Ansh POV
Waking up at 6 is not my idea of a good morning, but since we had to get ready and leave for Hogsmeade, I didn't get a say in it. So we dragged our half-asleep bodies to Hogsmeade.
'I was honestly half expecting to end up someplace else.'
Travel through floo network is really convenient thing, just some powder, and whoosh, you are at your destination.
From there, Hagrid was waiting to accompany us the rest of the way. Now that I looked at the half-giant carefully, he was tall. Like really tall. He looked like he could pick up a car with one hand.
"Good to see you doing fine. I was worried when I came to know about what happened. Nasty things, those creatures. And to think one of the professors was a dark wizard. It's a good thing Dumbledore caught him."
"Yeah, to think Quirrell deceived everyone for months. Thank Merlin, Dumbledore stopped him before he could do anything else."
"Exactly. And to think the Prophet is still blaming Dumbledore over it. They just use every chance to dirty his name."
Say a few kind words about Dumbledore, and Hagrid is your friend. Easy.
While chatting, we reached the school gates, where the half-giant left us with an invitation for tea sometime.
"Nice guy." I say to the other two.
"Yeah. I was terrified of him first, but he's a gentle soul." Padma admitted.
"Well, I am starving. Let's head to the Great Hall first." Parvati said, dragging us both along.
The Great Hall was mostly empty this early. It was only around 7:30 and we didn't have our first class till 9:55.
"So, you planning to still bunk the lectures?" Padma asked while buttering her toast.
"No." I tap the table for my omelette. "This time I am planning to attend them. Actaully, can you share the timetable with me again, I have no idea where mine is."
"Sure. But I want you to do my homework for me in return."
"Are you sure?" I look her in the eye, "You do realize that I have not submitted a single work till now. Which means I have no idea on how to do it. If you want to volunteer for the test run, sure."
"That….. is actually a very good point. No problem, I'll keep it in reserve and cash it in later."
"Fine." I know that once delayed, these debts are never paid off.
"Ah Mr. Patil, great to see you back. And how are you feeling now?" We turn to find Professor Flitwick behind us.
"Good morning, Professor. I am doing great. Good as new."
'Please don't find anything weird.'
"Glad to hear that. And I hope that this time you will attend your lectures and stay away from practicing dangerous magic on your own. Please don't do anything that worries those close to you."
I nod, and after chatting with him a bit more, he goes to the teacher's table.
After that it was a repeat with different Professors, each with their own quirks- snappy and stern, condescending and more condescending, and more.
All the while I am trying to keep a straight face and begging inside that they don't find anything wrong.
'Now that I know this is reality, that means these are all masters of magic. If any of them find anything suspicious, I am done for.'
Thankfully, nothing happens. When Dumbledore entered, I tensed up a bit, but thankfully he just gave me gentle smile and said nothing else.
After breakfast, I spent the rest of the time copying Padma's timetable and arranging my room. I never bothered to take my stuff out before, and arranging it all took time.
'Time for a real magic lesson.'
The first lesson was DADA, and it didn't hit me until we reached the classroom that Quirrell was out of the picture. But classes have to go on obviously, so guess how they chose?
Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, also known as Sir Nicholas or Nearly Headlesss Nick.
'At least better than Quirrell.'
As I sat down in the class, I realized that people around me suddenly got awkward.
And I get it. It's like, what do you even say? Should you ask him how he is? But we were not that close. Or should you even bring it, or pretend like nothing ever happened?
Well, that silence was broken by one Granger.
"Ansh!" she shouts the moment she notices me and wraps me in a tight hug, "Oh it's so good to see you back. I was so scared when you heard that… by that troll. Thank God you're okay."
*cough*
Before I could say or do anything, Sir Nicholas enters the class and separates us.
"While I hate to interrupt whatever this is, it is time for class and I would appreciate if you all can take you seats."
With that Hermione leaves me in a second, almost pushing me away and sits beside me.
"Now I want all of you to open your books to page no. 67 where we...."
I listened attentively as Sir Nicholas explained the contents of the book, which were quite easy to understand when I hadn't read the part before. There were a few parts I didn't quite understand but I just marked them for later.
"Now I will show you how to cast the revealing spell. Now while the name might be similar, this is not the charm that reveals if anyone is hidden, that we will learn later. This is used to reveal hidden messages. If there is hidden text, the words will glow purple for a few seconds before looking normal. The message will conceal itself after about five minutes."
"Now students watch carefully as I show you the wand movements– Oh…..right. Well, just follow my fingers."
Right, ghosts can't hold wands.
As we all take our wands out and try to follow his movement, my chest starts feeling heavy for some reason. Breathing starts becoming difficult, and I barely stop myself from doubling over and tossing out my breakfast that seems ready to rise up my throat.
I try to focus on just his hand and following it with my wand, barely keeping my hand from shaking.
"And that's it. Remember it well before the next class."
As soon as he said that, it's like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. Like I was finally able to feel the oxygen in my lungs again. Though the feeling wasn't completely gone.
"Now." As soon as Sir Nicholas leaves by going through the wall, Hermione turns to me, "Tell me, how are you? You seem okay, are you completely healed? Thank God for magic, or Merlin in this case. I am just so glad you are okay."
For me, I was only half listening to her. My attention was more on the wand tip she had pointed in my direction.
"Yeah" I subtly push the wand tip away, "Doing great now. Good as new."
"That's good. Let's go. We have a few minutes before the next class and you have so much homework to cover. I'll catch you up on the way."
With her telling me about all the assignments I have missed during the past 3 week, we reach the charms classroom.
'I think she is forgetting that I have to catch up on all the assignments, not just the past 3 weeks.'
She leaves doesn't enter the classroom and starts walking away.
"Wait where are you going? Are you not attending class?"
She looks at me as if I am a fool, "I don't have charms class. You have it with Hufflepuff."
"Right! Forgot about that. Wait, then why did you come all the way here?"
"To catch you up on your homework." She says and leaves before I can say anything.