Chapter eight- First week of classes
The next morning when I woke up in darkness I had to pinch myself that this was real, that I was actually at Hogwarts but when I parted the curtain around my four poster bed and looked around and saw only Hermione was awake and dressed I knew it was real. She was trying to get Lavender and Pavarti to wake up once she saw that I was awake.
"Come on, you guys have to wake up. We've got lot's to do today."
They both just groaned. "What time is it, Granger?" Pavarti mumbled as her face was pressed against her pillow.
"Seven o'clock in the morning."
They both groaned again and put a pillow over their heads in perfect synchronisation. I could tell they were going to be the best of friends.
Last night I could tell they were the sort of girls who liked to gossip and giggle and so I thought they might have questioned me seeing as I had just found out I was the famous Reyna Potter, but it seemed they were all too tired and went to sleep straight away, well Hermione did read a few chapters of a book called 'Hogwarts: A History', while I stayed up thinking till midnight. I got changed and went with Hermione downstairs to the Common Room to see only Percy and a few seventh years up. Hermione went to one of the tables and carried on reading the book she was reading last night while I sat by the fire on one of the few faded red sofas that was no longer lighted while I waited for Ron so we could both make our way to breakfast together.
~RP~
Ron came down the stairs yawning and before we exited the common room Percy told us the password word was still the same and the portrait that guards our house was called the Fat Lady. As we made our way to breakfast we sat across from Neville and saw Professor McGonagall already giving out our timetables.
"What have you got first Reyna?" Ron asked me after we had both been given ours.
"I've got Double Defence against the Dark Arts."
"Same," it seemed me and Ron had the exact same timetable that was good. At least I would have one friend and person that I knew in my classes with me.
The classroom was usually taught in room 3c but as it was on the third floor corridor it had to be relocated. The room Professor Quirrell now used had an iron chandelier that hung from the ceiling, as well as a dragon's skeleton. On one end of the classroom stands a projector that was activated by magic. Several desks and tables were spread around the classroom as well as some sets of large windows.
In that lesson we started to learn the theory behind Werewolves and Werewolf bites using the book. Next lesson we were looking at how to cure Werewolf bites and for homework for the next lesson we have to write an eight in report on how to cure a Werewolf bite.
We then had a free period where Ron and I either explored the castle a bit or Ron taught me how to play Wizards Chess, which was basicically the same as Muggle chess except the pieces moved and destroyed on their own. Ron was really good at it as when we started playing he won every round.
Our next lesson was after lunch where we had Double History of Magic with Professor Cuthbert Binns who was actually a ghost. He had the most boring voice I'd ever heard in my life. It was taught in classroom 4f on the first floor. We learnt, or rather Professor Binns lectured the beginnings of the history behind the Gargoyle Strike of 1911. Most of us, including Ron and I fell asleep for the whole double period and the ghost didn't even notice. It seemed only Hermione was paying any attention and was the only one writing down millions of notes.
Our final class of the day was Herbology. This was taught by a lovely short woman by the name of Professor Pomona Sprout in classroom 102, three times a day we would go behind the school to look inside the school's greenhouses which were located behind the two main Bell towers of the castle. We learnt about what devils snare was and in the next lesson we would be practicing the fire making spell or charm to help destroy the Devil's Snare that was growing in one of the green houses. It seemed that Neville had an aptitude for Herbology which, so far, seemed to be one of the few thing he was good at as he wasn't a very confident boy neither did he seem talented at anything, unless he just had a difficulty showing it.
~RP~
On Tuesday morning we had Transfiguration first. Ron and I got lost trying to find the classroom. We finally find the classroom 1b on the ground floor that was located around the Middle courtyard. The classroom was huge, surrounded by big windows, had four rows of three desks that were for two people and had enough extra room for several cages and bookshelves, two chalkboards and a desk for Professor McGonagall who was our Transfiguration teacher.
We rushed in the classroom and noticed a tabby cat sitting on the teacher's desk that was staring at us while we caught our breath back.
"Whew, amazing," Ron remarked. "Can you imagine the look on old McGonagall's face if we were late?"
The cat suddenly jumped off the desk and turned into Professor McGonagall.
That was amazing. I wish I could do that.
It seemed Ron shared my sentiments exactly. "That was bloody brilliant."
"Thank you for that assessment, Mr. Weasley. Maybe if I were to transfigure Miss. Potter and yourself into a pocket watch, maybe one of you would be on time."
"We got lost," I tried to defend ourselves but I knew it was a lame excuse.
"Then perhaps a map? I trust you don't need one to find your seats."
Our seats were right at the very front of the classroom and we had the wooden desk in the middle row (there were three rows going across).
For some reason in our first lesson right had to right down the Alphabet and copy the Latin translation on the board in front of us. We later learned that we would have to memorise it and learn to copy down notes in Latin. Great.
Our next lesson was Charms in classroom 2e on the third floor on the charms corridor. Our Professor was a very small, old man that had to stand on a pile of books so he could look us all in the eye clearly. He was called Fillius Flitwick and apparently his expertise with charm work causes him to be a good duelling companion. The classroom that we were in had three rows of desk, one higher than the other, on opposite sides of the classroom.
In the class we learnt about the Levitation charm, the ability to make objects fly. By the end of the month we should be able to put the spell and wand movements together and practice it on a feather.
Our last class before lunch was History of Magic again and Professor Bins lectured on about the Gargoyle Strike of 1911 where we had to take down notes, or rather Hermione took down notes (she seemed to be the only one to resist his monotone voice) on the during the main piece of this history.
~RP~
On Wednesday morning we had Defence against the Dark Arts lesson we leant about the history of Gnomes and the problems they caused, especially in the garden. Ron told me he had a lot of Gnomes in his garden.
At lunch time in the great hall everyone was working on their homework.
Seamus Finnegan was trying a spell on a cup in noticed, "Eye of rabbit, harp string hum. Turn this water, into rum." He looked in the cup and shook his head. "Eye of rabbit, harp string hum..."
I decided to ask Ron what Seamus was doing. I didn't have a clue. It didn't help that the spell didn't make sense. "What's Seamus trying to do to that glass of water?"
"Turn it into rum. Actually managed a weak tea yesterday, before..."
A huge bang sounded throughout the great hall as the cup exploded. The students around us who saw what happened laughed. I've got to admit that it was extremely funny, especially Seamus's face which is now blackened by soot.
Suddenly, a flock of owls start coming into the hall from the rafters above. "Ah. Mail's here!" And the mail did arrive. Each owl gave their charge to the students dropping them from great heights thought the students managed to catch them.
Well, it's definitely certain I won't get any mail. I won't get any from my parents as they are dead and I certainly won't get any from the Dursley's. They hate me rather love as a family should, though I certainly do not count them as part of my family. I only live with them because I have nowhere else to go.
I see the newspaper that Ron has put down beside him. "Can I borrow this?" I ask him. Ron just nods; he was reading a letter from his family. I remember his mother as the very nice, warm woman who helped me when I needed to know how to get across the platform and the little girl who wished me luck. Without the mother's help I wouldn't have made it to Hogwarts and now I can't imagine how my life could have turned without it. "Thanks."
A few feet further down the table Neville is unwrapping his gift. It is a clear ball with a gold band around it.
"Hey, look!" Seamus says to those around him and nods towards Neville's gift. "Neville's got a Remembrall!"
"I've read about those," Hermione told us, though I'm not surprised that she's read about them. She seems to know about everything. "When the smoke turns red," the smoke turned red as she said it, "it means you've forgotten something."
Neville replied in a worried voice, "The only problem is I can't remember what I've forgotten." Well, it was obvious he couldn't remember what he'd forgotten otherwise he wouldn't have forgotten it.
I looked back at the front page of wizards' kind very own newspaper, The Daily Prophet. I nudged Ron so he could see what I found really interesting. "Hey, Ron, somebody broke into Gringotts. Listen, believed to be the work of dark witches or wizards unknown, Gringotts goblins, while acknowledging the breach, insist that nothing was taken. The vault in question, number 713, had in fact been emptied earlier that same day. That's odd. That's the vault Hagrid and I went to."
It seemed Hermione had also heard that piece of information as she was sitting in front of us looking at us suspiciously. I now really wonder what Hagrid could have possibly got from that vault that even the Goblin's protect the secret of what that object was. My curiosity was certainly peaked.
After lunch, we had a Herbology lesson and went one of the greenhouses with a lot more dangerous plants to where the Devil's Snare was growing so we could practice the fire making spell. Its incantation was 'incendio' and I got Gryffindor 10 points for being able to pronounce it perfectly and perform it well on my first go. It seems that I work well with fire.
At 3:30 it was my first ever flying lesson. It was the lesson I was most looking forward to ever since I flew on the back of Hagrid's motorcycle. I just loved the feeling of being in the air, it made me feel free. We had to go to the Quidditch changing rooms and change into our Quidditch Uniform.
Even though first years weren't allowed their own broom or to have a chance to be on the Gryffindor Quidditch team these uniforms were what they would have worn.
The Gryffindor Uniform colour was a scarlet red with our emblem being a Griffin.
Slytherin's wore a dark emerald green with their emblem as a Snake.
Ravenclaw's wore a dark blue with the emblem of an Eagle.
Hufflepuff wore a dull yellow with the emblem of a Badger.
They basically wore the colours of their houses and each House had an animal to represent them and their Founder.
We all picked up a broom and got into two lines facing each other with our brooms on the ground on the right of us. We were located near the edge of the Hogwarts on what was called the training grounds and we were waiting for our instructor Madam Rolanda Hooch.
When she came she wasn't a terribly tall woman, she was wearing the normal black and white uniform, had blue eyes and dark blonde short spiky hair.
"Good afternoon, class," She walks though the middle till she reaches the other side and turns around to face us.
"Good afternoon, Madam Hooch," every replied at the same time.
"Good afternoon, Amanda, good afternoon." To the class she says, "Welcome to your first flying lesson. Well, what are you waiting for? Everyone step up to the left side of their broomstick. Come on now, hurry up. Stick your right hand over the broom and say, up!"
All of the class says "Up!"
When I say 'Up' my broom immediately flies into my hand. It was so sudden it made me sway a bit. I can't believe it worked that fast. "Whoa." Brooms really do fly.
Though I didn't notice it but Hermione stared at me in disbelief while the class kept on repeating up.
Draco also manages to get it on his first go. "Up!" The broomstick flies up into his outstretched hand and Draco grins smugly.
Hooch, when she saw not many students with their broom in the air beside them ordered, "With feeling!"
"Up. Up. Up. Up." That was Hermione, who was standing on my left; it seemed in this class she has some trouble as she can't get her broom up.
I noticed Ron, on my right having difficulty as well. I saw that he was quickly growing frustrated and with that emotion in his voice he said "Up!" His broom flies up and humps him on the nose. "Ow!" I laughed at that. That was really funny. "Shut up, Reyna." I just laughed again.
In the end the whole class managed to get their brooms into the air.
Madame Hooch started to walk down the middle of our two rows. "Now, once you've got hold of your broom, I want you to mount it. And grip it tight, you don't want to be sliding off the end." The whole class mounts their broom. It was getting to the even more exciting part now. I can't wait to see what it's like to be flying. "When I blow my whistle, I want each of you to kick off from the ground, hard. Keep your broom steady, hover for a moment, and then lean forward slightly and touch back down. On my whistle...3...2..." she blows her whistle that was hanging around her neck.
Neville, who was nervous about being left behind, immediately lifts off. He looked very frightened as it looked like he couldn't control his broom. "Oh..."
Hooch called, "Mr. Longbottom."
A girl asked, "Neville, what are you doing?"
Other students began to call him as he went higher off the ground, "Neville...Neville..."
Neville then begins soaring away. "M-M-Mr. Longbottom. Mr. Longbottom!" Madame Hooch tries to call for him in vain.
"Ahh!" Neville screamed.
"Mr. Longbottom!"
"Neville!" I shout. What was he doing? He could get killed.
"Help!" Neville screams.
"Come back down this instant!" Hooch orders him. He would have come down by now of he could and I can tell he wants to.
He soared through the sky shakily before he hit a wall three times on both ends of his broom. He can't stop screaming. He then begins to zoom back towards us.
Hooch holds out her wand to stop him. "Mr. Longbottom!" Neville approached fast, we all scattered out of the way and he headed for Madame Hooch who dived out of the way in time. The students scatter and Hooch dives out of the way.
Neville goes up a tower. "Ahh! Whoa! Ahh!" He zoomed past a statue of a man with a sharp spear but Neville's cloak latched on it. He is flipped off his broom and hangs there on the spear by his cloak that looks like it's about to rip. "Help!" He wavers and then the cloak rips causing him to fall. He catches himself on a torch and then falls to the ground with a thud, "Ahh!"
We started to head over to him but Madame Hooch ordered us out of the way. "Come on, get up," she says to Neville.
"Is he alright?" Hermione asked Ron and me. He doesn't look alright.
Neville complained when Madame Hooch lifted his left arm. "Ow, ow, ow, ow."
"Oh, oh, oh, oh dear. It's a broken wrist. Tch, tch, tch. Good boy, come on now, up you get."
I didn't see Draco reach down and grab Neville's Remembrall, which had fallen when he took flight. Hooch began to lead Neville away with her. "Everyone's to keep their feet firmly on the ground while I take Mr. Longbottom to the hospital wing. Understood? If I see a single broom in the air, the one riding it will find themselves out of Hogwarts before they can say, Quidditch." They both exit the training grounds.
Draco snickered after they'd both entered the castle. "Did you see his face? Maybe if the fat lump had given this a squeeze, he'd have remembered to fall on his fat ass." He and his gang of quickly formed bullies laughed.
I couldn't stand up to Dudley and his gang but this time I can stand up to Malfoy. "Give it here, Malfoy." It wasn't his to take. It belonged to Neville.
He turned to me. "No. I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find." He hopped on broom and soared effortlessly around group, then went through it. "How 'bout up on the roof?" He soared off and hovered high in the sky. "What's the matter, Potter? Bit beyond your reach?"
I glared at him, of course it wasn't. I grabbed my broom and got on it but before I could fly Hermione stopped me. "Reyna, no way! You heard what Madam Hooch said! Besides, you don't even know how to fly." I was going to show how wrong she was. I flew off. "What an idiot."
I level my broom so it is now level in front of Draco. "Give it here, Malfoy, or I'll knock you off your broom!"
"Is that so?"
I will do it. I make a dash for him, but Draco twirls around his broom in a 360 degree circle. He turns his head back to face me. "Have it your way, then!" He throws the Remembrall into the air.
I was not going to lose Neville's Remembrall. I was going to get it back to Neville. He deserves that after being tossed around in the air and falling to the ground from a great height. He wasn't here to defend himself or his gift so I would.
Before I totally understand what I'm doing I'm already flying off after the ball. To me this just felt natural. I loved it. I speed towards a tower and just as I am about to hit a window, that is actually where McGonagall is working watching me in surprise, I catch the ball. I do spin a little bit and the broom drops a bit when I pass the ball into my other hand. I then carefully head back to where I can see the rest of my class is watching me.
As I near them they start to cheer and run towards me. I feel pleased with what I just did. I'd never done a thing like that before. It was a great feeling. Oh, and the flying. That was just brilliant and amazing. Oh, how glad was I that I accepted my Hogwarts letter and that Hagrid came into my life. Without him I wouldn't be here today. I must make sure that I visit Hagrid whenever I have any free periods/time.
Everyone was saying congratulations and was patting me on the back.
"Good job, Reyna!" one boy said.
"Oh that was wicked, Reyna." Another boy said. It was quite impressive wasn't it? I mean, that was my first time flying a broom and it felt so natural. I think it was by far my most favourite subject.
I only saw McGonagall approaching us when she called for me. "Reyna Potter? Follow me." I sullenly follow her, just knowing I was going to be in a lot of trouble for that, I might even get expelled. Draco and his gang laughed behind me as I went.
Let's just say that I notice we were soon heading to Professor Quirrell's classroom. That was strange. I would have thought we would have headed to the Headmaster or I might have at least got a detention.
Professor Quirrell was inside, teaching, while holding an iguana. "An iguana s-such as this is," he was saying.
McGonagall approaches the class and stops me from entering. "You wait here."
"...an essential ingredient..."
"Excuse me, excuse me, Professor Quirrell. Could I borrow Wood for a moment, please?"
"Oh. Y-yes, of course." He definitely looked surprised.
A young boy, Oliver Wood stood up and walked towards us as Professor Quirrell continued. Oliver was a tall boy, with dark brown eyes and short dark brown hair. He looked confused as to why McGonagall called for him.
McGonagall was actually smiling. I've never seen her smile before. "Potter, this is Oliver Wood. Wood, I have found you a Seeker!"
Now, he seemed to share McGonagall's excitement. "Reyna, tomorrow I'll tell you what you need to know about Quidditch and know that we practice at the Quidditch grounds at 7pm on a Monday, Tuesday and Friday." He said with a big smile to Professor McGonagall, "We can finally have a better chance at winning this year."
Wait, hang on? Did I even want to join? I didn't even know what Quidditch was.
Later on Ron and I were walking through crowded halls when Sir Nicholas and a lady ghost float by.
"Have you heard? Reyna Potter's the new Gryffindor Seeker. I always knew she'd do well."
"Seeker?" Ron asked me in astonishment. I'd just told him what McGonagall had done. "But first years never make their house teams! You must be the youngest Quidditch player in..."
"A century, according to McGonagall."
Fred and George approach and walk with us.
Fred congratulated me, "Hey, well done, Reyna, Wood's just told us!"
"Fred and George are on the team, too. Beaters," Ron explained when he saw my look of confusion.
Then George said, "Our job is to make sure that you don't get bloodied up too bad. Can't make any promises, of course. Rough game, Quidditch."
"Brutal. But no one's died in years. Someone will vanish occasionally..." Fred joked before they both carried on walking down the corridor while we walk across a courtyard.
"But they'll turn up in a month or two!" the both shouted over to me.
That's really not helping to persuade me. I don't want to spend all of my time here at Hogwarts in the Hospital Wing.
"Oh, go on, Reyna," Ron encouraged me. "Quidditch is great. Best game there is! And you'll be great, too!""
I didn't notice Hermione jumping up from her work and coming to join us.
"But I've never even played Quidditch. What if I make a fool of myself?" I've already got fame, which I don't want, to my name. I don't want anything else to make me stand out.
"You won't make a fool of yourself. It's in your blood," how can Hermione know that? I know she hasn't tested my blood.
After few minutes we approach a trophy case. Hermione points to a plaque of Quidditch players. One lists my father, James Potter, as a Seeker.
"Whoa. Reyna, you never told me your father was a Seeker, too."
"I-I didn't know." And I didn't. I hardly know anything about my parents except what type of wand they had and how they died. But I think seeing my father there, even if it's just on a shield, it's persuaded me to be the Gryffindor Seeker. I did really enjoy flying when I was up in the air and I want to make my father proud of me.
We headed back to the Moving staircase and started walking up to go to our common room as apart from Astronomy, that will be taken at midnight tonight at the top of the Astronomy Tower, we were done with classes for the day.
"I'm telling you," Ron spoke to me, "It's spooky. She knows more about you then you do."
I did find it very odd. We've only been here for three days. "Who doesn't?" I replied back to him. It seems at least everyone knows either something about me or my parents when I don't know anything.
The staircase that we were on suddenly moved. "What's happening?" I asked Ron and Hermione behind me.
"The staircases change, remember?" Hermione reminded us. I forgot about that. I was still thinking about my father and Quidditch, plus the staircases we've been on haven't moved so far.
We waited till the staircase finished moving. "Let's go this way," I said to the other two with me, pointing to ahead of us.
"Before the staircase moves again," Ron agreed nervously. We opened the door ahead of us and went in. We found ourselves in a darkened corridor with only a few weird statues inside.
"Does anyone feel like," Ron began, "we shouldn't be here?" It did feel a bit spooky.
It seems Hermione agreed with Ron. "That's because we're not supposed to be here, this is the third floor."
Ah, well, I certainly don't want to be found here. I can only see so far ahead of me. I don't really want to see what this corridor may hold or lead off to. "Let's go," I ordered the others. Besides I don't want to get caught and get expelled when I've only just arrived at Hogwarts. Before we could turn around a torches that was next to the door blazed to life and we saw Mrs Norris, Filch's cat come in through the doorway to stare at us. "Filch's cat. Quick let's go."
We ran as fast as we could going right along the corridor till we reached a door. We knew Filch wouldn't be far behind his cat and he wasn't. He came in, shining a lamp in the dark so he could see. "Anyone here, my sweet?" he asked to the now empty corridor. "Come on," he said to Mrs Norris.
Ron tried opening the door. "It's locked. Now what are we going to do?"
"Oh, move over," Hermione ordered. She brought out her wand and pointed it at the lock while she whispered, "Alohomora, get in."
I went in first and I wish I didn't.
I heard Ron continue talking to Hermione behind me. "Alohomora?" he questioned her.
"Standard book of spells, chapter seven," she replied.
"He thinks this door was locked," Ron said, referring to Filch who had now gone.
"It was locked."
It seems they still hadn't seen what was in front of them. It was making me feel very, very scared. I decided to draw their attention to it. "And for good reason."
It was a grey, huge three headed dog. It was growling at us. It was one of the scariest things I've seen in my life. It seemed the other two behind me agreed as we all screamed and quickly exited the room, relocking it on our way out. We didn't stop running till we reached our Common room and headed up to our rooms.
"What do they think they were doing?" Ron complained. "Hiding a thing like that, locked up in a school."
"You don't use your eyes do you?" Hermione asked us. "It was standing on a trapdoor which means it wasn't there by accident. It was guarding something," she said this very seriously, as if she was absolutely certain of her assumptions.
"Guarding something?" I questioned her, how can she know that? If the beast was guarding something that means that it could be dangerous. Why would Headmaster Dumbledore even let it into the school if it was dangerous to its students and Professors? This whole thing didn't feel right and I think more was at work here then we knew at the moment.
"That's right. Now, if you two don't mind I'm going to be before either of you try coming up with another clever way to get us killed or worse expelled." She went in our dorm but left the door open for me.
"She needs to sort out our priorities." I nodded in agreement with Ron. Either she wants to stay with us or she does her own thing which would be to stay in the library the whole time.
"I'll see you later in Astronomy Ron."
"Oh, damn. I forgot about that. Yeah, see you later Reyna."
Astronomy was taught by Professor Aurora Sinistra, which takes place on the top most level of the Astronomy Tower which was actually the tallest Tower that Hogwarts has. All we did was look at the night sky through our Telescopes and say what we saw so the Professor knew what we knew.
~RP~
On Thursday morning we had Transfiguration where we had to learn the transformation formula, which is that the intended transformation is directly influenced by bodyweight (a), viciousness (v), wand power (w), concentration (c), and a fifth unknown variable (Z). We also got to witness Professor McGonagall turn her desk into a pig which we all laughed at. We wouldn't have to learn how to do that one though. Then we had charms after break and on our last lesson after lunch we had History of Magic.
After School, you were allowed to wear whatever you wanted (especially on a weekend). So I got dressed in a white top and a dark blue jumper that used to belong to Aunt Petunia and the only pair of jeans that I own. Next time I go to Diagon Alley I'll have to think about getting a few more clothes as I will grow every year.
I met up with Wood and we made our way to the training grounds carrying a heavy wooden box between us and Wood was also carrying a wooden bat.
"Quidditch is easy enough to understand. Each team has seven players. Three Chasers, two Beaters, one Keeper, and a Seeker, that's you." He dropped the bat and opened the box to reveal different kinds of balls where two of them were strapped down. "There are three kinds of balls." He picked up the middle one that wasn't strapped down and that wasn't quite round as it had curved edges that made it easier to grip. He passed it to me. "That one's called the Quaffle. Now the chasers have to handle the Quaffle and have to pass it through one of those three hoops." He pointed over to the Quidditch pitch were there were three different heights of hoops: the middle one was the tallest, the right one was in the middle and the left on was the smallest. "The Keeper, that's me, defends the hoops. You with me so far?"
I passed the Quaffle back to him. "I think so." But that was only one element. "What are those?" I nodded towards the two strapped down balls that were actually moving, like they wanted to get out. I would have thought it would be impossible for a ball to move about but since entering the magical world I've found that less and less things are starting to surprise me even though I haven't even been here a week.
"Ah, you better take this," he handed me the bat. He unclipped one of the balls and immediately it shot off straight up into the air. It then started coming back down. "Careful now, it's coming back." I wacked it with the bat before it could have hit me. I managed to hit it through the statue of a man holding two crossed swords above him which was pretty high up.
"Not bad Potter." I got praise from Wood! "You'd make a fair Beater." I feel pretty pleased with that but then it came back. "Oh no." Wood got ready to catch it and the ball slammed into his chest. As the ball kept wriggling to be set free, Wood rolled around the ground a little before he managed to put the ball back in the box and strap it in.
"What was that?" I've never seen a ball that was able to move on its own before.
"Bludgers, nasty little buggers but you... are a Seeker." On the inside of the lid of the box he opened a shield that had all the Hogwarts animal's on it and it opened to reveal a small, gold, fist sized ball. He brought it out and held it up so I could see it. "The only thing I want you to worry about is this, the Golden Snitch."
He passed it to me. "I like this ball." It was very pretty. It was probably made of gold, that's what it looked like it was made out of anyway.
"Ah, you like it now. Just you wait," he warned me, "its wicked fast and damn near impossible to see." How can a ball be that fast and that invisible?
"What do I do with it?" He hadn't explained that to me yet.
"You catch it." He made it sound so simple. "Before the other team Seeker." He just had to add that. "You catch this Potter and we win."
I laid my hand out flat and the ball developed wings that allowed it to hover in the air above my hands before it whizzed of a few feet away from me. "Wow." I said that for two reasons: one, I've found that I'm really enjoying this sport so far and can't wait till I play a game; two, I've found that the whole game rests on me as the game won't end till me or the other Seeker wins then game. I've got a lot of pressure on my young shoulders. Not that I haven't already what with my fame for being the Girl-Who-Lived but I didn't care about that fame and glory that comes with being a celebrity but I suppose I do care about my status at school (but wanting to leave out the fame though).
~RP~
When we had breakfast on Friday Hedwig got to deliver me her first mail. It was from Hagrid asking if I'd like tea with him after lunch as he knew I didn't have any lessons this afternoon.
"Ron, do you have any spare parchment?"
He had his mouth full so he shook his head instead. It was disgusting seeing food inside his mouth while he was talking but I suppose that was boys for you. I'm glad I'm not a boy as I don't want to have Ron' awful table manners.
I turned to Hermione when she asked me, "You can borrow some of mine if you like Reyna?"
"Thanks Hermione. Ron, would you like to go with me to visit Hagrid this afternoon?"
"Yeah sure," he replied once he swallowed the food he was eating.
In my letter I replied in the positive and said I hoped it would be okay if I brought a friend with me.
Just before breakfast ended we headed back to the common room so we could get our books and everything we would need for double Potions.
This was taught by Professor Severus Snape who was Head of Slytherin House. I wasn't really sure what I was feeling at the moment. I was dreading the lesson as we had it with the Slytherin's which included Malfoy. I had lessons with him in Defence against the Dark Arts (which most people say DADA), Transfiguration, Potions and I used to have flying lessons with him.
I will not have flying lessons anymore, rather just train with my Quidditch team.
We headed down to the dungeons and entered a large dark room. It was squared-sized, with large tables and windows. In the corner resided a stone basin used to wash students' hands and ladles. There were also varying sizes of cauldrons around the room and I could also see that near the teachers desk there was a cabinet full of different potion supplies.
We found a seat near the front; I sat in-between Ron and Hermione and found everyone was chattering as the teacher wasn't in yet. Then the door slammed open and Snape came rushing in to the front.
"There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to enjoy the subtle science and exact art that is potion making. However, for those select few," here he looked at Draco who smiled, "who possess the predisposition, I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death." Draco raised his eyebrow. I was writing this all down so I didn't notice Snape look at me in disapproval. "Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confident enough to not...pay...attention."
Hermione nudges me in the ribs. I look up.
"Miss Potter. Our... new... celebrity." I could hear Malfoy and his two friends Crabbe and Goyle snigger off to my right. "Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Hermione's hand skyrockets.
Powered infusion of what? I turned to Ron to see him looking as stumped as I was. I shrugged. "You don't know? Well, let's try again. Where, Miss Potter, would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?" Hermione's hand shoots up again. What even is a Bezoar?
"I don't know, Sir," I answered quietly.
"And what is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfbane?"
"I don't know, Sir," I repeated. I have read the required book, well more like skimmed over them, but I can't remember anything from it. It's also still our first week, how can he expect us to memorise it so quickly.
"Pity. Clearly, fame isn't everything, is it, Miss Potter?" I don't even want this fame that I have to my name. "For your 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 Wolfbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of Aconite. Well? Why aren't you all copying this down?"
I had a point taken from Gryffindor for not answering any questions. It wasn't the only reason why I came to hate Snape: for one thing, he always seemed to favour Malfoy the most and was biased in favour of his House so we ended up not getting any points by the end of the lesson but rather lose some or a lot.
Snape put us all into pairs, Ron and I were put together, and we were asked to create a simple potion to cure boils. We followed the instructions from our books and found only few bits that were difficult for us.
Seamus and Neville were next to us and all of a sudden there was a huge bang and green smoke. Neville had somehow managed to blow up the cauldron and now he was suffering from rapidly appearing boils. Seamus took him to the Hospital Wing and I got some more points taken off for not reminding him to add the Porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire. Let's just say I really don't like Snape now.
After break we had Herbology which was definitely a calmer lesson as we had to write an essay on the spell 'incendio' detailing what it is and used for.
After lunch Ron and I made our way to Hagrid's hut which was a small wooden building that was situated just before the Forbidden forest.
I knocked on the door. We heard barking before Hagrid opened the door by a slit, just allowing us to see his face. "Ah, it's you Reyna. Down Fang."
There was only one room inside with hams and pheasants hanging from the ceiling, a copper kettle stood boiling over an open fire and in the corner stood a massive bed with a patchwork quilt over it.
"Make yourselves at home."
He poured us some tea and handed us some rock cakes. We had to pretend we liked those. We could barely bight into them.
"So, correct me if I'm mistaken but your friend is another Weasley isn't he?" Hagrid asked me, looking at Ron.
"Yes, Sir," Ron replied. "Ron Weasley, sir."
"Oh, don't bother with that sir business. Just call me Hagrid. Any friend of Reyna here is a friend of mine. Tell me you two, how did you first week of school go?"
And so me and Ron (who soon became comfortable around Hagrid now (he used to be intimidated by Hagrid's huge size)) told Hagrid about our first week of lessons that included how our Quidditch practice went and our Potions lesson.
"Snape seems to really hate me Hagrid," I said to him. I wondered why he did. He'd only just met me he shouldn't just me just on my name and title alone. It wasn't nice that people did that.
"Ah, Professor Snape, don't worry about him Reyna. He's the best Potion's master Hogwarts has ever seen. He's a real tribute to the school." I had a feeling that Hagrid wasn't telling me something about Snape as he refused to me my eyes. Don't worry though. I will find out one day just why Snape is acting like this. "Now, to cheer ya up how about what it was like when your father played Quidditch?" I know he said that to take the subject off Snape but I was willing to follow if Hagrid would talk about my father.
"Yes! Yes, please Hagrid." Hagrid smiled at my enthusiasm and anticipation. I'd scooted forwards to the end of my seat and was staring wide eyed at Hagrid. I was fully prepared to hang off his every word. I could see Ron doing the same, smiling at me as well, pleased for I that got to learn more about my parents. I'd told him what Hagrid told me a few days ago at the pub in Diagon Alley, how my parents died and a bit of what it was like to grow up with the Dursley's.
So for the rest of the afternoon Hagrid told me about my father on the Quidditch pitch and I memorized every word spoken. We spent the rest of a nice evening with Hagrid but we left when it started to get dark. We promised to come and visit him next week whenever we had a free period that we could spare for him. All in all, it was a great first week at Hogwarts, minus the danger of course.