A New Beginning: Fresh Start

The storm continued to get worse throughout the night. Loud thunderous rumbles shook the castle every couple minutes. But I never wished to sleep anyways. I was in my dorm bed, laying, my eyes closed, curtains drawn closed so no one could see. I practiced my Occlumency the entire night. Slowly from scratch I had been organizing the memories—both of this life and my last. It was a tedious task and I had been doing it every day since the World cup. Today it will be done. And then I could start with mind shields. By the time morning rolled, the thunder had abated. The storm trudged away and small rays of golden flushed inside the dorm room through the windows.

Me, Ron and Hermione reached the Great Hall, its ceiling still gloomy from last night's storm. Ron was looking at Monday's column of the timetable "Herbology with the Hufflepuffs and Care of Magical Creatures . . . damn it, we're still with the Slytherins. . . .Double Divination this afternoon,"

I groaned. I still hated Divination. "Is there no way I can change my elective?" I pleaded.

"You should have given it up like me, shouldn't you?" said Hermione briskly, buttering herself some toast. "Then you'd be doing something sensible like Arithmancy."

"Yes, Yes. No need to rub it in," I understood that the younger me was stupid alright. "What is the Arithmancy syllabus?"

"Looks like you are eating again," Ron pointed to Hermione.

"Well, I have decided that… there are better ways to fight for house elves…" Hermione said, her voice stiff. She looked at me, "And there would be no use of knowing the syllabus now, would there? You can't get in now, you will have an entire year's worth of backlog."

"And you got hungry," Ron fired at Hermione, grinning.

I shook my head exasperatedly. These two and the tension between them. How had I not noticed it earlier? I would never know.

There was a sudden rustling noise above them, and a hundred owls came soaring through the open windows carrying the morning mail. Hedwig was nowhere. Last time, I had sent Hedwig to Sirius with a letter. I knew I shouldn't be worried. After all, in my last life, Hedwig had been fine. But still, there was a longing. I wished to see the beautiful snowy companion of mine once again.

A large tawny owl soared down to Neville Longbottom and deposited a parcel into his lap — Neville almost always forgot to pack something. On the other side of the Hall Draco Malfoy's eagle owl had landed on his shoulder, carrying what looked like his usual supply of sweets and cakes from home.

"Bubotubers," Professor Sprout told them briskly as the Herbology class began. "They need squeezing. You will collect the pus —"

"The what?" said Seamus Finnigan, sounding revolted.

"Pus, Finnigan, pus," said Professor Sprout, "and it's extremely valuable, so don't waste it. You will collect the pus, I say, in these bottles. Wear your dragon-hide gloves; it can do funny things to the skin when undiluted, bubotuber pus."

After a while in the class I couldn't help but zone out, my hands working instinctively. I had years of experience in all of the classes in Hogwarts. This year's studies will be a breeze.

"This'll keep Madam Pomfrey happy," said Professor Sprout, stoppering the last bottle with a cork. "An excellent remedy for the more stubborn forms of acne, bubotuber pus. Should stop students resorting to desperate measures to rid themselves of pimples."

A booming bell echoed from the castle across the wet grounds, signaling the end of the lesson, and the class separated; the Hufflepuffs climbing the stone steps for Transfiguration, and the Gryffindors heading in the other direction, down the sloping lawn toward Hagrid's small wooden cabin, which stood on the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

I grimaced as memories of Blast ended Skrets rushed my mind. Those creatures were simply revolting. If Hagrid wasn't such an innocent soul, I would have definitely used some choice words. But Hagrid was kind. Innocent and a friend. I would have to just bear with this insanity.

"Mornin'!" Hagrid said, grinning at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Be'er wait fer the Slytherins, they won' want ter miss this — Blast Ended Skrewts!"

"Come again?" said Ron.

Hagrid pointed down into the crates.

"Eurgh!" squealed Lavender Brown, jumping backward.

Eurgh! Just about summed those creatures up pretty well. They were simply revolting. They looked like deformed, shell-less lobsters, horribly pale and slimy-looking, with legs sticking out in very odd places and no visible heads. There were about a hundred of them in each crate, each about six inches long, crawling over one another, bumping blindly into the sides of the boxes. They were giving off a very powerful smell of rotting fish.

"And why would we want to raise them?" said a cold voice. The Slytherins had arrived. The speaker was Draco Malfoy. Crabbe and Goyle were chuckling appreciatively at his words.

That in my not so humble opinion was the smartest question Malfoy had ever asked. And the answer was simple, but Hagrid wasn't going to tell it. These were going to be used in the tournament.

"Tha's next lesson, Mal foy. Yer jus' feedin' 'em today. Now, yeh'll wan' ter try 'em on a few diff'rent things—" Hagrid droned on and everyone got more and more uncomfortable. Some people's faces were even green.

"First pus and now this," muttered Seamus. That just about summed up the day.

The Skrewts got a couple of students, including Dean Thomas and Lavender Brown and Tracy Davis, landed in the Infirmary.

"I only said that to console Hagrid and shut Malfoy," Hermione said testily, also annoyed by the Skrewts, "They should be killed."

Harsh but logical. The Skrewts were, in my opinion, spawns of Satan.

They sat down at the Gryffindor table and helped themselves to lamb chops and potatoes. Hermione began to eat so fast that I and Ron stared at her.

"Er — is this the new stand on elf rights?" said Ron. "You're going to make yourself puke instead?"

"No," said Hermione, with as much dignity as she could muster with her mouth bulging with sprouts. "I just want to get to the library."

"Oh— I also wanted to go to the library." Both Ron and Hermione looked at me. "What?"

"What the bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed. "It's not even the first day. We haven't even gotten HOMEWORK!"

"Harry, you have Divination," Hermione said, ignoring Ron completely, "You can't come to the library."

"Well then I will go to McGonagall," I said. "I am not going to entertain that subject of lunacy."

Hermione smiled, a little impressed. Ron thought the opposite, "What? But Divination is free marks!"

"I will see you guys later," I said quick bye's to both of them and left to look for McGonagall. I found her in her classroom—1B.

"Professor McGonagall?" I called from the door as I spotted the strict no-nonsense women. She was dressed in an emerald-green dress robe, with a pointed hat on her head, enhancing her already intimidating profile. She was checking some assignments. As she heard my voice, she turned her head to look at the door,

"Yes, Mr. Potter?" She said, her voice a normal stern sound. "Come in."

I entered the empty classroom and walked towards the central table where she sat. "Professor…" I said, suddenly feeling a little scared. Why was I feeling scared? Is this some side effect of being in a young body?

"Yes Mr. Potter? I don't expect this visit is just to greet me," she said, and if I didn't have years of experience, I wouldn't have been able to detect the amusement that her voice exuded. "Get on with it."

"Yes Professor, of course," I said, sounding more nervous than I should have. "I… wanted to change my elective… specifically Divination." I expected anger, maybe some rebuttal or even a direct denial. But i got none.

"Have a seat Mr. Potter," McGonagall said softly, putting her work aside.

Silently I pulled a seat and sat down opposite to her. I looked at her face. Her eyes weren't narrow, but oddly warm, and her face instead of being tense or angry was almost relieved. Weird.

"You should come to me with good new more often, Mr. Potter." She said, and then asked, "So why this sudden change of heart?"

"I just feel that… I am being wasted in Divination…" I said, trying my best to explain. "It is just… a subject for free marks instead of… learning…"

"Personally, as a staff member, I shouldn't talk ill about any of my colleagues," She started. "But I can understand where you come from. Divination is, frankly, useless for those without sight."

I nodded nervously. Everything was going so well. I hoped that she would agree. McGonagall was a strict teacher, but she had always been nice.

"I will let you leave Divination, Mr. Potter, but—" She said strictly, "What other class would you join?"

I fiddled nervously, "Maybe Arithmancy, or Ancient Runes… Maybe both?" I supplied.

"Well… that's not my call." She said and then explained, "I will tell Professor Babbling and Professor Vector about your predicament. They would probably give a test before letting you in their classes."

"That's all I want, Professor," I said profusely with gratefulness.

"Don't get all excited, Mr. Potter," She said looking at me with a steely expression, "I want you to apply yourself. And if you don't get at least EE in the test that the Professors give you, I would personally ask them to not let you in."

"Of course, Professor. I will do my best." Her eyes softened at my words.

"Good." She then finally said, "So, you are hereby exempted from divination. Go and meet Professor Babbling and Professor Vector by the end of the week." I nodded.

"Well then, Mr. Potter, I don't assume you have anything else to discuss?" She asked and i took it as a sign of dismissal.

"No Professor. Thank you, Professor," I said and stood to leave. As I neared towards the door, i head Professor McGonagall's voice.

"And Harry, I hope you apply yourself more to your studies this year."

"Yes Professor," I gave a small smile and left for the library.

The library resided on the first floor. While the Transfiguration classroom was on the ground floor. Therefore, it took me about 15 minutes to reach the place. The Hogwarts library, a hall of knowledge and wisdom. It is the biggest collection of magical books in all of Europe. It is only surpassed by three libraries across the world, and those three are in the US, China and India. But this Library has an achievement that none of the others do. This Library had taught Wizards like Albus Dumbledore, Voldemort, Severus Snape, James Potter, Lily Evans, Mad-Eye Moody and so on. This library was the only reason that every year at least one Hogwarts graduate is more exemplary than any other graduate from across the world. This was a hidden treasure of Britain.

I looked around the place, trying to search for Hermione, but couldn't find her. The place was too big. In the end I just searched for some Arithmancy and Ancient Runes books and started studying on my own.

As a student, I had never completed any book in a single day. But as an adult, I had read many in time constraints. I also knew Arithmancy and Ancient Runes quite well. This was one of the perks of being an Auror—You will sooner or later have to learn all the fields of magic to at least NEWT level.

So why was I reading the books? Well, that is mostly because of the fact that I knew these subjects till or even beyond NEWT level. A fourteen-year-old me shouldn't know that. I was just checking what I should actually write while answering questions. Too much information is sometimes dangerous. By the time I had finished the Arithmancy book and started the Ancient Ruins one, it was time to go.

I picked both of the books firmly and went to Madam Pince, the Hogwarts Librarian. "Good evening, ma'am, I would like to borrow these two books."

The woman with parchment-like skin looked up at me, her eyes scanning me. "Of course, Mr. Potter," she said and took both of the books and wrote an entry in her register. She passed me the two books along with a blue parchment. "Here. Write your name and house on the card." I did as she asked and then returned the library card, "Return the book in seven days. Understood Mr. Potter?"

"Yes ma'am"

I left the library and headed towards the Great Hall. Crowds of students were rushing towards the hall as per usual. As I neared the hall, I finally found Ron and Hermione. I waved at them, trying to get their notice.

"Mate… Where have you been?" Ron asked irritably. "Do you know how much I suffered?"

"So, Harry… I take that you were successful in leaving Divination?" Hermione said.

"More than successful," I said and showed them the books I was holding. "I would have to take tests. But if I pass, I can enter both Arithmancy and Ancient Runes."

Ron gaped, surprised that I managed to get McGonagall to agree. But Hermione seemed a little worried, "Oh Harry— Both Ancient Runes and Arithmancy are really difficult. And their exams are even harder."

"Well… I can understand ancient ruins… But Arithmancy, as far as I have gotten, mostly resembles math with a little bit of facts and magic here and there." I said and as an afterthought added, "At least the third-year syllabus is like that."

"Harry, you don't understand… Last year, by marks alone I only got an EE in Arithmancy…" Hermione confessed while slightly cringing at her own words, "Thankfully, the Professor decided to turn the grades based on cut-off."

"Hmm… Well, I will see what I can do…" I told her, as the three of us continued towards the great hall.

"Weasley! Hey, Weasley!" Me, Ron, and Hermione turned. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were standing there, each looking thoroughly pleased about something.

"What?" said Ron shortly.

"Your dad's in the paper, Weasley!" said Malfoy, brandishing a copy of the Daily Prophet and speaking very loudly, so that everyone in the packed entrance hall could hear. "Listen to this!

Malfoy's eyes, for a split second, fell on mine. I felt a small smirk appear on my lips as I saw him lightly shiver. So, he hadn't forgotten what I had done on the train. Nevertheless, he still continued to read the article.

Malfoy looked up. "Imagine them not even getting his name right, Weasley. It's almost as though he's a complete nonentity, isn't it?" he crowed. Everyone in the entrance hall was listening now. Malfoy straightened the paper with a flourish and read on.

"And there's a picture, Weasley!" said Malfoy, flipping the paper over and holding it up. "A picture of your parents outside their house — if you can call it a house! Your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn't she?"

"I would watch my back from now on, if i was you Malfoy," I said coldly and then turned to Ron and grabbed his hand, "Let's go mate."

Malfoy hurled another insult and by now, Ron was ready to throw fists. The combined effort of me and Hermione were the only thing that was stopping it.

Suddenly, I felt… a spell being released. Immediately, my hand reached for my pocket and in less than a quarter of a second, a dome of white translucent shield formed around us three. Everyone around us was screaming seeing the spell that Malfoy had casted. But the spell never managed to hit the shield.

I heard a loud BANG, and a roar that echoed through the entrance hall. "OH NO YOU DON'T, LADDIE!" Harry spun around. Professor Moody was limping down the marble staircase. His wand was out and it was pointing right at a pure white ferret, which was shivering on the stone-flagged floor, exactly where Malfoy had been standing.

There was a terrified silence in the entrance hall. Nobody but Moody was moving a muscle. Moody turned to look at me, his normal eye looked at me, but his other, what it was doing, no one knew. He growled, "Great reflex kiddo. As I always say, CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"

Moody growled, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at Crabbe, who had just frozen, about to pick up the white ferret. It seemed that Moody's rolling eye was magical and could see out of the back of his head. Moody started to limp toward Crabbe, Goyle, and the ferret, which gave a terrified squeak and took off, streaking toward the dungeons.

"I don't think so!" roared Moody, pointing his wand at the ferret again — it flew ten feet into the air, fell with a smack to the floor, and then bounced upward once more.

"Professor Moody!" said a shocked voice. Professor McGonagall was coming down the marble staircase with her arms full of books.

"Hello, Professor McGonagall," said Moody calmly, bouncing the ferret still higher.

"What — what are you doing?" said Professor McGonagall, her eyes following the bouncing ferret's progress through the air.

"Teaching," said Moody.

"Teach — Moody, is that a student?" shrieked Professor McGonagall, the books spilling out of her arms.

"Yep," said Moody.

"No!" cried Professor McGonagall, running down the stairs and pulling out her wand; a moment later, with a loud snapping noise, Draco Malfoy had reappeared, lying in a heap on the floor with his sleek blond hair all over his now brilliantly pink face. He got to his feet, wincing.

"Moody, we never use Transfiguration as a punishment!" said Professor McGonagall weakly. "Surely Professor Dumbledore told you that?"

"He might've mentioned it, yeah," said Moody, scratching his chin unconcernedly, "but I thought a good sharp shock —"

"We give detentions, Moody! Or speak to the offender's Head of House!"

"I'll do that, then," said Moody, staring at Malfoy with great dislike.

Moody jerked Malfoy from the ground. Threats were exchanged by Malfoy, but Moody was unperturbed. He was almost maniacally happy at the chance of meeting Snape again. He was in my opinion, clinically insane. Both Moody and Barty Crouch Junior.

"Don't talk to me," Ron said quietly to me and Hermione as they sat down at the Gryffindor table a few minutes later, surrounded by excited talk on all sides about what had just happened.

"Why not?" said Hermione in surprise.

"Because I want to fix that in my memory forever," said Ron, his eyes closed and an uplifted expression on his face. "Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret . . ."