Tanya Degurechaff
First day of class, starting it off with some black coffee in the Great Hall while waiting for the schedules to be passed out. Lavender was complaining lightly about having to do yoga as soon as we got back to school, but she was alone in her complaints.
As I was enjoying the rich aroma and flavor of my coffee along with some eggs and toast, McGonagall came by with the schedules. Today was going to be a shorter day with herbology and transfiguration in the morning and only Defense Against the Dark Arts after lunch.
Looking around, I see Ron's younger sister nearby and ask to see her schedule.
"Why?" She asks as she hands it over.
"I told one of your yearmates that I would help her with setting up a study group for your year. I need to see when it would be best for us to meet."
As long as Luna did not have classes that went till dinner, I should be able to work with the first years to arrange a study schedule for them. Handing back the schedule, I look over to the Ravenclaw table and see that Luna is sitting next to the other Ravenclaw first year girl.
"Luna, mind if I take a quick look at your schedule?" I ask as I come over, Professor Flitwick having already gone by.
"I do not mind at all," Luna says with a smile, holding it out for me. A quick look over confirms she has the period before dinner free.
"There is a classroom not far from here, just a few doors down from the entrance," I tell her. "Meet me there when you are done with Transfiguration today and we'll work on the study schedule. Try to get as many of your classmates to come as well."
"What's going on?" asked the other Ravenclaw… Flower? That seems about right.
"I told Luna I would help her set up a study group for your year on the train. It is part of how Hogwarts is structured that we are supposed to help our fellow students do well in classes, but I'll go more into that once everyone is gathered. For now, just make sure as many of your fellow first years are there."
With my piece said, and everything arranged with two of the houses, I went back to the Gryffindor table to finish my breakfast before I would need to grab my things for Herbology.
—
With long engrained efficiency, I had set out towels on each of our beds for the double Herbology along with a change of clothes for myself in the dorm room, along with my toiletries, and was waiting outside the greenhouses for Professor Sprout along with the Hufflepuffs, giving me a chance to speak to a few of them. Knowing that I would likely be able to talk to Draco later about getting the Slytherin first years to join the meeting, it seemed only fitting that I should invite the Hufflepuff first years as well through an intermediary.
Susan Bones was the most outgoing of the Hufflepuffs from what I could tell and was the one I chose to talk to about it.
"Is that why Gryffindor did so well last year?" Susan asked me after I mentioned the study group. "We studied so hard for finals, but you all beat us pretty good in grades."
I nodded. "Yeah. We started our study group around the start of last year and had been working together the whole time. Draco, Greggory, and Vincent joined after the Winter Break and there was a noticeable improvement in their classwork as well."
"If it works so well, why are you letting other houses join in?" Justin asked.
"We may be competing for the House Cup, but we should all be helping each other do well academically," I answered easily enough. "I have not set a schedule for the second year study group, but we can meet up Saturday to figure out a schedule we can all work with."
A bit of discussion was had from the Hufflepuffs as the rest of my Gryffindor year mates began arriving.
"We'll join you," Susan said. "How does after lunch sound?"
I nodded my assent. "I have no problems with that."
With that, conversations moved into other topics until Professor Sprout's cheerfulness came up to us. "Alright deeries, it looks like everyone is here already. We will be working in Greenhouse Three for most of this year." A muttering of excitement came up from my classmates at that proclamation. "Now, I know you all have enjoyed Greenhouse One last year, but I must warn you all that Greenhouse Three is far more dangerous. Nothing that should kill any of you, so long as you follow all the proper safety, though there are a few things that can give you a nasty sting even if you are careful. Understand?"
With everyone voicing agreement, Professor Sprout waved at us to follow her. "Alright everyone, file in." With a flick of her wand once she was inside and everyone was lining up alongside the tables in the middle of the greenhouse, twenty one pairs of earmuffs in various colors lined themselves up onto the wood table she had for herself in the center of the greenhouse.
"We'll be repotting Mandrakes today. Who can tell me the properties of the Mandrake?"
Hermione's hand was the first to snap to attention.
"Mandrake, or Mandragora, is a powerful restorative," answered Hermione. "It is used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state."
"Excellent. Ten points to Gryffindor," said Professor Sprout. "The Mandrake forms an essential part of most antidotes. It is also, however, dangerous. Who can tell me why?"
Hermione was about to shoot her hand up again, but I caught it before she could.
"Give someone else a chance," I said, trying to give her a reassuring smile. I think Professor Sprout might have noticed the interaction as she called on Neville who had timidly raised his own hand.
"Uh, isn't it that the cry of the Mandrake can be fatal to those that hear it?" Neville answered.
"Very good, another ten points to Gryffindor," Professor Sprout said with a clap. "Now the Mandrakes we will be dealing with are still very young, just sprouts really."
The professor indicated several plant trays with purplish green plants growing in neat little rows.
"Everyone, take an earmuff and wait for me to put them on," Professor Sprout said. There was a scramble by the other students over the earmuffs that I waited to subside before grabbing one of the last pair, a fuzzy pink pair.
"When I tell you to put them on, make sure your ears are completely covered," said Professor Sprout. "When it is safe to remove them, I will give you the thumbs up. Right! Earmuffs on."
With that, we all put on our earmuffs. The earmuffs must have some sort of silencing charm over them to remove as much sound as they did as soon after confirming we were all wearing our earmuffs, Professor Sprout pulled one of the Mandrakes out of its spot in a tray, revealing a root that looked a lot like a screaming baby, even moving in a way similar to a upset baby.
I did not have to deal with babies often in my previous lives until I was in a retirement home and one of the other residents would have their grandchild or great grandchild visit with their baby to show to 'grand nona' or something. Thinking on it, most of my experience dealing with babies was having to help the nuns with babies at the orphanages I've lived in. Both times being thankfully short experiences of dealing with fussy babies.
With swift efficiency, the Mandrake was shoved into a pot full of soft compost, getting fully buried. After clapping most of the dirt off of her hands, Professor Sprout gave us the thumbs up to remove the earmuffs before taking off her own.
"As our Mandrakes are only seedlings, their cries won't kill yet," she said with a calm smile. "However, they will knock you out for several hours, and as I'm sure none of you want to miss your first day back, make sure your earmuffs are securely in place while you work. I will attract your attention when it is time to pack up. Four to a tray - there is a large supply of pots here, compost in the sacks over there, and be careful of the Venomous Tentacula. It's teething."
Professor Sprout gave a dark red plant that had been slowly reaching out towards her a sharp slap, causing the plant to recoil back to its pot.
Gathering supplies, I was partnered up with Ron, Harry, and Hermione in repotting a tray of these Mandrakes. With earmuffs firmly in place, we got to work and found out that much like real babies, Mandrakes were messy, uncooperative, and incredibly fussy. One that Harry tried dealing with was particularly fat and looked heavier than the rest, so I hopped over to help him wrestle the bastard into its new home.
By the end of class, everyone was sweaty, dirt covered, and ready to get in a hot shower and feel clean again. I had to rush Lavender and Paravati a bit so we would not be late for Transfiguration.
Professor McGonagall had us go over what we learned last year. A day of checking who forgot what. Thankfully, a steady program of studying over the entirety of last year seemed to have helped us retain the lessons. That, or Professor McGonagall gives the same praise of 'this class has done the best at remembering everything I've taught that I've had' every year. She did seem to have a bit of a soft side to her that she kept under control most of the time.
With the class in high spirits after having successfully turned several beetles in buttons each, though Lily's seemed to still have legs, we went down to lunch where I was able to talk to Draco about him getting the Slytherin first years to join the study group I was setting up. He promised to try, which was all I was looking for, though the fact that it would be only Slytherin missing out seemed to perk him up a bit in being able to accomplish gathering all the first years.
With arrangements made, I found myself rejoining the rest of the Gryffindor second years in a shaded courtyard just outside. A first year was talking with a decidedly uncomfortable looking Harry.
"Creevey, right?" I asked the boy holding a camera.
"Yes," he said, nodding as he turned his attention to me.
"You like taking photographs?"
"Yeah," he said. I cut him off before he could continue by gently placing a hand on his shoulder and starting to move him away from Harry.
"That's great. I noticed last year that this school didn't have a yearbook. How would you like to help me start one up as the official photographer of the yearbook?" I was making things up, but I believe Luna mentioned her dad was in publishing, so if I could use that connection I could get Colin busy enough to not bother Harry about his apparent fame until Colin could control himself and see Harry as the child he was.
I let him know we would likely need to get Professor McGonagall's approval to have a yearbook committee started up before sending him on his way.
"Thank you," Harry said softly when we met back up.
"No problem," I said, waving him off. Keeping your acquaintances happy was an important aspect of building and maintaining a social network. Harry was rather simple. He was a humble boy who wanted friends that just saw him for who he is and not some story built up around him. "Let's get to class."
The classroom for Defense Against the Dark Arts was decorated with silky curtains, portraits of Professor Lockhart, and a rather gaudy looking chandelier for the year. Certainly more personality than last year, but it was… not to my tastes.
Soon after the class was seated, Lockhart swept into the room, smiling grandly as he used one of Neville's books to introduce himself with. It was a reasonably well rehearsed speech that would have played a lot better at a fan meetup instead of in a classroom.
Then he had us do a quiz based upon his books. We hadn't been assigned to read them yet, so I imagine more than a few of us got all the answers wrong. And I would have applauded the man for which questions he chose to ask as a way of testing how much attention we were paying to small details. It was a tactic I remember employing during the war to build up a force of Elite Aerial Mages, though my test was to see through an illusion I had cast.
Lockhart's test was all about little tidbits about himself sprinkled throughout the books. So far, he was leaving me with the feeling that he was a narcissistic person too puffed up on his own accomplishments to be reasonable, but it was only the first day of class.
After grading the quiz and noting Hermione had gotten all the questions correct, Lockhart moved to to a covered cage.
"Now, be warned!" Lockhart started, showing off some rather excellent showmanship. "It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizardkind! You may find yourselves facing your worst fears in this room. Know only that no harm can befall you whilst I am here. All I ask is that you remain calm."
I found myself joining in the excitement building in the classroom as I leaned forwards.
"I must ask you not to scream. It might provoke them."
With a flourish, Lockhart removed the covering to reveal a cage full of little blue creatures that could only be described as-
"Yes! Freshly caught Cornish Pixies!"
Seamus snorted a laugh as I raised a hand. Lockhart chose to ignore Seamus's laughing snort to address me.
"Yes, you. What was your name?"
"Degurechaff. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't they an unintelligent pest?" I believe that was mentioned in one of the books I read last year.
"Yes, and devilishly tricky little blighters they can be!"
With a theatrical flourish that would make Professor Snape proud, Lockhart placed his hand onto the door to the cage.
"How about we see what you make of them!" He rhetorically asked as he threw the door open.
Instantly they flew out to cause chaos and destruction around the classroom, two of them smashing through the window and escaping early while the rest began messing up the decorations, grabbing at our supplies, and trying to be a general nuisance.
Tried being the operative word.
"Sn-crack!"
The sound of ribs cracking as I snapped a neck of the tiny pest briefly got the pixies' attention. I slowly stood up, tossing the carcass onto the floor. Pulling out my wand, I took aim at a cluster of the pests and sent a torrent of flames to burn them to death.
I estimate that there were about eighteen in the cage. Two escaped, one neck snapped, six burned. Nine bogeys left.
The pixies began chittering and moving swiftly. Concentrated shot to a pair moving after Neville. Seven left. One moving to hide in the chandelier. Flame, redirect flamethrowing to get two more moving to the back of the class. Four remain.
Scanning, I spot one peeking out behind Lavender's books. I gesture with my off hand to move the books aside and blast it with a freeze charm before it can react.
Three to account for. I spot one hiding one the teacher's desk behind a picture of lockhart. I blast it with concentrated force, 'accidentally' smashing the picture while crushing the pixie.
The last two show a bit of intelligence and throw themselves back into the cage which Lockhart locks the door to quickly.
"Blimey, remind me never to get on your bad side," Ron said looking up at me from where he had fallen to the floor.
"Yes, uh ten points to Gryffindor," Lockhart said from the front of the class, eying me up as I sat back down. "Perhaps a bit on the rough side, but very good."
"Pests should be dealt with swiftly, before they start infesting the place," I reply, giving Professor Lockhart my best smile.