Harry entered the dungeons the next morning with trepidation. He knew from the looks Malfoy gave him in the corridor that reprisal would be coming at some point, and he was anxiously alert for any sign of trouble, feeling like a rabbit that knows it's being hunted. He hoped the lesson at least would go well. The subject had interested him the more he read and learned about it, especially as he'd started to notice connections between the different properties of ingredients and the potions they were used in. Muggle herbalists were remarkably close to being correct about the properties of a number of plants and herbs in their own way, but Harry suspected the use of a wand in nearly every potion recipe meant that they'd never be able to properly make the most of them. Maybe some knowledge had been retained from before wizards went into hiding several hundred years before. Some of the ingredients seemed downright vile, and Harry sincerely hoped the potion-making process somehow made them more palatable for drinking. Leech juice, bubotuber pus, flobberworm mucous? Disgusting.
Harry had reviewed the recipe for the cure for boils, before idly looking through the other recipes in Magical Drafts and Potions at breakfast, and come away with several questions that he hoped Professor Snape could answer for him. The wideye potion he'd seen toward the middle of the book seemed especially interesting, and Harry was already beginning to ponder its usefulness for late-night and early morning studying. He'd also made a point to ask Professor Snape about the wit sharpening potion Hermione had mentioned. Would it be safe to attempt it early? Was making potions outside of class allowed? How could he get more ingredients? And why did wizards use quills instead of pens or pencils, because the number of times Harry had nearly lost his train of thought because he had to stop writing to carefully ink his quill without spilling excess ink everywhere was so infuriating, why was there not a less tedious way of doing this?
Only Hermione had seemed sympathetic to his complaints when he stopped to greet her at breakfast.
Harry took his seat in the potions classroom at a table with Daphne Greengrass, and Blaise Zabini, receiving a brief nod from Zabini and no acknowledgement at all from Greengrass. She had tied her dark chocolate coloured hair back, restraining it with an elaborate series of braids. Harry was hopeful that Professor Snape would be in better spirits than he had been with the Gryffindors yesterday.
Harry was wrong.
Professor Snape stepped swiftly into the room a few minutes later, slamming the door with a wave of his wand and speaking clearly as he strode to the front of the class.
"There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class." Snape began.
That can't be right, nearly every potion requires wand waving, Harry thought to himself. Snape continued.
"I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death."
Harry thought that the last part of his sentence was a clear reference to poison, but wondered if bottling fame and brewing glory were actual potions that could be made or just a metaphor. He began adding that to his list of questions when he felt a shadow fall over him and heard the crescendo of Snape's voice in front of him.
"-To not pay attention!" Snape was standing just in front of him, the entire class watching the exchange. "Mr. Potter. Our new celebrity." Snape's voice dripped with disdain, his lip curled like he was smelling something unpleasant. Malfoy looked like Christmas had come early.
"Tell me Potter, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Harry knew this! He wracked his brain, trying to remember where he knew those ingredients.
'Crush the wormwood, add to cauldron. Stir slowly.
Chop the valerian, add to cauldron, and apply a high heat.
Juice your Flobberworm and add its thick mucus to your cauldron.
…
Add a sprinkle of powdered asphodel petals and a dash of essence of nettle.
…
Solution should be a dark violet when complete. Adding a small dose to food
or drink will cause one to fall into a deep but temporary sleep. For greater
effect, drink potion directly.'
"Er, it's a sleeping potion, right?" Harry replied. Snape seemed to grow furious at this, but didn't answer, instead asking another question.
"Where would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?"
"Erm, I don't know sir." At, this, a smirk seemed to appear and then be hidden that Harry wasn't sure if he'd imagined it.
"And what is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
"Oh, that one's a trick question" Harry responded. "Monkshood and wolfsbane are actually the same plant. It also goes by aconite, and it's one of the main ingredients in the wolfsbane potion that werewolves can take." Harry was enormously grateful that his prereading of his history of magic text had been useful, but it was short-lived as Harry shrank from the look Snape gave him. Harry began to suspect that the questions were never actually meant to test his knowledge, and defiant frustration began to settle alongside the anxiety he felt.
Snape looked into his eyes for a moment, but seemed to be looking through Harry instead, before speaking again.
"Pity. Clearly fame isn't everything. You are correct that asphodel and wormwood are ingredients in most potions that put the drinker to sleep," Snape began. " Powdered asphodel root and wormwood infusion are specifically combined in an enormously powerful potion called the draught of living death. Such a lack of attention to detail when brewing potions can cause devastation to yourself as well as anyone unfortunate enough to be near you. A bezoar is a stone found in the stomach of a goat and is used as a simple antidote to most common poisons. And yes, monkshood, wolfsbane, and aconite are all separate names for the same plant. Two points to Ravenclaw for your insight into modern applications of potions. And ten points from Ravenclaw for your lack of attention to detail. May it be a lesson to you going forward."
Harry was seething at Snape's pettiness. He'd been mostly correct, and Snape hadn't bothered to test anyone else on their knowledge, yet Harry had been made the cause of his house losing points. Snape watch him for a moment, before turning to look around the class.
"Well? Why aren't you all writing this down?" Snape returned to the front of the class and waved his wand at the board, setting chalk to writing out instructions Harry recognized already. He tried to set aside his anger to focus, before more questions occurred to him to be added to his list.
The rest of the class revolved around brewing their cure for boils, and Harry was glad Hermione had forewarned him as he watched the rest of the class struggle. He tried to strike up polite conversation with the Slytherins next to him, but they were largely uninterested in speaking, save when he had complimented Daphne on the precision of her cutting of ingredients.
"Thank you" she said softly, "my father's business is in potions and ingredient supply. They ensured I arrived with high quality instruments."
Harry eyed her knife and noticed that its edge gleamed brightly, and it had a much more ornate handle than his simple black one. Their conversation ended there, and eventually as class came to a close Snape came around to inspect everyone's potions. Most of the class did not receive positive remarks, and Harry noticed that Professor Snape had a clear bias for Slytherin. As he complimented Daphne's "excellent work" and begrudgingly described Harry's as acceptable, Harry couldn't help but feel a surge of triumph.
After Snape had dismissed the class, Harry approached nervously. His palms were a bit clammy and he felt the same desire to brace for an outburst that he had when speaking to uncle Vernon. Steeling himself as best he could before his nerve left him, and spoke.
"Professor Snape? I was wondering, if it's alright that is, I have a few questions about potions?"
Snape regarded him for a moment before speaking. "Make it quick Potter, I shall have another class along soon and I will not write a note excusing your tardiness to your next lesson."
"Yes sir. Thank you. First, I was wondering if there's any rules about practicing and making potions outside of class? I know Greengrass' potion was better than mine, but the only way I can improve is more practice. And how do I get more ingredients? I bought what was on my list in Diagon alley but I assume that will only cover the potions we make in lessons, and obviously I don't want to fail the class due to using up all my ingredients early." Harry paused, realizing he was rambling and he was beginning to talk far too fast. He forced himself to close his mouth and wait for a response.
"Officially, there is no school rule against making potions in your own time, but there are some concoctions that are prohibited or that will be viewed with suspicion. You will also be putting yourself at greater risk making potions without oversight, and will be solely responsible for the consequences should you make a mistake. It is therefore highly advised that you contain your activities to the class. I provide additional lessons to students who show themselves to be exceptionally competent, as well as remedial lessons to those whose performance is far below expectations. As far as ingredients are concerned, you can order them from Diagon alley or any other reputable supplier by owl, and they can have the funds withdrawn directly from your vault."
Harry took a moment to process this information before responding. "Great. Wonderful. Next question. My aunt Petunia often makes me cook the meals for everyone, but she gets upset when I cut the ingredients too small because, while they cook through faster that way, they also burn faster. Is it the same with potions? Will cutting the ingredients into finer pieces make it brew faster but then spoil faster? Or does it not matter?"
Snape looked thoughtfully at Harry for a moment, quietly muttering "Your aunt Petunia…" and he had that same sensation, like Snape was looking through him instead of at him.
Snape then inhaled sharply and responded. "Generally, there is no benefit or harm in cutting your ingredients into large or small pieces, as long as your measurements are correct according to the recipe. It is a good habit to build to ensure that, large or small, you cut uniformly. And, as I get this question virtually every year, your ingredients are transmuted by the brewing process. Your potion's properties will vary based on the type of potion and the skill of the brewer, but it is a magical concoction, not a soup made from the mixture of ingredients."
"Oh, thank you, that was actually my next question. Now, I was in the library yesterday with Hermione Granger, and we were discussing how the books there were so advanced that we didn't think we'd get a chance to read and appreciate them enough, and then we were discussing different ways to learn faster so we could get there sooner-"
"Your question, Mr. Potter?"
"Right, yes, sorry. How long until we can brew a wit sharpening potion?"
Professor Snape managed to look surprised at that, his eyes going ever so slightly wider. "That potion is very advanced. It is generally taught in fifth year, in preparation to O.W.L. exams. Furthermore, like many performance-enhancing potions, it can be dangerously addictive with overuse, leading to heavy reliance on it for normal function and very unpleasant withdrawal should you stop using it. I would recommend looking into a safer option for your goals at this time. Your textbook contains recipes for the wideye potion as well as the pepper up potion, which should, with careful brewing and moderation, provide the study aide you seek. Now, I believe that it is time you departed for your next class." Snape gestured toward the open door, and Harry understood that he was dismissed. He was frustrated that he still had questions, but he'd just have to ask then some other time.
"Of course. Thank you for all your help sir. I look forward to the next lesson" and Harry briefly bowed his head, confused why he'd done it as it happened, and turned to exit the class. Harry made sure to look both ways as he stepped out of the class, half expecting Malfoy to curse him in the corridor, and then turned to make his toward his first Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
Professor Quirrell was a perpetually nervous sort of man, often seeming only half there, and throughout his lesson he gave the impression that the students he taught were far more frightening than the dark arts he taught about. There were a number of dangerous magical beings in the world in addition to dark wizards, he explained, and while one day the students would be capable of adequately defending themselves, for now the best use of their time would be in first learning to call for help and escape danger. With that, he set about having the class practice casting red and green sparks from their wand, which could act as a signal, as well as surprising and distracting their attacker.
"Y-y-you will w-wave your wand in a d-d-diag-gonal slashing motion. Vermillious for r-r-red s-sparks and verdimillious f-for g-g-green. O-on you go!" he explained, and in time the class was filled with blinding flares of red and green light. It quickly escalated into some of the students deliberately targeting one another across the classroom, before Professor Quirrell stopped them all and dismissed them with an instruction to read the first three chapters of Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by the next class. Harry had already done so, but it couldn't hurt to skim over it again to refresh his memory, he thought.
As Harry left the classroom, there were still periodic flares of green and red in the corridor from the enthusiastic first-years. Harry grinned as he watched, before pulling out his own wand.
"Fumos!"
A cloud of thick gray fog erupted from the end of his wand, rapidly filling the corridor. There were a few cries of surprise, and then the sparks continued to fly, now illuminating the cloud with dazzling dispersed light. By the time Harry reached the end of the corridor he'd begun to develop a headache and a few bright spots in his vision, and pondered the unpleasant learning experience as he made his way to the great hall.
Harry sat down at the Ravenclaw table near the other first-years, who quickly began discussing the potions lesson that morning. It was generally agreed that Snape had been enormously unfair, but Harry was gratified when Anthony praised his advanced knowledge during Snape's questioning. When Harry explained that some of it had come from reading muggle books that just happened to be relevant in addition to pre-reading their textbooks, they all expressed surprise. Nobody had thought much about Harry's life before Hogwarts and they were shocked to learn he'd been raised by muggles. Apparently, the Potters were an old 'Pureblood' family, and it had been assumed Harry had been raised by wizards even if his parents were gone.
"Well," he explained, "I was raised by my aunt and uncle who thought they could beat the magic out of me, and I didn't even know I had magic. I actually thought my Hogwarts letter was a prank when I first read it. But once I found out it was real I wanted to know everything I could about it."
"So who's your favorite professor so far?" Anthony asked.
"Professor Flitwick, I think. He's just so eager and cheerful. It's infectious. He just makes you want to do well, like he believes you'll be successful so you believe you can be too, if that makes sense." Harry replied.
"No bonuses for guessing least favorite" Terry Boot chimed in, drawing a round of laughter from the table.
"Professor Snape is very harsh. He was helpful when I came to him with questions after class at least. McGonagall seems like she could be just as strict if you catch her on a bad day though."
"How did Quirrell even get the job? Does anyone actually believe he could fight vampires and werewolves and other monsters?" Terry said.
"At least he's not Binns" Padma added. "I've heard he's dreadfully boring."
"Binns?" Harry asked.
"He taches History of Magic" she answered. "He was the ghost at the teacher's table the start of term feast. I imagine he doesn't need to come to all the meals since he doesn't eat. Apparently he taught the subject when he was alive, and just kept doing it after he died. Didn't even know it happened for some time."
"Ah. Yes, I read through that book as well, but it definitely took the longest. Very dense, and I don't remember much about it at the moment, other than there seemed to be quite a lot of goblin rebellions. But I imagine it must be useful to learn. Those that don't know their history and all that."
There was a pause and some confused looks, before Anthony spoke up. "Er, what's that?"
"Those that don't know their history are doomed to repeat it. Do people not say that here? It's a pretty common saying with muggles. Well, the academically minded ones I suppose. I've met a fair few that are too daft to comprehend why learning history might be beneficial."
"Oh, I suppose that makes sense" Anthony replied cheerfully.
When Harry had met his fill, he looked around, scanning the other tables. Malfoy was talking animatedly to Crabbe, Gayle, and Parkinson, and when Harry caught Daphne's eye he offered a polite smile. She turned away without acknowledgement and spoke to a girl with curly black hair sitting next to her, who was engaged in an apparently energetic conversation with Blaise sitting across from her.
Behind him, Harry turned and looked at the Gryffindor table. He saw the elder Weasleys clustered together, and the eldest one (Percy?) was apparently telling off the twins for some transgression. Harry frowned when he saw no sign of Hermione, before realizing she probably skipped lunch to spend it in the library. When Harry suggested a trip to the library to work on Quirrell's assignment, he was met with hearty agreement and the Ravenclaws all began gathering their things and standing. Harry extended an invitation to Ron as well, who was initially reluctant, but agreed to join with some prodding from Neville. Neville, who had heard from Hermione about their trip to the library the day before, was eager to have Harry's help with potions to prepare for the next lesson. Harry gathered a few meat pies for Hermione from the table in front of Ron and wrapped them to put in his bag. Turning back to the Slytherin table and offering a smirk and an eager wave to Daphne again, drawing a frown that was gone as quickly as it appeared this time, Harry joined his classmates and they were off.
The first few weeks of term at Hogwarts passed relatively quickly for Harry, and going to the library together quickly became a regular occurrence for the Ravenclaw first-years after lunch. Madam Pince was horrified at such a large group at first, but they quickly earned her approval after showing an appreciation for quiet study, especially when the group simultaneously put a stop to a debate about something called the cannons between Ron and Terry that was becoming loud and distracting. Hermione seemed pleased to be around other likeminded students, and Harry got the feeling that she, like him, had spent a good amount of time isolated because of her intellect and success. Everyone also found that studying together meant that learning came easier, and comparing notes and looking over one another's work was a quickly accepted norm. Ron seemed to be reluctant to study properly at first, but even he succumbed to the peer pressure and was less vocal with his complaints, though he declined in favor of spending time with Finnegan and Thomas about half the time.
Friday evening Harry was returning to the common room before dinner when he saw the other first years crowded around the notice board, where the announcement that flying lessons would begin the following week had been posted. He joined them in the discussion, impulsively turning a chair a bright lime green colour along the way, and they brought him up to speed on the topic. Apparently there was major wizarding sport called quidditch that was played on broomsticks, and each house had a team. First years weren't permitted to bring their own brooms or join the teams, a fact that a few students complained loudly about. At Harry's request the game was explained and the team members sitting around the common room were pointed out, including the newest member, a girl with straight black hair named Cho who had just joined as seeker.
As the great eagle door opened and admitted Penelope, Harry parted from the group and went to speak with her.
"Hi Penelope" he said.
"Hello Harry" she greeted him, with a polite smile as always. "How are you? How was your first week?"
"It was great thanks. A couple rough patches here and there but I seem to be getting by alright. I think working together on coursework has been really helpful as well."
"I had noticed your little study group in the library. I think it's an excellent idea, and forming those bonds with your classmates will be good for all of you."
"That actually brings us to what I wanted to speak with you about. I can read the book, but I can't just practice potion-making the way I can my other classes. Not without ingredients, at least, but I don't really know how to place an order or where to send it to."
"Oh, we actually keep catalogs for most of the shops in Diagon alley around, as well as a few in Hogsmeade. You won't be able to visit Hogsmeade until third year, but if you've got the coin you can still place an order. Diagon alley, they'll just have Gringotts transfer the galleons straight from your vault." She looked around the room briefly, before returning with a catalog of ingredients and prices. "Here you are. Mulpepper's Apothecary in Diagon should suit your needs best. Just fill out your order on some parchment and post it by owl. If you don't have your own owl you can use one of the school owls up in the owlery, they'll know where to go. Mulpepper's is usually pretty food at getting your ingredients to you within a day or so, as long as it's not something too rare, but none of the potions you're likely to work with should require those for a very long time. Was there anything else?"
"Er, yes, actually. Do you know anyone who could help me or perhaps tutor me in potions? There's a few I'm interested in learning to make, but Professor Snape warned me against making them unsupervised until I was more experienced."
"Which potions did you have in mind" Harry thought he detected a hint of suspicion under her cheerful question, but pressed on anyway.
"Most of the ones we make in class" he replied, "but Professor Snape also advised against making wit-sharpening potions for now when I asked, and recommended wideye and pepperup potions as a study aide alternative. And then I'll look through my Practical Potions book and see if there are any more useful ones I'd like to learn to make."
"Oh that should be no trouble" she said, "tell you what, give me a couple days to get settled in, I've got my O.W.L.s this year, but I'll let you know when I can make time to teach you. Professor Snape trusts me to be competent, so I'm sure if I assure him I'll supervise you, he'll allow me to use the potions classroom. Plus, teaching you will help me review the material myself. It's a win/win."
"Fantastic!" Harry replied. "Would it be alright if I invited someone else?"
"As long as it's only one, two people max. It wouldn't be sage for me to be responsible for more than that. There is a Potions club as well, for like-minded people. It's somewhat small, Professor Snape is brilliant but his demeanor can leave a bad taste in people's mouth, but participation will certainly help you form good habits and connections and likely help you get on the closest thing he has to a good side." She finished the last statement with a wink. "If you're interested, I'll get in touch with one of the members and find out when they'll be meeting this term for you"
"That would be very helpful. I'm going to go have a look through this, but thanks again!" Harry waved and departed to his dormitory. As he sat at his desk, he pored over the catalogue and his potion books, preparing a list of ingredients , herbs, and reagents to have Hedwig deliver in the morning.
Harry woke at dawn and hurried down to the great hall. He pocketed a few pieces of bacon for Hedwig and a bottle of cold pumpkin juice, stuffing some sausages between toast to eat on the way to the owlery. The sun was just starting to come into view over the mountains as Harry stepped out of the castle, casting a large shadow over one half of the valley while the far side was bathed in soft light. Midday would still be quite warm, but mornings and evenings had started to get colder as summer came to a close, and Harry enjoyed the cool breezes coming off the lake as he walked. He stepped into the owlery, pulling out a piece of bacon and holding it aloft as he called out.
"Hedwig!" He was answered by a short screech before the snowy owl glided down, snatching the bacon from his hand before settling onto a perch before him. Once she'd finished he offered her another, chuckling when she greedily grabbed it in her beak, before he spoke again. "I've got something I need you to take to Mulpepper's in Diagon alley. Will you be able to find that?" Harry threw his hands up at the look Hedwig gave him, before offering the last piece of bacon to get back in her good graces. He tied his order to her leg and gently stroked her feathers for a moment, before allowing her to fly off into the distance. He stood still for a moment, watching her soar high above the valley before disappearing from view. Harry thought with a small pang of jealousy about what it must feel like to be a bird, being carried on the wind by outstretched wings. At least, he thought, wizards seemed to get the better deal with food. Treacle tart, bacon, and roast potatoes were much preferable to the small animals he knew made up most of Hedwig's diet. Harry looked idly around at the scattered droppings and animal bones on the floor around him, and took the opportunity to practice the scouring charm. He still had room for improvement, but be was satisfied that the owlery was noticeably cleaner now, if not spotless. A far cry from the sloppy suds he'd sprayed in the library weeks ago.
Harry made his way down from the owlery toward Hagrid's hut. Surrounded by a large crop of the biggest pumpkins Harry had ever seen, Harry thought it might be a pleasant place to study. Hagrid was chopping wood outside with an axe as long as Harry was tall, and Harry watched Fang being toyed with by a pair of ravens that seemed to enjoy tugging on his tail whenever his back was turned.
Harry greeted Hagrid and asked if he minded Harry using his garden for schoolwork, and promised he'd stay out of the way. Hagrid, of course, couldn't be happier to have Harry nearby, and returned to chopping wood as Harry put his back to one of the great pumpkins, pulling out quills and parchment and setting about writing an essay for professor Flitwick on the mending charm. After a moment, Harry felt a tugging on his hair, and turned around with a start to see one of the ravens hopping away, chased by Fang, who came and sat against Harry's leg and received several vigorous scratches behind the ears a moment later.
When Harry had finished his essay, he stood and began throwing some of the sticks Hagrid had shaved from the logs for Fang. When Fang snapped one in half, Harry gave his wand a wave and a "Reparo" to mend it for practice. After finishing a pile of split logs Harry was sure was enough to build an entire new room on Hagrid's hut, Hagrid invited him inside for tea.
"Term going all right Harry?" Hagrid said as he poured Harry's tea before offering Harry some rock cakes that Harry was far too polite to decline. Harry made a show of enjoying one, briefly wondering if reparo worked on teeth, as Hagrid sat across from him.
"Yes actually, quite well, thanks" Harry responded after swallowing. "I'm enjoying most of my classes. Astronomy isn't as exciting as I hoped unfortunately. The muggles actually seem to be doing way more interesting things than what professor Sinistra teaches." He shrugged at the doubtful look Hagrid gave him. "And I don't think I'd be doing nearly as well in history of magic without the Ravenclaw study group. I mean, it's not just Ravenclaws, we've got a few Gryffindors too, Hermione and Neville, and Ron comes sometimes as well. Ernie MacMillan from Hufflepuff came the other day too, but he didn't stay very long. But I certainly would be struggling much more without them. It should be such an interesting subject but Binns is just so dreadfully boring to listen to. But I'm enjoying potions and seem to be getting better at it. Professor Snape hasn't taken points from me all week, and Penelope Clearwater has agreed to start giving me extra lessons for practice. She says it'll help her review as well, and she's helping me join the potions club as well. I was actually just coming from sending Hedwig for more ingredients when I arrived earlier."
"Professor Snape not having anything to criticise is high praise from him" Hagrid commented with a wink, "and I overheard Professor Flitwick boasting about your 'exemplary performance' to McGonagall at dinner too. Said it was one of the finest examples of a severing charm he'd seen from a first year."
"I had a lot of help from Hermione with that honestly" Harry said quietly, going slightly red but unable to resist grinning. "We asked Professor Sprout if there was anything we could practice on, and spent hours in the greenhouse trimming plants."
"Well it's good to see you're settling in well. As long as you're not getting into any more trouble with any redheaded Slytherins, that is."
"You heard about that?" Harry asked sheepishly. "Yes, I've been keeping my head down. Fred and George taught me a few defensive spells and every now and then they'll let me test out some of their other joke products. Not on anyone!" Harry quickly reassured as he saw Hagrid's raised eyebrow. "Most of it is like, sweets that do something funny but harmless when you eat them, and ask me about how it feels and such. I think they do most of their testing on themselves and only have we help working out the last small details. They gave me a scone the other day that gave me great huge ears, but they already had the cure ready, just wanted to know if it was too painful, if I could still hear well, that sort of thing."
Hagrid nodded and sat back, and Harry sipped his tea and forced down another rock cake. They sat there quietly for several minutes, and Harry enjoyed the quiet. As he listened to the gently crackling fire and breathed in the oaky scent of the smoke, he felt himself relax and let his mind wander, meandering through potions recipes, spells he wanted to start practicing, before settling on Hagrid's voice rising to the front of his memory, words he'd said the day they met.
"Say, Hagrid"
"Hmmph?" he grunted in acknowledgement.
"Do you mind telling me a bit about dragons? Muggles have tons of stories about them, but they're all different. Some have 2 legs, some have 4, some can talk. What are the real ones like?"
Even Harry's thirst for knowledge wasn't up to the task of containing the floodgates he'd just opened, as Hagrid went on a thoroughly exhaustive impromptu lesson on dragons that carried on even as the sun started to sink low in the sky outside. But as Hagrid spoke, with a light in his eyes that was becoming more and more familiar to Harry, he couldn't help but briefly and enthusiastically share in Hagrid's wonder and love for the 'marvelous beasts'. Their conversation continued even as they walked together back to the castle for dinner, before Harry bid him goodnight before taking a seat at the Ravenclaw table.