Magical Days - Pottertalia

First Day

  "Am I a professor? Goodness. I expect I was hopeless, was I?"   

Chapter 9

The first class the first-year Slytherins had that year, was Potions. Double Potions, together with the Hufflepuffs. To Arthur's relief, Blake had sat down next to the boy whose name he'd missed because he was talking to his cousin, and he sat down next to Silver, who was, as expected, sitting next to Kay. 

The teacher Potions was professor Beilschmidt, a man who didn't look friendly, but in reality was very kind and wanted to help where he could - though, in those first two hours of potions, it was also made very clear he wasn't one to mess with. 

After that, they had History of Magic with Ravenclaw. History of Magic was taught by professor Binns, a ghost of who no one could say whether he had enough of his job, due to his tiring and boring voice telling stories of which no one knew when they'd end. 

Then there was lunch. The students sat together in random order, though one House at one table. Arthur could see Silver physically freaking out at the fact that Kay was, with that very same second-year student they'd started shipping him with last Friday, talking to no one less than Phillip Lester, the Head Boy of Hufflepuff. 

After lunch, they had Defence Against the Dark Arts. They had this subject with Gryffindor (much to Albus' relief), and the subject was taught by professor Hassan, a kind woman in her 40's, maybe early 50's - but Arthur wasn't good at guessing age, so let's just say 40's. She was the first teacher to tell about herself, from which Arthur learned that she was a Hufflepuff, and that she had a son, a fifth year Hufflepuff Prefect, and that her husband was an Auror, to which she got the response "What is an Auror?" from multiple Muggleborn students. She explained that an Auror was someone who got Dark wizards into the most infamous wizard prison of all of Britain and Ireland - Azkaban, and with that, they started the lesson. Albus, Arthur, Silver and Vladimir all agreed that Defence Against the Dark Arts was probably the best subject they've had so far. 

On their way to Herbology, Vladimir explained he'd had Double Charms with Ravenclaw and Transfiguration with Hufflepuff. He'd been messing around a bit in Transfiguration with a boy named Makoto, or he'd been experimenting, as he put it, though Makoto decided he wanted to pay attention halfway through the lesson. In Charms, he'd sat next to a boy called Alfred, and he'd have sat down next to Lukas, was his reply when Arthur asked, but Lukas had sat down next to a brown-haired boy whose name Vladimir didn't know. 

Herbology was taught by professor Longbottom (Albus talked to him for about five minutes before class started), and told the students a little about himself, sometimes giving word to Albus, who later explained to Arthur that he was an old family friend. Professor Longbottom had been a Gryffindor, though, he added, most of his traits and talents showed he was a Hufflepuff. He had only realised why he was a Gryffindor in his last year of school, when the Sorting Hat proved to him he really was. 

Arthur enjoyed Herbology, though still had to say Defence Against the Dark Arts was the most exciting subject they had today. After Herbology, they had some free time, which some students would dedicate to their homework, others to hanging out with their friends, and some to having fun on their own. Arthur had been reading in his bed, and Silver had left to find Kay.

Kay was in the Great Hall, getting help on his Transfiguration homework. 

"You should ask Heracles, his mum's the teacher," said Fran, who was helping him. Silver slammed down their books, "Hello." 

"It's me," Kay muttered under his breath before laughing softly. Fran facepalmed and Silver frowned, not having heard him speak. 

"I'm bored and I wanted to meet your new boyfriend-" 

"What are you, my mum?" 

"We confirmed on the train that yes, I am your mother."

"With the context I don't have, this would have been a lot less interesting," said Fran, tilting his head. 

"He isn't my boyfriend, anyway," said Kay. "He's just a friend, and we've only known each other for four days or so."

"Sssshhhhh."

Fran looked away. "Anyway, transfiguration," said Kay, turning the other boy's attention back to the homework. 

"Right," Fran nodded, and the two of them continued their work as if Silver wasn't there to embarass them. 

"G uys-" said Silver, pouting. "I just want attention."

The boys continued to ignore them.

"Never disturb people on their homework," said a Ravenclaw boy. Silver didn't recognise him, but wanted to get to know him already. "Especially not Hufflepuffs. Believe it or not, they work hard to prove themselves to the rest of the houses." 

"Really? Why is that?" asked Silver, tilting their head. 

"The first thing they learn," replied the Ravenclaw boy, "is that they are the least talented. The other houses have traits like bravery, wisdom and ambition, while they have for example loyalty. Hufflepuffs are commonly believed to be the least worthy and least talented people in the school, and that's why they believe they need to work hard to prove everyone else wrong." 

"Oh," frowned Silver. "But, from what I know, Kay is very talented. He knows five languages of which he speaks two fluently, his memory is great, and he's amazing with music." 

"Exactly," nodded the Ravenclaw. "It's all bullshit, if you ask me. No one should have to prove themselves. Hufflepuffs are amazing people really. My sister got sorted into Hufflepuff just Friday." 

"Ah," smiled Silver. 

"Now if you don't mind, I have a lot of homework already, so I'll have to continue." 

"That's fine, thank you." 

"You're welcome." 

After that, Silver left to find Albus and Arthur, who were talking to someone Silver assumed to be Albus' older brother, a Ravenclaw girl and someone who was most likely one of the teachers.