Here is the second chapter. Do let me know your thoughts, feedback, and any suggestions for improvement. Your support means a lot!
Posted: July 22, 2024
Thanks to janprabhat, JohnMonty, Steve, and Z0d for leaving reviews. Thanks to all for favorites and follows.
I will try to do something different. Given that I have been an avid reader, having read more than a couple of thousand fanfics, it will be hard. But I will try and see where my small brain takes this.
Chapter 2: The Classes
War has consequences. Whether they be winners or losers, both sides face consequences. Harry knew this; his life had been irreversibly changed by the last wizarding war in Britain. The war made him an orphan, forcing him to live with the Dursleys. He would never call Petunia his aunt. While he may not have been beaten or forced into anything, he had seen the disdain in her eyes and the eyes of her husband. The ignorance, the verbal abuse he received—he would never forget.
But thankfully, Sirius was exonerated when Harry was seven years old and had taken him in. He would be forever thankful for that to his godfather. Even after spending around six years in the inhuman Azkaban, Sirius had remembered him and taken him in. Sirius taught him many of the things he knew today. Even though their thoughts clashed on certain views, he still owed a lot to that man. James Potter may have been his biological father, but he wasn't here; Sirius was the one doing the duty.
"This is your room, Harry," he remembered when Sirius had brought him into the Black Townhouse, giving him a whole room for himself. It was even bigger than Aunt Petunia's bedroom.
"This is my room?" he had asked to confirm.
"Of course," Sirius had smiled with a big grin.
It was early morning, just before breakfast. As always, Harry had woken up early, gotten ready, and sat by the Black Lake, looking at the silent water and Hogwarts in all its glory. It was a bit cold, but a warming charm did the trick.
He stood from his spot beside the Black Lake, dressed in his Hogwarts robe, ready for the day.
Reaching the Great Hall, the tables were already filling up with students. He took a seat.
"Ah, Potter, there you are," he heard Kevin Entwhistle speaking. Kevin was the boy who partnered with him in the majority of their classes.
"Morning," Harry replied.
"Morning. How was your summer?" the boy asked.
"Good," Harry nodded.
"Mine as well. You know, I found this lass in my neighborhood, so perfect..."
Harry tuned out the boy, disinterested in his summer adventures or misadventures, just occasionally nodding to show he was listening.
This was going on when Professor Flitwick came with the schedules. He handed the boys their schedules.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter , Mr. Entwhistle . Here are your schedules for the term," Professor Flitwick said, handing over the parchment.
The boys looked at the timetable.
"Damn, Potions right at the start. This couldn't be worse," he heard Kevin groan " at least we have DADA at the end of day so it should be good" the boy muttered.
Harry absently nodded at his response. Throughout the last four years, Potions class had been nothing but a growing headache for Harry. Snape had it out for him from the very beginning. He learned that in his first year when he told Sirius about Snape's behavior toward him during the winter break.
Of course, Sirius had been furious and had marched straight to Hogwarts to confront Dumbledore. Although Dumbledore wasn't there, Harry heard from students at the castle that Snape and some wizard had a verbal spat over something, even drawing wands. It was McGonagall who had stopped them.
Sirius had later told him he wasn't at fault and that Snape was just a petty son of a bitc... who couldn't forget old pranks. Harry came to know how his father, Sirius, and their gang had picked on Snape during their Hogwarts years. Of Course he knew there was something more but he had contended with that at the time. He felt sorry for the man and didn't understand why his father and Sirius would do that.
After the break, he had tried to apologize to Professor Snape, but the man refused to listen and deducted 10 points, awarding him detention with Filch. That man was really petty—it was sad.
"Ah, Potter," Snape's voice cut through the classroom, dripping with disdain. "What are the primary ingredients in the Draught of Living Death?"
The class had barely started, and Snape was already on him. Harry cursed having Slytherins as the other house as partners for this class. If it had been Gryffindors, Snape would be more prone to throw his ire on them, or at least it would have split his attention. But that wasn't the case. It seemed he would have to take Snape's full ire this year. Nevertheless, he had been prepared for this; the question was from the sixth-year book.
"The primary ingredients in the Draught of Living Death is an infusion of Wormwood, combined with Asphodel, It also includes sloth brain and importantly the Sopophorous bean" Harry answered confidently.
Snape's eyes narrowed, clearly displeased that Harry had answered correctly. "Correct, Potter. But do not think that one correct answer will earn you any favors in my class. Ten points from Ravenclaw for your insolence and being smug," he sneered.
The Slytherins burst into laughter and giggled as Snape cut points. Harry simply nodded, knowing better than to argue, Throughout the years as he grew Snape's reason for point deduction had become even more petty. He took his seat in the second row beside Kevin Entwhistle.
As the class continued, they were instructed to brew the Calming Draught. Harry and Kevin did their best, following the instructions meticulously. Despite their potion looking almost like Malfoy's, Snape gave them just an "Acceptable" while awarding Malfoy and his partner Parkinson an "Outstanding."
After class, as Harry and Kevin were packing up their things, Malfoy approached them with Crabbe and Goyle flanking him. "Ah, Potter, why do you even breathe? Your breath alone should cost points in class," Malfoy sneered.
Harry looked at the blonde, shook his head, and, as always, ignored him and walked away. For some reason, Malfoy always tried to insult him. Maybe it was due to the fact he lived at Black Townhouse, Or maybe it had been due to Sirius insulting and trolling Malfoy Sr. in front of his guests at Malfoy Manor, or maybe it was something else. Harry didn't want to know, nor did he want to indulge the boy. He had seen Malfoy clashing with Longbottom and Weasley enough, and he had no desire for such conflicts.
He didn't see Malfoy seething behind his back.
"No, this is the worst class," he heard Kevin murmur beside him.
This was Defense Against the Dark Arts, the last lecture of the day, and Harry couldn't help but agree with him. The new teacher, Professor Umbridge, was dressed in an eyesore of a fluffy pink cardigan with a matching pink bow in her hair and could definitely win the "Worst Defense Teacher" award if there had been a competition, counting all the teachers they had, including bumbling Quirrell and that fraud Lockhart. And this was just him saying after the first lecture of the year hadn't even finished.
"Good afternoon, class," Umbridge's sickly sweet voice rang out. "Wands away. Today, we will be starting with a theoretical approach to Defense Against the Dark Arts." That was what her first instructions were. 'Is she really a defense teacher?' he had thought.
Then Susan Bones from Hufflepuff raised her hand timidly. "Professor, when will we be doing practical lessons?"
Umbridge's smile didn't reach her eyes as she looked at Susan. "Oh, sweetie, there will be no need for practical lessons. The Ministry of Magic believes that theoretical knowledge is more than sufficient for your O.W.L.s."
"But Professor, how are we supposed to pass our O.W.L.s if we never practice?" Susan protested.
Umbridge's expression had turned icy. "Miss Bones, you will find that theory is more than adequate, and if you know the theory, then casting shouldn't be that difficult. The Ministry has decreed it, and that is final. Any questions on the curriculum and I will start deducting points."
Harry shook his head as he pretended to read the fifth-year textbook, "Defensive Magical Theory" by Wilbert Slinkhard. When Harry had received the book for Defense this year, he had thought maybe the teacher would be focused on practical lessons. Oh, how wrong he had been. It seemed he would have to continue his O. preparations solo. Thankfully, he had other books, and if not, he could ask Sirius to send some.
So, this was for the second chapter. I will try to come up with the next one soon…. Hopefully. I appreciate any feedback and constructive criticism you can offer. Thank you for taking the time to read my story!
