franchise is the property of J.K. Rowling, Dungeons & Dragons is a property of TSR. Rating is PG-13 for mild violence and swearing, may turn to R in later chapters.
Harry Potter & the Coming of the Dragon
Chapter 3-Charms, Potions and detentions
The three Gryffindors found their way to the great hall for breakfast. Harry scanned the hall, noting that Silverhearts students had yet to make an appearance. Malfoy, however, had already arrived. And seemed much more animated than he had last evening.
They sat and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, finding time between bites to wonder what their classes would be like that year. Harry had done well enough on his OWL's to be eligible Necessary NEWT level courses to become an Auror. Ron, said he was just relieved that he wouldn't have to take NEWT potions as he hadn't gotten high enough marks to move on but it wouldn't matter as he would be following his fathers footsteps into the ministry. Hermione, her mind set on teaching, had scored 'O' on all of her subjects. As they continued to talk he noticed out of the corner of his eye that Malfoy was watching them.
Trying not to be obvious he began to observe the Slytherin in return. The expected sneer that was normally present had disappeared, in its place was a look of almost longing. The boy had become so intent on watching the three that he wasn't even giving the pretense of eating, he simply sat and watched. Finally, unable to control himself, returned Malfoys gaze full on. The Slytherins reaction was instantaneous, his eyes hardened, his jaw set sending a look of absolute hate at Harry he quickly turned back to his meal and didn't look back up again.
The trio had nearly finished breakfast when Alec and his friends came in. Now dressed properly in black school robes with silver trim. Each wore in place of their house badge, a device which consisted of two stylised silver crescents facing each other and forming the general shape of a valentines heart. These were fixed on a forest green badge. "That's the Crest for Lord Silverheart." supplied Hermione. The students all took places at their respective tables, Alec coming to sit across from Harry.
Wishing everyone a good morning he dug into his meal with gusto. Ron, impressed at the speed that the other boy was making his meal disappear commented, "You must be hungry."
Grinning and nodding down the table at the three youngest of the American students who had already refilled their plates twice, "Not as much as them."
Hermione, unable to decide to be more awestruck or disgusted by the performance of the students asked, "Don't they feed you at your school?"
Quickly swallowing his current mouth-full of food, Alec responded. "Yea, it's just that we're still getting used to things here. We had to get up early because Jayxom said that the run would be harder than at home because of the altitude. Then we had to clean up and get here to not miss breakfast.
Ron, looking like he had swallowed a slug, said, "Running?"
"Yeah, well at home we do physical training, running , some weights and sparring in the morning before breakfast." Taking an quick drink of pumpkin juice he continued. "Anyway, it's what we do at home and Jayxom wanted to continue here, its supposed to wake us up and make us more alert. All it makes me is hungry."
Harry scrunched his eyebrows together and asked "Hold on. How early, exactly, did you lot get up this morning?"
"Probably four A.M."
The Gryffindors all stopped and stared, "You lot get up at Four in the morning every day?" Ron asked,
"Not every day, I mean at home we get up a whole hour later."
Harry, deciding he'd heard more about the subject than he cared to, asked, "Excuse me but who is Jayxom, is he a student? I don't remember his name."
Hermione jumped in, "I do, I stayed last up last night reading about him in 'Wizards of the Millennium: a thousand years of Archmagi' Jayxom is Professor Silverheart's given name."
Harry looked to the other boy in confusion, "You call him by his first name?"
The boy shrugged, "It's what he wants us to call him." All of them were startled out of their conversation as the bell sounded calling them to their first classes. Harry would have NEWT potions with Hermione and Ron was off to muggle studies.
As they walked towards the dungeons, Harry talked to Alec about their visit to Hogwarts. He found out that the boys schedule was arranged so that they shared most classes. Alec also explained that they were to participate in the class as much as possible even without magic. "I'm not sure exactly what Jayxom expects me to accomplish in your potions class, there is nothing like it really it at Davens"
Hermione asked the boy, "You don't? What do you do if somebody is hurt and there are no healers close by?" The boy shrugged, "well we can empower crystals with 'spells' like healing but its not like mixing a potion I'm sure.
Coming to the classroom they entered to see that most of the students had already reached their seats. As the three made for a still empty table they heard the voice of the potions master from the shadows across the room. "Mr. Potter, do not bother finding a seat. I will not have Ms. Granger carry you through yet another year in my class." His silky voice dripping with venom, "Please come up here and sit by Mr Malfoy."
Harry stopped, not really surprised by the snide tone, or that he would be singled out by the greasy git, but it worried him that the man would place him with Malfoy. It was as if the man was trying to provoke him into a fight to remove him from the class. Swearing to himself he wouldn't give the greasy git the satisfaction he took his new seat. Harry looked to his new partner in potions and saw that the arrangement wasn't exactly to the other boys liking either.
Malfoy, on hearing the professors words looked up as if betrayed. He quickly steeled himself as the boy approached and sat down beside him. "So Potter, no Weasel or Granger to hide behind this year, I'd enjoy watching you squirm except now I'll have to listen to your incessant whining about the unfairness of it all."
His temper getting the best of him, Harry responded. "Sod off Malfoy. At least I have friends."
Harry cringed inwardly even as he spoke the words. While he despised Malfoy and the way he'd treated him over the years, the pain he saw flash through the other boys eyes disquieted him greatly. Knowing he had stepped too far, he tried to think of something to say to make it right but never got a chance.
"Mr. Potter, ten points from Gryffindor for speaking out of turn in my class," said Professor Snape. "This year you all would do well to close your mouths and pay attention. You will be dealing with powerful and dangerous concoctions. An improperly prepared potion could potentially be more disastrous than a melted cauldron," Snape Stared pointedly at Neville, who had made it into NEWT potions by the barest of margins. Turning his eyes to Harry again, he said "This year may well tax you far beyond your limits."
The rest of the potions class went downhill from there. Malfoy had recovered his tongue and had been verbally abusing Harry for the entire session. The potion they were making was a weak form of vertassium. The Blond Slytherin criticized every action Harry made. Finally near the end of class as the potions were almost finished, Draco nudged Harry's hand as he was adding the Unicorn tears pouring in the entire vial rather than the three drops called for.
Harry grimaced as he watched two hours worth of tedious work dissolve into and through both the cauldron, the table and start eating into the floor. Turning angrily to Malfoy he yelled "What the bloody hell did you do that for?"
Quickly pulling his wand and putting it at the ready The blond boy responded, "Temper Potter, wouldn't want to have an... accident would we?" The boys stood glaring at each other the tension rising until Professor Snape decided to finally step into the altercation.
Coming between the two teens the potions master put a gentle hand on Draco's wand hand and eased it down to his side while glaring heavily at Harry. "I see that some of us cannot even carry out even the simplest instructions. Mr. Potter twenty additional points from Gryffindor for your abysmal performance today, as well you both will serve detention this evening and properly complete today's assignment."
The younger Slytherin looked in askance to his head of house. "Excuse me professor but why should I serve Detention with him? He was the one that ruined the potion."
Turning his gaze to his godson, the potions master nodded. "I understand that Mr. Malfoy but this course requires that you turn in all assigned projects... as this is a paired assignment you will have to serve detention with your partner to finish it." With that the bell sounded, marking the end of the first period. Harry gathered his things and left the class before he could fall to temptation and hex them both to oblivion.
Harry met up with Hermione and Alec on the way to NEWT Charms. In this class at least Harry felt relaxed enough in that he could shine. They reviewed basic charms that first day which also gave Alec a chance to show some of his talents. They were all impressed with his ability to move objects without wand or spell. He was able to become invisible and to even Professor McGonnagal's surprise changed into a dog, a rabbit and a hawk. Properly trained mentalists, it seemed, could change into any animal or thing for that matter as long as they had been in contact with their subject long enough to copy it. The class flew by and by the end everybody was ready to break for lunch.
Arriving at the great hall they joined back with Ron and recounted their day. Ron was properly outraged at the way Snape was treating Harry but was intrigued by Alec's shape-changing ability. Harry was eager to get to Defense against dark arts later that day, wanting to see what kind of teacher Silverheart would be. The only thing he wasn't looking forward to was his detention later that night. Somehow he had a feeling that this would be quite a long year.
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