Settling In (1)!

{Harry's POV}

My eyes darted around. The ceiling was incredibly realistic, something that shouldn't be possible outside of fantasies. At least the theory that it reflects the skyline outside was true as heavy rain and thunder cackled from the dark clouds floating on top of everyone's head.

Aside from that, the levitating candles over the tables provided the light. Their soft light further accentuates the engraved walls. My eyes took everything in: the bobbing heads, the throne at the other end of the hall, the difference in excitement levels between the four houses. Indistinguishable chatter entered my eyes as I followed Ron toward the table; a mop of platinum blond hair though stepped forward, halting our advance.

"You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?" Malfoy spoke, a look of glee plastered on his face. I didn't rise to his bait, which he noticed as I examined the boy/man. Once again, the difference in looks stood out to me. Third years, I assume we were in our third year because of the dementors; they don't look so mature.

There was no hint of any baby fat on his face, and neither was his build scrawny. Another thing I noticed was that he was a little bit taller than me, a thing that I particularly didn't like. My view of the pale-haired bully was cut off as Ron stepped forward, "Shove off, Malfoy,"

'Okay, so not very witty, but I give him 2 points for loyalty... though I wonder how long that will last.' I thought. After all I was not Harry, I was not going to placate the green eyed monster hidden in his heart. Still everything pushed aside, Ron was, in the end loyal, not to a fault but enough to be useful.

"Did you faint as well, Weasley?" said Malfoy loudly, his intention obvious to draw attention, though it didn't work in his favor this time. "Did the scary old dementor frighten you too, Weasley?"

[Minerva McGonagall Lv ?]

Even without the name floating over her head, I could guess who she was. Her face was etched with a stern look, her hair in a tight bun, and her sharp eyes were framed with square spectacles, whose quality was far superior to the ones hanging onto his face.

"I think you should return to your seat, Mr. Malfoy." Her tone made it clear that there would be no arguments to counter her order. However, that didn't bother Malfoy, as he gave me a nasty grin before he almost twirled onto his feet and walked away. My eyes rose, taking in the names of the silver-haired bully and his entourage walking away.

[Draco Malfoy Lv 11]

[Vincent Crabbe Lv 6]

[Gregory Goyle Lv 6]

[Pansy Parkinson Lv 10]

'huh, so that's Pansy. Wasn't she described as looking like a pug? And she is stronger than she looks, though levels were a bit confusing.' I had experimented with the game-like powers that I had at my disposal. My eyes dipped down. Her robes were tight around her waist, drawing a well-shaped arse on the black fabric.

"There's no need to look so worried -- I just want a word in you two in MY office," she told them, motioning towards Hermione and me. "Move along there, Weasley."

I nodded toward Ron, who nodded back as I turned and followed the stern woman who, after giving them an order, simply strode away, expecting them to follow. And follow they did along the twisted pathways of Hogwarts. The moving staircase was exciting, though a lawsuit in the making. The moving paintings, each different than the other, with most of them waving at me, I noticed that one of the inhabitants, a witch with flowing green robes, followed us for a while through multiple frames.

The Professor stopped, her glowing wand pressed against the door to what I expected was the Gryffindor classroom, as the two rows of desks were lined up. We walked through the path in between and arrived at her office, which was situated at the back end of her class, near the right corner next to the blackboard.

"Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you were taken ill on the train, Potter." Professor McGonagall spoke as she settled down. I, on the other hand, inched closer to the fire. The warmth was pleasant, and even though the chocolate had helped, it was one piece that I had then shared with Ginny.

"Ill would be an understatement. If you don't mind Professor, I would like to stay closer to the fi-" I stopped as the doors opened and another woman with an unknown level walked in, though the purpose of her visit was soon quite clear as I found myself sitting in the other chair next to Hermione with the school nurse hovering over me, her wand lighting up a pale blue color. 

[Poppy Pomfrey Lv ?]

"Oh, it's you, again?" said Madam Pomfrey, as she stopped her spell, bending down to stare closely at him. "I suppose you've been doing something dangerous again?"

"It was a dementor, Poppy," said Professor McGonagall. They exchanged a dark look, and Madam Pomfrey clucked disapprovingly. Her eyes somber as she pressed the back of her hand against my forehead. "Setting dementors around a school," she muttered, pushing back my hair and feeling my forehead. "He won't be the last one who collapses... he's all clammy. Terrible things, they are, and the effect they have on people who are already delicate."

"I'm not delicate," I snapped, her eyes peered into my own. I shook her hand away and continued, "I just wasn't expecting them to be on the train. I've had chocolate already, so the effects should lessen. Maybe a proper feast would help." I tried to steer the conversation and result in the direction I hoped. Although being alone in the infirmity would help me figure out the situation I was in, I could do the same thing in the dorm. Pretending to be tired to get some peace and quite was a skill that I had mastered during my first few years living with Emily.

'Gamer's mind is a bizarre ability, so easily have I accepted the fact that I am now controlling the body of a character from my fiance's favorite story... okay, so maybe I like it as well, but I wasn't crazy about it like she was.' 

"So it seems," Professor McGonagall spoke, her eyes narrowed as she looked at me, "Very well then, Potter. Kindly wait outside while I have a quick word with Miss Granger about her course schedule. Then we can go down to the feast together."

'Right, she's going to give Hermione the time turner. I would also like to get one, but no one would take my words seriously; plus, I don't want to study divination anyway...'

"Speaking of that, is it possible to change my courses, Professor? I don't think Divinition is for me. Maybe I can take Runes and Arithmancy with Care of Magical creatures?" My words caused me to end up on the receiving end of two incredulous stares.

'Okay, so maybe acting like Harry Potter wouldn't be easy. Then again, I can spin my encounter with the dark creature and the trauma I faced to be the catalyst of the changes, right?'

...