Grumpy Professors

Their first dinner had ended in a spectacular way and before Nicholas knew it, he was in his dorm room thankfully sharing it with Harry and Ron, along with students named Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan, and Dean Thomas.

The six boys quickly became friends as they laughed the night away when they were getting to know each other. Nicholas had seen Harry's owl before on the train but didn't really appreciate her beauty until now. Hedwig is her name Harry told him as he started to pet her. He wondered when he would get a pet of his own.

Nicholas woke up with a smile on his face. Luckily, he slept well even though he was really excited for his classes. Even if he slept well, it was still fairly early. The stormy-eyed boy got out of his bed and went to the restroom to start his morning. When he got out, he dressed in his robes and headed downstairs for breakfast before any of his friends had even awoken yet.

As he walked into the Great Hall, he noticed Hermione Granger sitting down at the table reading a book. He took a seat across from her and started to eat while saying, "You're reading first thing in the morning? Eat before reading. It's better for you, mentally and physically."

Hermione just scoffed in response when she saw who was sitting across from her. While she was surprised another first year Gryffindor was awake around the same time as her but she quickly dismissed it.

"For your information, I'm reading Hogwarts: A History. I like to be prepared before classes start and I had a bite to eat already no need for nagging."

Nicholas looked shocked, "Just a bite? I know for sure I wouldn't last a whole day like that. Also, Hogwarts: A History is pretty boring." Now it was Hermione's turn to be shocked, "Boring? How in the Merlin's beard is it boring?!" she almost was yelling at this point.

Nicholas just smiled cheekily, "I was kidding. Didn't read a lick of it. Just wanted to get under your skin."

Hermione turned red at this with anger and tried to retaliate, "And why are you eating so much? Need the extra energy to not sleep through your classes?"

Nicholas nodded his head and answered, "Yes, and for making my body to grow big and strong when I turn older. Don't want to be scrawny when I grow up."

At this Hermione knew she didn't see a positive out of this conversation and decided to leave before she blew her top.

Watching her leave the Great Hall Nicholas just smiled to himself and started to chow down faster since he wanted to explore the castle before classes start.

--Timeskip--

Nicholas had arrived at Transfiguration that day and remembered that this was Professor McGonagall's class. Since he liked the teacher he wanted to pay attention so he headed to the front of the class only to see Hermione sitting at the front as well. Internally fighting with himself, he resigned to sitting next to her with a sigh.

Hermione looked shocked when he sat down next to her and when before she could say anything, Nicholas said, "Before you get any funny ideas, I happen to like to teacher so I wanted to make a good impression."

At this, Hermione closed her mouth and started reading her book. Nicholas on the other hand started to head to the teacher's desk because he caught sight of a cat sitting there. He cooed at it and reached out for it, only for the cat to move out of the way, but Nicholas was stubborn and finally got ahold of it and sat back down with his arms firmly around the cat waiting for class too start.

Hermione was trying to read her book but was struggling because of the cat that Nicholas was holding. She really wanted to hold it too but she couldn't ask Nicholas because of her pride.

"Do you want to hold the cat as well?" Nicholas offered and as Hermione was going to say yes, she saw his mouth shaped in a smirk, and thought quickly of it, and unfortunately declined at the end. She huffed at this and tried to concentrate on her book. Nicholas saw this and started laughing but quickly stopped as the cat tried to wiggle out of his grasp so he quickly turned his attention to it and focused on holding it.

After awhile the time started to pass and students started to fill into the classroom but he saw no sign of Harry and Ron and mysteriously Professor McGonagall. Class had now begun nearly ten minutes ago and there was still no sign of them.

Then, he saw Harry and Ron running into the classroom. They became relieved at the fact that McGonagall was nowhere to be seen. This led Ron to say, "Phew! We made it. Could you imagine the look on old McGonagall's face if we were late?"

Nicholas was also relieved at the fact that they made it, but was confused as to where the professor was. Suddenly, the cat on his lap transformed into McGonagall who was now standing, but led to Nicholas being sprawled on the floor. This led to an explosion of giggles in the classroom. He especially heard Harry and Ron roaring in laughter and Hermione giggling at him.

'What are the chances that this actually happened?' Nicholas asked himself hoping it was a dream.

"If you would pick yourself off the floor Mr. Ward and nobody here will talk about how I was held in his arms at all. Is that understood?" McGonagall was practically demanding the class as she gave a pointed glare to all of them. Then it was Nicholas' turn to laugh when she started to scold the two boys for being late. As they sat down, the stormy eyed boy looked back at his two friends and laughed, which caused Harry to scowl playfully and say, "Shut up Nicholas."

When it was finally time for the lesson, he paid attention to the professor but also couldn't help paying attention to the work his desk partner was doing.

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The next lesson of the day was Potions, which Nicholas was most anxious about. He skimmed through the book knowing that the class would be hard, but couldn't help falling asleep through it a couple of times. He was hoping he would be at least proficient at the subject.

The four young Griffindors sat in a row. With Ron, then Harry, then Nicholas, and then Hermione, which both had the displeasure of sitting next to each other again.

To ease up his mood, Nicholas had been teasing the two boys for being late to Transfiguration but in return, he was being made fun of for ending up on the floor. As they were trying to get the upper hand, the classroom door opened with a loud bang, and Professor Snape in all his oily glory walked in.

Nicholas immediately sat up straighter and started to focus on the professor's lecture. As Snape was talking, Nicholas was writing some notes that he thought were useful, but Snape saw this and reprimanded him for doing so, "Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel comfortable enough to not pay attention."

Nicholas' head immediately snapped up to see Snape's scowling face.

"Mr. Ward, please tell me what I would get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Snape asked, as this were some kind of test.

Next to him, Hermione's hand shot up, but Nicholas replied, "I don't know professor." Which earned a disappointed look across Snape's face.

The professor continued, "You don't know? Well, let's try again. Where, Mr. Ward, would you look if I told you to locate a bezoar?"

"I don't know, professor." Nicholas said in a quieter tone.

Snape asked one final question, "What is the difference between monkshood and wolf's bane?"

At this question, Nicholas' eyes lit up and said the correct answer. Snape did looked surprised at the moment but quickly retorted, "Well well, 1 out of 3. Not bad, if you wanted to be less than average."

At this Nicholas felt embarrassed at the lack of knowledge but stood up straighter and told Snape, "Sorry Professor, but next time you can count on my answers to be correct." Snape lifted his impassive face and the tension between the two was broken by Harry who said, "Clearly Hermione knew the answers to the questions you asked. Seemed a pity not to ask her."

Nicholas turned to look at him in shock, but there was a bit of appreciation in his gaze. While he was grateful for Harry standing up for him, he knew Snape was not a teacher to cross. Also, Nicholas didn't know if he liked the fact that Hermione knew all the answers to the questions asked.

Snape slowly to Harry's desk and looked Harry dead in the eye, "How fitting that you of al people, Potter, have the audacity to speak to me in such a way. You know, you reminded me a lot of your father just then. He too was just as obnoxious and self-satisfied. It might interest you that fame isn't everything."

Snape then walked back to the front of the classroom and spoke once more, "10 points from Gryffindor. 5 for Mr. Potter and his need to comment on matters that don't concern him and 5 for Mr. Ward's inability to comprehend the simplest of questions."

Nicholas burned at this. He looked over at Harry and saw that he was furious at this as well. Also, Hermione was subtly giving him a death glare for causing their house to lose points. After class Nicholas thanked Harry, "Thanks mate."

"You'd do the same for me," Harry explained with a smile.

"Not likely," Nicholas joked as Harry slapped him. With that, the two boys went off to their next class.

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After potions, it was time for study hall for the first years in the Great Hall. Nicholas sat down with Harry and Ron at the Gryffindor table.

The stormy eyed boy was furiously reading the potions textbook while Harry and Ron were across from him. Down the table, Nicholas could hear Seamus saying some sort of ridiculous spell that somehow turned water into rum. Nicholas rolled his eyes at this and went back to his textbook. He only looked up again when he heard an explosion from where Seamus was. The boy's face, hair, and clothes were now all charred and Nicholas snorted at the scene while the rest of the table roared with laughter.

From the corner of his eye, Nicholas spotted a bunch of owls flying down from the window, "Mail's here it seems like." He himself didn't get any mail most likely because his parents either didn't know how to work the owl system or his father didn't bother to send anything.

Suddenly, Harry practically shoved a newspaper in his face. "Look, someone broke into Gringotts."

Harry read aloud, "Believed to be the work of dark witches or wizards unknown, Gringotts goblins while acknowledging the breach insist that nothing was taken. The vault in question, number 713, had in fact been emptied earlier that very same day."

Nicholas was barely paying attention because he was still focused on he potion's book, but when Harry said, "That's the vault Hagrid and I went to."

Nicholas was suspicious of the coincidence that was taking place but thought, 'I really don't want to deal with mysterious on top of all my school work.' he sighed.