Chapter 9 – First Class of the Year
HG
Hermione had slipped out of bed early. She dressed quietly as Katie was still fast asleep, she put on her shoes and walked down the spiral staircase. When she stepped out of the portrait, she leaned over the banister and looked down at the moving staircases. She enjoyed the quiet mornings at Hogwarts, she knew she didn't have long before it got crowded again. So, she pulled the strap of the bag higher up her shoulder before heading down the staircases, her footsteps the only sound in the castle. Even most of the portraits were still asleep, only a murmur here and there. The doors of the great hall were already open, when she looked in, it was empty except for three people. Professor McGonagall, who was talking to the new DADA professor, MacGavin and one lonely Slytherin, Blaise Zabini. She saw the professor say something to MacGavin before she stood up and walked towards her, as she took a seat not far from the lonely Slytherin.
"An early morning, Hermione." The professor smiled.
"Good morning, professor. I was excited." She grinned sheepishly. The older witch smiled down at her as she went through her papers. The sound of their voices carried through the nearly empty room, making the other two occupants look at them with interest. "Oh, I brought my summer work." Hermione said opening her bag. She rummaged in it, pulling out binders of essays, a tray full of vials and even some plants as she put them on the table.
"Thank you, I'll send them over to the professors immediately." She waved her wand over her work, and it all disappeared. "We'll talk about the results Friday, is Cedric coming with you?"
"Yes, he is."
"Good, good." She said as she flipped through the papers. "Oh, here it is. It was misplaced behind the M's." She pulled out her new timetable and handed it over. "At the end of this year you can choose two electives: Arithmancy, Muggle Studies, Divination, Study of Ancient Runes or Care of Magical Creatures. So, take your time this year to see what interests you the most."
"Only two?" Hermione groaned. "I did my research on everything already. And I'm very interested in arithmancy, ancient runes and magical creatures."
"No divination?" The professor asked curiously, sporting a small grin.
"No, I believe in logic, skill." Hermione said determent. "Not someone pretending to see the future. No disrespect for the teacher of course." She quickly added.
"I feel the same." The professor reassured her. "And no muggle studies either."
"Not really necessary if you lived it." Hermione chuckled, and a smile formed on the professor's lips.
"So, three electives." The professor hummed. "Well, we still have a whole year. Let's just wait and talk about it in April, maybe you can sit-in in each class to see what suits you the best."
"That would be great, professor. Do you want me to give Katie's timetable, once she's out of bed?"
"That would be lovely." She looked between the papers again and pulled another one out, handing it over. "I'll see you two this afternoon." She said pointing at the timetable in her hand. She turned and walked back to the head table, but stopped for a moment in front of Zabini, who had overheard the conversation.
"Mr. Zabini, Professor Snape will be here shortly to hand out your timetable."
"Thank you, professor." He gave McGonagall a short nod and she walked back to MacGavin. Zabini looked back to Hermione. And she gave him another small smile, just like the night before, which he now returned before looking back to his paper as he ate his breakfast. Hermione took out her DADA book and placed it open against her cup. She read while she scooped up some eggs, bacon and toast on her plate. Her first class was in about two hours, and it was with the new professor, MacGavin. So, she wanted to be prepared for her first DADA class. Last year was a bit of a let-down, the professor was nearing his nineties and let them just read the books and write essays, not really teaching the spells that came with it. So, of course Hermione couldn't just sit idly by, and she and Katie practiced in an empty classroom during free periods.
HG
The great hall was starting to fill, but Hermione didn't notice as she was so focused on her book. The new professor watched her with interest as she flipped from page to page. It wasn't until someone flopped down next to her and called out a good morning, did she look up and saw that the great hall was packed. She looked up to the person next to her.
"Good morning, Katie." Then she saw the two other girls in front of her. "Good morning." She smiled at them, and they said the same to her. "The boys still sleeping?"
"Probably." Angelina chuckled. Professor McGonagall came back over to hand out the timetables for the two third years.
"That reminds me." Hermione said, picking up Katie's timetable and handed it over. Naturally the timetable is just the same as Hermione, at least it still is for this year, but still Katie scanned the parchment intensely.
"Still potions with the Slytherins." Katie groaned. Hermione leaned closer and looked at the classes. She didn't look at the timetable closely, not as closely to see with which house she had certain classes with. But she could understand Katie's frustration after the "accident" last year.
"They always stick us with Slytherin in potions." Angelina chimed in.
"Ooooh, but we have Herbology and Divination with the Hufflepuffs." She said excitingly and turned to look at Hermione seriously. "What are my chances of me getting a hug from Diggory?"
"Uhm." Hermione said, biting the inside of her lips, trying to hold in a laugh. "First stop calling him Diggory, and second, it's not going to happen in Divination, he's not taking that. I can't believe you two are."
Alicia shrugged, putting her timetable away. "It's an easy class from what I heard off, you just make stuff up and it passes."
"I - uhm." Angelina bit her lip, looking from Alicia to her own timetable. "I'm not taking Divination."
"What do you mean?" Alicia asked surprised, tearing the timetable out of her hands and her eyes scanned the paper thoroughly. "Arithmancy? You're taking Arithmancy?"
"Yeah, I did my research this summer, so I asked McGonagall if I could change my electives."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was afraid you might be mad at me."
"I'm a bit upset that you didn't tell, but I'm not mad. I'll have the twins there to keep me entertained."
"Where are they? We have Potions in half an hour." Angelina said craning her neck to look at the large open doors.
"They probably thought, or rather hoped they had first period off." Katie said before she took a bite from her sandwich.
"Hm." Hermione hummed, swallowing her pumpkin juice. "There is Lee, so the twins must not be far behind."
"What is your first class?"
"DADA."
"Oh, with the new Professor. Hope he's better than the living professor Binns." Alicia snickered. "They have the same monotone voice, not really paying attention. Poor old goat." They had been calling him goat, since he had this too long goatee that moved when a rustle of wind passed.
"Morning, ladies." Lee said, sitting down on Hermione's other side. Professor McGonagall was there in an instant as she handed over his timetable, trying to get the timetables out in time for the late comers.
"Morning." The twins' voices startled the others and they sat down next to Angelina. Professor McGonagall, the only one who saw the two of them coming, handed the papers over, before walking down the rest of the table. Hermione looked over Lee's timetable with him.
"Oh, you have arithmancy with Angelina." She pointed out at the parchment. Lee looked up from the parchment in surprise as he looked at Angelina.
"Didn't know you were taking the class, Ange."
"I only signed up this summer."
"Great, we can keep each other company." The boy with dread locks grinned. "Oi, what did you two take then?" He called over to the twins.
"Divination and care of magical creatures." Fred shrugged. "Thought those would be the easiest."
"You don't choose a class because it's the easiest." Hermione rolled her eyes at the twins. "Are none of you taking Ancient runes?" She asked grabbing the others' timetables, scanning them over.
Fred huffed out of laugh. "Why would we want to learn about old symbols?"
"You can ask your brother that." Hermione answered, when she saw the confused looks, she added. "Bill."
"Well, yeah but I don't think anyone of us is going to work in old tombs and such."
"I'll find someone who can give me an insight then, maybe Cedric." She talked to herself as she pushed herself up from her seat. She looked to Katie next to her. "Let's go, don't want to be late for our first DADA class."
Katie nodded her head and stood up. The others followed them out but headed down the staircases to the dungeons as Katie and Hermione walked up the steps.
HG
They were walking in a nearly empty corridor when she heard familiar whispers.
"Where the bloody hell are we?"
"Don't know. Professor McGonagall is going to have our heads."
When they turned a corner, they saw Harry and Ron looking very lost as they looked in every direction.
"Lost, boys?" Katie asked with a grin.
"No-" Ron started but Harry interjected.
"Yes, and we're going to be late for Transfiguration."
"Everyone gets lost at the start of the year. Just go back one corridor, second class on the right." Hermione explained.
"Thanks." Harry said, already turning.
"Just, keep close to your classmates the first few days until you know your way around." Hermione called back.
"Will do!" Harry said before he disappeared in the right corridor.
"That was very kind of you, miss Granger." An unfamiliar voice said behind them. They both jumped and turned around with wide eyes, their hearts beating fast in their chest. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."
"It was just unexpected, Professor MacGavin." Hermione answered, once her heartbeat slowed down. "You know who I am?"
"Hm, yes." He nodded. "Professor McGonagall told me about you. She has giving me your essays on my class; I'm just going through them. There are quite a lot of them." He smiled.
"They are just essays, haven't actually learned to perform the spells yet."
"Come in girls." He stepped towards the door and pushed it open, letting the girls walk in. "And I heard that last year's Professor didn't let you practice all that much too, is that right?"
"No." Katie answered. "Hermione and I practice with each other during free periods for the class though."
"Great initiative, miss ..."
"Bell, Katie Bell."
"Well, miss Bell, miss Granger, the first few lessons we're just going to do some revisions to see what you all learned and what spells you can cast before we go any further." He said walking up to his desk. "Please have a seat." He called loudly.
Hermione and Katie looked over their shoulders and saw the rest of the Gryffindors and the Ravenclaws drop in. Hermione dragged Katie to one of the front row seats. Four Ravenclaw girls were arguing, who would sit on the other table in the front row, making Hermione and Katie roll their eyes. The young professor saw the exchange and called for the last boys that came in to take the front seat. The girls all pouted as they took the last available seats in the classroom.
"Goodmorning everyone. I'm Professor MacGavin, your new teacher for Defence against the Dark Arts." He said coming in front of his desk and leaned against it. "I've heard that you didn't do much last year, so the first few days we will do some revisions to see how much you actually learned." He took a piece of parchment from his desk behind him. "Let's start with the spells, you should've learned nine spells last year. Can someone tell me which ones?"
Hermione and Katie's hand shot up immediately. The professor gave them a smile. "Miss Granger, miss Bell, go ahead."
"Curse of the Bogies, the knockback jinx."
"Verdimillous charm, the Duo spell and Tria." Katie continued.
"Wand-lightning charm, smokescreen spell, green sparks and red sparks." Hermione finished. Since the two of them sat in front of the class they didn't see the others glare at them. But the professor just beamed at the two girls in front of his class.
"Well done. We'll start today with the green and red sparks. Can everyone stand up please." Hermione stood up and the professor waved his wand, and the desks flew to the side. "Please stand in two lines across from each other."
The students shuffled until they all formed two lines, facing each other as the professor walked between them. "Wands at the ready." He said looking around and some of them walked back to the desks on the side of the classroom as they retrieved their wands. "Shoot some normal red sparks in the air." He instructed.
While most of the class chanted the incantation, Hermione and Katie just swished their wands above them sending a ray of red sparks in the air without saying a word. Everyone in the class managed the shoot red sparks in the air, one more powerful than the other but it was there.
"Great work everyone." He looked around the classroom. "Ten points for Gryffindor for the nonverbal spell of miss Granger and miss Bell." The two girls grinned excitedly at each other as they earned points for their house in the first class of the year. "Now green sparks in -" He held up three fingers. "Three, two, one."
.
While Hermione, Katie and a couple of Ravenclaw students had perfected each spell, a lot still had trouble mastering the knockback jinx, the smokescreen spell, the Verdimillious Tria and duo. The once everyone could do without any trouble was the wand-lightening charm, Lumos. That Professor Flitwick had taught them during Charms, last year. They would go over Dark Creatures in the next lesson before they start learning or rather re-learning the spells they had difficulty with.
