Privileges 2

As we sat by the fire after a long first day back, it was comforting.

While I was busy with madam Pomphrey in the infirmary, Hermione had spent her day enjoying with her friends. She described her room and the awe that every other girl from her last year dorm had when she invited them to hangout.

The room was almost half of their previous dorms, but instead of housing three, it only accommodated her. The bed too was almost twice as large. Hermione seemed to be extra happy about the excess room on her bed. The reason behind it was not the space for sleeping, though it was a sweet side benefit. The reason for her happiness was that unlike before, she wouldn't have to worry about her books affecting her sleep when she eventually falls asleep while reading them.

The previous beds were single bunk beds and therefore she did not enough room for her books and herself on the bed. It almost always became too crowded.

The rest of the day was spent while decorating the room along with her friends. Since it was their first time seeing a private dormitory in Hogwarts, they were very thrilled with the prospect of decorating it to their hearts content.

After she finished recounting her day, I told her about madam Pomphrey's instructions regarding the studies this year as well as the choice of subject that we were to complete tonight so that they could make an appropriate schedule for the upcoming year.

As if on cue, she began taking out notes from a bag that I had somehow missed during the entire conversation. These were the notes she had made regarding the homework that madam Pomphrey had given us during the holidays. She told me that during her studies she had come across a very particular magic that was described in the few old healing manuals that she had taken up for light reading during the holidays.

I guess some things never change. Even when she had almost the same amount of studies as me, she took up extra knowing that it will not be enough to keep her occupied through the entirety of our holidays.

She elaborated the magic she read about was purely a theory and there were no spells or previous notes on their effects in the manuals that she read. The only thing that she knew through the manual was that if this magic was turned into reality, it could be the next step in the progress of the magical medical world. The theory suggested that this type of magic was described as Light magic.

The principle however was not very clearly described in the few manuals that she read and if we wanted to know more than this, it was better to ask madam Pomphrey during the class.

Seeing that this was a potent healing magic, I too was eager to know more about it. As I already knew the tragedy that will ensue after Riddle returns to power, any additional healing spells will be a welcomed addition in my arsenal.

Apart from this there was also some fear regarding this in my mind. After years of experience, I clearly understood the dangers these scribbling words in an unremarkable diary carried.

We decided to leave the topic until we discussed it further with madam Pomphrey.

Before we went to sleep, Hermione informed me about her decision regarding the subject in which she wished to cut her time in half. It was not surprising that our choices were similar. Afterall it was me who spoke about the incompetence of our new defence against the dark arts teacher. Hermione was not among the students who would waste their time in classes that would not help them improve just for the benefit of an easier grade.

The first day of the new term finally arrived.

After I finished getting ready for the classes, I made my way to the infirmary to inform madam Pomphrey about our decision. The infirmary was deserted this early in the morning, so I made my way directly inside her chambers.

After informing her about our choices I proceeded to the great hall for breakfast before finally beginning my day.

The first class for every house just happened to be with their respective house heads. Considering the revelations, the class had yesterday in their respective houses, everyone understood that this was not some coincidence and were now discussing in anticipation regarding who will receive the benefits and how much.

We had our first class with professor McGonigal for transmigration. Slytherins had their first class with Snape, Potions. Ravenclaw had their first class with professor Flitwick, charms. Hufflepuffs had their first class with madam Sprout, our new subject of the year, Herbology.

As we reached the class, I could still hear the clamoring of my batchmates regarding the privileges that we will receive. From what I remembered about this particular class, it was a huge shock and disappointment for not just our house but everyone in our year. From the misleading words of the prefect, it was perceived that as long we had produced an above average grade for a subject, we would receive a benefit.

The criteria however were to be excellent not completion.

Professor McGonigal soon came into the class and began by giving the same basic description regarding the privileges that we received last night from Percy. After this she congratulated both Hermione and the other girl regarding their excellent overall performance in the examinations.

She then further explained that regarding the privileges. Everyone who had received an outstanding in a subject either in theory or practical is now eligible to demand to be seated in extra classes that will be conducted on the weekends by the respective faculty.

The moment she announced this the excitement on the faces of my batchmates dropped by at an alarming rate. From the fantasies that they had started creating last night, the privilege should have been less school work not more. The thought of sitting in on classes even on the weekends, while everyone else is enjoying, was enough to shudder.

She went on further explaining and ignored the reaction that she had witnessed countless times in the past whenever she spoke about this topic to the new batches.

The next were the people that had shown exceptional talent in things other than studies. From our batch the one's to receive this pleasure were four students. Me and Hermione were naturally selected for healing by madam Pomphrey. Seamus was elected by professor Flitwick due to his exceptional talent of blowing things up. The professor was very fascinated on why Seamus was so prone to cast destructive fire spells even while practicing simple spells. The next was the girl who had received the privilege of her own alongside Hermione. She too was selected by professor Flitwick but for a totally different reason. She was selected as a part of the school choir.

She announced that we each will be given the privilege to start taking additional classes while deciding which core subject we could compromise. This was a major benefit to the rest. They began to murmur again.

The last benefit that he announced was what we had received as a batch. Due to our house having a student who received the highest marks across all subjects in theory, we were the opportunity to ask the headmaster for a class on any topic that we want throughout the year.

There was surely going to be lot to discuss in the class after the announcements, but professor silenced everyone and began the class.