It was the first day of the school year, and Harry was walking into the Great Hall along with Hermione and Ron. As they walked to the Gryffindor table, Harry looked up at the table with the teachers, and saw that most of them were in the middle of their meals. Harry sat down near the end of the table when the owls swooped down from the holes near the ceiling with the morning's mail.
Hedwig had landed with a small letter tied to her leg and gave Harry an affectionate nip on his finger. After Harry had taken the letter off her leg, she ate a little bit of Harry's bacon and flew up to the owlery. Harry saw that both Ron and Hermione had received the same letter while he noticed that they were some of the few who actually received one. Harry looked down at his own letter at started to read.
Dear Mr. Potter,
I am pleased to inform you that you have been selected to be part of a special class recently approved to be taught to you at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As you are aware, four students from the Phoenix School of Magic have joined your school this year. These students have been taught in many forms of Magic besides wand casting magic, and Professor Dumbledore has seen it fit to make sure the students who are capable to be able to expand their potential by learning about the different forms of magic and their uses.
This however has been limited to a very select group because of the many requirements needed to cast different types of magic since many forms dwell on the potency of the inner magic instead of relying on wands. Mr. Potter, through a series of magical tests performed that you were not aware of, you and your classmates who also have been chosen have the opportunity to take the newly approved Branches of Magic class.
This course will guide you through the different types of Magic performed across the globe besides wand magic; as well as the history, proper uses, and casting of these special spells. However, it is apparent that this class conflicts with your Divination course times. You have currently been dropped from this class to make room, and if you wish to continue, please contact Professor Trelawney for a private lesson. We hope you will decide to take this new course as it is a once-in-a-life opportunity.
Sincerely,
Professor McGonagall (Head of Gryffindor House)
Slowly, Harry looked at Ron's and Hermione's expressions as they read their own letters. Ron's was of sheer delight of missing Divination, however Hermione's face turned to disbelief and disappointment.
"I can't believe I had to drop Arithmacy!!! This is outrageous!! I'm going to ask for a private lesson so I don't miss out!" she said.
"This is GREAT!!!" said Ron who was nearly jumping out of his seat.
"Oh well… it will be REALLY interesting though, learning about all the different sorts of magic in the world besides our own." said Hermione.
"Yeah… but those new students are supposed to be teaching it." said Harry.
"Who cares?! I bet it will be really cool." said Ron.
After finishing their breakfasts, their schedules were passed out to them while they were getting up. As Harry looked at his schedule, he found that the Branches of Magic class was placed as his first class of the day.
Harry, Ron and Hermione started off toward the opposite end of the school. According to the schedule, the room was all the way on the sixth floor. So they started on the long trek to reach the classroom.
They had just entered the classroom to see the Gryffindor exchange student at a desk at the front of the room, while other students of all different houses and ages. Then Harry noticed that the other three exchange students were standing in the back of the room. He guessed that they were going to help out during the lesson.
Harry sat down and looked up at the new teacher. He was actually quite handsome as well as the other two of the male exchange students, while the girl was exceptionally pretty. Although in his mind, Cho Chang, who was just so happened to be sitting a few rows behind Harry, was by far more attractive than she was.
"If I could have your attention, I would like to introduce myself." said the Gryffindor exchange student. "My name is Edmund Cyclane, but you can call me Eddy. I will be your teacher for the first half of the term. My fellow exchange students from America will be trading off teacher duties while the rest of us will help out during the lessons… and I suppose you all need books…"
With a swish of his arm, a book appeared on each desk which was extremely thick.
"These books have been magically enchanted so that all the information in all of your text books will be able to fit into this one book, and that if u turn to any page… it will be the page u wanted." said Eddy. The class looked at him with amazement and bewilderment.
"If you will turn to the first page, we will start our first lesson. Flying."