Chapter Forty-One, New Classes

Waking up on September 2nd, Izzy was left still feeling rather wrought over what happened the previous day, it didn't help matters that Hogwarts didn't feel as warm as it used to with the Dementors hovering around the castle's grounds at every entrance. The burner had been on all night and was still burning brightly even now, the fireplace had already been lit the moment they had returned to the common room last night and warming charms were cast over every bit of the castle that didn't have a grate or a burner. Running a hand down her face as she stretched, Izzy noticed her timetable on her bedside table which was completely different to the previous years but also better as she could have her bag packed before she went down to breakfast and not have to rush back to the common room before classes started.

Looking it over Izzy couldn't help but feel excited over the new classes and so eager to start the day that she jumped out of bed despite her aching joints (she would always have some pain to her joints from the abuse and Hypocalcaemia she suffered despite finishing the course of potions), and ran into the bathroom to shower before any of the other girls were awake. After her hot shower Izzy was feeling more awake and relaxed and ready for the new classes. Upon entering the dorm all the other girls were starting to wake up, Celeste had even placed a cherry red lip gloss on Izzy's bed for her to wear today, and with a quick hug while checking she was feeling alright she ran into the bathroom before either Lavender or Parvati could hog it.

Shaking her head with a small smile on her face Izzy quickly put the lipgloss on - which unbeknownst to her caused her eyes to pop which was exactly what Celeste was going for - and packed her bag before heading down to the common room to wait for her friends and Fred while reading her new Basic Spell Crafting book: Insight into Basic Spell Crafting by Blair Mallard, as she would have it this afternoon. Izzy was so into her book that she failed to hear her friends joining her in the common room until Fred kissed her head lovingly.
"Oh. Hi, Freddie." Izzy said startled before a loving smile stole over her face.

"Good morning love." Fred smiled, pecking her lips before he looked over assessing her. "How're you feeling?"
"Izzy!" Ron and Neville shouted, running towards their little sister. "How're you? Are you okay? Did you sleep okay?" They asked frantically and in quick succession.
"Izzy! My little sister, are you okay?" Kellah asked worriedly, running down the stairs and over to her.
"Right everyone calm down." Percy ordered.
"I know you are all worried but let her speak." Oliver and Angelina said together causing everyone to take a breath.

"I'm okay. I woke up feeling a little wrought still as I had a few nightmares but the hot shower and the peace of waking up early and reading this," Izzy said holding up the textbook, "helped. Are you all okay? Neville?" Izzy asked her brother worriedly. Instead of answering Neville hugged her tightly saying without words how he was feeling which everyone understood as Fred, George, Lee, Kellah and Celeste distracted the rest of the Gryffindors from the siblings and shooed them out of the Tower.

~

The moment the group made it to the Great Hall, a beaming smile appeared on Izzy, Ron and Neville's faces as they noticed their friends Luna, Blaise, and Daphne were sat at the Gryffindor table to the shock of the other Houses and most surprisingly Draco sat in between Blaise and Daphne although he didn't look as comfortable sitting amongst the lions and lone raven as the other two snakes. As the group of lions (including a very quiet Hermione and Ginny) joined the other four, a surge seemed to pass through the Great Hall as all around the hall students sat at different tables with their friends pleasing the staff as they could see the start of inter house friendships begin.

Looking up at the staff table Izzy smiled waving to Remus, Hagrid and her Dad giving them a reassuring smile as she mouthed to them that she was okay. Seemingly satisfied, for now, they struck up conversations with their colleagues around them while glancing at the mix of third years, second years and fifth years in the middle of the Gryffindor table every so often.
"She'll be fine, cousin." Narcissa reassured Sirius, noticing her son apologising to Izzy for his appalling behaviour the night before. She'd had a very stern talking to him in Severus' office after she'd gently cuffed him around the back of his head. "Izzy's strong and she'd even succeeded in scaring some sense into Draco last night."

"I pity Fred if he ever makes her mad." Fillius laughed, remembering both Lily and James' temper let alone Sirius'. He knew she had the temper from all of her parents that paired with her overprotective nature of loved ones was not a good mix (at times), a laugh echoed around the staff table from those nearby as they looked to the Gryffindor table.
"Izzy, I really am sorry for my appalling behaviour last night." Draco apologised once again, sipping his coffee.
"You are forgiven, cousin, but act like that again towards me or anyone else and you won't like the consequences." Izzy warned, eliciting a quick head nod from the blonde male Slytherin.

"You're forgiving him that easily?" Hermione asked with a frown upon her face looking up the Arithmancy textbook.
"Why shouldn't she?" Luna asked, looking up from the Quibbler. "He is obviously sincere in his apology so there is no reason for her not to forgive him."
As Hermione and Ginny opened their mouths, Oliver Wood quickly cut them off before an argument or a fight could take place.
"So, what new lessons are you most eager to learn, then?" He asked, looking at all of the third years, not just the group his little sister was best friends with. "Oh, don't forget," he said, now addressing his Quidditch team, "Quidditch practice is on Mondays after lessons 4:30-5:30, same goes for Fridays and on Sundays it's from 9:00am till one in the afternoon." He said ignoring the groans from Fred, George and Alicia.

* * *

As the day passed there wasn't much new topics started in their lessons as they were going over what they had learned in the previous two years as a refresher in the core lessons while Basic Spell Crafting (for Izzy, Ron, Draco, Celeste, Kellah, Neville and Daphne) and Arithmancy (for Izzy, Ron, Draco, Celeste and Hermione who had it with Ernie MacMillan, Susan Bones, Terry Boot amongst a few others) which they had on Tuesday afternoons they were going through the introduction to the new lessons.

Basic Spell Crafting was taught by Alicia's mother Lady Louisa Spinnett, who was rather similar to how Headmistress Mcgonagall and Professor Tonks taught - strict but fair.
"Now, I know you are all eager to learn and create your own spells but I warn you now that failure to listen and heed my warnings will result in detentions and your extracurricular activities revoked. Much like Transfiguration, Spell Crafting can be disastrous if you get cocky and try on your own or get it wrong and could land you in St Mungo's magical reversal ward." She addressed them all sternly, capturing everyone's attention as they stared transfixed. "However, Spell Crafting can be rewarding if you get it right and can even help further our spell advancement of our world, as this lesson works closely with Transfiguration, Charms, Ancient Runes and Arithmancy.

However, those types of spells will not be available to your N.E.W.T years if you decide to continue this course after your O.W.Ls. For the remainder of this lesson I want you to read over the first chapter in your books and attempt the tasks stated, turning the small ball on your desks into a stuffed animal. From there, for this term until Yule, you will then learn how to create your own stuffed animals before we slowly move on to harder items to create. For your homework, I want you to create a formula for your spell crating you would like to eventually create while writing an essay detailing the best practical way this can be applied."

Once everyone had jotted down their homework, she addressed the class again, getting them to start the lesson assignment, "You may start." Professor Spinnett ordered, smiling as everyone eagerly got started. She couldn't wait to see what these students would go on to achieve and was glad she had finally become a Professor.

In their Arithmancy lesson an hour later, Professor Septima Vector also addressed her students sternly as she cautioned them what could happen if they rushed ahead or let their arrogance cloud their judgement while informing them what they could eventually achieve with this lesson.
"Arithmancy is a branch of magic involving the study of the magical properties of numbers." Professor Vector informed them, looking out over her students listening attentively. "I want you to read over the first two chapters in your books before completing this numerology chart. But first I want you to write down your homework. You will need to complete a thorough essay of no fewer than two thousand words on the practical uses of numerology in spells, including the required consultation and the composition of complicated number charts."

Despite the difficulty of the new lessons Izzy and her friends were eager to learn all they could and had even forgotten that the grounds were surrounded by Dementors and that Pettigrew had escaped as they delved into discussions and debates on their new lessons in their breaks and once the day had finished. But at dinner a large wave of excitement swept throughout the Great Hall when Flitwick issued announcement.

The Duelling Club would restart the following week Tuesdays and Fridays 6:30-7:30 in the evenings which was available to all years and to sign up by the end of the week on the signup sheets which was available in their Common Rooms. However, to the older years they couldn't help but notice that this time it was available to even First Years and wondered if it had anything to do with Pettigrew and swore to themselves to keep a closer eye on the younger years in their House. They didn't want a repeat of the previous two years.

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