When we align; a Neville Longbottom fanfiction

2. The shy Gryffindor boy

The following day, Cass was particularly energetic. She would be starting two new subjects: Care of Magical Creatures and Arithmancy, as well as attending one lesson of Alchemy, which was usually reserved for the sixth and seventh years. Professor Snape, the Head of Slytherin, had signed a special authorisation for her, given her aptitude for Potions.

After breakfast, as she was making her way to Arithmancy, she overheard a group of Ravenclaws sharing their excitement over the first lesson of Muggle Studies. She scoffed, turning to Blaise. "Why would we want to study Muggles? All they do is try to be like us." He sneered but stayed silent. Muggles were simply... inferior, there was no other word to describe them. Even Muggle-borns, she thought as she watched Hermione Granger, who was going to attend Arithmancy with them, were nothing but try-hards. They knew they would never reach the level of actual magical people, so all they could do is put in double the effort and reach half the success. Hell, most of them didn't even do that, limiting themselves to practice a pathetic excuse for magic.

"At least she understands that her magical abilities are a gift." She expressed her thoughts out loud as Professor Vector began her introduction.

The rest of the first day proceeded swiftly until after lunch. Slytherins and Gryffindors would attend Care of Magical Creatures together. Cass was convinced she would give Hagrid a chance. He was the gamekeeper, after all, and had to have plenty of experience with Magical Creatures, given how many lived around the castle.

Her expectations faltered when she took a look at The Monster Book of Monster in her hand, trying to bite off the strand of rope keeping it shut.

"You've got to stroke 'em, like this." Was explaining Hagrid, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. He took Hermione Granger's book and ran a giant forefinger down its spine, making the book shiver, fall open, and lay quiet.

"Oh, how silly we've all been!" Malfoy spoke up, a sneer painted across his face. "We should have stroked them! Why didn't we guess!"

Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy erupted into fits of laughter. Cass limited herself to look at her friends, who by then had their books opened. Admittedly, Hagrid's first lesson wasn't going well. She was more than ready to switch classes, maybe going to Study of Ancient Runes, when Hagrid went into the forest and emerged a couple of minutes later with a dozen or so Hippogriffs.

Everyone made exclamations of surprise and wonder, as the creatures shook their eagle heads trying to free themselves from the chains Hagrid kept in his hands.

"You always wait for the Hippogriff to make the first move." Hagrid explained. "It's polite, see? You walk toward him, you bow and wait. If he bows back, you're allowed to touch him. Right! Who wants to go first?"

As the students took a few steps back, Cass bumped into someone.

"Oh, I'm sorry." She apologized, giving the student she hit a warm smile.

She recognised the shy Gryffindor boy who would always make a mess in Potions class, but she couldn't remember his name. He looked at her with wide green eyes, his round face scarlet, and scurried away.

Confused, she tried to recollect if they'd ever interacted to provoke such a reaction, but to no avail. She then turned to Daphne, who always seemed to know everyone, and asked her.

"That's Neville Longbottom. Don't worry about him, he's always like that." She chuckled, shaking her head.

"Still, that's a bit much, don't you think?" Cass questioned as Harry Potter walked up to one of the Hippogriffs and bowed.