someone in the reviews pointed out some timing problem in one scene so I changed a few sentences

3 – Hogwarts

Harry pushed his luggage trolley along platform 9¾. It was still early in the morning and the platform was quiet. The boy stopped in front of a newspaper seller and bought today's edition of the Daily Prophet's. He did not know how long the ride would take and he wanted a little light reading in addition to the countless books he had packed into his trunk. Harry first put Nyx's cage on the train and then he hoisted his trunk. He found an empty compartment away from the other students and settled down. He pulled out a book from his trunk and began to read, paying no attention to the other students and the growing crowd as it was nearly time to leave.

The train had already left the station when someone knocked on the compartment door. A red-haired boy came in.

"May I sit down?" he asked. "Everywhere else is full."

Harry looked up from his book and nodded. The boy sat down in front of him. A few minutes later, two older red-haired boys, obviously some twins, came in.

"Here you are, Ron," said one twin.

"We're meeting Lee in his compartment," said the other before noticing Harry.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi," replied Harry.

"First-year?" asked the second twin.

"Yes," replied Harry.

"Fred and George Weasley," they said in unison.

"Harry Potter."

The twins stared at him then exchanged a smile.

"Are you really Harry Potter?" asked one of them.

"Uh, yes", replied Harry.

"Whoa ..." said the boy named Ron.

"Well, nice to meet you, Harry. We'll be going, see you, Ron."

"See you later, Harry."

And the twins left the compartment. Ron was still looking at Harry with awe and he needed some time to recover. Then the boys began to chat. Ron told Harry about his brothers and his sister. After a while, Harry turned his attention back to his book.

In the afternoon, there was a knock on the door. A shy chubby blond boy came in with a girl with tousled brown hair.

"Have you seen a toad?" she asked bossily. "Neville's lost one."

"No, I haven't," replied Harry as Ron shook his head. "But I think I know how to find him."

"Really ?" asked Neville shyly.

"Did you try to use a location spell?" asked Harry.

"A what?" asked Ron.

"A location spell," repeated Harry. "What's your toad's name?"

"Trevor," said Neville weakly.

"There are several location spells," continued Harry. "The incantation is Point me and you add what you're looking for. For your toad, it becomes Point me Trevor, and then you let your wand show you the way. I think you could also use Revelio, but I don't know the specific incantation for toads."

Neville and Ron stared wide-eyed at him.

"I haven't heard of these spells," said the girl. "They're not in our first-year textbooks. Where did you find them?

"No, they're not on the first-year curriculum. I found them in some advanced spellbooks", replied Harry.

"Oh, you read books in addition to those on our list?" she asked, and she sat next to Harry. "So did I. My parents are both muggles, so as soon as I knew I was going to Hogwarts, I read all the books on the list and a few extra books for background reading. Oh but I haven't introduced myself, I'm Hermione, Hermione Granger.

"Harry Potter," he replied. "And yes I've read a lot of extra books."

"Harry Potter! I read so many books about you and how you defeated You-Know-Who."

"Ah ..." said Harry wearily.

"What's the matter?" asked Hermione.

"Nothing, it's just that I don't like reading books about me," said Harry. "The authors see me as a hero but I was just a one-year-old baby when it happened. I don't even remember that night. And most of all, they write about me without even knowing me."

"Oh, yes ... I understand. We won't talk about it anymore. Did you also try to do some magic? I did and all my spells worked."

"Yes, I cast several spells and I brewed some potions already."

"Oh really?" replied Hermione. "I thought you were raised by muggles."

"I learned everything from books."

"I'm really impressed. Do you want to go to Ravenclaw?"

"I don't know," answered Harry sincerely.

"I'm sure I'll go to Hufflepuff," whined Neville. "I've already lost Trevor."

"Better Hufflepuff than Slytherin," said Ron.

"Why would you say that?" asked Hermione.

"Everyone knows every dark wizard went to Slytherin," said Ron.

"That's not true," replied Harry. "There have been dark wizards and witches from all houses throughout History."

Ron stared wide-eyed at him as if he did not believe a word Harry had just said. And yet it was true. Although Charles had been a Slytherin, Enid had been sorted into Ravenclaw.

"What about Trevor?" asked Neville shyly

"You should use the first spell I told you," replied Harry. "Do you remember? The incantation is Point me Trevor."

"I can't, I forgot my wand in my compartment."

"Then go get it."

"Or ask a prefect," suggested Ron. "My brother Percy told me they're supposed to help us when we're in our first year."

"All right," said Neville, and he left the compartment.

"And what house do you want to go to?" Hermione asked Ron.

But Ron did not have time to answer. The compartment door opened on three boys Harry did not know. A pale boy with blond hair entered first, followed by two beefy boys who stood in the background.

"They say all down the train that Harry Potter is in this compartment," said the pale boy. "Is that you?"

"Yes," replied Harry.

"This is Crabbe, and this is Goyle, and my name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," he said.

"Hi," said Harry.

"Hermione Granger," she said.

"Granger?" repeated Malfoy, haughtily. "Never heard that name before. Are your parents wizards?"

"No, they're Muggles," said Hermione proudly.

"Muggles," repeated Malfoy with disdain. "It's a shame they let people like you go to Hogwarts"

"What's your problem with people like her?" asked Ron firmly, having jumped from his seat.

"No need to ask you who you are," Malfoy replied, glaring at the boy from head to toe. "My father told me all about the Weasleys: red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford."

Ron had become scarlet and Hermione had opened her mouth indignantly.

"Be careful who you befriend Potter," added Malfoy. "You shouldn't hang around with the wrong sort of people. If you want to avoid the scum I can help you."

"I have no problem spotting the wrong sort of people in this compartment," said Harry, glaring at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.

"Mind your tongue, Potter or you'll end up like your parents."

"Do you think you scare me?" asked Harry coldly. "Are you at least able to carry out your threat on your own? Or are you going to ask your Death Eater of a father to do it for you?"

"How dare you, Potter? I forbid you to say one more word about my father. You don't know who you're dealing with," said Malfoy.

"Don't worry, I know who I'm dealing with and I'm not stupid enough to underestimate your father," retorted Harry. "And I have the right to say that he was one of Voldemort's soldiers."

Ron squeaked, and Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle went pallid. Malfoy had really pissed him off. Harry could not help but think of Dudley when he heard Malfoy speak.

"We don't say the Dark Lord's name," said Malfoy between clenched teeth.

"I've already defeated him once, I can't see why I couldn't say his name," said Harry proudly.

"My father will hear about this," snarled Malfoy.

He turned on his heels and left the compartment followed by his two stooges.

Harry had wondered how the students were sorted between the different houses. But he had not expected it would be by a patched talking old hat. He watched the students step forward one after another. Did the hat enter the students' minds to see their personality? Harry had to stop his cogitation when Professor McGonagall called his name. A murmur rose throughout the Great Hall and Harry headed towards the stool. Every eye was on him. He sat down and put the hat on his head.

"Mmh ...", said a voice in Harry's head. "A lot of talent, yes, and what a mind! You could achieve such great things."

Really? thought Harry.

"Yes, really," answered the Sorting Hat.

The hat had indeed entered his mind, he had heard his thoughts and had answered him. Harry wondered what kind of magic it was. The Hogwarts library was very famous, he hoped he could find some answers there.

"And what thirst for knowledge, don't you ever stop thinking?" continued the Sorting Hat. "I know exactly where to put you: RAVENCLAW!"

Harry stood up under the applause and headed towards the Ravenclaw table.

Many pupils from his new house stood up to shake his hand and welcome him. Harry just nodded, not knowing exactly how to respond. He sat in front of a prefect called Terence Branton. When the Great Hall went quiet again, Professor McGonagall called the following names from her list. After the last student had been sorted, Professor Dumbledore stood up.

"Good evening everyone," he said. "First of all, I'd like to welcome every one of you to this new year, and please welcome back Professor Quirrell. Professor Quirrell just came back from a one-year in the field training and he'll be your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."

A man wearing a big purple turban stood up. He nodded shyly to the students and sat down quickly. Harry's gaze then rested on the professor sitting next to Professor Quirrell. The man had long black hair and a hooked nose. Harry was sure he had met him before, but he could not remember where nor when.

But Harry's thoughts were interrupted when food appeared on the table. He gaped for a moment until he heard his name.

"Harry?" repeated Terence. "Won't you eat ?"

"Uh ... yes, yes," he replied hastily.

He filled his plate with food and began to eat.

"Say, Terence, who's the teacher seating next to Professor Quirrell?" asked Harry.

The prefect turned his head towards the teachers before facing Harry again.

"It's Professor Snape," he replied. "He's the Potions teacher and Slytherin's Head of House.

"But everyone knows he knows a lot about dark magic," added another student. "He's been asking Dumbledore to give him the Defence Against the Dark Arts position for years."

"Every year," explained Terence with a sigh." And we always have a different teacher. I hope Professor Quirrell is competent, I take my OWLs at the end of the year."

He knows a lot about dark magic? That was interesting. Harry then remembered where he had already seen Professor Snape. It was in the bookstore in Knockturn Alley. Harry stared at him but Professor Quirrell tipped his head at the same moment and turned towards Professor Snape to talk to him. The boy leant a little more to see the Potions teacher's face. And then, Harry felt a sharp pain coming from his scar. He hissed in pain and rubbed his hand to his forehead.

"Are you all right, Harry?" asked Terence.

"Yes, I'm fine," replied Harry, pulling his hand away from his forehead.

But Harry did not have to give more explanations. The students were now all focused on the desserts that had just appeared on the table.

"First-years, over here," called Terence.

After climbing many steps and travelling many corridors, the group of students stopped in front of a wooden door adorned with an eagle-shaped silver knocker.

"Unlike other houses, there is no need for a password to enter the common room," explained a prefect named Penelope Clearwater. "All you have to do is answer the riddle."

Penelope knocked and the knocker came alive.

"What runs around the wood without entering it?" asked the knocker.

"Oh, I know," exclaimed Padma Patil, "bark."

"Good answer," replied the knocker.

The door opened and Harry followed the group inside. The common room was spacious and circular. High arched windows stood at regular intervals and showed the surrounding mountains. Between the windows, the walls were covered with tall bookcases or blue and bronze hangings. A little further, a fire crackled in a large hearth. Numerous armchairs and several tables surrounded by chairs were arranged in the room. The prefects stopped in the centre of the common room, where a small teacher was already waiting for them.

"Welcome to Ravenclaw," he squeaked. "I am Professor Flitwick, Ravenclaw Head of House. You are here among the wisest and most studious of students. Your thirst for knowledge is endless and your new house is here to help you reach your goals. Devote yourself to your studies and when you leave this school, you'll make the pride of your house. One last word, before you go back to your dormitories: stay away from this childish quarrel between Slytherins and Gryffindors. The door of my office is of course always open to you, if you need to talk to me. Your schedules are waiting for you in your dormitories, your prefects will show you the way."

"Girls, follow me," called Penelope.

"Boys, with me," said Terence.

Harry followed the prefect. They made their way to the back of the common room where a white marble statue stood. It was a statue of a woman wearing a long dress and a diadem. Rowena Ravenclaw was engraved on the pedestal. Penelope opened the door one the right and told the girls to come in. Terence imitated her by opening the door on the left. They climbed a spiral staircase and after climbing several floors they stopped at a door. First-years was branded in bronze letters.

"This is your dorm," he announced, opening the door. "Your luggage has already been brought in and your schedules are on your beds, as announced by Professor Flitwick. This door leads to the bathroom. I'll let you settle in, goodnight."

"Goodnight," the boys answered in unison.

When Terence closed the door behind him, Harry took the time to look at the dormitory he shared with his two classmates, Anthony Goldstein, and Terry Boot. The room held three four-poster beds with blue curtains and each student had a desk and a small bookcase. The wall was pierced by high windows and they had the same view as from the common room. Harry felt exhausted, he mechanically slipped his pyjamas on and dropped into his bed. He fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.

His first week of classes was coming to an end and Harry went to the library. He only had an astronomy and a transfiguration essay to finish and then he could fully explore the place. He was heading to a distant table when he saw Terry, already seated at another one. The boy waved his hand at Harry so he could join him.

"Padma's on her way," whispered Terry. "She went to Gryffindor Tower to get her sister. We wanted to work together on McGonagall's essay. Do you want to join us?"

"Sure," said Harry, taking a seat in front of his classmate.

He had just taken out his books, parchment, and quill when Padma came by.

"Parvati isn't here?" asked Terry.

"No, she said it was only the first week of class and that she would do her homework later," she said.

"I told her she should do it now and that it was better to get ahead," said a voice behind Padma.

"Hi Hermione," said Harry when the girl came near the table.

"Hi Harry," she said, taking a seat next to him.

"How went your week?" he asked her.

"It went pretty well, except for this afternoon's Potions class. It was really horrible," she said. "It's so unfair, Professor Snape gave points to the Slytherins but didn't give me any when my potion was much better than theirs. And he took points from Neville when he had to go to the hospital wing after melting Seamus' cauldron."

"I think he hates me," said Harry.

"Who ?"

"Professor Snape."

"What makes you say that ?" she asked.

"The way he looked at me," said Harry. "Oh, and at the beginning of class, he kept asking me questions and ..."

"And Harry correctly answered every one of them and Professor Snape didn't even give him any points," added Padma.

"Don't worry, Snape hates everyone, anyway," reassured Terry. "And Hermione just confirmed what I had already heard, that he only gives points to his Slytherins. It has nothing to do with you."

"You might be right," replied Harry.

Time flew, and the first two months of classes were already behind Harry. He had plenty to keep busy, with his homework, but also with the work he had given himself. First of all, he spent an hour every night working on his Occlumency. He absolutely had to learn how to properly close his mind especially since Professor Snape had been trying to get into his mind during Potions class. Moreover, he studied in his bed, the curtains closed, the curses taught in the books he had concealed in the secret compartment of his trunk. But it was not a good studying environment, and above all it was dangerous. In this confined space he risked getting hurt or hurting his classmates. Harry had to find a place where he could study without being seen. He had, of course, thought of unused classrooms, but it was risky. Some pupils or a teacher could walk on him, or worse he could accidentally enter the forbidden third-floor corridor. Harry thought back to the Headmaster's speech on his first night and an idea came to his mind. There was another place where he was sure he would not be seen, the Forbidden Forest. The boy would go to the library to get ready for his little trip outside.

"Fantastic beasts?" asked Hermione.

"I was thinking of buying the complete collection at Flourish and Blott this summer but I already had too many books and I couldn't carry them," explained Harry. "I need to be ready when I'll go to the Forbidden Forest."

"You want to go to the Forbidden Forest?" asked Hermione. "But it's dangerous and above all, it's forbidden."

"I know it's dangerous," replied Harry, "and I'm not going today. But I intend to go and I have to be prepared. If I already know what lives there it'll be less dangerous. And don't worry I'd go by daylight and avoid the full moon."

He had to be all the more cautious since he had left Midnight at Lower Woodside for fear that one of the teachers would notice him. He could only rely on himself. Hermione leaned over the book.

"Do you think there are centaurs?" she asked, pointing to the open book.

"According to the book, there are centaurs all over Europe," said Harry. "But the only way to be sure is to go there."

"I still don't think it's a good idea to wander alone in the Forbidden Forest."

"You could come with me."

"No, I don't want to get into trouble, and I have to do my homework for next week."

Harry had not managed to talk Hermione into coming with him and he headed alone towards the Forbidden Forest. He stepped between the trees and spotted some fungi that only grew in magical woods. He picked one up and pocketed it. He froze when a huge figure appeared in the distance between the trees. He rushed towards a nearby tree and hid behind his trunk. Harry heard a dog barking and he peeked into the forest. He sighed with relief. The figure was Rubeus Hagrid. The gamekeeper approached, a huge black dog by his side.

"Harry, is that you?" He asked.

"Good morning, sir," said the boy, coming out of his hiding place.

"No need to call me sir, Harry, call me Hagrid like everyone else. You shouldn't be here alone."

"Yes, I know Hagrid, but look what I found."

Harry pulled the fungus from his pocket and showed it to Hagrid.

"It's a Blue Hat, it's a very rare fungus, it only grows in places where magic is present. It is used in the brewing of many potions, including ..."

"Easy Harry," interrupted Hagrid. "How do you know all this?"

"I read it in One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi."

"A real Ravenclaw then," replied Hagrid with a smile. "Come on, let's go out of there."

He waved to Harry and the boy followed him until they had left the forest.

"Say, Hagrid, you must know the forest well?" asked Harry.

"Oh, yes, that's part of my job as a gamekeeper," he replied.

"You must meet dangerous beasts sometimes."

"I have nothing to fear there, the animals know me, but you, Harry, I don't want to see you wandering the Forest. Not even to get a fungus you saw in a book, understood?"

"Yes, Hagrid, but perhaps you could tell me about all the beasts that live there."

"Oh, I can tell you about them, and over a cup of tea if you want."

Harry followed Hagrid to his hut on the edge of the forest. he was planning to return to the forest and he hoped Hagrid would give him useful information about the dangers he might encounter. Moreover, he would not be caught next time. If Hagrid had let him finish his explanation on the fungus, he would have known that it was the main ingredient of the invisibility potion.

Harry watched the bats flying in the Great Hall. The room had been decorated for the Halloween feast. He walked towards the Ravenclaw table. He slowed down when he passed the Patil sisters who exchanged quick low-voiced words. Parvati went to the Gryffindor table and he heard Padma mumble in the tone of exasperation something that sounded like "pff, boys ...".

"Something's wrong?" asked Harry.

"It's Parvati, she told me what happened during her Charm class," began Padma. "Ron Weasley went to say some really horrible things to Hermione. He even went so far as to tell her that it was normal for her to have no friends. And he said all of it just because she was able to cast a spell that Ron wasn't. Hermione spent the afternoon locked in the lavatory crying. Parvati tried to get her out for dinner but she didn't want to."

Padma went to sit at the Ravenclaw table and Harry followed her thinking about what his classmate had just told him. He had often spent time with Hermione in the library during those first two months of classes. They did not speak much but studied or read in silence at the same table. Was sharing these moments a thing friends did? Was Hermione his friend? Were Terry, Anthony and Padma his friends too? Harry could not really tell. After all, he had never had any friends before.

"Aren't you eating?" asked Terry.

Harry stopped daydreaming. His plate was still empty while all the other students had already piled theirs with food. He got up from his seat and looked at the Gryffindor table. Hermione was still absent. Harry made up his mind. If he hurried up, he could be back in the Great Hall with Hermione before dinner was over.

"Where're you going?" asked Padma.

"Looking for Hermione," replied Harry and he quickly left the Great Hall.

He was about to climb the stairs when he saw Professor Quirrell running towards the Great Hall. Harry rushed behind a tapestry. He glanced under the fabric and his eyes fell on the professor's turban. The boy was struck by an intense pain coming from his scar. He put one hand on his forehead and another on his mouth to stifle a cry. Fortunately, the teacher had not heard him and Harry came out from his hiding spot. He rushed up the stairs four at a time and ran to the girls' lavatory.

Harry paused at the door before he opened it. He poked his head in the crack. He could hear someone sniffing from inside a cubicle.

"Hermione?" He called.

"Harry?" she replied in a trembling voice. "What are you doing here?

"I came to get you, of course. You're going to miss dinner and it's the Halloween feast tonight."

"I'm not hungry, and I don't want to sit at the same table as Ron."

"Come on. Ron's just jealous because you're better in Charms than he is."

Hermione blew her nose and Harry heard her remove the lock from the cubicle door.

"I'm waiting for you outside," said Harry.

He got out of the lavatory, but as he stepped into the hall, he was swamped with a nauseating smell. He heard a loud groan and he turned around abruptly. He froze. A troll was heading towards him. It was huge and its head grazed the ceiling with every step it took. A new pestilential stench reached Harry's nostrils and the boy came out of his stupor. He rushed into the lavatory, startling Hermione.

"Hermione," he shouted. "We have to go, quickly."

He grabbed her by the sleeve of her robe and pulled her towards the door. He stopped dead. The troll had stopped in front of the opened door. Hermione screamed as it leant in and entered the room. Harry pulled out his wand.

"Impedimenta," he shouted.

But the troll's skin was too thick and the spell got deflected. The monster took another step forward.

"Incarcerous," said Harry, aiming at the troll's legs.

A rope appeared and tied the monster's legs together. It staggered and lost his balance. It crashed into the cabins with a loud crack. The huge club it was holding went flying in the air.

"Now," shouted Harry.

He ran to the door, still tightly holding Hermione's sleeve. They dodged the club that fell and crashed the sinks. They were about to go back to the Great Hall when they heard footsteps coming their way.

"This way," said Harry, dragging Hermione in the opposite direction.

They turned the corner of the corridor just before the teachers came into view. They stopped after running down another corridor, out of breath.

"What was that?" asked Hermione.

"A mountain troll," replied Harry.

"I know, what I mean is, what was a troll doing in the school corridors?" retorted Hermione.

"Good question," said Harry, looking at his watch. "We missed dinner."

"I'm going back to my dorm anyway."

She stared at Harry for a moment, wringing her hands. Then she took a deep breath.

"Thank you," she finally said. "For what you did to the troll."

"You're welcome," he replied.

Hermione turned on her heels and headed towards her dorm. Harry watched her walk away before heading himself towards the Ravenclaw tower. He heard footsteps coming closer and turned around. He saw Hermione running towards him, motioning for him to leave.

"What's the matter ?" he asked without understanding.

"Peeves' in the corridor," she said hastily. "I'll find another way to go back to Griffindor tower."

Indeed, they could hear Peeves swearing and laughing from the corridor and Harry went after Hermione. They climbed a flight of steps but were stopped by a locked door. Hermione pulled out her wand and pointed it to the lock.

"Alohomora," she murmured.

The door opened with a click and they rushed to the other side. They had just entered a corridor lit by the flickering light of a few torches. Then they saw it. A huge three-headed dog was standing right in front of them. They realized they had just entered the forbidden third-floor corridor. Harry froze and Hermione squeaked in surprise. Three pairs of eyes turned simultaneously to watch them. They turned around and quickly left the corridor.

"And that was a Cerberus," announced Harry once they stood safely behind the closed door.

"But concerning this one, I can imagine why it's here," Hermione said. "Did you see what it was standing on?"

"Yes, I did. The Cerberus is here to guard something, something hidden under that trap door."

On Christmas morning, Harry woke up alone in his dorm. He got up and started to get dressed, then stopped. His gaze had just landed on the stack of presents at the foot of his bed. He could not believe it, he had never received any presents before. He grabs the first gift from the pile. It was a Chocolate Frogs package from Hermione. The second gift was a pack of Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans from Terry. Finally, Harry opened his third and last gift. It was a piece of silvery fabric. It was very light and it slipped on the floor at his feet. He picked it up and turned it around and around. It was a cloak. Harry stepped in front of the mirror and put it on his shoulder. He startled when he noticed that now he could only see his head in the mirror. He remembered what he had read in The Art of the Invisible. Invisibility cloaks were extremely rare. Harry read the card that had fallen from the package:

Your father left me this before he died. Use it well. Merry Christmas.

Harry could not help but smile. He knew exactly what he would use the cloak for. In the evening, Harry went down to the common room. It was deserted and the boy put on his cloak. It had been several months since he wanted to explore the Restricted Section.