Gryffindor First Year Boys Dormitory, Hogwarts, September 2nd, 1991
When Marcus awoke the next morning, he decided to cast his first bit of magic with his wand. Slipping his wand from his holster (he had gotten into the habit of always sleeping with his wand on him, scared he might accidentally leave it somewhere otherwise), he prepared to cast a charm he had encountered during his studying, the Tempus charm.
With a clockwise spin of his wand and a point, Marcus said, "Tempus!"
A stream of mist ejected from his wand, and ghostly numbers and letters hovered in front of him formed from the mist.
6:28 am
Marcus, having cast his first-ever piece of magic, grinned.
Harry, who was used to getting up early due to his relatives, watched as Marcus cast the Tempus charm and was amazed at this display of magic.
"Wow, Marcus, right? Where did you learn a spell like that?" Harry asked curiously, yet quietly so as not to wake their dorm-mates who were still asleep.
Marcus, his focus now shifted to Harry, saw the spell disappear. "Good morning, Harry. The spell is called the Tempus charm. I would be happy to show you how to cast it, once we exit the dormitory. Let me get dressed and brush my teeth, okay?"
Harry, excited to learn a spell, and on his first day too, agreed. Everyone else was beginning to stir, so Marcus quickly went to the bathroom and did his morning rituals. Afterward, he proceeded to get dressed and helped the boys who had trouble with their ties (mainly Neville, he mused) put their ties on and proceed downstairs to try and meet up with Hermione, who he figured was probably waiting up for them.
Sure enough, he spotted a mop of bushy brown hair sitting on a chair in the common room engrossed in her transfiguration textbook. He approached her and said, "Good morning, Hermione. I hope you weren't waiting too long?"
Hermione smiled and said, "No, I wasn't waiting long, Marcus. I've been enjoying our transfiguration textbook."
"That is good," Marcus said, proceeding to sit down on the sofa across from her and take out his copy of A Theory of Time from his robes. Not too long after, Harry and Ron came downstairs together, and Harry asked Marcus to teach them both the Tempus charm. Hermione, after hearing this, also wanted to learn. Ron rolled his eyes at her, but only Marcus noticed.
Marcus, switching to a teaching mode, began his explanation. "Alright, the Tempus charm is part of a branch of charms known as time magic. Tempus is a Latin word that directly translates to the English word time, and the charm is cast with a clockwise spin and a point of your wand. To get the most consistent results from this charm, I have found you have to be thinking of your desire to know the time while casting it. Also, make sure the clockwise spin and pointing of your wand flow together in one smooth motion like so."
Marcus proceeded to cast the Tempus charm, and the time was shown to be just after 7 am. He finished his teaching by saying, "Also, do not be discouraged if you do not manage it on the first try. From what I understand so far, magic is a mixture of theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Whatever you do, keep trying. Any questions?"
Hermione raised her hand like they were in class, and Marcus chuckled. "You don't need to raise your hand, Hermione. We're not in class. Just ask."
After putting her hand down, Hermione said, "You said there was a branch of charms known as time magic. Do you mean that time travel is possible? I also noticed that you were reading A Theory in Time, do you think it can be related to learning more about this magic?"
Marcus paused to get his thoughts together, not noticing the approach of Professor McGonagall with their schedule for classes behind him, and said, "While I do believe it is possible to travel back in time, I am unaware of any magic currently that would enable one to do so." Marcus lied, thinking of the time-turner Hermione would use in the third year. Continuing, Marcus said, "As for traveling forward in time, I am unaware of any magic like that currently or if it is even possible at all. I am reading the book you mentioned more to learn more about mundane understanding of time, along with strange phenomena."
McGonagall, after listening to Marcus' last comment, broke into their conversation and passed out the Gryffindor first-year schedule. It read as follows:
Breakfast is at 7:30 am till 8:50 am.
Lunch is at 11:45 am till 12:45 pm.
Dinner is at 7:35 pm till 8:35 pm.
Curfew is from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am.
MONDAY
Class 1: 9:00 am till 9:45 am: Potions
Class 2: 9:55 am till 10:40 am: Defense Against the Dark Arts
Class 3: 10:50 am till 11:35 am: Free Period
Class 4: 12:55 pm till 1:40 pm: Magical Theory
1:50 pm till 7:25 pm: Free Time
TUESDAY
Class 1: 9:00 am till 9:45 am: Charms
Class 2: 9:55 am till 10:40 am: History of Magic
Class 3: 10:50 am till 11:35 am: Free Period
12:55 pm till 7:25 pm: Free Time
WEDNESDAY
Class 1: 9:00 am till 9:45 am: Potions
Class 2: 9:55 am till 10:40 am: Herbology
Class 3: 10:50 am till 11:35 am: Free Period
12:55 pm till 3:30 pm: Free Time
Class 4: 3:40 pm till 4:25 pm: Flying
4:35 pm till 7:25 pm: Free Time
Class 5: 12:10 am till 12:55 am: Astronomy
THURSDAY
Class 1: 9:00 am till 9:45 am: Charms
Class 2: 9:55 am till 10:40 am: Transfiguration
Class 3: 10:50 am till 11:35 am: Free Period
12:55 pm till 7:25 pm: Free Time
FRIDAY
Class 1: 9:00 am till 9:45 am: Potions
Class 2: 9:55 am till 10:40 am: Potions
Class 3: 10:50 am till 11:35 am: Free Period
12:55 pm till 7:25 pm: Free Time
Since today was a Monday, this meant that Marcus' first class after breakfast would be Potions with Professor Snape. While Marcus could respect the man for always honoring his word, he was unsure of what else to think about him. He knew people were different than just descriptions written in novels.
Eventually, Marcus and the rest of the Gryffindor first-years were led by a prefect back to the Great Hall so they wouldn't get lost on their first day. Marcus made sure to memorize the route that was taken. After eating a breakfast of egg whites, sausage, hashbrowns, and water, Marcus was dragged into a conversation about Professor Snape by Ron.
"Hey Marcus, what do you think about Snape? Do you think he'll be a hard teacher?"
Marcus shrugged, "I wouldn't know; all I know is the rumors I have heard about him, and I don't tend to put much stock in rumors without more proof."
After having said this piece, Harry and Ron became engrossed in their own conversation, and Hermione was busy reading her book. Neville was looking nervous, but I could see a faint determined glint in his eyes.
After the first years were all done with their breakfast, a prefect escorted them to the dungeon's classroom for Potions and instructed them to wait for Professor Snape. Around this time, the Slytherins also came into the room and sat down on the opposite side of the room, with Draco Malfoy glaring on and off at Harry.
Suddenly, the door slammed open, and Professor Snape entered the classroom with his cloak billowing behind him. Reaching his desk at the front of the classroom, Snape took out a roll of parchment and proceeded to call roll, pausing on Harry Potter's name and saying, "Ah, yes. Harry Potter-our new celebrity."
This caused Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle to snicker behind their hands. After Snape had finished calling roll, he gave his famous speech in barely more than a whisper.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making...I usually have to teach."
Harry and Ron exchanged glances, and Hermione was on the edge of her seat. Suddenly, Snape called out, "Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Harry, having no clue, responded, "I don't know, sir."
Snape tutted, and said, "Clearly fame isn't everything, Potter."
Snape continued, "Where would you look for a bezoar if I asked you to find one?"
Harry, still staring into Snape's eyes, said once again, "I don't know, sir."
Snape sneered and said, "Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?"
Finally, Snape asked the last question, "What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
Harry said, "I don't know, I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?"
A few Gryffindors laughed, and I saw Seamus catch Harry's eye and wink at him. Snape snapped at Hermione to sit down.
Snape explained that powdered root of asphodel added to an infusion of wormwood would give Draught of Living Death, a bezoar would cure most poisons and was found in the stomach of goats, and that monkshood and wolfsbane were the same plant known as aconite. He then told everybody to write this down, and suddenly there was scrabbling for quills and parchment, followed by the sound of scribbling. Harry lost one point for his cheek.
After this, things continued not to go very well for Gryffindor house. The potion of that day was the Cure Boils potion, and I decided to partner with Neville. Things were going well until I saw Neville about to put the porcupine quills in the cauldron before we took it off the fire. Reacting quickly, I managed to grab his hand and pull it back from the cauldron.
Snape, seeing this, yelled, "Longbottom! What were you thinking, about to add porcupine quills to the cauldron before you took it off the fire? Do you know what that would have done, you foolish boy? At least," Snape said, looking at me, "Perhaps one of you is not a dunderhead. Castle, you are paired with Longbottom for the foreseeable future."
I looked at the professor and nodded, saying, "Yes, Professor Snape," before helping Neville finish the potion and giving him a pat on the back.
And that was how Marcus' first class at Hogwarts ended.