Of Power, Wisdom and Courage
The train had been going for quite some time now, though it would still take over an hour, before Ganon finally dared to ask something that had been one his mind, since Meredith had introduced herself.
"So, you said your name was Locksley and I've been wondering, are you related to Professor Locksley?" Meredith looked away as answered. "He's my uncle. I live with him and aunt Marian, since my parents are...", she didn't finish her sentence and Ganon really wanted to smack himself in the face right now. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked.", he quickly said and she turned around to look at him, a sad smile on her face. "It's okay, you didn't know. You're in a similar situation, right?", she asked and he smiled sheepishly. "I guess you could say that.", he replied, rubbing the back of his head. He looked upwards, when he heard Horus screech and took the hawk out of his cage. Horus settled down on his right shoulder, which Ganon had bandaged up, so that the hawk's talons wouldn't hurt. "So what's the story with your hawk? I didn't know, they allowed other animals.", Draco asked and Ganon shook his head. "They don't, but there are different rules if the animal in question is a student's familiar, that's what Professor Flitwick told me."
They kept talking about their pets after that. Draco's horned owl Aquillus was busy sleeping in his cage, while Tommy, who was in fact a kneazle, was trying to get Horus' attention. The hawk was more amused, then annoyed and watched as the kitten frolicked about.
When they were about to get their robes, someone knocked on the door and a bushy haired girl entered. She was already wearing her school robes. "Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville has lost his." Her eyes went wide, when she saw Horus. "You're not allowed to have a hawk with you at Hogwarts, it said so in the letter!", she said loudly and Ganon sighed. "You would be right, if Horus was a normal hawk, but he isn't. Horus is my familiar, so I have a special permission to bring him along." "What's a familiar?", the girl asked. "I'll tell you, but how about introductions first? My name's Ganondorf Dragmire, but please call me Ganon. And these two are Draco Malfoy and Meredith Locksley." For a moment, the girl seemed to have stopped working, and Ganon was actually concerned. "You're the boy who lived? I've read all about you!", the girl said exited and still not introducing herself. Inwardly, Ganon frowned, but he decided to have a little fun with the girl. "Alright then, if you know all about me, then I'm sure you won't mind answering a few easy questions, right?", he said with a fake smile and she nodded eagerly. "Good, then what is my favourite sport, where did I grow up and was I raised by wizards or muggles?" "You like Quidditch the most, you grew up at the ancestral home of one of the light side families and were obviously raised by wizards." All were quite for a moment. Meredith looked nervous, her gaze travelling from Ganon to the girl and back again, while Draco had an amused smirk on his face. Finally, Ganon broke the silence. He laughed. "Wow, which idiot came up with this stuff? My favourite sport is Muay Thai, and I grew up in an muggle orphanage in London. So I suggest you leave now, before you embarrass yourself even more.", he said, his voice turning cold at the end. The girl flushed and stormed out of the compartment, without saying another word.
Ganon looked at Draco and Meredith with a sheepish smile. "Sorry about that, but I hate people like her. Thinking they know everything, just because they read it somewhere.", he sighed. "I think we should change into our robes as well. Come Draco, let's give Meredith some privacy." With that, both boys left the compartment.
-Of Power, Wisdom and Courage-
Hogwarts looked simply amazing, the castle was huge, even from the boats they had used to cross the lake, but inside was something else entirely. The first years where waiting in front of the great hall for the sorting to begin. Ganon was quite curious how it was done, he heard the Weasley boy claiming, they had to wrestle a troll, or something stupid. The boy would often look towards Ganon, as if he was trying to get his attention, but Ganon simply didn't care. Meredith and Draco were still with him, when he saw two boys approach them. They bigger then most first years, but not nearly as tall as Ganon. Draco groaned, once he noticed them as well. "Didn't I tell you two to leave me alone?", Draco asked. "But your father said..." "I know what my father said, Goyle! I don't need you or Crabbe. I'll talk to my father about this, until then, you'd better not show your face around me!", Draco interrupted him, but Crabbe and Goyle only starred dumbfounded at him. "What's this about?", a stern voice suddenly asked and they turned around to see Professor McGonagall, the deputy headmistress looking. "I only want those two to leave me alone, professor, nothing more, nothing less.", Draco replied, having calmed down incredibly fast. McGonagall nodded. "If that is the case, then I suggest you follow Mr Malfoys wish, Mr Crabbe, Mr Goyle." Then she turned to address all first years. "We are ready to begin with the sorting, please follow me." They entered the great hall and Ganon heard many 'Ohs' and 'Ahs', he could only agree. The ceiling looked like the sky outside and he briefly wondered who had been responsible for that, when Draco nudged him. "My mother had told how awesome it looks inside, but this is beyond everything I imagined", he whispered and Ganon nodded in agreement.
They stopped and stood there, while McGonagall got an old looking hat. "This is the Sorting Hat. You will step forward when I call your name and put it on, then it will tell us, in which house you belong." She took out a long scroll and started reading the names. Ganon clapped politely for everyone, except Crabbe, until his name came. "Ganondorf Dragmire!", McGonagall called out and everyone went quite. Sighing, Ganon stepped up and put hat on his head. 'Hm, very intriguing.', a voice inside his head said. 'Who are you?', he asked and he heard a chuckle. 'I am the Sorting Hat. The four founders have given me the ability to look into peoples minds, but don't worry, I can't tell anyone about another person. Now then, where to put you.' It pondered the thought for a moment. 'It sure is exiting to have an heir at Hogwarts again, but I don't know where to put you, you would fit I in everywhere.' 'What about Ravenclaw?', Ganon asked and the hat chuckled again. 'If that is your wish, then so be it! Ravenclaw!" The last word echoed through the great hall and the Ravenclaw table erupted into cheers. Grinning, Ganon gave McGonagall the hat back and went to sit with the Ravenclaws. When he looked to the teacher's table, he saw Flitwick grinning as well and holding his goblet up in a toast.
The next few were sorted quickly and Meredith joined Gryffindor, but then came Draco. His sorting took longer than anyone else before him. Some started to mumble, but Ganon just kept looking at his new friend. Finally, something happened. "Ravenclaw!", the hat cried out and Draco, looking very relieved sat down next to Ganon. "What took you so long?", Ganon asked and Draco smiled sheepishly. "Couldn't decide between Slytherin and Ravenclaw. One meant becoming like my father, the other being myself." He sighed. "I hope I made the right choice." Ganon put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I think you made the right choice. If you want what's best for yourself and your family, try not to be like your father, but better then him." "Now where did that come from?", Draco asked with a laugh. "A friend told me, maybe I'll introduce you one day.", Ganon replied.
The sorting ended with Blaise Zabini being sorted into Slytherin. Now Dumbledore stood up and all talk in the hall stopped. "To those who are new, welcome and to those who are old, welcome back. Before I allow you all to stuff your self with delicious treats, there are a few things I have to say. First, for our new students, quidditch try-outs will begin after your first flying lesson. Please be aware, that students, who are not part of their house's team, are not allowed to have their own broom. Second, the duelling tournament will be held on the tenth of December. The first years are only allowed to watch, if you wish to participate, you'll have to wait until your second year. However, for those, who feel brave, Professor Flitwick offers an additional course twice a week after classes, where he teaches those brave first years how to duel. If he feels you are ready, he will allow you to enter the tournament. The first duelling lesson will be in two days. And now for something that concerns all of you." He paused for a moment. "As the older ones already know, some areas of the school grounds are off limits, like the Forbidden Forest. This year, the right east corridor on the third floor is off limits as well for all those, who do not wish to die a horrible death." His smile returned. "Now dig in!", he said and the tables were suddenly filled with all kinds of delicious food.
"Why did he tell us about the third floor? Now, that everybody knows, I promise you there will be someone stupid enough to risk a look.", Ganon said, but Draco just shrugged. "It's their fault, if they don't heed his warning. But what do think about the duelling tournament? Gonna try to compete?", Draco asked and Ganon nodded. "Of course, I always enjoyed a fair fight, that's why I started with Muay Thai. What about you?" "Couldn't hurt to try and even if he doesn't allow me to compete, I'll have a head start for next year.", Draco replied, while putting some potatoes on his plate.
-Of Power, Wisdom and Courage-
After the feast, two prefects led the first year Ravenclaws up to Ravenclaw Tower. They stopped in front of a door with a silver knocker on it. "To enter, you need to answer a riddle. Any of you wanna try? Just knock and you will hear the riddle.", the girl said. None of the first years stepped up and Ganon sighed, were they really afraid of solving a simple riddle? So, with no one else daring to take the challenge, he went to the door and knocked. The knocker came to life and in a loud and clear voice it slowly said:
Who makes it,
has no need of it.
Who buys it,
has no use for it.
Who uses it
can neither see nor feel it.
What is it?
Ganon started thinking. The riddle seemed familiar, but what could 'it' be? I should start at the end, he thought. He can't see it, so he's blind? But that doesn't explain why he can't feel it. When are you both blind and can't feel anything? He pondered the thought for a moment. I think, that the one using 'it', is dead, so what does he need? He's buried, he doesn't need anything, except his... Suddenly it hit him. "'It' is a coffin. The carpenter makes it, but he's alive and so is the one, who buys it. Only the third, who can't see or feel needs the coffin." "Well explained.", the knocker said and the door opened.
The Ravenclaw common room looked really nice. Many comfortable looking armchairs were standing alone or in groups of four inside the room, two large sofas were in front of the fireplace and the walls were covered in bookshelves. Everything was held in bronze and blue and the first years couldn't help but stare in awe. "I take it you like your common room?", a voice behind them asked and they turned around to see Professor Flitwick. "For those of you, who don't know me yet, I am Filius Flitwick, charms professor and head of house Ravenclaw. During your time at Hogwarts, you can always come to me if you have a problem, whether it be with another student or a member of the staff. My office hours will be posted on a blackboard inside each dorm room, along with other useful informations. As for the rooms, all of them are for two students each. Boys on the right, girls on the left. I will leave figuring out the pairs to you, but a boy and a girl can't share a room and once you've made your decision, it's final." He looked at each of them, before he smiled. "I'll see you all tomorrow at breakfast.", with that, he left them and the first years started eagerly chatting away, about who would share a room. Before anyone could ask him, Ganon went over to Draco. "Can we share a room? I don't want any of the others going all fanboy on me and I already know, you won't do that.", he asked and the blond boy nodded. "Sure, let's see where they put our stuff."
They got their trunks and then picked a room. The room was quite large. Inside were to four-poster-beds at either end of the room, a table at the window, large enough for both of them to work there at the same time, without getting in each others way. Ganon took the bed on the right side, while Draco took the one on the left. Ganon started putting his things into a closet next to his bed and when he looked over to Draco, he saw the blond boy siting at the table writing something. "Already writing a letter?", Ganon asked while continuing with his own work. Though Ganon couldn't see it with his back to Draco, the other boy nodded. "I have to explain to my father, why I'm not in Slytherin. He won't like it, but me being in Ravenclaw is easier for him to accept, then me being in Hufflepuff or Gryffindor." "Sounds like a nice guy.", Ganon said sarcastically and Draco laughed. "It's not like I don't love him and I'm sure he loves me too, it's just so frustrating sometimes, the expectations, the politics. It's too much for a child." Ganon didn't answer.
His back still turned towards Draco, he was holding a small box in his hands. Inside were both the ring of House Ravenclaw and the ring of House Slytherin. Should I tell Draco?, he thought. Maybe I'll only tell him about Ravenclaw for now, see how he reacts and later I'll tell him about Slytherin. His mind made up, Ganon opened the box and took the Ravenclaw ring out, but left the Slytherin one inside. He put the ring on his middle finger, before he turned around and went to the table. "Draco, there's something I'd like to tell you." The blond boy looked up from the letter, he was writing. "What is it?", Draco asked and Ganon showed him the ring. For a moment, the blond boy was baffled. "You're the Heir of Ravenclaw? How's that possible?", Draco asked and Ganon told what he knew about it. "So, what can you do, being an heir and all?" "I could fire one of the teachers or any other staff member, except Dumbledore and McGonagall.", Ganon replied with a smirk., which Draco returned. "Let's wait until we had classes with everyone, then we'll make a list.", he said with such seriousness, that Ganon burst into laughter and Draco soon followed.
-Of Power, Wisdom and Courage-
The next morning, Ganon and Draco were sitting in the great hall, when they heard the sound of hooting owls. They and every other first year looked up, to see a swarm of owls entering through the windows. Many were holding letters and newspapers and some even had small packages tied to their legs. Aquillus and Horus came as well, but neither of them had anything with them. Draco took the letter he had finished before going to bed and tied it to Aquillus' leg. The owl hooted once, before plucking a sausage from Draco's plate and flying off. Horus gave Ganon a pleading look and the boy sighed, before feeding a piece of bacon to his familiar. Horus nuzzled his head against Ganon's neck, then flew off as well.
"So, what do you wanna do today?", Draco asked, after taking a sip of his pumpkin juice. "Explore the castle, maybe we can find a hidden room or some thing like that, that belonged to Ravenclaw.", Ganon said. "Yeah, why not, you should be able to open it. But where do we start?" "We could ask the Gray Lady, she is our house ghost after all." Before Draco could reply, Professor Flitwick came over with their schedules. Classes would start tomorrow, with their first lesson being Charms together with the Hufflepuffs. After that was Potions with the Slytherins. Then would be lunch, with two more lessons, Herbology and History of Magic, both together with Hufflepuff, after that.
Ganon looked to Flitwick. "And your duelling lessons are after that, right Sir?", he asked and his Head of House smiled. "Indeed it is, Mr Dragmire. Can I assume to see you there tomorrow?" "Yes, I'll be there and Draco as well.", he said and Draco nodded. The diminutive professor laughed and went on his way, while Ganon and Draco gathered their things. They hadn't even made it to the door, when they were stopped by the Weasley boy. "Hey, Ganondorf. I'm sorry about what happened yesterday and hopped that we could over from the beginning. I'm Ron Weasley.", he said and held out his hand. Ganon looked at it for a moment, before he shook his head. "I'm not the one you owe an apology. Once you apologize too Draco, I'll give you a second chance." The Weasley boy starred at him dumbfounded and his hand dropped. "But..." "No buts, apologize or leave us alone.", Ganon interrupted him and left together with Draco, leaving the redhead behind.
In the entrance hall, they saw Meredith talking to Professor Locksley. They went towards and the professor looked towards them. "Meredith told me that you kept her company during yesterdays train ride. She also spoke to me about what happened with Miss Granger.", he said in a stern voice. "Should any other students cause you problems, Mr Dragmire, feel free to contact me about it. I wish you a nice day." With that he left and Ganon turned to Meredith. "We wanted to explore the castle. Feel like coming with us?", he asked. "What are you looking for?" Ganon looked around, many students were leaving the great hall. "I'll tell you, but not here.", he said and she nodded. Together they searched for an empty classroom. When they had found one, Ganon reached inside his robes and out one of the rings he was carrying with him and put it on, before showing it to Meredith. Both her and Draco were perplexed, when they saw it. "Ahem, Ganon, mate, why is the ring from Slytherin now?", he asked and Ganon took a look a the ring. Indeed, it was the ring of House Slytherin. "Damn it! I messed up. This wasn't what I wanted to show you.", he said and took out the Ravenclaw ring. "I only wanted to show the Ravenclaw ring, I'm the heir of Ravenclaw and Slytherin." He glanced at Draco. "Draco only knew about Ravenclaw. I didn't want to tell him about Slytherin, because I don't know how to feel about it myself." He sighed. "When I somehow defeated Voldemort almost eleven years, I earned the the title 'Heir Slytherin' by Right of Conquest. The thought of owning something, that belonged to the killer of my family is... sickening.", he finished and looked at Meredith. "Were you going to tell me?", Draco asked and Ganon nodded. "Once I had gotten to know you better, yes." "Then I'll forgive you, but you owe me.", he said with a smirk. "So,", he began, still looking at Meredith. " still wanna hang out with us?", he asked her with a shy smile. "Yeah, I was just surprised. Does anyone else know?", she asked. "Only Flitwick, he was there, when I claimed the title." He looked at both of them. "So, ready to get started? Draco and I already thought about looking for the Gray Lady first.", he explained and the other two nodded. Together, the little group of friends, who had just met, started their search.
Until lunch they searched for the Gray Lady, but found nothing. On their way back to the great hall, they ran into McGonagall and Ganon had an idea. "Professor, is it allowed for students to sit with their friends at their table during meals?", he asked and Draco and Meredith, as well as McGonagall looked at him in surprise. "It has been a long time since anybody has asked me this, but I can happily tell you, that it is indeed allowed." She looked at the three of them. "During the opening and end-of-term feast however, you'll have to sit with your house. Please keep that in mind." With that, she went on her way and the three continued to the great hall. They sat down together at the Ravenclaw table, with some giving them odd looks,but no one said anything. "Any ideas?", Draco asked and both Ganon and Meredith shook their heads. "There has to be something we can do. What about the other ghosts? They could know where she is.", Ganon said, as he glanced at the other tables. Over at the Slytherin table, the Bloody Baron was sitting next to Goyle, who didn't seem all too happy about it. At the Gryffindor table, Nearly Headless Nick was proving yet again to some first years why he was called that. Some thought it was cool, some thought it was gross, Ganon couldn't decide. As he ate another potatoe, he looked towards the Hufflepuff table. The Fat Friar was about to leave, so this was his opportunity. "I'm gonna ask the the Fat Friar. Save my spot.", he told his friends and went to catch up with the dead monk. "Excuse me, sir!", he called out and the ghost stopped. "Hello, my child, how can I help you?", the Fat Friar asked with a kind smile. "Do you know where the Gray Lady is? My friends and I would like to ask her something." "I know where she is, but I don't know if she she will talk to you. She was in a bad mood when I saw her earlier today.", the monk replied, his smile disappearing. "Please, it's important.", Ganon pleaded and quickly showed the Friar the Ravenclaw ring. "Oh, I understand. Very well then, I will go to her and ask her, if she feels like talking to you. You'll go and finish your lunch, I'll find you, when your done. But if she doesn't want to talk, please leave her alone.", he said and Ganon nodded. The Fat Friar smiled again. "Alright, I'll go find her and you enjoy your lunch, my child." The Friar floated away and Ganon returned to his friends, but what he saw made him groan. The girl from yesterday in the train was arguing with Draco. "You don't know what you're talking about, so leave.", Draco said, but she didn't go. "She has to sit with her house, that's what the rules say!" Ganon sighed, before he stepped in. "We asked Professor McGonagall, she said there was no problem with it. Ask her, if you don't believe us.", Ganon said and the girl turned around. "You! Why did you lie to me on the train? I checked the books about you again and what you said were dirty lies!", she bellowed and the other students began watching them. Ganon pinched his nose and looked to the ceiling. It showed a cloudy sky. "Ever heard the term fiction? Not everything in books is factual.", he replied, but it only seemed to make her angrier. She started screaming at the top of her lungs, when finally, Professor McGonagall came over. "What is going on here? Why are you screaming like that, Miss Granger?" Before she could say anything, Draco spoke up. "She accused us of breaking the rules, because Meredith was sitting here. When Ganon told her, that we had asked you, it developed into what you saw.", the blond boy. "Is that true?", McGonagall asked and Meredith and Ganon nodded, while the bushy haired girl seemed to be close to tears. "But professor, he lied to me yesterday on the train, when he said, he was raised by muggles!", she said, but McGonagall shook her head. "He was telling the truth.", she said. That was too much for the girl and she ran away. "I'm sorry, professor. I didn't want this to happen.", Ganon said, and looked to the floor. "It's not your fault, Mr Dragmire. I'll talk to her.", the deputy headmistress said and followed after the girl. Ganon sat down between Draco and Meredith again and told them about his conversation with the Friar. None of them noticed the Weasley boy giving them dirty looks.
-Of Power, Wisdom and Courage-
When lunch ended, the Fat Friar floated over to them. "I have asked her for you, and she is ready to meet you. Go to the first floor, near the hospital wing, she is waiting there for you.", he told Ganon. "Thank you, sir. If I may ask, what is your name? Everybody only calls you the Fat Friar.", Ganon asked and a smile crept onto the monk's face. "Many know my name, but few know, that it is mine. When I was alive, I called Robin of Locksley and Little John my friends." "You knew my ancestor? Are you Friar Tuck?", Meredith asked and Tuck nodded. "Was Robin Hood a wizard?", Ganon wanted to know, but now the monk shook his head. "No, the magic in the Locksley family started a few generations later. But enough of that now, my child, you shouldn't keep a lady waiting.", Tuck said and floated away. Ganon, Draco and Meredith got up and made their way to the first floor.
The Gray Lady was watching the Scottish landscape through a window, when the three students approached. "The Friar told me, that you are an heir of my house, is that true?", she asked, with out turning around. "Are you Rowena Ravenclaw?" Ganon, surprised as he was, couldn't think of anything else to say. Now, the ghost turned around. "No, I am not my mother. Tell me, what you want to know, Heir Ravenclaw.", she replied, seeming a bit annoyed. "We wanted to ask you, Lady Helena, if there are any rooms belonging to your mother inside Hogwarts. We want to find any such rooms.", Ganon said and Helena looked at him for a moment, searching for something. "My mother had many private rooms inside the school, but most you will have to find yourself. However, there is one I can tell you about. Go to the staircase, that leads to Ravenclaw Tower, but don't go up. Instead speak to the portrait of the dragon slayer and show him your ring.", she said, looking him over once more. "Behind him is a room, that my mother used to study. Use it at your own leisure. The key to finding her other rooms, is there as well." She started floating away, but stopped. "Before I leave, tell me your name, Heir Ravenclaw.", she said in a commanding voice. "I'm Ganondorf Dragmire.", he said and Helena raised an eyebrow. "So you are the one, everybody is talking about. Try to make our house proud." Saying that, she left. Draco looked at his new friend. "Is it just me, or did she seem friendlier at the end?", he asked, but Ganon just shrugged. "It's not important. Let's go look for that room.", he said and the others agreed. As they made their way to their destination, Meredith had a question for Ganon. "What are going to do with the room?", she asked. "Don't know yet, depends what's inside. But maybe it could be a place for us to relax and study." "If it's large enough, we might even be able to practice spells there.", Draco supplied and the three first years couldn't help, but grin at the thought at having their own study room.
The dragon slayer was sitting on the head of the dragon, he had slain, sharpening the blade of his spear. He looked up, when the first years approached it, Ganon in front. "Great knight, we desire entrance into the chambers, that lie beyond you.", he said and raised his hand to show the knight the Ravenclaw ring. When the knight saw the ring, he stood up and bowed to Ganon. "Welcome, my master. It has been a long time, since an heir has come to me.", the knight said and the three first years looked at each other, it was a women's voice. "Excuse me, but are you a woman?", Meredith asked and the knight took of his or her helmet. Underneath was indeed the face of a woman. She smiled and her portrait swung open, revealing a path. Ganon and his friends went through, the portrait closing behind them. The chamber was a bit larger then the room Ganon and Draco shared, with two sofas and a big table for ten persons. There were also two large bookshelves, packed with ancient tomes and scrolls. On the wall was a large portrait, showing an empty desk, but none of them cared about it. "This is awesome!", Draco exclaimed and the other two couldn't help but nod.
They sat down on the sofas, Draco taking one for himself, leaving Ganon and Meredith to share one. Talking for quite some time, they got to know each other better. Draco told them about his live at Malfoy Manor and how his father tried to mold him into a perfect heir, but he also told them of his happy memories. He would often play chess with either his mother or his father, swim in the lake next to the manor or simply relax in the family library. Meredith told them how she lived with her aunt and uncle at their house. The Locksleys weren't as rich as the Malfoys, but the house they owned, was big enough to hold at least two families. It was close to a small forest and Meredith loved hiking trough it with her younger cousin. Her cousin, John, would come to Hogwarts in two years and had been very sad when she had left. Then it was Ganon's turn. He told them about Saint Edwards and how the muggle world worked. They were most interested in the muggle school Ganon had gone to and how his Muay Thai worked. A few hours passed and when it was time for dinner, they got up and left. None of them noticed the woman, that had entered the empty portrait, watching them as they left. "So a new heir has come. I have to tell the others." With that, she left the portrait again.
-Of Power, Wisdom and Courage-
Their first lesson of the day was Charms with Professor Flitwick. First, the professor did a roll call. When he reached Ganon, he smiled brightly at the boy, before continuing. "Now then, Charms is a delicate art. Many things can be achieved by having knowledge and skill in this art. In almost all aspects of your life, you will need a charm, to levitate something, that is to heavy to lift, to make light in the darkness, to conjure flames or to defend yourselves against other spells. These things, and more, I'll be teaching you as the years progress. But first, a little demonstration is in order.", the diminutive professor said, before waving his wand. At first, nothing happened, then the head of a doll appeared on the edge of his desk. The doll climbed on top of the desk and started dancing. Two more joined it and soon they were all dancing a fast fox-trot. The first years laughed at the display and Flitwick kept it going for a few minutes, before waving his wand again. The dolls stopped dancing, bowed before the students, before disappearing off the edge of the desk again.
"Let's get to work, shall we?", Flitwick said, clapping his hands and the class settled down. "Today, we'll be going over some of the easier spells in theory and, if we have enough time left, everyone of you, can try Lumos, the light spell. Lumos is used quite often throughout the Wizarding World, being one of the spells with the most variations." Flitwick went over some of those variations, while they were writing down what he was saying. The lesson progressed and they went over other spells as well, only small ones, most of those raised in the magicalworld already knew about some of them. About ten minutes before the end of the lesson, Flitwick decided, that they could now try Lumos themselves. "Lumos!", Ganon said and a small spark appeared at the tip of his wand. "Well done, Mr Dragmire, five points for Ravenclaw.", Flitwick said and turned back to a girl from Hufflepuff he was trying to help. Ganon felt his magic flowing trough his wand and he tried pouring more of it into the wand. Slowly the light got brighter, until he suddenly felt a rush inside him and a flash of light engulfed the entire classroom, startling everybody. "What happened, professor?", a girl from Ravenclaw, Julia Blackthorne, Ganon thought her name was, asked and Flitwick looked towards Ganon. "I believe, Mr Dragmire tried to make the light brighter, but lost control at the end. Overcasting a spell like that can be extremely dangerous, so please be more careful next time, Mr Dragmire." The bell sounded just after he finished and the students packed up and left for their next class.
Going down into the dungeons felt strange to Ganon, he liked open spaces more, but wasn't claustrophobic or anything like that, and it wasn't being underground, he had been able to handle that just fine in Gringotts. It was something else, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. They had to wait in front of the Potions classroom, until Professor Snape opened the door, a few minutes before the bell. He commanded them inside and told them to sit down, before closing the door again. Ganon sat next to Draco, just like in Charms, and the two of them waited for Professor Snape to begin. "There will be no silly wandwaving or spellcasting in my classroom. Potions are dangerous, should you make a mistake, so I suggest that you all pay close attention to what I say. I will show you how to ensnare the mind, how to bottle fame and even how to put a stopper on death." He looked his class over, his eyes lingering on Ganon. "Mr Dragmire, our new celebrity.", he began and some of the Slytherins snickered. "Many claim great things about you, let's see how reality looks like. Tell me, where would you look for a bezoar, if I told you to find one?" "In the stomach of a goat, sir.", Ganon replied and Snape nodded. "Next question, what is the strongest sleeping potion known to wizards?" Ganon had to think about this one. There was a chapter in the book explain the Dreamless Sleep potion and it mentioned another one, supposedly the strongest. "I think it was Draught of the Living Dead, sir." Again Snape nodded. "Let's see if you have read past the first two chapters. Today, we'll be brewing a certain potion, the instructions are on the board.", he said and waved his wand towards the board, were the instructions appeared. "Do you know, what potion we'll be brewing?" " One to cure boils, professor." Snape raised an eyebrow. "It seems there are indeed those among you, who can read.", he said, before looking at the other students. "Why aren't you writing that down!?", he barked and the students hurried to get to work. After that, Snape told them to get into pairs, Ganon working together with Draco, who already had some experience when it came to potions, and start brewing. "When you are finished, bring one phial of your potion to me for grading."
Time past quickly and Ganon and Draco were the first to finish. They brought the phial to Snape, who looked at it, before nodding. They sat down again and waited for the others to finish. "So, just so I understand, what has happened here.", Snape began looking at each pair, his face twisting into a scowl. "Among you dunderheads are only two students, who are capable of brewing a perfect boil-cure potion?", he snarled, before pointing at Ganon and Draco. "That's how a perfect potion looks like. For your effort, Dragmire, Malfoy, you get ten points for Ravenclaw. The others will write a two-foot essay on what they did wrong." The bell rang and some started getting up. "Sit down, I didn't dismiss you. I will repeat my warning from the beginning, all of you need to pay attention, otherwise you will suffer the consequences. Class dismissed", he hissed and the students left as fast as they could. "You said you know him, Draco. Is he always like that?", Ganon asked and the blond boy shook his head. "Only if you annoy him." With that, they went to lunch.
AN:There's chapter four for you! Now for those who like Ron and Hermione, I'm sorry about what I'm doing to them, or at least I'm sorry for Hermione. I won't keep bashing her, Ron on the other hand won't be so lucky. As for Snape, if I'm being honest, I kind of hate that dick, but he won't be off as bad as Ron. As always, please read and review and I will see you next time, where we will get to the duelling lesson with Flitwick. Zardas out!