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Harry, Ron and Hermione had an easy time locating their Muggle Studies classroom which was an extra relief when he found out from a few other Gryffindors like Seamus, Dean, Lavender and Parvathi that the Divination classroom was extremely hard to find and located on the top of a tower quiet far off from their Grand Hall or Common Room. Professor Gisella Ortega was already waiting for them. She was a beautiful woman in her late twenties (or at least looked that age) with light brown skin and black hair but had a certain unpleasantness on her face.
"Sit down everyone" she began. "I said sit down." Gisella demanded, glaring at the few who were still standing. "I'll get straight to be point. I do not tolerate any playing around in my class. No tardiness. No speaking unless you're spoken to," she said in tone that make Harry confused if she was another Snape or another McGonagall.
Just then Neville accidentally dropped his book.
Gisella shook her head and turned to the hapless boy. "Your name?" she asked in a rebuking tone.
"Neville … Longbottom …. professor." Neville answered her shakily.
"Mr. Longbottom. I do not like my class being disrupted by clumsiness either. Is that clear?" she snapped at him.
"Yes professor," he said before picking his book back up.
Maybe she was a Snape. McGonagall was strict but not like this.
"Harry Potter!" Gisella rubbed her hands together and smiled at him. "Pleasure to have you in class. Come up here." She gestured beside her.
"I …"
"Come up here Potter." Her lips were smiling but her eyes gave a warning glare.
Harry reluctantly got up from his seat and went up front to stand beside her.
"And you are?" she asked Ron.
"Ron Weasley".
"Do us a favor and take a picture of me and your friend will you?" Gisella handed Ron a camera.
"Professor … is this really …" Harry began
"It's just a picture Mr. Potter. Now smile." She put her hand around him and turned his face to face Ron. "Take it now." She snapped her fingers at Ron.
Ron shot an apologetic look at Harry before snapping the picture.
Gisella ushered Harry back to his seat and took her camera back. So she was a Lockhart as well as a Snape which made Harry feel like gagging.
"Alright. For this year, we'll just be learning the basics of how muggle politics, culture and technology work. Open to page one," Gisella ordered.
Harry opened to page one of Introduction to Muggle Studies. Chapter one was the study of Muggle Monarchy. Gisella's lesson included a heavy dose of gossip on the current UK Royal Family which Harry thought was needless since they just needed to know the basics of monarchy in muggle countries with a focus on the UK and not the drama within the Royal Family.
"I didn't think anyone could embody the worst of both Snape and Lockhart," said Harry said as he, Ron, Hermione headed to their Transfiguration class.
"I wish she would stick more to the book and be less about gossiping. But it was still better than Divination which involved a lot of guesswork. Divination is complete rubbish especially compared to Arithmancy," said Hermione.
"What are you talking about?" asked Ron. "You haven't had an Arithmancy or Divination class yet. Or at least both classes went on at the same time as Muggle Studies. Surely you couldn't have been at three places at once?"
"Nonsense Ronald. How can anyone be at three places at once," Hermione answered back before hurrying off ahead of them.
Harry always knew Draco Malfoy was an idiot but his stupidity reached a new height during their first Care of Magical Creatures lesson after lunch. Hagrid taught them how to open their Monster book which got snide comments and insults from Draco, causing Harry to bicker with him.
Hagrid then introduced the class to Hippogriffs. Apparently they had to bow to it and wait for it to bow back before they were allowed to do anything with it. Harry offered to try first. When he successfully got a hippogriff, Buckbeak to bow, Hagrid pushed him to ride on it. Draco and gang were jealous when he had a successful ride back. The real problem began when the class was divided between hippogrifs and Draco, Crabbe and Goyle happened to be paired with Buckbeak. After Draco successfully got Buckbeak to bow, the stupid blonde git got cocky and preceded to insult Buckbeak despite Hagrid's clear instruction to never insult a hippogriff. Within seconds, Buckbeak had attacked Draco and gashed his arm. Hagrid then carried him to the Hospital Wing while the rest of the Slytherins spoke ill of their new Care of Magical Creature's professor.
Once classes were over, Harry, Ron and Hermione snuck out to see Hagrid at his hut. They reassured Hagrid that he wasn't at fault as he had warned the class not to insult hippogriffs. Hagrid appreciated their concern but was worried that Draco's father would kick up a storm and get him in trouble. He then realized they were breaking curfew and rebuked them before walking them back to the castle. Normally Hagrid wouldn't have minded Harry visiting after hours, but with Peter believed to be out to get Harry, he wasn't too thrilled and made them promise not to be out after hours.
That night, Harry filled his father in on Professor Ortega while they conversed through their mirrors.
"Oh, wow, a Snape and Lockhart in one professor. Sometimes I think Dumbledore is trolling students with who he hires. Perhaps he thinks the experience would teach them a valuable lesson. I had a professor whowas a lot like Lochart in sixth year and he played a part in me seeing how inflated my own head was back then," said James.
"I thought mum calling your out made you deflate your head?"
"Your mum calling me out for the arrogant toerag I was certainly played a part but I'd say my inflated head professor and Professor Dumbledore's advise played their parts too."
Harry grinned "Dad, you don't think Ortega would publish the picture would she?" His grin turned into a frown.
"Don't worry about it. She won't be able to publish it as she has no story to sell with a picture of you and your professor during an ordinary lesson. She'll just make herself look bad. But regardless, I'll write to Dumbledore to make sure she doesn't get any clever ideas."
"Thanks dad. Regarding Hagrid …."
James raised his eyebrows and frowned. "What happened? He didn't bring anything dangerous to class did he?"
Harry explained what happened with Draco Malfoy.
James bit his lip and ran his hand through his hair. "Blimey. It's not Hagrid's fault Draco Malfoy didn't listen to instructions but I'm afraid you're right that Lucius Malfoy would certainly turn it against him."
"But don't worry. I'll do my best to help Hagrid. And I'm certain Dumbledore wouldn't let Hagrid be punished for something that wasn't his fault either. Alright?" James said placatingly at Harry's worried look.
"Alright" Harry relaxed a little.
The spoke a little longer before they called it a night.
The next morning, as Sirius was at the backseat of his car while his driver cum bodyguard, Hollister drove the car. James, Remus and him had hired drivers cum bodyguards while were out of their houses as an added security measure along with the charms placed around their homes.
They were passing by Potter Manor when a figure emerged in front of their car, causing Holister to pull the emergency break. Sirius's heart skipped at beat when he saw who was in front of him and he was sure he had turned pale white. He got down from his car, rubbed his eyes and made sure he wasn't dreaming or mistaking who was in front of him. The person in front of him was … no he couldn't be …
"Regulus?"
"Hello big brother".
"How? … They said you were …."
=to be continued=
A/N: Guys, real quick, Harry and Hermione won the poll. But there's still chance to change it. The poll in on my Youtube channel "Tasha9315" (Tasha Kay) in the community tab. Please let me know if you'd like a link. Please comment if you prefer Ginny. But either way, the main story isn't Harry's romantic pairing. Like I enjoyed the HP books even if I wasn't happy with Harry and Ginny (I am coming to like them in the books now, but I didn't previously). I have edited the second year Christmas to include Ginny being with them at Potter Manor as I forgot about her. And I change Harry's favorite food to beef caserole. But these are quiet minor irrelavent changes.