Chapter 30. First Class.
The first ray of morning light at Hogwarts refracted through the water surface of the Black. Lake into the Slytherin dormitory, carrying a faint, deep blue hue. It fell onto the silver-green silk bedding, making the snake-shaped dark patterns on the bed edge stand out even more clearly.
Edward was the first to wake up. He rose silently, took off his pajamas, and changed into his silver-green Slytherin school robes. A flicker of flame flashed at his fingertips, ironing the pleats of his hem until they were perfectly smooth. Carrying his polished walnut wand and a stack of thick magical tomes, he had just reached the door when he ran into a hurried Draco.
"Edward! Wait for me!" Draco was fumbling to straighten his tie, while Goyle and Crabbe followed him like two moving small hills. "Let's go to the Great Hall for breakfast together and check the class schedule by the way! I heard that the first years have to take Transfiguration and Potions class with Gryffindor. Just thinking about it is bad luck!"
Edward paused his steps. There was not a ripple in his grey-blue eyes, yet he still nodded slightly. "Let's go."
He did not completely reject all interaction; necessary socialization would allow him to integrate into Hogwarts more smoothly, and he could hear some school trifles not found in books from his peers - all of which could help him understand this world faster.
Draco's eyes lit up instantly. He eagerly crowded next to him, chattering and complaining about the recklessness of Gryffindor, while Goyle and Crabbe followed obediently behind the two, like two dutiful lackeys.
Passing through the slippery stone steps, Edward walked into the Great Hall. The long table was filled with steaming food. He walked straight to the Slytherin table and sat down, his gaze falling on the yellowed parchment class schedule at the corner of the table - the one the prefect had posted on the dormitory door last night, strictly following the centuries-old convention of Hogwarts.
Hogwarts First Year Slytherin Class Schedule (Monday to Friday)
Time | Course Name | Professor | Shared House | Location
Monday Morning 1st Period (9:00-10:00) | Transfiguration | Minerva McGonagall | Gryffindor | 2nd Floor Transfiguration Classroom
Monday Morning 2nd Period (10:15-11:15) | Charms class | Filius Flitwick | Hufflepuff | 3rd Floor Charms class Classroom
Monday Afternoon 1st Period (14:00-15:00) | Herbology Class | Pomona Sprout | Ravenclaw | Greenhouse 3 Behind the Castle
Monday Afternoon 2nd Period (15:15-16:15) | Defense Against the Dark Arts | Quirinus Quirrell | Hufflepuff | 3rd Floor Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom
Tuesday Morning 1st Period (9:00-10:00) | Potions class | Severus Snape | Gryffindor | Basement 1 Potions class Classroom
Tuesday Morning 2nd Period (10:15-11:15) | History of Magic | Cadogan Binns (Ghost) | All Students Mixed | 4th Floor History of Magic Classroom
Tuesday Afternoon (14:00-15:00) | Potions class | Severus Snape | Gryffindor | Basement 1 Potions class Classroom
Wednesday Morning 1st Period (9:00-10:00) | Transfiguration | Minerva McGonagall | Gryffindor | 2nd Floor Transfiguration Classroom
Wednesday Morning 2nd Period (10:15-11:15) | Charms class | Filius Flitwick | Hufflepuff | 3rd Floor Charms class Classroom
Wednesday Afternoon (14:00-15:00) | Herbology Class | Pomona Sprout | Ravenclaw | Greenhouse 3 Behind the Castle
Thursday Morning 1st Period (9:00-10:00) | Potions class | Severus Snape | Gryffindor | Basement 1 Potions class Classroom
Thursday Morning 2nd Period (10:15-11:15) | History of Magic | Cadogan Binns | All Students Mixed | 4th Floor History of Magic Classroom
Thursday Afternoon (14:00-15:00) | Defense Against the Dark Arts | Quirinus Quirrell | Hufflepuff | 3rd Floor Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom
Thursday Evening (19:00-20:00) | Astronomy | Aurora Sinistra | All Students Mixed | Top of Castle Astronomy Tower
Friday Morning 1st Period (9:00-10:00) | Transfiguration | Minerva McGonagall | Gryffindor | 2nd Floor Transfiguration Classroom
Friday Morning 2nd Period (10:15-11:15) | Charms class | Filius Flitwick | Hufflepuff | 3rd Floor Charms class Classroom
Friday Afternoon | Free Time / Library Study | - | - | Various Locations / Library
Edward's gaze lingered on the entry for Defense Against the Dark Arts for a moment. He had seen relevant records in the collection at Grimmauld Place. This course was a compulsory subject at Hogwarts, yet it had an eerie tradition - no Professor could teach it for a full year. As for this year's Professor, Quirinus Quirrell, it was said that he was a wizard who had just returned from an adventure in the Dark Forest, with a timid personality and a stutter when speaking.
After breakfast, the bell for the first class rang crisply throughout the Castle. Draco diligently saved a seat by the window for Edward. Seeing him walk over, he immediately waved with a smile: "Edward! Here! The view is the best, you can see the Black Lake!"
Edward did not refuse and walked straight over to sit down. Necessary classroom interaction was insignificant; what he cared more about was the content of Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration - this was one of the subjects he most wanted to delve into at the moment.
The Transfiguration classroom was spacious and bright, with the Transfiguration works of outstanding students from previous years hanging on the walls. On a cushion beside the podium, a tabby cat was lazily curled up, its amber eyes casually sweeping over the new students in the classroom.
When the last bell rang, at the very moment class time arrived, the tabby cat suddenly moved. It jumped off the cushion gracefully, a faint golden light glowing around its body. Before everyone's eyes, the fur slowly faded, the figure elongated, and it finally transformed into a witch wearing dark green robes with a stern expression.
"Professor McGonagall!" The new students let out a low gasp.
Just as Professor McGonagall turned around, ready to start the lecture, the classroom door was slammed open. Harry and Ron rushed in, panting. Ron's hair was messy, Harry's glasses were crooked, and the two were still clutching Neville's lost Remembrall.
Professor McGonagall, who was already stern, saw her expression sink instantly. Her sharp gaze was like two knives, landing straight on Harry and Ron: "Potter! Weasley! Class time has arrived, yet you are late! Gryffindor, minus one point! Now, return to your seats immediately!"
Harry and Ron's faces turned bright red. They responded dejectedly, lowered their heads, and walked quickly to the Gryffindor area to sit down, not daring to say another word.
Professor McGonagall only then withdrew her gaze. She picked up a matchstick, her voice resonant and powerful: "Our first lesson today is to transform a matchstick into a silver needle. The core of Transfiguration is precise intent and stable magic output, not brute force. Now, take out your wands and chant after me - 'Transfiguration Spell'!"
The sound of incantations rang out in the classroom one after another. Draco tried three times before he could barely turn the matchstick into a crooked silver needle; Goyle and Crabbe were even worse, burning the matchstick into ashes directly.
Edward, however, was well prepared. He had practiced the Transfiguration Spell countless times with Kreacher's old wand in the old house at Grimmauld Place. At this moment, holding his walnut wand, the flame at his fingertips silently wrapped around the wand body, and he whispered the incantation. The matchstick slowly stretched in his palm, turning into a smooth, standard-sized silver needle that landed steadily on the table.
Professor McGonagall walked over, picked up his silver needle, a flash of approval in her sharp gaze, and nodded: "Very good, Black. Precise control. Slytherin, plus one point."
When the bell rang for the end of class, Draco excitedly grabbed Edward's arm: "Let's go to the Charms class classroom together!"
Edward did not refuse, only saying faintly: "Talk while we walk." He happened to want to inquire about Professor Flitwick's teaching style from Draco - information that wouldn't be written in books.
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