POTTER v AUTHOR – First Year
JKR is the acknowledged IPR owner of PotterUniVerse.
My scribbles are rated mature. 2 reasons, I don't write for young children and the subjects are veering towards borderline adult. Comments are welcome, especially if I fumble something. Updates happen as and when, there is no schedule, apologies on that to those who are reading faster than I write (and edit).
Be warned, I have a lengthy detailed style, not to everyone's preference, if it's fast action you prefer, you'll probably be better served elsewhere.
Chapter 3 School Day
"What is that noise ?" A voice in the darkness woke Harry from a deep sleep. He'd been dreaming of warm sunny days and pleasant playing in a shallow pool. He awoke under a thick duvet in a curtained four poster bed. Other voices joined in, Neville's he recognised, the two others puzzled him, then remembered that he now shared a dormitory with Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan and identified them from the long discussion that they had before finally going to sleep last night. Peering out from an opening in his curtains, it was even colder in the room than the bedspace, he could see three other heads, Nev, Dean and Seamus. The fifth, curtains faintly moving as they failed to contain the most thunderous snoring sounds, though oddly, appearing to be on the intake stroke only, silent, almost on breathing out.
Was funny for a few minutes as they listened to a boy apparently self-inflating, without exhaling, would he burst ? Dean lost patience, "I can't sleep with that racket going on, either we kick him out to the common room or go wake a prefect and get him to deal with Ron."
"Don't need to, I know a silencing spell I can cast on his bed, it'll have to be his bed, otherwise we'll never hear him talking, a wicked thought that may not be such a bad thing. He's just so annoying, keeps trying to be too friendly, getting on my nerves last night." Harry thought about future nights and how it may be that sleeping was going to be difficult night after night.
{Mufliato is the spell to use, use your wand and specify the curtains. You could ask Madame Pomfrey to get Ron checked out or maybe get a prefect to take it to the head of house to apply a permanent spell to his bed curtains.}
Casting the spell brought two things, instant quiet relief and then smiles from four young boys all keen to get back to sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~
Daylight warmed the room, though only barely, it was much colder than Slovenia summer, what helped most was the opening of the dormitory door, warm air flooded into the room from the large common room fire downstairs. When the curtains pulled back from all five beds by unseen force, the sudden onslaught of noise woke four students, Ron was still snoring. Harry resolved to get a prefect to deal with Ron's anti-social behaviour, it wasn't intentional, but was otherwise going to deprive the others of restful sleep. As sometimes happens, a prefect chooses that moment to stick their head around the doorframe.
"Sorry lads, forget to warn you about that, brother Ron has been making that racket ever since he was five years old. Mum charmed his room to keep the noise contained, I'll have him looked at by Madam Pomfrey, now he's at Hogwarts, maybe we can get a healer to see if it can be cured, or at least modified. Mum wouldn't pay to have a healer privately sort him out, it was too expensive, charming his room costs nothing and Mum was always good with charms. Not to worry, I'll sort that out one way or another. For now, you need to get showered and dressed for breakfast. Showers on the far side of the stairway, waters hot, it'll help ease the cold out of your bodies. It always seems very cold in the castle the first night back here, a shower will help get the warmth back into you. There are dressing gowns laid out on your foot lockers. A prefect will be waiting in the common room for all first years to guide you back to the great hall for breakfast. They'll leave in twenty minutes, so don't hang around."
Looking back at a still sleeping and loudly snoring younger brother. Wand was raised, spell fired at the posterior bump, a stinging hex created the expected result. "Ron, get up". Voice level was high, at least it covered the laughter from others.
~~~~~~~~~
Showers were communal, a big room with showerheads along one wall, no cubicles or curtains. Benches and clothes rail opposite, where Nev still sat, eyes downcast, this was not something he felt comfortable with.
"Come on Nev' if you wait until we've finished before showering, then you'll have to find your own way down to breakfast. Just ignore anyone else and get washed, breakfasts here at Hogwarts are legendary, and I'm looking forward to that." Seamus had no reservations about showering with others. Was like the school showers after footie games, at least there was no mud and grass being thrown by others like at junior school.
Neville was a growing lad, and he was hungry, after a quick glance at the others, facing away, to encourage him, Nev shrugged his shoulders, now bereft of clothing and stepped under a shower, pushed the button. Gasped; no-one told him they started off cold ! There were a few suppressed sniggers. Hot water soon flowed, and he warmed up, soap on a string was used and embarrassment was soon forgotten. Towelling themselves and dressing gowns back on, breakfast on their minds. Dried, they left the showers just as Ron finally staggered in, still half asleep, another gasp was heard, the Weasley brothers hadn't passed on the information on cold water shower start then. Nev, Harry, Sean and Dean all shared a grin, neither had they.
Quickly dressing back in their dormitory, school uniforms the world over all seemed to be scratchy and itch in odd places. But they, well four of them anyway, were quickly down into the common room. Percy Wesley was all ready to depart with the first year Gryffindor girls. The new first year girls gave a big smile to Harry and Neville, got quick nods in return, they had already got girlfriends; Seamus and Dean exchanged big grins with Lavender, Fay and Parvati. Percy looked at the common room clock above the mantle piece of the roaring fire, time to go, prefect-ually punctual. He turned to leave giving a head nod to his twin brothers and a pointed look to the dormitory stairs. He didn't tell the twins to wait for brother Ron though and from their sudden standing and following the first-year group, it looked like Ron was to be left on his own to make his way down to breakfast, or not.
The main stairways down from the Gryffindor tower seemed lethargic, hardly moving, Percy lead the firsties easily, with only one pause, waiting for a stairway to move into place. Gryph gave a hint, {Watch out for the 9th step, It's an illusion.}. Percy led off, Harry passed the hint on to Nev, "Step over the 9th step, it's an illusion, it's a hidden 'trap'. Percy stepping down two steps, and after watching Harry, Nev also took exaggerated care and overstepped. A silent ghost hovered unseen above them. The rest of Gryffindor first years managed to avoid any injury and the small group trooped to the end of the house table and took up bench seats nearest the professors on the head table.
Septima Vector sat directly opposite her newly acquired house table. She was carefully ticking off a register of students in Gryffindor. A ghost approached her and spoke a few words and pointed towards a prefect. Septima's eyes went 'hard'. "Percy Weasley, a moment of your time; now !" Her voice projected and those on her house table suddenly took notice as voices grew quiet. No words were heard of the conversation, but there was a dull thud heard as 5 black jewels deposited into the Gryffindor house tally counter. Percy slunk away, heading back to the stairwell.
{What's that all about Harry ?}. Hermione's mind talk questioned.
{I think Percy just gained five demerit points yet, they can't be taken away, hence the black negative points. Gryffindor hasn't earnt any points yet, they can't be taken away, hence the black negative points.}. Gryph's comment seemed valid.
Shortly after, Percy re-appeared back in the hall, escorting a limping Ron, not assisting, merely following. Professor Vector ticked another line on her register. Then called Percy back to her again. Another dull thud, five more black jewels appeared in the Gryffindors counter. Percy slunk back to his table after handing something back to the professor. Now most of the Gryffindors were eagerly gossiping, trying to guess what Percy had done. The first years had a good idea, but being new to school life, decided to make no waves and simply kept quiet.
Over on the Slytherin table, Daphne Greengrass pointed out the odd action in the Gryffindor house point counter to a certain blonde-haired male. She had heard the exchange of mind-talked comments between Hermione and Harry, and after a glance and a nod from Tracey, decided to use this intelligence. It earned her a speculative look and a smile, then as Draco watched the silent but public censure of one of Gryffindors prefects, his sly grin appeared. Today was off to a good start, and yesterday, the attempted arrest of Dumblydore was a great way to start a school year. He had sent his eagle owl off with a detailed note to his father last night, his father would want to hear about that the headmasters seeming eviction. Oddly though, he'd not included any detail about his meeting on the train coming to school yesterday. The unusual collection of young proto-students who had been sharing the carriage where he'd been instructed to sound out Potter had caused him to think deeply before any reporting action. The families represented by those youngsters were a powerful group. Then when Potter had been declared Heir to Gryffindor and Dagworth-Granger being heir to Ravenclaw. That group were becoming even more powerful, something that a newly self-concerned Draco was conscious of.
For the first time in his life, Draco considered himself first, rather than simply as a reflection, a reporting agent and tool to his father. Greengrass and Davies families had always favoured neutrality, though often the Greengrass owned Prophet had been the mouthpiece of the Ministry. His father paid highly to the minister and swayed all actions in favour of the dark side. But what if the winning side was not going to be the dark ? Yes, Lord Voldermort had been powerful and was winning the undeclared civil war that the wizards were waging. But and it was a big, BUT when tackling the Potters' he apparently had not survived, not physically anyway. Since that day when the Potters were supposed to be wiped out, Lord Voldermort had disappeared. Harry Potter, baby Potter, had survived, then gone underground, impossible for the dark side to find and kill. Now on his re-emergence, seemingly protected by another almost unknow half-blood muggle loving family. Another hidden family who it seemed had produced another founder heir.
He had told his father of the attack by Dumblydore on Potter, the defeat of Dumblydore, even winning Dumbles wand ! The DMLEs attempted arrest of the headmaster. The Daily Prophet would have reported that and there were lots of pictures being taken.
Perhaps his mother's counselling was correct, she was subtly trying to convince him to judge and weigh his own actions before acting. His father on the other hand, simply wanted Draco to report on everything in Hogwarts, and to promote all and any dark actions to the detriment of the light and neutral factions. The Gryffindor prefects censure and those black jewels that had appeared. What was the reasoning behind that ? Potter seemed to have a very good idea, he was chatting with the other first years and seemed to be involved in some sort of power play.
The very last things his mother had said to him, before taking him to the train. 'Watch, wait and learn.' That advice seemed to have a good basis for the current situation. Look for advantages whereby Draco himself could profit, even seek further counsel from his mother, though of course he'd need to follow direct orders from his father. But, it was up to him how those orders were interpreted and if there was a personal advantage to gain ? So yes, he would bide his time, inform his father of major newsworthy items and see what direction he received.
~~~~~~~~~~
Breakfast was over, dishes, plates, mugs all vanished, the older and senior students were looking around, something had changed. This was normally the time when school schedules were handed out. When and where were they to attend classes today when those schedules had not been provided ?
"Students, returning and newly joined. Good morning to you all". Newly promoted headmistress McGonagall stood from her modest high-backed chair and addressed them from behind the head table. The room went suddenly quiet. "It's been an eventful start to this school year. Last night, the events in this hall will no doubt be reported extensively in the Daily Prophet and other newspapers and magazines and no doubt the mail owls will be busy. In view of the change from previous headmaster Dumblydore and the circumstances of his departure, I would recommend that you keep any discussions about Mr Dumblydore to a minimum, as the DMLE are currently investigating Albus Dumbledore in connection with several other related matters. Be assured; you do not want to be called into interview with the DMLE about trying to influence any future legal proceedings."
Minerva paused to let this settle into the combined student body. Wondering if many of the students had picked up on her subtle denigration of the name and honorific attributed to Albus. Some of the older and more astute had it seemed, there was fierce quiet gossip going on, especially on Ravenclaw and to a somewhat lesser extant on the other house tables. Then before the gossip and conversation could start in earnest again amongst the breakfast tables, the headmistress continued "With my many years of experience of being deputy headmistress, and my seeming elevation to the post of headmistress I will be undertaking a number of small changes to both how Hogwarts is run and in concert with the Ministry of Magic and in particular the Department of Magical Education, their representative and chief governor and exam moderator, Griselda Marchbanks. Currently the professors and staff are looking closely at rescheduling all of the classes and timings. As you will appreciate, this entails some detailed and complex work. All the staff will be busy for today at least and possibly tomorrow too. This is a major change and as such, we do not wish to rush and do less than our very best.
For our older students, I would strongly suggest that they study the set books for the year ahead, regular lessons will re-start, there will also be a tempo change. For your better understanding, that's simply a clever way of saying that you will be learning more and faster. So do not see this temporary delay as any form of holiday.
First year students, this morning, you will be given detailed tours of the castle and demesne, that's the grounds around the castle inside the perimeter walls. You will need to familiarise yourself with the layout and location of the classrooms and study centres. Library, greenhouses and medical ward will also be shown. Try hard not to need visits to the medical facility. Some of the potions have unpleasant flavours. Your house prefects will be conducting those tours this morning once your head of house professors have held meetings with all the students in their charge.
As first year students will in all likelihood, be unfamiliar with the methods and concepts of potions, ingredients, mixing and brewing. Our new Potions assistant, Professor Lovegood will be conducting introductory sessions for all first year students in the old potions lecture theatre. That area has not been in use for many years now, as the current potions professor has preferred a dungeon location. Following the recent fire and extensive damage to that whole area, an intense effort has taken place to bring back the old potions lecture theatre into full working use. Older students would also be encouraged to attend and make themselves familiar as well. Professor Snape has some extensive injuries and will be in Madam Pomphrey's medical care for some weeks yet it is envisioned. Professor Lovegood has a very different instructional style, she describes it herself as entertaining, I have seen a few trial examples of her lesson plans, along with several other members of Hogwarts staff. I am ashamed to say that what I saw and experienced made me realise, that yes, you can teach an old professor new tricks and tips. I would urge all students to attend, oh, and worry not on the capacity of the lecture theatre. Decades ago, this school, Hogwarts would sometimes have as many as ten times the amount of students we have today. The capacity of that potion lecture area probably exceeds our total current student body.
Well, I have said enough for now, be aware that a revised teaching schedule will be implemented very soon, more subjects, greater depth and the tempo, the pace will increase. All for the better I will hasten to say. Now, away to your common rooms, your head of houses will start their meetings at 9:30. The potions introduction sessions start at 2pm today. I do urge you all to attend."
If a student body as a whole could become mesmerised, that was the case here and now. This was a huge change ! Hogwarts hadn't changed much in at least a generation, much like the wizarding world in general. Was change a good thing ? Time would tell, if anything, potions introduction was something that had caught virtually everyone's attention. New professor, new location and an entertaining lesson performance. Heads were nodding, faces were smiling and in part that was partially due to Professor Snape's absence, probably the greater part ! Unfortunate for him perhaps, but it looked to be a benefit for the students.
Yet still they sat there ! Breakfast was over, announcements had been made.
"Ach, away wi' ye all to yer common rooms. Remember what I said about studying ahead, and don't forget Potions Introduction at 2pm. Now, away back to your houses." Minerva flicked her wand, the doors in the hall opened wide and prefects stood and started urging the crowd forward. On the Gryffindor table, there was some misunderstanding when Percy Weasley didn't appear to be a part of the prefect urge squad, until Harry and Neville noticed that the until now, a proudly worn prefect badge was now missing.
As the students filled away back to their dorms, Professor Vector motioned for Harry to delay. "Mr Potter, I have been informed of a certain action on the stairways this morning. A lack of information being imparted as it should have been. I've dealt with that already. I offer you an apology, on behalf of myself and the new headmistress. The former headmaster thought the stair trap amusing and failed to repair or correct the illusion. I understand that you took it upon yourself to warn others ? How many others were told and avoided injury ?" The professors manner was inquisitive, not condemning, or accusatory.
"Six in total Professor, three boys and three girls', all Gryffindor first year students." Harry was polite but firm, he had an idea of where this was going.
An odd noise heard from the house tally counters. There were now just four black jewels remaining. "There will be a house meeting at 9:30 this morning in the common room, very shortly, I will see you there. Thank you for time Mr Potter, now hurry along and join the others."
"Thank you Professor Vector, the apology is accepted". Harry remembered his manners and politely accepted the apology, receiving a small smile in return. As he followed the last of the Gryffindor students from the hall and headed for the long climb up the stairwell tower, he noted Neville had hung back, waiting for him. "Thanks for waiting for me Nev, It's nicer when you have company especially in this huge castle. Let's get back to the common room, but I want to have another look at that trick step on the way back."
The weeks spent on the summer holiday, the exercising in the pool and the walking up and down the vines proved valuable, the climb up the stairs hardly left them tired at all, both smiled it was noticeable that some others found the stairs hard work. By the time Harry and Neville reached the 9th step, they were alone. "Hang on a moment here Nev, there's something I want to try. Nev, this step is bloody dangerous, how anyone thinks that a tripping hazard when It's at least 40 feet from the ground, can be considered amusing, is quite beyond me." After a moments thought, Harry lifted his eyes and stared into open space. "Kasandra, a moment of your time please if you're not busy."
"You called for me Lord Gryffindor, how may I help you today ?" An elderly house elf appeared behind them on the stairs, a quick bow to Harry, politely returned by both Harry and Neville.
"Kasandra, how long have you lived and worked here in the castle ?"
"All my life, with the last 30 years as the Chatelaine the head-elf so to speak. It is with the greatest pleasure that I greet one of the founder heirs on their arrival at Hogwarts. What may I help the young Lord with today ?" The elfs speech was clear and lacked any of the excited pattern that some of the Villa elves had used, though there was the hint of Scottish brogue creeping into some of the words.
"I believe that this trick step has been here for some time ? Causing mischief, mayhem and injury upon occasion ? I think that with a change of headmaster and a more caring headmistress now in place, It's time for sense and sensibility to return. Would you please ensure that this step returns to normal, the time for Its illusionary hazard has passed. I hope that with Headmistress McGonagall's direction and your willing assistance, together with all the other elf staff, Hogwarts will become a safer place."
Kasandra gave a quick snap of long bony fingers and with another bow, popped away.
Neville gingerly tried the step. "Seems good to me, I wonder how many older students will automatically avoid this step even so." With a quick laugh the two boys hurtled up the remaining stairs, heading for the common room. Didn't want to be late for their first house meeting.
Wasn't going to happen, Septima Vectra had been following them up the stairs. She had stayed back as Harry had halted before the illusionary step. Heard the exchange between Harry and the house elf, who were normally never seen by students. Harry Potter had known who and how to call the head house elf, even given instructions. In Septima's mind, that was another piece of evidence in confirming the 'heir' claim. As they headed up, she cautiously followed, she had fallen afoul of this trick in her second year when she was a student herself; like so many others, had then automatically stepped over it from then on. A happy smile as she gingerly stepped, then stood on the now safe step, then even a little jump. With a grin, pulled her wand and with a quiet muttered spell, she carved a smiley face into the step. Looks like he really was the heir of Gryffindor.
~~~~~~~~~~
The portrait of the fat lady swung open as Harry and Neville approached it, Neville looked questioningly at Harry. His shrug and a smile. "I own the place Nev, what else can I say."
Laughing the two stepped into a maelstrom of noise and laughter, the Weasly twins were showing some of their newest tricks. One in particular, a small glowing bird was zooming around, trying to pluck hairs from heads and when it did, the persons hair changed colour for a few seconds.
"That's impressive boys, and for Weasley antics, amusing rather than embarrassing. 5-points to Gryffindor for raising the spirits of the house. It counters the loss of points incurred by another Weasley, Percy, who as a prefect was expected to show and lead by good example. Not informing the first years in his charge of the trick step was a serious mistake. He has lost prefect privileges for one month by that mistake. Now, dispel your bird and let's get down to house business."
The bird made one last pluck of hair, a beak full this time, and the hair change stayed for much longer. Percy looked annoyed at his brothers actions but wisely kept quiet. His bright pink hair took some minutes to finally return to Its more usual red.
Professor Vector talked for almost an hour, there were some major changes coming to Hogwarts. The curriculum studies were being overhauled completely. A new mandatory exam called 'Muggles Manage' would be required to be passed before the end of the current academic year by all students. Those of pure-blood origins would no longer be unaware of what and how the 'muggle' world managed without magic, failure to pass this exam would entail being held back from any further progression in all subjects. Furthermore, all students of any year were required to take and pass the exam. There were a few gasps heard from dedicated pure-bloods, and a whispered "Does that include their elec-tri-sity stuff?"
"Indeed it does Mr MacLaggan. Alternating current in all It's many forms and concepts, shocking indeed". Professor Vector had a good grasp of the muggle world it appeared, many of the muggle students now understood, then they too were pleased by the inclusion of a new subject, 'Wizarding Ways' and It's corresponding exam, also requiring to be passed before progression.
Interesting times ahead.
Author Note
A few typo errors were corrected as I'd managed to mangle a few edits just before I uploaded. My bad, apologies.
'Cassandra30'
I read the comments that others add. Generally, I do not reply, but today, 6th June 2024, I have encountered an avid comment writer. From the prompts I get that comments have been left and in particular on which chapters, I note that 'Cassandra30' is having a reading day. By just after midday (I'm UK based) this individual is storming through the chapters Thoughtfully leaving short comments on each chapter, though Ch12 & 13 were bereft ? That reader is up to Ch17 already. I do hope that you are enjoying your day, (or night, depending on where they are geographically?).
No doubt they and others will catch me up and I'm sorry that they will need to await further postings; I have at least moved onto my second story and have 'arrived' at Hogwarts.
As a writer, It is unusual to have such responsive and prompt feedback, and I must admit it has raised a wry smile. Must crack on, I have a lot to do in the next half-year in real life, and I'll admit, I will make the keyboard-time to keep the interest of the readers and comment posters on my stories. Especially one in particular