Hi, here is chapter nine. Thanks for all your reviews. I try reading them all and answering questions, but those that will be answered later through the story I won't answer. For pairings, I haven't decided yet but I won't go with Harry / Ginny here as she doesn't fit to the a lot more mature Harry that I have created for this story. Probably dating will wait at least until third year.
Now happy reading.
Classes Begin
The first class Harry and the other Ravenclaw first-years had was Defence Against the Dark Arts with the Hufflepuffs. The classroom stank horribly of garlic. But that wasn't the worst thing. Professor Quirrell was stuttering all the time, so getting the relevant information about what he was trying to teach them was hard. Harry was not sure if he was really qualified to teach this subject, the man seemed to be too jumpy. At the end of class Harry had come to the conclusion he would have to do a lot of self-study to not get problems with this class. Hopefully the other classes were taught by better teachers. Otherwise he wouldn't be here next year but in Beauxbatons.
The next class was History of Magic. In front of the class sat a middle aged witch with black hair in blue robes who was writing down something in a book until the bell rang. Then she looked up and took notice of every student individually. Then she started talking.
"Good morning. I'm Andromeda Tonks and your teacher in History of Magic. Until last year this class was taught by Professor Binns, a ghost who has been asked by Professor Dumbledore to finally retire. If any of you have older siblings or cousins who reported that History of Magic was a class where you can sleep, forget that right now, sleeping in my class will not be tolerated. History of Magic is an important part of your education and I intend to show you just how the past has influenced our lives today. This year we will start with the earliest forms of magic appearing, continue with the first humans to intentionally use magic, different ways magic was used in the past and the time of Merlin.
"I expect from you to pay attention to what I say and take notes. If you have a question to something I tell you, don't hesitate to ask. It's always easier to answer questions directly than after a lesson when the question could be out of context. And always remember, there are no stupid questions as long as they concern the topic we are working on. And perhaps your classmates have a similar question but don't want to ask. But this won't just be a lecture class, you will actively participate. We will have discussions about the things we cover in classes. Thinking for yourselves and asking critical questions is part of growing up. Okay, now we have to take roll-call, so I'll read out your names and you raise your hands." Professor Tonks said and started her class.
After History of Magic, Harry was happy. It had been a really good class and Professor Tonks seemed to be competent and nice. He and the other Ravenclaws talked on their way back to their common room how good that class had been. They left their books in their rooms and went back down for lunch. With lunch-break being from one o'clock until a quarter past two there was no reason to carry their bags with them. They would have more than enough time to return to the common room and get their things for the afternoon class, which today was Transfiguration.
For lunch there was roast chicken or meatballs with boiled potatoes or rice and different sauces or ketchup with three sorts of vegetables to choose from. There was pumpkin juice or water to drink. Dessert was either yoghurt with fruit or preserved fruit with juice.
In Transfiguration which the Ravenclaws had with the Gryffindors, Professor McGonagall quickly showed that she was a strict teacher and didn't tolerate any nonsense in her class. She gave a warning for those that thought that they could mess around would be asked to leave and not come back. They were impressed when she turned her desk into a pig and back, but had to realize that it would take a long time until they were at that level. After taking intensive notes they were all handed a match and told to turn it into a needle.
Soon all over the class the incantations were spoken and the students tried to do the spell. Harry recalled what he had read in one of the additional books he had got on Transfiguration. Transfiguration was a subject where you needed to work precisely and concentrate on the effect you wanted your magic to have on the matter you were changing. Well, Harry's knowledge in chemistry and physics now would prove useful. He concentrated on the difference a metal needle would have to its environment contrary to a wooden matchstick. He visualized the optical differences of both and then spoke the incantation.
"Mr Potter." Professor McGonagall called out surprised.
"Yes, Professor?" Harry asked looking between his needle on his desk and the Professor.
"Was that the first time you attempted the spell?" She asked.
"Yes, Professor." Harry answered.
"Incredible. You definitely inherited your father's talent for Transfiguration. Take ten points for Ravenclaw. Try changing the needle back." She said, giving him a rare smile.
Harry concentrated again and the needle turned into a matchstick.
"Really well done, Mr Potter. Take five more points for Ravenclaw. Here are more matchsticks, work on transfiguring first a higher number of matchsticks and then a whole box into needles for the rest of the lesson." She said and walked around watching the other students.
Hermione Granger looked at Harry as if she was annoyed that he had got the spell on his first try. At the end of the lesson, only Hermione had managed to make a difference to her matchstick, it had gone all silver and Professor McGonagall gave her three points for Gryffindor for it. Harry meanwhile had transfigured his whole box of matchsticks into a whole box of needles and shown he was far ahead of the others.
"Hey, Harry, that was a great show in the class. How did you get the transfiguration done so well?" Anthony asked.
"I have concentrated on the effects I want to achieve with the spell. Just how wood and metal are different from each other. The matter I wanted to change. Like if I put a match in a glass of water it would swim, a needle on the other hand would sink. Then the outlook of the needle. You have to see in your mind how the thing you want to get will look like to do it. It's all a question of concentration." Harry explained.
"I'll have to try that when I review the spell in the common room. Thanks for the tip, Harry." Anthony said.
"No problem, Anthony." Harry replied.
"By the way, call me Tony, Anthony is too long and all my friends call me Tony." He said.
"Sure thing, Tony." Harry said.
Things stayed interesting over the week. The most recognizable event was Professor Sinistra swooning over the muggle telescope Harry had brought for the Astronomy classes. She had obviously never seen a telescope that got her such a clear and far away insight of the solar system. When Harry offered her to lend her the telescope for her private use when he didn't need it, he earned twenty points for Ravenclaw from the very happy Astronomy teacher. It was obvious that she really loved her subject.
On Thursday the Ravens had their first Potions class with the Badgers. Many horror stories were told around Hogwarts about the Potions Professor, Severus Snape. Harry was prepared though, he had read the complete supplementary books he got from the Apothecary, had read the Potions book and reviewed the first chapter on boil cure potions and marked the critical phases of the brewing. He even had lent his books to his fellow Ravenclaws to get an idea just how useful they would be. Harry knew that eleven orders for the books on brewing techniques and ingredients had gone out Tuesday evening. Rick had also been impressed and cursed that he didn't have those books last year and that nobody had informed him about them. Harry was pretty sure by the end of next week many more orders would reach Miss Ranamis and Flourish and Blotts.
The classroom was in the dungeons and just as they had been told the students were present five minutes before the class started to not give their teacher cause to start deducting points. Exactly on time the door to the classroom was thrown open and their teacher strode into the room in billowing robes.
Snape like many others, first tool roll-call and paused a little at Harry's name.
"Ah, yes," He said softly "our new – celebrity."
Harry didn't react though. He was used to worse from the Dursleys.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," he began.
He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but like Professor McGonagall he had the gift to keep a class silent without effort.
"As there is little foolish wand waving here, many of you will hardly believe that this is magic. I don't expect you to 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 – as long as you aren't a bunch of dunderheads that I normally have to teach."
More silence followed the little speech. Harry had long since learned to copy the important points of lectures teachers gave and while he listened, his hand flew over the parchment, dotting down notes.
"Potter." Snape said suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
"Powdered root of asphodel is a core ingredient in all sleeping draughts, sir. In combination with an infusion of wormwood that can, depending on the concentration of the wormwood infusion and the other ingredients of the potion either make the Draught of Living Death or the Elixir of Clairvoyance. The first one is the most powerful known sleeping potion; the second one is used to test potential seers through a powerful trancelike state." Harry answered.
"Correct, Potter. Let's see if you are as well-prepared as you seem to be. Where would you look if I told you to find a bezoar?" Snape asked unwillingly slightly impressed. He had only wanted to know about the Draught of Living Death.
"A bezoar is a stone that can be found in the stomach of a goat and will protect you against most poisons. As you normally don't have a goat available most potions masters have given recommendations to add one to every basic potions ingredient kit, but that recommendation hasn't been accepted by many schools yet." Harry said.
"Indeed. Last question, what is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?" He asked.
"The difference is that they are different parts of the same plant. Wolfsbane is the common term for the blossoms of the plant, monkshood are the leaves. Both names can be used for the plant, which also goes by the name of aconite." Harry answered.
"Now please let your classmates know where you found that extensive amount of information, Mr Potter." Snape said, grudgingly very impressed.
That was not what he had expected by the son of James Potter. That sounded a lot more like Lily when they had started at Hogwarts.
"There are two really useful books, called Brewing Techniques and Ingredients 101. They were recommended to me by Miss Ranamis, the owner of a small apothecary in a side alley to Diagon Alley where I bought my supplies for potions. From there I got the information on the bezoar and aconite, but they can also be found in 1000 Magical Herbs and Funghi. The information about the Draught of Living Death can be found in our textbook in the introduction, Professor." Harry said.
"Well done, Mr Potter, five points to Ravenclaw for proper preparation to this class. Why are some of you not writing that down?" He asked dangerously. Quills started scratching over parchment immediately.
"As Mr Potter correctly stated potions masters recommend to have a bezoar in the ingredient kit. It hasn't been made a requirement by the Board of Governors, even though I repeatedly tried to get it on the list, as well as the two books Mr Potter mentioned. If you want to have success in my class, I advise you to get them. Now, divide into pairs and start brewing the potions described in chapter one, a very basic potion used for curing boils. The recipe is on the board, ingredients are in the student cupboard. You have until the end of class, begin." Snape said.
Harry ended up pairing with Sally-Anne Perks from Hufflepuff. With Harry having thoroughly prepared for the lesson, he managed to coach Sally-Anne, who was muggleborn and hadn't known about the high demands of Snape, through the steps of brewing and explained the techniques that were used in hushed whispers.
"Now is the critical phase. Whenever you use porcupine quills in potions, always take the cauldron from the fire, or it will explode in your face, Perks." He said.
She nodded and they continued the brewing. Snape walked around the class, gave some harsh comments about some potions, for others he simply nodded. Harry and Sally-Anne were one of the pairs that got a nod. When the potion was finished, Harry filled a sample into one of his vials, labelled it with his name and saw Sally-Anne doing the same. They then took their samples to Professor Snape's desk and put them in the carrier that was placed there for the vials. They returned to their workstation and cleaned up. They were done just when the bell rang for the end of class.
"Homework will be twelve inches about the correct procedure of brewing boil cure potion and the critical phases of successfully making the potion. Potter, please stay for a moment." Snape said.
Harry wondered what this was about, but signalled his housemates to go on to lunch and that he would follow. When all the others had left Snape turned to him.
"I was surprised with your performance today, Potter. I have to admit, I feared you would be more like your father, whose looks you inherited, but you seem to me to come more like your mother. She was a genius in Potions. How did you get aware of Miss Ranamis apothecary?" Snape asked.
"Hagrid took me there. He said he had heard you talking about the higher quality of the ingredients sold by her and as we had a lot of time while I was staying at Diagon Alley, he took me there to get my ingredients kit. Miss Ranamis was the one to recommend the books to me and told me you always informed your house of their importance in class." Harry asked.
"I see. That was indeed fortunate for you. What was the reason that you stayed in Diagon Alley? Didn't you live with relatives?"
Harry sighed. "It will come out soon anyway as there will be a trial. I grew up with my mother's sister and she and her husband despise magic. I was … well, abused … and I am glad Healer Ickings made sure I got out of there. Did you know my parent as you compared me to my mother?"
Snape didn't show his shock. Harry Potter being abused by Petunia? He had thought the boy had grown up like a pampered prince. Good that Dumbledore had asked him to hold his judgement until after he had got to know the boy in class. This boy had more of Lily's personality than Potter's. He could see it in those intelligent green eyes.
"Indeed. While your father and I couldn't stand each other, I was friends with your mother from the time we were children. I also know your aunt Petunia. She was always kind of nasty, but when your mother got her Hogwarts letter and she couldn't get here, she developed out of jealousy an irrational hatred of magic; she called Lily a freak before she started her first year, which sadly seems to have transferred to you. Keep up your work and I might acknowledge that you aren't a dunderhead." Snape said.
"I will, thank you sir. If you don't mind, as you are the person who knew my mother longest, could you perhaps tell me a few stories about her? I'm sure everything Petunia told me about her was lies." Harry asked timidly.
"We will see, Mr Potter. Now I think you should go to lunch, I know Professor Flitwick has impressed upon all his Ravens how important good meals are for you." Snape answered.
"Yes, Professor Snape. Thank you." Harry said and left the room.
'Why, Lily, does your son have to be so much like you?' Snape wondered in his mind.
After the second week of term all first-years had already found out that there simply was nothing Harry Potter wasn't good at. He excelled at using his wand, got spells on his first or second try, was the only student outside Slytherin that Snape seemed to accept and his essays were top notch. But from the other Ravenclaw first years, meaning the gossip pipeline Parvati Patil had into the house through her twin sister Padma, it also spread around that Harry didn't spend all his time reading books or learning. Nearly every evening he could be found in the common room, introducing the wizarding raised students to the joys of Cluedo and Monopoly. The game 'Wizard' had also become popular and some older students had helped younger ones to make their own sets of cards using a few spells. As they only needed a set of cards with thirteen cards in four colours as well as four 'Wizard' cards and four 'Court Jester' cards, it was easily done and even the older students liked to play the game. Statements of how many packs of cards they would get were often heard in the evening.
The game was easy to learn. Each round you got as many cards as rounds were played. So in first round everybody got one card, in second round two cards and so on. The higher a number on your card, the higher the probability to get a pack. Players looked at their cards and had to guess how many packs they would get over the round. If they were right, they got twenty points and for every pack they got right, ten extra points. If they were wrong, they got ten negative points and additionally ten negative points for each pack they were off from their guess. With how you had to serve the colour that was played first, one colour being chosen as trump before the round by turning up the next card to be played and putting it under the remaining cards, you could never be sure to get a pack or not. Especially as wizards and court jesters could always be played and 'wizards' trumped everything except another 'wizard' that was played first and 'court jesters' didn't get a pack except all four cards were the 'court jester'. In the end you saw who had won overall. Even Professor Flitwick could be seen playing a game with the seventh-years one time as he was interested to learn the new game that kept his house so fascinated.
The muggle classes were taken well by many Ravenclaws. The turnout was lesser in the other houses, from Slytherin only a few first and second years went to the Maths and Literature classes as those they could argue were actually useful for magical purposes later on. Or in case of Literature for their school work as structuring essays properly and summarizing material they covered was part of what the students learned. Some students tried the classes to see what they were about, but a lot of them didn't return because they didn't want to add the work on top of their normal studies. The ones to take most classes together with Harry were Hermione Granger and Miranda Lillowe from Gryffindor. Hermione took all of them and Miranda Literature, Maths, Science and Economics.
The next Tuesday the Ravenclaws had their first flying lesson together with the Hufflepuffs. Harry hoped he would manage to get the okay from Madam Hooch to go to the try-outs. The school brooms didn't look that promising. They had twigs standing out at the tails and from some older Ravens the first-years had heard that some tended to sway off course. They took places next to the brooms and waited for Madam Hooch to start explaining what she wanted them to do.
"Good afternoon and welcome to your first flying lesson. Well, let's not twiddle our thumbs; this is a completely practical lesson. Hold out your hands over your brooms and say 'Up'." Madam Hooch instructed.
Shouts of up were heard. Harry's broom immediately jumped into his hand.
Terry rolled his eyes.
"That proves it; there is nothing Harry Potter isn't good at." He mumbled.
"There is, Terry, he is absolutely incapable at getting control over his hair." Michael whispered back.
Harry's untameable hair was the one point the Ravenclaw first-years could mock Harry with. Otherwise he was just too nice a guy to not like. They all knew he didn't have any real friends yet, but he treated all of them friendly, was always helpful and had explained why he just couldn't just make friends and first needed to get to know people. He just had made too many bad experiences in his childhood to trust easily.
Especially the girls of all houses liked him. Even the Slytherins. Harry Potter was the perfect gentleman, he was witty and without ever needing to result to shouting or insults he could handle all verbal attacks that had been thrown at him so far. Harry was a bit uncomfortable when he heard that even the older girls giggled when he passed by. But he would have to deal with it; he was after all trying to leave a good impression.
"My hair falls in the category of force majeure." Harry said grumbling.
"You keep telling yourself that, Harry." Terry replied.
"Enough bickering, Mr Boot, Mr Corner and Mr Potter. Now that you all have your brooms in your hands mount them and make sure you have good hold to not slide of the broom when you're in the air." Madam Hooch said.
They all did that and she went around, looking at their grips and positions and correcting it here and there.
"Now, on my whistle I want you to kick off, hover three feet above the ground, then lean forward and come down again." She blew her whistle and the whole class rose into the air, hovering more or less precisely three feet over the ground.
Harry felt great. This felt like he had always known how to do it. For his other skills he had worked hard and studied hours to remember facts, practiced techniques, ran to build up his speed, or trained shooting goals. This he didn't need to learn he just knew it. Then Madam Hooch let them fly around the field. Ten minutes before the lesson was up, she offered those who felt safe enough a race around the Quidditch pitch. Harry jumped at the opportunity. Seven others also did. When Madam Hooch blew her whistle to start the race, Harry leaned down on his broom and shot forward. He instinctively knew how to shift position on the broom to take a turn, how he could gain speed and how to break once he had passed the finish line.
The students that hadn't participated in the race cheered and clapped for him. He waved down to them smiling brightly.
"Damn, Harry, didn't you say this would be your first real flying lesson?" Tony asked.
"It is. This is the first time I'm flying on a real broom. Hagrid told me that I had a toy broom as a baby. Obviously I once nearly killed Mum's cat while flying on it which Dad found hilarious. But since then I never again sat on a broom. But this is so easy." Harry said laughing.
The Ravenclaws discovered a new, carefree side of Harry Potter that day. As long as he was on a broom he truly behaved like a little child. Normally he was collected and gave a good impression, but here in the air he was just a normal boy who had fun. He challenged them to a game of tag, which only ended with nobody being able to catch him when Madam Hooch called them down. He was still grinning like a loon after landing.
"Very good. I know that Professor Flitwick lets those that are interested try out for the house team as long as I give the go ahead. While I can say that most of you will be ready to do normal flights at the end of the month I would only agree to Mr Potter, Mr Goldstein and Miss Turpin trying out for the team. The others should train a bit more and if they want try out next year." She said.
Harry and Lisa nodded at wanting to try out, but Tony declined.
"I'm too busy getting used to the classes at the moment. When I have a better grip on them next year I will possibly try my hand at Quidditch, but I can't really see myself being good enough to play for the team, as much as I like watching." Tony explained.
The others accepted the explanation.
From the Hufflepuffs news about the first-year permission to try for the teams was spread to Gryffindor and somehow Slytherin also caught up. When those houses' members asked their heads of houses why they weren't given the chance, they got different answers.
Professor McGonagall told them that if any talented first-years were in the class, Madam Hooch always informed their heads of house and then they decided to give them a chance. But on the school brooms there hadn't been any first-year to make the team in over a hundred years, because the older students just were physically stronger or more talented.
Professor Sprout told her house something similar. It took a good amount of work to be on the house team and she had found that in their first year students were busy enough with other things. If somebody really stood out, Madam Hooch would inform her.
Professor Snape simply told his house that the demanding style Slytherin played was too much to bear for a first year and as a consequence, if he let first-years on the team their performance in class would suffer, which he wouldn't tolerate.
Friday morning Harry got mail. He didn't expect any mail, so he was curious who would write him. He looked at the sender and found the name Remus Lupin. He smiled. He had written Lupin just before he came to Hogwarts to see if he wanted to build up contact. Harry was interested in this only real link to his past. Lupin wrote he would love to keep in contact with Harry and tell him more about his parents. He also expressed how sorry he was for keeping out of his life for the past ten years, but Professor Dumbledore had informed him that to not endanger Harry's location, he should keep his distance. Harry had written him that he didn't care about his 'furry little problem' once a month and that that shouldn't be a reason to keep away. He was glad that he now had somebody to send letters to. Hedwig had also become a bit bored. She liked flying a good distance to stretch her wings from time to time.
On Saturday morning, the try-outs had been placed on the weekend where no muggle classes were held, Harry and Lisa went down to the Quidditch pitch at ten for the tryout. There were about twenty others that also wanted to get one of the five open positions in the team.
"Okay, welcome to the Ravenclaw try-outs. I'm Daniel Barkaim, the captain for those that didn't already know. I play seeker for the team. This is Pomarel Oustabler, he plays keeper. We will test you for the three open chaser spots, the two open beater spots and the keeper spot as Pomarel won't play the last game of the season because he takes his NEWTs this year and the last game preparation would collide with his studying for the NEWTs. We here in Ravenclaw work by the philosophy, always prepared.
"I won't lie to you, a new team always is at a disadvantage compared to one that either has already played together for a year or only has to incorporate one or two new players. This season we will be the underdogs for the cup, but never say never. Our main competition will be the teams of Gryffindor and Slytherin. Hufflepuff has three new players to train, so they are in a similar situation to us. Now I want you to separate into groups for the position you would like to play at. Chasers left, next beaters, then keepers. If anybody wants to try out for seeker, next to that, I'll see if you are good enough to be a reserve for me in case I can't play." Daniel organized them.
Harry moved to the chaser group, Lisa to the keeper group. Unknown to Daniel Harry had asked Madam Hooch if he could get one of the school brooms and work on making it fit for the tryout. He had shown the finished result to Madam Hooch the previous evening, he had used the spells in the book Hagrid had given him for his birthday, and she had declared the broom safe to use. Harry had clipped the twigs, exchanged a few twigs that were too damaged to correct and had renewed the hover charm. More he couldn't do yet, but he guessed he had done his best to get a better broom. The hover charm was a second year charm, but after four tries, Harry had got it right.
Daniel let the group of chasers fly three laps around the field first, then the beaters did the same, followed by the keepers and the one reserve seeker aspirant. He made short notes on every person on a clipboard. Then he let the beaters show their skill with one of the bludgers. There were six people trying out for beater. They were tasked to smack the bludgers back and forth between them. After Daniel had sorted out two second years, the remaining four had to aim bludgers at targets Daniel shouted on a whim. In the end he had Steven Remmons, a fourth year, and Tod Gellan, a third year as his new beaters.
Next were the chasers. Each of them got five shoots on the hoops which were protected by Pomarel. First up was Roger Davies, a fourth year. He got two of his shots in. Pomarel was a really good keeper. Next was Millia Weatherstone, a fifth year. She had one goal. It continued. Harry was last of the ten to try out for chaser. When it was his turn, only one fourth year, Quentana Pollianore had managed to get three goals in. Roger Davies was still second best. Harry flew up with the quaffle. He shot towards the goal and treated this like a penalty shooting in football only with three choices for goal. He slightly shifted his body to the left, seeing that Pomarel had taken the bait he threw the quaffle through the right hoop. First goal. His next try he knew Pomarel would be more aware of his possible fainting attempt, so he would get out another trick.
He raised his hand to throw the quaffle to the centre hoop, Pomarel reacted appropriately and was in position, but the ball got a spin from Harry's hand, which let it go through the left hoop. Second goal. He again started his attack on the hoops. He could see Pomarel was annoyed now that a first-year had already got two goals in against him, a seventh-year. Harry now decided to use speed position changing. Pomarel was forced to always change position. Harry shot. The throw looked like it would miss the hoop and go through the space between the centre and the right hoop, but the last moment, the quaffle turned and hit the metal ring, not going through the hoop, but falling down, where Pomarel caught it.
Harry saw the astonished look on the keepers face. With a bit more training for trick shoots from a broom he would get that trick down. His next try was a power-play move. He feinted right, Pomarel saw the feint, Harry threw at the left hoop, the quaffle rebounded from Pomarel's broom-tail but Harry had counted on that, was ready to take the rebound and placed the quaffle in the centre hoop. Third goal.
"Is he really just a firstie, Daniel?" Quentana asked awed.
"Yes, but I've heard that his father was one of the best chasers Gryffindor ever had. He must have inherited the talent. That's great, especially as he only had his first flying lesson last week. Imagine how good he will be with proper training." Daniel said grinning.
"Huh, he never before sat on a broom?" She asked shocked.
"Yes, he is muggle raised. Fantastic performance. We just need to see if he can play in a formation of three." Daniel said ecstatic. How Wood would curse that Harry hadn't been sorted into Gryffindor like most assumed he would be.
Harry got his last shot in, which made four goals for him.
The next thing Daniel had them train was passing the quaffle in formation. Here Harry's school broom proved to be a disadvantage as the faster brooms of the other aspirants made him look worse than them.
"This doesn't do. Potter, get down here." Daniel shouted and Harry flew down.
"Take this broom. I want to see what you can really do and not what the snail of a school-broom lets you do." He said holding out his broom.
"You really let me use your broom?" Harry asked disbelievingly.
"Don't disappoint me." Daniel said and Harry nodded, taking the Comet 260 and went back up. Now that he had a chance to match the speed of the other chasers he managed to get into formation without problem and passed the quaffle with precision. All his football training was now a big advantage.
Daniel sent the keeper aspirants up and let them test their abilities against different chains of chasers. Lisa did well, but the others were simply better. After the tryout was over Daniel called all those he hadn't yet sorted out together.
"Okay, thanks to all of you for coming to the try-outs. I'll just tell you who got the free spots and who was chosen for reserve. Beaters are Steven Remmons and Tod Gellan with Willow Fassix as reserve. Chasers are Quentana Pollianore, Roger Davies and Harry Potter with Denise Thompson as reserve. Keeper is Pomarel Oustabler with Releena Selwyn as reserve and I'm seeker with Cho Chang as reserve. Those that didn't make the team, don't take it too hard." Daniel said.
Harry was grinning happily. He had done it. He was on the Quidditch team.
"Potter, make sure you quickly get a proper broom, you can't train with the school-brooms." Daniel reminded Harry.
"Will do, Barkaim." Harry responded.
Harry went to Madam Hooch, returned the school-broom and told her he had been accepted as chaser for Ravenclaw. She congratulated him and told him she would inform Professor Flitwick.
"Do you have an idea what kind of broom you want to get?" She asked.
"Yes, a Nimbus 2000. It has the best performance for the chaser position." Harry answered.
"Good choice. Well, I guess you'll want to tell your friends the good news." She said and shooed him away.
When Harry returned to Ravenclaw tower, Lisa had already spread the news of him making the team. The other first years, which saw him as something akin to their leader, assembled and congratulated him. Harry thanked them and donated a box of twenty chocolate frogs to them. They sat together and Harry and Lisa retold the tryout. When they went down to lunch around one, other Ravenclaws also congratulated Harry, which he accepted with a smile.
By Monday morning the whole school knew that Harry Potter, a first-year, had made the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. Harry tried to just politely sit it out, but sometimes he couldn't help but proudly tell about some of his successful shoots. He had found out that Quidditch and flying was something that gave him an exhilarating feeling. He had loved playing football at primary school, but this was even better. And it had the double effect to have his housemates like him even more. Some others were noticeably jealous about him being accepted into the Quidditch team, but nobody could say he wouldn't be able to combine the training for the team and the workload from classes. It was a well-known fact that he was ahead of his peers. The ones who stood out mostly with their criticism were Ron Weasley and Zacharias Smith. Both were the generally jealous types and Harry had the impression that Weasley took it as a personal insult that he hadn't been sorted into Gryffindor. Smith was just nasty and didn't like if others were better than him. And Harry excelled at everything.
Much to the frustration of Hermione Granger, Harry was the top of class in his year. She was used to being at the top of her classes, but here Harry was, the Boy-Who-Could-Simply-Do-Everything-Without-Problem . But she still couldn't dislike him. When she had asked how he did magic so easily, he had just told her his method. He had told her which books she should get for potions to get the best possible results. And his advice for getting to know people had got her her first real friend in Miranda Lillowe, her roommate in Gryffindor. They were five girls in their dorm, herself, Miranda, Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown and Cecilia Robards. The last three were more interested in fashion and cosmetics than their studies, but they were okay. Miranda was more outgoing than herself, but still didn't neglect her work. She didn't do the amount of extra work Hermione did, she wasn't interested in being the best, but she wanted to do well in her classes.
She informed Hermione about her secret. Time management. Miranda had learned from her mother how to best organize her time so she could have fun with the rest of it after her homework was done. Miranda was perfectly content with getting over eighty per cent in her classes and that was it. While Hermione couldn't yet accept that for herself, she was too competitive for that, she had taken up a more relaxed attitude. Both girls had also connected someway with Neville Longbottom, whom Miranda had decided had potential that just needed to be coaxed out of him. And she had been proven right, Neville had potential. With the attention from Hermione and Miranda, he gave away that he was really knowledgeable in Herbology. His main problem was his insecurity his family had instilled in him.
But despite all Hermione's and Miranda's coaching Neville had problems with the wanded subjects and Potions. He did well enough in Astronomy and History of Magic. Hermione had even managed to get him into Science and Literature where he was doing well too. Therefore Miranda one day after dinner pulled Neville after her, followed by Hermione towards the Ravenclaw table.
"Hi, Potter. I'm Miranda Lillowe; I think you already know Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom?" She asked.
"Yes, I do, nice meeting you, Lillowe. What can I do for you? I guess there is a reason why you were pulling Longbottom after you." Harry said.
"Indeed. Well, as the acknowledged magical genius of our year, I wanted to ask you if you could help us finding out why Neville has so many problems in the wanded subjects. Potions I can understand, he's too afraid what Professor Snape would do if he messed up and then messes up really badly. But we have tried different methods of explaining him a spell and it just doesn't help." Miranda explained.
"I see, come on, let's go to one of the unused classrooms and I'll see if I can spot the reason. If you really put so much effort in your work it should at least have had some effects." Harry said. "Terry, would you mind taking my bag with you to Ravenclaw tower?" Harry asked his seat neighbour.
"No, no problem, Harry." Terry answered, taking another portion of apple pie, today's dessert.
Harry led them towards the Transfiguration corridor. He knew that two doors behind the classroom was another, unused one.
"Why are there so many unused classrooms here by the way?" Miranda asked.
"The main reason is the war against Voldemort. During that time many young witches and wizards died before they had children or only had one child like in Susan Bones' and my cases. Other families, mainly the pureblood ones, tend to only have one magical child. Good examples are the Malfoys, the Parkinsons, the Crabbes, the Goyles and so on. That reduced the number of children born immensely. Hagrid told me that the year after next a massively higher number of first years will start. There has been a baby boom after Voldemort fell." Harry explained.
Neville shuddered when Harry used Voldemort's name. They went into the class room and Harry closed the door behind them.
"Okay, what spells did you try?" He asked.
"Mainly the hair colour changing spell and the easy transfiguration spells we learned in the first two lessons." Hermione answered.
"Okay, let's start with the colour changing charm. Longbottom, try changing Granger's hair to blond." Harry said.
"Why blond?" Hermione complained.
"Don't you like blond? I thought it would go well with your eyes. After all, you could never fall into the dumb blonde trap." Harry said smiling.
Hermione blushed. Damn that smile and those big, shining green eyes. That was just not fair that she reacted like that whenever he did that. Why did a boy have to have those eyes?
Neville tried to concentrate like Hermione and Miranda had told him to do. He spoke the incantation and made the wand movement he had learned, but the only effect he had was lightening Hermione's hair a bit.
"Hm, there is nothing wrong with the wand movement and the incantation, those were absolutely correct. You tried to imagine the effect, right?" He asked Neville.
"Yes, I tried to imagine the same hair colour as mine as I know that one best. Miranda said it was easiest to change the colour to something you knew well, but I just can't get it. Probably my family was right and I simply don't have enough magic." Neville sadly said.
"No, there is no way you don't have enough magic. Hogwarts doesn't send letters to those who don't have enough power or the potential to develop enough power to take their OWLs. That's not the problem." Harry pondered loudly and looked at Neville. His posture, his face and his wand.
"Neville, how long did it take until a wand chose you?" Harry asked.
"Huh, what do you mean? This was my Dad's wand. Gran gave it to me and said I should use it to make my Dad proud and be more like him." Neville answered confused.
"Then that's the problem probably. Your wand isn't compatible. Ollivander told me the wand chooses the wizard and that you could never get as good results with another wizard's wand as with your own when I bought mine. I want you to concentrate on your magic, collect as much magic as you can, it doesn't matter how long it takes, then use the spell again." Harry said.
If he was right with that much power the spell would work and Neville would need a new wand. Neville concentrated with all his might, tried to feel power building up. After five minutes he did the spell again and a bright ray of light shot out of his wand towards Hermione and coloured her hair blond with red strands. Harry had a big smile on his face, Neville looked shocked and Miranda awed.
"I was right. For you to even manage to do a spell you need to concentrate abnormally high amounts of magic. You have to force your wand to work for you, not let it help you. It's not a question of you not having enough magic; the result on Granger's head definitely shows us that, but that you can't simply concentrate on learning the spells because you also have to fight your wand. Talk to your head of house, Professor McGonagall, and explain the problem to her. With how much that wand seems to dislike working for you, you'll never reach your potential, Longbottom. And one piece of advice. Ignore what your family tells you. You will never get where you could be if you listen to them telling you that you can't achieve anything.
"I know what I am talking about, because I was forced for three years to pretend being stupid at school to not outshine Dudley, my cousin. He is a fat, stupid and lazy bully. But he's his parent's darling and therefore I wasn't allowed to be better at school. Whenever something didn't go like he wanted it to, he complained to his parents and mostly I took the brunt of the anger of Petunia and Vernon. Once I realized that nothing I did changed how they treated me, I stopped holding back. What could they really do? Punish me? They already did that. If I got punished anyway, I wanted it to be for something I really did, not something that Dudley made up. I hate that stupid pig and I hate his parents. But I decided to show them." Harry declared passionately.
"From what you told me, your family, while not as bad as mine, hindered you. Your grandmother seems to want you to be your father, which you never can be. Forget trying to be Frank Longbottom. You will never be. You are Neville Longbottom. Frank and Alice Longbottom's son. You inherited traits from both your parents, just like everybody does. I definitely have my Dad's looks, but mum's eyes and seemingly most of her personality. Find out who you are. Get yourself a fitting wand. Show them what you can do. And if they don't like it, ignore them. I've heard from Hannah you're good at Herbology. Excel there. There is nearly nothing a good amount of work can't help you get over.
"And your problem with Snape. He's only that nasty if he thinks you are bumbling around in his subject. True, he dislikes Gryffindor more than other houses, but then he doesn't like any students but his Slytherins really. I think some of his favouritism is to smooth out the prejudices Slytherin house is confronted with because Voldemort was once in that house. Well, that's the past, we can't change it, but with the right leading not all Slytherins are evil. I get along pretty well with Blaize Zabini and Theodore Nott. And the girls of course." He added.
"You get along with all girls, Potter." Miranda snorted.
"What can I say, it's a talent. Back to your problem in potions. Prepare for that class more than for any other. If you are sure of what you do, you will be less afraid of what Snape will do if you mess up. He won't be nice, that's not in his range of personality traits I think, but if he treats you neutrally, you can normally get through Potions well enough. What is your dream?" Harry asked Neville.
Neville was shocked. Nobody had ever asked him about his dream. He had never told it to anybody, thinking they would laugh at him.
"Neville, I promise I won't laugh about your dream." Harry said sincerely, intentionally switching to the first name.
"Neither will I." Hermione added.
"Me too." Miranda said.
Neville looked at his two friends and Harry. Finally he opened his mouth.
"I want to become a healer and use my knowledge about plants to heal my parents from their mental damage." He answered.
"That's a great dream Neville. If you keep it in mind, and put all your effort into it, you'll manage it." Harry said.
Neville looked shocked that Harry Potter seemed to believe in him.
"Definitely and don't forget you have us at your side. If you struggle we will kick your butt in the right direction." Miranda said.
"While I would phrase it differently, Miranda is right. We will support you. Do you want to tell us what happened to put them into that state?" Hermione asked timidly.
Harry knew this was hard for Neville, but if he could overcome the past, he could look into the future. Neville shook. He didn't want to think about it. It hurt so much knowing they didn't even recognize him. And then his grandmother always reminding him on their state and that he should be proud of them. He was proud, but he would rather have his parents back to normal than being proud of them.
"You don't need to, we won't force you. But if they know, they'll easier understand you." Harry said.
"You know?" Neville asked with wide eyes.
"Yes, I do." Harry said.
"But how?" Neville asked.
Harry sighed. This would also reveal some of his secrets. But Neville needed to know that he wasn't the only one to have had a hard life and that it was possible to get out of there.
"When Professor McGonagall came to my house after I sent a reply to my Hogwarts letter to get more information about Hogwarts because I also had five offers from renowned private muggle schools that had offered me scholarships for my grades and my football abilities, she took me to Diagon Alley to get me some books so I could get more information. I guess they really wanted me to come to Hogwarts. Well, as it is one of the best schools in the world I can attend until OWLs, there are some that offer more subjects after that, I don't mind so much, but I wanted to be sure. I told you the Dursleys, whom I lived with, were nasty and punished me, well they were downright abusive until I frightened them so much with a bit of accidental magic that they didn't dare to touch me anymore. It will probably go through the news soon as they will have to defend themselves at court.
"I just wanted to get out of there because they had kept me ignorant of magic all my life. I feared once they knew they couldn't lie to me anymore things would get worse again. So I told Professor McGonagall some of the things that had happened to me. She took me to St. Mungo's and the result of the diagnosis spell was enough for Healer Ickings to keep me there for a few days, file an official removal order for me from the Dursleys and send the results of the examination to both the muggle and magical governmental departments that are responsible for cases like mine."
He concentrated looked on the floor.
"When Professor Dumbledore came to visit me, I asked why I had been placed with the Dursleys. The main reason was a form of ancient protection my mum gave me through her sacrifice. It seems if somebody sacrifices himself out of love, fully aware that it will mean his death even if being offered to be spared, the strongest possible protection against the one who spilled the blood of the one who sacrificed himself will be created. My mum died to protect me; therefore Voldemort couldn't harm me where I lived as long as I could call the place where my mother's blood lived home. The protection was broken when I declared that the Dursley's house wasn't my home only my place of residence. I asked why nobody got me out once things had calmed down and the Death Eaters who posed a threat to me were imprisoned.
"Well, there were some people that should have taken care of me. First was my godfather Sirius Black. He was imprisoned without a trial and I seriously doubt his guilt with how flimsy the evidence is. My guess is somebody wanted either to look good to the masses or that somebody wanted him out of the way. Next was Remus Lupin who has a medical condition that makes it impossible for him to look after a child. Third was Peter Pettigrew, who was supposedly killed by Sirius Black. As I said, I doubt Sirius' guilt as nobody who was killed by a blasting hex would only remain in form of a finger. From witnesses they stood at some distance when Sirius supposedly fired the hex. Even at point blank a blasting hex, no matter how powerful can't destroy a body so completely, not even with the gas explosion that happened because of a hit gas line. The muggles that stood closer to the explosion and died were found with complete, sometimes separated, but charred corpses, but from Peter who was farther away couldn't be found more remains than a finger? That simply is impossible. And if it is impossible that Peter's body was completely destroyed by that combination, then he has got to be somewhere.
"I think that Peter set Sirius up and somehow, I don't know how yet, got away. With magic many things are possible. Apparition, a transformation, a trick. I think the only one who knows is Sirius Black and Professor Dumbledore is close to getting him a trial finally. It helps that I can blackmail the Minister with public uproar. My name is important in the wizarding world after all. Well, back to the point. The next on the list, were your parents, Neville, the last one was Dorcas Meadowes. He told me why the first five were unable to take care of me and I found out that Dorcas Meadowes was killed by Voldemort when I asked Hagrid. That's the reason I know what happened to them." Harry ended his lengthy explanation.
Neville was stunned. Not only had Harry had a similarly hard life like him, he was probably one of the few people who could understand what he felt about his parents. If Harry could be this strong despite what had happened to him, couldn't he as well? He took a deep breath. This was hard, but Harry had revealed much of his past, how could he not?
"My parents were tortured to insanity by Death Eaters after the fall of V-V-Vol-Volde-Voldem-Voldemort." Neville finally brought out and Harry smiled encouragingly at him.
"They were aurors; they chased Death Eaters and the also worked with Professor Dumbledore in the fight against them. The Death Eaters that came to our house, Rodolphus, Rastaban and Bellatrix Lestrange and Barty Crouch Jr used one of the … unforgivable curses … the cruciatus curse … on them. They wanted information about where V-V-Volde-Voldemort was. They used the curse many times. The curse makes you feel … unimaginable pain. And if you are under it for too long … there can be nerve damage. That's what happened to my parents. They are in St Mungo's … in a long term ward. The healers say there is nothing that can be done, … but I don't believe that. There has to be a way to heal them.
"My family doesn't understand why I can't give up on them. They always tell me it is impossible to get them back and that I should be proud to be the son of heroes like them and live up to their example. But I just want them back. Want that they recognize me again. Talk to me. My Gran thinks I'm stupid to keep the gum wrappers that mum gives me every visit, but … but they are the … the only present … I ever … got from her." Neville said.
Hermione had tears in her eyes and spontaneously hugged Neville. He looked confused as if he hadn't been hugged for a long time if ever. When she let him go, she, to Harry's absolute surprise hugged him too. Harry tensed. He still had problems with sudden physical contact. He awkwardly returned the hug.
"If this wouldn't be the worst time to make a joke I could say something about finally having found something the great Harry Potter isn't good at." Miranda said, trying to loosen the mood.
Harry had to smirk at that.
Hermione let Harry go and stood back next to Neville.
"Okay, I'll talk with Professor McGonagall if there is a way for me to get to Ollivander to get my own wand. I have saved enough to buy one. If my Gran thinks I'll dishonour Dad, she can talk all she wants to. I think mum and Dad would have wanted me to have my own wand." Neville said defiantly.
"That's the spirit, Neville." Harry said.
"Thanks, Potter." He answered.
"I think you should all just call me Harry. With how much I told you, I guess I can call you at least friendly acquaintances. I don't make friends easily so please don't expect me to call you friends until I really know you." Harry said.
"We understand." Miranda said. "And don't worry, we won't tell anything what you just told us."
"Yes, we promise." Hermione confirmed.
"Thanks. I wouldn't like the whole school to talk about it. It's bad enough that they'll find out the rough outline soon as the trial will be of public interest." Harry admitted.
Okay, that was a really long chapter, hope you liked it. Till next time.