A.N Hi guys, I know some people have been confused by how I set the class up but it's basically just that each class will have a mix of all four houses. For example if there are ten students in each house and the class in question is potions class then half (five) students from each house will attend potions class in the morning while the other half will attend the same class later in the afternoon or on a different day in the week. Hope everyone understands, enjoy the story and feel free to leave a review.
Chapter 4 -
"Oh...bloody...hell." Harry whispered to Lisa as they sat in defence against the dark arts class. "His stutter is going to drive me insane." Lisa nodded in agreement.
The two, like the others in the class, were struggling not to bang their foreheads off their desks. Harry was really looking forward to this class, however he quickly lost his enthusiasm thanks to Professor Quirrell. Harry and Lisa had originally heard that the man used to teach muggle studies before leaving for a while and then returning and become the defence against the dark arts professor after supposedly being involved in a confrontation with a vampire.
Harry doubted that this was true. Not only did the teacher not teach them anything practical but he also stuttered non-stop. That was a problem for multiple reasons, one of which was that it ruined the lesson seeing as they could barely understand him plus it took twice as long to teach.
Also Harry couldn't help but wonder how that would affect the man's magical capabilities, because as far as he could tell the man had to use words for spells just like everybody else so he wondered how that works with a man with a stutter. He also couldn't help but wonder if the man truly fought vampires like he claimed, Harry was no vampire expert but he was pretty sure that they were supposed t be super strong blood sucking monsters and it seemed unlikely that this guy had fought even one. Also weren't there any potions or spells to help him with his stutter?
Plus he could not help but wonder why Dumbledore had Quirrell teaching defence against the dark arts? Apparently the man used to be the muggle studies teacher, so why would Dumbledore take him after he returns from his trip with a stutter and a fear of everyone and everything then put him in teaching the class designed for knowing how to defend yourself. Harry just couldn't understand it.
"You enjoying yourself?" Harry whispered to Loki who was sat on his desk, Loki looked towards Quirrell and listened to him stutter for several seconds before he facepalmed hard. "I agree." Harry yawned.
Soon it was time for flying lessons, Harry and Lisa stood outside with the rest, each students stood next to a school broom. Loki stood next to Harry and had chosen to bring a long stick with him so he would not get left out. Harry had chosen to ignore Draco Malfoy and Ronald Weasley bragging about their quidditch skills as he really could not care any less about their flying stories if he tried.
"Have you ever flown before?" Harry asked Lisa.
"A couple of times." Lisa nodded. "What about you?"
"That depends."
"On what?" She asked.
"Does jumping off high things or getting thrown in the air count as flying?" Harry asked in a curious voice.
"I...don't think so." Lisa said eventually. "Why...okay...is there a reason you have been jumping off of high things and being thrown in the air?"
"Well...let's just say I've learnt the hard way to never steal money from a prostitute."
"Good afternoon," A voice said before anyone could respond, they looked towards the professor who walked up to them. She had yellow bird like eyes and white short spiky hair. "line up." She said. "I am professor Hooch, I will be teaching you how to fly a broom. Everyone stand with the brooms to your right. Now stretch your hand out and say 'up'."
"Up." The class said in unison.
Harry's broom instantly went up into his hand with Lisa's broom following a second later, others like Malfoy took about two or three tries while others were struggling to get their brooms to rise. Harry noticed that Hermione Granger was saying 'up' the same way a tired mother would demand a toy from a naughty child. Ron Weasley looked like he was desperate for his broom to rise, it eventually did, however it also ended up hitting him in the face.
Loki, took a quick look around and saw that everyone was distracted with Ron, so he discreetly used his tail to pick up his stick and mounted it. He took a quick look around again and confirmed that nobody saw anything while also patting himself on the back for being a little genius.
"Alright," Professor Hooch said once everyone had their brooms. "I want you to take your brooms and mount them," She waited until everyone had. "good." She said before walking along and making sure everyone was holding their brooms properly. "Mr Malfoy, that is not how you are supposed to hold a broom."
"I've been holding it like this for years!" Malfoy protested, his face turning red.
"Then you've been holding it wrong all these years." She said with a shrug, earning small amounts of laughter from the class. She corrected his grip, ignored his embarrassed face and moved on. "Alright," she paused when she looked at Loki and saw him on his stick, she and Loki looked eyes for a moment with Loki giving her a hopeful look. "now that is a damn good way of holding a broom." She said, nodding to the monkey before walking off.
Loki grinned happily as many of the class laughed while Malfoy turned even more red, he glared at Loki who noticed before responding by sticking his tongue out at him before giving him a cheeky smile.
"Now," She said once everyone had their brooms. "you are all going to gently kick off and hover for a few moments. Go on then, what are you waiting for?" The students did as they were told and gently kicked off. They hovered in the air for a few moments. "that's good, now to descend back to the ground you are going to gently push with your hands and push down to get back to the ground, there you go, well done everyone. Now when you fly you will want to aim the...Longbottom?" She said when she saw Neville Longbottom rise higher into the air. "Mr Longbottom? Mr Longbottom!" She said when Neville's broom went out of control and began flying all around in a chaotic way.
"You know...if it wasn't so dangerous then that would probably be fun." Harry said as Neville screamed while doing a barrel roll.
"He's lost control." Lisa gasped.
"Yeah well...I'm sure he will be fine..." Harry paused just as Neville fell off the broom and landed on the ground, causing Loki to cover his eyes. "...yeah I'm just going to shut up now." Harry added as the students and Professor Hooch rushed over to help him. Harry picked up Loki and went along with them.
"Oh...oh, oh, poor boy." Madam Hooch said when she saw he had broken his wrist. "It's a broken wrist, I'll take you to the hospital wing, Pomfrey will have it right as rain in no time." She said as she helped Neville up onto his feet and began leading him away from class. "Everyone had better keep their feet pressed firmly on the ground," She said to the class as she walked away. "the first person I see with their feet off the ground will be kicked out of this school faster than you can say quidditch."
"Did you see his face?" Malfoy laughed once Hooch and Neville had gone, he picked up a small remembrall that Neville had dropped, Harry remembered reading about those and how they turned red when someone had forgotten something. "Perhaps if the fat lump had given this a squeeze he would remember to fall on his fat arse."
"Aren't you going to say anything to him?!" Ron hissed to Harry.
"Why would I?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Fine, I'll do it." Ron said, rolling his eyes. He rushed over to confront Malfoy.
"Why on Earth did he think I would say something to Malfoy?" Harry asked Lisa.
I think it is because you're the boy-who-lived," Lisa shrugged. "I mean you're Harry Potter, thanks to all of these stories about you many people think that you're some hero."
"I lived on the streets," Harry whispered. "you don't attract attention on the street unless you need it."
"What can I say? It's just what a lot of people grew up hearing."
"I should probably do something about that." Harry said, shaking his head.
"What about you Potter?" Malfoy said, bringing Harry and Lisa out of their conversation.
"What about me?" Harry asked as he looked at Malfoy who was throwing Neville's remembrall up and down while Ron was glaring at him with an angry face.
"Aren't you going to say anything about me taking Longbottom's ball?"
"I'm sorry." Harry said.
"Sorry?" Malfoy laughed.
"I'm sorry that you're not rich anymore." Harry said.
"I am rich!"
"Hmm, no you're not." Harry said with a small shake of his head.
"Yes I am."
"So...you steal for fun then?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow. "You see if you stole because you needed money then I would have at least some respect for you but if you're stealing just because then I'm sorry but you have lost that respect. Plus...any small respect I had for you is gone when you're stupid enough to steal in front of all of these witnesses." Harry said as he gestured to all of the students around him. "I mean, I would've thought that the 'rich' Malfoy could just afford a remembrall but if you gets your kicks out of stealing then who am I to judge?" Harry said, raising his hands up in mock surrender.
Malfoy turned red as all the others began whispering and pointing at him.
"Alright, you know what Potter, why don't you take it from me?" Malfoy said.
"Do I look three years old to you?" Harry snorted. "What do you want to play a game of catch or something?" Harry asked in a mocking voice, causing the others to laugh. Malfoy turned more red and glared at Harry before hopping on his broom.
"You think you're better than me Potter? Time to prove it." He sneered at him before flying up into the air. "What's the matter Potter? Bit beyond your reach?" Malfoy mocked, he would show up Potter using his superior broom skills.
"I think that was a challenge Loki," Harry said while he turned to Loki who nodded in agreement. "should I accept?" Loki took on a thoughtful face before nodding. "Off you get then." Harry said, Loki nodded before jumping off of Harry's shoulder and on to Lisa's just as Harry mounted his broom.
"Harry, no!" Hermione said. "You've heard what Madam Hooch said, besides you don't even know how to fly."
"I'm sorry...who are you again?" Harry asked before flying off after Malfoy, Harry stopped in mid-air right in front of Malfoy. "Look Malfoy, I know you don't have many friends and you want to play with some new ones but this is totally the wrong way to go about it."
"Shut it Potter!" Malfoy spat at him.
"How creative and original of you." Harry said dryly before he zoomed forward and tried to snatch the ball out of Malfoy's hand, Malfoy barely managed to dodge out of the way in time.
"Have it your way then." Malfoy said before tossing the ball as far as he could.
Harry sighed before flying after it, making sure to slap Malfoy on the back of the head as he did so. Harry chased after the ball, it dove down and he dove after it, he saw it was about to enter an open window. Harry increased his speed, fortunately the open window was a large one. Harry and the ball entered through the window, Harry did a roll and caught the ball.
"Nice." Harry grinned as he tossed the ball up and down in his hand before he looked around and found himself hovering in the middle of a charms class with the students and Professor Flitwick looking at him with dropped jaws.
"Mr Potter?" Flitwick blurted out in shock.
"No, no, no." Harry said in an attempt at a German accent. "I am Mr Potter's German cousin, Auf Wiedersehen mein bitches." Harry said before flying out of the class room and back to the others, he descended and landed on the ground just as the rest of the class swarmed him with praise. "okay, okay, that's nice but please back up." Harry requested as they all tried placing their hands on him.
"Alright, alright back off!" Lisa shouted, causing everyone to stop. "He gets it, no reason to make him feel uncomfortable." She said just before Loki jumped onto his shoulder and rubbed his head against Harry's.
"Do you think you're something special Potter?!" Malfoy demanded as he arrived.
"I think I am Harry Potter, 'Special Potter' is my cousin. Looks like me, but actually cares enough to listen to you." Harry replied.
"Mr Potter." A voice said, the class turned to see Professor Flitwick. "Perhaps you could tell me what happened?"
"Malfoy's a dick, I'm did something good, Loki's happy and I am hopefully not going to get in trouble." Harry summed up.
"Perhaps you could tell me what happened in more detail?" Flitwick 'suggested'.
"Well Neville Longbottom got hurt and was taken to the hospital wing but dropped his remembrall, Malfoy was being an idiot and tried stealing it right in front of everyone I tried staying out of it but Malfoy was being an idiot and was not letting me stay out of it, Malfoy was then being an idiot and flew up into the air despite being told not to because he is an idiot and I had to go up to prevent Malfoy from being an idiot and permanently damaging another person's property. Unfortunately I failed because Malfoy was being an idiot again and tossed it in full view of everyone and I chased after it so it didn't break. Then I flew back here and landed, you've come shortly after and asked me what happened. Long story short...Malfoy was an idiot."
"I was not!" Malfoy exclaimed, turning Weasley shades of red.
"Can anyone verify what happened?" Flitwick asked the class.
"Sir," Lisa said. "it's true...Malfoy was being an idiot." She said with Loki nodding in agreement. "Everything Harry said happened, Malfoy tried stealing Neville Longbottom's property and Harry stopped him." She finished with the rest of the class, apart from the Slytherin's, nodding in agreement and confirming it.
"They're lying!" Malfoy shouted.
"That's quite enough Mr Malfoy, you and Mr Potter will follow me now." Flitwick said, he walked away with Harry shrugging before following him while Malfoy reluctantly followed him away from the class and back into the castle.
"I won't forget this Potter!" Malfoy hissed to Harry as he walked right next to Harry, but kept his voice down so Professor Flitwick wouldn't hear.
"I congratulate you on possessing a functioning brain." Harry said dryly. "Shame it is not a fully functioning one, if it was then you would not be in this situation."
"Watch your back Potter." Malfoy said before walking forward, making sure to push Harry with his shoulder as he did so.
Harry didn't react to Malfoy's push, he simply smiled as he twirled a wand in his hand that was definitely not his, he wondered how long it would take Malfoy to realise he was missing his wand. He discreetly tossed it into an open broom closet that they passed. He knew it was a bit hypocritical seeing as he lectured Malfoy earlier on stealing for fun but Harry honestly didn't care, as far as he is concerned there are differences between stealing from a kid with a broken wrist and stealing from a prat.
Plus if Harry was being honest then his problem wasn't so much with the fact that Malfoy tried to steal something, more the way he did it in full view of everyone and practically announced it. If Harry had wanted to steal it then he would've taken it when nobody was looking or made a distraction and took it, even if he thought he wouldn't get in trouble he would at least do the smart thing and be discreet about it. Besides, if Malfoy left him out of this then Harry would've left it alone, after all he didn't make a habit of interfering in other people's business. But if the idiot was going to bring him into it then Harry was going to at least do his best to have fun.
Eventually they stopped outside of Professor Flitwick's office.
"Alright Mr Potter, I'll take that remembrall, you wait in my office." Flitwick said as he gestured to his office door with his wand, Flitwick gently jabbed his wand at the door and it opened. "In you go Mr Potter."
"You're the boss." Harry shrugged before tossing the ball to Flitwick then going in the office, Flitwick flicked his wand and the door closed.
"As for you Mr Malfoy, you will follow me to the deputy headmistress." Flitwick said.
"What?! Why?!" Malfoy demanded. "Why not my head of house?!"
"Your head of house will be summoned, do not worry about that, now follow me." Flitwick said as he began walking. Truthfully he wanted to tell Minerva first because he had no doubt that if he told Snape then Snape would complain about favouritism and Albus would try to sweep it all under the rug. To be fair Minerva would probably do the same if Albus told her to, that's why he thought it was vital to get a punishment set before Albus could interfere and quickly get Minerva on his side before Albus could change her mind, he was very fortunate that this was one of the few days that Albus was out of the castle.
Flitwick returned to his office a short while later to find Harry sitting down on a chair shuffling a deck of card with Loki sitting on his shoulder and playing with Harry's hair.
"Mr Potter," Professor Flitwick coughed, causing Harry and Loki to cease their activities and look towards him and the fifth year student that he had brought with him. The fifth year was a boy with curly blonde hair and blue eyes. "meet Troy Jackson," Professor Flitwick said. "you might recognise him as he was in the class when you flew in. Mr Jackson I am sure you've heard of Mr Potter."
"Yes I have sir." Troy nodded with a small smile.
"Sir, if you don't mind me asking then what happened to Malfoy?" Harry asked.
"Professor Snape tried to prevent Mr Malfoy for being punished but couldn't after I pointed out that nearly a class full of witnesses have confirmed what Mr Malfoy did. For stealing, bullying, throwing insults, disobeying instructions and attempting to damage property he has gained a months worth of detention, lost fifty points and has had a letter sent to his parents." Professor Flitwick answered. "As for you Harry, I understand why you have done what you did but with that being said I know that you also disobeyed instructions so that is twenty points from Ravenclaw and one detention with me tonight. I'm sorry but if Mr Malfoy was going to be punished then you also have to be."
"That's fair I suppose." Harry sighed.
"Now Mr Jackson, you have seen Mr Potter catch that remembrall," Professor Flitwick said. "I'd like it if Mr Potter was given the opportunity to try out on the team."
"You want me to put him on the team?" Troy blurted out in shock.
"No," Professor Flitwick shook his head. "I just want you to let him try out. I am not about to put someone on the team based off one catch, that would be foolish."
"But sir, he's a first year and they can't try out for the..."
"Wrong," Professor Flitwick interrupted. "first years are merely forbidden from owning a broom, however I have checked the rules and it says that an exception can be made for those on the team, a rather old rule so not many know it. Besides even if he doesn't have a broom then he can borrow from the team or use one of the school brooms."
"If you're sure sir." Troy shrugged before looking at Harry. "He certainly has the build for a seeker, but that doesn't always mean he'll be a good seeker. We'll have to see, you're sure that this will be allowed sir?"
"I am, however the question now is if Mr Potter is willing to try out?" Flitwick said, looking at Harry. "Well Mr Potter?"
"I've never played quidditch in my life." Harry admitted.
"Today was your first time on a broom, correct?"
"Yes sir."
"Then I think you will be a natural at the game. Besides, there's no harm in trying now, is there?"
"No...I suppose not...hold on, actually there is. I want to be the best I can be at magic, if I take time out of my schedule for quidditch then that means I have less time to practise."
"There have been plenty of quidditch players who have gotten brilliant grades," Professor Flitwick assured him. "last years captain for example had gotten over nine owls."
"I don't want to be just good at getting grades, I want to be good at magic itself. If you want me to waste hours of my life on this then I expect hours in return."
"What do you mean?" Troy asked.
"Well think of it this way, if I do good in quidditch then the house benefits from that, correct?" Harry asked, the two nodded in response. "It's my understanding that playing wins house points which then increases the chances of the house earning the house cup at the end of the year, correct?" Harry paused to receive two nods. "Now I don't really care about a cup that I don't get personally and one that might be taken back the next year. So going on the likely assumption that I will I have to attend practises for this then I want however many hours I spend in practising returned to me in lessons."
"Lessons Mr Potter?" Flitwick asked.
"Yes, say if I spend three hours a week practising for example then I want three hours of your time with you helping me with spells." Harry said to Flitwick. "I won't ask for time for the actual game seeing as that varies and I haven't decided if I like it yet but if I am wasting time getting house points for a competition that I frankly don't care for then I am not having my education suffer because of it."
"Well...I have always been one to encourage learning..." Flitwick said with a thoughtful smile. "Very well Mr Potter, if you make the team then I will provide you with these lessons."
"Brill, when's the tryouts?" Harry asked Troy.
"Tomorrow actually, we have an opening position for seeker, beater and chaser." Troy replied. "Best of luck Potter." Loki tugged on Harry's ear before making a short amount of noise.
"No Loki," Harry sighed. "you can't be the team's mascot." Loki tugged on his ear again and made more noise. "Well it's not my fault, the team already has a mascot, it's the house animal plus I'm not the one in charge of mascots."
"My apologies Loki but the Ravenclaw mascot has been an eagle since before we even had a quidditch team." Flitwick said with an apologetic look to the now disappointed Loki.
"Quick question, why is the mascot an eagle when we're called Ravenclaw?" Harry asked.
"You are not the first person to ask me that Mr Potter, in fact you're parents both asked me that as well, so did Mr Jackson over here. I give you the same answer I gave to them and all the others that have asked."
"Which is?"
"I wasn't there when they chose the mascot." Flitwick shrugged, a small silence filled the room.
"Fair enough."
"That's amazing!" Lisa said to Harry after he finished explaining what had happened as the two walked down a hallway to their next class. "First years never make the house team."
"I haven't made it yet, still got to try out." Harry pointed out.
"Yeah but if you flew like you flew today then you would probably get in." Lisa replied with Loki nodding in agreement.
"Potter!" One hate filled voice said and the two stopped just as Malfoy stepped in front of the two. "I got detention because of you."
"I'm sorry...who are you again?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow. "Laco Malpoy wasn't it?"
"Draco Malfoy!" Malfoy shouted, causing everyone in the hallway to stop and look at him, not that he noticed as he was currently in a bit of a rage. "My name is Draco Malfoy! You can't even remember my name you filthy half-blood! I got in trouble because of you and you can't even remember my damn name! You stupid..."
"What is going on here?!" A voice demanded, breaking Malfoy out of his rant. He along with everyone else turned to see Professor Sprout, head of Hufflepuff house, walking towards them.
"Professor," Harry tugged on her sleeve before pointing to Malfoy. "he was being mean to me." He said in a hurt voice, Loki nodded in agreement while Lisa took a brief moment to admire Harry's acting skills, it was pretty convincing.
"I know, I have heard everything he said." Professor Sprout replied. "Mr Malfoy you will apologies to Mr Potter now."
"What?! Apologise to him?!" Malfoy demanded as he pointed to Harry. "But he..."
"Mr Malfoy," Professor Sprout cut him off. "that will be twenty points from Slytherin and you will apologise and you will do it now," She said in a calm but firm voice, not knowing that Malfoy had already lost fifty points that day.
"Sos...Potter." Malfoy said in a barely audible whisper while glaring at Harry.
"Try it again, this time at a high enough level for humans to hear and you can stop looking like Mr Potter stole your candy." She said, not knowing that Harry had just made a mental note in his head that said 'steal this fools candy later'.
"I...am sorry Potter." Malfoy said through gritted teeth and a fake smile.
"Apology accepted Malfoy, apology accepted." Harry said as he patted Malfoy repeatedly on the shoulder, a little rougher then he needed to. "Now if you don't mind it's time for lessons."
"I think it's best I accompany you there so there is no more of this unpleasantness." Professor Sprout said as she followed them to class, once they got inside the transfigurations classroom she left to go back to her classroom.
A short while later in the class Harry was assisting Lisa with a spell when the whole class stopped what they were doing when they noticed that Malfoy wasn't doing the spell and was in fact searching through his robes or looking down at the floor while trying to search for something. Professor McGonagall stopped by Malfoy's desk.
"Mr Malfoy, why are you not attempting the spell?" She asked while raising an eyebrow. "Is it too easy for you? Perhaps you'd like to show us all how to do it?" Malfoy said something under his breath as he looked down. "Speak up Mr Malfoy, I would not be able to hear that even in my cat form."
"I don't have my wand professor." Malfoy reluctantly admitted.
"You left your wand in the Slytherin common rooms?"
"No...I...lost it professor." He admitted in an embarrassed voice, losing a wand was one of the most embarrassing things a wizard could do. With everyone so focused on him they didn't notice Harry and Loki's small fist bump.
A.N: Hey guys, hope you liked the chapter.
In this I tried pointing out how stupid it was for Malfoy to take Neville's remembrall in front of the whole class and make a big deal out of it as well. I mean that always bothered me, hardly subtle at all. As for Harry, yeah he steals thing but he's been stealing all of his life to survive the streets, or at least that's the justification I'm using.
Also I'm having a moment where I am wondering if I should change the pairings. As of the moment I am pairing Harry with Lisa, but I am considering changing it to Cho. WAIT! Wait! Let me explain. I know there are a few people who don't like Cho, believe me I get it because I bashed her in my first ever story, but to be fair I like the character and I am not totally opposed to it plus I have a possible set up with both going for the quidditch team. I haven't made any final decisions yet but I think I will either pair him with Lisa or pair him with Cho and have Lisa be a friend/sister figure like Hermione was in cannon. What do you guys think, Cho or Lisa? Awaiting your answers.
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it and feel free to leave a review.