Chapter 24 - First classes

The next morning, the boys woke up feeling excited and ready for their first day of classes. Thomas and Adam, in particular, were looking forward to their first potion class. While Adam made it clear that he was interested in learning this delicate art, Thomas had another reason for learning how to properly concoct potions and that was in case the healing spells fail to heal his mother, he would resort to potions.

The boys quickly dressed in their robes and run towards the Great Hall. When they sat down at the Ravenclaw table in the Great Hall, the boys eagerly loaded up their plates with pancakes, bacon, and eggs. Michael, being a bit of a foodie, was particularly excited about the assortment of pastries and jams that were available.

As they ate, they overheard a group of Gryffindor students talking animatedly about something that had happened the previous evening. Curious, James leaned in to listen.

"Yeah, I heard Harry Potter really messed up in Professor Snape's class yesterday," said one of the Gryffindors. "He couldn't even get the simplest potion right."

Another Gryffindor chimed in. "I heard Snape was so disappointed that he took away points from Gryffindor and made Harry stay after class to clean up the cauldrons."

The boys exchanged a glance, feeling a bit apprehensive about the prospect of facing Snape in his class. They had heard that he was one of the most demanding teachers at Hogwarts, with a reputation for being incredibly strict and unforgiving. But they reminded themselves that they were Ravenclaws, and they prided themselves on their intelligence and ability to learn quickly. They decided to focus on the task at hand and do their best to impress Professor Snape with their skills and knowledge or at least not be called out for being as dumb as a troll.

Thomas couldn't help but feel sad for Harry, despite barely knowing the boy for more than a few minutes. It was tough enough to be a new supposedly famous student at Hogwarts, let alone being singled out and humiliated in front of everyone by a strict professor like Snape. Thomas silently vowed to support Harry in any way he could, should they ever become closer friends. Soon they finished their breakfast and the boys made their way to the dungeons where the potion classroom was located.

When they entered the classroom, they were greeted by the sight of a long, narrow room filled with rows of cauldrons and shelves stocked with various ingredients. Professor Snape was already at the front of the room, his sharp features and piercing gaze making him seem even more intimidating than they had imagined.

"Welcome to your first potion class," he said in a low, silky voice. "I am Professor Snape, and I will be your instructor for the duration of this course. Potion-making is a delicate and precise art, and I expect each and every one of you to take it seriously. Any foolishness or lack of attention will not be tolerated in my classroom."

The boys and the rest of the students gulped and nodded in understanding, taking their seats at one of the cauldrons. Snape began the lesson by going over the basics of potion making, explaining the importance of precise measurements and the proper handling of ingredients.

As the class went on, Thomas found himself becoming more and more interested in the subject. He loved the way the different ingredients interacted with one another, creating reactions that were both fascinating and powerful. He worked carefully and meticulously, following each step of the instructions and double-checking his measurements to make sure everything was just right.

James, on the other hand, was having a bit of trouble. He kept getting distracted by the other students and the various smells coming from the cauldrons around him. Professor Snape didn't seem too pleased with his lack of focus, and he soon found himself receiving a stern lecture on the importance of paying attention.

Michael and Adam were doing relatively well, but they too were feeling the pressure of Snape's intense gaze thanks to their less fortunate friend. It was as if he could see every mistake they made, every tiny misstep that could ruin a potion.

Despite the challenges and the occasional harsh words, the boys found themselves enjoying the class more and more as the day went on. They were learning new things and getting the chance to experiment with different ingredients, something that they had never been able to do before.

When the class finally ended, they packed up their stuff and made their way out of the dungeon. All of the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students were feeling a bit tired, after their first and probably the most stressful class of the year.

As he and his friends walked back to their common room, Thomas couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He had done well in his first potion class, and he was excited to see how the other classes would be.

When they reached the entrance to the common room, James turned to his friends and flashed a mischievous grin.

"Well, guys, it looks like we've survived our first potion class... but something tells me that Professor Snape won't make it that easy for us next time. But you know what they say, more trouble, more fun!" he exclaimed, winking at his friends. "Bring on the magic and wonder, I'm ready for anything."

Thomas rolled his eyes at James's comment. "You and your big mouth, James. Don't jinx us! We just got through one class, let's not get too ahead of ourselves."

Adam chuckled. "Yeah, I think I'll reserve my judgment until after our first Charms class. That's where the real magic happens."

Michael nodded in agreement. "And let's not forget about Defense Against the Dark Arts. That's where things can get really interesting."

James looked at his friends with a hurt expression. "Wow, guys. I can't believe you would say something like that to me. Here I am, trying to be optimistic and you're just tearing me down." He put a hand over his heart, pretending to be hurt. "I thought we were friends, but I guess I was wrong." He paused dramatically before adding, "I'll just have to go through this magical year alone, I suppose."

After James had finished sulking, the boys made their way to their first Charms class of the year. As they walked down the hallway, Thomas couldn't help but feel excited, thinking about how he would finally be able to put the spells he learned all of those years to good use and even help his friends.

When all of the students entered the classroom, they were greeted by Professor Flitwick, a tiny wizard with a high-pitched voice and a shock of white hair. He welcomed them warmly and instructed the class to take their seats.

Thomas and his friends settled in at a table near the front of the room, just as Harry and Ron walked in. The two boys look looked a bit frazzled as if they had just come from a harrowing experience.

Thomas couldn't help but be curious. "Hey, guys," he said, "what's going on? You look like you've been through the wringer."

Harry let out a deep sigh. "You have no idea," he said. "We just had a run-in with Peeves on our way here. He soaked us with water and stole Ron's wand."

The boys couldn't help but laugh at the image of Peeves causing chaos once again.

James grinned mischievously. "Who knows, maybe Peeves will show up in our class and give us a little entertainment."

Adam chuckled. "Yeah, or maybe he'll steal Professor Flitwick's wand and make all of our spells go haywire."

Michael shook his head. "I don't think I could handle that kind of chaos on my first day of class."

Harry let out a small laugh. "Believe me, it's not as fun as it sounds. But at least we made it here in one piece."

"Well, I hope you guys have better luck in class," Thomas said.

Harry and Ron chuckled when they heard Thomas, but Hermione, who walked behind them looked at the six boys sternly. "It's not funny, guys. Peeves can be a real nuisance, and it's important to take our studies seriously."

Thomas and his friends exchanged a glance, a bit surprised by Hermione's serious tone. To be fair though, when he talked with her on the train Thomas quickly realize that she was meant to become a top student, but he didn't realize just how dedicated she was to her studies. To even scold them for joking before class.

All six of the boys couldn't help but feel a bit guilty as Hermione scolded them. Other than Thomas and Adam, the others had never been the most studious bunch, but the least they could do was to at least feel guilty when deserved. While Ron was about to lash out at her, Harry and James dragged the red-haired boy away, and when he saw the seriousness in Hermione's eyes made Thomas wonder if they should start taking their studies more seriously as well.

"Sorry, Hermione. We didn't mean to make light of the situation. I'll make sure be sure to keep our wits about us from now on."

Hermione nodded, still looking a bit skeptical, but seemed satisfied with her first friend's response. "That's good Tom. Now let's focus on our class, shall we?"

Professor Flitwick cleared his throat and he started with a review of basic charms, such as the wand movement for the levitation spell. Thomas found the way the man was explaining quite interesting despite having practiced the spell many times before, after all, it wouldn't hurt to listen to a man that has more experience than he could ever dream of.

However, as the class progressed, they began to learn more complicated spells, such as the charm to make objects float and the incantation to produce a protective shield. As the lesson continued, Hermione was growing increasingly frustrated with Ron's inability to master the levitation charm. Between Thomas and his friends, he was the only one who got the charms on the first try earning his house five points. Adam and Michael, on the other hand, didn't shy behind all that much, taking just a little bit more time than Thomas to cast their first charm.

Meanwhile, James was the worst among all of the first-year students, well just above Ron, who was being scolded by Hermione.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" he shouted, waving his long arms like a windmill.

"You're saying it wrong," Thomas heard Hermione snap. "It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long."

"You do it, then, if you're so clever," Ron snarled."

"Honestly Ron, it's not that difficult," she scolded. "You just need to concentrate and get the wand movement right."

Meanwhile, James continues to struggle with the same charm, much to his annoyance. He couldn't seem to focus his energy or control the wand movement properly no matter how much he seemed to try, not that he cared all that much about it. Just as Hermione was about to head over to help him, she saw Thomas and Adam helping James so she turned her attention to Ron once again. Seeing that his two friends were close to him James leaned over to them with a mischievous grin on his face.

"Hey, guys, watch this," he whispered, before pointing his wand toward the ceiling and muttering a quick incantation under his breath. Suddenly, a small shower of sparks erupted from the tip of his wand, raining down on their table and causing Hermione to jump in surprise. "What are you doing?" she scolded, turning to face him.

"We're supposed to be focusing on the charm, not causing a distraction."

James simply shrugged, a cheeky grin on his face. "I'm just trying to liven things up a bit," he said. "Besides, it's not like Ron's making any progress anyways."

Professor Flitwick had been watching the exchange from his desk at the front of the classroom, and he couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at James' antics. However, he knew that he couldn't let such behavior go unnoticed, especially in a class that required such focus and concentration.

"Mr. O'Sullivan, while I do appreciate your enthusiasm, it's important to remember that we're here to learn," he said, his voice carrying over the noise of the classroom. "Please refrain from causing any further distractions and focus on the lesson at hand."

James looked a bit sheepish at being called out by the professor, but he quickly turned his attention back to the levitating charm. Despite his initial struggles, once Thomas, Adam, and even Michael came to help him, he was starting to get the hang of it, thanks in no small part to his roommates.

As the class came to a close, Professor Flitwick announced that he would be awarding five points to Gryffindor for Hermione's efforts in helping a fellow student with the charm.

"Well done, Miss Granger, five points to Gryffindor," he said, a small smile on his face. "It's always admirable to see a student helping their classmates. Keep up the good work."

And with that came the end of the class. While he had scolded James before, Professor Flitwick decided to talk to him so he approached Thomas and his friends' table. He glanced at the scattered textbooks and the wand sparks that were still lingering in the air. "Mr. O'Sullivan, while I appreciate your enthusiasm, we can't have any disruptions in the classroom. Please focus on your studies next time," he said with a slight scold. James nodded sheepishly, feeling a little guilty for causing a distraction.

As the class ended, Thomas, Michael, and Adam couldn't help but tease James about his mischievous behavior during the class.

"Looks like someone needs to focus on their studies," Thomas said with a chuckle.

Michael added, "Maybe if you focused more on the charm, you wouldn't have to resort to fireworks."

James rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smile. "Hey, I was just trying to liven things up a bit."

Adam chimed in, "Well, next time, try not to get scolded by Professor Flitwick."

They all laughed when their professor scolded their friend and roommate. Hermione caught up with them and greeted them warmly, causing a few more surprised looks from other students.

"Hey, guys," she said, her tone apologetic. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for overreacting like that when James used his spell. It's just that I take our studies very seriously and I want to make sure that all of my classmates succeed. But I realize now that I may have been a bit too harsh." Hermione took a deep breath before continuing, "On a different note, can I ask you guys a favor? Would it be alright if I joined you for lunch?"

Thomas, Michael, Adam, and James exchanged a surprised glance when they heard the question. They were used to eating with each other, but frankly, none of them had ever heard of another student from a different house who could join your table, though that won't be a problem for them.

Thomas teased Hermione with a playful grin, "Well, well, who are you and what have you done to the Hermione we know? Apologizing and asking for a favor? This is new." He chuckled before adding, "But of course, we'd be more than happy to have you join us, don't we boys?"

Michael and Adam nodded in agreement, while James simply grinned mischievously. "It's about time we showed the rest of the school how it's done," he said, earning a playful shove from Thomas.

The four boys quickly gathered their things and made their way to the Great Hall, with the new addition to their group trailing behind them. They could feel the eyes of their fellow students on them as they made their way to their usual table, but they didn't let it bother them.

As they sat down and began to eat, Thomas and Hermione started to talk about various subjects while the other three boys made their presence known from time to time and they were confident enough to answer. Soon the conversation went in another direction as they have begun to talk about their classes and their hobbies. It was as if they had been friends for years, even though they had only just met.

The other students in the Great Hall couldn't help but stare in amazement as they saw members from different houses eating and laughing together. It was a rare sight, but one that gave, a certain headmaster hope for a more united Hogwarts.

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