ambition

How To: Magic

   Harry was extremely relieved to find that everybody was pretty much at the same level when it came to lessons. Even those, like him, with a magical upbringing didn't surpass those who were muggleborn. In fact, there was one muggleborn - the bushy haired girl who'd shared the boat with him and Ron - who despite having no idea magic existed until her letter arrived, seemed to have such a grip on it, that she put everyone else to shame. Draco and Pansy were both rather ruffled about this, often joking about how she was supposed to read the textbooks, not eat them, but Harry cared very little for joining them, despite that he had thought the exact same thing before. The difference, however, was he hadn't said it aloud. Perhaps she really would be the next Lily Evans, and if that was the case, there was no way he'd stoop to ridiculing her.

   Unfortunately though, Harry's first week at Hogwarts was not the week he was able to stop the others doing so, as he ended up having rather enough on his mind to think about without seeing how quickly he could get his new friends to dislike him.

   He was filled with a sense of dread the moment he entered his first Transfiguration, as he realised that Professor McGonagall was as good as family, but much like the rest of his family had expected him to be in Gryffindor, and now? Where did he even stand at this point? He wasn't in her house like he had always expected to be, so what did that mean for how close they were? For how they'd known each other his whole life? Suddenly he felt infinitely more determined not to slip up with what he called her in school, because somehow it meant so much more now.

   He spent the whole lesson doing his best to keep his head down. Take down his notes, and attempt the task at hand quietly and avoid eye contact. Pansy nudged him and asked him why he was suddenly so quiet, when he'd been perfectly happy laughing and joking that morning in excitement for the day's lessons. All he could muster was a weak 'I'm fine' followed by a promise to tell her later when she gave him an unconvinced look. She dropped it, thankfully, and Harry went back to making what was supposed to be a needle from a match, but was actually just a silvery coloured match with an eye through the head. He sighed defeatedly each time, but kept hope because at least he wasn't the only one. In fact, the only person who fully succeeded was the bushy haired girl, who Harry finally learned was called Hermione something-or-other. Draco came pretty close though. In fact, his match completely resembled a needle, but was incredibly warm to the touch and spontaneously lit on fire at one end. Harry hadn't been able to hold back his laughter when it singed the edge of Draco's robe sleeve.

   However, his dread worsened and wiped any smile clean off his face once the lesson ended and Professor McGonagall called him over. It was only made worse by the fact that she had gone to call him 'Harry' but had caught herself last minute and referred to him as 'Mr. Potter' instead. He was embarrassed to admit that he panicked, leading to him urging Draco and Pansy to wait outside for him, which they did but not without a look of confusion.

   "Professor?" he greeted, sounding about as nervous as he felt.

   "What, no 'Aunt Min'?" she joked gently, but Harry could tell she was maybe just slightly saddened by it.

   "Well I-"

   "You thought you'd forfeited rights to call me as such?"

   Harry gave her a look, partially conveying confusion, partially guilt because of course she hit the nail on the head.

   "You are so like your father, did you know that? Your silly little insecurities. You should have seen him around your mother in the last years of his school career. He-"

   "Sorry-" he interrupted suddenly, "I just... I'm not sure my dad would really appreciate admitting that I'm anything like him at the minute."

   He looked down and scuffed the toe of his shoes on the floor, pretending not to hear McGonagall's small sigh, and almost kicking himself when he jumped at her hand on his shoulder.