you could use this for emergencies only. Even though time travel is strictly forbidden and against the laws of nature itself, even though your father had turned back time in an area a few times. But remember this is for crisis only.
Harry chuckled and continued reading: "We found this as it belonged to your biological mother Lily, we thought it might do you some good. Love Mom."
Malfoy's eagle owl brought him a package of sweets from home, which he opened gloatingly at the Slytherin table and gave his friends a piece and asked: "So when are ya going to use it. Heard you need special permission to use it."
Harry replied: "Only in dire situations Draco. Good chocolate, inside was white chocolate, nice. You guys are excited about today."
They all nodded and high-fived. Finishing up the meal, as they begin to leave by passing between RavenClaw and Gryffindor's table they hear: "Hey, Neville has a Remembrall."
Neville then said: "Gran knows I forget things -- this tells you if there's something you've forgotten to do. Look, you hold it tight like this and if it turns red -- oh…" the orb turned red and he said: "you've forgotten something..." Harry then said: "Is it about Trevor."
Neville's eyes widened as he knew he needed to give Trevor fresh water later and the orb returned to be clear and he said: "Thanks Harry."
Harry gave a two-fingered salute and he said: "Come on guys, we better freshen up our flight knowledge, not telling what the Professor might have us do."
It was in later afternoon that the students attending the flying lesson had gathered and everyone looked ready. Few were excited and Harry saw Ron and a few other Gryffindors giving him the stink eye, and all honestly he wasn't bothered. Soon their teacher, Madam Hooch, arrived. She had short, gray hair, and yellow eyes like a hawk as she greeted them and told them to get alongside their broom and had them raise their right arms and told them to say up with feeling. Harry got it in one go, next was Draco, followed by a few Slytherins and Gryffindors, but Ron's came flying straight back and the stick bashed into his face causing a few to laugh and he said: "Shut up!"
Once everyone had their brooms Madam Hooch showed them how to mount their brooms without sliding off the end, and walked up and down the rows correcting their grips. To Ron's delight she told Malfoy he'd been doing it wrong for years, but even told him that he wasn't safely mounted either at all. Once everyone was properly set she then said: "
"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard," said Madam Hooch. "Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle -- three -- two--"
But Neville, nervous and jumpy and frightened of being left on the ground, pushed off hard before the whistle had touched Madam Hooch's lips. Everyone looked as he began to ascend.
"Come back, boy!" she shouted, but Neville was rising straight up like a cork shot out of a bottle -- twelve feet -- twenty feet. Neville's broom began smashing into the castle hard then Harry saw his scared white face look down at the ground falling away, saw him gasp, slip sideways off the broom and -- Harry instantly reacted raising his fist as magic circles appeared on them and he threw one of the magic circle onto the ground and when Neville hit the ground he bounced lightly and then solid and was unharmed. He smirked and said: "Thank god for a density and elastic spell I know."
Madam Hooch rhen said: "Nicely down Mr. Strange, twenty points for Slytherin for saving a student's life."
The first years cheered for Harry and Harry notice Neville's wrist as the broom landed on the ground and he checked it before saying: "a'am I think this broom is faulty, I am sensing a lot of magic issues and Neville might have hurt his wrist while being smashed into the school."
She examined the broom and saw it was far past its due date and even had some other issues and noticed Neville's wrist and she said: "Oh dear, a sprained wrist, come on, boy it's all right, up you get."
She then faced everyone and said: "None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch.' Come on, dear."
Neville, his face tear-streaked, clutching his wrist, hobbled off with Madam Hooch, who had her arm around him. Harry dropped the broom and said: "You'd think the school would have proper material up to date. What if all of our brooms are faulty?"
The students all nodded as they noticed their brooms were worn down as well. Ron laughed and said: "Did you see how scared he was, he went bloody mad before the whistle blew."
A few other Gryffindors laughed and a mocha skinned girl named Parvati Patil said: "Shut up, Weasley!"
He stood before her trying to act tough and another Gryffindor said: "Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom?"
Draco scoffed and said: "Well then, it seems Gryffindor are more cold hearted then people say we are."
Few Slytherins nodded their heads and Ron beld the Remembrall and he then said: "That fat sniveling lump, should've remembered to fall on his fat arse."
Harry then said coldly: "Give it here Weasel."
Everyone looked at Harry and Ron then said: "What did you call me?"
Harry then said: "You've heard me, you're nothing more than a weasel. You are a goddamn coward for picking on someone who you see as lesser than you."
Ron snarled and said: "If you want this you bloody traitor, come get it."
He had leapt onto his broomstick and taken off. He hadn't been lying, he could fly well. Hovering level with the topmost branches of an oak he called, "Come and get it, Potter!"
Harry began to mount and Daphne then said: "No don't, Harry, Madam Hooch told us not to move -- you'll get us all into trouble."
He smirked and said: "Not you lot, me and him."
He kicked off and was soaring like a pro surprising everyone and he stood hovering before Ron. "Give it here," Harry called, "or I'll knock you off that broom!"
"Oh, yeah?" said Ron, trying to sneer, but looking worried.
Harry knew, somehow, what to do. He leaned forward and grasped the broom tightly in both hands, and it shot toward Ron like a javelin. Rkn only just got out of the way in time; Harry made a sharp about-face and held the broom steady. A few people below were clapping. Ron looked very afraid, the look in Harry's eyes reminded him of a predator and he said to Ron: "No Seamus or Dean to save your ass up here ya Weasel."
"Catch it if you can, then!" he shouted, and he threw the glass ball high into the air and streaked back toward the ground.
Harry saw, as though in slow motion, the ball rose up in the air and then started to fall. He leaned forward and pointed his broom handle down -- next second he was gathering speed in a steep dive, racing the ball -- wind whistled in his ears, mingled with the screams of people watching -- jumping yo stand up as if he was on a surfboard -- he stretched out his hand -- a foot from the ground he caught it, just in time to pull his broom straight, and he toppled gently onto the grass with the Remembrall clutched safely in his fist. He then dismounted and raised it up as everyone cheered.
"HARRY POTTER!"
His heart sank faster than he'd just dived. Professor Snape was running toward them. He got to his feet, trembling.
"Never -- in all my time at Hogwarts--"
Professor Snape was almost speechless with shock, and his eyes flashed furiously, " -- how dare you -- might have broken your neck--"
"It wasn't his fault, Professor--"
"Be quiet, Miss Patil--"
"But Wealey--"
"That's enough, Mr. Malfoy. Strange, follow me, now."
Harry caught sight of Ron, Seamus, and Dean's triumphant faces as he left, walking numbly in Professor Snape's wake as he strode toward the castle. He was going to be expelled, he just knew it. He wanted to say something to defend himself, but there seemed to be something wrong with his voice. Professor Snape was sweeping along without even looking at him; he had to jog to keep up. Harry had noticed instead his movements were not his usual, he seemed excited. Entering the greenhouse he then said: "Professor Sprout, might I see Mr. Flint for a moment."
Professor Sprout then said: "Of course, Mr. Flint please go and see what your dorm master wants."
Said fourth year followed Professor Snape and Harry outside the Greenhouse and he said: "Mr. Flint, I understand that do to Mr. Higgs had quite the Quidditch team after a severe injury, thus we had lost our seeker."
Marcus Flint nodded and said: "Of course Professor."
Professor Snape then said: "I had seen first hand of Mr. Potter's skills with a broom and know he will make a fine seeker for the team. On the weekend you will test him."
Marcus looked at Harry and said: "Of course Professor, after the last two years of embarrassing games from Gryffindor, we may need some fresh blood."
Snape then said: "Excellent, now return to class both of you, and Potter I will speak about what happened with Madam Hooch. Oh and Potter thirty points to Slhtherin for doing what had to be done, but minus 10 for reckless endangerment."
Harry nodded and said: "Thank you Professor."
By dinnertime Harry had just finished telling Draco what had happened when he'd left the grounds with Professor Snape. Draco had a piece of steak and kidney pie halfway to his mouth, but he'd forgotten all about it. "Seeker ?" he said. "But first years never -- you must be the youngest house player in about -- decades."
Daphne nodded and said: "Yeah,heard your father joined the Gryffindors team during his second year as only fourth years usually made the team. You must've inherited your father's skills."
Soon enough Ron, Seamus and Dean came trouting in, though Ron looked pissed and Harry smirked, but Ron saw them and said: "Having a last meal, traitor? When are you getting the train back to the states?"
Harry smirked and said: "You wish Weasel, no buzz off."
Ron growled and walked off then Hermione came over and said in worry: "Harry, I just heard what happened. Ron is a complete moron."
Daphne scoffed and said: "Tell us something we don't know."
She then said: "Okay, the other night I accidentally got lost alongside Neville and ended up on the third floor because that troublesome ghost swapped the stairs on us, and on the third floor was a Cerberus that guarded a trap door."
Crabbe and Goyle continued eating and Deaco looked worried as did Daphne and Harry then said: "Must be guarding something them, something Dumbledore… oh so that's what it must be guarding. Remember what Hagrid had to get with us from Vault 713?"
She nodded and Goyle said: "You mean the same Vault that had been broken into."
Harry nodded and said: "Think about it, Dumbledore requested a mysterious object, third floor forbidden as from our senior students said Dumbledore always gave a reason, a Cerberus guarding a trap door and the vault was broken into. This is all tied to something big."
They then blinked as Harry began eating his mac 'n' cheese with fried chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy. Hermione then said: "I think you might be onto something, Hagrid might know about that Dog?"
Harry nodded and said: "Could be his. Hagrid does help with neutering the creature around campus."
Returning to his room Harry plopped down on his bed and began writing a letter back home telling his family he made the Quidditch Team without even trying out. Getting his things for a bath he had went out to get clean, and once he returned he noticed a letter on the bed and upon reading it, he saw it was from the weasel challenging him to a duel, so he tossed it into the heating stove and went to bed not caring what he would say. He knew things would be different soon enough, he sensed a storm on the horizon and he was preparing for it.