The Last Maruaders: Year One

Chapter 3: New Classes, New Friends (Ryan's POV)

Ryan and Daphne chose seats almost precisely in the middle of their first class: History of Magic, seated and ready with five minutes to spare. Draco Malfoy and his friends sat directly behind. "I think we've got this class with the Hufflepuffs." Daphne said, watching a group of students with yellow and black ties wander in.

"Great." Ryan wasn't thrilled about having a class with Elijah, and as he was near the end of the group, took the last seat beside her. She smiled. "Good morning."

"Hi." He sighed, reluctantly sitting down.

Exactly on time, a ghost glided through the blackboard and stopped at the podium. "The Gargoyle Strike of 1911 happened due to inanimate stone sculptures being bewitched with a form of sentience-"

Ryan scribbled everything down, her long ponytail falling on the side where Elijah tried to write. She heard him huff and moved slightly, mouthing an apology. Halfway through the class, Ryan yawned, stretching her hand. She glanced over at her table companion. He wasn't taking notes; he was writing a letter. She shook her head, going back to her notes.

Finally, Professor Binns stopped talking about gargoyles. "Class dismissed."

Ryan gathered her notes, hurrying to her next class: Transfiguration. She was most excited about this one. Professor McGonagall stood primly at the front of the classroom and Ryan made sure she got in the front row. As soon as everyone sat down, Professor McGonagall began class. "Good morning. Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts. Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned." She flicked her wand and symbols appeared on the board behind her. "This is the Transfiguration alphabet, referenced in your textbooks on page 12. Copy them down with their meanings."

Ryan immediately got to work. She was sitting by Malfoy this class, and he was also diligent in his note taking. Ryan was the first one finished with the notes. Professor McGonagall handed her a matchstick. "Page 14, Miss Black. Try to transfigure this into a needle."

Ryan turned the pages and picked up her wand, muttering the spell. The first few times, nothing happened. Ryan frowned, squaring her shoulders. "Alright, you stupid match." She whispered. "You're going to do what I say."

Malfoy snorted beside her. "Talking to yourself?"

"No, to the match." Ryan rolled her eyes. "Shush. I'm concentrating."

Furrowing her brow, she muttered the spell again, and to her astonishment, the match changed color. The next time she said the spell, the match became pointy. "Outstanding job, Miss Black. 10 points to Slytherin."

Ryan beamed. "See, Malfoy? I'm not crazy."

He laughed. "Sure you're not."

Class dismissed soon after and Ryan and Malfoy headed to the Great Hall for lunch. "You know, I think we're related." He mentioned. "My mum's last name was Black before she married my father."

"Oh? That's cool."

"I'm going to write her to ask." He stated. "So, who's your mum?"

"Um, Elora Lockhart. She wrote me a letter when she left me with Ms. Sabine at North Star."

"Alright, I'll ask." He smiled at her. "Maybe you can find your family."

"That would be the best." She returned his smile.

After lunch, Ryan and Daphne headed down to the dungeons for their first Potions class. She and Ryan ended up sitting by a few Gryffindors, including Harry Potter. She offered him a small smile, which he returned. The door suddenly slammed shut, causing Ryan to jump slightly. Professor Snape, head of Slytherin House, resembled an overgrown bat with greasy hair. He picked up a piece of parchment to take roll. His lip curled as he started to read their names. "Ryan Black." He said, his voice not hiding his disdain.

Ryan, confused, held her hand up. Professor Snape sneered at her, continuing down the list. The only other person he reacted to was Harry. "Mr. Potter. Our new celebrity." His disdain seemed worse for him.

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle snickered behind Ryan and Daphne as Professor Snape continued taking the roll. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potionmaking." The professor started his lecture. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses.... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death -- if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

Ryan raised an eyebrow. She wasn't sure if she liked her head of house but she was absolutely sure he didn't like her- or anyone, honestly, if he thought they were all dunderheads. Risking a glance, she saw Harry and the redhead boy (Ron?) exchange looks, and Hermione was leaning forward, listening intently. "Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Ryan and Hermione's hands shot up in the air; Professor Snape ignored them. "I-I don't know, sir." Harry replied.

"Clearly, fame isn't everything." He sneered. "Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

"Um-" Harry's face was slowly turning red. "I'm not sure."

Ryan could hear Malfoy behind her silently laughing, and she stretched her hand higher.

"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?" Snape shook his head. "Pathetic. One more try, shall we? What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

Hermione stood up, her hand nearly touching the ceiling.

"I don't know, sir." Harry repeated. "But I think Hermione does."

When Professor Snape ignored both girls, Ryan couldn't help herself. "Sir, asphodel and wormwood make the Draught of Living Death, bezoars are found in the stomach of goats, and monkshood-"

"Ten points from Slytherin." He snapped, finally acknowledging her. "I wasn't talking to you, Black." Ryan's face grew hot and she shrunk down in her seat. "Sit down, Granger. "For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite. Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?"

All the students started furiously scribbling it down. "A point from Gryffindor for your cheek, Potter."

He then had them working on a potion to cure boils and put Ryan with Daphne. He walked around the classroom, checking on everyone's work. Malfoy was the only one he kept complimenting; Ryan and Daphne's potion got nothing more than an annoyed grunt. "Ah, wonderful, Mr. Malfoy. Look, how he's perfectly stewed his slugs-"

"Ah!" A shriek from Neville, the boy from the train, caught everyone's attention.

Ryan hopped on her stool as a thick slime started across the dungeon floor, having melted the cauldron Neville was using. "Idiot boy!" Professor Snape snarled, vanishing the potion with a flick of his wand. "You, take him to the hospital wing."

Neville's partner practically ran out of the classroom with him. "I hope he's okay." Ryan said to Daphne.

"You -- Potter -- why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor."

Harry's mouth opened then closed. Ryan stared between the Gryffindor and the professor, her mind trying to make sense of his intense hatred for them both.