Hey everybody! I know it's late at night, but I wanted to write another chapter of this! I really enjoy this story and hope you do too! I think this chapter is okay, but enjoy! (Disclaimer in prologue)
Chapter 4: Someone Knows Something
The pale beams of sunlight shone through the glass windows, shining directly in Susanna's face. She instinctively dragged her hand in front of her eyes as she began waking up. She had to turn her body to the other side as she slowly opened her eyelids and leaned up in the bed. Fay, Lavender, and Parvati had already left the dorm, having made sure their beds were clean and made. Susanna looked up to see Hermione, dressed, wide awake, and reading Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century. Hermione looked up to see Susanna awake and smiled at her.
"Oh good, you're awake," Hermione commented as she placed her book on the neatly made bed, and walked over to her trunk. Susanna glanced over to the clock on the dresser and saw 7:15 on its face. Susanna threw the sheets off her and jumped out of the bed. Hermione giggled at the girl's antics as Susanna quickly grabbed her uniform and ran into the bathroom. Susanna quickly came out in five minutes, running her fingers through her curly, tangled hair. She glanced in the mirror, sighed at her hair, and quickly put it in a ponytail. Susanna quickly made up her bed and placed her wand in her robe's pocket. She took out a medium sized bag and placed her journal, her fairytale book, and some school supplies in it, and put it tightly around her shoulder.
"Do you know when we get our schedules?" Susanna asked as she looked through her trunk, wondering if she should grab some of her textbooks. She just quickly picked up the Transfiguration, Potions, and Charms textbooks, just in case.
"Professor McGonagall will hand them out during breakfast," Hermione answered. "We should go since breakfast is fixing to start." Susanna adjusted her bag on her shoulder again before following Hermione through the common room. Everyone was gone, and Susanna could hear the some excited, some exhausted voices as students headed to the Great Hall. The eleven-year-old watched the paintings as many of them were waving to the students as they walked by. She made sure to watch the stairs, seeing many of them move as soon as she and Hermione walked off.
"I wonder what class we'll have first, I really hope it's Transfiguration," Hermione expressed as they walked into the Great Hall. Susanna starred up at the ceiling, smiling at the bright, blue sky with a few snow white clouds floating through it. The two sat down at the Gryffindor table, ready to eat. Susanna listened as Hermione talked about the many subjects they would take, and she was growing more and more interested in them. Whenever it was silent, Susanna would hear whispers of the students talking about Harry Potter again.
"Hermione, everyone keeps on talking about Harry Potter, what is so special about him?" Susanna quietly asked, hoping she didn't sound rude. Hermione seemed to choke a little on her sausage after Susanna asked her the question. She was surprised her blonde friend had no clue, considering the large talk going on.
"You have no idea?" Hermione questioned Susanna, wondering if she was joking. Susanna continued staring at her with confused looks, and Hermione sighed and set her drink on the table. "Well, there was a dark wizard…"
"Susanna, Hermione," Professor McGonagall spoke as she unknowingly interrupted Hermione and walked up to the two girls. She gave them a brief smile before taking two scrolls and handing them to the girls. "I looked forward to seeing you two in Transfiguration." The professor was off to other students before Susanna could tell her hello. She shrugged her shoulders as she slowly unrolled the scroll. Transfiguration, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Astronomy, History of Magic, Charms, Herbology, and Flying, Susanna read to herself, wondering how in the wizarding world she was going to keep up with everything. She noticed Hermione's large smile as the two finished breakfast, ready to go to Transfiguration class.
"I'll answer your question during our free period," Hermione told Susanna as she showed her the way to the classroom on the ground floor. Students were chatting and walking in many directions, not noticing the two first-years quickly walking by. Susanna thought she saw some of the knights' armor saluting her but did not have enough time to turn around and double check. Susanna saw very few students when they arrived, and Hermione led her to the right-hand corner in the front. Professor McGonagall was arriving and quickly sat down on her seat. Many eager students followed her, filling in the seats in the back of the classroom. Once the class began, Professor McGonagall stood up at her desk.
"Welcome, students, to your first Transfiguration class. To start, I would like you to write about what you expect to learn and do in this class," McGonagall instructed, before quickly turning into a tabby cat. Susanna widen her eyes, surprised her professor was an animagus. The eleven-year-old Gryffindor quickly went into her bag and pulled out some paper, quills, and ink. She really did not know what to write, so she decided to just use things from the Transfiguration textbook.
Five minutes had passed in the classroom, the cat professor watched them write, sitting on her desk. Suddenly, the wooden doors opened up, and Susanna briefly turned around to see Ron and Harry running in the classroom trying to find open seats. She could hear their deep breathing, almost like they had been running and trying to catch their breath. Ron looked around the classroom, a smile growing on his face.
"Whew! We made it! Can you imagine the look on McGonagall's face if we were late?" Ron asked Harry, proud of his achievement. Susanna covered her mouth to hide her laughter as the professor's cat eyes turned stern at the boys. The cat jumped off the desk and walked to the late boys. Once it arrived, the cat transformed back to the human Professor McGonagall. Harry and Ron's mouth were opened in surprise, and their cheeks turned a little pink of embarrassment. "That was bloody brilliant!"
"Thank you for the assessment, Mr. Weasley. Perhaps it would be more useful if I transfigured Mr. Potter and yourself into a pocket watch. That way one of you might be on time," Professor McGonagall suggested to the boys, causing their mouths to shut.
"We got lost," Harry told the Transfiguration professor, a little fear peeping through his voice.
"Then perhaps a map? I trust you don't need one to find your seats," the Professor continued before turning around and heading back to her desk. Her emerald robes swayed as she sat at her desk. "Now, to begin Transfiguration…"
By Friday morning, Susanna was ready to just to sleep for hours and hours. She was surprised at how much homework they had already had. She was glad there were other students who were also just being introduced to the subjects like she was, but she was proud of herself for the few things she did know.
Transfiguration was interesting, and Susanna figured she would enjoy the class. McGonagall gave her a brief smile when Susanna had turned a match into a needle, even though it changed back to a match within a few seconds. Hermione managed to change its qualities and looks but was among the few to do anything. Charms was also interesting to learn, Professor Flitwick's enthusiasm for it was spreading to her. She was hoping they would get started with wand work soon. Susanna, among many other students, were looking forward to Defense Against the Dark Arts, but were disappointed once they left the smelly classroom for the first time. Except for Hermione, the students had a very hard time staying awake during Professor Binns's, the ghost teacher of History of Magic, boring, dreary lectures. Susanna figured she would have to get Hermione to help teach her in DADA and History of Magic classes, and she was glad she had already read ahead in the textbooks. Herbology was okay, she liked Professor Sprout, but the idea of accidentally putting in too much water would cause the plant to bite her did not interest Susanna. She really enjoyed and loved Astronomy class. Something about the stars, planets, and constellations peaked her interests, even though the class was only held at midnight on Wednesdays.
Hermione gave a brief summary of Harry's importance to the Wizarding World to Susanna during their first free period. Susanna felt sorry for him, being famous for something he could not remember. She was surprised he seemed to try to ignore the whispers and gossip from the students. Unlike Harry, Susanna noticed Draco Malfoy deserving his place in Slytherin. He strutted around the school, bragging of his flying skills, his wealth, and his father's position in the Ministry of Magic. He had picked on, called out, and made fun of many other first year students, especially Ron, Harry, and Neville.
Susanna was immediately glad she had met Hermione on the Hogwarts Express. The other girl knew her way around Hogwarts, was smart and knowledgeable in every subject, kind, and easy to talk to. She was surprised to find out she was a Muggle-born, seeing she knew so much about the magical world. Hermione made sure Susanna would stay awake in History and DADA classes, and would understand everything they would learn. Even though she had only been there a week, Susanna was glad Professor McGonagall had told her she was a witch and made sure she would go to Hogwarts.
"We need to get to our Double Potions. It's in the dungeons, and I've heard Professor Snape is a tough teacher," Hermione suggested to Susanna, once the two finished their breakfast. Susanna quickly gathered her supplies and followed the bushy haired girl down the stairs. She pulled her robe closer to her to avoid the cold drafts flying through the dungeons. The two walked into the contradicting smelled room. She made sure to avoid looking at some of the ingredients, not wanting to lose her breakfast. The two sat in the middle, getting out their supplies. Slytherin and Gryffindor students began piling in behind them.
A few minutes later, the door in the back of the classroom opened up, and loud footsteps began walking to the front. One look in his beady, cold, black eyes Susanna knew not to be a smart-alecky or jokester with Professor Snape. His greasy, black hair fell to his shoulders, the color matching his robes. When he turned to the class, he did not seem very excited to see them. He quickly ran through the roster, stopping when he landed on Harry's.
"Ah, yes," he began in a snarling voice. "Harry Potter, our new celebrity." Susanna could hear the disgust seeping through his voice as he spat Harry's name. Some students were snickering at the professor's dislike, and the professor seemed to ignore them. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making." All the students did not dare look away for fear of correction. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses. I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death, if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads I usually have to teach." Susanna was becoming scared of the teacher, wondering why he was teaching if he didn't like the students.
"Potter!" he yelled to Harry, causing many students to jump in there seats. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Susanna was surprised he was asking Harry those questions before they even had their first potions lesson. The professor began asking all types of questions, all Harry did not know, and Hermione tried to answer. When Harry finally told him he did not know and should have gotten Hermione to answer, he became angry. "Sit down," he told Hermione when she stood up. "For you information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plat, which also goes by the name aconite. Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?" Susanna immediately began copying everything he had said. "And a point will be taken from Gryffindor house for your cheek, Potter." Susanna began dreading Potions as his demeanor toward Gryffindors did not improve during the period. He even caused Neville to burst into tears, even when he was beginning to be covered in boils.
Susanna even saw Hermione not really enjoying the class, staying quiet throughout it. The students were counting down the minutes until they were allowed to leave. "Okay students, so far it was been disappointing, especially for Gryffindors." His gaze turned to Susanna, and she was wondering where her supposed Gryffindor courage went to. "Gates, what are the effects of the Wiggenweld Potion?" Susanna saw everyone's eyes turn to her, and she knew Snape was expecting her to not know the answer. Hermione raised her hand, wanting to save her friend. Susanna searched through her brain, and was happy to find it.
"Professor, the Wiggenweld Potion will awaken someone who was put into a deep sleep either by magic or by the Draught of Living Death. It can also cure some minor damages," Susanna answered, hoping she was right. The Potions professor looked at her with his beady eyes, and Susanna thought she saw a bit of surprise in his eyes.
"Yes, a point for Gryffindor. You bunch are lucky someone knows something about this class," Snape expressed to the class. Susanna saw some grimaced faces directed at her from some Slytherins. Hermione patted her on the back in success. "Class dismissed." Within a few seconds, everyone had gathered their supplies and were out the door.
"Professor Snape is awful!" Hermione expressed to her as they made their way through a corridor to another History of Magic lesson. "At least when you answered the question correctly, you proved that we weren't a bunch of dunderheads who knew nothing about potions."
"Thanks, but I don't know why he had to pick on me. He should have picked on Malfoy or something. At least he likes him," Susanna wondered to Hermione. "I wonder why he dislikes Harry so much."
"Yes, that is very peculiar," Hermione commented. "I expect the two of us will survive potions, as long as we don't agitate Professor Snape." Hermione quickly walked into the girls' bathroom while the blonde girl stood outside. Susanna suddenly felt a hard push to her shoulder, causing her to fall to the floor. Everything began spilling out, and Susanna could hear snickering going on above her. She looked up to see Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle laughing at her, obviously the ones who pushed her. The bleach-blond boy starred at her with cold, disgusted eyes.
"Why, if it isn't the little potions know-it-all falling before a Slytherin," he began in his superior tone. "Exactly where this Gryffindor belongs!" Susanna tried to ignore him collecting her things, but Draco started kicking things around. She watched as he kicked her journal out of her reach, picking it up in his hands. He began tossing it between his hands, and Susanna tried to grab it but he kept it out of her reach. "What, too weak to get it back?"
"Hey! Leave her alone, Malfoy!" a voice shouted at Draco, stopping him for a brief second. Susanna looked up to see one of the Weasley twins walking toward them. "Why don't you pick on someone with your own talents? Wait, there isn't anyone here who is as talentless as you." Susanna's jaw dropped as Draco's fists began to tighten, ready to send it in the Weasley's face.
"What's going on here?" Professor McGonagall asked, walking down the hallway to the event. Draco turned to the professor, thinking she might have seen his action against Susanna.
"Nothing Professor, Malfoy here was just pushing her to the floor and trying to send her stuff away," the Weasley twin started to explain. Susanna was surprised he was standing up for her, even though he didn't know her.
"Is that true Malfoy?" the professor asked the Slytherin. Draco just kept his mouth shut, not wanting to say anything to get into trouble. "Well, I'd be careful now, Mr. Malfoy or Professor Snape might hear about it. Now, get along to class." She starred at Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle with stern eyes before walking away. Draco threw Susanna's journal at her before walking down the corridor to his class. Susanna sighed before trying to grab more papers, and she saw the twin bend down to help her.
"Oh no, you don't have to help, I can gather these things," Susanna tried to stop them.
"It's okay, Malfoy deserved a talking or two, needs to be put in his place," the twin stated to her. Susanna looked up, seeing his sapphire blue eyes smiling at her. Susanna was surprised at his kindness as the other students just continued walking down the corridor, trying to avoid the papers. The twin and Susanna finished gathering all her papers, and she placed them in her bag.
"Thanks for helping," Susanna thanked as they stood back up.
"You're welcome, well I've unfortunately got to get to Charms, so see you around," the twin said before waving and walking off in another direction. Susanna watched him until he was out of sight, wishing she had gotten his name. Hermione soon came out and the two girls continued to history class. The class slowly dragged on, and Susanna tried her hardest not to go to sleep. Lunch was more exciting when a Gryffindor first year Seamus Finnigan unsuccessfully tried to turn his water into rum, causing a mini explosion. Neville has also received his Rememberall, and Susanna could tell Neville would need to depend on it. She also overheard Harry and Ron talking about the break-in at Gringotts, leaving Susanna wondering who was mad enough to try to break in to one of the safest and secure buildings.
Excitement was building in Susanna as the Gryffindor and Slytherin first years made their way to a large courtyard after lunch for their first flying lesson. After reading many stories on flying and adventures involved with broomsticks, Susanna was itching to try it. Hermione chatted the whole way about some good flying tips she had read about, a little bit nervous herself. Draco was bragging about his supposed flying and Quidditch skills, and how it was unfair how first years were not allowed a broom. Ron was telling Harry how his brothers had told him about some flaws of the school brooms. The first years arrived to see two long lines of older, worn brooms lying flat on the ground. After all the students arrived, an older woman with short, gray hair and long, black and gray robes quickly and sharply walked toward them.
"Well, what are you all waiting for?" Madame Hooch questioned the students, demanding their attention. "Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up." Susanna quickly stood next to Hermione, with Ron and Harry on the other side of her. "Stick your right hand over the broom and say 'up'." Everyone began shouting 'up', with different results. Susanna was surprised when hers starting coming up slowly but quickly went into her hands. She had to hold in her laugh when she saw Hermione's rolling over in the grass beneath her, showing no signs of quickly going to her. She heard a smack and turned to see Ron rubbing his forehead while his broom went back to the ground.
Once everyone had their brooms, Madame Hooch showed how to mount the brooms, correcting Draco on his stance, causing many Gryffindors to snicker at it. "Now when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard. Keep your broomstick steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forwards slightly. On my whistle-three-two-…"
Before Madame Hooch could blow her whistle, Susanna watched in horror as Neville's broom began to quickly rise in the air, having no control of the broom. He soon was high above the castle, starting to move in different directions. The class watched as Neville looked down with a pale face, loosing his grip on the broom. Susanna covered her eyes as she heard a crack when he landed back on the ground, everyone running over to the boy. Madame Hooch ran to the boy and gently got him back on his feet.
"Broken wrist," she informed Neville. "Come on, boy, it's all right, you get up." As they began to make their way to the Hospital Wing, she harshly turned to the class. "None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave this brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch'. Come on dear. Gates, please get his things together and follow me!" Susanna was surprised when she gave her the instructions, but did what she was told in a hurry. She ran up to the teacher and injured boy as they made their way into the castle. She could hear the teacher commenting how she had never seen an accident like that happen to a first timer.
Susanna followed the two as they arrived at the Hospital Wing. The large, double doors were open, and Susanna could see all the snow white material of the curtains, sheets, and bedding throughout the wing. It was empty and very quiet as Madame Pomfrey walked to the entrance with a look of horror at Neville. Madame Hooch explained the incident to the nurse and told Susanna to stay with Neville as she walked back down to the class. Madame Pomfrey seated Susanna on a chair next to Neville as he laid on a bed, taking the medicine.
"Are you okay, Neville?" Susanna calmly asked, seeing his disappointed and teary face.
"I can't do anything right! I cause a mess in everything we've done so far!" he confessed to Susanna. He half-expected her to laugh at him, seeing as other students had done the same.
"Everyone has their talents, I saw you in Herbology, you were very good in there," Susanna encouraged, recalling their time in the greenhouse. He seemed to smile a bit at her compliment, glad someone was kind to him. "Don't worry, you'll get better as the year goes on."
The pair talked a little more before Neville fell asleep on the bed. Susanna took the opportunity and took out her journal, ready to get ahead start on the interesting events in her first Friday at Hogwarts.
Glad you made it down here! Hopefully it was okay! I'm going to write the next chapter of The Disney Dream next and work on a new story and this one! Well, click on the review button and tell me what you thought! See you next time!