Harry Potter - Fanfiction

Year 1 - Start-of-Term

Our first week of classes has turned out to be quite the escapade. With the entire castle of Hogwarts being a mystery in itself. Luckily, I have read over multiple books to help me navigate the place without getting to the wrong places.

It's like the entire place is trying to trick you; with its one hundred and forty-two staircases where some have vanishing steps and others lead you in a different path on certain days and certain doors you have to ask kindly or tickle it in order to get passed and then there are solid walls just pretending to be doors.

I walk into the Great Hall that morning, the tables almost completely packed with students getting ready for the day. I sit down at the Slytherin table, not seeing Hermione seated at the Gryffindor one.

"Morning," says a high-pitched voice from beside me. Not realising that someone has taken a seat next to me.

I look over to see who the voice belongs to. "Oh, morning Tracey."

"Excited for the first day of classes?" she asks.

"Yeah, I cannot wait to hear from all the teachers and see what they have in store for us."

Professor Snape comes striding along the Slytherin tables handing out our timetables and places mine in front of me.

Tracey leans over to me. "We better hurry up and finish breakfast before we late on our first day!"

Charms class is taught by a Professor Flitwick, which is a tiny little wizard who has to always stand on a pile of books to see over his desk; It feels a little weird to have a teacher being shorter than me.

Transfiguration is definitely what I hoped it will be and its taught by the Professor who came to my parents that night. The Professor decides at the start of class to play a trick on the late comers, showing us how she transforms into a cat.

She then sits perched on her desk waiting for the late students as we get out our books. Once they stride into her class, they think they in the clear and make their way to find seats, that is when she climbs off from the table transforming in front of their very eyes before scolding them for being late.

She strides back to her desk. "Now that we are joined by everyone. 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."

I never thought that I would enjoy school this much. Seeing Professor McGonagall transfigure before my very eyes certainly has got my interest peaked in Transfiguration.

After the lesson I approach the Professors table. She peers up from her document as she speaks, "yes Ms. Granger, is there something you need?"

I fumble with the strap of my bag as I respond, "I am quite interested in the process of being an Animagus."

Professor McGonagall almost drops her parchment as she lets out a small gasp; I can't tell if her expression is of surprise or concern. She places down the papers and clasps her hands together as she grins down at me. "Dear that is wonderful! You know not many students show interest in that topic."

She re-adjusts her glasses slightly. "But you do know that it involves immense research into the matter and months if not years of preparation."

"Yes, and I am determined to do whatever it takes."

She looks at me concerningly, not sure whether to believe me or not. She speaks rather softly next, "how about you study throughout this school year on Animagi and we then relook at how you feel in your Year Two of schooling. Then we can take it from there."

A wide grin forms on my face. "Alright. Thank you, Professor!" I turn around heading straight for the library to gather every book I can on the subject.

The entire Slytherin class is babbling on excitedly as we make our way to The Defence Against the Dark Arts next with a professor by the name of Quirrell. Everyone discussing their day so far. Tracey has been sitting next to me in every class, ignoring all the comments from the other Slytherins on being friends with me.

The class with Quirrell turns out to be a disappointment as most of his stories are a little hard to believe, especially when he has no confidence while retelling them. As if he is making it up as he goes along. And his entire classroom smells like garlic, my poor nose rejoiced for fresh air once we step outside.

History of Magic seems to have bored everyone into sleeping through almost the entire lesson. With the ghost of Cuthbert Binns droning on. He is the only teacher that is a ghost here at Hogwarts; he had gone to sleep in the staff room one day in front of the fire and when he woke up to teach the next morning, he left his body behind.

After all our lessons are finished for the day, I decide to head to the courtyard for the afternoon; Settling down in a sunny spot with one of the books I picked up at the library on Animagi.

A voice much like my sisters pulls me out of the book I'm currently reading. Glancing over the top I see her running my way. "Nyx, there you are!"

I put down the book as I wait for her to catch her breath. She sits down next to me, gasping shortly for air as she speaks, "I haven't seen – you all – day."

"Joys of being in another House," I respond.

Now fully having caught her breath she says, "I wish we could have been in the same House."

I shrug her off, "no thanks. Even though I did not receive much of a welcoming committee in my House, I like the House I'm in. I would never have been happy in Gryffindor."

"Oh, what is there not to like in Gryffindor!" she groans.

"Yeah, what is there not to like about us Gryffindor's?" two identical voices interject our conversation.

"What is there to like about that House." I wave my hand in the air shrugging off the subject. "But never mind that. I just hope you won't treat your sister like all Gryffindor's treat us Slytherin's?"

"Of course not!"

"Good. And you two as well!"

The twins stand side by side as they salute me. "No Ma'am!" Before taking a seat next to me as well. I can't help but laugh at them.

Hermione stands up giving me a quick hug. "I got to go but promise me that every week we will make time to sit and spend some sisterly time together."

"Yes, I promise."

She nods smiling. "Good. I'm off to the library to get my homework done. See you around."

"Bye," we all say in unison.

George closes my book to see what I'm reading. "You and Hermione definitely are sisters. That what you are reading is way passed your year."

Fred interjects, "don't worry about that. How on Merlin's rice cake did you get into Slytherin. You are so much nicer than the rest of them."

"Says the one that barely knows me!"

George playfully hits me on the shoulder. "Well, that's all about to change. "

Year 1 - Start-of-Term ~ End