Over the course of the next week, Harry had attended all his classes. He had learned about all the 142 stairways and could go around the castle all on his own but preferred to walk with Ron and Hermione. Harry thought he was off to a great start. Boy, was he wrong. For starters, Peeves kept messing with him (no surprise, he kept messing with other students too) and even worse than Peeves was the caretaker, Argus Filch. He had started hating Filch, when he started to hate his cat, Mrs. Norris, more than Filch himself. Harry got lost in the castle many times during his first day, resulting in reaching many of his classes late. Thrice a week they went to the greenhouses to study Herbology with a dumpy little witch* called Professor Sprout.
Easily, the most boring class was History of Magic, the only one taught by a ghost. Professor Binns, the teacher of History of Magic, had fallen asleep during a staffroom fire and had a- ah- unfortunate end. He got up the next day and walked to his classes as usual, without noticing anything wrong. The only exciting thing that happened during History of Magic classes was Binns entering through the blackboard.
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, on the other hand was very different from the other teachers. She was very strict and clever, and she started talking as soon as they sat down in her first class. "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." She changed her desk into a pig and back again. They were impressed and couldn't wait to get started, until they realized that they wouldn't be turning desks into pigs just yet. First, they took some notes. They were then given a match and were trying to turn it into the needle. Harry succeeded on his third try. Hermione succeeded on her ninth. As class ended, only Harry and Hermione had managed to succeed. She gave Harry and Hermione a rare smile.
Everyone had been looking forward to Defense Against the Dark Arts, being told about it so much by the other students. But as it turned out, Quirrell's classes turned out to be a bit of a joke. His classroom smelled like garlic, which he said was to ward off a vampire that he had "met" in Romania, and was afraid would come back to get him. His turban was 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 there was a load of garlic in there as well.
Harry was quick to realize he was the smartest in the class, followed closely by Hermione. Harry would be the first to learn what they were teaching in every class, and Hermione got it done just in the nick of time.
On their first Friday at Hogwarts, Harry and Ron were finally able to get to the Great Hall without getting lost. They were bummed when they read their schedules and saw double potions. As if that wasn't bad enough, it was with the Slytherins. Just then, the mail arrived. Harry had gotten used to this by now, but today it was special. Hedwig, an owl who was given as a birthday present to Harry in Diagon Alley, came in and landed in front of him. She had 2 letters in her beak. The first one was from Hagrid, asking if Harry, Ron, and Hermione would like to come over in the afternoon. Harry scribbled 'yes' on the back of the paper and gave it to Hedwig. He then read the next one, which was from his parents, asking how his first week was. Harry was waiting for this. He quickly replied:
Hello Mum and Dad.
My first week was well enough, except that today we have double potions with the Slytherins. Potions would be fine, if it weren't for the fact that your old nemesis, Severus Snape, teaches it. I'm thinking of trying out for the Quidditch team, what do you think? Also, how's Travis doing? Send back an answer with him, Hedwig might be tired after this long flight. Can't wait for Christmas. See you!
P.S. Can you send me a new Potions textbook? This boy named Malfoy ripped the copy you bought for me.
As it turns out, Potions wasn't as bad as Harry thought it would be, leaving out the fact that Snape completely loathed Harry. A few minutes after everybody had settled down, Snape started to talk, "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making." Somehow, Snape could keep the class silent without even trying, kind of like Professor McGonagall. "Potter!" Snape said suddenly. "What would I get if I added a powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
"A powerful sleeping potion called the Draught of Living Death." Harry replied, silently thanking his mum for making him read the entire potions book. "All right. Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?" Snape said. "The stomach of a goat and it can be used to save us from most poisons." Harry replied again. Snape didn't seem pleased. "What's the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?" he asked yet again. "They are the same plant, also going by the name of aconite." Harry replied smugly. Snape looked furious. "Gryffindors, please note that 5 points will be taken from your house for your classmate's pride." All Gryffindors whined but Snape acted as if he didn't hear anything. Things didn't improve for the Gryffindors as the lesson continued. Snape put them into pairs and set them to mixing up a very simple potion to cure boils. Harry and Hermione were the only ones who finished and apparently didn't make Snape happier. He simply scoffed at the potion, as if wondering if they were cheating. Neville had somehow managed to melt Ron's cauldron into a twisted blob, and the potion was seeping across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes. Within seconds, everyone was on top of their stools, while Neville, who was drenched in the potion, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs. "Idiot boy!" snarled Snape, clearing the spilled potion with a wave of his wand. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?"
Neville whimpered as boils started to pop up all over his nose. "Take him to the hospital wing." Snape spat at Ron. Snape turned to Harry and Hermione, who were right next to Neville and Ron, and yelled at Harry. He seemed to think that it was Harry's fault that he didn't correct Neville before he put in the porcupine quills. He took away another point from Gryffindor for Harry's "careless attitude". Harry decided not to argue since his father told him Snape could turn very nasty and didn't want to find out firsthand.
After Potions, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were relieved to be free and go to Hagrid's house later. At five to three, they left the castle and made their way towards Hagrid's house. They heard some loud barking. Hagrid's voice rang out, saying, "BACK, Fang – BACK."
Hagrid's big, hairy face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open. "Hang on," he said. "Back, Fang." He let them in, struggling to keep a hold of the collar on an enormous black boarhound. A copper kettle was boiling on the open fire, and in the corner stood a gigantic bed with a patchwork quit over it. "Make yourselves at home," said Hagrid, letting go of Fang, who bounded straight to Ron and started licking his ears. Like Hagrid, Fang was clearly not as fierce as he looked. "This is Ron, and you've already met Hermione. "Another Weasley, eh?" said Hagrid, glancing at Ron's freckles. Harry and Ron were just like rocks so Harry, Ron, and Hermione pretended to enjoy them as they told Hagrid about their lessons. Harry and Ron were delighted to hear Hagrid call Filch "that old git." Hermione didn't see the humor in that, however, and stood in defense of Filch. Harry noticed a cutting from the Daily Prophet, the newspaper of the magical world:
GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST
Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 16 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches unknown. Gringotts goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the same day.
"But we're not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if you know what's good for you," said a Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon.
Harry remembered Ron telling him on the train that someone had tried to rob Gringotts, but Ron hadn't mentioned the date. "Hagrid!" Harry exclaimed. "that Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! It might've been happening while we were there!" Hagrid definitely didn't meet Harry's eyes. He grunted and offered him another rock cake. Harry read the story again. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied earlier that same day. Hagrid had emptied vault seven hundred and thirteen, if you could call it emptying, taking out that grubby little package. Had that been what the thieves were looking for?
Author's Note: Longest chapter so far, I know. Hope it was informative and you liked it! Sorry for not uploading for this long I got caught up in something else but yeah I'm back and I'll continue to write until the Deathly Hallows!