The First School Year Begins

The next morning, Evita struggled awake, dressed neatly in her school uniform, and went to the Great Hall for breakfast with her Hufflepuff classmates. Owls came fluttering in, delivering parcels and letters to the students.

She opened the first letter. It was from Sirius.

"It's a terrible shame you didn't join Gryffindor, but as long as it isn't Slytherin, that's all that matters.

The Hufflepuff Common Room is close to the kitchens. James and I often went there for food when we were at school. I've included the way in with this letter:

In the corridor beside your common room, there's a painting of a bowl of fruit. Tickle the pear and it'll turn into a green handle. Pull the handle to open the kitchen. The House-elves inside are always very welcoming."

Evita shrugged, made a note of the location, and turned to Lily's letter.

"Don't listen to those other two talking nonsense. Every house is excellent. Congratulations on getting into Hufflepuff. It's a very friendly house, and I used to have quite a few Hufflepuff friends myself. It suits you well."

James's letter said, "I never thought I might one day hear that a Hufflepuff had broken a school rule. Something to look forward to, isn't it? When you break a school rule, don't forget to write and tell us!"

Lupin's letter contained news about the shop. "Please let me know the name you've chosen for the shop. It's still being renovated, and I plan to go to Knockturn Alley again to buy some magical items."

Tina and Newt had sent a letter too. "Hufflepuff is an excellent house. We're very happy to hear the news, and we hope Adele can hear it too."

There was also a letter from Theseus, containing only the simple words, "Congratulations, well done."

Evita tied the letters she had written the night before to an owl's leg, waved, and watched it leave.

After breakfast, it was time for classes to begin. First-year students at Hogwarts had eight subjects. Seven were compulsory from first through fifth year, while the last was Flying Class, taught for a limited period by Madam Hooch.

The first class on the second day of term was Potions Class, which the Hufflepuff students had with the Slytherins.

The Potions Classroom was underground, cold and gloomy, with more than twenty cauldrons set out. Students had to work in pairs.

The professor who taught Potions was already quite old. His name was Horace Slughorn, and he was also the head of Slytherin House.

Evita had heard that he had reached retirement age, but had stayed on for another year at Dumbledore's request.

"Stir more carefully..."

"Slice the caterpillars thinly..."

Professor Slughorn stopped beside her and said with satisfaction, "Very fine technique, Miss Lorand. Ten points to Hufflepuff."

A good start, Evita thought. She pressed her lips together, lowered her head, and went back to preparing her ingredients.

The previous night, she had learned a great deal from the older Prefect who had struck up a conversation with her. For instance, in outsiders' eyes, Gryffindor students were always getting into trouble, Hufflepuff students were mostly gluttons, Ravenclaw students were self-important, and Slytherin students looked down their noses at everyone...

As for relations between the houses, Gryffindor and Slytherin had it worst, the two houses being like mortal enemies. There was also plenty of competition between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. But one thing the three houses generally had in common was that they didn't much like Slytherin, especially during the period of Voldemort's rule.

Evita kept working, thinking as an outsider that none of this had anything to do with her anyway. She might as well think about the habits of Chinese Fireballs, and why they had recently begun to lose their appetite. But... how had Adele gotten those animals into the suitcase? How many countries had she visited, and how many young animals had she carried off?

"A very beautiful color." Professor Slughorn stopped and offered his sincere praise. Then, something seemed to occur to him, and his already bulging eyes protruded even farther. His voice grew as sweet and cloying as if honey had been added to it. "Very good, Miss Lorand. You're welcome to come to my office whenever you have questions."

"Thank you, Professor." Evita didn't understand why, and strongly suspected that her likability attribute had erupted, but was particularly effective against old men and women, like Bathilda Bagshot, who had given her a book when they first met, and the professor in front of her.

Still puzzled, she went to her second class, History of Magic. Professor Binns, a ghost, came through the wall to teach them.

Professor Binns spoke in a very even voice, with hardly any variation, making his class extremely soporific. He began with the Troll rebellions of the past, and even the most studious Ravenclaw students couldn't resist the waves of sleepiness.

Evita propped her forehead on her hand, but couldn't keep the drowsiness at bay.

She yawned, a few tears gradually gathering at the corners of her eyes. Her head began to nod, and then she jerked awake.

Her thick History of Magic book lay open, propped upright at the very front. Evita couldn't quite bring herself to do anything drastic, so she merely pinched her cheeks, trying to wake herself up a little.

Professor Binns lectured away at the front while she quietly dug out a lemon sweet.

The sharp sourness jolted her awake, but before long she discovered that she had fallen asleep with the sweet still in her mouth.

Evita: "..."

Professor Binns's formidable reputation was well deserved. He would surely have a promising career as a hypnotist.

After what felt like ages, History of Magic finally ended. Following a lunch break that was neither long nor short, the Hufflepuff students moved to the Transfiguration classroom.

The teacher of Transfiguration was Professor McGonagall, who had been in charge of the Sorting Ceremony. She stood at the front, looking stern and very difficult to provoke. "I will not allow any student to make trouble in my class. If it happens, I will immediately ask that person to leave."

After having them take down a great many complicated notes, Professor McGonagall gave each of them a match and asked them to try turning it into a gleaming silver needle.

Evita began to recall what it had been like when she first practiced, then slowly waved her wand and turned the match into a needle. It was rather rounded, though, and not quite right.

"Very good, Miss Lorand." Professor McGonagall gave a rare smile, looking even a little surprised. "Ten points to Hufflepuff."

The last class on the first day of term was Charms Class. The teacher was Filius Flitwick, the head of Ravenclaw, a very short wizard who had to stand on a stack of thick books to reach the lectern.

"Open your Standard Book of Spells: Grade 1!" Professor Flitwick squeaked. "Remember the hand movements shown there. They're a very important part of casting a spell! If you get the movement wrong, you won't be able to cast the spell properly. Now, begin making this movement, slowly raising your wrist..."

"Very good, very good..." Professor Flitwick looked around the room. "Only once we've mastered the hand movements can we move on to practice! Everyone, keep practicing."