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by M V Stevens This story contains Charactors and places which were created by J.K.Rowling and is Fan Fiction. Chapter 2 The First Day. Morning arrived as it always does, and there were many groans and yawns as they climbed out of their beds and dressed for their first day of school. It was raining out side so Toby put on a pair of jeans and a sweater along with his Hogwarts robe. Hair combed and faces and hands washed they headed down the stairs to go to breakfast. Sheba strolled along with Toby into the Hofflepuff common room. Sam was already there waiting for him so Toby told the boys he'd see them at breakfast and hurried over to Sam. Sam was sitting in one of the overstuffed chairs facing away from Toby so she didn't see Sheba right away. At least not tell Sheba jumped into her lap and began rubbing her head on Sam's chin. To say that Sam was surprised to have a rather large cat jump into her lap would be putting it mildly. But she recovered quickly and began to pet her as Toby came into view. "I see Sheba has introduced herself to you." Toby greeted Sam. "Toby is she yours? Sheba..? She's beautiful." Sam managed as she petted the insistent Ocelot. "Actually it's the other was around. I'm her's. She's raising me. At lest that's how she looks at it. Just ask her." Toby told her. Sheba purred loudly in response to Toby's statement which made Sam laugh. "So you're her pet then I take it." "Something like that." Toby agreed. "I think it's more like I'm one of her kittens, a slow growing one at that." "We better get going to breakfast." Sam decided after petting Sheba a bit more. "Will she come with us?" "Sure she will." Toby assured Sam as they headed out through the Closet into the hall. They found there way to the Great Hall and found seats at their house table. Sheba hoped up on the bench between them and looked over the platters full of food. "I wish there were someone I could ask to get a bowl of meat for Sheba. She likes to have meat for breakfast." No sooner had he spoken then a bowl of chopped meat appeared right in front of Sheba. "Wow!" Both Sam and he said together. "I think Sheba is gona like it here too." Toby added as he and Sam filled their plates with pancakes, eggs, sausages, and ham." After they had all that they could eat their class schedules were passed out. Comparing their schedules they saw that they each had the same schedule. "That's good." Toby said with relief. "At lest one of us will know the answers." "Oh Toby, don't be silly. You'll do just fine. Watch and see. You will get just as good of grades as I will. If we study together well both know the answers. I just know you'll do well." Sam reassured him. "I hope so what's our first class?" "We have Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall. She's very strict but she is very good, so we should learn a lot from her." Sam informed him. They were leaving the Great Hall when Toby realized that he had no idea where their class was. When he told Sam she told him confidently. "Don't worry my brother drew maps for me to every class we could have for this year. I memorized them all. Guy came running up to them. "What class do you have Toby, we have Transfiguration. But we don't know how to get there." "Sam and I have Transfiguration too, and she knows how to get there. Get the others and come with us." Toby told him. When the other boys came running up Toby introduced them all to Sam. As it turned out Sam lead a whole group of the Hofflepuff and Ravenclaw first years to their first class. Sheba came along as well. She acted as if it was the most natural thing in the world for her to be going to class too. When they entered the high ceiling room the first thing they noticed was a gray cat sitting on the teachers desk. As they were filing by the cat watched them all closely. Sheba jumped up on the desk, rubbed her head against the gray cat's chin then lay down beside the gray cat watching the students file in. The room had several long tables with stools for all of them to sit on. Sam sat in the middle of the front table with Toby on one side of her, and Guy on the other. Orion sat on Toby's other side with Tie beside him. As soon as a couple of late arrivals made it in and found seats they were all astonished as the gray cat leaped off the desk and turned into their instructor, Professor McGonagall. "Good morning class she began. Transfiguration is one of the hardest yet most rewording subjects that you will learn. The art of turning one thing into another. And yes it is an art. Before we begin does anyone have a question?" One of the Ravenclaws stuck up her hand. "Yes mamma, is what you just did, turning from a cat into you, Transfiguration?" Several of the Students snickered at the question, which got them each a stern look from the Professor. "No it is not. That was my anamagus form. While it is similar in some ways to Transfiguration, it is also quite different. Any other questions?" When no one else put up their hand She pulled out a box of pins. She selected one and placed it on the table in front of Sam, she waved her wand in a deliberate pattern and said something. Toby couldn't hear the words she used because there was a loud rushing sound at the same time and it drowned out her words. The Professor's wand wove a glowing rune in the air above the pin and suddenly the pin turned into a mouse. The Professor picked the mouse up by the tail and it wiggled about as she showed it to the class. "This is your first assignment. You are to turn the pin I give you into a mouse. You will be graded on just how complete your transformation is. You may begin now." She had to show most of the students the wand movement again and again, but Toby knew it by heart. He loved runes and had memorized hundreds of them. This one was one he already knew, although he hadn't know it was for making pins into mice. Sam Tried the spell and her pin grew whiskers but that was about it. Guys pin turned into a worm, which the Professor had to turn back into a pin so he could try again. When the Professor got to Toby he had already done his wand movement and Sam and the others were all staring at him in awe. "Where is your pin Tobius?" She asked him looking around. Sam answered laughing. "It's over there on your desk Professor." The whole class was laughing now. There on her desk sat Sheba sitting up prim and straight her tail warped around her feet, and in her mouth was a nice fat mouse. "I see." Said the Professor walking over to Sheba. "I suppose you want to eat it now that you've caught it?" Sheba nodded slightly her eyes bright. "Very well, but you must take it out of the classroom to eat it, the other students need to concentrate on there wand work and your eating a mouse would assuredly distract them." Sheba jumped down off the desk and McGonagall opened the door for her to go outside the class. "Well one of you has it right now let's see if the rest of you can get it." By the end of the class Toby had managed to show Sam, and several other students how to make the rune. First he drew it on a piece of parchment then they each traced it out with their wand tips. Sam got it right off, and so did Tie, it took Orion and Guy a little longer but they all got it. As they were leaving Professor McGonagall asked him to wait a moment until the others had left. When the last of the students were out of the room she fixed Toby with a strange look. "The use of runes is a very advanced form of magic Tobius. How is it you know about it?" Toby thought about how he should answer not sure if he were in trouble or not. "When ever my mum did magic with her wand she always made a rune. I asked her about it one day and she told me what it was and what each of the runes meant. I always watched her friends when they came over to visit or if we visited them. I've learned over a hundred runes now. When you did your spell I saw the rune you made and just did the same thing. Is that wrong?" "You could see the rune as I made it in the air?" She asked him seriously. "Yes, I've always been able to see them, and their colors." Toby answered honestly. "Very well Tobius. That's all run along to your next class." "Professor did I do wrong?" He asked her worriedly. She looked him in the eye before answered him. "No, not wrong. It's just very unusual. That's all. Very unusual." Sam and the boys were waiting down the hall for him as he came running out to catch up with them. "Did ya get into trouble?" Orion asked excitedly, "she sure looked at you funny when we were leaving." "Nope, all she wanted to know is where I learned about runes, and I told her me mum taught me, so I guess it's Ok cus she didn't say anything against it." Toby confided with them. "We better get to our next class." Sam reminded them, and they hurried down the hall to their charms class. Professor Flitwick taught Charms. He was a vary short dwarfish sort of man, very old but seemed full of life and energy. He stood on his chair to take role and begin his instructions. "Charms are the tools you will learn to use to accomplish many, many of your goals for the future. If you take this subject seriously and apply yourselves you will be able to accomplish almost anything your heart desires. Can anyone tell me what the opposite of Charms are?" Sam put her hand up right away and the Professor smiled and said. "Yes. You have the answer?" "Yes sir, the opposite would be Curses." Sam told him confidently. "For the most part that is correct. The major difference between them is something called Ethics. Dose anyone know what that word means?" He asked them form his chair. Sam put her hand up again but he ignored her this time. "He looked around and noticed Toby trying to look inconspicuous and pointed at at him. "You young man with the rather large cat sitting beside him what are Ethics or what does it mean?" Toby could feel every eye in the room staring at him, even Sheba was looking up at him expectantly. His mind was a blank, until he remembered a conversation his mum had with one of her friends. They had been talking about using a potion to make someone love someone else, and Toby's mum had refused to make it. She had said it was wrong to do that, and it was unethical. "Er, I think it means knowing when it is right or wrong to do something especially if it involves someone else." Professor Flitwick smiled and nodded. "Bravo, for you and 5 points for Hofflepuff. That is exactly right. Do any of us have the right to make someone do things that they would normally not do. Especially if we know that they do not want to do it. The answer lies in the difference between Curses and Charms. As far as this Class is concerned and I myself believe none of us have that right. I know that others disagree, but if you want to pass this class you will learn the difference." He looked the class over then continued. "Can any of you tell me the name of a Charm?" Sam put her hand up high again. "Yes young lady tell us one." "Titillandus, sir." Sam answered frowning. "Ah the Tickling Charm. Let me guess, your brother has on occasion used that Charm on you?" "Yes sir he has." Sam answered still frowning. "Perhaps I should take 5 points away from Hofflepuff for the unethical use of a charm?" He asked Sam smiling. "Ah, no sir I wouldn't want that. I got even with him for it, so no it isn't necessary sir." Sam assured the smiling Professor. "Very good... I think. Ah hemm... Anyone else know a charm?" Toby stuck up his hand. "Yes young man can you tell us the name of a Charm?" "Yes sir. Two in fact because they go together. The first is 'Dormintus Sinorous', and the other is' Dormintus Tranquilus'." Toby spoke the names carefully. "Ah yes, two very useful Charms, do your parents work in the medical field by some chance?" He asked Toby his shaggy eyebrows raised. "Me mum sir. She does potions, and some spells to help folks." Toby admitted carefully. "Your last name wouldn't be Wright would it... of course it is I call it out just a few minutes ago. I know your mother very well. She is a fine woman and true healer. Tell us Tobius Wright what do those two spells do? Why are they so important to a healer?" "Dormintus Sinorus, make's someone in pain go to sleep so what ever is wrong with them can be fixed. The other is good for people who are really worried about a sick person or so worried that they are making themselves sick. Dormintus Tranquilus makes you feel really calm and good." "Can you do either of the Charms Tobius?" The Professor asked seriously. "Yes sir, I had to help me mum lots of times with her patients." "Show the class the effects of the Dormintus Tranquilus." The Professor requested with a curious expression on his face. Toby got out his wand and carefully traced the rune in the air, saying the words at the same time. "Dormintus Tranquilus." Suddenly everyone in the room felt all their worries or frights slip away and a wonderful tranquillity come over them. Professor Flitwick let them all bask in the glow of total peace then he used his own wand and stopped the Charm. "Excellently done Tobius. Your mother has taught you very well indeed. Class that spell is one of the hardest Charms to learn to do right. It is very easy to over do it and put everyone to sleep, happily I might add, but none the less asleep. Excellent Tobius, five points to Hofflepuff for excellence." Professor Flitwick beamed with pride and satisfaction at Toby's performance. Professor Flitwick talked through the rest of his time about the different classes of Charms and how they were related to certain Curses. When it was time to leave he smiled at Toby as he left. "What have we got next?" Toby asked Sam. "Double Potions." She read off her schedule. "Is that hard?" Orion wanted to know as Sam lead them down several stairways and across four hallways and then down into the Dungeons. "It is if you don't have a good memory." Sam told them. "And the teacher is so strict that you better never mess up. He takes points away so fast most houses loss the cup in his class. So pay attention and don't talk unless he calls on you. My brother says he's lost more points to Professor Snape than to all the other teachers combined." Toby was glad he had put on a sweater that morning, because it was cold in the potions classroom. Professor Snape was tall and had black hair and black eyes that seemed to see all the way through you. He called role and stopped at several names giving several students cold looks. He didn't stop at Toby's name which was a relief, he did at Sam's. "Another Whitby, I see. Well I hope you pay more attention than your brother did." He commented as he continued the role. Snape began by giving them a speech about Potions and how he could teach them all how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death. That is he could if they weren't all the dunderheads that he usually got. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Snape began looking over the class coldly. Everyone looked at the floor except Toby he knew the answer because his mum did it all the time. "You there you look like you might have a glimmering of an idea... What would I get?" Toby had been the center of attention in two classes already, but he didn't want to lie and say he didn't know so he answered. "You would be making a sleeping potion sir." Snap looked Toby over carefully then asked him," If I am using a bezoar where did I get it, and what would I be doing with it?" "Er, you would have gotten it from the stomach of a goat sir, and you would be treating someone for poisoning." "You surprise me young man." Snape stared at Toby appraisingly. "If I mixed Monkshood and Wolfsbane what would I get?" Toby was surprised at the question since they were the same thing. But he knew the right answer. "You would get aconite sir." "A very clever answer Mr. Wright. How is it you come to know all these things, I wonder?" "Me mum taught me Sir. I help her with her potions most all the time." Toby admitted. "Your Mother taught you." Professor Snape said slowly. "And your mother makes potions. Was your mothers maiden name Figg?" "Yes sir it was." Toby admitted hesitantly not knowing where all this was going. "Then I expect good things from you Tobius Wright, son of Arabella Wright. Very good things." Snape came as close to smiling as he ever had in years. Then he turned to the class, his cold demeanor back in place. "I hope you all took notes, at the end of the class there will be a test. Now lets move on to how to set up your caldrons and adjust the burner properly so you don't burn out the bottom of your caldrons." There was a look of blind panic on almost everyone's face. Everyone that is except Sam who had in fact taken notes. Fortunately for, Guy, Orion, and Tie she made copies and slipped them to each of them when Snape turned to write on the black board. Sam's notes made their way around the class when ever Snape was writing on the black board, so that the Ravenclaws and Hofflepuffs all got a chance to copy them. At the end of class Snape stopped Sam as she was going out. "I know your notes got passed around my class. It is commendable that you alone in the class even bothered to take notes, but if you do that again I will take five points from Hofflepuff is that clear young lady?" "Yes Sir and I'm sorry Sir, and I won't do that again Sir." Sam sputtered white faced. But her reply was to empty air. Professor Snape had already turned and walked away. It was lunch time at last. They hurried up out of the chilly dungeons and back through the hallways to the Great Hall where many of the students were already busy eating. They all sat at one end of the Hofflepuff table and talked happily as they enjoyed there noon meal. "That Snape is sure mean." Orion commented between mouth fulls of peanut butter and jelly sandwich and potato chips. "Ya I thought sure you were a goner when he stopped you Sam." Guy told her a worried look on his face. "I told you he was mean. My brother says he can see us even when his back is turned. I guess today proves he can. We have to all be very careful in his class, or we might lose points for our house, and we don't want to do that. We have a good chance this year to take the House Cup, after all Toby has already gotten us some points today." "Sure but we nearly lost them in Snape's class." Guy pointed out. "You're right about having to be careful in his class from now on. He'll be watching us for sure." Toby ate his peanut butter and banana sandwich and drank his chocolate milk. There were lots of grapes and other fruit to eat, so Toby had plenty to chose from. The Elves seemed to know about his not eating any sugar because there were never any dishes of sweets in front of his plate. He always had plenty of fruit and other natural things to eat though. "What is our next class Sam." Tie asked searching through his own backpack for his schedule. Sam pulled her schedule out and glanced at it then frowned. "We have Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid." "What's the frown for? Is he mean like Snape or something?" Toby asked her curious as to why that would make her frown. "Not exactly mean. He's just so big and he brings really dangerous creatures for the class sometimes. Once they say he brought some Griffins and one of them nearly tore a boy's arm off. He goes into the Forbidden Forest too, and he has this really huge dog named Fang that scares all the students, and lots of times there are dead things hanging on his ceiling in his hut. They even say he tried to raise a baby dragon right here at Hogwarts, can you believe that a real dragon." The others were all hanging on her every word as she told them of Hagrid's exploits. Privately Toby was thinking that this Hagrid was a very interesting person, but since Sam was clearly of a different opinion he kept his thoughts to himself. Since it was raining outside they all ran back to their dorms and got their rain gear and then ran back to the big double front doors were they were to meet Hagrid. Sheba had been sleeping on his bed when Toby came in the dorm and he had told her, "We're going outside Sheba, and it's raining, but I'm sure you'll be welcome to come along if you like." Sheba got up stretched, then jumped down and fallowed him back down the stairway and out to the hall. Hagrid was there waiting for them as they ran up to him and the rest of the class. Some of the students hadn't got their rain gear so Hagrid had to send them back to their dorms to get it. "Ur should hav known to get ur rain stuff. I shouldn't hav ta tell ya. Ur not babies anymore so from now on make sure ur prepared for the weather." Hagrid had brought his dog Fang with him and as soon as Sheba saw him she ran up to him and began rubbing her head against his legs and walking around under him purring. Fang looked like he couldn't believe his eyes as the large cat purred against his legs. Hagrid caught sight of Sheba started to say something then looked again and watched Sheba with a bemused look on his face. "Well Fang It sure looks like you got yourself a new friend." Hagrid laughed at Fangs surprised look. "Who's cat is that anyway it's not a breed I ever seen before? Too big to be a house cat." Toby spoke up, "she's an Ocelot Sir, and I'm her's." Hagrid laughed loudly at Toby's joke and told him. "That's the truth of it lad some of em do take it that way. An Ocelot? Well she is a pretty one isn't she. She's welcome to come along since she likes Fang so much." While they waited for the other students to return with their rain gear, Hagrid was eyeing Toby. "Aren't you the lad that was talking to the squid last night?" "Yes sir." Toby was very much aware that all eyes were now on him. Hagrid saw how they were all staring at Toby and quickly changed the subject. "All right now everyone stick together. It's raining out side but none of ya will melt or anything. Come along now." Hagrid opened the big tall double doors effortlessly and waved everyone outside. The rain wasn't very hard so no one complained to much. He lead them around to the side of the Castle that was Hogwarts. The walls were ivy covered and so sold looking that the School might just have been a natural formation, if it weren't for all the windows and doors. Surrounding the Castle on every side except the lake side were huge tall walls. It was clear that the School had been built inside a fortress. The lawns were meticulously cared for as well as all the flowers, tress and shrubs. Inside the walls it was more like being in a park than a school. Hagrid lead them past his house, a strange looking place to live indeed with it's pointed roof, high foundations, and it's round walls. Behind his house were large gardens, and then a rather large corral. Waiting for them out side the Corral were two beautiful unicorns. A mother and her foal. "Now stay back tell I tell ya it's ok to come up to um. There real easy to spook so move slowly and make sure they can see yr hands at all times. Other wise they'll disappear faster en lightning." The Mother watched them as they approached but the foal clearly wanted to meet them and play. She pranced and stepped playfully as each group of students were allowed to approach and pet them. The girls got to go first because Unicorns will trust girls much faster than boys. Sam got to go up and pet the foal in the first group. She feed it some sugar cubes and from thin on it was her friend. The Mother snorted at the foal not to be so trusting but like most young the foal chose to ignore it's mother and play with these new friends. When it was Toby's turn to go up to the pair, he first went up to the Mother and touched her gently. She eyed him warily and nickered at him. "I won't hurt you." He told her. She nickered again and plainly asked Toby, "And just how am I supposed to know that you won't hurt me or my foal?" Without thinking Toby answered her. "I'm just a kid, how could I want to hurt you or your foal, you're so beautiful it takes my breath away just looking at you." Apparently this was just the thing to say to female unicorn because she turned to him and nuzzled against him, then answered. "You are polite and you do say the nicest things. And it is true you are much smaller than the big one over there. We unicorns trust Hagrid because he has helped us many times in the past. That is why I came today with my foal because he asked. You also seem very kind. Would you like to ride on my back through the woods? I can run very fast and it would be a very thrilling ride I am sure." Toby would have loved nothing better, but... "We are forbidden to go into the forest. But I can think of nothing in the whole world I would love more than riding on your back as fast as the wind through the forest. Forgive me but I must say no to your kind offer." She nuzzled him again. "I understand. It is not safe for the young in the forest. My foal must stay by me at all times when we enter the forest. Very well then. For now we will forgo our run through the forest but someday we will have our run. What are you called?" "I'm called Toby, will you tell me your name?" "Ah now that would be a very risky thing indeed for me to do. Our names are kept secret so that others may not gain power over us." She told him seriously. "I understand and it is best that you stay safe, and your foal." Toby agreed. But as she turned past him she whispered in his ear, "my name is another word for a gentle wind." Toby's eyes widened as he understood her. "Some day then we will have our run." The foal was playing with the others in the class, and her antics were so cute that no one had noticed Toby's conversation with the mother. No one that is except Hagrid. When it came to magical creatures nothing escaped his watchful eyes, and he already had Toby pegged as someone to watch. Not in a bad way but in an interested way. Toby was different and Hagrid knew it. Unicorns almost never trusted a human. It had taken Hagrid years to gain the trust of the Unicorns. Not once had one spoken to him. In fact he hadn't even known they could speak tell today. There was something very special about this lad and he wanted to find out what it was. But not yet. First he wanted Toby to trust him then they would talk. Young Charley Weasley had been another special one, but his love was of the dragons, now here was a lad who had talked to a squid and a Unicorn in the space of two days. When the time was up Hagrid called them away from the Unicorns, not missing the sight of Toby giving the Mother a hug as he left. "Yr all going ta Herboloagy next, an I was told ta walk ya over to the green houses, so line up and follow me now." Sheba and Fang had spent the time up on Hagrids back porch high and dry. When they left Sheba stayed up on the porch with Fang. The rain was comming down hard and it apeared that neither of them cared all that much about getting wet. Professor Sprout met them in front of the Green houses and thanked Hagrid for bringing them to her. She was a middle aged witch, her skin brown from being in the sun so much and her hands stained from much handling of the plants. She looked them over then had them follow her into one of the green houses. Toby knew Professor Sprout from her many visits with his mum. She and his mum were always talking about plants and herbs and all that sort of stuff. They were good friends. First she called role then she began to lead them up and down rows of plants of every description and color. There must have been a thousand of the plants in just this one Green house. "For this year you will be expected to learn the names and uses of one hundred plants. There will be tests every week and you will be allowed one make-up test for each one you fail. You must pass all test by the end of the School year or you will fail the class and have to do it over again next year. I don't think any of you will want to do that. So stay up with the class work and make sure you pass all tests. You are to read the first chapter in your text for the nest class. Now follow me please. I will take you all back to the school and remember no one is to be outside the school by themselves for any reason whatsoever. You will be expelled it you are found out side by your selves or in the company of other students, without a teacher with you." Professor Sprout lead them back into the School and told them all to return to their dorms and to put on dry clothing. "Supper will be served shortly so don't dawdle about." As they headed back to the Hofflepuff common room Orion groaned, "how can we possibly learn a hundred plants it's too much. I'm dead already." Sam laughed at him. "You silly duck, you have all year to learn them. It's only four plants a week. It will be easy." "It is?" Orion asked surprised. "You mean it? Only four a week, why I can do that. It'll be easy." Sam laughed at him again and reminded him, "I thought you were dead already." They separated and went upstairs to their dorm to change clothes. The house elves must have known they would come in wet because each of them had clean dry clothes laid out for them. Sheba was again asleep on Toby's bed so he woke her and told her. It's supper time, are you coming down with us to eat?" At the word supper she leaped off the bed and was already headed down the stairs ahead of them all. They had to wait for Sam to come down but it wasn't long and then they all were off and running with Sheba leading the way for the Great Hall for supper. The Hall was almost full and quite noisy when they got there. Students were everywhere talking and playing about. Toby and his group sat in their usual place. As they were sitting down three older students pushed past them knocking Sam and Tie back against their table as they passed. "Watch it first years or you'll get worse." A tall skinny kid with pale skin and blond hair snarled at them as he passed. His two friends were even bigger than he was, and very fat and had very mean looks on their faces. "Are you Ok Sam?" Toby asked her seeing her hold her side. "I think so but I hit my side on the table, and it hurts." She told him still holding her side. The three boys went up to where Harry Potter was sitting and started yelling at him about something. A dozen of the older Gryffindor boys got up and came at the three boy wands ready. A tall red headed boy who was obviously a twin, told the three boys, "Get your slimy Slytherin behinds back over to your table were you belong Malfoy or we're going to put you over there in pieces. You or your Goons mess with Harry Potter or any other Gryffindor and you will answer to all of us. Now git!" The boy named Malfoy snarled something back at them and then turned and started back down the aisle between the Hofflepuff and Gryffindor tables. Just as they came even with Toby and his friends. Toby whispered. "I wish there were round candies all over the floor under their feet." Suddenly the three mean boys were slipping and sliding around their arms and legs flying into the air as all three came crashing down onto the floor with loud thuds. The boys tried and tried to get up but their efforts were to no avail. The harder they tried the more candies it seemed there were on the floor and the more they fell down. Everyone in the room was howling with laughter as the three boys had to crawl away on their hands and knees to get clear of the candies. As soon as the boys were clear of the tables the candies disappeared so there was no evidence of what had happened when the teachers came over to see what what was going on. The two red headed twins were the prime suspects. It seems that they did things like that all the time, but they protested their innocence. "We didn't do it. It's not that we wouldn't have done it mind you Professor McGonagall, but neither of us had any candies to do it with. The candies are gone now so who ever did it is really good with magic. Neither George nor I could have made all that much candy appear and then disappear like that anyway. Who ever did it is really good." The one named Fred finished. "Ya and really funny too!" The one named George added which got him a withering look from McGonagall. Of course no one was down in the kitchen to see half a dozen Elves rolling around on the floor holding their round little tummies. There was a large jar of brightly colored candies on the shelf above them, but it was full so the reason the elves were on the floor wasn't obvious right away. But closer inspection might have reveled that the Elves were doing something very closely resembling laughter. The ring leader of the Elves name by the way was Dobby. Everyone seemed to think that the Gryffendors Fred and George Weasly had really pulled off a good one, and no one bothered to look beyond them so Toby counted himself lucky and kept his mouth shut about his own involvement. And after all he didn't exactly know that he had caused the 'accident' to happen now did he? Another bowl of chopped meat appeared for Sheba. The rest of them ate huge helpings of mashed potatoes, meatloaf, fried chicken, corn on the cob, and hot corn bread with lots of melted butter on it. For dessert there was sugar free apple pie and sugar free cherry pie. Each of the pies had a little label attached stating that it was sugar free. The pies were delicious better even than the ones with sugar Sam told him after trying some of each. Then everyone else wanted to try some of the sugar free pies, fortunately the pies were magically replaced so there was enough for everyone. After they were all stuffed, Professor Dumbledore stood up and called for attention. "We have a new teacher this year for The Defense Against The Dark Arts. Professor Ezmerelda Longbottom will be teaching the class. She has taught here at Hogwarts in the past so she is no stranger to our School or our ways. Her classes will begin tomorrow so I want to welcome her to Hogwarts tonight." An elderly witch sat next to Professor McGonagall. She nodded but didn't smile. She was a big woman and somewhat plump. But it was unlikely that anyone would remind her of it. She didn't look like the kind of person who would take kindly to criticism. In fact she looked like the sort of witch that would just as soon turn you into a toad or frog or worse, as look at you. Toby didn't think her class was going to be any fun at all, and the Hofflepuff first years had her first thing in the morning if he remembered his schedule correctly. Orion looked at her and blanched, "Do we have a class with her Sam?" Sam nodded. "First thing in the morning too. As soon as we get back to the common room lets read the first chapter of our text, She looks like the kind that gives lot of homework and tests." Everyone agreed she looked the sort to do all of that and more, so as soon as they were dismissed they hurried back to their common room and got their text for the DADA class. They got a table away from most of the older kids and Sam began to read out loud to them. "Chapter one. From the beginning of recorded history practitioners of magic have always know that magic could be used for both good and bad. In time it became obvious that some practitioners were orientated towards the Dark Arts while others were aligned with the White Arts. One of the facts that also became clear is that there was no middle road. No matter how hard some tried to stay neutral those who practiced the Dark Arts became drawn further and further into their web. The search for Power, for control, and the dominance of others became all consuming. Very few who once began to walk the path of the Dark Arts ever had the strength to turn back. One outstanding Wizard did manage to escape the snare of the Dark Arts. That Wizard is one of the most famous Wizard of all time it is Merlin the Wizard of King Arthur's court." They all looked at the picture of Merlin in their texts. "Wow, he sort of favors Dumbledore, don't ya think?" asked Guy studying the picture as Merlin waved his wand at them. They spent the next hour going over the first chapter and memorizing the names of the famous wizards and witches that were mentioned. Getting sleepy finally forced them to quit and head for the showers and bed. Toby slept undisturbed that night.
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