Chapter 8: Sorting
Hopefully now that we're at Hogwarts the story will progress faster. Don't count on it though. I know we sped through the express, truth be told, I probably should have had that scene here and not last chapter. Oh well. Keep in mind, I have no one to review the work before posting, any errors I'll be glad to revise, a simple PM will do.
I've been busy with life, so thanks for waiting for updates. There are also other personal projects, that means less time for writing, but more time to make notes and ideas. This chapter took an abnormally long time to write, I honestly thought about adding on to the train ride. That though felt wrong for This story, but maybe I'll use the idea of it for the other. Once I figured it out though, well, suddenly Inspiration struck, and currently I'm 4 chapters deeper and fleshing them out. I have reaffirmed my goal, and now working towards it with fresher eyes. Not to mention I got my hands on the ebooks finally, so there's that.
With that being said, this will be another short chapter, by my standards. Maybe it'll barely cut the 5k count, with notes. But at this point, I just want this chapter posted. The next is already 2k words long, and growing fast as of posting this chapter
OooOooO
By now Harry had put away his book, managing to fit the bag in the first compartment.
They stepped off the train, Harry shivered lightly at the cold night air, wrapping this cloak a little tighter, before gazing around in wonder. Majority of the older students were making their way towards a booming voice that could be heard probably from the other side of the station. "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"
Already there were a few first years huddled around the giant of a man that Harry gotten Hedwig with. It was a fairly short wait for the rest of the first years. Hagrid seemed to not notice him so far. It was then the last of the first years were rounded up did Hagrid speak up again.
"Right you lot, C'mon, follow me — any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"
Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that Harry thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke much, concentrating on simply navigating the path Hagrid had no problems with.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."
There was a loud "Oooooh!"
The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. It was as if the castle was a giant strange hand, reaching for the stars. Harry could only stare in wonder, the castle seemed to brighten up when they turned the corner.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Harry and Neville led the way to a boat followed by Greengrass and Davis. There was a bit of a commotion further down. "Oi! You lot settle down now! No more than four to a boat now!"
Once everyone was settled Hagrid did another headcount.
"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then — FORWARD!"
And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood. Travelling across the lake was an experience he would cherish forever, the feeling was ethereal in a way. The fairly calm mirror like surface of the lake, glimmering from the stars, the ambient light of the castle, the lanterns of the boats. Surely a magic all on it's own.
Harry belatedly realized that there was a health bar floating under his boat for a brief moment before circling around the others. This kept up until they got near the cliff face. It didn't really worry him too much after he realized it was just curious.
"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.
They clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. Walking up a flight of stone steps they crowded around a huge oak door.
"Everyone here? Very well."
Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door. The door swung open revealing Professor McGonagall, she was wearing emerald green robes this time.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
She pulled the door wide. The entrance hall was large, the stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.
They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Harry could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right — the rest of the school must already be here — but Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend free time in your House common room.
"The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule-breaking will lose House points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever House becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly.""
Harry paid no mind to the sudden outbreak of chatter, he faintly heard someone say that they might have to wrestle a troll and there being a test of some kind.
Then something happened that made him jump about a foot in the air — several people behind him screamed.
"What the — ?"
He gasped. So did the people around him. About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying: "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance —"
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost — I say, what are you all doing here?"
A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years. Harry noticed a few of them had Life Quest markers, others had daily Quests, only a couple had none.
Nobody answered.
"New students!" said the Fat Friar, smiling around at them. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?"
A few people nodded mutely.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the Friar. "My old House, you know."
"Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."
Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall. Although the Friar did give a thumbs up before passing through eliciting at least a few smiles.
Harry being near enough to the professor could slightly hear her complain about ghosts currying favor for their houses. "Form an orderly line and follow me if you please."
Once sure that they were ready the professor led them out of the chambers, and through the front double doors.
Beyond the doorway was an amazing sight, perhaps thousands of candles floating above the four tables. Each laid out with glittering golden plates, goblets, and utensils. Near the other end of the Hall was another long table, this one seating the various teachers. Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Mainly to avoid all the staring eyes, Harry looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars.
He barely heard a girl whisper something about Hogwarts a History, most likely referring to the ceiling. His attention focused back at the table, there at the head of it all was the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, who was looking through the other newer students as well. There were of course other various adults, majority of them whispering to each of their neighbors, some though measuring up the new students as well. One in particular was a man cloaked in black who was staring blankly at Harry.
Of course after a blink the man simply looked away. It was then Professor McGonagall called for their attention. At some point the professor brought out a stool with a wizards hat, frankly it looked frayed and had some patches on it here and there. In Harry's opinion it could also do with a bit of a wash.
The hat suddenly changed, creasing into a vague shape of a face, a rip near the brim forming a mouth before it started to sing!
Staring at it, and listening Harry was relieved that nothing too outrageous was going to happen. He had heard a few others relieved as well, a bit of murmuring at the hall broke into applause when the hat finished singing.
Professor McGonagall then unfurled a scroll, having stepped forward to the stool. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted, Hannah Abbot!"
A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. A moment's pause —
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.
The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. Harry saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at her.
On the list went, apparently going in alphabetical order. Harry didn't particularly mind, having been forgotten about majority of the time, he had gotten used to being chosen last. At least here he wouldn't be as forgotten, having a quick glance around as the Hat took a few moments longer to deliberate Harry felt slightly rueful that being forgotten here was likely not possible. Already a few eyes turned away as he glanced around.
Some students took a moment to be sorted, some a bit longer, yet others the hat barely had a moment before crying out a house. Harry couldn't discern any rhyme or reason for it's choices. There was even a pair of twins that were separated into two different houses as well. Surely proving that even family isn't a guarantee of house choice.
For barely a moment Harry had doubts about the situation, whether or not he actually belonged before discarding such a thought. He was Here Now so there was no going back.
"Potter, Harry!"
The hall broke out into whispering, Harry ignored it for the most part. He did notice however that a couple of the teachers leaned forward, especially the Headmaster. As he took a seat the last thing he saw was the entire hall watching him before the brim covered his eyes.
"Hmm, curious, oh so curious your life is Mister Potter. Do you know how long it has been since I have sorted on of your kind, hm?" a small voice whispered in his mind, "Oh don't worry, No One but us two will ever know, I can't reveal your secrets. Now, on to your sorting young Gamer. Yes, I sense a thirst for knowledge, but only just so, no real drive to seek it out unless it serves a purpose. Plenty of wit and wisdom of course. Overly cautious when you need to be, yet no real ambitions I can sense, plenty of cunning however. Hard working yes... yet too secretive. A good sense of Justice, of Righteousness, plenty of chivalry, yet not much daring, at least not yet."
Harry could only scrunch his face in confusion throughout it all.
"Yes, your gift makes this especially difficult. Plenty of reasons to be sent to any house, and yet plenty of reasons to discount each and every one of them. Tell me Harry James Potter, where would you like to go?"
He thought back to the train ride, the journals of his mother, trying to focus on whatever he could remember about the houses. He would be determined to do everyone proud, to take on whatever challenges that may come. One way, or another.
"Ah, I see now. As I said before, The Gamer makes the process a chore to see who you may be. Still, I now see the character now, better be..."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry heard the hat shout the last word to the whole hall. He took off the hat and walked shakily toward the Gryffindor table. He was so relieved that the Hat didn't tell everyone of his ability, he hardly noticed that he was getting the loudest cheer yet. Percy the Prefect got up and shook his hand vigorously, while the Weasley twins yelled, "We got Potter! We got Potter!" Harry sat down opposite the ghost in the ruff he'd seen earlier. The ghost patted his arm, giving Harry the sudden, horrible feeling he'd just plunged it into a bucket of ice-cold water.
Once the hall had settled down somewhat Professor McGonagall continued sorting the rest of the students. The last student had just sat down in Slytherin, the professor took the stool and moved to a side room. At that point the Headmaster stood up, calling for attention.
Albus Dumbledore was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.
"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered.
Harry wasn't too impressed, he heard a student ask a prefect if Dumbledore was mad. He was distracted by the food appearing suddenly to hear the reply. He had never seen so many things he liked to eat on one table: various roasted meats, plenty of fried meats as well, many variations of potato, Yorkshire pudding, a few vegetables, gravy, a few sauces, and, for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs.
With a brief silent praise to magic Harry started piling his plate with food. He did take a pull from his goblet of pumpkin juice though, and he didn't notice any different taste to it. It did fuel his hunger a bit more than usual however, so the potion had to be working. Taking a discreet look around Harry noticed that majority of the muggle raised had more food than their magic raised counterparts, but only by a barely noticeable margin. He did pause to gawk slightly at a red headed boy who's plate was absolutely stacked. At least though they were eating with some decorum.
"That does look good," said the ghost in the ruff sadly, watching Harry cut up his steak.
"Can't you — ?"
"I haven't eaten for nearly five hundred years," said the ghost. "I don't need to, of course, but one does miss it. I don't think I've introduced myself? Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower."
"Oh, nice to make your acquaintance Sir Nicholas. I'm Harry Potter."
"So — new Gryffindors! I hope you're going to help us win the House Championship this year? Gryffindors have never gone so long without winning. Slytherins have got the cup six years in a row! The Bloody Baron's becoming almost unbearable — he's the Slytherin ghost."
It was only then Harry noticed that majority of the first years were somewhat clumped together. Taking a glance at the other tables he noted much of the same, looking over at the Slytherin table and saw a horrible ghost sitting there, with blank staring eyes, a gaunt face, and robes stained with silver blood. Over at the Hufflepuff house sat a friar who was gesturing in middle of a story. A glance at Ravenclaw revealed a somewhat despondent lady in a grey dress, Harry thought she might have been staring forlornly at the Bloody Baron.
"How did he get covered in blood?" asked Seamus with great interest.
"I've never asked," said Nearly Headless Nick delicately.
Harry figured it was probably best not to meddle in the affairs of the dead, and was fairly sure Nick had an idea, but wasn't willing to part with it. When the students were starting to slow down on the meal the platters changed course. The remains of the food faded from the plates, leaving them sparkling clean as before. A moment later the desserts appeared. Various types of ice-cream, plenty of tarts, pies, pastries, fruits and much more.
As Harry helped himself to a treacle tart, the talk turned to their families. He paid it half a mind, nodding along when appropriate. He did note a girl with bushy hair talking to a red headed prefect about classes. Neville apparently was proficient with anything nature related apparently, he was on a path to becoming the first druid this century! The Weasleys on the other hand were rather tight lipped about what they wanted in life, instead focusing on about living in a magical household.
The topics were fairly tame, although he did have to raise an eyebrow at lackluster explanations, as though he should know what some of the kids were talking about. He wasn't the only one left out of the loop as a few other muggle raised students looked equally lost. Thankfully Hermione, the bushy haired girl, was there to ask the questions.
He did answer a few questions directed at him, a most of the repeated questions he stared at them pointedly before ignoring them. "Well, I knew magic existed, just not how to do it. I was raised as a muggle you know. Anything that is claiming to know the real Harry Potter is probably speculation, and at worst fiction. How about you Neville?"
"Oh, uh... I always thought I was a squib until one day my gran had to go to a Wizengamot meeting. A relative was teaching me about the family history when she mentioned druids. It was very fascinating! And-" So on the conversation went, whenever anyone would try to center it about Harry he would guide it elsewhere.
At this point someone asked how Sir Nick died.
Sir Nicholas looked extremely miffed, as if their little chat wasn't going at all the way he wanted.
"Like this," he said irritably. He seized his left ear and pulled. His whole head swung off his neck and fell onto his shoulder as if it was on a hinge. Someone had obviously tried to behead him, but not done it properly. Looking pleased at the stunned looks on their faces, Nearly Headless Nick flipped his head back onto his neck, coughed, and said, "Sorry about that, now if you excuse me."
He floated through the person who asked, going to converse with another ghost. Harry glanced curiously at the head table once again. Once more he caught the teacher in dark robes turning away from him. Harry had to ask, "Who's the professor in dark robes?"
"Professor Snape. He teaches Potions, but he doesn't want to — everyone knows he's after Quirrell's job. Knows an awful lot about the Dark Arts, Snape. He's a strict but fair teacher I suppose. From what I heard he used to be terrible towards the other students from other houses. I guess it was just him finding what works and what doesn't. Still, he Knows his profession, so it's best to take notes and pay attention while in his class." Percy explained, also going off tangent from his question to explain the other teachers, mainly for the first year's benefit really.
Severus Snape, Harry curiously studied the man, remembering that his mum mentioned them a few times in her journals. Honestly he was expecting someone else, especially considering how his mother explained the man. This person though probably changed since the last time Lily and them spoke. Harry looked forward to the class, it was one of his interests.
By now students were starting to tire, more so the first years. At last, the desserts too disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent.
"Ahem — just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. "First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."
Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins. "I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their House teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Harry looked at the other students, a few had let out some awkward nervous laughs, expecting it to be a joke. He wasn't expecting that, and apparently neither were the older students who muttered to each other.
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore. Harry noticed that the other teachers' smiles had become rather fixed.
Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words.
"Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!"
And the school bellowed through the song. Harry barely kept up, with wide eyes he looked around bewildered. The last to finish were the Weasley twins who were singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest.
"Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
At this point the students made a mass exodus out of the great hall. The prefects on the other hand called all their first years to them of their house, or at least the fifth year ones.
Harry watched Percy as he called for his year mates, noticing only a minor frown of annoyance as he looked down the table. Following his gaze he noticed a girl laughing and chatting with a group of friends, she also had a badge on. By now half of the hall had made it out, the last of his class had finally rallied around the prefect. He had slowly made his way towards the giant doors, rounding them all along the way.
"First years! Is this everyone?" Percy asked, turning to his left only to frown slightly before doing another headcount. "Good, follow me, I will now take you to our house common rooms! Stay in a orderly line of two please!"
With that Percy lead them through the corridors of the castle. Majority of the students were satiated, and in the verge of torpor, still they did swivel around to take in their surroundings. Many a portraits with fantastic scenery, a fair few of the inhabitants welcoming the new students, others quietly sleeping away.
The trek felt like a long one, they went through passageways, going up near an endless amount of staircases, past and through tapestries. Percy was going at a fairly sedate pace, explaining a thing here and there as best he could, knowing how tired the first years were.
The boy could only gape in wonder as he passed various things, his HUD lighting up with small notifications with every other corner, small little details that gave away hidden stuff. Curiously there were faded exclamation points, they weren't faded in the way that claimed no experience gain, but a level requirement to be met! Some portraits even had silver exclamation marks over then, signaling daily quests, some signaling weekly quests.
By now they had made it seemingly near the top of the castle, stopping in front of a portrait of a homely looking lady. Harry couldn't tell if it was the dress style, or if they were pregnant at the time, but it made her seem fairly large for a woman. There also was another quest marker.
"Pay attention now, this is the entrance to our Common Room, as well as our dorms. It is guarded by this portrait so remember it clearly. The password is 'Caput Draconis'." the last bit he said aloud to the portrait who nodded before swinging forward. They all scrambled through, a couple of the students needed a leg up. Just beyond was a rather cozy looking room with various squishy chairs strewn about. Being a tower the room was circular, there was only a few students who were furiously working on some roll of parchment.
Unnoticed Percy waved over another prefect, most likely from a year above before getting their attention once more. "Right! Welcome to the Gryffindor common rooms. The boys dormitories are up the staircase to the left, girls the same on the right. Boys if you please follow me, girls if you please follow Miss Shaw. we will show you to your dorm rooms. Oh, Ms. Shaw, we need to speak after this."
At this Percy gave a pointed look towards the girls in a corner chatting and giggling away. The other prefect gave a stern nod.
It was a long day, at least now though they were finally at their dorms. there were five four-posters hung with deep red, velvet curtains. Their trunks had already been brought up, they were yet to be stored however.
"Right you lot, this is your dormitory. It will be up to yourselves to upkeep it. You may pick your bed, know that after this week they will likely stay that way throughout your stay. Curfew is at 10pm, that is when you are expected back at the common rooms. You alone are expected to keep to a reasonable schedule. You may not leave your common room until 7am. This should let you get plenty of time to eat breakfast at the great hall and make it back to gather your supplies. Class schedules are handed out at 8am. Get some rest, tomorrow is Monday, for the first week I will be down to make sure you get up for the first school week of classes, after that you will have to figure something out. Goodnight." With his part said Percy left the room.
Harry and the other's started getting ready for bed, choosing their beds. Harry chose the one against a wall without a window, Ron Weasley chose the one next to his with a window to his right. Neville chose the one on the other side, a window to the left of the bed. This left Dean Thomas with the sole bed with double windows, and Seamus Finnigan near the door to the stairway. None seemed to mind the set up, and apparently suited Dean just fine since he claimed he got a good view of the lake and forest. They seemed to have a small burst of a second wind, and didn't quite feel like going to sleep just yet.
Harry had noticed a couple hidden stashes around his bed, well hidden for whatever reason. There was at least one at each bed. He would have to check these at some point.
"What was your first magic?" Dean asked, leaning against the headboard, all the while playing with a miniature football. "I remember taking the ball back from another player, I didn't want them to score. The game was tied, and we was only a minute left on the timer. The ball rolled directly out of their path, making them miss! I took control and won the game for our team!"
"Aw, that makes mine sound dumb. I remember summoning the biscuit jar from the shelf. Of course mum yelled about it, she sent me to bed without one for a week. Scabbers stop that!" Ron complained, picking up his pet rat who was nibbling on his pillow. "How about you Seamus?"
"When I was five I set fire to my veggies. Mam was proud yet upset at that, Da of course wasn't in the least happy. They had a row about it, but nothing happened, I don't think... Anyway what are you Harry? Turning someone's hair a different color? No, I bet it was apparition!" Seamus was excited about that for whatever reason. Still, the other's looked to Harry curious as well.
"I don't recall if I did magic before I was given to my aunt... But I do remember when we were playing hide and seek, I was found, but they couldn't see me. Of course my aunt taught me how to do magic too, so I guess that's a good thing." Harry looked up from fiddling with his pajamas only to notice everyone looking at him in wonder. "What?"
"You were doing magic, like... without a wand!?" Ron said incredulously.
Harry gave Ron a funny look, before slowly raising a hand, and tapping his pajama top, changing it's white stripes to a dark blue. "My aunt didn't want me to cause problems with accidental magic, so she taught me a few things. She said that she grew up with my mum, and that mum would cause lots of problems when emotional. So my aunt said that if I didn't have magic to cause such problems, then what harm was there in it? She also told me that Uncle doesn't like magic, so I guess it all worked out."
This was another moment Petunia had to explain soon after Harry started learning.
"Wicked! Can you teach me that!" The other boys nodded along after Ron asked, clearly just as surprised. Although Neville had a thoughtful look.
"Maybe tomorrow, it's getting late. Besides, we have classes remember?" Neville didn't want to show his magic, just yet, and it was getting late.
Just then a wave of yawning erupted, the other three begrudgingly accepting that reasoning. Not before getting Harry's promise to show them tomorrow after classes, and to get Neville's story.
One by one the curtains closed, each of them drifting off to dream. Harry's heart beat just a bit faster, contemplating how the next day will go before he too fell asleep.
OooOooO
Alright, so I lied about just barely breaking 5k with notes. Still, the last scene wrote itself, and it gives me an excuse to add more to the next chapter. Speaking of which, there is no set schedule, it'll release when it does.
Another note... What the fuck is the scheduling? Classes start at 9a, but you can't leave the common rooms until 8a. Surely it'll take at least fifteen minutes to reach the hall, and another fifteen to find the class, let alone go back for whatever you've forgotten. Screw. That. School curfew is 10p-7a here. It doesn't make sense either for quidditch players either, Wood has taken them out 'early in the morning' plenty of times, more often than not before 7a. I'm willing to bet there is an exemption, so I'll let that slide. I did find a handy little fanmade schedule that makes sense, so I'll probably stick to that, loosely.
