Author's Note: It is at this point that I realised I had made a terrible mistake. For reference on the Hogwarts class, I have been using this tumblr post post/75883206722/shorm-hogwarts-schedule-masterpost-because-i The mistake was that I forgot to factor in the September 1st 2009 was a Tuesday, not a Sunday. To retcon this, let us say that the class schedules shifted over for just the first week, meaning the Thursday and Friday schedule come into effect in week 2. I know this is largely inconsequential, but if I didn't address this, someone else would have. Please let me know if I ever miss anything else and if you read this on release day, a very Merry Christmas 2019.

'You know Professor Longbottom already?' exclaimed Saffie.

'Will you keep your voice down? The walls have ears!' urged Teddy.

'He's right, you know,' commented a portrait.

Teddy shook his head and tugged on Saffie's arm to get them both up the astronomy tower stairs faster. They had both chosen to be extremely early to talk – away from the pressing ears of the rest of his year.

It felt strange to be told that students weren't allowed out of their beds only to then have a midnight astronomy lesson on the first night. How exactly did they enforce that rule? Regardless, a near midnight stroll was very therapeutic after Teddy's day.

As he'd expected, Saffie listened and did not judge. She was grateful to know the secret ahead of time and understood why he didn't want the word to get out. After all, who'd wanted to be accused of favouritism by a teacher for being a friend of the family? At least, that's how Teddy himself had put it.

'Well, thanks for telling me, but there seemed to be more. Was there anything else you wanted to tell me?'

She looked at him with puppy eyes, so purely and so innocently. Teddy had seen this look plenty of times. Victoire had mastered it to perfection over the years. He was accustomed to it, and therefore knew exactly how to combat it.

'No. Nothing. That was it… I'm just sensitive,' he shrugged.

'Hey, me too sometimes. Don't sweat it,' she beamed before holding the door open for him.

As if they weren't tired enough, the two were also hit with a wave of coldness. The top of the astronomy tower was not bordered by walls of any sort. When the timetable said "the very top" it meant it literally.

Professor Sinistra was busy tinkering with telescopes and took a while to notice two early students.

'Good heavens, is it time already? No, it can't be. Venus would be lighting the entrance behind you. You must be about thirty minutes too soon.

Teddy and Saffie glanced back to see if there was any visible lighting difference. Maybe if they squinted…

'Would you mind helping me move the telescopes into the centre space?' asked Sinistra. The two nodded and began moving the telescopes away from the ramparts they were propped against.

'Thank you. Take five points each for Hufflepuff,' decreed Sinistra.

'I guess take makes up for missing out in Herbology today,' whispered Saffie.

'That reminds me. Speaking of Hufflepuff, I'm your Head of House.'

Sinistra? The teacher Harry had spoken the least about from his school days? He supposed it could be worse. It also occurred to him at that moment that he was standing at the last sight Albus Dumbledore had been as a living man.

So much death surrounded the castle. Not even just from the ghosts. Teddy's parents had both died at Hogwarts too. The very thought made him shiver even more than the chilling air had already made him do so.

Saffie snapped him back to reality as Professor Sinistra had asked him a question.

'Wha-? Sorry, I zoned out.'

'I know it's hard to stay awake at this time, but you get used to it' assured Sinistra 'as long as you have the stars above you.

She raised her hands to the skies. Truly the night was a spectacle. No light pollution to cloud the stars, everything was on full display, even though the galaxy likely never looked that way at any point ever.

Talking to Sinistra was natural and easily, but slightly impersonal. She remained a detached figure both before and during her lesson as she explained star chats and how to form them. Saffie seemed entranced though. Clearly the whole concept mesmerised her. It was all she could talk about on the way back.

Teddy, however, couldn't clear his mind. The thought of his parents had come back to haunt him in a way he should have foreseen. All he wanted to do was go to bed.

…

Alright, so the first day at Hogwarts was a complete amalgamation of Teddy's stresses and fears. Not a good beginning. He'd hate to write to Harry at some discreet time later on. For now, he needed a distraction; something purely positive that he could focus his mind on, which did not include Defence Against the Dark Arts while sleep deprived the next day.

Now, Teddy had heard a lot about the Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers of old. Apparently, Lord Voldemort had cursed the position in the forties when he tried to apply for the job so the no one could keep it for more than one year. Of course, Harry had lifted that curse, but certain people had still feared the job, resigning or 'vanishing' after their first year was up. Professor Morley was the exception.

Since Harry himself had for some unbeknownst reason declined this position multiple times, another Ministry employee had stepped down to fill in the post herself. She was petite in stature, but not nearly to the extent of Professor Flitwick and somewhat resembled a member of the Weasley family, except her red hair was clearly dyed as Saffie noted at once. She also seemed young in comparison to the other teachers, with the exception of Vianvimaal and Longbottom. In fact, she was somewhere between those two in terms of energy and charisma.

'My esteemed, students. If my knowledge of you timetables is correct, it corresponds to me to teach you your first ever spell!' she announced giddily. Flitwick beat me to the punch for the other houses, but you get me first! Forget Wingardium Leviosa, I'll teach you something really cool. Repeat after me: Verdimillious!'

'Verdimillious!' mumbled the class.

'You'll have to be clearer than that. If you're struggling to get your tongues around that one, you may practise Vermillous instead. Who can tell me the difference between those two incantations?'

Lennox raised his hand.

'One has a 'd' in it?' he chuckled.

'Yes, very amusing. Can anyone tell me the actual difference?'

No one responded. Lennox lowered his head.

'Nevermind, I'll tell you. It's as simple as red and green… because that's the difference. One makes red sparks, the other one makes green. Observe.'

She produced two small blocks of wood from her robe pocket and laid them on either side of her desk. Then she took out her wand and pointed at the first one.

Vermillious.

With a jolt, red sparks flew from the tip of Morley's wand, charring the block into a lump of coal. She turned to the other one.

Verdimillious.

Same thing, but this time green sparks flew instead of red. The second block of wood stood no chance.

'Both of these spells and useful in duels, but they can also be used to reveal objects that were hidden with dark magic. The effect on a person isn't quite as – er – devastating, but there are variants that I'll teach you later that augment the power of these spells. For now, I have a little exercise for all of you.'

After retiring for a second, she re-emerged with a chunk of wood about twice the height and two thirds the width of her in her arms. How she ever managed to carry it was a mystery (and pointless, since Teddy knew there was a spell to enlarge things).

'Okay, everyone line up. Pick one of the spells and hit this target with your best shot. Begin!'

And so they did. The class automatically got into single file and began blasting away. Castor got there first, hesitated for a moment and violently thrashed his wand forwards.

Vermillious!

Red sparkles indeed flew, but poor Castor was so startled that he tripped and fell into his sister. Harvey took this chance to show off and perform the exact same spell with minor setback.

Vermillious!

Rachel went next.

Vermillious!

Saffie followed sooth.

Vermillious!

Teddy's time to shine.

Verdimillious!

Green sparks cascaded from his wand, blasting into the now charcoal structure. Teddy aimed his attack with more vigour than any of those before him. The block practically rumbled with its intensity. The room was stunned.

Kathy was clearly motivated to surpass her classmate, so attempted the same spell, but mispronounced the incantation as 'Verdimlililous' and ended up with a face full of exploded soot.

Once everyone had gone, Professor Morley clapped her hands.

'Well done, all of you. I think you're ready to move onto stone.'

…

Everything was going perfectly. Teddy paid attention in History of Magic class (as best he could) and excelled in his Charms lesson soon after, where indeed they did learn Wingardium Leviosa. Teddy felt like his floating feather, light and free. This was the Hogwarts life he was promised.

The Tuesday flying lessons had been moved to that Thursday like everything else for the first week. Madam Hooch did not seem content with the change.

'I suppose we'll have to make do,' she sighed. 'Alright, each extend your hand over your broom and say "Up."'

The cacophony of 'up' began. Students, both Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, had mixed successes depending on their experiences with brooms prior to that. Teddy had already been practising (in secret) with Victoire since they were very young. He was determined to be the youngest Quidditch player since Harry Potter himself, so he needed some practise beforehand. His Comet 350 flew straight into his hand as it had done since it's market release two years before.

Saffie's Twigger 99 was not as compliant, barely hovering off the ground. Teddy didn't want to see her struggle, so he waited until Madam Hooch was turned around.

Wingardium Leviosa.

Saffie's broom was carefully lifted into her open palm.

'Thanks,' she whispered. Teddy beamed back at her.

'All done?' enquired Madam Hooch. 'Good. Now, all of you carefully mount. 'Let the lesson begin for real.