Year One Chapter Five

The first year Ravenclaw schedule was as follows Charms, than Transfiguration,

followed by Defence Against the Dark Arts, and rounding out with Potions. Day two was

Herbology, History of Magic, spare which they made up for with Flying Lessons and then a

second spare which was actually more of a delay till they had their astronomy later that

same evening.

Kyle's first charms lesson was pretty straight forward. When he walked in and saw

the small man standing onto of a pile of books on a chair he wasn't bothered. That was

Professor Flitwick the head of Ravenclaw.

But Kyle did nearly go insane in his first charms class because when Flitwick asked

people to answer the question, "What is your wand."

The first person answered what size their wand was, what wood it was made of and

what the core was.

Flitwick nodded but it was as plain as day that's not what he meant, "Very good.

Anyone else?"

After four more people answered in similar fashion Kyle raised his hand.

"Mr. Lewer and what is your wand?"

"My wand at the moment is a hunk of wood, but soon it will be the most important

thing in my life. My wand is the key to doing magic, it is what will lead me down the path

to becoming a wizard. My wand is also the greatest barrier to becoming a wizard that I have

to over come. Until I learn how to use it properly, making it my greatest friend. It is my

greatest enemy. My wand is a tool no matter what shape, or style it comes in, nor does it's

heart matter because those are components and nothing more, a wand is more then the

parts, it's the sum of the parts."

"Very good Mr. Lewer. 5 points for Ravenclaw!" At this point he continued in his

lesson which was a pretty straight forward thing though too many students looked lost in

Kyle's opinion. It was basically 'This is your wand, and this is what it means to have one.'

Transfigurations was much better though, Professor McGonagall apparently

assumed that first years knew nothing and taught in a manner that more leaned to a. 'We

are starting from square one I won't even begin to ask you questions till I'm certain you

know which way your wand is suppose to point.'

As for Defence Against The Dark Arts, the whole room smelled nauseously of

garlic. Apparently professor Quirrell had been attacked by vampires and was hyper

paranoid now…

If that wasn't bad enough he talked with a stutter! It wasn't fifteen minutes before

Kyle had to excuse himself from the room, he knew had to get use to it but he just needed a

break for a moment. Mainly because he was asking the class about some of the creatures

they have encountered so far and one of the students had said some Latin name and it took

Quirrell two minutes to get through all three syllables.

Nothing Kyle thought, nothing could be worse than that.

As he left Defence Against The Dark Arts he looked at his schedule, next was

Potions…

The Potions dungeon was a miserable looking place, which Kyle assumed is why it

moulded such a miserable looking teacher. Professor Snape was a wretched creature, alright

let's take a moment to clarify he was human but extremely miserable.

While Kyle was taking notes Snape stopped his speech and then berated Kyle with

questions because apparently Kyle already knew everything seeing as he wasn't paying

attention. And he dismissed Kyle's "excuse" of the fact that he was taking notes. So Kyle

answered all his questions, correctly. Which infuriated Snape further so he kept increasing

the difficulty of the questions till he had to take questions form the second year text book.

Which Kyle didn't know the answer to.

"Well then it looks like you're in this class for a reason, no, you shouldn't know

that answer. You won't learn it till next year assuming of course you pass this year."

"Why did you ask him a question from second year Professor?"

"Five points from Hufflepuff. Don't randomly speak out in my class. And I asked

him that question to see if he should be here to learn or teach, seeing he's so knowledgeable

already. Any other questions?"

Kyle raised his hand.

"Yes Mr.Lewer? What is it?"

Kyle smiled, "Do you feel better sir?"

Snape stared at Kyle for a moment. "Care to clarify your question Mr. Lewer?"

"Alright, I'm from New York and have met teachers that actually risk getting killed

by their students every day. They have a reason to be bitter. Now I don't know what your

reason is to be bitter, might just be that you're a small man but still they never sunk so low

as to use the students to make themselves feel better. So do you feel better or is this a taste

of things to come?"

Snape looked down at the floor for a moment, with the way he was chewing on his

lower lip it was easy to tell he was fighting to control his temper. "Well Mr. Lewer that was

rather…witty…and now that you have cost Ravenclaw 10 points and have detention for the

entire week Do you have any other witty comments to add?"

"P.S. I hate you?"

Snape was lost, such..well…wow he actually didn't know how to describe it. The

little wretch sat in his seat completely stone faced, not even his eyes gave a hint that he was

joking in any way at all. Snape decided to leave it rest for now, tonight he'll break Mr.

Lewer's smugness. It wouldn't be the first time he's had to do it.

So after dinner, there was a knock at the dungeon door and before he could say

anything the Lewer child opened the door and walked right in.

"Are you always this bold Mr. Lewer?"

Kyle stopped, "Is there any reason for me to be otherwise? I mean it is only you."

"Only me? Well one day life is going to slap that attitude out of you, but I'm going

to use it to my advantage. You are to gather venom from those scorpions over there, for

each one you hurt you add a day to your detention."

Kyle nodded, "The anti-venom?"

"You can have it once you apologize for your rude and illicit comments."

Kyle nodded, went over to the tank and began to work. After about an hour Snape

got up from his desk to check exactly what Kyle was doing. And he was impressed, not a

single scorpion was hurt, though he quickly grew irritated.

Mr. Lewer was suffering from venom poisoning, his hands had numerous sting

marks on them, but still he trudged on.

"What don't you ask for the anti-venom Mr. Lewer!"

Kyle looked up at Snape, he was constantly blinking, having a hard time focusing

due to the venoms effects but he still managed a small smile. "Because Professor Snape I'd

rather die then apologize for those truths, and yes I do hate you which is why I won't give

you that satisfaction."

Snape was stunned, as defiant as Potter was Snape knew he'd never give up his life

before stepping into line. He had half a mind to let the mule fall over and feel the higher

levels of poisoning so he could hear the sputtered apology. But as he watched Mr. Lewer go

back to work he knew that this mule headed child would die on the floor without so much

as a whimper just to spite him.

Snape opened up a cupboard and pulled out a small purple vial. He walked over to

Kyle. "Mr. Lewer drink this."

Kyle did and after a few minutes the effects of the scorpions faded away.

"And how, Mr. Lewer, did you know that wasn't actually poison?"

Kyle smiled "Professor Snape, even you can't be that bitter that you'd spite the

scorpions for the credit of killing me."

"Hmmm. You irritate me to no end Mr. Lewer. I take 5 points from Ravenclaw and

cancel the rest of your detentions, I want to see you as little as possible I believe."

Kyle smiled, "Well it's good to know we at least have some common ground."

"Leave."

Kyle smile broadened and he went back to Ravenclaw tower, when people asked

how it went, what did he do to lose the house another five points. He simply replied that he

beat Snape at his own game and the points lost were to replace the detentions that Snape

now cancelled.

One of the older kids asked, "Did he make you gather scorpion venom?"

Kyle nodded as he sat down to start his homework.

"How long before you apologized to get the antidote?"

"I didn't."

"What! You didn't get stung?"

"Oh I got stung but I decided I was just gonna fall to the floor dead before giving

that miserable creature the satisfaction of an apology. He apparently didn't want me to die."

The older kid just stood there for a moment blinking at Kyle. "Your gonna be

trouble for us Lewer, I can just tell."

"Whatever, go away I'm busy. I'm sure you can find something to end up the

same."

A moment later Forrest sat down in the chair next to Kyle's. "You weren't really

gonna throw away your life over giving an apology were you?"

Kyle put down his quill. "Let me say this Forrest. I will never back down, never

quit, never waver from what I think is right. No matter the cost."

Forrest simply nodded, and made a mental note to try and keep Kyle out of trouble

as best he could.