Beta: None, as AriArlene is busy with classes.
Original Release Date: 12/23/15
Updated: 1/8/16
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the canon Harry Potter universe or any other universe.
Chapter Thirty Nine – New Classes and New Teachers
Going to the Room of Requirement for their morning exercise with Remus and Professor McGonagall, gang of Gryffindors come back approximately forty five minutes and prepare for breakfast. Entering the sparsely populated Great Hall, the newly christened third years begin chatting about Hogsmeade when Harry realizes, "I didn't get my slip signed."
"Isn't Professor Lupin one of your guardians?" inquiries Hermione quietly.
"Yeah, why not have him sign it?" asks Ron curiously and around mouthfuls of food.
Standing up, Harry cups his hands around his mouth and speaks loudly, "Hey Remus, can you come over here please?"
Looking up from his meal, Remus wipes his mouth before standing and answering, "Two points from Gryffindor for your inability to address your professor correctly. Please try again Mr. Potter."
Rolling his eyes, Harry calls back, "I'm sorry professor, but will you please come down here, sir?"
Walking down from the staff table, Remus stops at the table and answers, "Thank you Mr. Potter", before lowering his voice, "I don't mind you calling me by my first name, but not in front of the other students. Now, what may I help you with?"
"I forgot to get you, Sirius, or Amelia to sign my permission slip to go to Hogsmeade" answers Harry with a hopeful look on his face.
Sighing, Remus says, "I suppose I can sign it but please don't make this a habit," before signing the offered piece of parchment.
Seeing no one else immediately around, Remus takes a seat beside Neville and across from Ron, before summoning the rest of his breakfast, having it arrive neatly in front of him. "So Ron, Harry, how goes the game development process?"
With a grin on his face, Ron pulls out a roll of parchment and spreads it out in front of him after pushing various plates of food out of the way.
"Impressive. So a fairly large world with grid like movement system, similar to Chess. Unique character types with different characteristics, weapons that have strengths and weaknesses, alongside the ability to build settlements and resource production mines" states Remus as he smiles at the two.
"Thank you" answers Ron, turning slightly red from embarrassment.
"Have you two thought about getting some students to help create some artwork for this? A game built by students would definitely be interesting and allows for different perspectives to be seen for the overall development of the game" remarks Remus curiously.
"We'll give it some thought" states Harry exchanging looks with Ron.
"Remus! What are you doing sitting with students?!" exclaims Professor McGonagall.
Opening his mouth to answer, Remus is interrupted by Ginny piping up, "He was just making himself more approachable by students."
Furrowing her eyebrows, Professor McGonagall finally unfurrows her brows after a few seconds of thought and smiles, "That is an excellent idea, Remus. But don't forget to sit at the other tables, so you aren't projecting any favoritism."
"Certainly" answers Remus before speaking to some nearby students who began to converse with him.
"Now, Mr. Potter", all third years are required to pick two classes to add to their schedule" states Professor McGonagall still standing behind the group.
"What are my choices, professor?" asks Harry curiously.
"Ancient Runes, Divination, Arithmancy, and Muggle Studies" answers Professor McGonagall.
Pausing briefly to think, Harry answers, "I'll take Divination and Muggle Studies."
"Mr. Weasley?" asks Professor McGonagall after tapping Harry's schedule and handing it to him.
"Same as Harry" answers Ron before tucking back into his plate of food with gusto, somehow not spilling anything.
"Miss Granger?"
"Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Muggle Studies" states Hermione quietly.
"Same for me, professor" states Neville, standing up as Professor McGonagall beckons to the two of them to follow her.
"Now, Miss Weasley, you and Miss Lovegood are invited to come to my office if you ever find yourselves without someone to converse with on Hogsmeade weekends" states Remus before standing up and leaving the Great Hall.
Striding into the Great Hall, Dumbledore gets to the staff table and faces the now nearly full room and announces, "A forgotten message, but Professor Kettleburn has retired to better enjoy the time they have with their remaining limbs. Our new professor for Care of Magical Creatures is none other than Rebeus Hagrid, who will also continue to do his Gameskeeper duties."
Looking down at his watch, Harry suggests, "Ron, I think we should leave for Divination shortly. It'll take us a while to get there."
Minutes later with Ron grabbing half a dozen pieces of toast from a nearby platter, the two strike out for the North Tower for the first class of their third year. Six and a half minutes later the duo arrives at the top of the tower with three other students waiting, looking around clearly confused.
"Wonder 'ow we get in" mumbles Ron as he finishes his last pieces of toast.
As if someone above had heard him, the trap door above them opens inwards and a sturdy looking rope ladder descends slowly as to not hit anyone suddenly. Exchanging looks, Ron shrugs his shoulders and begins the ascent into the lofty room with Harry behind him. Peering around the room, Ron takes a seat a little ways from the door, but not immediately accessible by the professor, whomever it is.
"I wonder if everyone knows where this is" wonders Ron out loud.
Digging his Omni Play out of one of his robe pockets, Harry opens the map and looks around, zooming in and out as he inspects areas around the tower. "I think you're right Ron, most seem to be either lost or confused."
"Wait, you have that map thing, right? Why can't everyone else use it?" inquiries Ron.
"Because I'm set as an administrator, so I can look at the map. But that does give me an idea…" begins Harry before scrawling some words with his index finger.
As the students arrive in waves, the bell rings, starting classes across the castle. "Welcome to Divination...one of the hardest branches, if not the hardest branch of magic to study" comes a mysterious and female voice.
"Where is she?" murmurs Ron as he looks around.
Glancing down, Harry looks up after a few seconds and smiles as he points carefully to the corner of the room blanketed with darkness. Following the instructions to get a teacup and to get some hot tea, the class begins their first ever Divination lesson.
/*in France*/
Shoving the last stake into the ground, Sirius begins removing the dirt bit by bit. Finally getting the depth needed, Sirius continues the datacenter construction. Three hours, many enchantments, and a few other things later, Sirius stops to inspect his work after the amount of hard work he had put in. Five or six minutes later Sirius cleans his hands of the dirt before pulling out his Omni Play and begins to check things. Smiling at the results, Sirius takes his leave, heading back to Diagon Alley to continue his day at the shop.
/*back at Hogwarts*/
Changing back from her animagus form, Professor McGonagall looks around the room as only Harry, Hermione, and Neville clap.
"I must say that there must be something wrong if only three students have paid attention so far. What has captured your attentions so well?" inquiries Professor McGonagall, brows furrowing.
"It's…that Harry had the Grim in his teacup in Divination, and that his death has been predicted" answers Ron, slightly ashen and subdued.
Laughing, Harry chips in, "And yet Voldemort has failed three times to kill me. Ron, you worry too much, but I appreciate the concern."
Rolling her eyes, Professor McGonagall states, "Professor Trelawny has predicted a student's death every year, and that hasn't come to pass. That will not excuse you from turning in your assignment of writing a foot and a half on Animagi, their properties such as identifying marks should also be included. Potter, if you do end up dead, be assured that your essay will be the last thing on my mind."
Chuckling, Harry asks, "Are we allowed to consult an accomplished Animagus for information?"
"Who might you be referring to?" inquiries Professor McGonagall.
"My parent, Sirius of course. There is also my father who was a stag, but I can't really consult him" answers Harry.
"Other than not knowing that they had achieved such a thing, I don't see why not" states Professor McGonagall seconds before the bell rings, signaling the end of classes and the beginning of lunch.
"It'll be exciting to see what Hagrid, I mean Professor Hagrid, will have in store for us this afternoon" vocalizes Harry as he adds food to his plate.
"But that book he made us buy, it bites. How do we read it if we can't open it?" inquiries Hermione perplexed.
"I just put it into the 'books' drawer of my Omni Connect and haven't had a problem reading it from my Omni Play" states Harry as he slides his tablet across the table to Hermione and Neville who begin to change the pages.
"Fascinating! That would be a lot easier and most certainly lighter than carrying that behemoth of a book around!" exclaims Hermione as her eyes light up.
"We can take a few minutes once we're done eating and go set it up if you want" offers Neville.
Becoming crestfallen, Hermione mutters barely audibly, "…I left my Omni Connect at home…"
"Then take mine and use it" answers Neville as he gets his Omni Play out and hands it to Hermione.
"But what about you?"
Shaking his head, Neville answers with a smile, "Don't worry. I doubt we'll need the book until after the first lesson is finished."
Finishing their meal, the four third years make their way out of the Great Hall and towards the grounds when a male voice calls out, "Mr. Potter, I'd like to have a brief word with you."
Turning to the direction of the voice, Harry breaks into a smile and answers with, "Yes professor", before making his way over to Remus.
"Off the record Harry, I like the idea that you and Ron had about a mapping system to allow students to see where they are and where classrooms are. With some tweaks, I think I can get that to work tonight."
"But won't it show where everyone else is as well?" asks Harry with concern.
"Like I said, a few tweaks so they only see where they are on the map, in addition to where their classrooms are. But with a few markers we can set areas as 'Out of bounds', in addition to removing the location of the dormitories. You should be quite content that Sirius and I haven't set you and Neville to seeing a much more restricted version of the map. Especially with the stunt you two pulled your first year" states Remus with a hint of disapproval.
"However", interrupting Harry, Remus continues, "I am most appreciative of yours and Neville's actions regarding Voldemort these last two years. I'm sure Sirius and Amelia amongst others would give you similar praise. Now, don't let me make you late for your next class."
Rejoining the others, Harry leads the party to the growing crowd of students gathering around Hagrid's hut. "O'er here, o'er here" booms Hagrid's loud voice.
The class walks to where Hagrid is and then follows him a short ways to a small clearing near the Forbidden Forest.
"Now I got a surprise fer you all. Wait here" calls out Hagrid somewhat nervously before disappearing into the forest for a minute or two, before returning. Leading some creatures with the front legs, wings, and the head of an eagle, with the back legs and tail of a horse, Hagrid tethers five of them to a fence that separates them from the students.
"So who knows wha' these creatures are?" asks Hagrid.
As the seconds tick by, Harry raises his hand and speaks out, "I don't think anyone knows, sir."
Face falling, Hagrid asks somewhat confused, "Wha', didn' you all read the book?"
"And how were we supposed to open it without losing our fingers?" draws a familiar male voice.
Looking around at the students pulling out their books restrained by belts, pieces of ropes, and various other items, Hagrid answers, "You jus' stroke the spine like this" as he strokes the book that Neville hands him.
As Malfoy looks at his book with a disgusting look, Harry calls out from the front of the class, "Hey Malfoy, if touching the book isn't your thing, you can always buy an Omni Play and Omni Connect, put the book into the specified drawer, and read it from the Omni Play."
"Sir, are they Hippogriffs?" asks Hermione nervously as she raises her hand in the air.
"Righ' you are. Hippogriffs are a proud creature. Any volunteers to take a ride?" asks Hagrid as he looks around the students.
Realizing he should step out of his comfort zone a bit more, Ron takes a few steps forward, uncertain if he had made the right choice or not.
"Two volunteers? Yer Ron, right? You can go firs' with Buckbeak here. Now just bow to 'im and don't blink. If he accepts you, he'll bow back" states Hagrid in a soothing voice as he untethers Buckbeak and leads him over.
Bending at the waist while attempting to peer up to see what Buckbeak was going, Ron waits as Buckbeak remains standing. Seeing Hagrid's large hands waving gently yet still urgently for him to move back Ron begins to take a step back when Buckbeak finally bows, orange eyes still slightly unnerving Ron.
"Good job, Ron. Let's see if he'll le' you stroke 'im" booms Hagrid, grinning as Ron tentatively steps forward to stroke Buckbeak.
Reaching out his hand and gently stroking Buckbeak, Ron smiles as nothing more happens. Suddenly being picked up from behind, Ron is paralyzed as he realizes that he is sitting on Buckbeak.
"Don't pull his feathers out, he don't like that" booms Hagrid before swatting Buckbeak's rear, causing Buckbeak to flap and trot around the pen briefly before taking flight.
"Now 'arry, over 'ere" states Hagrid bringing forth a light gray Hippogriff, roughly the same size as Buckbeak.
Bowing to the gray Hippogriff, Harry peers over the top of his glasses and sees that his Hippogriff bows back. "Now stroke 'er gently" comes Hagrid's voice.
Stepping more boldly than Ron, but with the obvious air of caution, Harry reaches out and strokes Lucina gently, eliciting a humming from her.
"Everyone come up and give a try" instructs Hagrid's voice as Ron and Buckbeak touches back down, Ron's hair a mess, but a wide grin on his face.
A few minutes later Harry looks over to see where Draco was walking up to Buckbeak, to see Draco turning his head, smiling, and saying just loud enough to be heard by at least Ron and Harry, "If Potter and Weasley can do it, then you can't be that fierce some, can you be, beast?"
Seconds later a shriek echoes through the clearing as Hagrid shouts, "BACK BUCKBEAK, BACK!", waving his arms in the air to have Buckbeak retreat.
"My arm! My poor arm" moans a teary eyed Draco as he clutches his arm.
"Le' me see" comes Hagrid's gentle voice as he briefly looks over Draco's arm, before announcing, "Class is over. Go back to the castle", before turning to Draco and instructing him to follow him.
Making it back to their common room, Harry starts scribbling a message rapidly across his Omni Play before looking up and remarking, "That was an enjoyable class, despite Malfoy's accident."
"Agreed mate. That was bloody fun riding that…that Hippogriff" exclaims Ron with a smile on his face.
A fluttering of feathers announces an owl carrying a wooden crate. Going over to the brown owl, Harry gently strokes the owl before taking the crate, magically lightened. Opening the crate as the owl flies out of the common room window, Harry pauses as the sight of…
Author note: Thanks for reading! So I decided to kind of build my own game because why not? So now we see a slight deviation in classes that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville are taking. Have a plan I do. My dialogue isn't the best, especially with Hagrid, but I hope it doesn't bother most of you all.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. I hope the new year will be one to remember for everyone, and in a positive way.
Edit 1/8/2016: Grubbyplank was NOT the one being replaced, Kettleburn was. Thank you, Lonewolf420. :)
And thank you, teachergirl, to informing me that my wording may have made it seem that Hermione forgot her Omni Play at home. I meant to have it say (and at this time) that she had left her Omni Connect (the server that handles the physical items being sent to the Omni Play, such as music and books) at home. :)