Chapter 8 (Mr Brightside)
Harry's POV
"What gets broken without being hold?"
"Oh, I've got this one! Your finger?"
Someone shouted, I think it was Anthony, I rolled my eyes. I knew this and it kind of got me down, slightly, Dudley's words went through my mind,
"Brother's stick together, remember?"
I closed my eyes, shaking my head. I might be able to see them in the summer, I expect Dumbledore will want me to go back there if Draco's plan doesn't work.
"Anyone else?" the prefect asked, I think her name is Penelope, I stepped in front of the painting that lead us to the common room, did you even know how many stairs we just had to climb to get up here?
"A promise," I said, she nodded and opened the door. I waited for Penelope to step inside.
"Well done, Harry," She smiled warmly. I grinned as we walked in. Wow. It's a circular room, with beautiful arched windows, the blue and bronze/silver colours are definitely shown on the furniture, and there's a few flags hanging on the walls with the Ravenclaw crest. The ceiling is dome shaped, with a night sky pattern, showing the stars. The carpet in the room was dark blue, and the fire was crackling happily near the back of the room. Near one of the windows was a white-marble statue, I think it's of Rowena Ravenclaw, but I'm not certain.
"The common room rules are on the notice board, but I'll say them now, never disturb anyone while they are writing or reading, nobody is inferior to you, and you are not interior to anybody, good humor, clear thinking and realism are needed for hard work, and never give advice where it's not needed," she says, my eyes widened. Maybe the behavior I displayed in the train this morning might not cut it, ok, Harry, no more Slytherin side, I thought as she continued.
"Curfew is 9:30, an hour earlier than the rest of the houses, don't complain, you'll be thankful in fifth year, you'd never believe me if I told you I had to force two people to go to bed at eleven, just because they were cramming in last revision,"
"Behind the statue of Rowena Ravenclaw, there are the dormitories, boys to the right, and girls to the left, your belongings have already been sorted for you. Remember, wit beyond measure is a mans greatest treasure,"
There were four beds around the edges of the circular room, with a big window and a few paintings, mainly of Hogwarts. The carpet was a pale blue, and there was a sofa just outside the window. I noticed my things, they were right next to the window, that is going to be amazing at night.
"Well, who else thinks this is wicked?" Anthony breaks the silence. Terry chuckled and Draco rolled his eyes. He had the bed opposite me, he was actually really quiet. I think I know why, because of his parents. I walked over and sat on his bed, he raised an eyebrow at me and I chuckled lightly.
"I know you're worried, but I'm sure your parents will be proud," I said, talking quietly so the others couldn't hear our conversation. His face relaxed,
"How do you do that?" He asked, nudging me, I pulled a face,
"Do what?"
"Know what I'm thinking,"
(the next morning)
I couldn't sleep last night. I spent all night sitting on the window sill, looking at the Quidditch pitch, which looked spectacular, and I saw the lake and the hills, it was more than anyone could ask for, as a view. Apparently our house is the only one that gets to see the grounds like that.
At four in the morning I went for a run around the lake, I would've gone flying, but I didn't think that would be allowed. The run was nice though, very refreshing. I've been trying my best to keep fit. I don't particularly want to be... big. Breakfast was interesting, there was an option of fish, for brain food, apparently. I didn't touch it.
"Charms, Herbology, History of Magic, lunch, Care of Magical Creatures, potions last thing," Anthony read out the timetable Professor Flitwick just handed out to us. I smiled, didn't seem too bad, only one class with the Gryffindors and that was Charms.
"Could be worse," Draco said, looking over to the Slytherin table, I followed his eyes and smiled at the sight. Blaise was in between Crabbe and Goyle, who looked like lost little sheep. Pansy, on the Gryffindor table, was chatting happily with Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.
"Let's get to Charms," Terry says, getting up. Just as Draco started to get up, Hercules flew in to the Hall, causing a few students to coo at the sight of the owl. I grinned as he landed between Draco and I, he hooted when I stroked his beak.
"How you doing, Hercules?" I asked happily. There were a few whispers of confusion but I didn't care, Draco opened his letter, I fed Hercules some bacon. I still hadn't seen Hedwig, actually, but I'm sure she will arrive at some point.
"Harry, you were right, they're pround of me," Draco whispered, I grinned,
"That's great! I told you!" I said, he chuckled lightly, reading to the end of his letter, I took my chance to look at the teacher's table, they were all staring at us, well, me anyway. I shrugged, and looked back to Draco,
"Dad even made a joke about it, and they said congratulations to you as well," Draco said, folding the letter into his pocket.
"Well, I was going to ask why they'd say that to me, but then I remembered I am amazing," I said cheerfully, making a few people laugh on our table. "Come on, lets catch up with Terry and Anthony," I said, just as Hercules flew off. Draco nodded and we grabbed our bags and walked out.
The walk to Charms was a long one, we had to go through some really old corridors, and a painting with a knight trying to follow us until Anthony basically told it he would hex him if he didn't stop following us. If we didn't have Draco, we'd probably have got lost too and most likely would have been late.
The classroom itself was long and rectangular, with church like seats, more of benches, on the two sides of the room, I guessed that was for the two separate houses. Terry, Anthony, Draco and I sat at the back on the right side, just as the rest of the class came in. I was amazed Ron didn't get lost, but that may have only been because Hermione knew where to go.
Professor Flitwick stood at the front of the class, where he practically had his own library behind him near the window (what charms teacher needs that many books?) and started to explain what we were going to do today.
"Welcome, to Charms!" He said in his high, squeaky voice, "today, we will work on the charm Incendio, who knows- yes, Miss Granger?"
"The Fire-Making spell, Incendio, is a charm and a form of conjuration that can be used to conjure a jet of orange and red flame, therefore setting things alight," She finished, I could already tell she was going to be annoying. And a teachers pet.
"Well done! Ten points to Gryffindor, now, repeat after me, Incendio!"
"Incendio," I said along with everyone else, I could do this spell in my sleep. It was one of the first I ever learnt when I was eight, granted, I may or may not have set my desk on fire, while I was at it, I had only meant to use the spell on the book I had in front of me at the time, but still.
The rest of the lesson went by and was a breeze, so us four went straight to Herbology. We had that lesson with the Hufflepuff's, it was quite interesting but it's not my favourite class. Neville kept on answering tons of questions as well as asking them, which I was quite surprised about seen as he is rather shy.
"Well, boy am I glad it's lunch," Anthony said, grinning at the sight of food. I laughed, as he continued to say, "But, I am not looking forward to potions," he said with a frown. This has been going on every time anyone mentioned potions, I was getting quite nervous actually, if Snape is as bad as everyone says he is, then, I'm doomed. I love potions, but I do not want Snape to put me off the subject. I'm doing this for my Mum. And for me, too.
"Why is no one looking forward to potions?" I asked, still confused. Terry laughed,
"You have no idea, Professor Snape is like the strictest person on Earth," he says, exaggerating. I rolled my eyes,
"He can't be that bad?"
"Once he gave a detention to someone for smiling," Anthony drawled out, my eyes widened slightly. I looked to Draco, who shrugged. I honestly felt sorry for him, that's his Godfather, like... wow.
Lunch passed by quickly, and so did Care of Magical Creatures, again, not my favourite subject. The walk to the dungeons was not great, in fact when we were half way there, Anthony had to stop to put his jumper on it was that cold. I sat next to Draco second from the back row, Snape came in ten minutes later, most of the Slytherins sat at the front, but Blaise sat on the table near Draco and I.
As Snape explained how he could control death and blah blah blah, believe me I was just about to fall asleep, when he called my name, I sighed. He's probably going to try and throw me off guard. Like that is going to happen.
"Tell me what will I get if I add Powdered Root of Asphodel to an infusion of Wormwood?" I blinked. He's seriously asking me a question that someone who is five could answer?
"They make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death." I replied confidently. Confusion was written all across his face as he asked the next question.
"Where would you look if I tell you to find me a Bezoar?"
"A Bezoar is a stone, taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons,"
"What is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?"
"They are the same plant which also goes by the name of Aconite,"
"Well, why aren't any of you writing this down?!" Snape asked, furiously. I smirked, if this is what these lessons were going to be like, he would have a lot of fun. A lot of fun indeed.