Once Hagrid returned with a basket and blanket, Penny leapt out of the Whomping Willow to join them. The Willow's movements slowed, and some of the branches seemed to almost droop briefly. If Harry didn't know better, he'd swear the tree was disappointed that 'playtime' had ended. Seeing this, Hagrid chuckled and rolled his eyes before opening the basket. "So what were classes like?" he asked, passing out overlarge cups before filling them with an aromatic tea that tasted strongly of several herbs none of them recognized but mixed to make a rather delicious blend. "Tell me about yer first week."

Hermione wound up doing most of the talking about the classes she took with Harry, Ron, and Neville, as she had apparently memorized everything in the lectures and went on and on about how excited she was to learn what was coming up. Penny, for her part, spent the time she was talking cuddled up to Harry while Ron and Neville attempted to enjoy the rock cakes Hagrid provided, despite them being nearly as hard as rocks. Noticing the size of the cups, Penny dunked hers in her tea to soften it before nibbling, and found the flavor mix worked wonderfully. Harry quickly followed suit, and Ron and Neville imitated the action before long once they saw it.

After a time, Hagrid spoke up to politely interrupt Hermione. "Well, you certainly are passionate, but maybe give someone else a chance ta speak?" he offered teasingly, making Hermione flush as the others did their best to suppress their chuckles. "Neville, why don't ya tell me 'bout Herbology? Ya seemed excited by that."

Neville blinked in surprise, but began speaking, detailing the work they'd done in the greenhouses. It quickly became apparent that Hagrid had been right, and his voice gained confidence as he lost himself in the subject matter. Hermione even stared at him in surprise as his grasp of what had been done and discussed in Herbology apparently eclipsed her own.

"And what about you, Penny?" Hagrid asked as Neville finished, shifting the subject before the boy could realize he was the center of attention. "I heard interesting things about ya in Transfiguration?"

Penny chuckled at that. "Yeah, that's always been easy for me," she explained with a smile. "Could even do some small things under my Great Uncle's instruction before I got my wand." She then giggled. "Though the look on Professor McGonagall's face when I turned my matchstick into a needle while she was still holding it to put it down on my desk was priceless!" That got Hagrid, Harry, and Ron snickering along with her while Neville goggled at her. Hermione looked slightly miffed, though whether that was for being outperformed - she'd mentioned being praised because she'd managed to turn her matchstick 'pointy and silvery' - or from poking fun at a teacher was hard to tell.

Once Hagrid stilled his chuckles, he gestured for her to go on, so she began talking about her other classes. "Charms was interesting," she mused with a smile. "Have a bit of trouble there with control, though. Apparently most charms are very susceptible to being influenced by the emotional state of the caster, and with how energetic I always am..." She shrugged with her wide grin as the others pictured the kind of outcomes that could have. "I...admit I slept through History of Magic," she admitted sheepishly, though managing a smile as only Hermione looked affronted.

"Ain't surprised," Hagrid allowed with a shrug. "Professor Binns weren't very energetic in teaching even when he was alive. Still, everything on the tests is in the books, so ya can always study that way if'n ya can't handle his lectures."

"I know most of it from story time with Uncle Merry anyway..." Penny allowed with a shrug. "Defense...that was different," she allowed with a frown. "I think Professor Quirrel knows what he's talking about, but...he's not very good at teaching it..."

Hagrid shrugged. "DADA's pretty hit or miss," he allowed apologetically. "We've had ta get a new teacher for it every year for the past few decades. Some people think You-Know-Who put a jinx on the job fer some reason. Sometimes ya got a good un, sometimes ya get an idiot, sometimes a place-holder. Ye'll just have ta see where Professor Quirrel falls in that. He weren't too bad at teachin' Muggle Studies when he was here last...though he didn'a have that stutter then." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Guess somethin' musta happened on that last trip o' his. Hope he's okay..."

As the others nodded in agreement, Penny continued. "Astronomy was fun," she admitted readily. "Not as fun as it was with Uncle Merry, but still enjoyable. Made a few mistakes though, my handwriting's not the best." She held up her hand that was still partially a paw to show what she meant. "Gonna have to practice that..."

"And Potions?" Hagrid pressed curiously. "That's the class that seems most polarizin' for firs' years."

"Nothing really unusual happened," Penny allowed thoughtfully. "Professor Snape knows his stuff...but he doesn't seem to enjoy teaching. Gonna have to practice chopping and the like, though. I do all my cooking prep work with my claws normally, so I'm not used to knives..."

"Potions was just plain odd for us," Ron spoke up thoughtfully. "Snape-"

"Professor Snape," Hagrid and Hermione corrected simultaneously, making Ron flush.

"Well, he started out like he was hostile to Harry," Ron continued a bit petulantly, "but then he got all mellow or something. Didn't give or take points from anybody that class, and according to my brothers, that's unheard of."

"He is pretty strict and ain't too free with praise or rewards," Hagrid allowed thoughtfully. "But he's a good teacher, and really knows his craft. Sides, makin' mistakes in Potion brewing-"

"Oh, don't start!" Penny whined as she grabbed her ears and pulled them down as though to close them up. "Uncle Merry went on and on about Potion safety! I know more about what not to do in that subject than what to do! The only thing worse were the Alchemy lectures! I only blew up his lab once!"

"Blew up his lab?" Hermione gasped in shock.

"It wasn't that bad!" Penny defended with a frown. "He does it at least once a week!"

Hagrid gave Penny an uncertain look, plainly not sure how to take that.

"Besides, I was just trying to make him a smoothie since he hadn't eaten all day!" Penny continued defensively. "How was I to know he'd alchemically treated the fruit in his cooler?"

Hagrid knew how to take that now. Be very careful if he ever met her Great Uncle.