"Good morning, class, I am Professor Binns," he wheezed. Professor Binns
had to have been the oldest man I'd ever seen, perhaps two hundred years
old. He didn't seem to be talking to the class, but rather at the class.
Just then, several other students walked in. For some reason, they were all wet. I heard James Potter mutter under his breath "ten-oh-one… ten-oh- three…ten-oh-five."
"As today is the first day of school for all of you, I will deduct no points from your respective houses," Binns looked at a piece of parchment, "house, yes. First-year Gryffindors. I do, however, ask that this incident not be repeated, otherwise points will be deducted." That seemed fair enough to me.
"The History of Magic begins with the history of man. Records of magic were found in Mesapotamia from as early as the time of Hammurabi. These records were of laws made regarding the use of magic, and contained various punishments for misuse…." Professor Binns droned on for the rest of the class.
I was able to follow most of the lecture, as I had read all of it last year in Romulus' book, though I had found it more fascinating the first time around, how wizards weren't quite sure how magic worked, how they felt a code was necessary to keep people doing what was right. It was the Mesapotamian wizards who defined the Dark Arts. There had also been a lot of stuff about ancient magic, which was invoked through actions and emotions, rather than wands and incantations. Yet in Professor Binns' lecture, none of that seemed improtatn, it was more the memorization of the wizards' names and the dates of what they had written. This seemed wrong to me. If I were a professor, I'd make sure that my classes were always interesting, that mu other classes would not be as dull, or as horrible. After all I'd heard about Hogwarts, was its excitement only for the extraordinary? I hoped not.
I went down to lunch with a boy called Reginald Jalbert, and another, Andrew Weasley. There was also a girl, Winnie Frank, who had come to class along with Reginald and Andrew. As it turned out, they were terribly lost and asked a ghost. Yet this ghost, Peeves, they called him, pelted them with water balloons instead of helping. It was most horrible, as they had found themselves in the dungeons, and they said it was rather chilly down there, and that was before they had become wet.
Herbology was simple enough to find. After lunch, all I had to do was go from the Great Hall to the Entrance Hall, then out the door and around the castle a bit. As for Herbology itself, I found it much more interesting than History of Magic, especially because we got to do hands on work, which was plant smiley flowers, and even more so because we were able to talk to one another. My group consisted of myself Jalbert, and two Hufflepuff students, because apparently Herbology was Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors together. I made Jalbert slightly angry by telling him about the incident with Peeves, but he didn't seem so cross when neither Hufflepuff found the incident shameful. In fact, both were quite sympathetic. They did mention, with some amusement, that a third year, Bertha Jorkins, told them how she had heard from her cousin who had heard from a friend who had heard from, a prefect that a Ravenclaw missed his entire first class, because he was stuck in a trick step in the way to potions. That must had been dreadful.
On Tuesday I had charms. Professor Flitwick was a short wizard, with brown hair with a flash of gray. I enjoyed his class, not only because I found I was decent at charms, though not as good as Lily Evans, whose ability with charms made Professor Flitwick literally squeal in delight, but because Professor Flitwick was so friendly, and fun-loving. He was warm to us, unlike Professor Binns or McGonagall, but the most surprising thing to me was that he seemed to like James and Sirius, more so than any another professor. They did fool around a bit, to the annoyance of some and the amusement of many. Flitwick would only give them a stern reminder, but no threats like the other teachers. The boys' jokes were hilarious, and even Flitwick couldn't resist.
There was one person however, who could. Professor McGonagall had no tolerance for any of that. "Anyone caught fooling around will leave and not come back" was her stern battle cry. Even Sirius and James, who never ran out of things to say in spite of the fact that they had not stopped whispering and making each other laugh since they got here, and what I heard, since they were five, were struck dumb by Professor McGonagall. She was a woman of slight build, but her tight bun and sharp eyes made even the seventh years submit to her and obey.
There was also the fact that McGonagall's class was quite interesting. As hard as it was, many students were looking forward to Transfiguration, especially James Potter. To show off some of the most advanced magic, McGonagall even changed herself into a cat and back. Her becoming a cat had especially fascinated James. As it turned out (six million Potter questions later) becoming an animal was among the most dangerous and difficult forms of Transfiguration. Only seven known people in England were able to do it. McGonagall said it took several years of advanced theory knowledge a book only written in Latin and some experimental spells. There was a formula, but not set way to work it all out, and even then, you couldn't only become one type of animal, and that you couldn't choose.
After a point, McGonagall became tired of James' questions. She gave us all a match and we had to turn it into a needle. It was a task was met with success by such a large portion of the class, that Professor McGonagall was utterly shocked at the "collective brilliance" of our year. Both Sirius and I, in addition to Lily Evans got our matches to change somewhat, mine only because I had tried the spell before. James Potter, however had managed a complete Transfiguration of the match. Some of the other students, like Reginald, were a little off put, but Professor McGonagall told the class how odd it was.
"As I need hardly remind you, this is my first year teaching Transfiguration . The post was vacated by Professor Dumbledore when he replaced Professor Dippet as headmaster of this school upon Professor Dippet's passing. Professor Dumbledore has given me much counsel and several lesson plans. This being among them. Having over seventy-five years of experience teaching at Hogwarts, he fully expects no student to ever successfully complete the task on the fist day of class, nor make an extremely significant difference in the match, those doing so are indeed quite rare. Perhaps one or two every year, and in some years none. A student in Slytherin house has also made a change in his match, making five. I daresay most of you will be able to not only make a difference, but complete the task by our next class. I imagine though, that this class will be most productive." McGonagall paused. "On a side note, you are permitted to keep any materials that you make in this class, if you so choose. I need hardly say that, if the object is still untransfigured, I will use it for the next lesson." She looked at James and smiled.
I had been watching James for much of the class. He had turned red several times and looked quite uncomfortable. But just then, the bell rang, and he was able to escape. He got up extremely quickly, leaving his needle behind. Sirius picked it up and put it in his pocket, then ran after James. I grabbed my things and followed them.
James gave an exasperated sigh. "That was Hell it there ever is such a place. God, the way she went on, it was like I'm some sort of swot." I bit back the urge to laugh at the irony of this statement. This class was something that proved to haunt James for the rest of his school days. It was a fleeting moment where the whole class had seen that James Potter was brilliant. Yet James didn't seem to enjoy that sort of attention at all. As much as I could tell he enjoyed Transfiguration class enough to do well, but he didn't like the world knowing about it. James loved immature practical jokes, and being a goofball, and in some lights, a "bad boy." I knew next to nothing about how people acted and thought, having only known my mom, dad, Romulus and Dumbledore before, but I knew that James felt that if her were labelled a swot, he could ever be as cool as he wanted to be in his eyes.
"Tomorrow," James continued, I'm sitting in the back row. O heard that we take potions with the Slytherins. Remember that fat blond boy who got sorted into Slytherin? Well, I'm sitting behind him, I am. No more being the teacher's pet for me."
I didn't mention that I would have gladly traded with James. McGonagall didn't seem to like me at all. She and Madam Pomfrey were the only other teachers who knew about me. Madam Pomfrey because she was to make sure I was able to reach the safe place, and I knew McGonagall knew because Professor Dumbledore said he would inform the heas of my house after I was sorted. Professor Dumbledore had Promised me that the other teachers would only be told that a first year boy was a werewolf, who would be coming to school as every other student, and would remain safely anonymous.
I was most grateful for that, because there was something about the McGonagall's behavior that I didn't like. She seemed to be friendly enough for such a severe woman, but the was something in the way she looked at me. It was prejudice, fear and disdain mixed with curiosity, and I knew that Dumbledore had been right in not telling all the professors because of it.
TBC- r/r Please! Pretty please? :-)
Just then, several other students walked in. For some reason, they were all wet. I heard James Potter mutter under his breath "ten-oh-one… ten-oh- three…ten-oh-five."
"As today is the first day of school for all of you, I will deduct no points from your respective houses," Binns looked at a piece of parchment, "house, yes. First-year Gryffindors. I do, however, ask that this incident not be repeated, otherwise points will be deducted." That seemed fair enough to me.
"The History of Magic begins with the history of man. Records of magic were found in Mesapotamia from as early as the time of Hammurabi. These records were of laws made regarding the use of magic, and contained various punishments for misuse…." Professor Binns droned on for the rest of the class.
I was able to follow most of the lecture, as I had read all of it last year in Romulus' book, though I had found it more fascinating the first time around, how wizards weren't quite sure how magic worked, how they felt a code was necessary to keep people doing what was right. It was the Mesapotamian wizards who defined the Dark Arts. There had also been a lot of stuff about ancient magic, which was invoked through actions and emotions, rather than wands and incantations. Yet in Professor Binns' lecture, none of that seemed improtatn, it was more the memorization of the wizards' names and the dates of what they had written. This seemed wrong to me. If I were a professor, I'd make sure that my classes were always interesting, that mu other classes would not be as dull, or as horrible. After all I'd heard about Hogwarts, was its excitement only for the extraordinary? I hoped not.
I went down to lunch with a boy called Reginald Jalbert, and another, Andrew Weasley. There was also a girl, Winnie Frank, who had come to class along with Reginald and Andrew. As it turned out, they were terribly lost and asked a ghost. Yet this ghost, Peeves, they called him, pelted them with water balloons instead of helping. It was most horrible, as they had found themselves in the dungeons, and they said it was rather chilly down there, and that was before they had become wet.
Herbology was simple enough to find. After lunch, all I had to do was go from the Great Hall to the Entrance Hall, then out the door and around the castle a bit. As for Herbology itself, I found it much more interesting than History of Magic, especially because we got to do hands on work, which was plant smiley flowers, and even more so because we were able to talk to one another. My group consisted of myself Jalbert, and two Hufflepuff students, because apparently Herbology was Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors together. I made Jalbert slightly angry by telling him about the incident with Peeves, but he didn't seem so cross when neither Hufflepuff found the incident shameful. In fact, both were quite sympathetic. They did mention, with some amusement, that a third year, Bertha Jorkins, told them how she had heard from her cousin who had heard from a friend who had heard from, a prefect that a Ravenclaw missed his entire first class, because he was stuck in a trick step in the way to potions. That must had been dreadful.
On Tuesday I had charms. Professor Flitwick was a short wizard, with brown hair with a flash of gray. I enjoyed his class, not only because I found I was decent at charms, though not as good as Lily Evans, whose ability with charms made Professor Flitwick literally squeal in delight, but because Professor Flitwick was so friendly, and fun-loving. He was warm to us, unlike Professor Binns or McGonagall, but the most surprising thing to me was that he seemed to like James and Sirius, more so than any another professor. They did fool around a bit, to the annoyance of some and the amusement of many. Flitwick would only give them a stern reminder, but no threats like the other teachers. The boys' jokes were hilarious, and even Flitwick couldn't resist.
There was one person however, who could. Professor McGonagall had no tolerance for any of that. "Anyone caught fooling around will leave and not come back" was her stern battle cry. Even Sirius and James, who never ran out of things to say in spite of the fact that they had not stopped whispering and making each other laugh since they got here, and what I heard, since they were five, were struck dumb by Professor McGonagall. She was a woman of slight build, but her tight bun and sharp eyes made even the seventh years submit to her and obey.
There was also the fact that McGonagall's class was quite interesting. As hard as it was, many students were looking forward to Transfiguration, especially James Potter. To show off some of the most advanced magic, McGonagall even changed herself into a cat and back. Her becoming a cat had especially fascinated James. As it turned out (six million Potter questions later) becoming an animal was among the most dangerous and difficult forms of Transfiguration. Only seven known people in England were able to do it. McGonagall said it took several years of advanced theory knowledge a book only written in Latin and some experimental spells. There was a formula, but not set way to work it all out, and even then, you couldn't only become one type of animal, and that you couldn't choose.
After a point, McGonagall became tired of James' questions. She gave us all a match and we had to turn it into a needle. It was a task was met with success by such a large portion of the class, that Professor McGonagall was utterly shocked at the "collective brilliance" of our year. Both Sirius and I, in addition to Lily Evans got our matches to change somewhat, mine only because I had tried the spell before. James Potter, however had managed a complete Transfiguration of the match. Some of the other students, like Reginald, were a little off put, but Professor McGonagall told the class how odd it was.
"As I need hardly remind you, this is my first year teaching Transfiguration . The post was vacated by Professor Dumbledore when he replaced Professor Dippet as headmaster of this school upon Professor Dippet's passing. Professor Dumbledore has given me much counsel and several lesson plans. This being among them. Having over seventy-five years of experience teaching at Hogwarts, he fully expects no student to ever successfully complete the task on the fist day of class, nor make an extremely significant difference in the match, those doing so are indeed quite rare. Perhaps one or two every year, and in some years none. A student in Slytherin house has also made a change in his match, making five. I daresay most of you will be able to not only make a difference, but complete the task by our next class. I imagine though, that this class will be most productive." McGonagall paused. "On a side note, you are permitted to keep any materials that you make in this class, if you so choose. I need hardly say that, if the object is still untransfigured, I will use it for the next lesson." She looked at James and smiled.
I had been watching James for much of the class. He had turned red several times and looked quite uncomfortable. But just then, the bell rang, and he was able to escape. He got up extremely quickly, leaving his needle behind. Sirius picked it up and put it in his pocket, then ran after James. I grabbed my things and followed them.
James gave an exasperated sigh. "That was Hell it there ever is such a place. God, the way she went on, it was like I'm some sort of swot." I bit back the urge to laugh at the irony of this statement. This class was something that proved to haunt James for the rest of his school days. It was a fleeting moment where the whole class had seen that James Potter was brilliant. Yet James didn't seem to enjoy that sort of attention at all. As much as I could tell he enjoyed Transfiguration class enough to do well, but he didn't like the world knowing about it. James loved immature practical jokes, and being a goofball, and in some lights, a "bad boy." I knew next to nothing about how people acted and thought, having only known my mom, dad, Romulus and Dumbledore before, but I knew that James felt that if her were labelled a swot, he could ever be as cool as he wanted to be in his eyes.
"Tomorrow," James continued, I'm sitting in the back row. O heard that we take potions with the Slytherins. Remember that fat blond boy who got sorted into Slytherin? Well, I'm sitting behind him, I am. No more being the teacher's pet for me."
I didn't mention that I would have gladly traded with James. McGonagall didn't seem to like me at all. She and Madam Pomfrey were the only other teachers who knew about me. Madam Pomfrey because she was to make sure I was able to reach the safe place, and I knew McGonagall knew because Professor Dumbledore said he would inform the heas of my house after I was sorted. Professor Dumbledore had Promised me that the other teachers would only be told that a first year boy was a werewolf, who would be coming to school as every other student, and would remain safely anonymous.
I was most grateful for that, because there was something about the McGonagall's behavior that I didn't like. She seemed to be friendly enough for such a severe woman, but the was something in the way she looked at me. It was prejudice, fear and disdain mixed with curiosity, and I knew that Dumbledore had been right in not telling all the professors because of it.
TBC- r/r Please! Pretty please? :-)