Harry woke to somebody gently nudging him awake. Groggily opening his eyes, he saw the long-haired boy, Michael Corner, standing over him. "Breakfast is soon," Michael stated. "Get ready and we'll walk to the Great Hall together."
Harry gave his thanks and pulled himself out of bed. As he dressed himself in his robes, he glanced at his other two roommates, Terry and Anthony, who were currently talking about getting their timetables.
Michael and Harry left the Ravenclaw dormitory and guessed their way to the Great Hall. Whispers began the moment people spotted him, hushed discussions about him started as he walked down the corridor.
Hogwarts was hard enough to navigate without the constant stares of strangers, distracting Harry from his walking. Staircases seemed to move of their own accord and whenever Harry walked by, people would stop in their tracks to gawk at him. Looking for landmarks to help guide him didn't help, the people in the portraits would stroll from their frames to others and the suits of armor would walk from one spot to another when nobody was watching.
The ghosts weren't too helpful either, being unintentionally scary when the suddenly glided through a wall that was being walked past, although Harry made a mental note to tell Bruce about the existence of ghosts.
Eventually, Michael and Harry found the Great Hall and sat at their table, both sat next to each other, Harry next to Padma and Michael next to Terry and Anthony, both of which had obviously found the way to the Great Hall. They helped themselves to breakfast, filling their plates with sausages, bacon, and eggs.
The whispers started again, too quiet for Harry to hear what was said, but just loud enough to know it was about him. From next to Harry, Michael sighed. "Are people going to stare at you all the time?" he asked, his tone annoyed.
"Probably," Harry replied shrugging. "I assume if you still stick with me you'll get used to it."
Michael rolled his eyes, and glared at anyone that glanced in Harry's direction.
Padma spoke from next to Harry. "Personally, I can't see why anybody cares so much about you," she admitted. "Last night my sister, Parvati, was talking to her Gryffindor roommates about you. That Hermione girl's apparently read all about you and memorised it all, surprised she wasn't in Ravenclaw with that attitude."
Harry laughed. "Yeah, I've met Hermione. She means well."
Professor Flitwick walked as fast as his short legs would allow, handing out timetables to all the first-years as he passed.
Harry looked at his schedule for the day; Charms, Herbology, Potions, and Defence Against the Dark Arts.
The conversation quickly turned to the day's lessons. Padma said, "Charms is first, Professor Flitwick teaches it as well."
"Potions as well," Michael replied, "my mother is a Potions tutor, so I've picked up a few things from her."
The three quickly finished their breakfasts and decided to try and get to Charms early, to avoid the crowds and in case they got lost. They headed to the Charms corridor and soon found their classroom and entered a few minutes early.
The classroom was a small room with three rows of desks that faced the middle of the room, which was where the teacher's tables stood on which was a single book. Professor Flitwick sat on a precariously stacked pile of books which was behind the table on an upholstered chair. The desks were illuminated by the morning sunlight that streamed in through the pair of windows behind the teacher's table.
Harry, Michael, and Padma found a desk and sat, Michael on one end, Harry in the middle, and Padma on the other end, and waited for the rest of the class to enter. Within a few minutes Anthony and Terry entered, talking and laughing, and sat at the table closest to Michael. Next to enter were the girls that Padma was sat next to after the Sorting Ceremony, who sat at the desk next to Padma, casually chatting and pulling Padma into their conversation. Finally, another student entered, a Chinese girl who debated between sitting with the girls or the boys, settling on the boys and she sat in silence next to Anthony and Terry.
Professor Flitwick looked around the room, doing a headcount. "This is everyone," he muttered to himself. "Silence for roll call," he ordered, standing up on the stack of books to be seen over. He quickly did the roll call and Harry learnt that Padma's two friends were Lisa and Mandy, and the Chinese girl was named Sue Li. When Professor Flitwick reached Harry's name, he almost let out an excited squeal, and Harry noticed the Professor paused before saying his last name.
"Let's get done to Charms," Professor Flitwick announced, clapping his hands with excitement. "I don't know what you've heard about it, some people may think Charms is 'easy' or 'soft'. Those people are wrong. Charms can be a difficult subject, but also the most rewarding. Charms is one of the few subjects that allows for creativity to be used, no rigidness like Transfiguration. Charms can also be used for combat, no matter what people may tell you. For example."
The Professor whipped out his wand, and the book on his desk whizzed into the air where it hovered. Flitwick waved his wand again and the floating book burst into flames. A final flurry of the wand and the book was shredded into pieces, the falling debris raining down on the space between Flitwick and his students. "Now, imagine that in a duel, fiery objects bombarding your foe." Flitwick paused while the students recovered from their awe.
Obviously, despite the Professor's small stature, he was not one to be trifled with. "Now who can tell me what spells I used?" Professor Flitwick asked.
The majority of hands in the room shot into the air. Flitwick pointed at Harry. "Wingardium Leviosa," Harry answered confidently.
"Very good, Mister Wayne. One point to Ravenclaw. Anyone else?" He pointed at Anthony.
"Incendio," he replied.
Flitwick nodded. "One point to Ravenclaw. And the last spell?"
"Diffindo," Padma yelled. Harry made a mental note to learn the cutting charm.
"Very good, one point." Flitwick looked around the room, casually waving his hand and the few burnt pieces of books soared in the air and repaired themselves, leaving an intact book that was free of any evidence of damage. "All of these charms, and more, will be taught to you, and by the end of the year you will know and be able to perform them all."
The rest of the lesson consisted of note taking, now that Professor Flitwick had successfully grabbed the classes' attention through his demonstration. The lesson was over within an hour, and Flitwick assigned them to read chapter one of The Standard Book of Spells for the next lesson.
The next class was Herbology, which was outside at the castle's greenhouses. Michael and Harry walked together, Padma electing to walk with Lisa and Mandy.
The two boys discussed the lesson and the homework. Harry told Michael about how he'd already read the book, while Michael responded that he'd only really cared Herbology and Potions.
The two entered the greenhouses and were slightly surprised that the Slytherins were also stood in the greenhouse.
The greenhouse had a strip of various plants down the centre of the room, as well as surrounding the walls. In between the plants on the left stood the Slytherins, with the Ravenclaws on the right. In the middle of the room stood a smiling, portly woman who had patches of dirt over her face and clothes.
"That everyone? All right, let's start. I'm Professor Sprout," the professor said. "In this room you will learn about Herbology, the study of magical plants."
Harry realised that Malfoy was glaring at him from across the room. Harry held his stare, refusing to acknowledge the anger.
Professor Sprout indicated two plants next to her. "You might think plants are safe, and sometimes you would be right." She plucked one of the plants, pulling a small purple ball from it. "This is a bouncing ball, relatively harmless." She threw the plant at the floor, where it bounced back into the air like a power ball. "Some are dangerous." She showed the plant next to her, a mass of tentacle like vines that lashed around in the soil it was planted in. "Devil's Snare," Professor Sprout explained. "One of the deadliest plants, capable of incapacitating and choking a Wizard within minutes. It's only weakness; sunlight."
Professor Sprout aimed her wand at the Devil's Snare. "Lumos Solem," she intoned, and a dazzling beam of light burst from the tip of her wand causing the Devil's Snare to shrivel and collapse.
The rest of the class consisted solely of Professor Sprout demonstrating the difference between the various plants that would be shown to the first-years, and the two spells they would need to know; Incendio and Lumos Solem.
Throughout the lesson, Malfoy maintained his scowl at Harry, only pausing to mutter to his friends or to reluctantly dirty his hands by moving plants.
The lesson ended, and Harry left for lunch, only to be blocked by Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and a Slytherin girl. "Potter!" Malfoy spat out. "I demand satisfaction from your assault on the train." Michael and Padma heard the commotion and made their way over to Harry.
"It's Wayne," Harry corrected. "And what assault?"
"Potter," he repeated with a sneer. "And I am referring to when you and your 'friends' assaulted me on the Hogwart's Express."
Harry ignored the repeated use of his incorrect last name. "Assault? The way I recall, you burst interrupted my conversation, implied I'd join my birth-parents if I carried on talking to my friends, and then advanced on us even after we told you we'd react accordingly."
Malfoy's cheeks became pink, but his stare hardened. "I demand satisfaction through a traditional paired Wizard's duel."
"If it will stop this nonsense, I agree," Harry replied.
"Pansy will be my second." He gestured sharply to the Slytherin girl.
Harry looked between Michael and Padma. Michael, who admitted that he was only interested in Herbology and Potions, and Padma, who was raised by Defence Against the Dark Arts tutors.
"Padma will be mine." Padma nodded eagerly.
"Tonight, at nine, in the Trophy Room." Malfoy left with a flourish.
Padma sighed as the three made their way to the Great Hall for lunch. "Harry, it's the first day, how have you already got yourself into this mess."
"The man who raised me taught me to deal with any problems," Harry replied. "And in my defence, Malfoy started it."
Michael laughed. "Do you know how a Wizard's duel works?"
"No idea," Harry admitted.
Padma began to explain, "In a paired Wizard's duel, we both duel at once. As the primaries, you and Malfoy will duel, while I'll simultaneously duel with Pansy."
The three entered the Great Hall and sat at the table, discussing the upcoming lessons and duel. Michael read the timetable. "Potions next, and then DADA. We can figure out how you're going to beat Malfoy after that."
Harry nodded gratefully. "Thank you, both of you."
The three ate their lunch, before heading to Potions. The castle's temperature decreased as they descended to the dungeons.
The Potion's classroom was a dimly lit room, the only source of light was the candles scattered around the room. Various potion ingredients were stacked in glass jars around the walls. The other students entered, including Hufflepuffs who the Ravenclaws shared their Potion's lessons with.
Professor Snape walked in after the students were seated, his cloak billowing as he entered. His eyes drifted from student to student, lingering on Harry for a few unnecessary moments.
Professor Snape started his class with roll call, pausing at Harry's name. "Mr 'Wayne'," he said softly. "Our newest celebrity." The class was silent as he spoke, Harry trying to work out why the teacher had such an antagonistic nature towards him. The man clearly had something against Harry, his dark eyes barely leaving Harry as he spoke. The man's voice was soft, barely more than a whisper as he addressed the class. "You are here to learn the art of potion making. There will be little wand-waving here, and so many of you will not believe this is truly magic. I do not expect you to understand the beauty of a simmering cauldron, its shimmering fumes. You will learn how to make potions to bewitch the mind, ensnare senses … I can teach you how to bottle love, create luck, and even stop death. Provided you aren't the fools I usually have to teach."
The room was silent. Harry and Padma glanced at each other, but Michael seemed to be enraptured by the speech.
"'Wayne'!" said Professor Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Harry thought, he remembered wormwood was mentioned in Magical Drafts and Potions. "Draught of Living Death," he answered.
Professor Snape's lips curled in distaste. "Where would you look if I told you to find a bezoar?"
Harry thought again, it was in the same book as the previous answer. "Goat," Harry replied.
"One point from Ravenclaw for a partial answer," Snape retorted, much to the shock of everybody in the room. "As anyone with a full knowledge of potions would know, a bezoar is a hard stone from the stomach of goat that can save a person from most poisons."
The potions professor had now earned Harry's ire. The man clearly had a problem with Harry, but Harry refused to reply, instead returning the man's steely stare.
"Now, get into pairs and follow the instructions on the blackboard." Snape jabbed his hands towards the blackboard, and the instructions appeared. Harry and Michael, looked at each other and nodded, Padma choosing to partner with Sue Li.
The man glided across the floor, critiquing the students' attempts. Michael truly was a natural at potions, crushing the snake fangs to fine powder and weighing the nettles needed to the exact amount needed. Even Snape was relatively impressed, giving Ravenclaw a point for his work.
The lesson ended quickly with few partners having made the potion correctly, something Snape was eager to point out.
Harry walked out of the room in thought, trying to decipher why Snape was so against him. "Why do you think he doesn't like me?"
Michael shrugged. "We can figure that out after your duel tonight. He obviously doesn't like you much though."
Defence Against the Dark Arts class was next. The room had a strong garlic odour that seemed to emanate from Professor Quirrell.
Harry had hoped that the lesson would have practical elements that could be used for his upcoming duel, but instead the lesson consisted solely of listing different creatures, and explaining the distinctions between imps and pixies. Quirrell seemed to stutter often, and his eyes continuously drifted to Harry as he taught.
As Harry left the class, he happily realised that he wasn't even too far behind everybody else in his classes. A lot of others had come from Muggle families, and even the ones that didn't weren't ahead of him in everything.
As Harry, Michael and Padma entered the Ravenclaw common room, they immediately went to their textbooks. They had a duel to prepare for.