Chapter 2: Arrival at Hogwarts
Harry shook his head in exasperation as he gazed at the blissful visage of Daphne Greengrass, ignoring the flutter in his stomach. He truly needed to reign this silly crush in. It would not do to make a fool of himself in front of her.
"And I'm glad to see you too," Harry smiled, squeezing her softly. He fully expected Daphne to pull away, but she remained close, albeit sitting straight.
"So, how have you been since we last saw each other?" Harry asked.
Daphne sighed.
"The days were hectic, as I told you previously. I had to brush up on the basics and attend etiquette lessons from my mother, as I told you previously. Basically, nothing that I didn't tell you previously," she deadpanned.
"Alright. I get it. You were as busy as I was."
Since Hogwarts started at 16, students were given various items to get familiar with what was expected of them. In the case of children from magical families, it included their parents' journals. Every Hogwarts student was required to maintain one to bestow upon his or her child one day, which was made available to the students at the discretion of the parents. In Harry's case, his aunt had given him the journals on his eighth birthday, when he had been told everything.
For muggleborns, a representative of the institution visited their home and explained everything to the parents and the children on their eleventh birthday, providing them with a set of standard journals which enabled them to be ready to enter this new world by their sixteenth.
There were a lot of intricacies involved. However, one thing that was closely monitored was the time when a child got a wand. Although children from wizarding households managed to bypass this restriction by using the wands of their parents or other wands available at their homes, muggleborns could only read up the theory extensively and practice all the spells they had already learnt in the first month of school, which was anyways dedicated to the refinement of basics. It did not take much longer for everyone to reach equal footing since the material was known to everyone.
"What about you? Anything new?"
Harry shook his head with a chuckle.
"Just the normal stuff. Finished my parents' journals, finally, and started up on the family grimoire. However there's one thing I surely did."
Daphne looked at him. "Like what?"
"You know how there are wards around my place?"
Daphne nodded.
Harry smiled.
"Well, those wards mask magic. So, once I got my wand, I could practice as much magic as I wanted without triggering anything."
"Really? How much did you get done?"
Harry chuckled.
"Halfway through their journals."
Daphne's eyes widened as he chuckled.
"I still can't believe you really finished all the journals and mastered the spells halfway through. I have their final year left and have mastered casting spells listed in their first two journals. I think I'll finish them this year at school."
"Learn any cool spells?"
Daphne smirked.
"I learnt a nifty little spell. Wanna know what it does?" She asked, scooting closer, not that there was much space between them before that. Her proximity and the whisper sent a shiver along his spine.
'There's no way she doesn't know what she's doing to me,' he thought.
"Y-yeah… I guess…"
Daphne nodded with a smirk.
"Mother used to get a lot of attention from the opposite sex in school, you know…"
Harry nodded. He dared not voice his thoughts aloud.
Daphne smirked.
"She had Arithmancy as her elective, and she is bloody good at it. Sooo… she created this little spell, that has no counter. And its effects will go away in a few hours, or days, depending on the intensity of the spell."
"Why do I feel like I don't wanna know what this spell does?"
Daphne grinned, and it was the sexiest yet most terrifying sight he had ever seen.
"Oh, trust me, you'll love it. This spell doesn't do much. It just freezes a guy's bits, sending flaring pain with every movement."
Harry flinched violently, his head hitting the cushion of the backrest as he stared at Daphne in horror. Daphne, for her part, was nonchalantly blowing the dirt on her nails.
"You're bloody serious!?"
Daphne looked up at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, why won't I be?"
Harry looked at her for a moment, before gently pushing her slightly away from him. Once there was a one-hand distance between them, he sat properly, hiding his bits away from the blonde. Daphne laughed.
"Oh, come on! You don't have anything to fear. I'll never use that spell on you."
Harry stared at her dubiously as she muttered something too faint for him to hear, and she gave him a serious look.
"I'm serious, Harry. I'll never use it on you. I'll only use it on those who are untoward," she remarked, scooting close and leaning slightly against him.
Her words resonated within him and unwittingly, a small smile came upon his face.
"What about you? Did you see any advanced spells in their journals?"
Harry looked at her and saw she was looking at him with an inquisitive smile on her face. He sighed and pulled out his mother's journal from his pocket.
"You sure you want me to see that?" Daphne asked sceptically. A journal was a very personal thing, and most people didn't want to show their parents' journals to others.
Harry looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"You're the only person who I'd be happy to show this," he remarked, looking down at the journal and opening it. He didn't see the soft smile on Daphne's face as she looked at him.
"Here, see all these…"
Daphne took the journal from him and saw the page he mentioned. The page was titled 'For Enemies, created by Lily and James' and divided into two parts – lethal and non-lethal. Each section had over a dozen spells.
"Wow. This is some serious stuff."
"There is a similar page in my father's journal as well. They wrote these journals in their final year, when the war had begun. I think they had to broaden their horizons."
Daphne frowned.
"My parents don't talk about that time, but over the years, I've seen them. It was not easy for anyone. I can only imagine what it was like for them. They lived through those years."
Harry sighed and smiled at her.
"It's good that the nutjob is dead. At least we won't have to worry about living in wartime."
Daphne punched him softly on the arm and snuggled close. "Don't jinx it," she muttered.
Harry sighed and pulled her close.
"Once we reach school, I'll practice all the spells there are in these journals to the point of mastery. From all the years. Will you join me?"
Daphne tightened her hold around his waist.
"You don't even have to ask."
XXXXX
The students disembarked from the train at night, and it was raining. Quickly, Harry conjured the invisible umbrella over the two of them. Daphne smiled at him and linked her arm with his as they walked behind the large man who was to escort them to the school.
Every first year was wearing the standard uniform for students who were not yet sorted – a white shirt, black pants or skirt, a black tie, and a black blazer. When they were about to change, Daphne had asked him sweetly to move outwards and he had complied with a wink. However, when she was done and he was about to change, he did not wait for her to exit.
The look on her face when he pulled his shirt over his head and stood half-naked in front of her was priceless. He had to keep himself from laughing at her red face. He found he did not mind Daphne seeing him like that. However, she abruptly bolted when he was about to pull his pants down.
The stinging hex she had blessed him with afterwards was well worth it in his opinion.
The boats were large enough for two, and they got one for themselves. Barely a minute after they had started moving, they turned a corner and the majestic castle became visible to their naked vision.
"Holy shit," Harry whispered as he stared at the grand castle on the cliff. Beside him, Daphne was no different. His parents had described the view, but words didn't do it justice, not one bit. The ancient castle looked every bit magical as he had expected. Hell, it easily surpassed his expectations.
"Indeed," Daphne whispered beside him. She turned to look at him and they grinned at each other before looking ahead.
Once they reached the shed, Harry stepped off and helped Daphne out. She took his hand with a smile and they walked behind the others up the stairs. Their escort who had introduced himself as Hagrid knocked twice, and the door opened with a sharp creak.
"These doors are ancient," someone whispered behind them, and Harry looked at the thick doors opening wide. They entered the castle proper and came to a stop in front of a small staircase.
An aged witch in emerald robes was waiting for them. She had a black witches' hat on, and a scroll in her left hand.
"Welcome to Hogwarts Institute of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am Minerva McGonagall, the Transfiguration mistress and the Head of House Gryffindor. Shortly, you all shall be sorted into one of the four houses, namely Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Every house has its share of illustrious history, with wizards and witches who have left their mark in the wizarding world, either in our country, or abroad. It is the expectation of every one of us to see you follow in those footsteps, and create your own legacy. I hope you have studied diligently since you were allowed access to the material, and will be able to transition seamlessly into our curriculum."
The witch's eyes travelled over all those assembled, and the students stared ahead.
"Any political issues that arise during your stay at the castle must be brought to the attention of your Head of House at the foremost. That includes any severe complaint you might have against another student that might involve your family house. Now, I would suggest you to fix your appearance as best you can on the way as you follow me."
With those words, the witch turned around and they followed behind her. A few students ran their fingers through their hair to fix it better, while some wiped their faces to get rid of any lingering rainwater or dirt.
The massive double door opened and they had to squint slightly at the sudden brightness that invaded their vision. Slowly blinking their eyes open, they saw a massive hall with four tables lined up vertically, each filled with students in different uniforms, with a raised dais in the distance, atop which the teachers were sitting on a wide table. A stool was placed at the front of the dais on which the Sorting Hat had been placed. The first years all walked forward until they were standing right in front of it.
Suddenly, the hat's mouth formed and it poured out the most ridiculous song Harry had ever heard.
"Yeah, as my mum wrote, super weird," he muttered so that only Daphne could hear. The girl just gave him a small smile. Harry looked at the hat and saw it glaring at him. He chuckled.
"Please step forward and take a seat on this stool when I call your name," McGonagall said, and the students straightened.
"Abbott, Hannah!"
A blonde girl with her hair tied in pigtails walked up the stairs and sat on the stool. McGonagall placed the hat on her head. A few seconds passed when the hat shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
The girl's blazer turned yellow with black trim and her tie changed into the same colours as the table at the far end on the left erupted in cheers. The teachers and other students politely clapped.
The same happened with a few more students. Susan Bones and Justin Finch-Fletchley joined Hannah Abbott in Hufflepuff, Terry Boot, Tracey Davis, and Michael Corner joined Ravenclaw, Mandy Brocklehurst, Lavender Brown, Seamus Finnegan, and Hermione Granger joined Gryffindor while Millicent Bulstrode and the two gorillas joined Slytherin.
"Greengrass, Daphne!"
Daphne gave him a small smile when he squeezed her hand softly and walked forward with her head held high.
The hat was placed on her head once she had taken her seat, and after a few seconds, the shout of "RAVENCLAW!" filled the Great Hall. Her blazer turned a shade of Royal Blue, with bronze trim, as her tie turned the same shade. No one clapped as exuberantly as Harry did, and the smile Daphne sent his way was worth it.
A few students were sorted after Daphne. Ernie Macmillan, Neville Longbottom, and Sally-Anne Perks joined Hufflepuff, Padma and Parvati Patil were divided into Ravenclaw and Gryffindor respectively, and that Malfoy brat was joined in Slytherin by Theodore Nott and Pansy Parkinson.
"Potter, Hadrian!"
A hush fell over the Great Hall and Harry internally sighed when whispers picked up. He expertly ignored them all and walked up the dais. McGonagall gave him a small smile which he returned before he sat on the stool. He internally laughed when he saw Daphne glaring at the witches who whispered how handsome he looked. The hat was placed on his head and his vision blackened.
"So, my song is weird, huh?"
Harry saw an apparition of the hat floating in the air, and he smiled sheepishly.
"Come on, you can't blame me. I didn't mean to offend. I didn't even know you'd hear that."
"Oh, I hear more than you can imagine, brat. A little respect would not be remiss. Be sure to remember that in the future. The youth these days, thinking themselves all knowing," the hat ranted. Harry simply stared.
"Now speak up. Where do you want to go?"
"Uh yeah, Ravenclaw please."
"Oh suuuure," the hat drawled, "must stay close to the princess, after all. Listen to a parting advice before you go."
Harry looked at the hat and nodded.
"Do not get the poor girl pregnant in the first year. RAVENCLAW!"
The last word was shouted, and the table to his immediate right exploded in cheers. He didn't even notice the Gryffindor table looking in disbelief, busy as he was in glaring at the hat for its parting remark.
"Mr Potter, if you would take your seat, please. We need to get on with the sorting."
Harry looked at the old witch and nodded before walking away. He sat down in the seat Daphne had saved for him, and she immediately took his hand and squeezed it with a beaming smile. Immediately, he relaxed and bumped his shoulder against hers. They took the time to introduce themselves to their year mates and other housemates, all friendly and accepting.
From the table at the far end of the hall, a certain blonde wizard glared at Harry Potter for his perceived slight, before he fixed his gaze on a certain ginger.
XXXXX
They kept the dinner light. Neither Harry nor Daphne was used to the rich and heavy food that Hogwarts seemed to offer, and thus they were in a dilemma. Either they needed to start eating the food on offer or arrange something else. Luckily, the fifth-year prefect, a blonde named Penelope told them to ask the elves what they wanted. Many students had different preferences, and they were considered. Although nothing could be done during the opening feast, they resolved to get the matter sorted out the next day.
The prefects guided them to the Ravenclaw Tower, where their common room and dormitories were situated. The door opened by answering a riddle, although there was the option to use a password as well. Harry chalked it down as another quirky habit of witches and wizards.
The common room was an embodiment of their house. It was a wide hall, with windows in all four directions, making it one of the airiest rooms in the entire school. Circular in structure, the room was depicted in a light cream colour, with the Ravenclaw blue and bronze intermixed, giving the room a certain degree of brightness. There was a midnight blue carpet on the floor that covered the entire room, with blue and bronze drapes hanging by the windows and along the pillars. Overall, it was beautiful and aesthetic.
A diminutive man came from the doorway on the side of the room and stopped in front of the first years.
"Good evening to you all, and a very warm welcome to Ravenclaw. My name is Filius Flitwick. I am the Charms master of Hogwarts, and the head of House Ravenclaw. Being regarded as the house of the intelligent, there are certain benchmarks that have been set out for every student who forms part of our house. The requirements are nothing drastic. All of you are expected to finish in the top half of your year. That is all. Apart from that, if you have any grievances, academic or otherwise, know that the doors to my office are always open. Now, certain basic instructions before you retire for the night. In this house, there is a no tolerance policy for bullying. Any student found bullying another, if found guilty by me, will suffer a suspension of at least two months, as well as loss of Hogsmeade privileges until the end of their education at Hogwarts. Furthermore, such student shall be banned from participating in any activity apart from regular classes, such as the Duelling Club, the Quidditch teams, or the School Choir. These rules have been made necessary after an incident of bullying that took place a few years ago when the victim attempted suicide. I am telling you this so that you understand. This is a place of learning. Any disputes which might arise must be solved in a proper manner. Contact me, and I will act."
They all looked at Flitwick with utmost seriousness. What he said was no joking matter.
"There are rules in place. Certain rules are often overlooked, and it is understandable when the students are basically adults, but there are those which are severely enforced, and violation of such rules will attract suitable punishment. Apart from that, students in Ravenclaw are allowed the privilege of having their personal room for their stay at school. Although there are some married students in the senior years who share a room and with you all being almost of age, it is understandable that certain things are not avoidable without severe actions on our part, please keep in mind that there are wards in place which would stop things from going too far, and the experience, I've heard, is quite unpleasant. I am sure you understand what I am talking about, so I would leave you with that warning."
Flitwick's grin had all of them looking apprehensive as a few older years winced and Harry saw one lad clench his legs. Realisation dawned on him and he cringed slightly.
The professor continued as if nothing had happened.
"Each floor has rooms for each year in ascending order. Please find the one with your name inscribed on the door. Meal timings are from 7 to 9 in the morning, 1 to 3 in the afternoon, and 7 to 9 at night. You will find a map on your bed which will show you the way to your classes and other locations in the school. I would suggest you explore the castle during your free time but before curfew to familiarize yourself with the layout. That is all for now. Thank you, and have a good night."
Harry sighed. That was a longer speech than he had expected, but it was a good thing that they had it all explained to them right away. He smiled at Daphne and they walked behind the others.
Ravenclaw had four males and six females in the first year, as depicted by the names inscribed on the doors. As everyone went to their assigned rooms, Harry looked for his. Finding it, he walked ahead, before he came to a stop. The hallway was rectangular, with four rooms on either side and two rooms behind the wall adjacent to them. Harry did not know whether to smile or laugh when he saw that he and Daphne had been assigned rooms right next to each other.
Looking at Daphne, he saw her slightly widened eyes before she relaxed and gave him a smirk.
"No funny business, mister," she warned jokingly. Harry chuckled as he opened the door to his room.
"Night, Daphne," he grinned.
"Night," she smiled and entered her room, as Harry closed the door behind him. He pulled out his trunk from his pocket and enlarged it, before placing it to the side. Arranging things could wait. He pulled out his towel and went to shower. Once done, he put on a V-neck and a pair of joggers and hit the sack.
XXXXX
The morning dawned far too soon for his liking, and Harry groaned before stretching his arms and legs. He got up and went to the bathroom for his morning rituals before swiftly opening his trunk and pulling his equipment out. Looking for a suitable place, he found an empty iron hook hanging from the ceiling at the end of the room and tapped his wand against the punching bag to enlarge it. He promptly affixed it to the ceiling, making sure it would not fall off, before arranging the weights on the table. His mini-training area ready, Harry Potter got to work.
An hour and an intense workout session later, his muscles were throbbing. He quickly mixed and gulped down the protein he had brought with him before walking to the balcony, his upper body bare. The cool air was soothing to his skin as he stood with his palms against the railing.
"What a sight to see first thing in the morning," he heard and turned around with a smile to look at his best friend on the other balcony right beside his own.
"Like what you see?" He asked, smirking.
Daphne merely looked him up and down in reply.
"How long have you been up?"
"A little over an hour," Harry replied.
"You wake up before 6!?" Daphne asked, bewildered.
"Right, we never talked about this in our letters. Yeah, it's a habit. Wake up by five, get fresh and then almost an hour of workout. Keeps me in shape."
"I can see that very clearly," she muttered, looking at his well-defined muscles.
"Why don't you join me from tomorrow onwards? Exercise will only be good for you."
Daphne looked at him like he had grown a second head.
"There's no way I can get up at 6. No chance."
Harry shrugged. "It will be a pain for the first few days, but once you keep it up for a week or so, it will become natural. Try it once."
Daphne sighed.
"I'll see. How long until you're ready?"
"Half an hour."
Daphne nodded.
"See you outside then," she smiled, before walking inside. Harry smiled and shook his head before hitting the shower.
Once he was done getting ready for the day, he recalled their meal conundrum.
"Er, can a Hogwarts elf help me please?"
A soft pop sounded near the foot of his bed, and Harry saw a house elf for the first time. Pointed ears, large eyes, and a droopy nose. The elf was wearing what looked like a uniform with the Hogwarts crest inscribed on it.
"How can Topsy help young master?"
"Hi Topsy. I am a new student here, and I heard that we can have food according to our specifications. Is that right?"
The elf nodded with a smile.
"Young master be right. Many young masters and mistresses be liking different foods. So, the elveses be making different foods. Do young master be wanting different foods?"
Harry nodded. "I would like different food, but not the one the other people want. You see, my friend and I do not like the heavy and oily food that was in the dinner last night. We would like a healthier meal. Can it be arranged?"
Topsy nodded.
"Great then," Harry smiled. After explaining the meal that they wanted, Harry sent Topsy on his way. A knock on his door prompted him to grab his wand and stuff it inside the holster. Fixing his collar, he opened the door, only to be met by Daphne's smiling face.
"Ready?"
Harry nodded. Together, they walked to the Great Hall for breakfast.
XXXXX
They had just finished eating and were looking through their timetable when a note floated in front of Harry. He exchanged a look with Daphne, who looked at him before looking at the note. Harry brought it forward so that Daphne could also see.
'Heir Potter,
There are certain matters I must discuss with you concerning your role in our society now that you have joined us. Please meet me in my office at 5 in the evening.
Albus Dumbledore.'
Harry looked at Daphne before turning to stare at the head table, where the headmaster had just stood up and was walking out via the teachers' door.
"Looks like I have my plans sorted for the evening. Spell practice will have to wait a bit more."
Daphne smiled.
"No issues. Gives me slightly more time to progress with the final journals. Let's go. We're getting started with the revisionary classes today."
Harry nodded and stood up. Together, they walked out of the Great Hall towards the first class of the day. All the while, Harry was wondering just what the headmaster would reveal in the meeting.
XXXXX
To be continued…
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