A Spark of Magic - Year One (Magical Hybrid)

Felix

Boring was not a word Ember would use to describe the past few weeks at Hogwarts. It turned out that there was a lot to learn about magic than waving a wand and saying funny words. Every Wednesday night she and the other 1st years studied the night skies. The hybrid actually enjoyed learning about the stars and planets. She felt a strange kindship to those pinpricks of light that dotted the night sky. Almost as if she belonged up there rather than down on Earth.

Three times a week saw the ginger mostly elbow deep in dirt and various plants during the lesson of Herbology. History of Magic was the dullest lesson of all with its teacher being Professor Binns, a ghost. Charms class was interesting when Professor Flitwick could teach, that is. The first time he'd said Ember's name he actually toppled off of the stack of books he'd been standing on!

"I really should change my name", she mumbled, hiding her face in her textbook. Hermione gave her a sympatheic look, patting her on the back.

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A week later...

Ember turned her head towards the door when Ron burst through. She turned back to her work as he hurried past the row of desks. "Can't believe I'm late", he muttered.

"He's gonna be in trouble", Ember and Hermione quietly chorused, the pair chuckling at how they had the same train of thought. The girls barely hid their smirks when the tabby cat jumped off the desk and transformed into the Professor.

"That was bloody brilliant!" Ron exclaimed.

"Thank you for that assessment, Mr Weasley. Maybe if I were to transfigure you into a pocket watch, maybe you might be on time", Professor McGonagall said.

"I...um...got lost", Ron explained.

"Perhaps a map? I trust you don't need one to find your seat", Professor McGonagall said. When everyone had completed the notes she'd set, Professor McGonagall moved on to the practical element of the class turning matchsticks into needles. Ember stared at her matchstick wand in her hand and muttered the words that they were supposed to. She smiled when hers turned into a needle. By the end of the class Hermione was the only other person who'd managed to successfully transfigure her matchstick.

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Their next lesson was down in the dungeons with Professor Snape. The room didn't have great light, luckily Ember's eyes were a little better than most so she was able to see things just fine. She took a seat next to Hermione as the Potions Master entered the room. While the hybrid wasn't too keen on the hook nosed wizard...something about him just didn't sit right with her...the Potions Master didn't share her sentiment. No, the wizard seemed to be almost...nice toward her during their first lesson...

"There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class", Professor Snape stated. He turned to face his students "as such, I don't expect many of you to enjoy the subtle science and the exact art that is potion making. However, for those select few" Snape looked at Draco who smiles "Who possess the predisposition, I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death", Snape said. He eyed the ginger next to Hermione, who appeared to be listening to what he was saying. "Miss Potter. Our new celebrity. I don't suppose you've learnt anything besides how famous you are", he remarked.

"Well...I um...know that the bezoar is a stone found in the stomach of a goat", Ember stammered, a little thrown at being put on the spot like that "uh Monkshood and Wolfsbane are often seen as two different things but they're actually the same plant". The hybrid held Snape's gaze as she finished stumbling through the couple of titbits that she'd overheard Hermione mumble to herself in the dorms that morning.