Chapter 4:
First Day
A/N: I do not know why this story is taking me so long, this should be the easiest story for me to write since this is the story that's closest to home, even closer than it's predecessor, cause this is based off what I know, not what I imagine, but this is very hard to write. My apologies for the long intervals between updates, I will try to get better, but life is going really, really fast, and I have minimum time to write.
The next morning, Matt woke up bright and early as the sunlight streamed through the turret window onto his bed curtains. He stretched and yawned, temporarily unaware of his surroundings, until suddenly, the realization that he was finally at Hogwarts struck him. He felt breathless with amazement, glad that none of the other boys were awake to see the goofy smile he could feel plastered on his face. He had always dreamed of coming to Hogwarts, and he was finally there. Now that his first morning had dawned, he was no longer afraid of being a failure. All he felt was an extreme sense of excitement at making such wonderful friends and having his first ever official wizarding classes.
He lay motionless in his poster bed for a few more minutes, praying and preparing himself for the day. When he was ready to go, he softly pulled back the curtains, went to his trunk carefully so as not to wake the others, and got dressed, a quill and parchment placed carefully in his robe pocket. He made his way through the empty corridors to the owlery. Andromeda was perched near the windowsill; she hooted softly when she saw Matt enter. He stroked her head softly and gave her an owl treat before laying out his parchment on the window. He wrote a letter to his family, telling them the majority of his experience. He didn't write about his scuffle with Jacob, but he figured they really didn't need to know about that anyways.
"I have made some really good friends already. Mark and Jorge, two of my roommates, are really great guys. But the best friend I've found so far, well, she's a girl. Her name's Charity Sullivan, and she's really…"
Matt stopped, quill poised above page, unsure of what to say about Charity. She was so many things, and he wasn't sure he could explain her in words.
"she's really unique and fun to be around."
He concluded the letter with the usual `I love you's' and such. He tied his letters carefully to Andromeda's outstretched leg and gave her a pat before sending her outside. Finished with his task, he headed back to the Gryffindor common room to meet up with Charity. As soon as he entered the room, she stepped in from the girls' dormitories. Her hair was on the reddish side, and her face was soft with the appearance of one who has just been awakened. When she saw Matt standing in the doorway, a smile lit up her face, making her eyes twinkle.
"Matt! What are you doing awake so early?"
Matt grinned and shrugged. "I'm an early bird. Are you ready to go to breakfast?"
Charity nodded and came over to him. They looked at each other for a moment or two, before Charity reached up and smoothed her hand over his wild hair. Matt blushed but allowed her to keep doing it. When Charity pulled away, both were surprised to see Julie standing right beside them. Charity blushed and cast her eyes downward.
"Hey, Julie. Me and Charity were just about to go down to breakfast. Did you want to come with us?"
Julie tossed her pale blonde hair behind her and blinked, too shy to answer. Matt looked to Charity for help.
"Let's go, shall we?" Charity gave a sweet little smile and led the way out the portrait hole. Matt stepped to the side to allow Julie to go before him, but she simply looked at him like a scared rabbit. He shrugged and went on after Charity, growing even more puzzled when he heard Julie follow behind him. He turned to look at her, making her blush a fierce shade of crimson that paled her hair even more. Not having too much previous experience with girls, Matt just smiled politely and stepped closer to Charity.
"What's with Julie?" Matt whispered softly. Charity sighed and turned her eyes to the small girl who had stopped abruptly in the middle of the way and was staring intently at a portrait of a man who was fast asleep.
"She's… a different type of person; hasn't said a word to me yet," Charity whispered back. When she stepped away from Matt, Julie was standing right between them, giving them an odd look of supremacy. Charity gave an annoyed little smile; none of the three spoke until they reached the Great Hall.
The enchanted ceiling was bursting with rays of sunlight; there were no clouds in sight. Charity's face burst into radiant joy at the beautiful view. She knew it was only an enchantment, and Matt knew that she knew, but it was still thrilling to watch her get so excited. The three headed towards the Gryffindor table, and, to Matt's dismay, Charity found seats for them all near Mark, Jorge, and Dwight. Matt forced a smile and sat down, immediately piling his plate high with bacon and eggs. He always ate quickly, and that morning's breakfast was no exception.
"Mate, don't choke! I don't want to have to give you CPR!" Dwight smiled slyly and hit Matt roughly on the back, causing him to choke on a strip of bacon. He coughed right in Dwight's face before getting something to drink. As he gulped his orange juice, he looked at the people sitting around him, thinking about something that McGonagall had said the day before: "Your house will be like your family at Hogwarts." Charity, Mark, Jorge… they were okay. Julie was a little odd, but she was no problem.
And then there was Dwight. Well, there was one in every family, whatever that meant, and Dwight would just have to be his cross to bear.
As breakfast went on in a normal manner, McGonagall came to their group and delivered their class schedules. With a unanimous groan, all the young Gryffindors found to their displeasure that their first class was Double Potions with the Slytherins.
"Well," said Charity. "This ought to be…an experience." Everyone at the table groaned and finished eating woefully, bracing themselves for the nefarious Professor Snape.
Sure enough, the class was a nightmare. When Snape called roll, he stopped at Matt's name and gave an evil grin.
"Matthew Tyler Potter? No doubt son of the famous Harry Potter?"
"Y-yes, sir." He closed his eyes, knowing that Snape could read minds, but it was no use.
"I suppose because of your history you believe that you are as brave a hero as your father." The words were spat like poison. Matt shook his head. "Potter, just because you are Potter's son, doesn't mean you get special privileges. If it were up to me, you would already be gone from Hogwarts for the display that you caused last night, hmmm? You are just like your father. Ten points will be deducted from Gryffindor."
Matt's jaw fell in fury. He wanted to say something, but was beat to it by Charity.
"Professor, that's not right! That was before class had even begun!"
"I WILL DECIDE WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG!" He slammed his fist on his desktop, making Charity shrink towards Matt in fear. From the corner of his eye, Matt could see Jacob trembling with laughter. Snape stood erect and smoothed his robes. "For your impertinence, thirty more points will be deducted from Gryffindor. Now take out your parchment and begin copying the notes from the board on how to make a simple forgetfulness potion."
Matt did as they were told, but Charity stood in silently shock. She had just lost thirty points for Gryffindor, and she hadn't even been through one class. Matt looked over at her and spied a single, crystal tear rolling down her cheek.
The rest of the class was equally abysmal. Jacob's concoction was perfect, according to Snape, and although Matt's was just as good, his was given a mediocre grade. But the worst thing about the class was what else happened to Charity. She had spent an abnormally long time measuring her ingredients to make sure the potion was immaculate. She scooped it into a vial, bottled it up carefully, and headed to put it on Snape's desk. That was when the disaster occurred.
Jacob jumped out from behind his cauldron, knocking the vial out of Charity's hands. Matt watched in slow motion as the glass cut into her hand, the potion splashing all over her arm. Jacob smirked and walked off, and Snape failed Charity for the day.
When class was over, Charity bolted out the door, leaving the rest behind. Matt ran to catch her, ignoring Dwight's calls from behind him. He searched until he finally found Charity sitting on the ledge beneath a stained glass window. Her face was tear-streaked and her hand was bleeding profusely. She turned quickly and, seeing Matt, turned back towards the window. He gave her a feeble smile and sat down beside her.
"Maybe I shouldn't be here. I mean, I just failed our first assignment AND lost thirty points for Gryffindor."
"Charity, don't say that! Snape is a horrible person, and it's not your fault! You'll make up that "f" and you'll end up being the top of the class! And as for the points, well, both my mom and dad lost 150 points for Gryffindor in one day. Don't feel bad, you'll get back every point you lost!"
"Your parents did that?"
Matt nodded and touched her outstretched hand. "You need to get the glass out. Do you want me to try?"
Charity nodded disgustedly. "I really, really can not stand blood. You get it, I don't want to have to go get a shot or something; I'm terrified of needles."
"You can get used to anything after a while. I used to be terrified of needles, but well…" He took her hand gently in his and carefully took out a tiny shard of glass. Then, he took a handkerchief from his pocket and wrapped it around her palm, tying it expertly with a soft bow. Charity smiled and hugged him tightly.
"Thanks, Matt. You're the best friend ever."
Before Matt could say anything, Dwight came up to them. "Charity, Oh my gosh, are you okay?"
Charity smiled and kept her gaze on Matt. "Yes, I'm fine."
"Can I walk you to lunch?"
"Sure!" She jumped off of the ledge. "See you around, Matt!"
Matt gave a little wave and watched them walk away, a feeling like lead in his legs.
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Matt's prediction came true: By Friday, Charity had earned back the points, earning 15 more than she had lost. She excelled in everything and was easily named the smartest student in the first year class. The only one who could ever beat her was Matt, who was quickly joining Charity's competition for top of the class. But despite their competition, they remained close friends, even though Dwight was always hanging around. The only real thing wrong with Hogwarts life was Jacob. He made Potions a living nightmare, and he found pleasure in tormenting Charity. But every time that he hurt Charity, he had to pay for it from Matt, and soon after, Dwight.
A/N: There! Now that I'm finished with that chapter, I can actually get this story rolling! Review, review!
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