Chapter 14: First Week of Classes
It took longer for Phoenix to change her sleeping habits. Hermione had to find different ways to wake her up. She couldn't remember much of the first few days of her classes. Hermione helped her catch up at the end of each day. Phoenix found out that every Wednesday at midnight they had an astronomy class. Phoenix loved this class since it was one of those she was awake for. Then, they had Herbology class three times a week in a greenhouse behind the castle. She impressed professor Sprout with what she knew about the plants they were studying. She earned Gryffindor 25 points alone on the first day of class. Phoenix found it a fascinating subject. This was going to be one of her favorites.
There was History of Magic taught by a ghost named Professor Binns. Phoenix almost cost Gryffindor points if Hermione hadn't had kicked her in the shin. It was a boring and slow class, which didn't help Phoenix's sleeping problem. Her eyes drooped down slowly and heavily. Professor Binns voice was so monotone, Phoenix was in a trance.
Charms was a little hard for Phoenix because of the wand waving. Professor Flitwick didn't mind. Most young witches and wizards our age didn't know how to wave a wand. He was so small he stood on a pile of books to see over his desk. Flitwick reminded Phoenix of a teacher she had at Magic School.
Then there was Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts. The DADA class was one class Phoenix looked forward to but was a disappointment. Professor Quirrell's class stunk of garlic, claiming that it was to ward off vampires. His stories that he half talked about were questionable. Phoenix did not like him. It wasn't because of him being boring. She did not like him because of the darkness she felt around him. Like her mother, Katie and she could sense evil along with sensing good. And she could feel a lot of evil coming off of the DADA professor.
Transfiguration became the class Phoenix loved the most so far. By this time, Hermione helped her get used to her wand, and after getting the hang of it, it almost became second nature to her. Well, sort of. Professor McGonagall was teaching this class, and how class started, Phoenix knew she would be a tough teacher.
"Transfiguration is some of the most complete and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts." Professor McGonagall explained. "Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned." Then she flicked her wand, changing her desk into a pig and back again.
Phoenix has seen this done, but not with a wand. Her mother, because of her whitelighter side, can change her appearance to look and sound like someone else. Then Kaleb, her best friend, can change objects into anything he wanted. Now, she can do it with a wand.
After taking notes, Professor McGonagall gave each student a single match. The task was to turn it into a needle. At first, it wouldn't do anything for Phoenix. Hermione, on her left, was having some problems. Behind her, it appeared Ron and Harry had given up. Phoenix looked at the match. Then remembered what her mother and Aunts said to her and Katie. They were trying to learn how to orb on command.
"Just close your eyes. Let the magic fill you up. Start from the bottom and work yourself up. Feel it building and growing." Then, just like that, Katie and Phoenix could orb.
Phoenix took a small sigh and closed her eyes. She concentrated on the match, turning it into a needle. Feeling the magic rise, she opened her eyes, flicked her wand, and watched as the match turned into a needle. It impressed professor McGonagall, and she showed to the class what she had done. Minutes later, Hermione changed her match. Professor McGonagall showed hers as well and gave both a rare smile.
When Friday rolled around, Phoenix could stay awake in most of her morning classes and got exceptionally well with her wand that many professors were impressed. She received some mail from her friends and family. They were saying how much she was missed and couldn't wait to hear more on Hogwarts. Her friends added that causing trouble was not the same without their fearless leader.
"Hey, I'm going to the library before class, would you like to come with?" asked Hermione as they ended up stopping at a corridor that split between going to the Great Hall one way and the library the next.
"No thanks, maybe later Mione. I'm actually hungry for breakfast today. Meet you in class? What is it anyway?"
"I believe it is Double Potions with the Slytherins." answered Hermione.
"Oh, I hope that Slytherin girl, Parkinson, won't cause us any trouble. And that Malfoy boy!"
"Well, they are in Slytherin, so we would unfortunately have to see them. Anyway, I'll meet you then!"
Entering the Great Hall, Phoenix looked towards the Gryffindor table finding Harry and Ron sitting there discussing something.
"Hey Harry, Ron, mind if I sit?" She asked.
"No, sure go ahead." Said Harry, scooting over for her.
"Where is your Miss Brains?" asked Ron.
"Her name is Hermione, and if you must know she is in the library."
"Hmmmm, figures."
"Hey! What is it you have against her, anyway? Is it because she knows more than you!"
Before Ron could answer, hundreds of tiny specks known as owls came flying in. It took a while for Phoenix to get used to, but found it was something pleasant to look forward to as she almost got a letter every other day. But she felt sorry, for Harry has gotten nothing.
Today, though, was different. Harry's snow owl, Hedwig, came swooping down and dropped a letter onto Harry's plate. Excitingly, Phoenix watched Harry opening it, revealing a very unreadable handwriting.
"Can I borrow one of your guy's quills?" asked Harry as Phoenix and Ron scrambled for one. Ron found his and handed it to Harry.
"Who is it from Harry?" asked Phoenix.
"Hagrid. You know, the guy I was with at the bank." Harry answered as he handed the note to Hedwig and flew off.
"Oh." Was all she said, looking down to see four letters of her own: one from Katie, one from both Marand and Kathy, and the last from Kaleb. 'I'll open these later.'
The last class of the day was Potions. Phoenix wandered how different it was compared to she had to make. The class was held in the freezing dungeons. It would have been okay if it wasn't for the pickled animals floating in jars around the walls.
The Professor's name was Snape. He had a dark feeling around him, but it was nothing like Professor Quirrell's. His eyes were black, cold, and empty. His hair was greasy and long. Professor Snape was just an overall creepy man.
He started the class off by taking roll call. When Phoenix's name came by, he paused slightly and looked carefully into her brown eyes. Then he continued on. When Harry's name came by, he paused again only this time he made a snide remark.
"Ah yes," he softly said, "Harry Potter. Our new-celebrity." Then Snape went back to finish calling the rest of the names on the list, then looked back up at the class.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making." He began. He spoke no louder than a whisper, but they caught every word. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquid that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses…I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even put a stopper on death- if you aren't a big bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."
Silence followed. Phoenix was on the edge of her seat along with Hermione. But Phoenix's eyes showed a different sparkle for potions than did Hermione's. This intrigued Snape. If it wasn't for the symbol on her robe or the red and gold colors, Snape thought she could pass for a Slytherin.
"Potter!" Snape suddenly yelled. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Phoenix could tell Harry did not understand what Professor Snape just said. Harry had that deer in the headlights look, Ron just looked like his stumped self, and Hermione, like always, had shot her hand straight in the air.
"I don't know Sir." Harry responded.
Phoenix saw Snape sneer a little for pleasure.
"Tut, tut- fame clearly isn't everything. Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
Again, Harry had the deer in the headlights look. He did not like the spotlight. Hermione's hand went further into the air. Phoenix could hear the snickering in back from Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.
"I don't know Sir."
'Poor Harry, why is Professor Snape picking on him?'
"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
"I don't know Sir." Said Harry, "I think Hermione does though, why don't you try her?"
Phoenix could see the hatred boiling on Professor Snape's face. Harry's remark was not helping him.
"Sit down," Snape snapped at Hermione. Then he looked over and stared into Phoenix's eyes. "How about you Matthews? Same questions I gave to Potter."
Phoenix gave a small smile. Potions was one of her strong points, though her cousin Melinda was the best out of all of them.
"Yes Sir, I do."
"Well, can you elaborate?"
"Well Sir, asphodel and wormwood can make a powerful sleeping potion. I think it is known as Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone that can save you from most poisons and is taken from the stomach of a goat. Then monkshood is the same as wolfsbane. It all depends on what part of the world you are."
The sneer from Snape's face disappeared, replaced with a smile only Phoenix could make out.
"Well, Potter, looks like Matthews here has saved you."
Potions didn't seem in favor for the Gryffindors for the rest of the lesson. Snape criticized on everyone's potions except for Malfoy's and Phoenix's.
When lessons ended, Phoenix went off with Hermione to the common room to finish the day's homework. The questions that remained in Phoenix's mind were 'Why did Professor Snape hate Harry so much? And why did he take an interest in me?'