Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any related characters. They belong to J. K. Rowling. Any quotes from Harry Potter books don't belong to me either. As usual, no profit is meant to be made by this story.

Similarities with other fanfiction stories are not intended

5. The first day

When Harry woke up the next morning, he was the first to rise from his bed so he decided to get Ron up. Once they had put on their robes, they went downstairs to the common room where they were shortly after joined by Neville, Dean and Seamus, the other boys in their first year dormitories. Dean was raised by Muggles as Harry was; therefore it all was new for him too. Harry found it great to be able to talk with him about all that was new for them. Once they had properly introduced themselves (they were already asleep when Harry returned the night before), they decided to go for breakfast. Harry lead them back into the Great Hall as the others didn't seem to know the way.

The Great Hall was already filled with students waiting for the timetables to be given out by their heads of houses. Once Harry sat down on the tables with his friends, he was soon surrounded by several members of Gryffindor House all asking him about what exactly happened on the Hogwarts Express. It was obvious to Harry that the Gryffindors didn't seem to like the Slytherins generally and Draco Malfoy in particular. However, after a couple of minutes, they calmed down and let him in peace.

A few minutes later, Harry was surprised by literally dozens of owls flying into the Great Hall delivering the mail for the students. However, once the storm of owls had calmed down a bit, all looks were attracted by a beautiful blue and silver phoenix flying into the Hall. All students, Harry included, where wondering what the phoenix flying into the Hall meant as they were very rare creatures and only those who had already once been in the headmaster's office knew that Dumbledore had one.

Harry was surprised when he saw that the phoenix was heading towards Gryffindor table and astonished when it landed on its shoulder. All food forgotten, he took its time to examine the phoenix more carefully. His feathers were of two colours, some of them were blue, some were silver. The colours reminded Harry of those of Ravenclaw house. When he watched more carefully, he saw that a small key was attached to the phoenix' leg which no one had discovered before. He quickly took the key and put it into his pocket.

It was that moment he recognised that the hall had turned completely silent and everybody, including most of the teachers, was gapping at the phoenix. Harry started to feel uneasy due to the attention (it was even worse than just the one he got for being the boy-who-lived). However, in this moment Professor McGonagall came to Gryffindor table, handing out time tables.

"Well, Mr. Potter, here's your timetable. As you see you have Transfiguration first and I do not allow pets in my classroom. Therefore, it would be best to bring your new friend to your dormitory."

Taking this advice to heart, Harry left, followed by his friends, and went back to Gryffindor Common Room. He didn't know what exactly he was supposed to do with his new friend as he didn't consider the phoenix a pet, so he decided to leave him in the Common Room. He guessed that the phoenix could leave on his own should he feel uneasy or at least so it stood in the book he had bought in Diagon Alley. Fetching his books, he left the Common Room and walked towards the Transfiguration Classroom, once more leading his friends the way.

They arrived just in time as they had lost some in the Common Room They had transfiguration together with the Ravenclaws which meant that they had a lot of work to do as the Ravenclaws were famous for their knowledge. Harry sat down beside a girl called Hermione Granger. Once they had all settled in, Professor McGonagall introduced them to the exercise. They had to change matches into needles. Professor McGonagall asked them a couple of questions who were all answered by Hermione, awarding her five points for Gryffindor. Once all the questions were answered, she told them to look on the blackboard were the instructions stood.

Harry spent a couple of minutes observing Hermione while she tried the spell with little success. After she recognised that Harry wasn't doing anything, she snapped to him, rather annoyed, that he should better try himself than just looking at her. When he said the spell, not expecting any success, he was surprised that the match turned into a perfect needle. Hermione was gapping in surprise. In this moment, Professor McGonagall came over to their table, examining the results by their work. She was impressed by Harry's work and awarded ten points for Gryffindor. This earned him some jealous looks from the Ravenclaws. Once she had assigned them their homework, an essay of five inch about the transfiguration they just attempted (or succeeded in Harry's case), she dismissed the class.

Harry met with Ron outside the classroom. His friend didn't manage to get the transformation right; however he was glad that Gryffindor earned some points.

"That was a great job you did there, Harry. How did you know what to do?"

"I can't say it exactly. I was surprised myself."

"Well, whatever, great job, you achieved ten points. We will need them as we have potions next."

"What is so bad about potions?"

"We have potions together with the Slytherins. Snape always favours them and after the incidents of yesterday, he might be in a particular bad mood."

"Well, let's wait and see. I won't let myself be frightened by the mere reputation of a teacher. Let's go."

With these words, they headed over to the dungeons where potions class were taught. Once they had entered, they all felt the inconvenient atmosphere this room was evaporating. They all knew that they would be glad when they were out there again. They sat down at a table, Harry deciding to keep some distance from Malfoy.

A few minutes later, Snape entered the classroom, making some rather grand entrance. When he was facing the class, he began a long speech about the fine art of potion making.

"Those of you who have the ability can learn in this class how to brew glory, create lunacy or even putting death into bottles. However, I don't expect many of you to be able to achieve this as you will surely be the usual band of dumbs I usually have the honour to teach."

There went a murmur through the class due to these remarks.

"You don't believe me. Then why don't we test the knowledge of one of you, Mr. Potter for example."

Harry had felt some kind of revenge coming from the events yesterday evening. He heard a murmur from where Draco Malfoy was sitting: "Now you're doomed, Potter." Then, Professor Snape talked again.

"Potter, will you pay attention when I try to talk to you."

"I'm Sorry, Sir."

"Describe me what you use polyjuice potion for."

Harry had never heard of this potion before, however as soon as he thought of it he knew the answer.

"Polyjuice potion is used to turn someone into someone other for the duration of an hour."

"Correct. And what is the most important ingredient?"

"A piece of the person you wish to change into."

"Correct. To another one: Describe the use of Veritaserum."

"Veritaserum is one of the strongest truth potions. It makes the drinker answering all questions that he is asked truthfully."

"Correct."

Professor Snape asked Harry some more questions, all of them about NEWT level potions. However, Harry was able to answer all of them. Snape got more and more frustrated as he just didn't manage a question which Harry was unable to answer. Finally, after more than five minutes, he gave up and barked to the class that the instructions of the potion they were making today were on the blackboard. While they all set up their cauldrons, Snape started to wander through the class, making snide comments on all of the Gryffindor's potions while admiring the work of the Slytherins, especially Malfoy's as he seemed to have taken a liking in him. Neville particularly suffered under Snape's constant glances. It made him that nervous that he didn't pay attention and melted his cauldron. Snape deducted 10 points of Gryffindor and told him to clean the mess up. All of the Gryffindors were glad once the lesson had finished and they were able to leave the classroom.

Once outside, they all started to complain about Snape's unfairness but also congratulated Harry on his knowledge of potions. Hermione especially was very interested of wherefrom he knew potions that were usually taught six and seven years. Harry once again couldn't explain it and decided to talk to Neville.

"Take it easy, Neville."

"But I lost us just 10 points."

"That doesn't matter. We'll have plenty of opportunities to make up for them."

"It's easy to say this for you. I know that next time I go to potions it will be the same."

"You know, I watched you in potions. You just must not let you make nervous by Snape. What you don't know about the potions I can teach you. You know, if you want, we can do the essays we received this evening together."

"That would be great, Harry. Thanks for your help."

"You're welcome, Neville. You know, if you agree, we could sit side by side in potions so I can help you if you should need help."

"Yeah, let's do this. What are you doing now?"

"I think I'll look for the phoenix and then head over to lunch. See you there."

"See you later, Harry."

They parted and Harry, this time on his own, run back to Gryffindor tower. The Common Room was empty as it was lunchtime. His phoenix was still on the chair where he had left him.

"Well, what shall I do with you? You know what; do you want to meet my owl? I called her Hedwig."

The phoenix sang something which Harry interpreted to mean "All right". The phoenix flew back on his shoulder and Harry carried him to his dormitory where Hedwig was on her perch.

"Well, this is Hedwig, my owl, and this is oh, I don't even have a name for you. Let me think about it, I'll have one this evening. Now, I have to go for lunch. Have a nice time, you two."

The phoenix sang something which sounded like "Don't worry, I'll gladly wait". Harry left the tower once more and went to the Great Hall. Lunch was a quiet affair and soon it was time to head for their last class on this day, charms. They had it once more with the Ravenclaws. They were practicing a fire charm called "Incendo". As usual, Hermione was able to answer all the questions which got Gryffindor another ten points However, the entire class had problems with casting the charm, not even Hermione was able. Harry in contrast managed it again on first attempt which got another ten points to Gryffindor.

He then started to help Neville and by the end of the class, Neville as well managed to create little blue flames with his wand. Professor Flitwick was so excited that two students managed to do it in their first class which, as he said, was very unusual, that he awarded Gryffindor another five points.

They went back to the common room and started to work on their potion essays. Harry had done his in a very short time as he knew already everything he had to and only rarely consulted his book. He then helped Neville who managed to finish his just before Dinner. The five Gryffindor boys went back to the Great Hall again to eat. Nothing extraordinary happened but they all had a good laugh when Malfoy was intercepted on the way back to the Slytherin common room by Professor McGonagall telling him that it was time for his detention.

Once again in the Common Room, Harry got annoyed by all the people talking about his phoenix which seemed to be prime theme and urging him to show him. Harry told them that this was not a zoo and that they should leave it in peace. As they were not reacting on his comments, he decided to go to bed early. In his dormitory, he went to the phoenix and the owl who were still sitting on Hedwig's perch.

"You know, I thought about a name for you. What do you think of Ignis?"

The phoenix sang something which sounded for Harry like a yes.

"Then it is agreed that you will be called Ignis from now one. Well then, good night Ignis, good night Hedwig."

Lying in his bed, Harry was thinking back on the day he just lived through. If every day in Hogwarts was that exciting, it would become an interesting year. He wondered briefly where he had all this knowledge from (embarrassing Snape had been very funny), but quickly dismissed the thoughts about that and went to sleep.

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Another chapter done. Many thanks to Honor-Harrington1982, athenakitty and Sissyspacedout for reviewing chapter 4. Hope for loads more reviews.