The First Schedule

At last, it was Monday. While most of the students had been quite happy that their arrival at Hogwarts had been on a Friday and that they could first enjoy a quiet weekend, the first-years were bursting with curiosity about real lessons. Consequently, on Monday morning they were all among the first to come for breakfast in the Great Hall, laughing, chatting and a bit fidgety. Since they were also the first to finish and bridged the remaining time with cheerful chatter, there was a hell of noise, visibly getting on the nerves of the older students, under the orange-pink of the hall ceiling that looked exactly like the dawn outside. Since time immemorial, it had always been like this on the first day of a term. The older adapted by showing up for breakfast as late as possible.

When she assumed that the students were complete, Professor McGonagall entered the Great Hall, placed a large stack of parchment sheets on one of the tables, and waved her wand over it with casual elegance. Immediately, the sheets fluttered up like a flock of birds, each seeking its recipient.

To Albus, it was a solemn moment: He had just received his first schedule as a Hogwarts student. He savoured the sublime moment, then delved into the schedule. What subjects he would have he thought he already knew. More interesting was whom he would have them with. Usually, two Houses had their lessons together, at least in some subjects, and the weekend had strengthened his bitter anger towards the Gryffindors (a little bit also his fear of their teasing, but this was something he would never have admitted), so much so that he hoped to have as little to do with them as possible. He just didn't want to see Rose, the disappointment was too deep.

He muttered to himself: "So, Monday starts with two hours of Potions – oh noooo! – right with the Gryffindors! Then two hours of Herbology with the Ravenclaws, all right. Then lunch, then Muggle Studies ..."

Albus did a double take: "Muggle Studies?"

Scorpius, who was sitting next to him, was apparently just at the same point. Both gazed at each other, puzzled.

"It never was mandatory, and certainly not for the first-years," Albus exclaimed.

"Oh yes, it was," Scorpius grinned, "under Voldemort. Maybe your aunt would like to follow in his footsteps."

Albus leaned toward him until the tips of their noses were just inches apart and scowled:

"If you want to remain my friend, never talk about Hermione like that again! Understand?"

"Sorry, just kidding."

"Besides, it's not certain that its from the Ministry of Magic. It could have been McGonagall's decision as well," Albus added, but somehow, he didn't believe it. He would ask Roy, who certainly was well informed.

He saw him sitting a few seats away. With an expression of dismay, Roy was glancing at a piece of parchment in his hand that did not appear to be a class schedule. Then he slowly rolled it up. Maybe this wasn't a good time to ask him, anyway it wasn't really urgent.

The enchanted ceiling above them darkened, as the owls flooded in to bring letters, most of which came from parents and were addressed to first-years. Albus' Athena landed somewhat clumsily in front of him, knocking over a cup that luckily was empty. Then she let herself be stroked extensively as a reward, waited patiently until Albus had unbound the letter, picked the rest of a sausage from his plate, spread her wings and flew off, heading for the owlery. Albus' hands trembled a little as he opened the letter.

Good morning Albus,

congratulations on the warm welcome you received from the Slytherins. We were surprised, of course, but not shocked. Even with your father, the Sorting Hat tended to Slytherin, so you're definitely staying true to the family tradition, even if it doesn't look like it at first glance.

We ourselves had big problems with the Slytherins in our own school days, but this was due to the situation at the time and should be all water under the bridge now. The Sorting Hat has sent you to a house of great tradition. We are very proud of you and believe you will be very valuable to Slytherin. Certainly, some things are different there than in Gryffindor, but this doesn't necessarily mean they are worse.

We are sure the Gryffindors will calm down. Actually, we are a little sad that our house and even James and Rose have turned out to be such sore losers, but it was just a shock to them. Give them time to absorb it. We will not interfere because we are confident that they will come to their senses on their own, and that warnings from mum and dad are rather unhelpful.

What really surprised us was the snake. Indeed, as a Parselmouth you cannot distinguish whether you are speaking or listening to Parseltongue or English. If you really understood the snake, but the others only heard a hiss, this strongly suggests that you actually know Parseltongue. We don't have any explanation for this because your dad didn't inherit this skill from his parents and therefore normally cannot pass it on. It was an involuntary gift from Voldemort. The phenomenon of Parseltongue kwowledge arising spontaneously, i.e. without being inherited, is not known so far. Maybe one day a scientist will contact you to investigate this phenomenon in more detail.

But now enjoy your first day in class!

Love and hug you

Mum and Dad

Albus could tell from the handwriting that they had taken turns writing the paragraphs of this joint letter.

I knew it! thought Albus and was at least as proud of his parents as they were of him.

It was time to go to the classroom, so he would have to study the rest of the schedule later. Amidst the crowd of students flooding out of the Great Hall, he spotted Roy and squeezed through the crowd to reach him.

"Tell me, do you know who arranged for us first-years to have Muggle Studies as a required subject?" he demanded.

"You of all people are asking me that?" returned Roy in amazement. "Your aunt, of course."

It was hard to have a conversation with the crowds and noise around them. Albus was glad Roy hadn't called her "Hermie" again. He probably wouldn't have dared to snap at him the way he did at Scorpius, but he couldn't have accepted it either.

"What was that parchment you were staring at earlier?" shouted Albus over the din. They had reached stairs leading in opposite directions and had to separate, but before, Albus wanted to know that.

"The Headmistress summoned me to her office. Smells like trouble."

"No mean feat so early in the term!" Albus commented perkily.

Roy grinned and jokingly threatened him with the parchment scroll. Then the crowd of their schoolmates pulled them up different stairs.