Chapter 3 -
Harry woke up the next day, glad that the Ravenclaws were the only other house apart from Slytherin that allowed students to have their own rooms instead of sharing, as that meant that nobody would question him on why he did not sleep in the bed. He had tried sleeping on the bed but years and years of sleeping on concrete or rough cots made the bed feel too soft for Harry to get any sleep, personally he felt like he was going to sink into it.
That was why he had decided to sleep on the floor next to the bed using nothing but a pillow and a blanket, Loki on the other hand had no problem making use of the bed and slept in it all night.
"Morning Loki." Harry yawned and stretched as he got up. Loki sat up and yawned too before mimicking Harry's stretching. After that was done Loki hopped and rushed to Harry's trunk, he opened it before reaching inside and taking out one regular toothbrush and one baby sized toothbrush. "Pass mine please." Harry said in a tired voice, Loki tossed him one toothbrush. "Not the baby sized one." Harry rolled his eyes before tossing it back to Loki just as Loki tossed him the regular one. "Thank you." Harry said as he picked Loki up and walked to the bathroom.
"Yes, yes..." Harry said when Loki tugged on his ear. "I'll clean your teeth for you." He said in a tired voice that had been used at least once by all single mothers. Loki clapped his hands together as he let out a small laugh. "I spoil you sometimes."
A few minutes later Harry and were waiting in the Ravenclaw common room, it appeared that he was the first of the first years to wake up but not the first Ravenclaw.
"Hi Penelope." Harry said as he sat near her.
"Oh hello Harry," She covered her mouth as she yawned. "how are you this morning? You're up early."
"I'm used to waking up early," Harry shrugged. "what about you? You look dead tired, like a zombie, if your skin was a different colour then you would look like an extra in Michael Jackson's 'thriller'."
"Hey!" Penelope said, slapping him on the arm. "I don't look that bad."
"Exaggerations and overreactions aside, why are you up so early? You do look pretty tired."
"I couldn't sleep properly because it was the first day back in my owl year and I'm a little worried and more than a little stressed, plus I figured it was better for me to wake up early for the other first years." Penelope answered. Loki climbed down from Harry's shoulder then made his way on top of Penelope's, once there he grabbed onto her ear so he wouldn't fall off then began patting her on the head. "Um...what's he doing?"
"That is Loki's way of saying 'good girl' or 'good job' if you prefer." Harry explained. "Long story short, he likes you."
"Aw, thanks Loki." Penelope smiled at him. "You're brilliant." She said as she petted him. Loki leaned into her touch before he suddenly rushed towards Harry, he pulled out a small box from Harry's pocket and tapped the top with his hand. The box opened and Loki pulled out a grape before dropping the box on Harry's lap, Loki returned to Penelope's shoulder. "What are you doing Loki?" Penelope asked. "Are you..."
Loki cut Penelope off by grabbing her nose and lifting it slightly so her mouth was open, he pushed the grape in before he pulled her nose down then let go of it before he pushed her mouth close.
"He's telling you to eat it." Harry said before he took out one grape and tossed it to Loki who caught it before he began eating it while keeping an eye on Penelope who decided it was best to just eat it.
"Thank you Loki." Penelope said after she had finished the grape. Loki tilted his head and grinned at her.
"You know..." Harry said as he looked between Penelope and Loki. "if he wasn't so young and a monkey...then I would probably think that he was trying to flirt with you. By the way do you know how classes work? I mean who are we in classes with?"
"You'll get a timetable at breakfast, it'll tell you your room and teacher for each lesson. As for students you'll be sharing classes in a mix of all four houses, if any first year is not in your lesson then they're likely in a lesson with the other first years that will happen before or after yours."
"Got it, thanks. Loki, you got it?" Harry asked, Loki nodded and was rewarded with another grape.
"I'm looking forward to transfigurations class," Lisa said as she along with Loki and Harry arrived outside the transfiguration room. "how about you?"
"I think it'll either be great or a disappointment." Harry confessed as they entered the classroom, only nobody was there apart from a cat that was sat on the desk.
"We're early." Lisa noted. "I don't know why you wanted to leave breakfast early to just look around the castle."
"I think it's important to always know all about where you are." Harry said as he turned to her. "What about you? How come you're following me?"
"You're interesting." Lisa shrugged. "You too Loki." She said as she raised her hand and petted Loki.
"Well hello kitty." Harry said as he observed the cat. "Or should that be professor?" A second later the cat jumped off the desk and transformed into Professor McGonagall.
"How did you know it was me?" Professor McGonagall asked while raising an eyebrow.
"Well...it was kind of obvious." Harry shrugged. "Transfiguration is basically just changing one thing to another and it's not out of the realms of possibility for a witch or wizard to be able turn into an animal. Also you were boringly and unnaturally still, plus the shades on your eyes looked like your glasses."
"That is very impressive." Professor McGonagall said with an approving nod.
"Also...a second year told me yesterday." Harry added, causing McGonagall to roll her eyes.
"Well...just sit down and wait over there until the others come along."
"You're the boss." Harry said before he took a seat at the back with Lisa sitting next to him.
"Mr Potter, must you bring that monkey with you?" Professor McGonagall asked before noticing the school bag that Harry had just taken off of his back.
"Yes." Was Harry's response, before he pulled out his transfiguration books from his school bag.
"Could you clarify and why do you have that bag with you?"
"Yes Loki must come with me and I have this bag with me because it's easier than carrying books all around this school." Harry said before he put his bag down and opened his book.
"Miss Swan," McGonagall said. "where are your books?"
"I got them." Harry said as he pulled out a second book and handed it to Lisa who gave him a smile and thanked him.
McGonagall sighed and turned back into her cat form and sat on top of the desk, a few minutes later a third student entered, none other than Hermione Granger. She looked quite happy at being the first in class, at least until she realised that there were two people who had gotten there before her.
"What are you two doing here?" She asked.
"Sitting mostly." Harry answered.
"Same." Lisa said as she opened her book.
"But why are you here early?"
"Harry wanted to walk around the castle." Lisa shrugged. "Besides, you're here early too."
Hermione, not having a response that to that, huffed before taking a seat right at the front. Minutes later the other students arrived, however two students weren't there, a few minutes later those students arrived. Harry recognised one of them as Ronald Weasley, as for the other boy Harry had remembered seeing him at the sorting ceremony but his name currently escaped him.
"Told you we'd make it Neville." Ron said to the boy, now obviously named Neville.
"Yeah but we're late." Neville pointed out. "Where's the professor?" He asked as he looked around yet was unable to find her.
"We're lucky," Ron said to Neville. "McGonagall would have killed us if we were late."
"I know," Neville nodded "can you imagine the look on her face if we were late?"
"You won't have to imagine for too long" Harry said, catching both boys attention.
"What do you mean?" Ron asked
"She's right there" Harry pointed to the cat on the desk.
"Are you mental?" Ron laughed "that's just a stupid cat"
Before more could be said the 'stupid cat' jumped off the desk and transformed into the stern Professor McGonagall. Ron's jaw dropped and Harry looked very amused.
"May I ask why you were both late?" McGonagall asked while looking at both of them with a look that said she had better hear the truth.
"We...woke up late" Ron admitted.
"You woke up late." Neville corrected. "I got late because I went to wake you up and then we both got lost on the way here."
"Well perhaps next time I can transform one of you into a pocket watch or perhaps a map, that way at least one of you can be able to get here on time. Now take your seats."
The pair sat down and McGonagall began the lesson, she gave the class a small speech about the danger of transfiguration along with what they'd be learning before she had them work on changing a matchstick into a needle.
Everyone tried it while McGonagall walked around helping them and offering advice and instructions. It took Harry a few attempts but he was the first in class to manage to change it all the way.
"Well done Mr Potter," McGonagall said when she saw his final product. "ten points to Ravenclaw."
"Thank you." Harry nodded at her before she moved on.
"So...can you help me or is this one of the tricks that you can't reveal?" Lisa whispered.
"Consider this your lucky day because yes, I can help you."
"Thank you oh master magician." Lisa said dramatically.
"I am not the master magician, that's a horrible name." Harry said before he began helping Lisa. A minute later McGonagall had returned just in time to see Lisa turn her matchstick into a needle.
"Excellent, another ten points to Ravenclaw." She said before walking off, Harry smiled at Lisa who returned the smile as they both pretended to ignore Hermione's jealous glare.
"Penelope," Harry said as he approached the fifth year prefect. "can I ask you for a favour?" He said while holding Loki in his arms.
"Depends on the favour." Penelope replied.
"Well I've got potions class next period and I don't really want to take Loki into a potions classroom, I was wondering if you could look after him for this one class. Just for today."
"Harry...I'm not saying no...but I have no idea how to look after him."
"You don't have to do anything, just keep an eye on him. He'll behave, won't you Loki?" Harry looked at Loki as he asked, Loki quickly nodded then turned to Penelope with a smile. "Look at this face," Harry said as he held Loki so his face was right in front of Penelope's. "How could you say no to this face?"
"Fine." Penelope sighed. "I don't have any classes so I can look after him, but only this one time."
"Thanks," Harry smiled at her before he handed over Loki who climbed up her arm and perched on her shoulder. "now Loki, you will behave for Penelope, right?" After receiving a confirmation via nodding monkey Harry left and made his way to potions.
"I've heard that the potion teacher is really strict." Lisa confessed to Harry as they sat in potions class and waited for the teacher along with the other students so they could get on with the first potion lesson. "He also apparently favours Slytherin's and hates Gryffindor's."
"That's not very professional," Harry frowned. "what's his policy on Ravenclaws?"
"Better than Gryffindor's but not as good as Slytherin's."
"That's better than nothing." Harry said just before the door to the class slammed open, Professor Snape walked into the class like he was about to strangle someone, his robes billowing behind him as he did so. He got to the front when he began taking the register.
"Mr Potter," Snape paused when he read Harry's name. "our new celebrity." He said in a mocking voice, several Slytherin's snickered.
"Sir," Harry raised his hand. "if I am the 'new celebrity' then who was the old one?"
"Shut it Potter, five points from Ravenclaw." Snape said, glaring at him before he finished completing the register, he then turned to the rest of the class. "This is first year potions, I must be honest when I say I do not expect much out of you. Potions is an art for the intelligent, patient and generally those with brains. There will be no foolish wand waving, some of you may find it hard to even believe that this is real magic. But the skills you learn in this class are some of the most valuable skills you could learn, assuming you aren't like the usual dunderheads I have to deal with.
I will teach you how to brew fame, bottlevglory, and even... put a stopper...in death." Snape paused to make sure everyone was listening, and they were. "Potter!" Snape said suddenly. "Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Hermione quickly raised her hand to answer.
"I think it's the draught of living death sir." Harry answered, remembering the answer from the first year book.
"A lucky guess," Snape sneered at him. "Potter, where would you look if I asked you to find a bezoar?" Hermione raised her hand higher, looking desperate for him to chose her.
"Bezoar...bezoar...isn't that the thing that helps people who have been poisoned? Stomach of a goat right?"
"Are you asking? Ten point for not being prepared, didn't think to open a book did you Potter? Clearly fame isn't everything." Snape said, ignoring the fat that Harry was right with his answer. "Now Potter, what is the difference between monkshood and Wolfsbane?" Hermione had actually stood up and thrust her hand as high into the air as she could. "Sit down you silly girl!" Snape snapped at her, causing her to instantly go back into her seat. "Well Potter?" Snape said as his attention went back to Harry.
"Okay, I remember this..." Harry said as he drummed his fingers on the desk. "that's...a trick question right...aren't they the same thing?"
"Cheating now are we Potter?" Snape said, glaring at Harry.
"Sir, he didn't cheat." Lisa said. "He was reading his potions book yesterday evening and he read it today before class."
"Quiet, I did not ask you!" Snape snapped at her before turning to the board, he waved his wand and instructions appeared on the board. "Get to work brats!"
Harry within the one lesson decided that he did not like the class, he also decided that he did not like Snape as the man had not only not instructed them on how to make potions or...anything really, but he was also making life miserable for them. He constantly walked around the room, hovering over people like a ghost. If you were a Slytherin then you'd get the odd compliment, if you weren't then you'd get bad breath on your neck followed by worse insults.
At one point Neville had accidently blown up a cauldron and ended up with boils all over his face, Snape did what any adult and professional would do...shout at him then blame someone else, specifically Harry for not watching Neville's potion even though Harry was on the opposite side of the room. To Snape's credit he at least sent Neville to the hospital wing, though Harry lost what little control he had near the end of the lesson
"Look at this potion." Snape said as he looked at the potion in disgust.
"What...is wrong with my potion professor?" Harry asked in a calm voice. "It's exactly the right shade as the one in the book, the right thickness as well and..."
"Tell me Potter, are you a potions master?" Snape said, cutting him off.
"No sir but..."
"Then do not question my word, it seems to me that your face was not the only thing you inherited from your father, you also apparently inherited his tiny brain." Snape looked like he was about to spit on him but instead chose to move on and ignore the laughing Slytherins.
"Don't say anything more." Lisa whispered to him.
"Oh I won't." Harry whispered back as he saw Snape stand with his back facing towards a snickering Draco Malfoy.
Harry discreetly pulled a knut coin out of his pocket, he chose his target and after a few quick calculations he decided on his course of action. He tossed the coin up and down for a second to get a proper feel of it, he took one of his ingredients and tied it to his coin. He made sure nobody was looking before he flicked his wrist, the coin was sent towards the ground where it bounced off the ground, it landed in Malfoy's potion just before Malfoy put in the next ingredient. Harry looked towards Lisa whose expression told him that she had just seen what happened.
To be honest he'd be surprised if she didn't, seeing as she was right next to him.
"What's going to happen?" She whispered to him.
"We're not going to die if that's what you're worried about."
"What did you do?"
"The instructions said do not add beetle shells at stage two of the potion, guess what stage Malfoy's on." Harry grinned. Seconds later Malfoy's cauldron began shaking.
"Um...sir." Malfoy said, Snape turned around and noticed the potion immediately. He quickly reached out so he could counteract the effects but didn't make it in time, the potion exploded and landed on the faces of Malfoy and Snape, both of whom ended up with boils on their faces.
A small alarm was heard, signalling that the lesson ended at that point and Harry was one of the first out of the door, followed by Lisa.
"I can't believe you did that!" She laughed once they were a far enough distance away.
"Did what?" Harry asked innocently.
"You...you know what, I've forgotten." She said, playing along with him.
"Great, so want to go to the library?"
"Well...it's not like we have anything else to do."
"Yeah, unless..." Harry pulled out a deck of cards. "...you want to pick a card?"
"Library it is.." Lisa said quickly before making her way to the library.
"Lisa," Harry said as he walked after her. "Lisa, Lisa. Lisa. Lisa, pick a card. Pick a card Lisa. They're there for a reason. Pick a card, pick a card Lisa. Lisa. Lisa. Pick a card, pick a card. Pick a card, pick a card. Pick a card. Lisa pick a card. Lisa why are you doing this to me? Pick a card. Pick a card Lisa. Pick a card, pick a card."
This continued for some time until they had sat down in the library.
"Lisa, my cards are waiting to be picked. Pick a card Lisa. Pick a card Lisa. Lisa you know what you can pick? Your nose and these cards but the cards are more hygienic. Pick a card Lisa. Pick it like it owes you money. Pick a card Lisa, Lisa, Lisa. Lisa, Lisa...LIIIISSAAAAAA...Lisa...pick a card...pick a card Lisa. I let you touch my monkey, why don't you let me let you touch my cards? Pick a card Lisa. I will keep going until the day you die if I must. Pick a card Lisa...pick a card."
"Fine!" Lisa said, quickly cutting him off before he could continue. "I will pick a card." She sighed before picking out a random card, it was the ace of spades.
"Memorise it then put it back in the deck," Harry instructed her, once she had done that he began shuffling. "thanks for playing along."
"It's not like you gave me much of a choice." She said but there was no real heat behind it, in fact she rather enjoyed Harry's tricks.
"I didn't force you, you could have said 'no' then I wouldn't have to waste so much effort trying to get you to pick a card." Harry replied before he took out a random card. "Is this your card?" He said as he held up the ace of diamonds.
"No, close though." She said before she opened her book, when it was opened she noticed something in her book. "Okay, I don't really expect an answer...but how?!" She said as she picked up the ace of spades.
A.N: Hi guys, hope you enjoyed the chapter. I just want to give a quick message.
Message:
I went out shopping today and was just utterly depressed when I saw the shelves were practically empty thanks to people buying lots and lots of everything thanks to the coronavirus and the limits on how much you could buy certain things did not help at all.
I decided when I came back that I really just wanted to write a chapter to cheer people up, I hope it's cheered at least one person up, if this made only one person happy then I consider that mission accomplished. I usually don't speak on politics or the world in general seeing as I don't really like leaving my room unless I have to but in this case I just want to say that I wish the best for all those reading and their families and even those that don't read. I sincerely hope that you're all fine and live to see another day.
I wish you all the best of luck.
Message ended.
Now i just want to thank everyone who reviewed and everyone who has read my story. Feel free to leave suggestions, i don't promise to use them but I'll at least consider them. Thanks again and feel free to leave a review.