The Last Gaunt:Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone [Book 1]

Chapter VI: The Americans and The Potions Master

Kieran's POV

             Sleep usually didn't come easily to me, but last night when I felt the comfort of the soft bed I fell asleep like a log. The next morning I was awakened early by Hoax, who touched my face with his paw. I was a heavy sleeper but the thought of the first days at Hogwarts woke me up instantly. I let out a tired groan as I got out of bed groggy, I went to take a refreshing shower, to fully wake up. After I finished, my shower I got dressed buttoning up the white shirt and the black dress pants, with a belt. then I placed the grey vest over the White button-up (which now had a Slytherin crest to the right side of it) then placed on the black robes and socks and shoes. When I finished getting dressed I grabbed my bag with my school books and headed out of the dormitory without waking Hector and Theodore up. I walked towards the dimly lit common room where I noticed Gabrielle walking down the flight of stairs that led to the girl's dormitory. 
                                                   "Morning," I said in a groggy voice as she hummed in response. The two of us walked towards the flight of stairs that led to the exit of the common room "You usually wake up early?" I asked her
                                                    "Not really. I'm just not a heavy sleeper.. and Millicent Bullstrode Snores" Gabrielle said in a huff as the two of us made our way our of the Slyhtherin common area 
                                                     "Oh that must be horrible" I said as Hoax followed near me. As we were making our ways up towards the Great Hall, I saw the young Husky Hocus who appeared to be exploring the castle and slowly began chasing Hoax. Hoax saw The dog and instantly began sprinting off. "Hoax Wait!" I called after the cat and began following them leaving Gabrielle alone. I followed the pair to the main courtyard were Hoax had Climbed a tree "Come Hoax!" I called for him as he hissed at Hocus "Damn where is Your owner" He sighed as he reached for Hoax who jumped to his arms. With Hoax on my Arms I decided to make my way to the Great Hall since the running made me hungry. Still carrying Hoax I made my way towards the Geat hall where I saw, Zach who had  just arrived to the Great Hall, Make his was towards Gabrielle who was sitting all alone. I made my way towards the table and dicided to listen in before joining. 
                                                          "Um... H-hi," Zach said softly with a bit of a sleepy tone. "I c-couldn't help but notice t-that you were sitting all by y-yourself and-" I noticed she was now gazing at me.
                                                         "And you pitied me for being alone?" She asked coldly her cold gaze piercing his soul.
                                                      "N-no I w-wasn't pitying you, I j-just wanted to m-make f-friend... I'm b-being honest." Zach said shaking his head fast, She raised her eyebrow he cold gaze relaxing as she saw Him nervous. as she then let's out a giggle at Zach's reaction.
                                                        "Don't fret, I was just Kidding. My name is Gabrielle Rodriguez" She said with a small smile.
                                                    "Oh, I'm Zach Richardson." Zach said softly as her smile change as her eyes widen which was confusing
                                                    "Y-you are a Richardson? Of the Pure blood Family Richardson? One of the richest American Pureblood family?!" She asked in a surprised but hushed voice 'Richardsons? a well known Pureblood family? this is interesting' I thought
                                                "Y-yeah but h-how did y-you know about m-me being from A-America? or a P-pureblood?"  asked Zach tilting her head. She drank he pumpkin juice before she spoke
                                                  "My family, The Rodriguez, a Pureblood family from Puerto Rico, has connections with the Richardson Family. But i don't want you to think I only want to hang out with you just because of your status so yeah..." She said awkwardly. Zach shook my head and smile
                                                   "we can still be friends" I said with a huge smile as she nods. 
                                                   "Sure we can i guess" She asnwered
                                                   "Im back" I interrupted their conversation "Zach not to be rude but you better keep an eye on your dog. He chased Hoax again" I said sitting Next to Gabrielle.
                                                  "I apologize Kieran. Hoax is such a curious dog" He said akwardly and rubbing the back of his head. "I'll try not to let that happen again"
                                                  "Yeah... Maybe" I said shrugging before adding "So you both American right?" I went straight to the question. 
                                                    "Yeah. Kind of" They both answered 
                                                    "How come you are both here and not at the American school?" I asked.
                                                   "Honestly, My parents are probably still wanted in America by the Magical Congress so Having the son of the wanted wizzard and witch go there is not a safe route." Zach explained . "Thats what ive over heard my parents say."
                                                    "And well. I don't really know. My sister and I are living here with my grandparents" Gabrielled answered. I just nod at their answers
                                                 "So Richardson and Rodriguez are like pureblood family names?" I asked 
                                                       "It's a Mix of both" Gabrielle answered "Muggle families also have that last name but they are also well known wizzard last names." I nod again taking in the information Zach then just leaves the conversation once he sees Hector.


                 Then slowly the Great hall begins to fill with other Students. Theodore Joining in, so from my spot i get up and walk towards him. The two of us chat and enjoy some breakfast together as we slowly wait to be handed our schedules to know which classes we are taking today. But what did bother me was that every where that Harry Potter went to he was followed by whispers of peopls. During classes you could see people on their tip toes trying to sneak glances at the boy who lived. It was annoying to some extent, and it wasn't to me Imagine how annoyed He must feel. Another challenge was finding my way to classes, that was another whole set of canned worms There were a hundred and forty-two staircases at Hogwarts: wide, sweeping ones; narrow, rickety ones; some that led somewhere different on a Friday; some with a vanishing step halfway up that you ha to remember to jump. Then there were the door that wouldn't open unless you asked politely, or tickled them in exactly the right place, and door that weren't really doors at all, but solid walls pretending. I was very hard to remember where everything was, because it all seemed to move around a lot. The people in the portrait kept going to visit each other, and I was sure the coats of armor could walk. The ghost didn't helped at all, it was always a nasty shock when one of them glided suddenly through the door you were trying to open. Honestly, My House Ghost The bloody Baron wasn't to any use either, mostky giving us new students a nasty look, it was rather conserning. Unlike the Gryffindor ghost Nearly Headless Nick, he was of good use to every Gryffindor first year. But the one you wouldnt like to bump into was Peeves the Poltergeist, he would drop waste paper basket on you head, pull rugs from under your feet and other pranks. Even worst than Peeves, if even possible, was the caretaker Argus Filch. Especially with me since my Cat and his cat did not get along, so Hoax was forced to be kept away from Mrs. Noris. I'm sure Filch had it for me because I caught him multiple times, trying to get me into trouble.  Mrs. Norris, a scrawny dusty colored creature with bulging, lamp like eyes just like Filch's. She patrolled the corridor alone, break a rule in front of her, put just one toe out of line, and she'd whisk off of for Filch, who'd appear wheezing, two seconds later. Filch knew the secret passage way better than anyone (except Perhaps the Weasley Twins) and could pop up as suddenly as any of the Ghost. The students all hate him, and it was the dearest ambition of many to give Mrs. Norris a Good kick. 

                    Lastly, there were the classes themselves wen you manage to find them. There was a lot more to magic, as I quickly found out, than just waving you wand and saying their names. We had to study the night skies through our telescopes every Wednesday at midnight and learn the names of different stars and the movements of the planets. Three times a week we went out to the greenhouses behind the castle to study Herbology, with a dumpy little witch called Professor Sprout, where we learned how to take care of all the strange plants and fungi, and found out what they were used for. Easily the most boring class was History of Magic, which was the only one taught by a ghost. Professor Binns had been very old indeed when he had fallen asleep in front of the staff room fire ad got up the next morning to teach, leaving his body behind him. He droned on and on while they scribbled down names and dates, and got Emeric the Evil and Uric the Oddball mixed up.Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, was a tiny little wizard who had to stand on a pile of books to see over his desk. At the Start of our first class he took the roll call, and when he reached to Harry's name he gave an excited squeak and toppled out of sight.  Professor McGonagall was again different. I had been right to think she wasn't a teacher to cross. Strick and cleaver, she gave us a talking to the moment we sat down in her first class. "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 said then went back to her desk, changing it to a pig and back again. We were all impressed and couldn't wait to get started, but soon realized we weren't going to be changing furniture into animals for a long time. After taking lots of complicated notes, we were each given a match and started trying to turn it into a needle. By the end of the class; Hermione and Hector Granger manage had made any difference to their match. Professor McGonagall showed the class how it had gone all silver and pointy giving the twins a rare smile. Tho I was a bit close not as close as them. The class everyone was looking forward to was Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Quirrell's classes turned out to be a bit of a Joke. His classroom smell strongly of garlic. which everyone said was to ward off a vampire he'd met in Romania and was afraid would be coming back to get him one of these days. He also talked of how he was awarded the turban by an African prince as a thank you for getting rid of a troublesome zombie, but someone of my class mate didn't believe the story. Seamus Finnigan asked eagerly to hear how Quirrell had fought off the zombie, and Quirrell went pun changing the subject.